Oral Care Tools

Abstract

The oral care implement includes a head and a handle, wherein the head can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle. The head is at least partially made of a 3 To about 1.2g / cm 3 The handle is at least partially made of a material having a density of about 2.1 g / cm 3 To about 3.1g / cm 3 Made of material with high density.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of PCT patent application PCT / US2018 / 065317 (international application date is December 13, 2018, priority date is December 20, 2017, Chinese patent application number is 201880082453.X, and the name of the invention is "Oral Care Tools") which entered the Chinese national phase on June 19, 2020. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an oral care implement comprising a head and a handle, the head being repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle, wherein the head and the handle are made of materials having different densities. The present disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing such an oral care implement, and a kit comprising such an oral care implement and a retainer for holding the implement. Background Art

[0003] The head and handle of oral care tools (such as manual toothbrushes) are well known in the art. Generally speaking, the bristle tufts used to clean teeth are attached to a bristle carrier or mounting surface of a brush head intended to be inserted into the user's oral cavity. The handle is usually attached to the head, which is held by the user during brushing. Usually, the head of a manual toothbrush is permanently connected to the handle, such as by injection molding the bristle carrier, the handle, and the neck connecting the head and the handle in one injection molding step. After the common life of the toothbrush, that is, after about three months of use, the toothbrush is discarded. In order to provide an environmentally friendly / sustainable manual toothbrush that produces less waste when discarding the toothbrush, it is known to include a replaceable (i.e., repeatedly attached to the handle and removable from the handle) head or a manual toothbrush of the head replacement. Consumers can reuse the handle and only buy a new head replacement, rather than buying a brand new toothbrush. Such replacements are usually cheaper and produce less waste than conventional manual toothbrushes.

[0004] For example, a manual toothbrush is known that comprises a handle to which a replaceable head is connected. The handle is provided with a cavity into which the head can be inserted. In order to provide a sufficiently strong connection between the head and the handle, the brush head is shaped with a neck having a coupling anchor for engagement in a complementary engagement mechanism in a collar of the handle.

[0005] In order to effectively clean teeth, it is necessary to provide appropriate manipulability and good gripping properties of the entire toothbrush, which are particularly dependent on the bending stiffness of the handle and the brush head. Typically, the handle of a toothbrush has the shape of a linear rod to be held and manipulated by the user as needed. Because a manual toothbrush with a replaceable brush head includes an inner cavity in the handle portion to accommodate a replaceable head, it has been found that such a handle is relatively light, and therefore it is neither comfortable nor easy to turn in the oral care cavity. In addition, toothbrushes including relatively light handles, such as handles containing less material, or handles made of common plastic materials (such as polypropylene) show relatively low bending stiffness. They tend to be easily flexed away, and relatively low bending stiffness causes a reduction in the efficiency of plaque removal on the tooth surface. In addition, during brushing, such handles provide poor manipulability in the oral cavity. In order to compensate for the low bending stiffness, the size of the cross-sectional area of ​​the handle can be increased. However, a relatively thick handle may also reduce the convenience of rotating the toothbrush in the hand, thereby hindering the user from reaching all areas in the oral cavity. Therefore, the manipulability of the entire brush is insufficient. However, in order to achieve and maintain good oral health, and to prevent gingivitis, it is important to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums, especially in hard-to-reach areas (e.g., in the area of ​​the back molars). In addition, the spaces between the teeth and the periodontium, the so-called gingival sulcus, must be thoroughly cleaned, which requires a good and well-coordinated brushing technique, which may not be achieved by using a manual toothbrush including a replaceable head as described above. In addition, it is known that users / consumers use different brushing techniques, and therefore it is crucial to identify the optimal ergonomics of a toothbrush to provide a good sensory feel during brushing when using all types of brushing techniques.

[0006] Furthermore, toothbrushes that include relatively lightweight handles, particularly handles made from common plastic materials such as polypropylene, provide a lower perception of product quality during use of the toothbrush.

[0007] The object of the present disclosure is to provide an oral care implement that overcomes at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages, in particular, the oral care implement provides a higher comfort and improved quality perception of the oral care implement in the oral care cavity and better maneuverability during brushing. The object of the present disclosure is also to provide a method for manufacturing such an oral care implement. Summary of the invention

[0008] According to one aspect, an oral care implement is provided that includes a head and a handle, the head being repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle, the head being at least partially made of a 3 To about 1.2g / cm 3 The handle is at least partially made of a material having a density of about 2.1 g / cm 3To about 3.1g / cm 3 Made of material with high density.

[0009] According to one aspect, a kit is provided, the kit comprising such an oral care implement and a holder for attaching and holding the oral care implement.

[0010] According to one aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing such an oral care implement, the method comprising the steps of:

[0011] -Provide amorphous thermoplastic resins,

[0012] - providing aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate,

[0013] -provides iron oxide,

[0014] - mixing the amorphous thermoplastic resin, aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate and iron oxide into a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic molding material,

[0015] - heating the molding material mixture to form a flowable molding material,

[0016] - molding the flowable molding mixture into a handle or a portion of a handle,

[0017] - provide non-magnetic and / or non-ferromagnetic materials, and

[0018] - Moulding said non-magnetic and / or non-ferromagnetic material into the head or a part of the head. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to various embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an oral care implement according to the present disclosure, wherein the head of the oral care implement is separated from the handle;

[0021] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a kit including an oral care implement according to the present disclosure and a magnetic holder at which the oral care implement is magnetically attached;

[0022] Figure 3 an illustration showing a flow chart for molding a handle of an oral care implement according to the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 4 Five basic grip styles showing how a user holds a toothbrush during brushing;

[0024] Figure 5Two exemplary embodiments of oral care implements according to the present disclosure, and an oral care implement according to the prior art are shown, the oral care implements comprising different handle materials;

[0025] Figure 6 Shown with toothpaste applied to the brush head Figure 5 Oral care tools;

[0026] Figure 7 Show Figure 5 and 6 One of the exemplary embodiments according to Figure 5 and 6 A comparison of prior art oral care implements; and

[0027] Figure 8 Average results for heat transfer and flow distance for several different formulations / material combinations are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] According to the oral care tool of the present disclosure, the oral care tool comprises a handle and a head to which at least one tooth cleaning element (e.g., a bristle tuft) and / or an elastomeric element can be fixed. The head can be repeatedly attached to the handle and can be detached from the handle. The oral care tool can be a manual toothbrush. The oral care tool can also be a proximal pick, a plaque scraper, or a tissue / tongue cleaner. The head of the oral care tool can be attached to the handle via a snap-fit ​​locking mechanism. For example, the handle can include a connector that can be inserted into the hollow portion of the head, or the head can include a connector that can be inserted into the hollow portion of the handle. Alternatively, a connector can be provided as another (i.e., separate) component of the oral care tool. Such connectors can be inserted into the hollow portion of the handle and the hollow portion of the head, respectively, so as to provide a sufficiently strong connection and stability between the head and the handle to enable the user to perform a brushing action.

[0029] At least a portion of the head, such as the neck / shaft and the bristle carrier, is at least partially made of a brush having a thickness of about 0.5 g / cm 3 To about 1.2g / cm 3 , or about 0.7g / cm 3 To about 1.0g / cm 3 , or about 0.9g / cm 3 For example, the head may be made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as a material having a density of about 0.9 g / cm 3 In contrast to the head, the handle is at least partially made of polypropylene having a significantly higher density, namely about 2.1 g / cm 3 To about 3.1g / cm 3 , or about 2.3g / cm 3 To about 2.8g / cm3 , or about 2.5g / cm 3 To about 2.7g / cm 3 Made of material with high density.

[0030] The weight of the handle material is relatively high, which provides the user with a high quality perception and a comfortable feel during use of the oral care implement.

[0031] Typically, users are accustomed to products with a specific weight, especially in the field of personal healthcare, which ensures high product quality and provides a comfortable feeling during use of the product. Therefore, the oral care tool according to the present disclosure provides such an excellent product quality perception.

[0032] Furthermore, because the material of the handle has a higher density than the material of the head, the center of mass / gravity is located within the handle (even if the brush head is loaded with toothpaste), which enables the user to perform a well-coordinated brushing technique and improve sensory feel during brushing. The center of mass disposed in the center of the handle provides an oral care tool that is better balanced and does not tip over / lean to the head once toothpaste is applied to the brush head. When the user applies toothpaste such as Figure 4 When different grip styles / brushing techniques are shown, an advantage of the oral care tool according to the present disclosure is that the center of gravity is at or very close to the pivot point of the wrist joint. A balanced toothbrush is easier to control in the mouth, allowing for more precise and accurate brushing motions, which can result in better cleaning.

[0033] While the high quality and relatively expensive handle of the oral care implement is suitable for use over a longer period of time compared to a conventional manual toothbrush that is discarded after about three months of use, the relatively inexpensive brush refills can be replaced periodically, for example after about three months. This provides a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable high quality oral care implement with improved gripping properties.

[0034] In the past, it has been found that after using a toothbrush / after brushing teeth, users often store wet toothbrushes in a toothbrush cup for drying. However, in a typical toothbrush cup, the discharged fluid is collected and accumulated at the bottom of the cup, and the fluid remains in contact with the toothbrush for a long period of time. Because the cup is open only on one side, the toothbrush dries relatively slowly. Bacteria living in moist conditions / humid environments can grow quickly, contaminating the toothbrush and ultimately making the toothbrush unhygienic. Therefore, a solution for hygienically storing and drying manual toothbrushes is needed, so that the remaining water, toothpaste slurry and saliva can be discharged from the toothbrush. The toothbrush should dry quickly, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth.

[0035] The material of the head can be made of non-magnetic or non-ferromagnetic material, while the material of the handle can be made of magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material. Magnetic / ferromagnetic material not only has a relatively high density, and therefore has a relatively heavy weight, which provides the above-mentioned beneficial effects for oral care tools, but also enables the oral care tools to be magnetically attached to the magnetic holder. The magnetic / ferromagnetic material of the handle allows for hygienic storage of oral care tools. If the oral care tools are magnetically attached to the magnetic holder, the remaining water, toothpaste slurry and saliva can be discharged from the toothbrush. The oral care tools can be dried relatively quickly. Therefore, bacterial growth can be significantly reduced, making the oral care tools more hygienic. Compared with a conventional toothbrush stored in a toothbrush cup (wherein the discharged fluid is collected and accumulated at the bottom of the cup), the toothbrush according to the present disclosure is exposed to humid conditions in a significantly shorter period of time.

[0036] For example, the magnetic holder may have the form of a flat disk that can be attached to a wall. Such a flat disk may represent an easy-to-clean surface. Furthermore, the user only needs to bring the oral care tool close to the magnetic holder, and the oral care tool is then automatically attached. No precise positioning or threaded connection as with conventional toothbrush holders is required. Since the magnetism is only provided in the handle and not in the head, the head portion cannot be accidentally attached to the magnetic holder, thereby reducing the risk of the magnetic holder becoming dirty.

[0037] The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material forming at least a portion of the handle may comprise an amorphous thermoplastic resin. The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may also comprise aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate. Furthermore, in addition to or as an alternative, the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may comprise iron oxide. The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may also comprise glass fibers, which may be premixed with at least a portion of the amorphous thermoplastic resin. Such handle materials allow the weight of the handle to be controlled in any position, for example by varying the filler. Due to the relatively high weight of the handle, it is necessary to control the entire toothbrush. It is now possible to use the mass / weight distribution of the material to adapt the moment of inertia of the finished toothbrush.

[0038] The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may comprise from about 13% to about 30% by weight of an amorphous thermoplastic resin; from about 3% to about 25% by weight of aluminum oxide, boron nitride, or aluminum silicate; and from about 45% to about 67% by weight of iron oxide. Such compositions provide a material density that is about three times the density of a standard plastic material (e.g., polypropylene) used for toothbrushes. In the case of higher weight and higher thermal conductivity, the material drives the perception of value, particularly in combination with an electroplated coating. Such coatings may be made of real metal. The electroplated coating may be applied in a selective electroplating process. During this coating process of a multi-component plastic part, the metal layer is deposited only on the hard material, whereas the soft components of the additional overmolding may remain unaffected.

[0039] The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may include about 27.5 weight percent amorphous thermoplastic resin, about 17 weight percent aluminum oxide, about 51 weight percent iron oxide, and about 4.5 weight percent glass fibers.

[0040] The amorphous thermoplastic resin may include a styrene resin, such as styrene acrylonitrile "SAN". The amorphous thermoplastic resin may be selected from the list consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene, and styrene acrylonitrile.

[0041] The amorphous thermoplastic resin may include about 17 weight percent styrene acrylonitrile and 10.5 weight percent of a mixture including polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate.

[0042] Surprisingly, it has been found that the composition provides a high specific gravity molding material suitable for injection molding or extrusion.The present invention provides a high specific gravity molding material with high surface hardness, excellent coating properties and excellent thermal conductivity.

[0043] The use of molding materials with relatively high specific gravity is known. Such molding materials generally contain polymer resins and high-density fillers such as iron oxide. However, in such molding materials, the amount of iron oxide that can be included is limited because the thermal conductivity characteristics of the molding material are relatively poor. Therefore, on the one hand, the lower thermal conductivity leads to relatively long cycle times during manufacturing to allow the molding material to cool after molding. On the other hand, if the heavy polymer material is filled with high thermal conductivity additives such as metal powders or fibers, the addition of these materials leads to a tight processing window in molding, due to the immediate freezing of the molten material when it contacts the cold wall of the tool. This rapid freezing leads to a high injection speed to wall thickness ratio and a low flow length to wall thickness ratio at the produced parts.

[0044] It has now been surprisingly found that molding materials according to the present disclosure have a high specific gravity and optimally controlled thermal conductivity properties to reduce or extend the time required for the molding material to cool during or after injection molding. Surprisingly, it has been found that a relatively high percentage of iron oxide can be maintained in the molding material while improving the thermal conductivity properties of the molding material. The addition of aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate provides improved thermal conductivity to the molding material compared to a material comprising only styrene resin and iron oxide. This improved thermal conductivity can result in shorter cycle times because the molding material requires less time to cool after molding.

[0045] Another benefit of adding aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate to the material is that the total amount of iron oxide in the molding material can be increased compared to previous materials containing iron oxide and resin. The improvement in molding material properties comes from the addition of relatively small amounts of aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate. Material compositions containing relatively high percentages (i.e., about 45% to about 67% by weight, preferably about 51% by weight) of iron oxide (magnetite) provide good magnetic properties and a relatively heavy weight of the overall material.

[0046] Styrene acrylonitrile "SAN" provides high heat resistance properties. The acrylonitrile units in the chain enable SAN to have a glass transition temperature greater than 100°C. The properties of SAN can allow for reduced cycle times due to the relatively early and faster transition temperature. Amorphous polymers are suitable for the heavy resin compounds of the present disclosure due to their glass transition temperature, Tg, when they transform from a viscous state or a rubbery state to a hard state in a reversible manner. With injection molding of the heavy resin material of the present disclosure, the temperature of the material melt is above the Tg region (viscous state or rubbery state). During cooling, the compound reaches the high Tg temperature early and reaches dimensional stability (glassy state). Overmolding of the heavy resin material is possible because the material remains dimensionally stable due to the high Tg of the material.

[0047] Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and / or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) provide high-quality surface properties to the handle, including improved optical properties and high impact strength. Once heated, the mixture of PBT and PET represents a high-temperature resistant melt with low viscosity and high melt flow index (MFI). Thus, the processability of the magnetic / ferromagnetic material during molding is improved.

[0048] It is known that heavy resin materials tend to show high shrinkage effects for products with thick walls / dimensions. However, it has surprisingly been found that glass fibers added to magnetic / ferromagnetic materials provide improved stability and low shrinkage effects to the material composition.

[0049] The method for manufacturing an oral care implement according to the present disclosure comprises the following steps:

[0050] -Provide amorphous thermoplastic resins,

[0051] - providing aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate,

[0052] -provides iron oxide,

[0053] - mixing the amorphous thermoplastic resin, aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate and iron oxide into a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic molding material,

[0054] - heating the molding material mixture to form a flowable molding material,

[0055] - molding the flowable molding mixture into a handle or a portion of a handle,

[0056] - provide non-magnetic and / or non-ferromagnetic materials, and

[0057] The non-magnetic and / or non-ferromagnetic material is molded into the head or a portion of the head.

[0058] The amorphous thermoplastic resin may include styrene acrylonitrile, polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate, wherein polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate may be premixed with glass fibers. The content of the amorphous thermoplastic resin may be in the range of about 13 wt % to about 30 wt %; the content of aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate may be in the range of about 3 wt % to about 25 wt %; and the content of iron oxide may be in the range of about 45 wt % to about 67 wt %.

[0059] The magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material may include about 17 weight percent styrene acrylonitrile; about 10.5 weight percent of a composition including polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate; about 4.5 weight percent glass fiber; about 17 weight percent aluminum oxide; and about 51 weight percent iron oxide.

[0060] The material composition can be prepared by blending amorphous thermoplastic resin with aluminum oxide powder, boron nitride powder or aluminum silicate powder, and with iron oxide powder. Increasing the amount of iron oxide in the material composition also has the advantage of providing a lower cost molding material, because iron oxide powder is cheaper than other fillers. Amorphous thermoplastic resin, glass fiber, aluminum oxide / boron nitride or aluminum silicate powder and iron oxide powder can be blended by using a single-axis extruder, a double-axis extruder, a kneader, a Banbury mixer, a roller or other such extruders. After blending, the material is heated to become flowable. The flowable material can then be molded into a handle or a part of the handle by injection molding or extrusion molding.

[0061] In an additional step, the handle or a portion of the handle may be plated to add an improved appearance and pleasing feel.Thermoplastic elastomers are well suited for electroplating because they allow both hard and soft composite components to be formed in one operation to be selectively plated.

[0062] For example, the handle may include a thumb rest made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and / or a polypropylene material. As described above, these materials can be easily injection molded on a heavy resin material. Such thumb rests can provide improved gripping properties for the handle of an oral care tool, such as anti-slip properties to improve the manipulability of the oral care tool under wet conditions, such as when a user brushes his teeth. The thumb rest may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore A hardness of about 30 to about 60, or about 40, so as to prevent the oral care tool from being too slippery when used under wet conditions. At least a portion of the thumb rest may have a concave shape, which has an angle α of about 20° to about 25°, or about 24° relative to the area of ​​the remainder of the thumb rest. The thumb rest or gripping area may be attached to the front surface of the handle in an area near the proximal end (i.e., closest to the head). The thumb rest may include a plurality of ribs extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the oral care tool. Such ribs may allow the user / consumer to use the oral care tool by even more control. The user / consumer can better grip and manipulate the handle of the oral care implement during brushing.Such a handle can provide further improved control and greater comfort during brushing, especially in wet conditions.

[0063] In addition, the handle can be made of at least two or at least three different materials, each material forming a different component of the handle. For example, a first material according to the present disclosure, such as a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material, can be injection molded into a first component of the handle, thereby forming the underlying infrastructure of the oral care tool. For example, a second component of a polypropylene material can be injection molded on top of the first component, and / or a third component of a thermoplastic elastomer material can be injection molded on top of the first component and / or the second component.

[0064] The third component of thermoplastic elastomer material can form a thumb rest on the front surface of the oral care implement and / or a palm grip on the rear surface opposite the front surface for the user / consumer's fingers and thumb to grasp. Such a handle configuration can even further resist slippage during use. The thermoplastic elastomer material can extend through a hole provided in the second component of the underlying infrastructure and / or the handle.

[0065] The tooth cleaning element of oral care tool, for example, the filament bundle forming one or more clusters, can be attached to the head by means of hot tufting process. A method of manufacturing a head with filament clusters embedded in the head may include the following steps: in a first step, a cluster is formed by providing a desired amount of filaments. In a second step, the cluster is placed in a mold cavity so that the end of the filament that should be attached to the head extends into the cavity. The opposite end of the filament that does not extend into the cavity can be end rounded or non-end rounded. For example, in the case where the filament is a tapered filament with a tip, the filament can be non-end rounded. In the third step, a head is formed around the end of the filament extending into the mold cavity by an injection molding process, so that the cluster is anchored in the head. Alternatively, the cluster can be anchored by forming the first part of the head (so-called "sealing plate") around the end of the filament extending into the mold cavity using an injection molding process before the rest of the oral care tool is formed. Before starting the injection molding process, the ends of the tufts extending into the mold cavity may be optionally melted or fused to bond the filaments together in a melt or molten ball so that the melt or molten ball is located in the cavity. The tufts may be held in the mold cavity by a molding rod having a blind hole corresponding to the desired position of the tufts on the finished head of the oral care tool. In other words, the tufts attached to the head by the hot tufting process are not superimposed on the middle portion along their length and are not installed in the head using anchors / pins. Tufts may be installed on the head using a tufting process without anchors.

[0066] Alternatively, the head for an oral care tool may have a bristle carrier having at least one tuft hole, such as a blind hole. A tuft comprising a plurality of filaments may be fixed / anchored in the tuft hole by a binding process / anchoring tufting method. This means that the filaments of the tuft are bent / folded in a substantially U-shaped manner around an anchor, such as one made of metal, such as an anchor cable or an anchor plate. The filaments are pushed into the tuft hole together with the anchor so that the anchor penetrates into the opposite side walls of the tuft hole, thereby anchoring / fixing / fastening the filaments to the bristle carrier. The anchor may be fixed in the opposite side walls by positive friction engagement. In the case where the tuft hole is a blind hole, the anchor holds the filament against the bottom of the hole. In other words, the anchor may be located above the U-shaped bend in a substantially vertical manner. Since the filaments of the tuft are bent around the anchor in a substantially U-shaped configuration, the first branch and the second branch of each filament extend from the bristle carrier in the direction of the filament. The type of filaments that can be used / suitable for use in a binding process is also referred to as “double-sided filaments.” Heads for oral care implements manufactured by a binding process can be provided in a relatively low cost and time-efficient manner.

[0067] The following is a non-limiting discussion of exemplary embodiments of oral care implements and components thereof according to the present disclosure, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] Figure 1 An oral care implement 10 is shown, which in this particular embodiment is a manual toothbrush 10. The manual toothbrush 10 includes a handle 12 and a head 14 that can be repeatedly attached to and detached from the handle 12. The handle 12 can be attached to and detached from the handle 12 using a brush such as a toothbrush 10. Figure 3 The handle 12 is molded from a magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material. In addition, the handle 12 may also have undergone electroplating with any additional material (e.g., a polyethylene material or a thermoplastic elastomer) to create a soft area, such as a thumb rest 16. The soft area / thumb rest 16 may improve the comfort and feel of the handle 12. Alternatively or in addition, the handle 12 may have a metal layer 18 directly located on the magnetic and / or ferromagnetic material of the present disclosure through another electroplating step to further improve the appearance of the handle 12. For example, the metal layer 18 may have a ring form around the outer circumference 20 of the handle 12.

[0069] The material from which the shank 12 is at least partially manufactured has magnetic and / or ferromagnetic properties. Figure 2 A kit 22 is shown that includes a manual toothbrush 10 having a handle 12 to which a head 14 is attached, and a magnetic holder 24 to which the toothbrush 10 is magnetically attached.

[0070] Figure 3 A diagram of a flow chart is shown, which shows the steps of manufacturing a handle 12 or a portion of a handle of an oral care tool 10 according to the present disclosure. An amorphous thermoplastic resin is provided at 100, which optionally contains glass fibers. Aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate is provided at 110. Iron oxide is provided at 120. At 130, the amorphous thermoplastic resin (optionally containing glass fibers), aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate, and iron oxide are mixed into a molding material. The molding material is then heated to a flowable state at 140. At 150, the heated and flowable molding material is molded into a handle 12 or a portion of a handle. The molding step can be an injection molding or extrusion molding step. The optional step of electroplating the article is shown at 160.

[0071] The material according to the present disclosure is an alternative to metal / zinc die-casting materials. The material of the present disclosure can provide an attractive solution with respect to the manufacturing process, price and environment according to the present disclosure. This alternative allows the handle to have the look and feel of a metal product in the final state. At the same time, the material of the present disclosure should be easy to process by injection molding and should save assembly work. For example, with respect to the method of the present disclosure, three basic steps are required: (1) injection molding the handle 12; (2) two-component injection molding of hard material and / or soft material, for example to form a thumb rest 16; and (3) electroplating the handle, for example to form a metal layer 18 in the form of a ring. In contrast, when using zinc die-casting materials, five steps are required: (1) manufacturing the main component of the zinc die-casting; (2) deburring the main component; (3) electroplating the main component; (4) separately preparing a soft material component; (5) and assembling the main component with the separately prepared soft material component. Lubricants can be added to the material to improve the fluidity of the molding process.

[0072] Table 1 shows the flowability and heat transfer results for several different formulations / material combinations. :

[0073]

[0074] Table 1: Flow and heat transfer

[0075] As can be seen, different fillers and different filler concentrations control the thermal conductivity or heat transfer and flow properties of the material.

[0076] The test results show that the use of boron nitride or aluminum silicate is consistent with the above Table 1 and Figure 8 Very similar results are shown for alumina.

[0077] Thermal energy and shear heating affect the flowability of heavy resin materials, allowing precise control of the process window for an effective injection molding process. In addition, with the ability of the disclosed materials to fill any available cavity within a mold, the mass / weight distribution of the material can be used to adapt the moment of inertia of the finished handle.

[0078] There are several advantages associated with the material of the present disclosure: handles made from the material of the present disclosure look and feel like heavy metal handles and they are corrosion resistant. The material also has manufacturing advantages and cost savings advantages and fast cycle times compared to metal insert or die cast handles and products with assembled component parts due to its heat transfer properties. The material of the present disclosure requires less energy and other basic resources to manufacture compared to zinc die cast products.

[0079] The magnetic / ferromagnetic materials of the present disclosure show optimized mechanical properties, in particular dimensional stability under heat and impact strength, due to improved melt viscosity and glass transition temperature compared to highly filler loaded material compositions.

[0080] The materials of the present disclosure have the ability to adhere to other components / materials (eg, substrates and resins), which is important for multi-component injection molding (eg, for molding a handle comprising two or three different materials).

[0081] Figure 4 Five different grip styles / patterns are shown of how a user typically holds a toothbrush during brushing: a "power grip" 200, 210; a "tilted grip" 220, 230; a "distal tilted grip" 240, 250; a "precision grip" 260, 270; and a "scoop grip" 280, 290. In the left column, different grip styles 200, 220, 240, 260, 280 are shown when a user holds a toothbrush according to the prior art, while in the right column, corresponding grip styles 210, 230, 250, 270, 290 are shown when a user holds a toothbrush according to the present disclosure. The center of gravity is indicated by an "X". A grip style may be defined by the following characteristics:

[0082] "Power grip" 200, 210: Not often used; fingers tightly wrapped around handle; thumb mostly extended or tightly wrapped around handle; used by consumers who believe "more pressure cleans better" or as one of several variations during brushing for areas where the consumer needs more control (e.g., at the back molars or inner tooth surfaces). Some consumers hold the handle at the lower end to reduce pressure. Most children also use this style when they begin brushing on their own.

[0083] "Angled Grip" 220, 230: Frequent use; handle weight rests loosely in palm; thumb extended relative to index finger; similar to cutting with a knife, allowing for good grip and navigation. Most commonly used for brushing teeth, as this is a common style used in multiple occasions throughout the day (e.g., eating, combing hair, brushing). In most cases, consumers using this style are applying a scrubbing technique (i.e., back and forth motion) to clean their teeth.

[0084] "Distal Angled Grip" 240, 250: Frequently used; handle weight rests loosely in palm; thumb and ring finger face each other; similar to cutting with a knife, allowing for good grip and navigation. Also commonly used for brushing teeth, as this is a common style used in multiple occasions throughout the day (e.g., eating, combing hair, brushing). In most cases, consumers using this style are applying a scrubbing technique (i.e., moving back and forth) to clean their teeth.

[0085] "Precision Grip" 260, 270: Not often used; weight of handle is primarily on fingertips; thumb and index finger are positioned against each other; since this is a non-pressure style, it is often used for hard-to-reach or sensitive areas (e.g., on internal tooth surfaces). It is often considered a transitional grip to a "distal tilt" or "tilted" grip, but some consumers use it as their "only grip style."

[0086] "Spoon grip" 280, 290: Commonly used in chopstick regions; index finger and thumb are facing each other, thereby tightly gripping the handle. Based on consumer habits, the "chopstick" style is common in Asia; very familiar because it is often used in other situations; similar to the "precision" style, used as a gentle way to clean hard-to-reach or sensitive areas.

[0087] like Figure 4 As can be seen in the figure, the center of gravity X of the toothbrush according to the present disclosure is offset closer to the center of the extended length of the toothbrush handle than the toothbrush according to the prior art, even if the toothbrush head is loaded with toothpaste. Since the center of gravity is closer to the center of the extended length of the handle, once toothpaste is applied to the brush head, the toothbrush is better balanced and less prone to tipping over / not tilting the head. In addition, as Figure 4 As shown, the center of gravity is at or very close to the pivot point of the wrist joint when all different grip styles are applied. Such toothbrushes are easier to control in the mouth and allow for precise and accurate brushing movements, resulting in better cleaning of the teeth.

[0088] Figure 5 Three toothbrushes 300 , 310 , 320 are shown that are identical except for the handle material 600 , 610 , 620 . Figure 6 Show Figure 5 The toothbrushes 300, 310, 320 are provided with toothpaste 400. Table 2 lists the material composition and characteristics of the toothbrushes 300, 310, 320:

[0089]

[0090] Table 2: Material composition and properties

[0091] The center of gravity of the toothbrushes 300, 310, and 320 are denoted by 500, 510, and 520, respectively. Figure 5 and 6 It can be deduced that the center of gravity 500 of toothbrush 300 and the center of gravity 510 of toothbrush 310 (according to the present disclosure) are closer to the center of the extended length of the toothbrush handle than the center of gravity 520 of toothbrush 320 (according to the prior art). Toothbrushes 300 and 310 are easier to control in the oral cavity and allow for precise and accurate brushing movements.

[0092] exist Figure 7, toothbrush 310 (without and with toothpaste 400) is compared with toothbrush 320 (with and without toothpaste 400). Figure 7 It is clearly deduced that the center of gravity 510 is closer to the center of the extended length 720 of the handle 610 than the center of gravity 520 of the toothbrush 320. The center of gravity 510 of the toothbrush 310 is offset by a distance 700 compared to the center of gravity 520 of the toothbrush 320.

[0093] In addition, if Figure 7 As shown, the toothbrush 310 has a total extension length 720, and the center of gravity 510 is located at a distance 740 measured from the distal end 760 of the handle 610. The ratio of the distance 740 to the total extension length 720 of the oral care tool 310 can be about 0.30 to about 0.45, or about 0.35 to about 0.42, or about 0.38 to about 0.41. Such ratios provide a toothbrush with a center of gravity close to the pivot point of the wrist joint during brushing. When using all types of grip styles, the toothbrush is easier to control in the oral cavity, thereby allowing a more precise and accurate brushing motion.

[0094] The total extended length 720 of the oral care implement 310 can be about 180 mm to about 220 mm, or about 200 mm, while the handle 610 of the oral care implement 310 can have an extended length 780 of about 120 mm to about 140 mm, or about 125 mm to about 131 mm, or about 130 mm. The center of gravity 510 (if the oral care implement 310 is loaded with 1.4 g of toothpaste) is located at about 83 mm measured from the distal end 760 of the handle 610.

[0095] In contrast to the toothbrush 310, the center of gravity 520 of the toothbrush 320 (according to the prior art) is located at a distance of about 194 mm measured from the distal end 690 (if the toothbrush 320 is loaded with about 1.4 g of toothpaste). The center of gravity 510 of the toothbrush 310 is offset by 111 mm toward the distal end 760 of the handle 610 (compared to the toothbrush 320). Compared to the toothbrush 320 according to the prior art, the toothbrush 310 according to the present disclosure provides improved maneuverability and better gripping characteristics during brushing because the center of gravity 510 is significantly closer to the pivot point of the wrist joint (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 4 ).

[0096] In the context of this disclosure, the term "substantially" refers to an arrangement of elements or features that, while theoretically expected to exhibit exact uniformity or behavior, may in practice render something somewhat less precise. Likewise, the term represents the degree to which a quantitative value, measurement, or other related representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

[0097] The dimensions and values ​​disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values ​​cited. Instead, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to represent the stated value and a functionally equivalent range around that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".

Claims

1. An oral care implement (10, 300, 310), comprising a head (14) and a handle (12, 600, 610), the head (14) being repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle (12, 600, 610), the head (14) being at least partially made of a polyester having a density of 0.5 g / cm 3 Up to 1.2g / cm 3 The handle (12) is at least partially made of a material having a density of 2.1 g / cm 3 Up to 3.1g / cm 3 wherein the center of gravity (510) is located at a distance (740) measured from a distal end (760) of the handle (610), and wherein a ratio of the distance (740) to a total extended length (720) of the oral care implement (310) is between 0.30 and 0.45, The material of the handle (12,600,610) includes a magnetic material, and the magnetic material of the handle (12,600,610) includes 13 wt% to 30 wt% of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, 3 wt% to 25 wt% of aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate, and 45 wt% to 67 wt% of iron oxide. The handle (12, 600, 610) has a metal layer (18) located directly on the magnetic material of the handle (12, 600, 610).

2. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 1, characterized in that: A ratio of the distance (740) to the total extended length (720) of the oral care implement (310) is between 0.35 and 0.

42.

3. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 2, characterized in that: A ratio of the distance (740) to the total extended length (720) of the oral care implement (310) is between 0.38 and 0.

41.

4. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The density of the material of the head (14) is 0.7 g / cm 3 Up to 1.0g / cm 3 ; and / or the density of the material of the handle (12,600,610) is 2.3 g / cm 3 Up to 2.8g / cm 3 .

5. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The density of the material of the head (14) is 0.9 g / cm 3 .

6. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The material density of the handle (12,600,610) is 2.5 g / cm 3 Up to 2.7g / cm 3 .

7. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The head (14) is made of non-magnetic material.

8. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The material of the head (14) is polypropylene.

9. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The amorphous thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene and styrene acrylonitrile.

10. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The magnetic material includes 27.5 wt % of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, 17 wt % of aluminum oxide, 51 wt % of iron oxide, and 4.5 wt % of glass fiber.

11. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The amorphous thermoplastic resin includes 17 weight percent styrene acrylonitrile and 10.5 weight percent of a blend including polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate.

12. An oral care implement (10, 300, 310) comprising a head (14) and a handle (12, 600, 610), the head (14) being repeatedly attachable to and detachable from the handle (12, 600, 610), the head (14) being at least partially made of a polyester having a density of 0.5 g / cm 3 Up to 1.2g / cm 3 The handle (12) is at least partially made of a material having a density of 2.1 g / cm 3 Up to 3.1g / cm 3 The density of the material is The material of the handle (12,600,610) includes a magnetic material, and the magnetic material of the handle (12,600,610) includes 13 wt% to 30 wt% of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, 3 wt% to 25 wt% of aluminum oxide, boron nitride or aluminum silicate, and 45 wt% to 67 wt% of iron oxide. The handle (12, 600, 610) has a metal layer (18) located directly on the magnetic material of the handle (12, 600, 610).

13. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 12, characterized in that: The density of the material of the head (14) is 0.7 g / cm 3 Up to 1.0g / cm 3 ; and / or the density of the material of the handle (12,600,610) is 2.3 g / cm 3 Up to 2.8g / cm 3 .

14. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 13, characterized in that: The density of the material of the head (14) is 0.9 g / cm 3 .

15. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 13, characterized in that: The material density of the handle (12,600,610) is 2.5 g / cm 3 Up to 2.7g / cm 3 .

16. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that: The head (14) is made of non-magnetic material.

17. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 16, characterized in that: The material of the head (14) is polypropylene.

18. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 12, characterized in that: The amorphous thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene and styrene acrylonitrile.

19. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 12 or 18, characterized in that: The magnetic material includes 27.5 wt % of an amorphous thermoplastic resin, 17 wt % of aluminum oxide, 51 wt % of iron oxide, and 4.5 wt % of glass fiber.

20. The oral care tool (10, 300, 310) according to claim 12, characterized in that: The amorphous thermoplastic resin includes 17 weight percent styrene acrylonitrile and 10.5 weight percent of a blend including polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate.

21. A kit (22) comprising an oral care implement (10, 300, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 20 and a magnetic holder (24) for attaching and holding the oral care implement (10, 300, 310).

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