NL2021332B1 - Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method. - Google Patents

Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2021332B1
NL2021332B1 NL2021332A NL2021332A NL2021332B1 NL 2021332 B1 NL2021332 B1 NL 2021332B1 NL 2021332 A NL2021332 A NL 2021332A NL 2021332 A NL2021332 A NL 2021332A NL 2021332 B1 NL2021332 B1 NL 2021332B1
Authority
NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
bristles
sheet part
bristled
recess wall
longitudinal axis
Prior art date
Application number
NL2021332A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Gideon Van Dijk Joppe
Anton Snijder Tim
Van De Water Tomas
Original Assignee
Dental Robotics Group B V
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
Priority to NL2021332A priority Critical patent/NL2021332B1/en
Application filed by Dental Robotics Group B V filed Critical Dental Robotics Group B V
Priority to AU2019305433A priority patent/AU2019305433B2/en
Priority to PCT/NL2019/050452 priority patent/WO2020017963A2/en
Priority to CN202211124360.3A priority patent/CN115486632A/en
Priority to EP23175351.8A priority patent/EP4233786A3/en
Priority to EP19749456.0A priority patent/EP3823554B1/en
Priority to CN201980060654.4A priority patent/CN112770694B/en
Priority to BR112021000738-5A priority patent/BR112021000738B1/en
Priority to US17/260,945 priority patent/US11986367B2/en
Priority to JP2021502575A priority patent/JP7419337B2/en
Priority to KR1020217004541A priority patent/KR20210042327A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2021332B1 publication Critical patent/NL2021332B1/en
Priority to JP2024001722A priority patent/JP2024029209A/en
Priority to US18/629,995 priority patent/US20240252297A1/en
Priority to AU2024219626A priority patent/AU2024219626A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
    • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
    • A61C17/228—Self-contained intraoral toothbrush, e.g. mouth-guard toothbrush without handle
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
    • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
    • A46B9/04—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
    • A46B9/045—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes specially adapted for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces simultaneously
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D3/00—Preparing, i.e. Manufacturing brush bodies
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D3/00—Preparing, i.e. Manufacturing brush bodies
    • A46D3/04—Machines for inserting or fixing bristles in bodies
    • A46D3/045—Machines for inserting or fixing bristles in bodies for fixing bristles by fusing or gluing to a body
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
    • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
    • A61C17/32—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and to a recess wall and mouthpiece manufactured according to the method. In a providing step, an elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part having a first side lined with a plurality of bristles is provided. The elongate sheet part defines a length axis extending parallel to the sheet part and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a cross-sectional shape. The sheet part obtained in the providing step has an initial condition in which the cross-sectional shape has an initial shape, and the length axis is arch-shaped. In a transforming step, the sheet part of the providing step is transformed from the initial condition to a final condition to provide the recess wall. In the final condition the cross-sectional shape has a final U-shape, the length axis is arch shaped, and the first side is a concave inner side of the final U-shape. The first side is in the final condition more concave than in the initial condition.

Description

Title: Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method.
The invention relates to the field of dental cleaning devices having a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, in particular to dental cleaning devices wherein the mouthpiece is of the type comprising a body provided with at least one recess delimited by a recess wall lined with a plurality of bristles extending from the recess wall into the recess, the recess wall defining an arch-shaped length axis and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and being configured for encompassing a plurality of dental positions along a dental arch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cleaning of teeth of humans and animals is a prerequisite for oral health, and health of internal organs. Various dental cleaning devices are available, such as manual and powered toothbrushes. With these typical toothbrushes, it is advised to brush the teeth by a prescribed method for at least two minutes per day to effectively remove plaque. Yet, an average person does not spend all of the prescribed time cleaning his or her teeth, and does not always brush according to an effective method. Additionally, for disabled or elderly persons or children it can be difficult to brush the teeth with a toothbrush, since typical toothbrushes require precise positioning of the brush bristles on various surfaces of the teeth.
In case at some or all dental positions teeth are missing as is frequently the case with elderly persons, cleaning of the gum at these dental positions is still a prerequisite for oral health, and health of internal organs.
There is a need to automatically brush the teeth and/or gum at the dental positions for cleaning the teeth and/or gum at these dental positions, whereby the time and effort required for effective brushing is reduced. In addition, there is a need to avoid carefully manoeuvring the brush.
Dental cleaning devices are known comprising mouthpieces which cover the maxillary dental arch and/or the mandibular dental arch. These mouthpieces may be of the type comprising a body provided with at least one recess delimited by a recess wall lined with a plurality of bristles extending from the recess wall into the recess, the recess wall defining an arch-shaped length axis and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and being configured for encompassing a plurality of dental positions along a dental arch. The dental positions, like teeth and/or gum, to be brushed are inserted in the at least one recess and the recess wall lined with bristles is operated to brush the teeth and/or gum with the bristles on the recess wall. Depending on the length of the recess several or all dental positions of the maxillary dental arch and/or the mandibular dental arch may be brushed simultaneously. An example of such a mouth piece can be found in PCT/NL2018/050276 filed on 27 April 2018 by applicant. This PCT application has not yet been published at the moment of filing of the present application.
A part of such a mouthpiece is the recess wall lined with bristles, which is in length direction arch-shaped and transverse to this length direction U-shaped in cross-section, and which has the bristles at the inner side of the U-shape. The small inner space of the Ushaped cross-section and the arch-shaped length make the manufacturing of such a recess wall lined with bristles quite difficult. Of course such a recess wall lined with bristles can be made manually by attaching the bristles or tufts of bristles one by one to the recess wall. This is however labour intensive and not time and cost efficient. Such a recess wall with Ushaped cross-section and bristles on the inner side of the U-shape may further be made by injection moulding the recess wall and bristles simultaneously, but, due to the small inner width of the U-shape, unloading the moulded recess wall and bristles from the mould is hardly possible to deal with without damaging the bristles. Further, tufting the inner wall of a narrow, arch-shaped channel with U-shaped cross section cannot be automated.
Thus there is a need for a method of manufacturing a continuous recess wall lined with bristles for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions arranged along an arch spanning a distance at least equal to the distance from the left second pre-molar to the right second pre-molar. In which the recess wall is configured for encompassing the dental positions associated with at least the left second pre-molar to at least the right second premolar and has a U-shaped cross section and an arch shaped length axis spanning a distance at least equal to the distance from the left second pre-molar to the right second pre-molar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative method of manufacturing a recess wall for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, the recess wall defining a narrow arch shaped channel having a U-shaped cross section, having a length at least equal to the distance from the left second pre-molar to the right second pre-molar, and being covered with bristles on the inner side of the channel.
According to a first aspect of the invention, one or more of the above objects are achieved by providing a method according to claim 1.
According to the invention a method of manufacturing a continuous recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions is provided. In other words the method results in a recess wall which is configured for brushing at a plurality of dental positions at the same time. In case a natural or artificial tooth element is present at the dental position where the bristles on recess wall brush, this tooth element is brushed. In case a tooth element is absent at the dental position where the bristles on the recess wall brush, the gum may be brushed.
The continuous recess wall obtained with the method according to the invention has an arch-shaped length axis and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a U-shaped crosssection configured for encompassing said plurality of dental positions. The arch-shaped length axis has a length which spans a distance at least equal to the distance from the left second pre-molar to the right second premolar. Further, the arch shaped length axis may have a shape similar to the shape of a human dental arch.
The method according to the invention comprises a providing step. In this providing step, an elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part having a first side lined with a plurality of bristles is provided. This elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part may be provided as a prefab part which has been pre-fabricated elsewhere, or, in the providing step, a said elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part having an arch shaped length axis and a first side lined with bristles may be made, for example by assembling a sheet part and bristles to an integral part, by injection moulding a sheet part and bristles, by injection moulding a sheet part in a mould in which bristles, for example of nylon, have been placed as inserts to become an integral part with the moulded sheet part, or in any other manner suitable to obtain a sheet part having a first side lined with bristles. The elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step has an initial condition having an arch-shaped length axis extending parallel to the bristled sheet part and, viewed transverse to the length axis, an initial shape as cross-sectional shape.
The method according to the invention further comprises a transforming step. In this transforming step, the bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step is transformed from the initial condition to a final condition, resulting in the recess wall to be manufactured. In the final condition the cross-sectional shape has a final U-shape - which may correspond to the U-shaped cross section of the recess wall to be manufactured -, the length axis is arch shaped, and the first side is a concave inner side of the final U-shape. A further characteristic of the final condition is that, in the final condition, the first side (of the bristled sheet part) which is lined with the bristles is more concave than in the initial condition.
This method allows the bristled sheet part with bristles to be provided in the providing step to be pre-fabricated elsewhere or made in situ in a condition that the first side of the sheet part, i.e. the side to be lined with the bristles, is for example flat or convex or shallow concave, so that it is easy accessible for making the bristled sheet part. In the initial condition, the bristles may extend in essentially the same direction from the sheet part, the bristles may for example extend about parallel to each other. The bristles may also be grouped in one or more groups of parallel bristles, the bristles of different groups extending in different directions with respect to each other. For example a flat or convex first side of the sheet part in the initial condition allows a mould half, in case of injection moulding the sheet part and/or bristles, to be removed easily when unloading the moulded sheet part and bristles, see for example DE 103.03.548 where a sheet part with bristles for a conventional toothbrush is made by injection moulding the sheet part in several steps and inserting tufts of bristles into a mould half. Further a flat or convex first side of the sheet part in the initial condition also allows other techniques to be used for assembling a sheet part with bristles, like options offered by GB Boucherie NV, Belgium like the AFT toothbrush technology or technologies of Zahoransky AG, Germany like anchorless toothbrushes. This pre-assembled bristled sheet part is subsequently subjected to a transforming step, in which the initial condition of the bristled sheet part is transformed to the recess wall to be manufactured, which recess wall to be manufactured has a final condition. In this transforming step, the bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step is brought to its final U-shaped cross section in which the bristles on opposing sides of the U-shaped cross section extend towards each other, and may cross each other.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the final U-shape may be defined by two legs and a bottom connecting these legs, and a vertical axis may be defined as extending transverse to the bottom between the legs. According to this embodiment, the bristles on the one leg and the bristles on the other leg may, in the final condition, extend from the respective leg towards each other. Further according to this embodiment, the bristles on the legs may, in addition or alternatively and viewed in the final condition, be provided at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, the angle being in the range of 30° to 90° with respect to the vertical axis.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, in which two legs and a bottom connecting these legs are defined by the final U-shape, a vertical axis is defined as extending transverse to the bottom, and the legs define, at each root of a said bristle on that leg, a tangent to the first side of the bristled sheet part, which tangent extends in a plane transverse to the length axis; in which the bristles may, in the initial condition, extend parallel to the vertical axis and each said tangent may have a respective initial angle with respect to the vertical axis; the legs are, in the transforming step, bended towards each other rotating each respective tangent through an angle of x° with respect to the vertical axis such that the bristle associated to the respective tangent extends at an angle of x° with respect to the vertical axis in a direction pointing away from the bottom. In case the legs are straight and do not bend when bending the legs towards each other, this further embodiment can also be phrased as an embodiment, in which two legs and a bottom connecting these legs are defined by the final U-shape and a vertical axis is defined as extending transverse to the bottom; the bristles may, in the initial condition, extend parallel to the vertical axis; at least a part of said bristles on the legs may, in the final condition, extend at an angle of x degrees with respect to the vertical axis in a direction pointing away from the bottom; the legs may, in the initial condition, have an initial angle with respect to the vertical axis; and the legs may, in the final condition, have a final angle with respect to the vertical axis, which is said x degrees larger than the initial angle.
Doing so, i) the pre-fabricated part, i.e. the bristled sheet part, is provided, in the providing step, with all bristles parallel to each other and to the vertical axis which simplifies the making of the pre-fabricated part considerable. Next in the transforming step, the legs are rotated through an angle of x degrees with respect to the vertical and towards each other, so that in the final condition the bristles on the legs extend at an angle of x degrees with respect to the vertical. The value for x may according to the invention be in the range of 0° 90°, such as in the range of 30° - 60°, for example in the range of 40° - 50°. Additionally or alternatively, the final angle of the legs with respect to the vertical axis may according to the invention be in the range of 0°-45°, for example in the range of 5°-20°.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part having an arch shaped length axis and a first side lined with bristles is made in the providing step. The providing step then may start with an (elongate, continuous) sheet part (still without bristles) as a prefabricated part. This sheet part may for example be made of TPE or any other suitable sheet part material mentioned or not mentioned in this application. Then during the providing step, this - not yet bristled sheet part - is provided with bristles or tufts of bristles. These bristles respectively the bristles of the tufts may be made of Nylon or PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) or any other suitable bristle material mentioned or not mentioned in this application. The bristles or tufts of bristles will be fixed to the sheet part. This fixing of the bristles to the sheet part may be by tufting, adhering, fusing or any other method described or not described in this application. The bristled sheet part thus obtained will subsequently be subjected to the transforming step of the method according to the invention.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bristles having a root end, a free end and a bristle body extending from the root end to the free end, the bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step is produced - in the providing step or prior to the providing step - by tufting, the tufting comprising
- inserting a plurality of nylon bristles or tufts of nylon bristles through a first sheet part to extend with the bristle body and free end from a front side of the first sheet part, and to project with a root end at a back side of the first sheet part;
- optionally providing a second sheet part against the backside of the first sheet part; and
- fusing the root ends of the bristles with the first sheet part and/or - in case present the second sheet part.
The tufting may take place during the providing step, but a tufted, bristled sheet part may also be a pre-fabricated part delivered to the providing step. In the latter case the tufting will already have taken place prior to the providing step, for example at a much earlier time and/or at a different location different from the location where the providing step takes place. Providing the optional second sheet part may be by injection moulding the second sheet part against the backside of the first sheet part. Alternatively, the second sheet part may be a pre-fabricated part which is placed against the backside of the first sheet part and heated to get the roots fused to the second sheet part. In absence of the second sheet part, the root ends will be fixed to the first sheet, for example by fusing them to the first sheet. In case the optional second sheet is present, the roots are fixed to the first sheet part and/or second sheet part, for example by fusing the roots to one or both of the sheet parts. As such, the tufting may take place according to a method already known, for example the method described in DE 103.03.548.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bristled sheet part may, in the transforming step, be transformed from the initial condition to the final condition by thermoforming. The thermoforming may for example be done by vacuum forming. The bristled sheet part may be placed in a mould with the second side facing into a U-shaped mould cavity and the first side with bristles facing away from the U-shaped mould cavity, after which the mould cavity may be vacuumed causing the bristled sheet part to be suctioned into the cavity and taking the shape of the U-shaped cavity. When transforming the bristled sheet part from the initial condition to the final condition, the bristled sheet part may according to the invention be stretched by the thermoforming. According to a further embodiment the bristles may, in the final condition and viewed in the direction along the contour of the U-shape, be regularly distributed. Further in addition or alternatively, the distribution of the bristles on the bristled sheet part may, in the initial condition, be configured such that, in the final condition and viewed in the direction along the contour of the U-shape, the bristles are regularly distributed or distributed according to a predetermined pattern. In other words, the pattern of the bristles in the initial condition is determined such that, taking into account the stretch of the sheet part occurring during the thermoforming, the predetermined pattern, such as a regular distribution, is obtained in the final condition.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the length axis may have a curvature which is in the initial condition the same as in the final condition i.e. in the transforming step the curvature of the length axis is not changed.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the length axis of the bristled sheet part may have an initial curvature in the initial condition and a final curvature in the final condition, the initial curvature being curved wider than the final curvature. In the transforming step, the curvature of the length axis of the bristled sheet part will be reduced from the wide initial curvature to the narrow final curvature. Reducing the curvature of the length axis supports or promotes the cross-sectional shape transforming to a more concave shape than it had in the initial condition. In this respect, it may be helpful when the crosssectional shape of the bristled sheet part has, viewed with respect to the first side of the bristled sheet part, already a concave shape (which is less concave than in the final configuration).
According to a further embodiment of the invention, in which the bristled sheet part has two boundary edges (delimiting the bristled sheet part and) extending along the length axis, optionally parallel to the length axis, at, viewed in a direction transverse to the length axis, a mutual distance from each other, the bristled sheet part may, in the transforming step, be transformed by reducing the mutual distance between the two boundary edges. Making use of the frame members, the bow curvatures of the frame members may, in the initial condition, either be wider than the final curvature of the bristled sheet part or correspond to the final curvature of the bristled sheet part.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bristled sheet part, obtained in the providing step, may be:
- delimited by an inner boundary edge and an outer boundary edge, extending along the length axis at a distance from the length axis,
- an integral part with a lingual frame member and facial frame member both being bow-shaped along a respective bow curvature, and
- comprises, at the inner boundary edge, an inner attachment member extending along the inner boundary edge, such as along the entire inner boundary edge, and attached to the lingual frame member, and, at the outer boundary edge, an outer attachment member extending along the outer boundary edge, such as along the entire outer boundary edge, and attached to the facial frame member.
According to this further embodiment, the facial frame member and lingual frame member may be provided as one or two parts separate from the bristled sheet part, which are, after having provided in the providing step, assembled together in the providing step. The providing step may then comprise several sub-steps:
- providing the facial frame member and the lingual frame member,
- providing, separate from the facial and lingual frame member, the bristled sheet part integral with the inner and outer attachment member, and
- attaching the inner attachment member and outer attachment member to the lingual frame member respectively facial frame member.
Alternatively, the bristled sheet part, the facial frame member and the lingual frame member may according to this further embodiment also be provided as a prefabricated integral part, which may have been made at a very different location or a very different moment in time. In other words the prefabricated integral part comprising the bristled sheet part, facial frame member and lingual frame member may so to say be the input of the providing step as well as the output (=the bristled sheet part obtained) of the providing step. The lingual and facial frame member may be one integral frame member or two separate frame member parts.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bristled sheet part, the facial frame member and the lingual frame member are made, during the providing step or prior to the providing step, by injection moulding, for example multi material injection moulding. According to a first example, tufts of bristles, for example nylon bristles, may be placed in an injection moulding mould and subsequently the material for forming the sheet part may be injected to over-mould the root parts of the tufts. According to a second example a bristled sheet part - for example prefabricated according to the first example - may be placed in an injection moulding mould and the material for the lingual and facial frame members may be injected into the mould to over-mould with a part of the sheet part, like an attachment member. According to a third example, the frame members - for example prefabricated by injection moulding - are placed in an injection moulding mould and the bristle and sheet material may be injected to over-mould with the frame members or the sheet material may be injected to over-mould with both the tuft inserts (according to the first example) and the frame members. According to a fourth example, which may be in combination with the first example, the frame material for the facial and lingual frame member and the sheet material for the sheet part and - if not provided according to the first example - optionally the bristles may be injected into the mould to form the sheet part, and optionally the bristles, and the lingual and facial frame member by simultaneously or sequentially injecting the frame and sheet material.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer attachment member may be configured as a side flap extending along the inner boundary edge respectively the outer boundary edge and to be attached, for example adhered, to the lingual respectively facial frame member. Adhering may be by means of an adhesive (or glue), by means of tape, by means of thermal welding or by means of a multi material injection moulding technique causing, at the location where the injected material for the frame members and the injected material for the sheet part come together, a fused interface layer.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer attachment member may be configured as a double side flap extending along the inner boundary edge respectively the outer boundary edge, wherein the lingual and facial frame part are configured with a plate part, wherein the double side flap comprises a first flap part and a second flap part parallel to the first flap part and at a distance from the first flap part to define, between the first and second flap part, a gap configured to receive the plate part of the lingual respectively facial frame part. The plate parts inserted in the gap between the flaps will be attached to the flaps, for example by adhering. Adhering may be by means of an adhesive (or glue), by means of tape, by means of thermal welding or by means of a multi material injection moulding technique causing, at the location where the injected material for the frame members and the injected material for the sheet part come together, a fused interface layer.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, two said bristled sheet parts are obtained in the providing step, each bristled sheet parts:
- being delimited by a said inner boundary edge and a said outer boundary edge, extending along the length axis at a distance from the length axis,
- being an integral part with a said lingual frame member and facial frame member both being bow-shaped along a respective bow curvature, and
- comprising, on the inner boundary edge, a said inner attachment member extending along the inner boundary edge and attached to the lingual frame member, and, on the outer boundary edge, a said outer attachment member extending along the outer boundary edge and attached to the facial frame member, wherein the facial frame member associated to a first of said two bristled sheet parts is provided with a male or female part of a first snap connection and the facial frame member associated to a second of said two bristled sheet parts is provided with a mating female respectively male part of said first snap connection, and wherein the lingual frame member associated to the first of said two bristled sheet parts is provided with a male or female part of a second snap connection and the facial frame member associated to the second of said two bristled sheet parts is provided with a mating female respectively male part of said second snap connection. Both the female parts of the two snap connections may be provided on the lingual and facial frame member of one said set, whilst the mating male parts of the two snap connections are provided on the lingual and facial frame member of the other said set. Alternatively, the lingual frame member of the one set may be provided with a female part of the first snap connection and the facial frame member of the one set with a male part of the second snap connection, whilst the lingual frame member of the other set may be provided with a male part of the first snap connection and the facial frame member of the other set with a female part of the second snap connection.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bow curvatures of the lingual and facial frame members as obtained with the bristled sheet part in the providing step may, be wider than the final curvature; and the bow curvatures are, in the transforming step, reduced to correspondence with the narrower final curvature. Reducing the bow curvatures of the frame members, after having attached the inner and outer edge of the bristled sheet part to a respective frame member is a simple action which is easy to automate. Reducing these bow curvatures, results in simultaneously reducing the curvature of the length axis of the bristled sheet part, which in turn results in increase of the concavity of the first side of the bristled sheet part.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the lingual and facial frame members may be resilient and may have a relieved condition in which the frame members are stress-less and have a bow curvature corresponding to the final curvature of the recess wall; the method may further comprise a pre-biasing step which takes place before or during the providing step; wherein, in the pre-biasing step, the frame members are pre-tensioned from the relieved condition to a pre-tensioned condition in which the bow curvatures of the frame members are widened to correspond to the initial curvature of the bristled sheet part and in which the frame members have a pre-tension acting in a direction to return the frame members to their relived condition; and wherein, in the transforming step, the bow curvatures are reduced (narrowed) by releasing the pre-tension of the frame members. Doing so, the pretension built up in the frame members is used to increase of the concavity of the first side of the bristled sheet part.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, two said bristled sheet parts may be obtained and the attachment members of a first and second sheet part may be attached to each other, for example by thermal welding. The attachment parts may be attached directly to each other, for example by thermal welding, or indirectly via an intermediate part in which case thermal welding may be used as well.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the mouthpiece to be manufactured is of the type having two said recesses each delimited by a said recess wall lined with a said plurality of bristles, wherein the arc shaped length axes of said recesses walls are parallel and the U-shaped cross-sectional shapes are open in opposing directions; the providing step may provide a first said bristled sheet part and a second said bristled sheet part as one single part having a transition area connecting the first bristled sheet part integrally with the second bristled sheet part, wherein the transition zone is configured to allow the two bristled sheet parts to be folded with respect to each other from a first position in which the two bristled sheet parts are aligned to a second position in which the two bristled sheet parts are folded over each other; and wherein the method further comprises a folding step in which the bristled sheet parts are folded with respect to each other from the first to the second position. This folding step may take place before the transforming step, after the transforming step or during the transforming step.
According to a further embodiment, the length of the length axis spans a distance at least equal to the distance from the left first molar to the right first molar, such as a length spanning a distance at least equal to the distance from the left second molar to the right second molar.
According to a further embodiment, the bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step may be lined with at least 5 bristles per cm2, such as at least 10 bristles per cm2. In case of for example elastomeric bristles injection moulded together with the bristled sheet part, the bristled sheet part may be lined with 40 to 200 bristles per cm2. In case of for example bristles of nylon, the bristled sheet part may be lined with 1000 to 6000 bristles per cm2.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the final U-shape may have an internal width in the range of 0 to 10 mm, such as in the range of 2 to 12 mm; and/or the final U-shape has an internal height in the range of 3 to 20 mm, such as in the range of 5 to 10 mm.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bristled sheet part has a thickness of up to 15 mm, such as a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 3 mm, this thickness being defined as the thickness of the sheet part itself, i.e. without (the length of) the bristles.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a mouthpiece of the type comprising a body provided with at least one recess delimited by a recess wall lined with a plurality of bristles extending from the recess wall into the recess, the recess wall defining an arch-shaped length axis and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and being configured for encompassing a plurality of dental positions along a dental arch; and wherein the recess wall is manufactured according to the first aspect of the invention. The bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step may be provided as a part separate from the body Further, the bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step may for example before, during or after the transforming step, be attached to the body to become an integral part of the body.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the body may further comprise at least one pressure chamber configured for containing a fluid under pressure and wherein the body is configured to deform the recess wall by reciprocatingly increasing and decreasing a pressure in the at least one pressure chamber. The body is configured to deform the recess wall by reciprocatingly (alternatingly) increasing and decreasing the pressure in the at least one pressure chamber causing a sustained repeating, reciprocating motion of the recess wall and bristles on that recess wall. The mouthpiece may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, or any other number of pressure chambers which can be filled with a fluid, as explained in PCT/NL2018/050276, which is in the name of the same applicant and not yet published at the day of filing the present application. By alternatingly (reciprocatingly) increasing a pressure in the at least one of the pressure chambers from a decreased pressure condition to an increased pressure condition and decreasing the pressure in this pressure chamber(s) from the increased pressure condition to the decreased pressure condition and sustained repeating this reciprocating motion, the recess wall carrying the optional bristles is brought into motion resulting in the recess wall respectively bristles acting at the dental position on the objects - teeth and/or gum present at these dental positions - to clean said objects.
According to a third aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a mouthpiece obtained with the method according to the second aspect of the invention.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a recess wall for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, wherein the recess wall is obtained by a method according to the first aspect of the invention.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions; wherein the mouthpiece is of the type comprising a body provided with at least one recess delimited by a recess wall lined with a plurality of bristles extending from the recess wall into the recess, the recess wall defining an arch-shaped length axis and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and being configured for encompassing a plurality of dental positions along a dental arch; and wherein the recess wall is manufactured according to the first aspect of the invention.
According to the invention, the sheet part - the part of the bristled sheet without the bristles - may be made from a plastic, for example an injection mouldable or extrudable plastic. The plastic may for example be a thermoplastic elastomer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be explained further with reference to the drawings. In these drawings:
Figure 1 shows a lower dental arch with dental positions and a system of three orthogonal axes defining a dental arch.
Figures 2a and 2b show an example of a mouthpiece with a recess wall made with the method according to the invention, wherein figure 2a shows a perspective view and figure 2b shows a cross-sectional view according to the arrows lib in figure 2a.
Figure 3 schematically shows a first method according to the invention, fig. 3a showing a bristled sheet part lined with bristles at one side, fig. 3b showing mould for plastically deforming the bristled sheet part, fig. 3c showing the bristled sheet part lying on top of the mould before plastically deforming, fig. 3d showing the bristled sheet part after plastically deforming, and figure 3e showing the enlarged detail Hie as indicated in figure 3d.
Figure 4 schematically shows an example of a recess wall formed with a method according to the invention.
Figure 5 illustrates schematically a further providing step of a method according to the invention, providing two frame members.
Figure 6 schematically shows the recess wall of figure 5 mounted in the frame members of figure 5, and illustrates another manner of doing the transforming step of the method according to the invention.
Figure 7 shows, like figure 6, schematically the recess wall of figure 5 mounted in the frame members of figure 5, and illustrates a further other manner of doing the transforming step of the method according to the invention, wherein figure 7a shows the initial condition and figure 7b shows the final condition.
Figure 8 schematically shows the combination of the manner of transforming according to figure 6 and the manner of transforming according to figure 7, the combination being performed simultaneously, wherein figure 8a shows the initial condition and figure 8b shows the final condition.
Figure 9 schematically shows two bristled sheet parts as one single part in a first state (figure 8a) and in a second state (figure 8b).
Figure 10 schematically shows a relationship between the angle of the side parts of the U-shape with respect to a vertical and the angle of bristles with respect to the vertical, figure 10a showing an initial condition and figure 10b showing a final condition.
Figure 11 schematically illustrates the effects of two manners of mechanically transforming the bristled sheet part from the initial condition to the final condition, figure 11a showing, in perspective view, a bristled sheet part in the initial condition, figure 11b showing, in perspective view, the same bristled sheet part in the final condition, figure 11c showing cross-sectional views of a first location in initial and final condition, figure 11 d showing crosssectional views of a second location in initial and final condition, and figure 11e showing cross-sectional views of a first location in initial and final condition.
Figure 12 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention, figure 12a showing an initial condition, figure 12b showing a final condition, figure 12c showing two bristled sheet parts to be assembled together, and figure 12d showing the two bristled sheet parts of figure 12 c in assembled condition.
Figure 13 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention, figure 13a showing an initial condition, figure 13b showing another initial condition, and figure 13c showing a final condition.
Figure 14 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention, figure 14a showing an initial condition, and figure 14b showing a final condition.
Figure 15 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention, figure 15a showing a final condition, figure 15b showing how frame members are attached to the bristled sheet, and figure 15c showing that frame members are attached to the bristled sheet.
Figure 16 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention in final condition, figure 16a showing a single sheet part assembly, and figure 16b showing how two such single sheet part assemblies may be attached to each other.
Figure 17 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention in final condition, figure 17a showing two single sheet part assemblies, and figure 16b showing how these two single sheet part assemblies may be attached to each other.
Figure 18 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention in final condition, figure 18a showing two single sheet part assemblies, and figure 16b showing how these two single sheet part assemblies may be attached to each other.
Figure 19 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention, figure 19a showing an initial condition, figure 19b showing a final condition.
Figure 20 showing in cross-sectional view a further example of an embodiment according to the invention, figure 20a showing an initial condition, figure 20b showing a final condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The figures 1-20 shows multiple embodiments of the inventions. Although the embodiments may be different, the same reference numbers/signs for same or similar items will be used throughout all these figures 1-20.
Figure 1 shows in perspective view, highly schematically a part of an upper dental arch 1 with dental positions 2-14. Each dental position is indicated with a vertical dashed line. Each dental position usually comprises a tooth which is named according to a nomenclature known to each dentist. Using this nomenclature:
- dental position 2 is the position of the left ‘second molar’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 3 is the position of the left ‘first molar’, missing in figure 1;
- dental position 4 is the position of the left ‘second premolar’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 5 is the position of the left ‘first premolar’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 6 is the position of the left ‘canine’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 7 is the position of the left lateral incisor’, missing in figure 1;
- dental position 8 is the position of the left ‘central incisor’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 9 is the position of the right ‘central incisor’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 10 is the position of the right ‘lateral incisor’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 11 is the position of the right ‘canine’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 12 is the position of the right ‘first premolar’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 13 is the position of the right ‘second premolar’, present in figure 1;
- dental position 14 is the position of the right ‘first molar’, present in figure 1;
In figure 1 the dental position of the right ‘second molar’ is not shown, and also the dental positions of the right and left ‘third molar’, also called wisdom tooth, are not shown. Similar the lower jaw has a similar number of dental positions, which are in accordance with said nomenclature similarly named.
Reference number 15 indicates the lingual side of the arc of dental positions. The lingual side 15 is the inner side of the arc of dental positions, which inner side faces the tongue. Reference number 16 indicates the facial side of the arc of dental positions. The facial side 16 is the outer side of the arc of dental positions, which outer side faces the face, like the cheeks and lips.
Figure 1 further shows a system of three mutually orthogonal axes, comprising an xaxis X, an y-axis Y and a z-axis Z. The z-axis Z is a curved axis following the contour of the dental arch 1. The x-axis X and y-axis Y are perpendicular to each other and define an xyplane which is essentially flat and perpendicular to the dental arch 1, i.e. each xy-plane intersecting a location on the z-axis is, at that location, perpendicular to the curved z-axis Z. The z-axis Z defines a curved length direction. The z-axis Z and y-axis Y define a curved zyplane, with viewed along the z-axis, an arc-shape similar to shape of the dental arc. Further, the z-axis Z and x-axis X define a zx-plane.
Figure 2a shows schematically a perspective view of an example of a mouthpiece 20 made with the method according to the invention. Figure 2b shows a cross section of the mouthpiece of figure 2a, viewed as indicated by arrows lib in figure 2a.
The mouthpiece 20 comprises a body 21 provided with a first recess 22. This first recess 22 has, viewed along the z-axis of figure 1, a curved length direction and, viewed in the xy-plane of figure 1, an U-shaped cross section. The first recess 22 is delimited by a recess wall 23, which is in the xy-plane U-shaped. The recess wall 23 is lined with a plurality of bristles 24, each having one end, called the root 49, attached to the recess wall 23 and extending from the recess wall 23 into the first recess 22.
Reference 26 indicates a nipple configured for connecting the mouthpiece to a pumping and/or suctioning device. The mouthpiece 20 further has a right half 27 and a left half 28, which halves come so to say together at nipple 26.
Reference 25 indicates a curved dividing line, which defines a mirror plane parallel to the xz-plane as defined in figure 1. The mouthpiece as shown in figure 2 is so to say mirror symmetrical with respect to this mirror plane, meaning that there is a second recess (not visible in figure 2a but visible in figure 2b) opposite the first recess 22, which second recess is lined with bristles as well. It is noted that the first recess may have a shape different than the shape of the second recess because the (teeth of the) upper and lower arc of dental positions have different shapes.
The recesses 22 are configured to encompass an entire dental arch from the dental position of the right third or second molar to the dental position of the left third respectively second molar. The recesses 22 may also be configured to encompass a part of an arch of dental positions, this part comprising at least five dental positions, for example from the dental position of a central incisor to the dental position of a second premolar or to the dental position of a first molar or a dental position of a second molar.
Figure 2b shows a cross-section according to arrows lib in figure 2a of a right part of the mouth piece 20.
As can best be seen in figure 2b, the bristles may be provided as tufts 29 of relatively thin bristles 24. Each tuft 29 may have a base 36 which carries the bristles 24 at their roots 19 and is attached to the recess wall.
As can be seen in figure 2b, the mouthpiece 20 has a body 21 having in its upper side a first recess 22 and in its lower side a second recess 22. Both recesses 22 are delimitated by a flexible recess wall 23. In cross-section parallel to the xy-plane as defined in figure 1, the recess walls 23 are U-shaped and have a recess wall bottom 34 and two recess wall legs 33 extending from the recess bottom wall. The recess wall 23 is covered with tufts 29 of bristles on the legs 33 and/or bottom 34 of the recess wall.
Inside the body there is provided a pressure chamber 35, which may, via the nipple 26 (figure 2a), be filled with a fluid. The fluid may be a gas, like air, or a liquid, like water. In the embodiment as shown in figure 2, the mouthpiece has one pressure chamber. It is however noted that the mouthpiece may comprise a plurality of pressure chambers, like 5 pressure chambers, or any other number of pressure chambers. The not pre-published PCT/NL2018/050276 shows examples of other numbers of pressure chambers in figures 4,
5, 7, 9 and 10. In case of multiple pressure chambers, all the pressure chambers or groups of pressure chambers may according to the invention be in fluid communication with each other, similar as is described in the not pre-published PCT/NL2018/050276.
As can be seen in figure 2b, the mouthpiece may comprise an internal support structure of a material which is rigid relative to the material of the recess wall 23. This support structure may structure comprise a lingual plate 30 and a facial plate 32, both extending along the curved zy-plane defined in figure 1 and consequently, viewed along the z-axis, having a U-shape. In order to keep the lingual plate 30 and facial plate 32 at a distance from each other, the support structure may comprise one or more spacers 31. These one or more spacers 31 may for example be a multiple of bars or wires or a single plate which may extend essentially parallel to the zx-plane as defined in figure 1. In case of a single plate as spacer, this plate may divide the pressure chamber 35 in two pressure chambers, an upper one and a lower one. These two pressure chambers may be in fluid communication with each other via one or more through holes through the plate. In case of large through holes and/or a large number of through holes the two pressure chambers may effectively be one single pressure chamber.
The mouthpiece as shown in figure 2 is configured for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions. In case a tooth is present, the tooth of the respective dental position will be brushed. The remnants at a dental position, like the gum, may be brushed in case a tooth may be missing and the teeth adjacent the location of the missing tooth may be additionally brushed by bristles intended for the location of the missing tooth.
The single pressure chamber 35 comprises a first flexible recess wall 23 delimiting the first recess 22 (the upper one in figure 2b) and a second flexible recess wall 23 delimiting the second recess 22 (the lower one of figure 2b). The first and second recess walls are deformable, in particular by increasing or decreasing the pressure in the pressure chamber 23. The flexible recess walls 23 may be made from an elastic material, such as a rubberlike material. The flexible recess walls 23 may also be made from a non-elastic material. The material of the flexible recess walls 23 may keep a predetermined shape when there is substantially no, or a low, pressure difference across an inner side and an outer side of the flexible recess walls 23.
The mouthpiece 20 is configured for the tufts 29 of bristles 24 to engage the tooth surface of teeth of a dental arch or, in case one or more dental positions the tooth might be missing, to engage the gum at the respective dental position(s) at least when the pressure in the pressure chamber 35 is increased. In case a tooth might be missing at a dental position, especially the tufts 29 of bristles at the free ends of the recess wall legs 33 will engage the gum at the empty dental position.
Viewed in length direction Z of the dental arch - as defined in figure 1 -, the tufts 29 of bristles 24 may be arranged at about the same density as viewed in the cross-sections shown in figure 2b.
When the pressure in the pressure chamber 35 is in increased to an increased pressure condition, for example by feeding a fluid to the pressure chamber 35, or increasing an amount of fluid in the pressure chamber 35, the recess walls 23 are so to say compacted to narrow the recess 22, whereby the bristles 24, in particular the free ends thereof, may engage tooth surfaces firmly and/or may be deformed against tooth surfaces. When the pressure in the pressure chamber 35 is decreased subsequently, the recess walls are so to say widened to enlarge the recess 22. This narrowing and widening of the recess walls may be small, but when reciprocatingly repeated with some frequency of for example 1 to 50 Hz, this reciprocatingly deforming of the recess wall by reciprocatingly narrowing and widening it, causes the bristles to move between a firmer and relatively less firm engagement with tooth surfaces and/or the bristles to alternate between a first and second deformed condition, which in turn causes a sweeping and/or rubbing of bristles along the tooth surfaces. It is noted that the recess wall obtained with the method according to the invention can also be used in other types of mouthpieces, for example mouthpieces without pressure chamber. The recess wall obtained with the method according to the invention may for example be used in a mouthpiece where the mouthpiece as a whole is mechanically vibrated to bring the bristles into brushing motion.
By a suitable cycle of increasing and decreasing pressure in the pressure chamber 35 an effective brushing action of the mouthpiece can be obtained. The bristles 24 attached to the recess wall bottom 34 generally perform an upward and downward motion during such cycling, and the bristles 24 at the recess wall legs 33 generally perform a sideways motion to and fro during such cycling in the direction of the x-axis as defined in figure 1. Due to the recess 22 alternatively narrowing and widening when reciprocatingly increasing and decreasing pressure, the bristles 24 at the recess wall legs may also be subjected to a back and forth pivoting around the z-axis as defined in figure 1, resulting in a sweeping and/or rubbing movement of the bristles in the direction of the y-axis as defined in figure 1.
Referring to figure 1, the width of a teeth element in the X direction varies, depending on the dental position between about 2 to 12 mm. Taking into account that it is desired to keep the mouthpiece as small as possible, the internal width of the U-shape of the recess wall in the X direction is to be kept as small as possible and may be about 0 to 2 mm wider than the width of the respective tooth. By way of example to give some indication of dimensions, the internal width of the U-shape of the recess wall may, viewed in the Xdirection of figure 1, be in the range of 0 to 20 mm, such as in the range of 2-12 mm. The bristles may be up to 6 mm long. In case for example the bristles are 3 to 4 mm long. This means that between the bristles extending from opposing recess wall legs 33 no interspace or a limited amount of interspace of about 2-4 mm is left. In figures 2, these interspaces are shown exaggerated. Further by way of example to give some indication of dimensions, the U-shape of the recess wall may have, viewed in the Y-direction of figure 1, an internal height in the range of 3 to 20 mm, such as in the range of 5 to 10 mm. These internal width and internal height measures are indicative for an adult human. For a child or for animals these measures might be different. This limited amount of interspace makes it difficult to manufacture a mouthpiece as shown in figure 2 in economical manner. Injection moulding for example is difficult due to the bristles extending from the opposing recess wall legs extend essentially in the X direction which is transvers to the direction in which injection moulding moulds may be separated from each other after moulding.
Figure 3 schematically shows a first method according to the invention, fig. 3a showing a sheet 100 with a bristled sheet part 101 lined with bristles 104 at one side 102, fig. 3b showing mould 110 for plastically deforming the bristled sheet part 101, fig. 3c showing the bristled sheet part 101 lying on top of the mould 110 before plastically deforming, fig. 3d showing the bristled sheet part 101 after plastically deforming, fig. 3e showing enlarged the detail 11 le of figure 3d, and fig. 3c being the half on the left of axis 107 and fig. 3d being the half on the right of the axis 107.
Figure 3a shows a sheet 100, which may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer. A bristled sheet part 101 of this sheet 100 is indicated with a dashed inner arc 105 and a dashed outer arc 106. The shape of these arcs 105 and 106 may correspond to the shape of an arc of dental positions as shown in figure 1. The sheet 100 and bristled sheet part 101 have a first side 102, the upper side in figure 3, and an opposing second side 103, the lower side in figure 3. The first side 102 of the bristled sheet part 101 is lined with bristles 104. It is noted that in figure 3, which is schematically, the bristles 104 are shown on the left half of the bristled sheet part 101, but that in practice also the right half of the bristled sheet part 101 and the top part of the bristled sheet part 101 will be covered with bristles104 as well.
Figure 3a shows the bristled sheet part 101 as obtained in the providing step. In this providing step, the bristled sheet part 101 is in an initial condition. As shown in figure 3a, the bristles 104 extend in the initial condition all in the same, upward, direction. The bristles 104 may be essentially parallel to each other in the initial condition. In this initial condition the bristled sheet part 101 has, viewed in the xy-plane as defined in figure 1, a cross sectional shape, called ‘initial shape’ and, viewed along the z-axis as defined in figure 1, an archshaped length axis. In figure 3a the bristled sheet part 101 is shown as part of the sheet 100, but it is to be noted that the rest of the sheet outside the dashed arcs 105 and 106 may be absent, for example may be cut away. In this case there will only be an arc shaped bristled sheet part 101 and not a rectangular sheet 100 comprising the bristled sheet part 101.
In the initial condition as shown in figure 3, said ‘initial shape’ of the cross section of the bristled sheet part 101 is flat. The initial shape of the first side 102 of the bristled sheet part 101 may however also be concave (with the second side 103 being convex) or convex (with the second side 103 being concave).
Figure 3b shows a mould 110 for transforming the bristled sheet part 101 by thermoforming from the initial condition as shown in fig. 3a to a final condition. The mould
110 has, in its upper side 118, a cavity 111, which in the xy-plane as defined in figure 1 is Ushaped - see also at reference no. 112 - and which, in the z-direction as defined in figure 1, extends along an arc similar in shape as the arc of dental positions. Several suction openings 113 may open into this cavity 111 (only one suction opening is shown in figure 3b, but a multiple distributed over the cavity 111 may be present). The cavity has on its upper side an arc shaped inner edge 115 and an arc shaped outer edge 116.
Fig 3c, being the half on the left of axis 107, shows the sheet 100 lying on top of the mould 110, with the bristled sheet part 101 overlapping the cavity 111. The inner arc 105 and outer arc 106 may lie above the inner edge 115 respectively outer edge 116 of the cavity. The inner arc 105 and outer arc 106 may however have a larger distance - viewed in the x-direction of figure 1, than the inner edge 115 and outer edge 116, resulting in the inner arc 105 and outer arc 106 lying on top of the upper surface 118 of the mould 110.
Starting from the state as shown in figure 3c, a suction may be applied to the cavity
111 through the suction openings 113 or otherwise. This suction will transform the bristled sheet part 101, by thermoforming of the bristled sheet part 101, from its initial condition shown in figures 3a and 3c, to its final condition shown in figures 3d and 3e to provide a recess wall 120 - see also fig 4 -, which may be used as recess wall 29 in the embodiment of figure 2. In this final condition, the cross-sectional shape of the bristled sheet part 101 has become a final U-shape, the length axis is (still) arch shaped and the first side has become a concave inner side of the final U-shape. In case in the initial condition, the first side may already have been concave, the first side of the bristled sheet part 101 will in the final condition be more concave than in the initial condition.
When plastically deform the bristled sheet part 101, the bristled sheet part 101 may, viewed in a direction along the contour of the U-shape be stretched. In case, viewed in the final condition and viewed in the direction along the contour of the U-shape, it is desired to have an even distribution of the bristles, this stretching may be taken into account when providing the bristled sheet part in the providing step by providing the bristles in the providing step with a denser density and possibly an uneven distribution configured such that it transforms to an even distribution during the transforming step.
Referring to figure 3e and figure 2b, the final U-shape is defined by two leg parts 33 and a bottom part 34 connecting these leg parts, wherein a vertical axis 119 is defined as extending between the leg parts 33.
For clarity of the figure, figure 3d only shows schematically bristles 104 on three locations. It will however be clear that the entire recess wall will be covered with bristles. This may for example be, viewed along the z-axis defined in figure 1, a sequence of consecutive U-shaped bristle bows like shown in the detail of fig 3e. As can be seen in figures 3d and 3e, the bristles 104 on the one leg part 33 and the bristles 104 on the other leg part 33 extend from the respective leg part 33 towards each other.
As can be seen in figure 3a, the bristled sheet part is a continuous sheet part. It has no cut outs facilitating transforming the bristled sheet part 101 from the initial condition (figures 3a) to the final condition (figures 3d and 3e).
Figure 4 shows a recess wall manufactured according to the method of the invention, for example a recess wall 120 as obtained with the method according to figure 3. Like in figure 3d, the bristles 104 are shown only at the ends of the recess wall and in the middle of the recess wall, but, viewed along the Z-axis as defined in figure 1, the inner side of the recess delimited by the recess wall may be fully covered with bristles 104.
Figure 5 shows a ‘further providing step’ of the method according to the invention. In this ‘further providing step’ a lingual frame member 121 and a facial frame member 122 are provided. Both the lingual frame member 121 and the facial frame member 122 are bow shaped and both have an upper edge 125 respectively 126. Referring to figure 2b, the lingual frame member 121 may correspond to the lingual plate 30 and the facial frame member 122 may correspond to the facial plate 32.
As indicated with the bold arrow A between figure 4 and figure 5, the recess wall 120 may, in a mounting step, be fixed to the lingual frame member 121 and facial frame member 122. For this purpose, the inner edge 105 (= dashed inner arc of figure 3) of the recess wall 120 is fixed on the upper edge 125 of the lingual frame member 121 and the outer edge 106 (= dashed outer arc of figure 3) of the recess wall 120 is fixed on the upper edge 126 of the facial frame member 122. This results in the picture of figure 6. After closing the gap between the lower edge 123 of the lingual frame member 121 and the lower edge 124 of the facial frame member 122 with a closure 127, a mouthpiece according to the invention is obtained with a pressure chamber delimited by the facial frame member 122, the recess wall 120, the lingual frame member 121 and the closure. When the vertical length, in the direction of the y-axis as indicated in figure 1 and 4, of the lingual 121 and facial 122 frame members is extended, the closure may be a further recess wall, turned around such that its opening faces downwards. One thus obtains a mouthpiece like the one shown in figure 2.
As shown in figure 2b, the outer faces of the lingual and facial frame member may be coated, for example in an injection moulding process, with a material the same as the material of the bristled sheet part.
As indicated with arrow B in figure 6, the curvatures of the lingual 121 and facial 122 frame members may be reduced, for example by squeezing the free ends of the bowshaped frame members, after mounting the recess wall 120 to these frame members. Doing so will result, viewed in the direction of the Y-axis of figure 1 and 4, in an increase of the depth of the U-shaped cross section, in other words the bottom of the U-shaped cross section will come closer to the closure 127. This can in addition to the transforming by thermoforming of the method of figure 3 or as an alternative for the transforming by thermoforming be used in order to transform the bristled sheet part 101 to its final condition. In case it is used as an alternative for thermoforming, the bristled sheet part 101 may still be flat (like in figure 3a) or slightly curved when in the state as shown in figure 6. The transformation step then comprises reducing the initial curvature of the bristled sheet part 101 to its final curvature simultaneously with transforming the cross sectional shape from its flat or slightly curved initial shape to its final U-shape.
Referring to figure 6, the curvatures of the lingual and facial frame members 121, 122 may also be realised by using resilient frame members 121, 122. From a relieved or stress-less condition, in which the frame members have a narrow bow curvature corresponding to their final curvature, the frame members 121, 122 may be pre-biased from the relieved condition to a pre-tensioned condition, in which the frame members have a wider bow curvature than in the relieved condition, which wider bow curvature may correspond to the initial curvature of the bristled sheet part. In this pre-tensioned condition, the frame members 121, 122 have a pre-tension acting in a direction to return the frame members 121, 122 to their relieved condition, which may correspond to the final condition.
Figure 7b shows a view similar to figure 6. Figure 7a shows a side view according to arrow Vila in fig 7b. Figure 7a shows the bristled sheet part 101 shown in its initial condition as it is obtained in the providing step. In this initial position, the bristled sheet part 101 is flat, but the first side lined with the bristles 104 may also be shallow concave or convex. Figure 7b shows the bristled sheet part 101 in its final condition. The bristled sheet part 101 is transformed from the initial condition shown in figure 7a to the final condition shown in figure 7b, by reducing, viewed in the direction of the x-axis as defined in figure 1 and also shown in figure 4, the distance between the inner edge 105 (= dashed inner arc of figure 3) and outer edge 106 (= dashed outer arc of figure 3) of the bristled sheet part 101 from the wider d2 see figure 7a - to the smaller d1 - see figure 7b - by moving the inner edge 105 and the outer edge 106 towards each other as indicated by the arrow C in figure 7b. Doing so will result, viewed in the direction of the Y-axis of figure 1 and 4, in an increase of the depth of the U-shaped cross section. This may be in addition to the transforming by thermoforming or may be used as an alternative for the transforming by thermoforming in order to transform the bristled sheet part 101 to its final condition. In case it is used as an alternative for thermoforming, the bristled sheet part 101 may still be flat (like is shown in figure 7a) or slightly curved when in the state as shown in figure 7a. In case the bristled sheet part 101 is attached to the upper edges of the frame members 121 and 122, the transformation step may be carried out by reducing the distance between the facial frame member 122 and lingual frame member 121 in the direction of the x-axis - as defined in figure 1 and shown in figure 4 as well -.
The mechanisms described above in relation to figures 6 and 7, in short indicated as the arrow B mechanism (figure 6) and the arrows C mechanism (figure 7), both are basically a mechanical transformation. The arrow B mechanism and arrows C mechanism may also be used in combination, the one after the other or simultaneously as shown in figure 8. In figure 8, figure 8a shows the initial condition having an arch shaped length axis L1 and a distance d1 between the inner edge 105 and outer edge 106 of the bristled sheet part 101, and figure 8b shows the final condition having an arch shaped length axis L2 and a distance d2 between the inner edge 105 and outer edge 106 of the bristled sheet part 101, wherein d2 is smaller than d1 and L2 has a stronger/narrower curvature than L1.
Figure 9 shows an example of two sheets parts 101 being provided as a single part 150. Figure 9a shows the single part in a flat condition. This single part comprises two bristled sheet parts 101 having a first side lined with bristles, the bristles on this first side being shown as a grey bow shaped face. The two bristled sheet parts are connected by transition areas 151. These transition areas 151 are configured to allow the two bristled sheet parts 101 to be folded with respect to each other from a first position in which the two bristled sheet parts 101 are aligned - which first position is shown in figure 9a - to a second position in which the two bristled sheet parts are folded over each other - which second position is shown in figure 9b. The single part 150 may, in the providing step, be provided in the state as shown in figure 9a or in the state as shown in figure 9b, or in any intermediate state in between the state of figure 9a and figure 9b. In case the single part 150 is provided in the state of figure 9a or in a said intermediate state, the bristled sheet parts 101 may, in a folding step, be folded from a first position (figure 9a or an intermediate state between figures 9a and 9b) to the second position (figure 9b).
Figure 10 shows in cross sectional view a further example of a bristled sheet part 101 in the initial condition (figure 10a) and a bristled sheet part 101 in the final condition (figure 10b). The first side 102 of bristled sheet part 101 is in the initial condition slightly concave. The bristled sheet part 101 has two leg parts 33 interconnected by a bottom part 34. A vertical axis 160 extends transverse to the bottom part 34. In the initial condition, the bristles 104 extend parallel to the vertical axis 160. The angle a of the leg parts 33 with respect to the vertical axis 160 may, in the initial condition, for example be 55°. When, in the transforming step, the leg parts 33 are rotated towards each other over an angle of x° with respect to the vertical axis 160, the resulting angle of the leg parts 33 with respect to the vertical axis will become a - x° and the angle of each the bristles on the legs 33 with respect to the vertical axis will become x°, see figure 10b. Assuming x may be 45° and a may be 55°, the final angle a - x° of the leg parts 33 with respect to the vertical axis 160 will be 10°.
With respect to figure 10, it is noted that the bottom part 34 shows no bristles but that bristles 104 may be present on the bottom part 34 as well. Further it is noted, that the leg parts 33 are, for reasons of simplicity of the figure 10 and the explanation of figure 10, shown as straight, but these leg parts 33 may, in figure 10a and 10b, be curved as well, or may become curved in figure 10b starting from straight in figure 10a.
Figure 11 schematically illustrates the effects of both narrowing the curvature of the length axis of the bristled sheet part, and decreasing the mutual distance d between the boundary edges 105 and 106 of the bristled sheet part 101, i.e. the distance d between the inner edge 105 and outer edge 106 in the transforming step, by essentially mechanical transformation of the bristled sheet part 101. Figure 11a shows a perspective view on the not bristled side of the bristled sheet part 101 in the initial condition and figure 11b shows a perspective view on the not bristled side of the bristled sheet part 101 in the final condition. As one can see from figures 11a and 11b, the initial wide curvature of the length axis of the bristled sheet part 101 (see fig. 11a) is less curved than the final narrow curvature of the length axis of the bristled sheet part (see fig. 11b). Figure 11c shows the cross-sectional shape of the bristled sheet part 101 at location m in the initial state (on the left) and in the final state (on the right). Figure 11d shows the cross-sectional shape of the bristled sheet part 101 at location n in the initial state (on the left) and in the final state (on the right). Figure 11e shows the cross-sectional shape of the bristled sheet part 101 at location n in the initial state (on the left) and in the final state (on the right). As one can see from figures 11c, 11 d and 11 e, the mutual distance between the boundary edges 105 and 106 is reduced from d1 in the initial condition to (the smaller) d2 in the final condition. This transformation may be performed without stretching the sheet part 101. When performing this transformation, one will notice that narrowing the curvature of the length axis and the decrease of the mutual distance may occur simultaneously. As is illustrated in figure 11c, the cross sectional shape at position o will transform from a relatively shallow and blunt U-shape to a relatively deep and sharp U-shape, like a V-shape. As is illustrated in figures 11d and 11e, the cross sectional shape at the positions m and n will transform from a relatively shallow U-shape to a relatively deep U-shape. Positions m and n are in the relatively straight part of the arch shaped bristled sheet part and position n is in the relatively most curved part of the arch shaped bristled sheet part. The cross-sectional shape changing, in the final condition (shown in fig 11b and right part of figures 11c, 11 d and 11 e) and viewed from position m in the direction of position o, from blunt U-shaped to sharp U-shaped (V shaped) is in correspondence with the change in cross-sectional shape of a human dental arch. In the human dental arch the central and lateral incisors may have, viewed in the plane perpendicular to the length direction of the human dental arch, an about V-shaped crosssectional shape, the molars and pre-molars have an about U-shaped cross-sectional shape, whilst the canines have a cross-sectional shape in between the V-shape and U-shape.
Figures 12-18 schematically show some further examples of embodiments according to the invention. All these figures are in cross-sectional view - the xy-plane as defined in figure 1 - transverse to the arch-shaped length axis - extending in the direction of the z-axis of figure 1 -. The cross-sectional views of figures 12-18 are taken at the position m of figure
11. Similar as in figure 11, the length axis of the bristled sheet parts 101 shown in figures 12-18 is arch shaped, and similar as in figure 11, the cross-sectional shape of the bristled sheet parts 101 shown in figures 12-18 may, in the final condition, vary along the archshaped length axis.
The embodiment of figure 12 schematically shows an example of a relatively thick bristled sheet part 101 processed to a mouthpiece with the method according to the invention. Figure 12a shows the bristled sheet part 101 in the initial condition as provided by the providing step. The thickness of the sheet part is defined as the thickness of the sheet part itself without taking into account the bristles on the sheet part and is indicated with t in figure 12a. In the example of figure 12 the thickness t is about 15 mm, whilst in the examples of other figures 1-10 and 12-18, the thickness t may for example be in the range of 0.5 to 3 mm . Figure 12b shows the bristled sheet part 101 after transformation to the final condition, i.e. the recess wall as obtained. Figure 12c shows two said recess walls being brought together with the bottoms of the U-shapes facing each other. The bottoms of the Ushapes are subsequently joined together at 130, for example by thermal welding or by means of an adhesive (or glue), resulting in the mouthpiece as shown in figure 12d. The mouthpiece shown in figure 12d may for example be used for brushing teeth by mounting the mouthpiece on a rod - which may be attached to the mouthpiece at the location o of figure 11b - and subjecting this rod to vibrational movements in the length direction of the rod and/or in one or two mutually perpendicular directions, each being perpendicular to the rod.
The embodiment of figure 13 schematically shows, with two variants, an example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed to a recess wall with the method according to the invention. The sheet part assembly 201 comprises a bristled sheet part 101 delimitated, in the direction of the arch shaped length axis, by the inner arc/(wall-)edge 105 and outer arc/(wall-)edge 106. The sheet part assembly 201 further comprises, on the inner boundary edge 105, an inner attachment member 231 extending along the entire inner boundary edge 105 and, on the outer boundary edge 106, an outer attachment member 232 extending along the entire outer boundary edge 106. Additionally, the sheet part assembly 201 further comprises a lingual frame member 30 and a facial frame member 32. The inner attachment member 230 and outer attachment member 232 may, as shown in figure 13, be shaped as a side flap projecting from the inner boundary edge 105 respectively outer boundary edge 106. The lingual frame member 30 and facial frame member 32 may, as shown in figure 13, be shaped as a plate.
The sheet part assembly 201 of figure 13 may, in the providing step, be provided as a pre-fabricated part in the flat initial condition of figure 13a, or in the U-shaped initial condition of figure 13b, or in an initial condition in which the flaps 231, 232 and plates 30, 32 have any other position relative to the bristled sheet part 101 and/or each other. The prefabricated part may for example be made by injection moulding, such as a multi material injection moulding technique. The sheet part assembly of figure 13 may also be made during the providing step, for example by injection moulding, such as a multi material injection moulding technique.
Whether the sheet part assembly 201 is a pre-fabricated part which has been made prior to the providing step or is made during the providing step, in both cases it may be made by injection moulding, such as a multi material injection moulding technique. Tufts 29 (optionally already pre-assembled) with bristles 24 are placed as inserts in the injection moulding mould, the roots of the tufts - which may optionally be provided with a base 36 per tuft as shown -, projecting in the mould cavity at the location where the sheet part 101 is to be formed. After closing of the mould, a first and second plastic materials are injected into the mould. The first material forms the lingual 30 and facial 32 frame member and the second material forms the sheet part 101 and inner attachment member 231 and outer attachment member 232. At the interfaces 250 between the frame members 30, 32 and attachment members 231, 232, the frame members 30, 32 and attachment members 231, 232 will adhere to each other due to the fused interface layer formed there. The second material forming the sheet part 101 over-moulds with the bases 36 of the tufts creating a firm bonding of the tufts to the sheet part 101. The bonding of the bases 36 to the sheet part may for example be due to enclosing the bases within the sheet part and/or by fusing at the interface of the second material and the bases 36. Alternatively, it is also possible that the lingual and facial frame members have been pre-fabricated and are, like the tufts, placed as inserts into the injection moulding mould. In this case, there will be injected only the second material for forming the sheet part and attachment members which material will over-mould with the attachment members and adhere to the attachment members by a fused interface layer being formed.
The sheet part assembly 201 obtained in the providing step in the initial condition of for example figure 13a or 13b, is subsequently subjected to the transforming step. In this transforming step, which may for example be by thermoforming and/or mechanical deformation (for example by narrowing the curvature of the length axis of the sheet part and/or reducing the distance between inner boundary edge 105 and outer boundary edge 106) , the sheet part assembly 201 is transformed to its final condition as shown in figure 13c. In the embodiment of figure 13, the transforming step has been done by thermoforming. But as said, it may also be done by two manners of mechanical deformation or a combination of these two manners and also thermoforming and mechanical deformation may be combined in the transforming step.
As can be seen in figure 13c, the tufts/bristles 29/24 are, viewed in the crosssectional plane, distributed in a regular pattern. Also in figures 13a and b, the tufts/bristles 29/24 are distributed in a regular pattern. Due to stretching of the wall part 101 during the transforming step, the distance between the tufts/bristles 29/24 is in figure 13c increased with respect to figures 13a and 13b. In this example, this stretch is regular over the U-shape, but this may also be irregular. Taking into account the stretch, the tufts/bristles can be arranged in the initial condition of figures 13a and 13b such that in the final condition of figure 13c, the tufts/bristles have a predetermined, like regular, distribution.
The embodiment of figure 14 schematically shows another example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed to a recess wall with the method according to the invention. This embodiment is essentially the same as the embodiment of figure 13, except that in the embodiment of figure 14 the bristles are injection moulded from the same material as the sheet part, instead of tufts inserted into the injection moulding mould prior to injection moulding. For the rest, the elucidation given in relation to figure 13 applies mutatis mutandis to figure 14 as well.
The embodiment of figure 15 schematically shows another example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed to a recess wall with the method according to the invention. Figure 15 is shown with tufts like in figure 13 but may equally well be with injection moulded bristles 24 like in figure 12. The main difference between the embodiment of figure 15 and the embodiments of figures 13 and 14, is in the inner attachment member and outer attachment member.
In figure 15 the inner and outer attachment member are formed as a double side flap extending along the inner boundary edge 105 respectively the outer boundary edge 106. The inner attachment member comprises a first flap part 231 and a second flap part 233 parallel to the first flap part 231 and at a distance from the first flap part 231 so that a gap 235 is defined between the inner flap part 231 and outer flap part 233. As indicated in figure 15b by arrows, the lingual frame plate 30 can be inserted into this gap 235. Similarly, the outer attachment member comprises a first flap part 232 and a second flap part 234 parallel to the first flap part 232 and at a distance from the first flap part 232 so that a gap 236 is defined between the inner flap part 232 and outer flap part 234. As indicated in figure 15b by arrows, the facial frame plate 32 can be inserted into this gap 235.
Figure 15a shows the sheet part assembly 201 - not yet with the frame members 30 and 32 included - in the initial condition as obtained in the providing step. Figures 15b and 15c show the sheet part assembly 201 in the final condition. As follows from figure 15b, first the transformation step is applied to the sheet part assembly of figure 15a, without the frame members 30, 32, and subsequently the lingual frame member 30 and facial frame member 32 are inserted into the respective gaps 235 and 236. The frame members 30 and 32 may be attached to the outer flaps 231, 232 and inner flaps 233, 234 by means of an adhesive (or glue) and/or by thermal welding.
With respect to the embodiment of figure 15 it is noted that this embodiment may also be made by a combination of injection moulding techniques as elucidated in relation to figure 13 or in case the bristles are according to figure 14 by a multi material injection moulding technique in case the sheet part, flaps and frame members are simultaneously or sequentially injection moulded in one mould or over-moulding in case the frame members have been made prior to moulding the sheet part and flaps (or the other way around in case the sheet part and flaps have been made prior to moulding the frame members).
The embodiment of figure 16 schematically shows another example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed, with the method according to the invention, to a mouthpiece with recess wall according to the invention. The embodiment of figure 16 is basically the same as the embodiment of figure 14 so that the elucidation in relation to figure 14 (and in relation to figure 13) applies mutatis mutandis to figure 16 as well. It I further noted that the embodiment of figure 16 may also use the double side flaps of figure 15, so that the elucidation in relation to figure 15 applies mutatis mutandis as well to figure 16. The difference of the figure 16 embodiment with respect to the embodiments of figures 13-15 is in the lingual frame member 30 and facial frame member 32. These frame members are provided with a snap connection allowing two sheet part assemblies 201 to be connected together.
Figure 16a shows one of these sheet part assemblies in the initial condition. Figure 16b shows both sheet part assemblies 201 in the final condition. The sheet part assembly shown in figure 16a and in the upper half of figure 16b carries on the free ends of the lingual frame member 30 and facial frame member 32 a female part 237, 238 of the snap connection. The sheet part assembly shown in the lower half of figure 16b carries on the free ends of the lingual frame member 30 and facial frame member 32 a male part 239, 240 of the snap connection. As will be clear, also the sheet part assembly shown in the lower half of figure 16b will initially be provided in the initial condition similar to the one shown in figure 16a for the upper half of figure 16b. The male parts 239, 240 of the snap connection and the female parts 237, 238 of the snap connection mate to each other such that a snap connection can be established. As will be clear, the male and or female parts of the snap connection are shown are intended as an example and may also be formed differently.
After assembling the sheet parts assemblies 201 of figure 16b together, a mouthpiece according to the invention is obtained. The brushing action may be obtained by subjecting the entire mouthpiece to a mechanical vibration, for example by means of a vibrating rod (or handle) as mentioned earlier in relation to figure 12. The brushing action may also be obtained by using the space delimited by the lingual frame members 30, facial frame members 32 and sheet parts 101 as a pressure chamber and reciprocatingly increasing and decreasing the pressure in this pressure chamber.
The embodiment of figure 17 schematically shows another example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed, with the method according to the invention, to a mouthpiece with recess wall according to the invention. The embodiment of figure 17 is basically the same as the embodiment of figure 16 so that the elucidation in relation to figure 16 (as well as in relation to figures 13-15) applies mutatis mutandis to figure 16 as well. It I further noted that the embodiment of figure 17 may also use the double side flaps of figure 15, and/or may also have injection moulded bristles 24 such as in figures 14 and 16. The difference of the figure 17 embodiment with respect to the embodiment of figure 16 is in the lingual frame member 30 and facial frame member 32. These frame members are not provided with a snap connection allowing two sheet part assemblies 201 to be connected together, but this connection is established in different manner. In the embodiment of figure 17, this connection is established by adhering, such as by an adhesive (or glue), and/or by thermal welding together the free ends of the lingual and facial frame members 30, 32 and/or the free ends of the flaps 231, 232 and/or the respective frame members with respective flaps to obtain a joint at 251 and 252.
The embodiment of figure 18 schematically shows another example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed, with the method according to the invention, to a mouthpiece with recess wall according to the invention. The embodiment of figure 18 is basically the same as the embodiment of figure 16 and 17 so that the elucidation in relation to figure 16 and 17 (as well as in relation to figures 13-15) applies mutatis mutandis to figure 16 as well. It I further noted that the embodiment of figure 18 may also use the single side flaps of figure 13, 14 and 16, and/or may also have injection moulded bristles 24 such as in figures 14 and 16. The difference of the figure 18 embodiment with respect to the embodiment of figure 16 and 17 is in the lingual frame member 30 and facial frame member 32. These frame members are not provided with a snap connection allowing two sheet part assemblies 201 to be connected together and do not require an adhesive or thermal welding together. In the embodiment of figure 18, this connection is established an H-shaped frame member 260 comprising a lingual frame plate 30 and facial frame plate 32 interconnected by a spacer member 31. The spacer member 31 may be a plate which is closed or provided with passages providing a fluid connection between the upper half and lower half. Alternatively the spacer member 31 may be formed by a plurality of rods or wires or be fully absent. In case the spacer member 31 is fully absent, only one lingual frame member 30 common for both the bristled sheet parts 201 is left and only one facial frame member 32 common for both bristled sheet parts 201.
The embodiment of figure 19 schematically shows an further example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed to a recess wall with the method according to the invention. Figure 19a shows the sheet part in the initial position and figure 19b shows the sheet part in the final condition. Figures 19a and 19 b are identical to figures 13b and 13c, except that the bristles sheet part 101 of figures 19a and 19b comprises two layers, a first layer 101a and a second layer 101b. The bristled layer 101 of figure 19 comprises tufts 29 with nylon bristles. The first layer 101a is provided with a passage for each tuft so that the roots of the bristles reach (or project a little from) the backside of the first layer 101a, which backside is in figures 19a and 19b the lower side. After the tufts of bristles have been inserted into the passages, the second layer 101b is provided. This second layer fixes the bristles. Injection moulding the second layer, causes the root ends of the bristles fusing with the second layer which results in a reliable and firm bond. As will be clear, the bristled layer 201 of figure 19b may also be provided in the flat condition as shown in figure 13a. Further, it will be clear that the elucidation in relation to figures 13a, 13b and 13c applies mutatis mutandis to figure 19.
The embodiment of figure 20 schematically shows an further example of a bristled sheet part assembly 201 processed to a recess wall with the method according to the invention. Figure 20a shows the sheet part in the initial position and figure 20b shows the sheet part in the final condition. Figures 20a and 20b are identical to figures 13b and 13c, except that in figure 20a the tufts are irregularly spaced whilst in figure 20b they are regularly spaced. As is indicated in figure 20a, there is an interspace Sc1 between the first and second tuft from the left, there is an interspace Sb1 between the fourth and fifth tuft from the left, and there is an interspace Sa1 between the sixth and seventh tuft from the left. As shown in figure 20a, Sa1 may be larger than Sb1 and Sb1 may be larger than Sc1. The relation between the interspaces Sa1, Sb1 and Sc1 may however also be different, for example Sb1 may be equal to Sc1 and larger than Sa1. As shown in figure 20b, the interspaces Sa1, Sb1 and Sc1 have been increased to Sa2, Sb2 and Sc2, respectively. This increase may be due to stretching of the sheet part 101 during the transformation step. As shown in figure 20b, Sa2 may be equal to Sb2 and Sc2. Sa1, Sb1 and Sc1 may have been chosen - taking into account the stretching of the sheet part during the transformation step such that after the transforming step Sa2 is equal to Sb2 and Sc2.
As follows from the above the term ‘pressure chamber’ as used throughout this application is a chamber in which the pressure is changed between a decreased pressure condition and an increased pressure condition. The decreased pressure condition and increased pressure condition may both be a pressure below ambient pressure, i.e. a vacuum defined as a pressure between 0 and 1 bar. Alternatively, the decreased pressure condition and increased pressure condition may both be a pressure above ambient pressure, or one of these pressure conditions may be about ambient pressure whilst the other is below or above ambient pressure.
Where in this application the terminology ‘pressure in the pressure chamber’ or similar terminology is used, it is the ‘pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber’. It is the pressure of the fluid which acts on the recess wall to cause local deformation. The pressure of the fluid may for example be increased by supplying additional fluid into the pressure chamber or decreased by allowing fluid to leave the pressure chamber.
Where in this application ‘thermal welding’ is used, this may be a thermal welding technique:
- where heat is generated by mechanical movement, for example vibration welding and ultrasonic welding,
- a technique using an external heat source, for example hot plate welding, hot bar welding, and hot gas welding
- a technique using electric and/or magnetic fields, for example laser welding, infrared welding, induction welding, and dielectric welding;
- where a weld occurs during the moulding of a plastic or thermoplastic material, for example welds occurring in injection moulding or during compression moulding.
Where in this application the term multi material injection moulding is used, this may be any injection moulding technique in which an item is made from two or more injection moulded materials which form an integral part due to fusing together at an interface. These materials may be injected into the mould simultaneously or sequentially. Additionally or alternatively, a sub-item may have been pre-fabricated by injection moulding a first material in a first mould cavity and later added as an insert in a second mould cavity into which a second material is injected and become integral with the sub-item, wherein the first and second mould cavity may be arranged in one mould or in different moulds. Many of these injection moulding techniques are known to the skilled man and frequently are indicated under a variety of names for same or very similar multi material injection moulding techniques, for example multi shot component injection moulding (with two or more components), multi-component injection moulding, co-injection moulding, and overmoulding. It is noted that the frequently used term ‘component’ in these names, means the same as ‘material’.
Where in this application the terminology ‘bristled sheet part’ is used, this means a sheet part having a first side lined with a plurality of bristles.
Where in this applications the terms ‘wide’, ‘narrow’, ‘widening’ and ‘narrowing’ are used in relation to a curvature, wide means a wide bend analogous to a wide turn when driving a car and narrow means a narrow bend analogous to a narrow or tight turn when driving a car. Further narrowing means going from wide to narrow whilst widening means going from narrow to wide.
Taking into account the shape of the various dental positions/natural teeth, the shape of the U-shaped cross section may vary along the length direction of the recess/recess wall. In the region of the upper and or lower incisors, the U-shaped cross section may for example be V-shaped.

Claims (39)

ConclusiesConclusions 1] Werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van een ononderbroken met borstelharen beklede uitsparingswand voor een mondstuk voor het simultaan borstelen op een veelheid van dentale posities, waarbij de ononderbroken uitsparingswand een boogvormige lengte hartlijn en, gezien dwars op de lengte hartlijn, een U-vormige dwarsdoorsnede heeft ingericht om die veelheid van dentale posities te omvatten, en waarbij de boogvormige lengte hartlijn een lengte heeft die tenminste overspant een afstand die tenminste gelijk is aan de afstand van de linker tweede pre-molaar tot de rechter tweede pre-molaar;1] Method for manufacturing a continuous bristle-covered recess wall for a nozzle for simultaneous brushing at a plurality of dental positions, the continuous recess wall having an arcuate longitudinal axis and, viewed transversely of the longitudinal axis, a U-shaped cross-section arranged to include that plurality of dental positions, and wherein the arcuate length axis has a length that at least spans a distance at least equal to the distance from the left second pre-molar to the right second pre-molar; waarbij de werkwijze een verschaffingsstap omvat, waarin een langwerpig, ononderbroken, van borstelharen voorzien veldeel met een eerste met een veelheid borstelharen beklede zijde wordt verschaft, waarbij het langwerpige, van borstelharen voorziene veldeel een lengte hartlijn bepaalt die zich evenwijdig aan het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel uitstrekt en, gezien dwars op de lengte hartlijn, een dwarsdoorsnede vorm heeft, en waarbij het in de verschaffingsstap verkregen langwerpige, ononderbroken, van borstelharen voorziene veldeel een beginconditie heeft waarin:wherein the method comprises a provision step in which an elongated, continuous, bristled sheet portion is provided with a first side coated with a plurality of bristles, the elongated bristled sheet portion defining a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the bristled sheet portion extends and, viewed transversely to the longitudinal axis, has a cross-sectional shape, and wherein the elongated, continuous, bristled sheet part obtained in the providing step has an initial condition in which: de dwarsdoorsnedevorm een beginvorm heeft, en de lengte hartlijn boogvormig is;the cross-sectional shape has an initial shape, and the longitudinal axis is arcuate; waarbij de werkwijze verder een transformatiestap omvat waarin het langwerpige, ononderbroken, van borstelharen voorziene veldeel verkregen in de verschaffingsstap wordt getransformeerd tot een genoemde ononderbroken uitsparingswand met een eindconditie; waarbij in de eindconditie:wherein the method further comprises a transformation step in which the elongated, unbroken, bristled field portion obtained in the providing step is transformed into said uninterrupted recess wall with an end condition; where in the final condition: de dwarsdoorsnede vorm een eind U-vorm heeft, de lengte hartlijn boogvormig is, en de eerste zijde een concave binnenzijde van de eind U-vorm is; en waarbij de eerste zijde in de eindconditie concaver is dan in de beginconditie.the cross-sectional shape has an end U-shape, the longitudinal axis is arcuate, and the first side is a concave inner side of the end U-shape; and wherein the first side is more concave in the final condition than in the initial condition. 2] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 1, waarbij, in de eindconditie, de borstelharen vanaf tegenoverliggende zijden van de U-vormige dwarsdoorsnede zich naar elkaar uitstrekken.Method according to claim 1, wherein, in the final condition, the bristles extend towards each other from opposite sides of the U-shaped cross-section. 3] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de eind U-vorm is gedefinieerd door twee benen en een deze benen verbindende bodem, waarbij een verticale hartlijn is gedefinieerd als zich uitstrekkend dwars op de bodem tussen de benen.Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the end U-shape is defined by two legs and a bottom connecting these legs, wherein a vertical axis is defined as extending transversely to the bottom between the legs. 4] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 3, waarbij, in de eindconditie, de borstelharen op het ene been en de borstelharen op het andere been zich vanaf het respectieve been naar elkaar uitstrekken.A method according to claim 3, wherein, in the final condition, the bristles on one leg and the bristles on the other leg extend toward each other from the respective leg. 5] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 3 of 4, waarbij, in de eindconditie, de borstelharen op de benen zijn voorzien onder een hoek ten opzichte van de verticale hartlijn, welke hoek in het bereik van 0° tot 90°, zoals in het bereik van 30° tot 90°, ten opzichte van de verticale hartlijn ligt.Method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein, in the final condition, the bristles on the legs are provided at an angle with respect to the vertical axis, which angle is in the range of 0 ° to 90 °, such as in the range of 30 ° to 90 °, relative to the vertical center line. 6] Werkwijze volgen een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij, in de beginconditie, de eerste zijde van het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel concaaf, vlak of convex is.Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein, in the initial condition, the first side of the bristled sheet part is concave, flat or convex. 7] Werkwijze volgen een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij twee benen en een deze benen verbindende bodem zijn gedefinieerd door de eind Uvorm, een verticale hartlijn is gedefinieerd als zich uitstrekkend dwars op de bodem, en de benen, bij elke wortel van een genoemde borstelhaar op dat been, een raaklijn met de eerste zijde van het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel definiëren, welke raaklijn zich uitstrekt in een vlak dwars op de lengte hartlijn;Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein two legs and a bottom connecting these legs are defined by the end U shape, a vertical axis is defined as extending transversely to the bottom, and the legs, at each root of a said bristle define on that leg a tangent line with the first side of the bristled sheet section, which tangent line extends in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; waarbij, in de beginconditie, de borstelharen zich uitstrekken evenwijdig aand de verticale hartlijn;wherein, in the initial condition, the bristles extend parallel to the vertical axis; waarbij, in de transformatiestap, de benen naar elkaar gebogen worden al roterende elke respectieve raaklijn over een hoek van x° ten opzichte van de verticale hartlijn zodanig dat de borstelhaar behorend bij de respectieve raaklijn zich uitstrekt onder een hoek van x° aan ten opzichte van de verticale hartlijn in een richting wegwijzend van de bodem.wherein, in the transformation step, the legs are bent toward each other while rotating each respective tangent line through an angle of x ° with respect to the vertical axis such that the bristles associated with the respective tangent line extend at an angle of x ° on with respect to the vertical center line in a direction pointing away from the bottom. 8] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 7, waarbij die x° ligt in het bereik van 0° tot 90°, zoals in het bereik van 30° - 60° of in het bereik van 40° - 50°.A method according to claim 7, wherein said x ° is in the range of 0 ° to 90 °, such as in the range of 30 ° - 60 ° or in the range of 40 ° - 50 °. 9] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 7 of 8, waarbij de eindhoek van de benen ten opzichte van de verticale hartlijn ligt in het bereik van 0° - 45°, zoals in het bereik van 5° - 20°.A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the end angle of the legs with respect to the vertical center line is in the range of 0 ° - 45 °, such as in the range of 5 ° - 20 °. 10] Werkwijze volgen een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het langwerpige, ononderbroken, van borstelharen voorziene veldeel met boogvormige lengte hartlijn en een eerste zijde bekleed met borstelharen wordt gemaakt in de verschaffingsstap.A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elongated, unbroken, bristled field portion with arcuate longitudinal axis and a first side coated with bristles is made in the providing step. 11] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de borstelharen een worteleind, een vrij eind en een borstellichaam hebben dat zich uitstrekt van het worteleind tot het vrije eind;Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bristles have a root end, a free end and a brush body that extends from the root end to the free end; waarbij het van borstelharen voorziene, in de verschaffingsstap verkregen veldeel is vervaardigd door tuften, waarbij het tuften omvat:wherein the field portion provided with bristles obtained in the providing step is made by tufting, the tufting comprising: - het door een eerste veldeel heen steken van een veelheid nylon borstelharen of bosjes nylon borstelharen zodat de borstelharen zich met het borstellichaam en het vrije eind vanaf een voorzijde van het eerste veldeel uitstrekken en met een worteleind aan de achterzijde van het eerste veldeel uitsteken;- inserting a plurality of nylon bristles or tufts of nylon bristles through a first sheet portion so that the bristles extend with a brush body and the free end from a front side of the first sheet portion and protrude with a root end at the rear of the first sheet portion; - optioneel het verschaffen van een tweede veldeel tegen de achterzijde van het eerste veldeel; en- optionally providing a second field section against the rear side of the first field section; and - het versmelten van de worteleinden van de borstelharen met het eerste veldeel en/of het optionele tweede veldeel.- fusing the root ends of the bristles with the first section and / or the optional second section. 12] Werkwijze volgen een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel, in de transformatie stap, vanuit de beginconditie naar de eindconditie wordt getransformeerd door thermovormen, zoals vacuumvormen.Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the bristled sheet part is, in the transformation step, transformed from the initial condition to the final condition by thermoforming, such as vacuum forming. 13] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 12, waarbij, beschouwd in een richting langs de contour van de U-vorm, het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel door het thermovormen gerekt wordt.Method according to claim 12, wherein, viewed in a direction along the contour of the U-shape, the bristled sheet part is stretched by thermoforming. 14] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 13, waarbij, in de eindconditie en gezien in de richting langs de contour van de U-vorm, de borstelharen regelmatig verdeeld zijn.Method according to claim 13, wherein, in the final condition and viewed in the direction along the contour of the U-shape, the bristles are regularly distributed. 15] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 13 of 14, waarbij, in de beginconditie, de verdeling van de borstelharen op het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel zodanig geconfigureerd is dat, in de eindconditie en gezien in de richting langs de contour van de U-vorm, de borstelharen regelmatig verdeeld zijn.Method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein, in the initial condition, the distribution of the bristles on the bristled sheet part is configured such that, in the final condition and viewed in the direction along the contour of the U-shape, the bristles are regularly distributed. 16] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de lengte hartlijn een begin kromming heeft in de beginconditie en een eindkromming in de eindconditie, waarbij de beginkromming ruimer is dan de eindkromming.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal axis has a beginning curvature in the initial condition and a final curvature in the final condition, wherein the initial curvature is wider than the final curvature. 17] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 1-15, waarbij de lengte hartlijn een kromming heeft die in de beginconditie hetzelfde is als in de eindconditie.A method according to any of claims 1-15, wherein the longitudinal axis has a curvature which is the same in the initial condition as in the final condition. 18] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel twee begrenzingsranden heeft die zich uitstrekken langs de lengte hartlijn op, gezien in een richting dwars op de lengte hartlijn, een onderlinge afstand van elkaar; en waarbij, in de transformatiestap, het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel getransformeerd wordt door de onderlinge afstand tussen de begrenzingsranden te reduceren.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristled sheet section has two boundary edges that extend along the longitudinal axis at a mutual distance, viewed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis; and wherein, in the transformation step, the bristled sheet portion is transformed by reducing the mutual distance between the boundary edges. 19] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel, verkregen in de verschaffingsstap:A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bristled field portion obtained in the providing step: - wordt begrensd door een binnenste begrenzingsrand en buitenste begrenzingsrand, die zich uitstrekken langs de lengte hartlijn op een afstand tot de lengte hartlijn,- is bounded by an inner boundary edge and outer boundary edge, which extend along the longitudinal axis at a distance from the longitudinal axis, - een integraal deel is met een tongzijdig framedeel en een gezichtszijdig framedeel, die beide boog-vormig langs een boogkromming zijn, en- is an integral part with a tongue-side frame part and a face-side frame part, both of which are arcuate along an arc curve, and - aan de binnenste begrenzingsrand een binnenste bevestigingsdeel dat zich uitstrekt langs de binnenste begrenzingsrand en aan het tongzijdige framedeel bevestigd is, en, aan de buitenste begrenzingsrand een buitenste bevestigingsdeel dat zich uitstrekt langs de buitenste begrenzingsrand en aan het gezichtszijdige framedeel bevestigd is.- on the inner boundary edge an inner fastening part that extends along the inner boundary edge and is attached to the tongue-side frame part, and, on the outer boundary edge an outer fastening part that extends along the outer boundary edge and is attached to the face-sided frame part. 20] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 19, waarbij de verschaffingsstap de volgende sub-stappen omvat:The method of claim 19, wherein the providing step comprises the following sub-steps: - het verschaffen van het gezichtszijdige framedeel en van het tongzijdige framedeel,- providing the face-sided frame part and the tongue-sided frame part, - het, separaat van het gezichtszijdige en tongzijdige framedeel, verschaffen van het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel als een geheel met het binnenste en buitenste bevestigingsdeel,- providing the part provided with bristles as a whole with the inner and outer fixing part, separate from the face-side and tongue-side frame part, - het bevestigen van het binnenste bevestigingsdeel en buitenste bevestigingsdeel aan het tongzijdige framedeel respectievelijk het gezichtszijdige framedeel.- attaching the inner fixing part and outer fixing part to the tongue-side frame part and the face-side frame part, respectively. 21] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 19, waarbij, in de verschaffingsstap, het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel, het gezichtszijdige framedeel en hert tongzijdige framedeel worden verschaft als een voorgefabriceerd integraal geheel.A method according to claim 19, wherein, in the providing step, the bristled sheet portion, the face-sided frame portion and the tongue-sided frame portion are provided as a prefabricated integral whole. 22] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 19-21, waarbij het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel, het gezichtszijdige framedeel en hert tongzijdige framedeel in de vervaardigingsstap gemaakt worden door spuitgieten, zoals omspuiten en/of co-spuitgieten.Method according to any of claims 19-21, wherein the bristled sheet part, the face-sided frame part and the tongue-sided frame part are made in the manufacturing step by injection molding, such as spraying and / or co-injection molding. 23] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 19-22, waarbij het binnenste en buitenste bevestigingsdeel geconfigureerd zijn als een zijflap die zich uitstrekt langs de binnenste begrenzingsrand respectievelijk de buitenste begrenzingsrand en om te worden bevestigd aan het tongzijdige respectievelijk gezichtszijdige framedeel.A method according to any of claims 19-22, wherein the inner and outer mounting member are configured as a side flap extending along the inner boundary edge or the outer boundary edge, respectively, and to be attached to the tongue-side or face-side frame part, respectively. 24] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 19-23, waarbij het binnenste en buitenste bevestigingsdeel geconfigureerd zijn als een dubbele zijflap die zich uitstrekt langs de binnenste begrenzingsrand respectievelijk de buitenste begrenzingsrand, waarbij het tongzijdige en gezichtszijdige framedeel zijn uitgevoerd met een plaatgedeelte, waarbij de dubbele zijflap omvat een eerste flapdeel en een tweede flapdeel evenwijdig aan het eerste flapdeel en op afstand van het eerste flapdeel om, tussen het eerste en tweede flapdeel, een spleet te bepalen die geconfigureerd is om het plaatgedeelte van het tongzijdige respectievelijk gezichtszijdige frame deel op te nemen.A method according to any of claims 19-23, wherein the inner and outer fastening member are configured as a double side flap extending along the inner boundary edge or the outer boundary edge, respectively, wherein the tongue-side and face-side frame part are formed with a plate part, the double side flap comprises a first flap part and a second flap part parallel to the first flap part and spaced from the first flap part to define, between the first and second flap part, a gap configured to accommodate the plate part of the tongue-side and face-side frame part, respectively. take. 25] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 19-24,Method according to one of claims 19 to 24, Waarbij, in de verschaffingsstap, twee van die van borstelharen voorziene veldelen worden verkregen, waarbij elk van borstelharen voorzien veldeel:Where, in the provisioning step, two of those field parts provided with bristles are obtained, each of which is provided with bristles: - wordt begrensd door een genoemde binnenste begrenzingsrand en een genoemde buitenste begrenzingsrand, die zich uitstrekken langs de lengte hartlijn op afstand van de lengtehartlijn,- is bounded by said inner boundary edge and said outer boundary edge, which extend along the longitudinal axis at a distance from the longitudinal axis, - een integraal deel is met een genoemd tongzijdig framedeel en gezichtszijdig framedeel, die beide boogvormig zijn langs een respectieve boogkromming, en- is an integral part with said tongue-side frame part and face-side frame part, both of which are arcuate along a respective arc bend, and - aan de binnenste begrenzingsrand, een genoemd binnenste bevestigingsdeel omvat dat zich uitstrekt langs de binnenste begrenzingsrand en is bevestigd aan het tongzijdige bevestigingsdeel, en, aan de buitenste begrenzingsrand, een genoemd buitenste bevestigingsdeel omvat dat zich uitstrekt langs de buitenste begrenzingsrand en is bevestigd aan het gezichtszijdige bevestigingsdeel, waarbij het gezichtszijdige framedeel behorend bij een eerste van de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen is voorzien van een manlijk of vrouwelijk deel van een eerste klikverbinding en het gezichtszijdige framedeel behorend bij een tweede van de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen is voorzien van het vrouwelijke respectievelijk manlijk deel van de eerste klikverbinding, en waarbij het tongzijdige framedeel behorend bij de eerste van de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen is voorzien van een manlijk of vrouwelijk deel van een tweede klikverbinding en het tongzijdige framedeel behorend bij de tweede van de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen is voorzien van het vrouwelijke respectievelijk manlijk deel van de tweede klikverbinding.- on the inner boundary edge, comprises said inner fastening part that extends along the inner boundary edge and is attached to the tongue-side fastening part, and, on the outer boundary edge, comprises said outer fastening part that extends along the outer boundary edge and is attached to the face-sided attachment part, wherein the face-sided frame part associated with a first of the two bristles provided with a bristle is provided with a male or female part of a first snap connection and the face-sided frame part associated with a second of the two bristles provided with bristle is provided with the female respectively male part of the first snap connection, and wherein the tongue-sided frame part associated with the first of the two field parts provided with bristles is provided with a male or female part of a second snap connection and the tongue-sided frame part associated with the tw The two field sections provided with bristles are provided with the female or male part of the second snap connection. 26] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 19-25, waarbij de boogkrommingen van het tongzijdige en gezichtszijdige framedeel, zoals verkregen met het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel in de verschaffingsstap, wijder zijn dan de eindkromming; en waarbij, in de transformatiestap, de boogkrommingen vernauwd worden om met de eindkromming overeen te komen.A method according to any of claims 19-25, wherein the arc curves of the tongue-side and face-side frame part, as obtained with the bristled field part in the providing step, are wider than the end curvature; and wherein, in the transformation step, the arc curves are narrowed to correspond to the end curvature. 27] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 19-26, waarbij de tongzijdige en gezichtszijdige framedelen veerkrachtig zijn en een ontspannen toestand hebben waarin de framedelen spanningsloos zijn en een boogkromming hebben overeenkomend met de eindkromming van de uitsparingswand;Method according to any of claims 19-26, wherein the tongue-side and face-side frame parts are resilient and have a relaxed state in which the frame parts are de-energized and have an arc curvature corresponding to the end curvature of the recess wall; waarbij een voorspanstap plaatsvindt voor of tijdens de verschaffingsstap, waarbij in de voorspanstap de framedelen worden voorgespannen vanuit de ontspannen toestand naar een voorgespannen toestand waarin de boogkrommingen van de framedelen overeenkomen met de beginkromming van het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel en waarin de framedelen een voorspanning hebben die werkzaam is in een richting om de framedelen te doen terugkeren naar hun ontspannen toestand; en waarbij, in de transformatiestap, de boogkrommingen van de framedelen worden gereduceerd door de voorspanning van de framedelen vrij te geven.wherein a biasing step takes place before or during the provisioning step, wherein in the biasing step the frame parts are biased from the relaxed state to a biased state in which the arc curves of the frame parts correspond to the initial curvature of the bristled sheet part and in which the frame parts have a bias that operates in a direction to return the frame members to their relaxed state; and wherein, in the transformation step, the arc curves of the frame members are reduced by releasing the bias of the frame members. 28] Werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 19-27, waarbij, in de verschaffingsstap, twee genoemde van borstelharen voorziene veldelen worden verkregen en waarbij de bevestigingsdelen van een eerste van die twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen thermisch gelast worden aan de respectieve bevestigingsdelen van een tweede van die twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen door een las die zich uitstrekt langs de lengte hartlijn van de van borstelharen voorziene veldelen.Method as claimed in any of the claims 19-27, wherein, in the provisioning step, two said bristles provided with bristles are obtained and wherein the fixing parts of a first bristles provided with bristles are thermally welded to the respective fixing parts of a second of those two brush-hairs, by means of a weld that extends along the longitudinal axis of the brush-hairs. 29] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij, in de verschaffingsstap, twee genoemde van borstelharen voorziene veldelen worden verkregen als een enkel deel met een overgangszone die een eerste van de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen integraal verbindt met een tweede van de twee genoemde van borstelharen voorziene veldelen;A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the provisioning step, two said bristles are obtained as a single part with a transition zone integrally connecting a first of the two bristles provided with a second of the two said bristles brushed field sections; waarbij het overgangsgebied is geconfigureerd om toe te laten dat de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen ten opzichte van elkaar gevouwen worden vanuit een eerste positie waarin de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen in eikaars verlengde liggen naar een tweede positie waarin de twee van borstelharen voorziene veldelen over elkaar gevouwen zijn.wherein the transition area is configured to allow the two brushed field sections to be folded relative to each other from a first position in which the two brushed field sections are aligned in line with each other to a second position in which the two brushed field sections are superimposed are folded. 30] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 29, waarbij, in een vouwstap, de van borstelharen voorziene veldelen ten opzichte van elkaar gevouwen worden vanuit de eerste naar de tweede positie.Method as claimed in claim 29, wherein, in a folding step, the brush sections provided with bristles are folded relative to each other from the first to the second position. 31] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de lengte van de lente hartlijn een afstand overspant die tenminste gelijk is aan de afstand vanaf de linker eerste molaar tot de rechter eerste molaar, zoals een lengte die een afstand overspant die tenminste gelijk is aan de afstand vanaf de linker tweede molaar tot de rechter tweede molaar.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the spring axis spans a distance that is at least equal to the distance from the left first molar to the right first molar, such as a length that spans a distance that is at least equal to the distance from the left second molar to the right second molar. 32] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbijA method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - de eind U-vorm een inwendige breedte heeft in het bereik van 0 tot 20 mm, zoals in het bereik van 2 tot 12 mm;- the end U-shape has an internal width in the range of 0 to 20 mm, such as in the range of 2 to 12 mm; en/ofand / or - de eind U-vorm een inwendige hoogte heeft in het bereik van 3 tot 20 mm, zoals in het bereik van 5 tot 10 mm.- the end U-shape has an internal height in the range of 3 to 20 mm, such as in the range of 5 to 10 mm. 33] Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het van borstelharen voorziene veldeel een dikte heeft tot aan 15 mm, zoals een dikte in het bereik van 0.5 tot 3 mm.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bristled sheet section has a thickness of up to 15 mm, such as a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 3 mm. 34] Werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van een mondstuk van het type omvattende een lichaam voorzien van tenminste een uitsparing begrensd door een uitsparingswand bekleed met een veelheid borstelharen die vanaf de uitsparingswand in de uitsparing uitsteken, waarbij de uitsparingswand een boogvormige lengte hartlijn bepaalt en, gezien dwars op de lengte hartlijn, een U-vormige dwarsdoorsnede vorm en geconfigureerd is om een veelheid dentale posities langs een dentale boog te omvatten; en waarbij de uitsparingswand is vervaardigd overeenkomstig een van de voorgaande conclusies.34] Method of manufacturing a nozzle of the type comprising a body provided with at least one recess bounded by a recess wall covered with a plurality of bristles protruding from the recess wall into the recess, the recess wall defining an arcuate longitudinal axis and, viewed transversely on the longitudinal axis, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and configured to include a plurality of dental positions along a dental arc; and wherein the recess wall is manufactured according to any of the preceding claims. 35] Werkwijze volgens conclusie 34, waarbij het lichaam verder tenminste een drukkamer omvat die is geconfigureerd voor het bevatten van een fluïdum onder druk en waarbij het lichaam is geconfigureerd om de uitsparingswand te deformeren door reciprocerend een druk in de tenminste ene drukkamer te verhogen en te verlagen.The method of claim 34, wherein the body further comprises at least one pressure chamber configured to contain a pressurized fluid and wherein the body is configured to deform the recess wall by reciprocally increasing and increasing a pressure in the at least one pressure chamber to lower. 36] Mondstuk verkregen met de werkwijze volgens conclusie 34 of 35.36] Nozzle obtained with the method according to claim 34 or 35. 37] Uitsparingswand voor een mondstuk voor het simultaan borstelen op een veelheid dentale posities, waarbij de uitsparingswand is verkregen met de werkwijze volgens een van de conclusies 1-33.37] Recess wall for a mouthpiece for simultaneous brushing at a plurality of dental positions, the recess wall being obtained with the method according to any of claims 1-33. 38] Mondstuk voor het simultaan borstelen op een veelheid dentale posities, Waarbij het mondstuk van het type is omvattende een lichaam voorzien van tenminste een uitsparing begrensd door een uitsparingswand bekleed met een veelheid borstelharen die vanaf de uitsparingswand in de uitsparing uitsteken, waarbij de uitsparingswand een boogvormige lengte hartlijn bepaalt en, gezien dwars op de lengte hartlijn, een U-vormige dwarsdoorsnede vorm en geconfigureerd is om een veelheid dentale posities langs een dentale boog te omvatten; en waarbij de uitsparingswand is vervaardigd overeenkomstig een van de conclusies 1-33.38] Nozzle for simultaneous brushing at a plurality of dental positions, wherein the nozzle is of the type comprising a body provided with at least one recess bounded by a recess wall covered with a plurality of bristles protruding from the recess wall into the recess, the recess wall extending a defines an arcuate longitudinal axis and, viewed transversely to the longitudinal axis, a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and is configured to include a plurality of dental positions along a dental arch; and wherein the recess wall is made according to any of claims 1-33. 39] Mondstuk volgens conclusie 38, waarbij het lichaam verder tenminste een drukkamer omvat die is geconfigureerd voor het bevatten van een fluïdum onder druk en waarbij het lichaam is geconfigureerd om de uitsparingswand te deformeren door reciprocerend een druk in de tenminste ene drukkamer te verhogen en te verlagen.The mouthpiece of claim 38, wherein the body further comprises at least one pressure chamber configured to contain a pressurized fluid and wherein the body is configured to deform the recess wall by reciprocally increasing and increasing a pressure in the at least one pressure chamber to lower.
NL2021332A 2018-07-17 2018-07-17 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method. NL2021332B1 (en)

Priority Applications (14)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2021332A NL2021332B1 (en) 2018-07-17 2018-07-17 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method.
US17/260,945 US11986367B2 (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method; and dental cleaning device; and mouthpiece for brushing at a plurality of dental positions, brushing device comprising such mouthpiece, and method of operating such a mouthpiece or brushing device
CN202211124360.3A CN115486632A (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 Tooth cleaning device, oral piece, method for operating a tooth cleaning device and method for operating an oral piece
EP23175351.8A EP4233786A3 (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece
EP19749456.0A EP3823554B1 (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece
CN201980060654.4A CN112770694B (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 Method for manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles, recess wall and oral element obtained using said method
AU2019305433A AU2019305433B2 (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method; and dental cleaning device; and mouthpiece for brushing at a plurality of dental positions, brushing device comprising such mouthpiece, and method of operating such a mouthpiece or brushing device
PCT/NL2019/050452 WO2020017963A2 (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method; and dental cleaning device; and mouthpiece for brushing at a plurality of dental positions, brushing device comprising such mouthpiece, and method of operating such a mouthpiece or brushing device
JP2021502575A JP7419337B2 (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 A method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneous brushing at multiple dental locations; and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained by the method; and a dental cleaning device; a mouthpiece for brushing in a dental position, a brushing device including such a mouthpiece, and a method of operating such a mouthpiece or brushing device
KR1020217004541A KR20210042327A (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 A method of manufacturing a recess wall in which bristles for a mouthpiece are aligned for brushing at a plurality of tooth positions at the same time, a recess wall and a mouthpiece manufactured by the method, and a tooth cleaning device, and a mouse for brushing at a plurality of tooth positions A piece, a brushing device including the same, and a mouthpiece or a method of operating the brushing device.
BR112021000738-5A BR112021000738B1 (en) 2018-07-17 2019-07-16 METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A REMOVED WALL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A NOZZLE
JP2024001722A JP2024029209A (en) 2018-07-17 2024-01-10 Method of manufacturing recess wall lined by bristles for mouthpiece for simultaneous brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and recess wall and mouthpiece obtained by the same method; dental cleaning device; mouthpiece for brushing at the plurality of dental positions, brushing device including such mouthpiece, and method of operating such mouthpiece or brushing device
US18/629,995 US20240252297A1 (en) 2018-07-17 2024-04-09 Dental Cleaning Device
AU2024219626A AU2024219626A1 (en) 2018-07-17 2024-09-11 Method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and a recess wall and mouthpiece obtained with the method; and dental cleaning device; and mouthpiece for brushing at a plurality of dental positions, brushing device comprising such mouthpiece, and method of operating such a mouthpiece or brushing device

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