EP2150147B1 - Device for dental and/or oral care and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for tooth and / or mouth cleaning, in particular toothbrush, with a preferably approximately rod-shaped tool carrier to which a cleaning tool, in particular a bristle field, can be fastened, wherein the tool carrier is formed as a composite body, which is an enveloping body made of plastic and having an embedded in the enveloping body of metal.

In the case of toothbrushes whose handles or brush tubes or bristle head carriers of brush heads of electric toothbrushes regularly form elongated, preferably approximately rod-shaped tool carriers, which are more or less strongly stressed, in particular due to bending, by the forces expended during the cleaning process. Other dental cleaning devices, such as interdental cleaners, dental floss handling handles, or tongue cleaners, have such elongated tool carriers that are similarly stressed. Insofar as such tooth or mouth cleaning devices are to be introduced into the oral cavity, said tool carriers are to be made slender and are limited in terms of their possible cross-sections, possibly even curved or bent profiles being able to be realized. In order nevertheless to achieve the necessary strength, in particular bending strength, it has already been proposed to form the tool carrier as a composite body in which a strength-enhancing reinforcement is embedded in an enveloping body. In this case, manifold designs of the reinforcing body have been proposed.

The GB 20 50 156 A1 proposes a manual toothbrush, in which a metal strip is provided as a reinforcement in the handle, which is embedded in an envelope body made of hard plastic. The metal strip extends into the brush head, where it also serves to attach the bristle tufts. However, the bond between metal strip and hard plastic shell can cause problems, moreover, the achieved increase in strength is limited to a brush bend in the longitudinal center plane of the brush.

The US 4,829,621 proposes a manual toothbrush with a reinforcing body in the region of the toothbrush neck, which allow bends of the toothbrush neck in the longitudinal center plane of the brush and fix the brush head in different bending positions so to speak, with different offsets of Brush head to work. The reinforcing body is formed substantially rod-shaped.

The US 3,857,134 beats in her FIG. 4 a toothbrush, in whose bristle carrier portion a reinforcing plate of rigid material such as steel or fiber-reinforced plastic is embedded in a plastic enveloping body, wherein also here the Armierungskörper is used to attach the bristle tufts.

From the US 2004/170464 Furthermore, a toothbrush is known, in which in the region of the toothbrush neck and the back of the bristle carrier stiffening ribs are formed in order to increase the bending strength of the toothbrush.

The GB 231,753 further describes a manual toothbrush, in which a circumferential metal wire is embedded as a reinforcement in the handle.

From the GB 304,459 Further, a toothbrush is known, the handle is sandwiched and has a plate-shaped reinforcement which is embedded in a sheath body of celluloid, wherein as a reinforcement wire mesh is proposed.

Finally, that describes US 2004/060138 a toothbrush whose handle is designed as a composite body, the body portions of softer material and body portions of harder material, which serve the stiffening, wherein the handle is at least partially made of transparent plastic.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved device for tooth and / or oral cleaning of the type mentioned above, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and further develops the latter in an advantageous manner. Preferably, a lighter, high strength tool holder for such a tooth or mouth cleaning device is to be created, which better resists the typical cleaning forces, but does not affect the functionality of the toothbrush, in particular specifically allows elasticity.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

On the one hand to achieve a high-strength, yet lightweight Armierungskörper and on the other hand, a good bond between the Armierungskörper and the enveloping body, the present invention proposes that the Armierungskörper is at least partially formed as a truss-like frame framework, extending in the longitudinal direction of the tool carrier longitudinal straps and a Variety has the longitudinal straps connecting cross-connecting rods. In this case, a continuous removal of tensile or compressive forces can be achieved via the longitudinal straps, in addition, such a framework frame in relation to its weight high-strength and stiff, in particular rigid. In addition, by the arrangement and the course of the rods, the strength can be precisely controlled, in particular different strengths and stiffnesses can be achieved in different levels. Compared to wire mesh fabrics, warping, as is common in wire mesh with diagonal forces, is virtually nonexistent. In addition, a good bond can be achieved with the material of the enveloping body, since the enveloping material penetrates the framework recesses.

The longitudinal straps of the framework frame can basically have a straight course. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the longitudinal straps can be adapted in their course to the outer contour of the envelope body and at least partially have a deviating from the straight course. Handles of toothbrushes often have, in particular for ergonomic reasons, a multiple bent or kinked course in order to better grip the toothbrush and to be able to guide the bristle field at a more favorable angle to the teeth. Advantageously, the longitudinal straps of the framework frame are adapted to the curved in this case outer contour of the enveloping body of the handle, so that they essentially follow the curvature or the bends of the enveloping body.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal straps are arranged on the edge of the framework frame, wherein they can form in particular the outer contour of the framework frame, so that it has a defined, in particular adapted to the outer contour of the envelope body edge contour. In principle, in addition to the marginal longitudinal straps, further longitudinal straps may be provided, which likewise extend approximately in the longitudinal direction of the tool carrier. However, an advantageous embodiment of the invention may consist in that only at the edges of the frame framework longitudinal straps are provided.

The longitudinal straps and the transverse connecting rods can basically be connected to one another differently. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the belt and the cross-connecting rods can be materially connected to each other. In particular, the entire framework framework and / or the entire Armierungskörper may be integrally formed integrally.

The longitudinal straps can be arranged substantially parallel to one another. Alternatively, however, the longitudinal straps may also have a varying distance from each other along their longitudinal extent. As a result, an adaptation of the truss frame to an optionally longitudinally changing cross-section of the enveloping body can be achieved and the available cross-section can be optimally utilized. Alternatively or additionally, however, the strength and bending stiffness of the truss frame can be selectively controlled and varied over the length by a varying distance of the edge-side longitudinal straps.

Alternatively or additionally, the framework frame may have different length cross connection bars and / or it may be provided with respect to the longitudinal straps differently steep employees cross tie rods.

In addition to the aforementioned design of the functional body in the form of a framework, the functional body may also have sections of a meandering, wavy, stepped and / or zigzag course, which essentially follows a longitudinal extension of the tool carrier. The reinforcing body may in particular consist of a profile carrier, which has the said course and has a substantially constant cross section, but it is alternatively also possible to vary the cross section over the course. With the help of such a meandering or wave-shaped or otherwise oscillating course of the reinforcing body, a targeted elastic formation of the tool carrier can be promoted; In addition, a stress removal in different layers of the enveloping body can be achieved because the bending stresses occurring in the reinforcing beam at different points of the enveloping body and vice versa are removed. Nonetheless, a reinforcing body having such a meandering or wavy course, despite possibly high elasticity, achieves a high impact resistance of the tool carrier. As a result, in particular toothbrush necks can be made sufficiently impact resistant to withstand the frequent impact on the edge of the sink.

The said meandering or wavy-line or, if appropriate, also zigzag-shaped course of the reinforcement carrier is advantageously two-dimensional, that is to say in the form of a line. just trained. Alternatively or additionally, however, the reinforcement carrier can also have at least sections of alternating bulges in a third spatial axis. For example, the reinforcement carrier from a bolted profile, for example in the form of a helically bent wire exist.

The aforementioned oscillating, in particular meandering or wave-shaped course of the reinforcing body can have a varying amplitude along the longitudinal extension in the invention, i. the extent of the bulges transverse to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam can vary, i. become stronger and weaker over the length. In this way, on the one hand, a targeted control of the strength and rigidity can be achieved, on the other hand, an adaptation of the reinforcing body can be made to possibly varying cross sections of the tool carrier.

In order to be able to specifically control the contact pressure of the bristle field on the teeth to be brushed, but on the other hand to prevent gum irritations caused by often awkward cleaning movements along the tooth flanks, the functional body embedded in the enveloping body can be designed in such a way according to a further aspect of the present invention in that its area moment of inertia with respect to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal center plane or plane of symmetry of the tool carrier is a multiple, for example at least twice, but also more than five times, its area moment of inertia with respect to an axis lying in said longitudinal center or symmetry plane of the tool carrier. As a result, the bending stiffness of the handle or brush tube is selectively increased against deflections in the aforementioned longitudinal center or plane of symmetry, while transverse bends are specifically permitted or the elasticity is hardly influenced in the transverse direction. In this way, the vertical contact pressure of the bristle field can be selectively controlled on the tooth flanks, while the brush head can bend away during upward and wiping movements along the side edges of the teeth at too high a resistance, for example on the gum line.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the embedded Armierungskörper may be formed substantially plate-shaped and / or planar, wherein it advantageously is arranged substantially upright in the handle or brush tube of a toothbrush, ie the Armierungskörper has in the longitudinal center or plane of symmetry of the toothbrush a maximum extent, which is a multiple of its extension transverse to said longitudinal center or plane of symmetry.

However, in order to avoid a too hard training of the tool carrier and selectively allow bending away of the cleaning tool, in particular bristle field, carrying tool carrier portion may be provided according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention that the Armierungskörper ends before a tool attachment portion and / or the tool attachment portion is formed without armoring , If the tool carrier is a toothbrush tube or a toothbrush handle, it can be provided in an advantageous manner that the reinforcing body ends in front of the bristle field. In particular, the reinforcement carrier may extend from the end opposite the bristle field to approximately the toothbrush neck.

In principle, only one functional body can be embedded in the enveloping body of the tool carrier, wherein advantageously the functional body has a main plane which is arranged coplanar with the longitudinal center or symmetry plane of the tool carrier. Alternatively, however, a plurality of functional bodies may be embedded in the enveloping body, for example, two plate-shaped reinforcing bodies may be embedded in a toothbrush handle to the right and left of the longitudinal median plane.

Fig. 1:

eine Seitenansicht einer Handzahnbürste, deren Handgriff als Verbundkörper ausgebildet ist und eine Armierung in Form eines Stabwerkrahmens aufweist,

Fig. 2:

eine Seitenansicht der Zahnbürste aus Fig. 1,

Fig.3:

eine Seitenansicht einer Zahnbürste ähnlich den vorhergehenden Figuren, deren Handgriff ebenfalls als Verbundkörper ausgebildet ist und eine Armierung in Form eines Stabwerkrahmens aufweist, wobei der Hüllkörper transparent ausgebildet und der eingebettete Funktionskörper durch den Hüllkörper hindurch sichtbar ist,

Fig. 4:

eine Seitenansicht des eingebetteten Funktionskörpers der Zahnbürste aus Fig. 3,

Fig. 5:

eine Seitenansicht eines eingebetteten Funktionskörpers nach einer alternativen Ausführung für eine Zahnbürste aus den Figuren 1 bis 3,

Fig. 6:

eine Seitenansicht eines eingebetteten Funktionskörpers nach einer nicht den Gegenstand der Erfindung betreffenden Ausführung für eine Zahnbürste aus den Figuren 1 bis 3,

Fig. 7:

eine Seitenansicht eines eingebetteten Funktionskörpers nach einer nicht den Gegenstand der Erfindung betreffenden Ausführung für eine Zahnbürste aus den Figuren 1 bis 3,

Fig. 8:

eine Seitenansicht eines eingebetteten Funktionskörpers nach einer nicht den Gegenstand der Erfindung betreffenden Ausführung für eine Zahnbürste aus den Figuren 1 bis 3,

Fig. 9:

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Funktionskörpers für eine Zahnbürste nach Fig. 1,

Fign.10.1 bis 10.13:

schematische Querschnittsdarstellungen entlang der Schnittlinie A-A in Fig. 9 für Ausführungsformen des Funktionskörpers, die nicht Gegenstand der vorliegenden Erfindung sind,

Fign. 11.1 bis 11.6:

schematische Schnittdarstellungen durch den Schnitt C-C im Funktionskörper nach Fig. 4,

Fign. 12.1 bis 12.3:

schematische Schnittdarstellungen entlang dem Schnitt B-B im Funktionskörper nach Fig. 4,

Fig. 13:

eine Seitenansicht einer alternativen Ausführungsform des Funktionskörpers für eine Zahnbürste nach den Fign. 1 oder 15,

Fig. 14:

eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren alternativen Ausführungsform eines Funktionskörpers für eine Zahnbürste nach den Fign. 1 oder 15,

Fig. 15:

eine Seitenansicht einer Zahnbürste mit einem Funktionskörper nach Fig. 14 oder 15,

Fig. 16:

eine Seitenansicht einer Zahnbürste mit einem Funktionskörper nach Fig. 14 oder 15,

Fig. 17:

eine schematische Darstellung der Werkzeughaltevorrichtung zur Halterung des Funktionskörpers im Spritzgussprozess für eine Zahnbürste nach einer der obigen Figuren und

Fig. 18:

eine Seitenschnittdarstellung des Funktionskörpers mit Werkzeughaltevorrichtung nach Fig. 17.

Other features, advantages, objects and applications of the present invention or specific embodiments thereof will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments. All described or illustrated features alone or in any combination and sub-combination form the subject matter of the present invention, also independent of their summary in the claims or their dependency. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1:

a side view of a manual toothbrush, the handle is designed as a composite body and has a reinforcement in the form of a framework framework,

Fig. 2:

a side view of the toothbrush Fig. 1 .

Figure 3:

a side view of a toothbrush similar to the previous figures, the handle is also formed as a composite body and having a reinforcement in the form of a framework framework, wherein the enveloping body formed transparent and the embedded functional body is visible through the enveloping body,

4:

a side view of the embedded functional body of the toothbrush Fig. 3 .

Fig. 5:

a side view of an embedded functional body according to an alternative embodiment of a toothbrush from the FIGS. 1 to 3 .

Fig. 6:

a side view of an embedded functional body according to an embodiment of the invention for a toothbrush from the FIGS. 1 to 3 .

Fig. 7:

a side view of an embedded functional body according to an embodiment of the invention for a toothbrush from the FIGS. 1 to 3 .

Fig. 8:

a side view of an embedded functional body according to an embodiment of the invention for a toothbrush from the FIGS. 1 to 3 .

Fig. 9:

a schematic side view of a functional body for a toothbrush after Fig. 1 .

Figures 10.1 to 10.13:

schematic cross-sectional views along the section line AA in Fig. 9 for embodiments of the functional body, which are not the subject of the present invention,

FIGS. 11.1 to 11.6:

schematic sectional views through the section CC in the functional body according to Fig. 4 .

FIGS. 12.1 to 12.3:

schematic sectional views along the section BB in the functional body according to Fig. 4 .

Fig. 13:

a side view of an alternative embodiment of the functional body for a toothbrush after the FIGS. 1 or 15 .

Fig. 14:

a side view of another alternative embodiment of a functional body for a toothbrush after the FIGS. 1 or 15 .

Fig. 15:

a side view of a toothbrush with a functional body after Fig. 14 or 15 .

Fig. 16:

a side view of a toothbrush with a functional body after Fig. 14 or 15 .

Fig. 17:

a schematic representation of the tool holding device for holding the functional body in the injection molding process for a toothbrush according to one of the above figures and

Fig. 18:

a side sectional view of the functional body with tool holding device according to Fig. 17 ,

In the Figures 1 and 2 is a toothbrush 1 drawn in the form of a manual toothbrush, which has a total of rod-shaped handle 2, which merges into a brush neck 3 and is connected via this with a brush head 4, to which a bristle field 5 is optionally replaceable attached. The handle 2 thus forms together with the brush neck 3, a tool carrier 6, which forms a tool attachment portion in the region of the brush head 4, to which the said bristle field 5 is attached.

The handle 2 is slightly arcuately curved and has a varying over its longitudinal extent cross-section to lie better in the hand. In the transition region between the handle 2 and the brush neck 3 - in particular adjacent to the thumb rest 25 of the handle 3 - a slight bend is provided. Said brush neck 3 is slightly curved in the opposite direction to the handle 2, so that the aforementioned tool holder 6 as a whole a light S-shaped contour has. The tool carrier 6 is formed symmetrically overall, so that the plane of the FIG. 2 a longitudinal center and symmetry plane 7 of the toothbrush 1 forms. The toothbrush is curved in the handle area on the bottom outward and on the top, this is the same side on which the thumb rest and the bristle field is provided on the head, with flat surfaces, preferably provided with roof-shaped surfaces.

The handle 2 and a portion of the brush head 4 are formed as a composite body. A lying in the interior functional body 8, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as Armierungskörper is embedded in an enveloping body 9, in particular material, force and / or positively connected thereto, wherein the aforementioned functional body 8 is formed of metal and the Covering body 9 is made of a softer, impact resistant and / or dampening material. For example, the functional body may be made of stainless metal, in particular steel. In the case of a metal solution, the functional body is produced by punching or lasering or by a chemical or electro-chemical process, especially if recesses are required. For example, the enveloping body 9 of a plastic, so preferably from a plastic component such as polypropylene or a copolyester (transparent) or - in a variant in combination with the hard component PP or others or without them - with a (optionally transparent) elastomer (such as TPE ) be injection molded. In the illustrated embodiment, the enveloping body 9 is not formed material homogeneous, but composed of several material sections or layers. A soft plastic layer, for example in the two-component injection-molding process, may be applied in sections to a hard plastic layer. In the illustrated embodiment, the surface soft plastic portion 10 includes surface corrugation. Alternatively, the portion 10 is formed of the same component as the remaining plastic enveloping body, so that the entire enveloping body is formed of a component.

As FIG. 1 shows, advantageously, the embedded functional body 8 may be formed substantially plate-shaped or have a plate-shaped envelope surface and be arranged standing upright in the handle 2, wherein the functional body 8 in the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 1 extends substantially coplanar with the aforementioned longitudinal center plane 7 of the toothbrush 1. The embedded functional body 8 extends from the end facing away from the bristle field 5 Handle 2 to approximately in the middle of the brush neck 3 or reaching up to the brush head 4 into it; There, however, the functional body 8 terminates, so that an adjacent to the brush head 4 part of the brush neck 3 and said brush head 4 are formed even without arming. The variant of the functional body 8 after FIG. 8 , which is not the subject of the invention, (this is optionally also possible for the other alternatives of the functional body) extends from preferably entire handle portion 19 to the entire (up to the brush head) or partial neck portion 18 of the toothbrush.

Said functional body 8 is in FIG. 4 shown separately in a side view. He forms in the illustrated embodiment, a flat truss frame 4 in the manner of a truss, wherein two longitudinal straps or strap bars 12, which extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the handle 2 and the brush neck 3, along the edges of the frame frame 11 are arranged or Form edges of the framework frame 11 and a plurality of cross-connecting rods 13 are provided between said longitudinal straps 12 and connect them together. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-connecting rods 13 are arranged at an acute angle to the longitudinal straps 12, so that as a whole, a - roughly speaking - serpentine course of the cross-connecting rods 13 results. Advantageously, the longitudinal straps 12 may be formed of the same material together with the transverse connecting rods 13, for example, the framework frame 11 may be punched out of a metal sheet.

As FIG. 4 shows, the longitudinal straps 12 are adapted in their course to the outer contour of the handle 2 and the brush neck 3. They essentially follow the curved or kinked course of the longitudinal section outer contour of said handle 2 and of the brush neck 3. The longitudinal straps 12 thereby vary in their distance from each other along the longitudinal extent of the toothbrush. The cross-connecting rods 13 are accordingly formed at different longitudinal sections of the handle 2 of different lengths, such. B. in the region of the bend between the handle 2 and the brush neck 3 is particularly long, cf. FIG. 4 ,

A similar structure of the embedded functional body 8 is shown by the embodiment FIG. 5 , Again, the functional body 8 forms a framework frame 11, but only in sections. In particular, a portion 16 is provided between two sections 14 and 15 which are formed as a truss frame 11, in which the Functional body 8 is formed in the form of a solid strip or a solid plate without openings. Furthermore, the execution shows FIG. 5 in that the frame framework 11 can have more than two longitudinal straps 12 at least in sections. In the transition region between the handle 2 and the brush neck 3 are in the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 5 three longitudinal straps 12 provided.

The embedded functional body may also be formed in sections in the form of a meandering or wave-shaped or oscillating coil. The functional body 8 dabie consists of a profile carrier with a substantially constant cross-section in the form of a wire, which follows substantially the longitudinal extent of the handle 2 and the brush head 3, however, with respect to this longitudinal extension back and forth bulges, so that an oscillating course is given whose center line substantially follows the curved longitudinal extent of the handle 2 and the brush neck 3.

Another possible embodiment of the embedded functional body 8 does not relate to the subject matter of the invention FIG. 7 , According to which the functional body 8 consists essentially of a rod-shaped profile carrier, the cross-section, however, changes in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the cross-section decreases towards the ends, while a middle section of the functional body 8 has an enlarged cross-section with respect to the end sections. The rod-shaped functional body 8 according to FIG. 7 has a generally slightly S-shaped curved course, which essentially follows the correspondingly curved course of the longitudinal extension of the handle 2 and the brush neck 3.

Not concerning the subject of the invention FIG. 8 shows a further variant of the functional body 8. This is designed as a plate-shaped metal body with recesses in the form of circular openings. This round recesses (tool-related) can be easier to produce.

Advantageously, the enveloping body 9 of the tool carrier 6 may be formed transparent, as is the embodiment according to FIG. 3 shows. As a result, the embedded functional body 8 is visible through the enveloping body 9, allowing observation of the embedded functional body 8.

Fig. 9 schematically shows a side view of a functional body 8, which may have any form of truss structure.

The FIGS. 10.1 to 10.13 show schematic variants of the cross-sectional area of the functional body at the location of the section AA in Fig. 9 , The variants according to FIGS. 10.1 to 10.13 are not the subject of the present invention. It is understood that these cross-sectional representations after the FIGS. 10.1 to 10.13 preferably over the entire length of the functional body 8 and not only at the in Fig. 9 represented position of the section AA or as in the embodiment according to FIG. 7 vary over the length. Deviations in the section can in particular by the kind of the recesses in Fig. 9 arise as these in the FIGS. 10.1 to 10.13 not further illustrated or considered, although they may be given. After the FIGS. 10.1 to 10.3 the cross-sectional shape of the functional body is in the form of a polygon. Here, the cross section may form a triangle, a quadrilateral, in particular a square, a pentagon or a polygon with further corners. After the FIGS. 10.4 to 10.6 is the cross-sectional area in specific geometry shapes like a cross ( Fig. 10.4 ), a wave (see Fig. 10.5 ) or in the form of two plate-shaped upstanding beams, which are in particular connected to a transverse bar, so that the overall shape of an H is formed in cross section. Alternatively, the cross-sectional geometry of the functional body according to the FIGS. 10.7 T-shaped, Fig. 10.8 I-shaped or double-T-shaped and Fig. 10.9 V-shaped. After the FIGS. 10.10 and 10.11 is the cross-sectional geometry of the functional body star-shaped with teeth, where n (number of teeth) = 2 to about 8 can be. Shown is a star shape with three and four points. Next alternatively, the cross-sectional shape of the functional body according to the FIGS. 10.12 and 10.13 formed circular or elliptical, with optionally a cavity 26 is provided in the circular profile. All these illustrated cross-sectional profiles of the functional body can be arbitrarily combined with different Ausnehmungsgeometrien of the functional body in side view. In all embodiments of the functional body, the flexural rigidity and / or an area moment of inertia of the functional body with respect to an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of symmetry 7 of the tool carrier 6 is a multiple of a flexural rigidity and / or a moment of area of the functional body 8 with respect to an axis lying in said longitudinal symmetry plane 7. This ensures that in the neck 3 and handle area 2 despite extremely low overall height of the tool carrier and without further reinforcement measures in the tool carrier sufficient bending stiffness or sufficient area moment of inertia is given, when the brush head is force-loaded in a direction toward the back of the bristle field 5, as is common in brushing teeth.

The Fig. 11.1 to 11.6 show different cross-sectional geometries of the functional body 8 along the section CC in the functional body Fig. 4 , Thus, cross-sectional shapes of the functional body in a direction transverse to the inflow direction of the plastic of the tool carrier 6 during the injection process deviating from the edged formation Fig. 11.1 For rounded, circular, oval or more angular cross-sectional shape possible. The FIGS. 12.1 to 12.3 show cross-sectional shapes which are also circular, teardrop-shaped or otherwise rounded (see in particular FIGS. 12.2 and 12.3 ), so that in the flow direction of the injected plastic for the enveloping body 9 a turbulence-free injection and inflow is possible. The flow direction is in the FIGS. 12.1 to 12.3 represented symbolically by the arrow direction 31. In Fig. 12.1 is a bubble or Lunkerbildung 30 indicated because here the cross-sectional profiles are not rounded. The further optimized embodiments according to the FIGS. 12.2 and 12.3 are thus optimized to avoid blistering during injection / inflow of the enveloping body 9. The cross sections can with any type of function carriers with all possible recesses or without recesses and with all cross sections after the FIGS. 10.1 to 10.13 be combined.

The Fig. 13 shows the side view of a functional body 8 with truss structure, which is slightly modified to the in Fig. 4 is, where the cross sections of the truss belts as in the FIGS. 11.1 and 12.1 are formed. The Fig. 14 shows an alternative training too Fig. 13 of the functional body 8 in side view, in which case the cross-sectional areas on the outer contours Fig. 11.1 and the truss struts in the inner area Fig. 12.3 rounded are formed. This is an optimization against blistering in the melt flow direction course when injecting the plastic component for the enveloping body 9 in the training after Fig. 14 given. The two examples after FIGS. 13 and 14 also illustrate that any combinations of the cross-sectional shapes according to the FIGS. 11 and 12 are executable. Thus, portions of the functional body 8 which have a transverse component in the case of a recess to the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush (ie also predominantly along the melt flow direction) are preferably provided with fillets.

The FIGS. 15 and 16 show toothbrushes in side view, in which the functional body 8, for example, either after FIG. 13 or FIG. 14 are used. In the illustration after Fig. 15 the functional body is shown as a visible part and in the illustration after Fig. 16 the surrounding material of the enveloping body 9 is shown as a visible part. In particular from Fig. 15 Thus, it can be seen that the rear end 22 of the functional body need not necessarily extend to the rear end 24 of the handle 2, since bending forces in the rear portion do not play a significant role in the daily use of the toothbrush. The functional body 8 thus extends at least over half or two thirds of the handle 2, starting from the thumb rest 25 in the direction of the rear end 24 of the enveloping body of the toothbrush. In the other longitudinal direction to the bristle field, the functional body with the front end extends at least up to a third of the thumb rest 25 to the neck portion, as for example in Fig. 3 is shown. Alternatively, an extension up to the bristle field or in a variant up to below the bristle field in the head area inside (not shown possible). Preferably, the functional body 8 extends with its front end 23 over the entire neck portion 3 or at least one third of the longitudinal extent.

The toothbrush with one of the above functional bodies can be manufactured as follows. In a first step, the functional body is made as a metal part, in particular as already described above, e.g. punched, made. In a second step, the functional body is placed in an injection mold and fixed. In a third step, the functional body is encapsulated with one or more plastic components of the enveloping body in the tool. The bristles occur after or before by one of the known methods.

The fixation of the functional body in the tool can be done in different ways. In a first variant, the functional body, in particular to the contour projecting, retaining lugs on which the fixation takes place in the injection mold. These are later removed, for example at predetermined breaking points after encapsulation with the enveloping body or overmolded with another component. In a second variant, the fixation is carried out at cutouts 27, 28, 29 and 32, which are not encapsulated by the enveloping body 9, but whose contour largely continues or completes the contour of the enveloping body. This variant is with the FIGS. 15 to 18 shown. The enveloping body 9 thus has corresponding to the cutouts 27, 28, 29, 32 corresponding recesses on which after the completed encapsulation of the enveloping body 9 of the functional body 8 visible and tangible emerges and is exposed. The FIGS. 17 and 18 show schematically how the functional body 8 - in this case - by two upper and two lower holding jaws 21 is clasped and fixed. The holding jaws are integrated into the injection molding process as part of the injection molding tool. In a further sub-variant, the recesses are overmolded and filled with another component. According to a third variant, the fixation of the functional body 8 in the injection molding tool by a side extension (not shown) of the functional body 8, which allows pinching or a torsion and secure against displacement bearings of the functional body 8 in the tool. For example, the functional body 8 for this purpose, in particular at its end portions, not as lying in the longitudinal plane of symmetry 7, but on both sides of the envelope body supporting, for example, corrugated or meandering be formed. Also the cross sections of the FIGS. 10.1 to 10.13 favor such support in the tool.

The function carrier shown in the figures is in a vertical extent Y (see FIG. 2 ) in the longitudinal plane of symmetry 7 to 0 to 2 mm, in particular to 0.05 to 1.5 mm, in particular to 0.1 to 1 mm and in particular to 0.4 to 0.8 mm from the enveloping body 9 overmolded. Accordingly, the functional body of the Zahnbürstenober- and underside is barely covered (except for any exemptions). Preferably, the functional body 8 - predominantly or almost or completely - to the side surfaces or side edges or in transverse extent X (see FIG. 1 ) To the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush 6 with a distance enveloped or molded around the side of 2 to 15 mm, in particular 2 to 6 mm. It is thus used almost the entire extent or at least 80% of the height of the top to bottom of the toothbrush to ensure the necessary bending stiffness and resistance to breakage in this direction. In the transverse direction X, however, the functional body extends only in particular over less than 5 to 15% of the total extension from side to side of the toothbrush. Thus, by the embodiments described above unusual toothbrush geometries can be realized, with a total of slim enveloping body, which is predominantly slimmer in Y extension in the handle portion 2 as in the transverse direction X thereto. It also Taillierungen in the grip area and or in the neck area in an otherwise no longer feasible manner can be implemented (see Figures 1 and 2 ) without endangering the stability of the toothbrush.

Claims (12)

1. Device for dental and/or oral cleaning - in particular, a toothbrush - preferably, with an approximately rod-shaped tool carrier (6) to which a cleaning tool - in particular, a bristle field (5) - is attachable, wherein the tool carrier (6) is designed as a composite body that has a shell body (7) made of plastic and a functional body (8) made of metal that is embedded in the shell body (9), wherein the functional body (8), at least in segments, as a rod frame structure in the manner of a framework that has longitudinal belts (12) traveling essentially in the longitudinal direction of the tool carrier and a plurality of transverse connecting rods (13).
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the rod structure is designed as a rod framework (11).
3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal belts (12) are adapted in terms of their course to the outer contour of the shell body (9), and have a course deviating from a straight line, at least in segments.
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal belts (12) form the outer contour of the rod framework (11) and/or are arranged laterally at the edges.
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rod framework (11) is formed integrally in one piece in a materially homogeneous manner.
6. Device according one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal belts (12) have a varying distance from one another along their longitudinal extension.
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transverse connecting rods (13) are designed to be of different lengths and/or are placed at different angles to the longitudinal belts (12).
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional body (8) has, in segments, a meandering or undulating line-shaped course along a longitudinal extension of the tool carrier (6).
9. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the meandering or undulating line-shaped course has an amplitude varying over the longitudinal extension of the tool carrier (6).
10. Device according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the meandering or undulating line-shaped course is of a two-dimensional design.
11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional body (8) has a plate-shaped shell surface that is arranged standing on edge in or parallel to the longitudinal plane of symmetry (7) of the tool carrier (6).
12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tool carrier (6) forms a brush tube and/or a handle (2) of a toothbrush (1), wherein the functional body (8) ends before a bristle field attachment segment of the tool carrier (6), and/or the bristle field attachment segment of the tool carrier (6) is free of reinforcement.

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