Tooth cleaner and method for the manufacture thereof

• US 5,044,041 A
• Filed: 10/20/1988
• Issued: 09/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mats Ljungberg
• Original Assignee: Mats Ljungberg
• Inventors: Ljungberg, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US07/263,791
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 15/111, 15/159 A, 15/160, 15/167.1, 15/167.2, 15/189, 15/210 R, 15/118, 15/186-188, 15/211, 300/21, 433/141, 433/142, 132/321, 132/329
• US Class Current: 15/210.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 3/04 by mouldable materials, e.g. metals, cellulose derivatives, plastics A46B1/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/005 where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/30 Fastening of peg-teeth in the mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/00 Devices for cleaning between the teeth

Abstract

A tooth cleaner comprises an elongate plastic body (1) and a brush portion (2) connected with the body and consisting of a plastic fabric or net which forms bristles (3) projecting from the body in the transverse direction. A method for manufacturing the tooth cleaner comprises preparing an injection mould suited for injection moulding or like moulding of an elongate plastic body, inserting between the splits of the mould a strip of a plastic fabric or net having a larger width than the moulding cavity, closing the mould, and injecting plastic in the mould to form the body which is thermally bonded to the strip.

Claims

1. A tooth cleaner, characterized in that it comprises an elongate thermoplastic body which is substantially triangular in cross-section, and a brush portion (2) connected with said body which are adapted to fit in and clean the space between two teeth, said brush portion consisting of a strip of a thermoplastic material, said strip of thermoplastic material being fused to one side surface of said triangular body portion and extending at least slightly beyond said body in opposite transverse directions thereof, said strip also being coplanar with the side surface to which it is fused, said strip forming bristles along each oppositely extending portion, and further wherein said strip and bristles extend lengthwise along said body.

2. A tooth cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bristles of the brush portion have been provided by punching or cutting a strip of fabric or net.

3. A tooth cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bristles of the brush portion are formed of non-woven warp.

4. A tooth cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said body (1) and said brush portion (2) consist of different thermoplastic materials which are thermally interconnected.

5. A method for manufacturing the tooth cleaner as claimed in claim 1, characterized by preparing an injection mould which is suitable for injection molding or like molding of an elongate plastic body, inserting between the splits of said mold a strip of a plastic fabric or net so as to over the part of the body cavity, which is to form the tooth cleaner portion carrying the bristles, closing the mould, and injecting plastic into the cavity to form said body which is thermally bonded along one side of said body to said strip.