EP2225966A1 - Zahnbürstenborste und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer solchen Borste - Google Patents

Zahnbürstenborste und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer solchen Borste Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2225966A1
EP2225966A1 EP09003095A EP09003095A EP2225966A1 EP 2225966 A1 EP2225966 A1 EP 2225966A1 EP 09003095 A EP09003095 A EP 09003095A EP 09003095 A EP09003095 A EP 09003095A EP 2225966 A1 EP2225966 A1 EP 2225966A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filament
cover layer
bristle
corrosive agent
recess
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09003095A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Karl Herzog
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braun GmbH
Original Assignee
Braun GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Braun GmbH filed Critical Braun GmbH
Priority to EP09003095A priority Critical patent/EP2225966A1/de
Priority to EP10708641A priority patent/EP2403376A1/de
Priority to PCT/IB2010/050928 priority patent/WO2010100618A1/en
Priority to CN2010800102749A priority patent/CN102341016A/zh
Priority to US12/768,988 priority patent/US20100306944A1/en
Publication of EP2225966A1 publication Critical patent/EP2225966A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/006—Antimicrobial, disinfectant bristles, handle, bristle-carrier or packaging
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/023—Bristles with at least a core and at least a partial sheath
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0238—Bristles with non-round cross-section
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0276—Bristles having pointed ends
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0284—Bristles having rounded ends
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0292—Bristles having split ends
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/04—Preparing bristles
    • A46D1/05—Splitting; Pointing
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01D—MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D10/00—Physical treatment of artificial filaments or the like during manufacture, i.e. during a continuous production process before the filaments have been collected
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01D—MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D5/00—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
    • D01D5/28—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like while mixing different spinning solutions or melts during the spinning operation; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D01D5/30—Conjugate filaments; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D01D5/34—Core-skin structure; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • D01F11/00—Chemical after-treatment of artificial filaments or the like during manufacture
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • D01F8/00—Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to filaments, in particular bristles and more particularly tooth-cleaning bristles comprising a surface structure with at least one surface recess such as dimples and pittings, and to a method for manufacturing such a filament. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a toothbrush head including a plurality of tufts of such bristles.
  • a plurality of bristles forming a bristle field with a plurality of bristle tufts are provided for effecting the desired function.
  • the bristles are often filaments, in particular monofilaments made of plastic and comprise a smooth, cylindrical circumferential surface.
  • filaments also may have non-circular cross-sections e.g. with a polygonal shape, a star shape, an oval shape etc.
  • the circumferential surface a specific surface structure having a desired roughness and/or a relief-like structure having projections and recesses like dimples and pittings.
  • a surface structure may have different functions. Basically, such a surface structure increases the surface area of the filament in comparison to a filament with a smooth, cylindrical surface. Such a surface area increase provides larger adhesive forces, so in cleaning applications, debris and dust particles are better held on the filament or, in other applications, liquids or powder may be better held on the filament. Furthermore, the surface structure may improve the cleaning efficiency in particular for plaque and other particles strongly bonded to the teeth. Particularly, by means of an appropriate surface structure the filament provides an abrasive effect. For some applications it is desired that the cross-section of the filament varies along the longitudinal extension of the filament.
  • Such a hot pressed surface structure has, however, some disadvantages.
  • there are certain restrictions with regard to the achievable shapes of the surface structure Usually, only shallow dimples and pittings with a smooth, rounded edge may be provided, what is also due to the rubber-elastic material of the cover layer which shows a certain resilience and tends to regain its original shape after a hot pressing treatment. Due to the shape limitations, such a surface structure may achieve limited abrasive effects and thus a limited cleaning efficiency only.
  • such a hot pressing process is rather complicated for filaments having a tiny diameter and thus rather expensive.
  • the present invention aims to provide an improved filament with a surface structure of the aforementioned type and an improved method for manufacturing such a filament which avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and further develop the latter in an advantageous way. More particularly, the present invention aims to provide an improved surface structure on a bristle achieving high cleaning efficiency without sacrificing easy and cost-efficient manufacturing.
  • the filament body basically consists of a material which is soluble by a corrosive agent, wherein certain portions of the filament body's surface are shielded against contact by the corrosive agent whereas other portions are not shielded so that the corrosive agent may act on the soluble material of the filament body only in selected surface portions.
  • the method for manufacturing the filament is characterized in that a filament body with at least a portion made of a material soluble by a corrosive agent is covered in part with a cover layer stable to said corrosive agent such that a surface portion of said filament body substantially corresponding to said at least one surface recess is uncovered, and said filament body is contacted with said corrosive agent for a limited time to create the surface recess in said uncovered surface portion.
  • a filament according to the present invention is characterized in that its surface structure includes at least one etch pitting or etch recess in a filament body made at least in part of a material soluble by a corrosive agent.
  • etch recesses or etch pittings differ from mechanically produced recesses or pittings in their shape and contour.
  • Mechanically produced recesses and pittings such as drilled bores, hot pressed depressions or milled slots or cut slots usually have an absolutely regular and even shape exactly corresponding to a basic geometrical structure with straight or at least evenly bowing contour lines
  • etch recesses or etch pittings according to the present invention may show some surface roughness and fuzzy contour lines with deviations from precisely geometrical shapes with straight or absolutely evenly curved lines what may even further increase adhesive forces to dust particles and the desired abrasive effect for cleaning surfaces with strongly bonded pollution such as plaque.
  • the said etch recesses and etch pittings may have different shapes and arrangements on the filament.
  • a plurality of basically circular dimples may be provided in the circumferential surface of the filament, wherein such dimples may have a random distribution over the circumferential surface area or, in the alternative, may be positioned in a matrix-like distribution.
  • the surface structure may include at least one etch recess with an elongate shape that extends over at least 1/3, preferably at least 1/2 of the filament's longitudinal extension.
  • Such an elongate etch recess basically may have a slot-like shape.
  • the at least one elongate etch recess may have a shape such that the filament's cross section varies in shape over the longitudinal extension of the filament. More particularly, cross-sections taken at different longitudinal positions may differ from each other. Such varying cross-sections may be achieved by an elongate recess that varies in width and/or which has a curved longitudinal shape preferably with a curved longitudinal shape. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an elongate etch recess having a helical contour may be provided in the circumferential surface of the filament. More particularly, at least two such elongate, helically configured etch recesses may be provided on different sides of the circumferential surface of the filament.
  • the filament may have etch recesses or etch pittings of other shapes.
  • certain portions of the circumferential surface of the filament corresponding to a desired pattern may be recessed by etching so that a pattern of preferably bar-shaped and/or rib-shaped and/or pin-shaped projections formed by the non-recessed portions project in radial direction from the circumferential surface of the filament.
  • the filament may have etch recesses which form preferably bore-like channels inside the filament body.
  • Such bore-like channels may perforate the filament completely and/or may have a limited depth and/or may be interconnected with each other so a channel system is provided inside the filament body.
  • a corrosive agent resistant cover layer is provided on the filament body which basically consists of a material soluble by said corrosive agent, so certain portions of the surface of the filament body made of such a soluble material are protected against contact with the corrosive agent. Consequently, the said cover layer made of a material stable to the corrosive agent, covers only certain portions of the surface area of the filament body to be contacted with the corrosive agent.
  • the cover layer includes at least one void that gives the corrosive agent access to a respective portion of the soluble material of the filament body as said filament body is exposed to the surrounding and thus the corrosive agent in the region of said void in the cover layer.
  • the said cover layer covering certain portions of the filament body and not covering certain other portions thereof, may be applied to the filament body in different ways.
  • the said cover layer may be applied in a multiple-step process, wherein particularly in a first step the entire portion of the filament to be contacted with the corrosive agent is covered with a continuous cover layer and wherein in a further step certain portions of said initially continuous cover layer are removed to provide voids in said cover layer through which the corrosive agent gets access to the filament body's material under the cover layer.
  • Completely covering the filament portion to be contacted with the corrosive agent first and removing certain cover layer portions then in a second step provides for easy manufacturing with still reliable covering of the portions to be protected against etching.
  • the cover layer in a one-step process, wherein the cover layer material is deposited on the filament body only in the portions to be covered, whereas no material is deposited on the surface portions which are not to be covered. Nevertheless, the aforementioned application of the cover layer in a multiple-step process is preferred in terms of process handling, cost efficiency and reliable covering of the surface portions to be protected against etching.
  • a photosensitive material may be used for the cover layer so certain portions of the cover layer may be removed or fixed by irradiating the respective portions with light or any other appropriate radiation. More particularly, it is a preferred embodiment of the invention to completely cover the filament's surface, or at least the portion of the filament's surface to be contacted with the corrosive agent, with a photosensitive cover layer material in a first step and then, in another step, to subject only portions of said photosensitive cover layer material to light so the respective irradiated portions are changed in their material properties compared to the non-irradiated portions, whereas the other portions not irradiated do not change their properties.
  • the irradiated portions may be removed by a photographic developer.
  • a negatively photosensitive material which is fixed by light irradiation. In this case, the portions of the initially continuous cover layer which are to be removed are not irradiated, whereas the remaining portions which are subjected to light irradiation are fixed on the filament surface.
  • the removal of the unstable portions may be achieved in different ways.
  • the photosensitive cover layer material including so to say stable portions and unstable portions may be contacted with an appropriate liquid such as a photographic developer which removes the unstable portions of the cover layer.
  • the filament provided with the respective continuous cover layer including stable and unstable portions may be dipped and drained into a respective bath of liquid.
  • a photosensitive material for the cover layer allows precisely shaping the voids in the cover layer.
  • light is irradiated onto the filament surface covered with the cover layer of photosensitive material via a mask facing the filament's surface covered with the cover layer.
  • a mask may have a tubular configuration surrounding the respective filament from all sides and having openings allowing the access of light to certain portions of the filament only.
  • lenses may be used to direct the light exactly to the portions to be subjected to irradiation. Such lenses are preferably positioned between the respective mask and the filament surface.
  • a light irradiation system providing a precisely focused light beam also may be used to achieve selected irradiation.
  • a laser beam could be used to effect curing of certain portions of the photosensitive cover layer material only.
  • the aforementioned embodiment with masking of the cover layer material is more preferred in terms of cost efficiency and safety measures, since no specific safety measures necessary for laser applications are necessary.
  • the cover layer stable to the corrosive agent may be applied to the filament body made of the material soluble by the corrosive agent in a co-extrusion process.
  • the main filament body made of the material soluble by the corrosive agent may be co-extruded with a circumferential cover layer made at least in part of a material stable to said corrosive agent.
  • the co-extruded cover layer may be subjected to mechanical treatment. For example, bores may be drilled into the cover layer or desired recesses may be cut into the cover layer by other mechanical tools.
  • the cover layer is co-extruded from a mixture of at least two materials including a first material stable to the corrosive agent and a second material soluble by the corrosive agent, wherein the co-extrusion process is controlled such that in the co-extruded cover layer there is an inhomogeneous distribution of the said two materials.
  • the second material soluble by the corrosive agent is distributed in the co-extruded cover layer in a desired pattern which may include a random distribution of basically circular spots or a distribution in longitudinal stripes etc.
  • the filament covered with the initially continuous cover layer is contacted with an appropriate corrosive agent for removing the material portions of the cover layer not stable to this corrosive agent.
  • the corrosive agent for producing the voids in the cover layer may be the same corrosive agent used for etching the recesses into the filament body's core made of a respective soluble material.
  • the materials may be selected such that different corrosive agents are necessary for and subsequently applied to the filament so as to remove first, by means of a first corrosive agent, only the respective portions of the cover layer to produce the desired voids therein and then, in a second step, by means of a second corrosive agent, to produce the desired recesses in the filament body through the previously produced voids in the cover layer.
  • a first corrosive agent only the respective portions of the cover layer to produce the desired voids therein and then, in a second step, by means of a second corrosive agent, to produce the desired recesses in the filament body through the previously produced voids in the cover layer.
  • the aforementioned steps of covering the filament body with the cover layer, providing the desired voids in the cover layer and/or contacting the partly covered filament body with the corrosive agent are effected in a continuous process in which a long filament roving is continuously moved through a plurality of respective stations in a subsequent way.
  • a continuous fiber or filament may be taken from a spool and then moved, e.g. by means of respective deflection wheels, through different treating stations so as to produce the desired surface structure on the continuous filament roving which is then, after having created the surface structure, cut or otherwise separated into a plurality of separate bristles.
  • the long filament roving is continuously moved first through a cover layer application station in which preferably liquid photosensitive cover layer material is applied to the filament roving.
  • the filament roving may be moved through a dipping station.
  • the filament roving may then be moved through an irradiation station in which certain portions of the cover layer are subjected to light irradiation.
  • light flashes can be applied through a mask and the openings thereof, so that only certain portions of the cover layer material are irradiated even when the filament roving is continuously moving.
  • the continuously moving filament roving can be directed through a photographic developer dipping which forms part of a respective cover layer removal station. Thereafter, the long filament roving may be continuously moved through an etching station which may include a corrosive agent dipping station so as to dip and drain the filament roving with the corrosive agent. Finally, the filament roving can be moved through a cutting station to cut the filament roving into a plurality of bristles.
  • the etched recesses or etched pittings may be filled with a medical treatment medium such as, e.g., an antibacterial liquid or gel that is dispensed and applied to the teeth and the gingiva during cleaning the teeth.
  • a medical treatment medium such as, e.g., an antibacterial liquid or gel that is dispensed and applied to the teeth and the gingiva during cleaning the teeth.
  • a filament or bristle roving 7 much longer than the finished bristle is taken from a spool 11, continuously moved through a plurality of treatment stations and wound around a second storage spool 12. Between the two spools 11 and 12, the said bristle roving 7 runs through a plurality of treatment stations, wherein the bristle roving 7 is deflected by means of a plurality of rollers 13 to direct the bristle or filament roving 7 through the treatment sites.
  • the filament roving 7 coming from the first storage spool 11 is preferably a filament or monofilament made of plastic with an e.g. cylindrical shape and/or circular cross section.
  • the roving coming from the first spool 11 is a filament made of a material soluble by a corrosive agent.
  • the bristle can be made of a plastic such as polyamide or polybutylene terephthalate.
  • the filament or bristle roving 7 runs through a coating bath 14 of a coating station 15.
  • Said coating bath 14 contains a photosensitive liquid which changes its condition when subjected to light.
  • the liquid adhering to the bristle roving 7 leaving said coating bath 14 is dried by means of a drier 16 preferably including a heat source such as a heater.
  • a cover layer 5 completely covering the circumferential surface of the filament as shown in fig. 2 .
  • Said cover layer removing station 17 includes an irradiation station 18 and a photographic developer station 19.
  • said irradiation station 18 In said irradiation station 18, only portions of the circumferential surface of the filament are irradiated with light so that the cover layer 5 includes irradiated portions and non-irradiated portions.
  • said irradiation station 18 includes a preferably tubular mask 20 through which the bristle roving 7 runs. Said mask 20 is provided with at least one through-hole through which radiation from a light source 50 can be applied to the cover layer 5. As shown in fig.
  • the mask 20 does not need to have a tubular shape, but may comprise a plurality of masking elements 21 facing different sides of the bristle 1, each of said masking elements preferably comprising at least one through-hole through which radiation of a predetermined cross-sectional shape is applied to the circumferential surface of the bristle 1.
  • optical means 52 such as lenses 51, reflectors etc. may be further used to direct light in a predetermined pattern onto the bristle.
  • lenses 52 may be positioned between the masking elements 21 and the bristle 1 to focus the light beams or light flashes.
  • the irradiation may make the photosensitive material stable to developer liquid or unstable to developer liquid.
  • photosensitive reaction is known as such as positive photosensitive reaction or negative photosensitive reaction.
  • positive photosensitive material is used for the coating layer 5
  • the irradiated portions are removed by contacting the cover layer 5 with photographic developer liquid in a developer bath of developer station 19.
  • a negative photographic reaction is utilized, the portions of the cover layer 5 that should remain on the bristle 1 are irradiated and thus so to say cured to make such portions resistant against the photographic developer.
  • the cover layer 5 includes a pattern of voids corresponding to the pattern of the surface structure to be produced in the bristle's circumferential surface.
  • remaining developer liquid may be removed from the bristle roving 7.
  • the filament then runs through the etching station 22 including a corrosive agent bath 23.
  • the path of the bristle roving 7 through said corrosive agent bath 23 is adjusted to have a defined length in response to the speed of the filament so that a desired contact time is achieved.
  • the depth 24 and/or the horizontal length 25 of the path in the liquid bath 23 may be adjusted to achieve the desired time period over which the bristle is contacted by the corrosive agent.
  • the conveying speed of the bristle roving may be adjusted, wherein, however, the aforementioned adjustment of the length of the dipping path is preferred since adjustment of the speed also affects the other treatment stations.
  • the said corrosive agent gets access to the filament 1 under the cover layer 5 through the voids therein and consequently, material of said bristle body 4 is removed in the region of the voids in the cover layer 5.
  • This is basically illustrated by fig. 3 showing dimples or pittings created in the bristle body 4 at positions where the cover layer 5 has voids 3. In neighboring portions where the cover layer 5 has no voids 3, the bristle body 4 is prevented from contacting the corrosive agent so the bristle body 4 can maintain its initial configuration.
  • the manufacturing method does not necessarily include use of a spool from which the initial bristle roving is taken.
  • the filament 1 may directly come from the extrusion process, wherein preferably the filament coming from a nozzle 26 of an extruder is preferably cooled in a cooling station 27 which may include a cooling bath into which the filament is extruded.
  • the cooled filament is then preferably lengthened and/or stretched in a tensioning station 28 which may include a plurality of biased rollers about which the filament runs, cf. fig. 4 . Thereafter, the process may continue with coating station 15 as shown in fig. 1 .
  • the cover layer 5 may be provided to the bristle body 4 in a co-extrusion process that is illustrated by fig. 6 .
  • the filament 1 is extruded by means of a suitable nozzle 26 which is known as such and adapted to co-extrude a thin circumferential cover layer 5 onto the core body of the extruded filament.
  • the co-extruded cover layer 5 is made of at least two different materials including a material stable to at least one corrosive agent and another material not stable to said corrosive agent.
  • the co-extrusion process is controlled in such a way that the said two materials are distributed inhomogeneously in the cover layer 5.
  • the material not stable to the corrosive agent may be concentrated in randomly distributed spots 29.
  • the cover layer 5 is contacted with a suitable corrosive agent, the said spots of material not stable to the corrosive agent are removed so respective voids are created in the cover layer.
  • the desired voids in the cover layer 5 also can be produced by means of tools 30 such as laser beams, water jets, sand jets, milling tools, drilling tools or other mechanical or non-mechanical tools etc.
  • tools 30 such as laser beams, water jets, sand jets, milling tools, drilling tools or other mechanical or non-mechanical tools etc.
  • the corrosive agent gets access to the bristle body 4 under the said cover layer 5 so pittings or other recesses 3 can be etched.
  • the etch recesses 3 may be distributed in a specific pattern that reduces the column strength or buckling resistance of the bristle 1.
  • the bristle may have etch recesses or etch pittings spaced from each other in longitudinal direction of the bristle, wherein preferably the recesses on one side are offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the recesses on the opposite side, as is shown in fig. 8 .
  • Such a reduced buckling resistance of the bristles provides advantages in some tooth cleaning applications, e.g. in electric toothbrushes with an oscillating movement of the bristle tufts in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • Figures 9 to 11 show another embodiment of a bristle with a surface structure 2 that includes a plurality of bar-shaped projections 31 wherein said bar-shaped projections are arranged in a plurality of rings spaced in the longitudinal direction of the bristle.
  • each ring of projections includes bar-shaped projections extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bristle and bar-shaped projections extending parallel to the circumferential direction of the bristle, wherein longitudinally oriented projections alternate with circumferentially oriented projections.
  • Other configurations are possible.
  • the said projections 31 are surrounded by etched recesses. More particularly, the entire circumferential surface of the bristle 1 with the exception of the aforementioned bar-shaped projections 31 has been subjected to an etching treatment.
  • the said bar-shaped projections 31 are provided with sharp edges 32 at the boundary of their top surfaces.
  • the transition between the recessed circumferential portions and said projections is rounded, cf. fig. 10 .
  • the projections 31 also may have the shape of pins.
  • the said pins are randomly distributed over the entire circumferential surface.
  • the pin-shaped projections 31 project from the basic circumferential surface in radial direction.
  • the material of the bristle body 4 between the said pin-shaped projections 31 has been removed by etching.
  • the top surface of said pin-shaped projection is surrounded by a sharp edge 32 substantially having a 90° contour or angle.
  • the bottom of the projections is rounded into the basic circumferential surface, cf. fig. 12 .
  • through-holes 45 may be provided in the bristle body 4, which through-holes 45 may be created by an etching process as described above.
  • the said through-holes 45 extending through the bristle body 4 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof may be connected to a longitudinal cavity 33 e.g. formed by a cylindrical bore in the center of the bristle body 4.
  • the etch recesses 3 including the aforementioned through-holes 45 as well as the central cavity 33 may be filled with an application medium such as medical liquids and/or gels, cleaning substances or flavors and aromatics. Through said through-holes 45, the substance stored in said central cavity 33 may be dispensed.
  • two sections of the filament or bristle 1 spaced from each other are shielded by means of two shields 34 having no voids. Between the said two shields 34, a portion of the bristle 1 is unshielded so light sources 35 can irradiate the uncovered section of the bristle 1 and consequently the cover layer 5 can be removed completely from said section of predetermined length of the bristle 1.
  • the bristle is then contacted with the corrosive agent so that in said uncovered bristle section the diameter of the bristle is reduced, i.e. the bristle is given a reduced diameter section.
  • a section 37 with a reduced diameter alternates with sections 38 of greater or original diameter.
  • the bristle roving can be cut into pieces at the reduced diameter section. This allows, in a subsequent treatment step as illustrated by fig. 17 to create tapered bristles with a sharpened or needle-like tip.
  • the aforementioned etching process also may be used so as to manufacture bristles with a cross-section that varies along the longitudinal extension of the bristle.
  • the filament 1 after having been etched in the aforementioned way, has an unchanged diameter D in cross-sectional plane 76, whereas in cross-sectional plane 84, cf. figure 19 , the said filament has a reduced diameter d, cf. figure 20 .
  • the filament is provided with an etched surface structure including helical recesses which extend from cross-sectional plane 77 to cross-sectional plane 83, cf. figure 19 . More precisely, the said helical recesses 3 are formed by etched regions having an elongate shape and a reduced diameter, wherein the borders of said elongate recesses have a helical shape as shown in the figures.
  • each of two opposite quadrants 39 there is a step extending between the said planes 77 and 83, wherein said step follows a helical line 40 with a thread pitch in clockwise direction corresponding to a right hand thread.
  • a step between the said planes 77 and 83 wherein said step follows a helical line 42 with a thread pitch in counterclockwise direction corresponding to a left hand thread.
  • the width of the etched recess 3 between the respective helical lines 40 and 42 varies along the longitudinal extension of the bristle, more precisely increases from plane 78 to plane 82. Consequently, the bristle varies in its cross-section continuosly from cross-sectional plane to cross-sectional plane along the longitudinal extension of the bristle.
  • the bottom edge of the step defined by the helical lines 40 and 42 and limiting the recesses there between is somewhat rounded, whereas preferably the upper edge 32, cf. e.g. fig. 24 , bordering the non-etched diameter section is preferably a sharp edge with an angle of about 90°.
  • a mean diameter can be determined or calculated.
  • the said mean diameter and thus the stiffness and/or the column or buckling resistance of the bristle 1 varies continuously from the maximum value in the cross-sectional planes 76 or 77 to the minimum value in the planes 83 and 84.
  • the bristle having the helical recess as shown in figures 18 to 27 also may be further processed in a subsequent treatment step so as to create a tapered bristle with a sharpened or needle-like tip.
  • the aforementioned etching step producing the reduced diameter section and the helical recesses reduces the necessary amount of work for the said tapering step and thus the manufacturing costs.
  • the described method may be applied to filaments having a circular cross-section, but also to filaments having a cross-section deviating from a circle.
  • the respective filaments or bristles may be used for brushes and brooms, but also for dental floss, textiles, mattings, pads, nets, sponges, thermal insulations, yarns and threads and other applications.
  • a particularly preferred application for the described bristle 1 is use of such bristles in bristle tufts 53 of a toothbrush head 54 and even more particularly use thereof in an electric toothbrush 55.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
EP09003095A 2009-03-04 2009-03-04 Zahnbürstenborste und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer solchen Borste Withdrawn EP2225966A1 (de)

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EP09003095A EP2225966A1 (de) 2009-03-04 2009-03-04 Zahnbürstenborste und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer solchen Borste
EP10708641A EP2403376A1 (de) 2009-03-04 2010-03-03 Zahnbürstenborste und verfahren zur herstellung einer solchen borste
PCT/IB2010/050928 WO2010100618A1 (en) 2009-03-04 2010-03-03 Toothbrush bristle and method for manufacturing such a bristle
CN2010800102749A CN102341016A (zh) 2009-03-04 2010-03-03 牙刷刷毛和用于制造这样一种刷毛的方法
US12/768,988 US20100306944A1 (en) 2009-03-04 2010-04-28 Toothbrush bristle and method for manufacturing such a bristle

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EP2918191B1 (de) 2014-03-11 2024-01-24 The Procter & Gamble Company Kopf für ein Mundpflegehilfsmittel
US9986820B2 (en) * 2014-06-11 2018-06-05 The Procter & Gamble Company Filament having unique tip and surface characteristics
US10098447B2 (en) 2014-07-15 2018-10-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Oral-care implement having color-communicative element
US10702057B2 (en) 2015-07-07 2020-07-07 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement and monofilament bristle for use with the same
EP3251552B1 (de) 2016-06-03 2021-03-10 The Procter and Gamble Company Kopf für mundpflegevorrichtung und mundpflegevorrichtung
EP3251548B1 (de) 2016-06-03 2024-02-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Filament für eine mundpflegevorrichtung und mundpflegevorrichtung
CN106235604B (zh) * 2016-08-31 2018-03-23 王文康 一种牙刷及其制造工艺
WO2018203783A1 (en) * 2017-05-02 2018-11-08 Orkla House Care Ab Method of producing a hollow synthetic bristle, a hollow synthetic bristle and a paint brush comprising such hollow synthetic bristles
US10251470B1 (en) 2017-10-10 2019-04-09 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
US11219302B2 (en) 2017-10-10 2022-01-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement and oral care implement
CN108113200A (zh) * 2017-12-14 2018-06-05 江苏工程职业技术学院 一种含石墨烯抗菌增强增韧尼龙牙刷丝的制备方法

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EP2403376A1 (de) 2012-01-11
WO2010100618A1 (en) 2010-09-10
US20100306944A1 (en) 2010-12-09
CN102341016A (zh) 2012-02-01

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