Abstract: Methods of producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.

Abstract: A personal care article, such as a toothbrush having an inner cavity made in one molding process.

Abstract: A personal oral-care device includes a functional element and a battery supplying energy thereto to cause the functional element to perform at least one oral-care function. The device comprises a body containing the battery; first and second manual switches disposed on the body at a distance from one another, which distance, in combination with a shape of the body, is sufficient to prevent simultaneous activation of the first and second manual switches with a single finger or thumb of a consumer or a single substantially planar surface. The device further includes an electrical circuit structured to activate the functional element only after both the first and second manual switches have been turned on.

Abstract: Methods for producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.

Abstract: Methods of producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.

Abstract: Methods of producing a unitary personal care article such as a toothbrush having an inner cavity.

Abstract: Injection molding at substantially constant pressure with the use of rapid heating techniques, such as induction heating, at strategic locations within a mold to heat molding surfaces in a manner that mitigates problems typically associated with flow filling challenges.

Abstract: A feed system for an injection molding machine. The feed system includes a first part with a first channel, and a second part with a second channel. The first channel and the second channel together form a molten plastic feed conduit when they are engaged. The first part and the second part are unbonded to one another.

Abstract: A feed system for an injection molding method and machine includes a first part including a first channel, and a second part including a second channel, the first channel and the second channel forming a molten plastic feed conduit when the first part is located adjacent to the second part. A joint is formed between the first part and the second part along the first channel and the second channel and the joint is one of a sintered joint, a welded joint, and a brazed joint.

Abstract: An oral-care implement comprises a mounting surface having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a plurality of filaments outwardly extending from the mounting surface in at least one direction not parallel to either one of the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, each filament having a free end terminating with a tip. At least some of the filaments possess at least one functional characteristic selected from the group consisting of filament's structure, composition, cross-sectional shape, tip geometry, and any combination thereof. A plurality of filament tips comprises a working surface that includes at least a first color and a second color different from the first color.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for of overmolding a fragile hollow item with a plastic material. The process comprises providing the fragile hollow item collapsible under a pressure of about 25 MPa and greater and at least partially overmolding the fragile hollow item with the thermoplastic material while maintaining a substantially constant melt pressure of less than about 25 MPa. An apparatus for said process comprises at least two mold parts forming therebetween a mold cavity for receiving the fragile hollow item, an injection device for injecting the thermoplastic material into the mold cavity and over the hollow item, and a pressure-control mechanism for monitoring a melt pressure of the thermoplastic material and adjusting an injection pressure according to a pressure-dominated algorithm based on the melt pressure, wherein the pressure-control mechanism comprises at least one high-frequency pressure sensor located upstream of the mold cavity's front end.

Abstract: A toothbrush-demonstration device and system. The device has a main body and comprising a plurality of toothbrush holders, each of the toothbrush holders being structured and configured to accept and removably secure therein a single toothbrush in a fixed position, the toothbrush comprising a handle and a head including a plurality of cleaning elements, wherein a plurality of toothbrushes can be securely mounted substantially parallel to one another in the plurality of toothbrush holders for a simultaneous movement with the device relative to a test surface. The system includes the device, two toothbrushes being compared, and a test surface.

Abstract: A method for injection molding overmolded articles includes heating thermoplastic material to a predetermined temperature in an injection molding apparatus. The injection molding apparatus has a mold including a mold cavity. The injection molding apparatus has a useful life of more than about 1 million injection molding cycles and less than about 20 million injection molding cycles. The method further includes positioning a pre-manufactured article in the mold cavity, advancing heated thermoplastic material from the melt holder of the injection molding apparatus into the mold cavity maintaining a substantially constant melt pressure in the proximity of the injection element of at least about 400 pounds per square inch (about 2 MPa) and at most about 10,000 pounds per square inch (about 69 MPa).

Abstract: A faucet-mounted filter system includes a body forming a fluid chamber having a water inlet, a quick connect device positioned adjacent the water inlet for mounting the filter system to a water faucet, a filtered water flow path disposed within the body and in fluid communication with the water inlet, an unfiltered water flow path disposed within the body and in fluid communication with the water inlet, a diverter valve disposed within the fluid chamber and operable to open and close the filtered and unfiltered water flow paths, a seal, an actuator engaging the diverter valve to open and close the filtered and unfiltered water flow paths, a flow meter connected to the body and in fluid communication with the filter flow path, a filter housing connected to the body and having a reservoir, and a filter cartridge disposed within the reservoir.

Abstract: A process for making a tufted article from a thermoplastic material comprises controlling injection pressure according to a pressure-dominated algorithm including detecting at least 100 melt-pressure measurements per second upstream a front end of a mold cavity. An apparatus comprises a pressure-control mechanism for monitoring and adjusting an injection pressure according to the pressure-dominated algorithm, wherein the pressure-control mechanism comprises at least one high-frequency pressure sensor located upstream the mold cavity's front end.

Abstract: A personal care article, such as a toothbrush having an inner cavity made in one molding process.

Abstract: A personal care article, such as a toothbrush handle having an inner cavity.

Abstract: Methods for producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.

Abstract: Methods of producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided.

Abstract: Methods of producing a unitary personal care article such as a toothbrush having an inner cavity.