Abstract: A method for producing a toothbrush head comprises providing at least two bristle tufts that differ in at least one property; arranging the tufts in a hole-perforation plate comprising holes shaped and distributed according to the desired bristle field; arranging an energy source so that the ends of the bristle tufts and the energy source are arranged contactless, wherein the ends of the bristle tufts to be fused are arranged at different distances to the energy source and are adjusted according to the different property; applying energy to the ends of the bristle tufts until fuse balls are formed; transferring the bristle tufts to a subsequent process position, wherein the distance of the fuse ball of at least one bristle tuft to the hole-perforation plate is different from the distance of said fuse ball to the hole-perforation plate in the fusing position before; over-molding of the fuse balls of the bristle tufts with plastic material thereby forming the brush head or the part (10) thereof.

Abstract: An injection-molded first component of an article, the first component including a sheath element formed from a pre-sheath element, the sheath element having a cavity and a recess extending from the cavity into a wall of the sheath element surrounding the cavity. The recess is formed by a through hole in the pre-sheath element and a lid element closing the through hole. The lid element is connected to the pre-sheath element with a plastic material injection-molded over at least a part of a parting line between the lid element and the pre-sheath element.

Abstract: A method of making a cleaning element carrier for a toothbrush comprises: providing at least two pluralities of loose filaments of a predefined length and different from one another in at least one of filament material, filament diameter, filament cross-section, filament shape, presence or absence of additives, presence or absence of a coating, and any combination thereof; providing a hole-perforation plate having a front surface, a back surface, a thickness therebetween, and a plurality of holes shaped and arranged according to a predetermined pattern; picking filaments from the pluralities of loose filaments; providing an energy source; arranging a plurality of bristle tufts in a fusing position in the hole-perforation plate so that ends of the bristle tufts are disposed at different distances from the energy source, wherein the distances are adjustable according to the at least one property, wherein the plurality of bristle tufts includes bristle tufts comprising an inner portion bristle tufts comprising a

Abstract: A cleaning element carrier for a toothbrush in a form of a disk has a back surface including a central depression covering at least 70% of the back surface and forming an edge at the border. The carrier's front surface includes at least one protrusion so that the front surface comprises two levels, wherein the area covered by the depression is larger than the area covered by the protrusion.

Abstract: A method for producing a toothbrush head, comprising: providing at least two filament containers, each comprising a supply of loose filaments that differ in at least one of their property selected from material, diameter, cross-section, shape, and presence of additives and/or coating; picking bristle tufts from the containers and arranging them in a perforation plate comprising holes shaped and distributed according to a desired bristle field of the brush head to be produced; arranging an energy source and the ends of the tufts in a contactless arrangement, wherein the ends of the tufts to be fused are at different distances from the energy source, and wherein the distance is adjusted according to the at least one property; applying energy to the ends of the tufts until fuse balls are formed thereon; transferring the tufts to a molding position, wherein a distance between at least one fuse ball and the front surface is different from the distance between the bottom edge of said fuse ball and the front surface

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a toothbrush head or a part thereof comprises steps of providing a plurality of bristle tufts; providing a hole perforation plate comprising a front surface, a back surface, a thickness therebetween, and a plurality of holes grouped into a plurality of hole arrangements, wherein the front surface is uneven in an area of the hole arrangement; pushing the bristle tufts through the holes; and fusing ends of the bristle tufts at the back surface of the plate by application of thermal energy, thereby forming a plurality of fuse balls that are larger than the holes of the plate; and mounting the plate with the plurality of bristle tufts into a brush head.

Abstract: A hole perforation plate has a front surface, a back surface, a thickness therebetween, and a plurality of holes, grouped into more than one arrangement of holes, wherein the more than one arrangement of holes can be identical or different compared to one another regarding the number of the holes, the shape of the holes, the size of the holes, the distance between the holes, the arrangement of the holes, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: A hole perforation plate (60) has a front surface (61), a back surface (62), a thickness (D) therebetween, and a plurality of holes (70), grouped into more than one arrangement (65) of holes (70), wherein the more than one arrangement (65) of holes (70) can be identical or different compared to one another regarding the number of the holes (70), the shape of the holes (70), the size of the holes (70), the distance between the holes (70), the arrangement of the holes (70), and a combination thereof, and wherein the front surface (61) is uneven in the area of the arrangement (65) of the holes (70).

Abstract: A head for an oral care implement has a mounting surface and at least one tuft mounted thereon. The tuft has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tuft comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical filaments. Each filament has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area extending in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-sectional area of an individual filament has a substantially non-circular shape. The plurality of filaments is arranged such that the cross-sectional area of the tuft has a scaled-up shape of the individual filament's cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A toothbrush head includes a cleaning element carrier and one or more bristle tufts, each consisting of a plurality of bristle filaments connected to one another via a fuse ball. The fuse balls are embedded in the cleaning element carrier such that the balls are completely enclosed and the bristle filaments protrude from the carrier's front surface. At least two fuse balls are located at different levels in the carrier.

Abstract: A cleaning element carrier for a toothbrush in a form of a disk has a back surface including a central depression covering at least 70% of the back surface and forming an edge at the border. The carrier's front surface includes at least one protrusion so that the front surface comprises two levels, wherein the area covered by the depression is larger than the area covered by the protrusion.

Abstract: A hole perforation plate (60) has a front surface (61), a back surface (62), a thickness (D) therebetween, and a plurality of holes (70), grouped into more than one arrangement (65) of holes (70), wherein the more than one arrangement (65) of holes (70) can be identical or different compared to one another regarding the number of the holes (70), the shape of the holes (70), the size of the holes (70), the distance between the holes (70), the arrangement of the holes (70), and a combination thereof, and wherein the front surface (61) is uneven in the area of the arrangement (65) of the holes (70).

Abstract: An injection-molding process and an apparatus for making a multi-component hollow article, and the article made thereby. The process comprises molding, from a first plastic material, a hollow body having a wall with at least one vent therethrough and at least one flap molded in an area adjacent to the vent. The flap is molded in a first position in which the vent is open. The flap is hingedly movable from the first position to a second position in which the vent is closed by the flap. After the flap is folded into the second position, the hollow body, including the folded flap, is at least partially overmolded with a second plastic material, wherein the second material is essentially precluded from leaking into the hollow body through the vent. The apparatus comprises a first mold bar for molding a hollow body, a second mold bar for overmolding the hollow body with a second plastic material, and a closing tool for moving, and optionally retaining, the flap in the second position.

Abstract: An injection-molded first component of an article, the first component including a sheath element formed from a pre-sheath element, the sheath element having a cavity and a recess extending from the cavity into a wall of the sheath element surrounding the cavity. The recess is formed by a through hole in the pre-sheath element and a lid element closing the through hole. The lid element is connected to the pre-sheath element with a plastic material injection-molded over at least a part of a parting line between the lid element and the pre-sheath element.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an injection-molded first component of an article, in particular a handle or a head of a toothbrush, having a sheath element with a cavity and a recess extending from the cavity into a wall of the sheath element surrounding the cavity, including the steps of: (1) providing a first mold having first mold components that define a first mold cavity in the form of a pre-sheath element having a through hole in the pre-sheath element at the location where the recess shall be formed, (2) injection-molding of the pre-sheath element using a first plastic material, (3) closing the through-hole with a lid element, (4) providing a second mold having second mold components for receiving the pre-sheath element and for defining a remaining second mold cavity that extends at least over a part of a parting line between the lid element and the pre-sheath element when the pre-sheath element is inserted in the second mold, (5) inserting the pre-sheath element into the second mold, and (6) connecting th

Abstract: A method for producing a toothbrush comprises providing a head, a neck portion, and a handle; providing a coupling element; and combining the neck portion to the handle by the coupling element so that an irreversible connection is formed. The individual parts of the toothbrush to be formed can be produced in parallel or successively, wherein some of the parts can be produced by injection molding. A toothbrush formed by the method comprises a head, a neck portion, and a handle; these elements can be produced as building blocks separately and may be connected to one another via a coupling element to form an inseparable connection.

Abstract: A method of fusing without contact the ends of thermoplastic filaments grouped together to form at least two tufts.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises a head, a neck portion and a handle, wherein the neck portion and the handle portion are connected to one another via a coupling element. The connection is constructed as an inseparable connection, i.e., after being combined once, the neck portion and the handle cannot be separated without the brush being destroyed by such separation. A method for producing such a toothbrush may comprise the following steps: providing a head, a neck portion, a handle, and a coupling element, and combining the neck portion to the handle by the coupling element so that an irreversible connection is formed.

Abstract: A carrier for providing at least one cleaning element to a mold cavity is disclosed. The carrier includes a main body having a first surface including one or more openings of one or more blind holes having a depth (D) for carrying the at least one cleaning element and a second surface being substantially parallel to the first surface. The main body includes at least two partial bodies which are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the one or more blind holes so that at least one partial body comprises one or more through-holes as part of the one or more blind holes and one partial body comprising the second surface of the main body comprises the blind end of the one or more blind-holes.

Abstract: A head for an oral care implement has a mounting surface and at least one tuft mounted thereon. The tuft has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tuft comprises a plurality of substantially cylindrical filaments. Each filament has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area extending in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross-sectional area of an individual filament has a substantially non-circular shape. The plurality of filaments is arranged such that the cross-sectional area of the tuft has a scaled-up shape of the individual filament's cross-sectional area.