Method of producing a brush having a bristle plate

• US 6,779,851 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GB Boucherie NV
• Original Assignee: GB Boucherie NV
• Inventors: Bouchiere, Bart Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/822,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 151/671, 151/911, 151/92, 151/93, 300/21
• US Class Current: 300/21
• CPC Class Codes: A46D 3/04 Machines for inserting or fixing bristles in bodies

Abstract

A method of producing brushes by connecting plates of a plastic material, having each tufts of brush bristles attached thereto and projecting from a first face, to an attachment surface portion of a brush body made of plastic, in particular the same plastic, by means of ultrasonic welding of gluing. Each of the plates has a peripheral rim facing the brush body and having an edge formed thereon which acts as an energy concentrator in ultrasonic welding.

Claims

1. A method of producing brushes comprising the steps of

providing brush bodies of a plastic material, said brush bodies each having an attachment surface portion,

providing plates of a plastic material, said plates each having tufts of brush bristles attached thereto and projecting from a first face,

connecting each plate to the attachment surface portion of one of the brush bodies by ultrasonic welding;

wherein said plates each have a peripheral rim on a second face opposite the first face, said peripheral rim defining an edge, and said plate contacting said attachment surface portion along said edge and said edge acting as an energy concentrator, said edge tapering toward said attachment surface portion, thus defining a tapered end of said peripheral rim.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said brush bodies are provided with a recess and said attachment surface portion is located at the bottom of the recess.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said edge engages said attachment surface portion by its tapered end and a weld joint is produced at said attachment surface portion.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an extension projecting beyond said recess of said brush bodies is formed at said peripheral rim of said plate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said extension is made to contact a surface area of said brush bodies surrounding said recess.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said extension is provided with an edge which tapers toward said brush body and acts as an energy concentrator in ultrasonic welding.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said extension is formed in such a way that it protrudes as far as into a transition region of said brush bodies which corresponds to the neck piece of a toothbrush.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a pressing means is provided for pressing said plate against said brush body during the ultrasonic welding.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a gap left between said plate and said brush body is closed by plastic mass.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a gap left between said plate and said brush body is closed by molding in an injection mold.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said brush bodies are provided with a recess having a peripheral wall converging obliquely toward the center of said recess, in that said plate has a peripheral wall having a shape matching the shape of said peripheral wall of said recess and is fittingly inserted in said recess, and in that said plate is attached in said recess by ultrasonic welding or by means of,an adhesive.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said brush bodies and said plates are made of the same plastic material.

8. The method of ciaim 4, wherein said extension is inserted in a stepped widened portion of said recess in said brush bodies.

14. A method of producing brushes comprising the steps of

providing brush bodies of a plastic material, said brush bodies each having an attachment surface portion,

providing plates of a plastic material, said plates each having tufts of brush bristles attached thereto and projecting from a first face,

providing means for applying an adhesive in order to connect said plates to said attachment surface portions of said brush bodies by gluing;

wherein said brush bodies and said plates are made of the same plastic material, said brush bodies are provided with a recess in which the plate is inserted to fit and said attachment surface portion is located at the bottom of said recess, wherein an injection mold is provided in which part of said brush body with said plate inserted therein is provided for molding around at least the peripheral region of said plate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein an injection mold is provided in which part of said brush body with said plate inserted therein is provided for molding around at least the peripheral region of said platelet.

16. A method of producing a brush comprising the steps of:

providing a brush body of a plastic material, said brush body having an attachment surface portion;

providing a plate of a plastic material, said plate having tufts of brush bristles attached thereto and projecting from a first face;

connecting said plate to said attachment surface portion of said brush body by ultrasonic welding;

wherein said plate has a second face opposite said first face, said plate having a circumferential rim projecting from said second face and defining an edge, and said plate contacting said attachment surface portion along said edge so that a first gap is formed between said attachment surface portion of said brush body and said second face of said plate, said edge acting as an energy concentrator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said edge tapers, toward said attachment surface portion, thus defining a tapered end of said circumferential rim.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said edge engages said attachment surface portion by its tapered end and a weld joint is produced at said attachment surface portion.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said brush body is provided with a recess and said attachment surface portion is located at the bottom of said recess.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein an extension projecting beyond said recess of said brush body is formed at said circumferential rim of said plate.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said extension is made to contact a surface area of said brush body surrounding said recess.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said extension is provided with an extension edge which tapers toward said brush body and said extension edge acts as an energy concentrator in the ultrasonic welding.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said extension is formed in such a way that it protrudes as far as into a transition region of said brush body which corresponds to the neck piece of a toothbrush.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said extension is inserted in a stepped widened portion of said recess in said brush body.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein a pressing means is provided for pressing said plate against said brush body during the ultrasomic welding.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein a second gap is left between the circumferential rim of said plate and said brush body is closed by a plastic mass.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein a second gap is left between the circumferential rim of said plate and said brush body is closed by molding in an injection mold.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein an injection mold is provided in which part of said brush body with said plate inserted therein is provided for molding around at least the peripheral region of said plate.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein an ultrasonic welding means for performing the ultrasonic welding is provided in combination with a means for applying an adhesive.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein said brush body is provided with a recess having a peripheral wall converging obliquely toward the center of said recess, in that said plate has a peripheral wall having a shape matching the shape of said peripheral wall of said recess and is fittingly inserted in said recess, and in that said plate is attached in said recess by ultrasonic welding.

31. The method of claim 16, wherein said brush body and said plate are made of the same plastic material.

32. A method of producing a brush comprising the steps of:

providing a brush body of a plastic material, said brush body having an attachment surface portion,

providing a plate of plastic material, said plate having tufts of brush bristles attached thereto and projecting from a first face,

providing means for applying an adhesive in order to connect said plate to said attachment surface portion of said brush body by gluing,

wherein said brush body and said plate are made of the same plastic material, said brush body being provided with a recess in which said plate is inserted to fit and said attachment surface portion being located at the bottom of said recess, said plate having a second face opposite said first face, said plate having a circumferential rim projecting from said second face and defining an edge, and said plate contacting said attachment surface portion along said edge so that a gap is formed between said attachment surface portion of said brush body and said second face of said plate.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein an injection mold is provided in which part of said brush body with said plate inserted therein is provided for molding around at least the peripheral region of said plate.