EP0813374B1 - Article with bristles, such as brush, paint brush or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP96/00822 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 18, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 18, 1997 PCT Filed Feb. 29, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/27308 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 12, 1996Brushes, e.g. a brush, particularly a hygienic brush, or a paintbrush, which is exposed to moisture during use and which has a bristle carrier, preferably made from plastic, and a bristle facing. The entire bristle facing is formed from individual, closely standing, non-contacting bristles.

Description

The invention relates to bristle goods, e.g. Brush, Brushes or the like which are damp during use is exposed and a bristle holder and a bristle trim has, which at least partially from individually standing plastic bristles.

Bristle goods that are exposed to moisture it for cleaning purposes in a humid atmosphere be used, e.g. Toothbrushes, or for application serve moist media, e.g. Brush, dry after Inadequate use because the bristles form bundles are summarized and the moisture in the long capillaries between the bristles. This damp atmosphere creates ideal conditions for that Nest and for the growth of bacteria and microbes. This disadvantageous effect is supported due to dirt particles or residues of application agents that get stuck in the narrow capillaries and also at intensive cleaning efforts insufficiently removed can be because the bristles in the root area too narrow stand. These negative effects are still supported in that the bristle holder in many brush designs is provided with recesses into which the Bristle bundles are used. In these cavities Bacteria have a particularly small cross-section slightly firm, as well as dirt particles and residues of Order materials cannot be removed there.

These adverse effects are found in toothbrushes of particular magnitude, because with these brushes the Efforts go there, bristles with the smallest possible diameter to be used in tight pressure within the bundle with the result that the capillaries and cavities are particularly tight. In addition, despite use high quality plastics for the bristles, e.g. Polyamides, Moisture also penetrates into the bristle material and not or only insufficiently released when drying becomes. This manifests itself in a change in the strength properties the bristle. The bristle loses Stiffness and thus in the ability to rebuild, so that the cleaning effect is no longer that of the original state corresponds.

The aforementioned disadvantages then occur with toothbrushes particularly detrimental in appearance if that from dental Recommended cleaning intervals (three times during the day), as the one in between There is not enough time to completely dry the Bristles, especially in the area close to the carrier.

You are early to recognize these hygienic problems gone about fixing the bristles to the bristle holder Joining process from plastic technology to use, in particular, cavities on the bristle carrier to avoid in the area of the bristle attachment. That counts especially the welding of bristles and bristle carriers (EP 0 165 546) and the injection of the bristles into the Carrier (DE 1 532 809). In connection with welding (EP 0 165 546) has also already been proposed Bristle trimmings not only to form from bundles, but besides also standing bristles in a dense arrangement to provide. The main purpose is to design the bristle trim so that the area different degrees of wear and tear will be carried. It is also an adaptation of the various Areas of the bristle trim to different Utility functions (cleaning, massage or the like) possible.

One carries these different usage functions other known execution invoice (GB 2 035 076), at the bundle of bristles in the longitudinal central region of the bristle carrier are arranged while on both sides of the longitudinal central region Rows of different plastic pens Design are provided, the brush head also is curved in the direction of both axes. To this The bristles are said to be effective only on the teeth be, while the relatively soft plastic pins primarily a massage effect on the To exercise gingiva. Aside from the complicated Manufacturing such a toothbrush is neither in the field of the bristle trim solved the hygienic problem, yet it satisfies modern dental knowledge for effective teeth cleaning and adequate Massage the gums by not removing the brush Gums are guided to the teeth (red to white) can.

The described hygienic problems should be with one further known embodiment (EP 0 060 592) that the bristle trimmings are not made up of bundles, but consists of individual bristles on the carrier and with each other by thermal processes, in particular connected with each other by laser technology. Here the bristles also lie at their end on the carrier side free by making the bristle holder a large recess according to the outline of the bristle trim and the bristles are inserted into this recess in such a way that they are exposed at the back of the carrier. The Bristles themselves should only be in the area of these Recess and only in the area of their tangent Lateral surfaces to be connected. This is to ensure be that continuous capillaries between the bristles remain. These capillaries are said to enable Aspirate bacteria and plaque residues. Like this should happen in detail and what physical Forces are to be applied for this, the publication open. It is crucial, however, that the bristles on the Shell surfaces must be in contact with each other in order to To be able to connect lateral surfaces with one another. This but means that ultimately the same tight bristle pack is present, as in a bundle, because too there the bristles lie only linearly on the lateral surfaces each other. So the same are formed Capillaries, like a bundle of bristles. Come in addition, that the nesting and growth of bacteria doesn't just start one side, but on both sides of the bristle holder is possible.

In another known version for any Brushes (WO 82/00406) become individual bristles at a distance glued from each other on a carrier tape, the Bristles lie in the plane of the carrier tape and this protrude at an edge. At the towering end of everyone Bristles are thickened by heating. The Carrier tape is then wound into a shaped body and the wrap with the free bristle ends ahead in one Mold dipped previously with a liquid plastic mass was poured out in this way the brush body to build. The carrier tape outside the form after adding a solvent to the adhesive subtracted, which initially on the carrier tape stuck bristles are exposed. Subsequently the hardened brush body is removed from the mold. This process is extremely labor and time consuming and is in line with today's requirements automatic series production is in no way compatible.

The pull-out strength of the bristles on the finished product is due to the thickening of the embedded Bristle end favorably influenced, but is the embedding not sufficient on the remaining length of the bristles guaranteed. When the thickening is immersed, it gives way Plastic mass due to the surface tension. Even if they have a sufficiently low viscosity flows back behind the thickening, remains due to the surface tension around the bristle crater-shaped depression, in the area of which the bristle is not embedded. To the necessary pull-out strength To achieve this, the embedding length must be appropriate be great. Regardless, the problem remains that there are impurities in the crater-shaped depression collect and nest bacteria.

The invention has for its object bristle goods, their bristle trimmings from individually standing bristles, to further develop that ensures a quick drying of the brush and thus nesting and growth of bacteria and the storage of contaminants is successfully met, on the other hand a free one Design options for the bristle geometry given is the achievement of different usage properties allowed.

This object is achieved in that the bristle trimmings of individually and closely related, each other there are non-contacting bristles, the distance from each other in the range of 0.5 times to 4.0 times the Bristle diameter is and by overmolding in Bristle holder attached and in the bristle holder on one Length embedded are less than 4 times Bristle diameter is.

Today's plastic technology enables seamless Fasten even small bristles Diameter on a flat surface, namely that of Bristle carrier. This is done by injection molding by overmolding the bristle ends with the plastic mass. Due to the injection pressure when molding the bristles ensures that there is no recess around the bristle rather, the bristle forms over the entire embedding length is firmly enclosed in the bristle holder. Come in addition, that the injection molding compound due to the injection pressure in the existing surface roughness of the bristle penetrates, which contributes to better anchoring of the bristle. The necessary pull-out strength can thus be with a minimum embedding length that is in an area that is less than four times the Bristle diameter. Especially with single bristles - in contrast to bundles - the formation of recesses, Wells or the like can be avoided, whereas at Bundling because of the larger mass to be melted and / or the uncontrollable cooling due to these larger masses hardly a smooth support surface can be achieved. Add to that that with bundles sufficient Pull-out strength is only guaranteed if all bristles of a bundle on the fastening side Melted end and connected together, which forms a thickening due to its corresponding mass to the aforementioned negative effects leads. These disadvantages occur with single bristles Area of their attachment not on. In addition, the Individual bristles at such a distance in the area of Arranged 0.5 to 4 times the bristle diameter from each other can be that between the bristles neither Bacteria nest, can still multiply there and grow also dirt (plaque, care agent or application agent residues) cannot fix. The gaps can be easily rinsed out.

A brush constructed in this way dries quickly Time from which the dangers mentioned are also effective met. In addition, the bristle itself absorbs little or no liquid at all and releases these when drying, so that after the Use their original in a short time Strength properties regained. By the if even small distances between the bristles create channels that for holding and holding liquid to pasty Order resources, e.g. Paints, varnishes, mascara, or of cleaning and polishing agents, such as toothpastes, gels, Serve polishing pastes or the like.

The respective usage properties are exclusive by the geometry of the bristles themselves (diameter and length) and their material (polyamide, polyester etc.) as well as the geometry of the arrangement (more or less tight, but in any case always at a distance).

The performance characteristics and the achievement of certain This also has cleaning and / or massage effects possible that the individual bristles or groups of Individual bristles have different lengths and their free ends on a curved or stepped envelope surface lie.

This training ensures in particular that that, for example, with toothbrushes some longer Bristles are effective in, for example, interdental spaces penetrate while the shorter bristles on the tooth surfaces be effective. The bristles of different lengths also lead to different in the cleaning movement Spring out and spring back of the bristles Glide over the tooth surfaces while the shorter bristles rather take effect with their ends. This leaves a more or less scratching or stroking Achieve effect. Again, this can be done through different Distances of the bristles within the bristle stock are supported, with which a different Rebound and rebound of the bristles is connected. The Rigidity of the entire bristle trim cannot be achieved solely by dimensioning the bristle (diameter, Length) and the material, but especially by the distance between the bristles varies in fine increments.

The bristles can also be combined into groups and the distance of the bristles of a group is the same, however be different from that of the other group. So can for example, the head or edge area of a toothbrush have a greater bristle density than that middle range.

As already indicated, the bristles can also be different Stiffness, e.g. different diameters, have bristle groups different, but the same within the group Stiffness can be provided.

It is known per se, monofilaments for bristles with structured Surfaces, abrasive deposits, outside flocking etc. or the Profiling monofilaments, e.g. to wave or the like to to achieve other or additional cleaning effects, the one with the simple linear or smooth-walled Monifil are not possible. These measures come with one Bundles due to the abutment of the bristles only insufficient to effect. Different with the invention trained brush with individually standing bristles, because here larger parts of the lateral surface in the area of the free Ends take effect during the cleaning movement.

Finally, it is known (EP 0 471 312) the bristles to form a bundle at its free end, especially to be provided with a spherical thickening. Also the hereby desired special effects are achieved by the insufficient bristle stand in the bundle, where in the brush according to the invention free end of the individual bristles unimpeded for effect comes so that the shape of the free end, e.g. by Rounding, conifying or attaching a spherical Thickening, their effect can develop fully.

In an advantageous embodiment, the bristles on the Bristle holder embedded on a length that is about that Corresponds to 1.5 times the bristle diameter. Through the small embedding length gives the big advantage that the overall height of the bristle carrier can be very low, what for example with toothbrushes, especially children's toothbrushes is of great importance.

The distance between the bristles from each other is usually 1.5 to 2 times the Bristle diameter. Preferably, the Distance but also smaller than the bristle diameter be.

Figur 1:

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausschnittes einer Bürste;

Figuren 2 bis 5:

der Figur 1 ähnliche Ansichten einiger weiterer Ausführungsbeispiele;

Figuren 6 bis 8:

je eine vergrößerte Ansicht einer Einzelborste im Bereich des nutzungsseitigen Endes;

Figuren 9 bis 11:

je einen Teilschnitt einer Einzelborste;

Die Figuren 1 bis 5 zeigen jeweils einen Borstenträger 1, z.B. aus Kunststoff, sowie an diesem einzeln stehend befestigte Borsten 2. Sie weisen bei diesem Ausführungsbeispiel an ihrem befestigungsseitigen Ende eine kugel- oder linsenförmige Verdickung 3 auf, die beispielsweise durch Aufschmelzen des Borstenendes erhalten wird. Mit diesem verdickten Ende 3 sind die Borsten 2 im Borstenträger verankert. Dies geschieht durch Einspritzen bzw. Umspritzen in der herkömmlichen Spritzgießtechnik. Statt der Verdickung können die Borsten aber auch an ihrem befestigungsseitigen Ende einen Grat aufweisen, der beim Zuschneiden der Borsten ohnehin entsteht, üblicherweise aber unerwünscht ist. Hier kann er sogar ausgeprägt erzeugt werden, um die einzelne Borste zu verankern.The invention is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. The drawing shows:

Figure 1:

a schematic representation of a section of a brush;

Figures 2 to 5:

1 similar views of some other embodiments;

Figures 6 to 8:

each an enlarged view of a single bristle in the area of the end on the use side;

Figures 9 to 11:

each a partial section of a single bristle;

FIGS. 1 to 5 each show a bristle carrier 1, for example made of plastic, and bristles 2 fastened to it in an upright position . The bristles 2 are anchored in the bristle carrier with this thickened end 3. This is done by injecting or overmolding in conventional injection molding technology. Instead of the thickening, the bristles can also have a burr on their fastening-side end, which arises anyway when the bristles are cut, but is usually undesirable. Here it can even be created to anchor the individual bristle.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Bristles with individual bristles of different lengths, namely shorter bristles 4 and longer bristles 5 that optionally arranged in groups.

The embodiment according to FIG. 3 has on the bristle carrier 1 in turn bristles 2 of different lengths, which in are evenly graded in this case.

While in the aforementioned embodiments 4 shows bristles 2 arranged at the same distance an embodiment in which the individually standing Bristles are again arranged in groups, whereby they have the same distance within the group. So are the bristles 6 on a larger, the bristles 7, however arranged at a smaller distance.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with bristles 8 smaller cross-section and bristles 9 larger cross-section, where the thinner and the thicker Bristles arranged at the same distance from each other are.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged partial view of a single bristle with a cylindrical cross section and a spherical one rounded tip 10, which forms the end on the user side. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7, this is Use-side end 11 conically shaped, while Figure 8 a bristle 2 with a spherical thickening on shows end of use. Because the bristles are arranged individually, in contrast to bundle arrangement - the end on the usage side its entire contoured surface and also that Shell surface take effect.

FIG. 9 shows a bristle 2 with a contoured surface 13 with possibly abrasive effect, which in turn due to the solitary arrangement of the individual bristles Effectiveness can develop over a long length. At the embodiment shown in Figure 10 is the bristle 2 from a shaft 14 e.g. made of plastic, and one for example abrasive coating 15. In contrast 11 shows an embodiment in which the Shank 14 of the bristle 2 is flocked with fine fibers 16.

Claims (10)

1. Brushware, e.g. brush, paintbrush, etc., which is exposed to moisture during use and which has a bristle carrier and a bristle facing comprising single, closely juxtaposed, non-contacting plastic bristles, whose mutual spacing is 0.5 to 4.0 times the bristle diameter and which are fixed in the bristle carrier by moulding and are embedded in the bristle carrier (1) to a length smaller than 4 times the bristle diameter.
2. Brushware according to claim 1, characterized in that the single bristles (2) or groups (4, 5; 6, 7) of single bristles have different lengths and their free ends are located on a curved or stepped envelope surface.
3. Brushware according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, within the overall bristle facing, the bristles (6, 7) have different mutual spacings.
4. Brushware according to claim 3, characterized in that at least two groups of bristles (6, 7) are provided and the spacing of the bristles (6) within a group is the same, but differs from that of the other group (7).
5. Brushware according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bristles (8, 9) have a different stiffness, e.g. different diameter.
6. Brushware according to claim 5, characterized in that at least two groups of bristles (8, 9) are provided and the stiffness of the bristles of one group is the same, but different from that of the other group.
7. Brushware according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least part of the bristles (2) are structured (13), flocked (16) or coated (15) on their circumferential surface.
8. Brushware according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bristles (2) are shaped on their free ends, e.g. rounded (10), given a conifer shape (11) or provided with a spherical thickening (12).
9. Brushware according to claim 1, characterized in that the bristles (2) are embedded on the bristle carrier (1) over a length representing approximately 1.5 times the bristle diameter.
10. Brushware according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bristles (2) are given a mutual spacing smaller than the bristle diameter.

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