A process for forming a grooming implement is provided. The steps include providing a blank having a head and a handle, wherein the head has one or more void spaces which divide said head into at least two segments, and injecting an elastomer into the void space at a temperature of at least about 245.degree. C. thereby fusing the elastomer to the segments and forming a resiliently flexible joint. The elastomer is the sole mechanical link between the segments such that the segments can flex relative to each other and the elastomer can be stretched to about 120% of its unstressed length without separation of the elastomer from the segments.
Flexible brush head (14) for a toothbrush (10), having a bristle carrier (16) which consists of a first, hard, elastic plastic and is subdivided by segments (17), which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the brush head (14), by tunnels (20) running transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the brush head (14). The segments (17) of the bristle carrier (16) and the tunnels (20) extend preferably over the entire width of the brush head (14). The tunnels (20) are filled with a second, soft, elastic plastic and connected to one another via a groove (30) provided laterally on the bristle carrier (16). The regions (22, 22') of the bristle carrier (16), which bound the tunnels (20) on the bristle-carrying side of the brush head (14) and on the side located opposite the bristle-carrying side, are elastically deformable and, in the event of the bristle-carrier segments (17) being deflected during use, act as a bending-limiting structure.
7546658 - Toothbrush - Owned by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare GmbH & Co. KG (Buehl (Baden), DE
A toothbrush head having elastomeric oral hygiene parts in the form of elastomeric strips aligned non-perpendicular to the length direction of the head. Preferably adjacent pairs of strips are linked to form a strip of "V" cross section. Preferably the head comprises flexibly linked segments and is flexibly linked to the toothbrush handle.
A contact device with resilient contact elements is disclosed. The resilient contact elements have primary structures and secondary structures. The primary structures and secondary structures have contact surfaces for engaging a working surface. The primary structures are preferably molded structures with hardness value between 10 to 90 Shores A. The secondary structures are nodules, squeegees, arrays of nodules or squeegees and matrices but are preferably bristle structures formed from plastic resins, wherein the device is configured clean dentition.
