Method of Manufacturing Bristled Pad and Mouthpiece for Brushing Plurality of Dental Positions, Mouthpiece and Bristle Pad
AssigneeDental Robotics Group B.V.
InventorsJoppe Gideon VAN DIJK, Tim Anton SNIJDER, Thomas VAN DE WATER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to the manufacturing of a bristled pad for a mouthpiece toothbrush, a bristled pad, the manufacturing of a mouthpiece toothbrush with such a bristled pad, and a mouthpiece toothbrush. The bristled pad is manufactured from a prefabricated foil and prefabricated bristles. The prefabricated bristles are attached to the prefabricated pliable foil of at most 700 μm by fusing the fixed ends of the bristles with the foil. In the method of manufacturing the mouthpiece, the bristled pad is attached to the body of the mouthpiece.
Claims25
Method of manufacturing a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, the mouthpiece being of the type comprising a body defining a recess which is lined with bristles and has a J-shaped or U-shaped length direction and an at least partly U-shaped cross-section transverse to the length direction;
- wherein the method comprises a pad manufacturing step in which at least one pad with bristles is made;
- the pad consisting of a pliable plastic foil and plastic bristles projecting from a front surface of the foil;
- the foil having a back surface opposite the front surface;
- and the pad manufacturing step comprising
- providing bristle with a fixed end and a free end,
- providing a prefabricated foil having a thickness of at most 700 μm, and
- fusing the fixed ends of the bristles with the prefabricated foil, resulting in the bristled pad to be made;
- wherein the method further comprises a body providing step in which a body of the mouthpiece to be manufactured is provided;
- the body providing step comprising providing a body with a recess and at least one bristle carrier;
- the recess having a J-shaped or U-shaped length direction and an at least partly U-shaped cross-section transverse to the length direction and being configured for encompassing a dental arch of multiple dental positions;
- the at least one bristle carrier delimiting the recess;
- and
- wherein the method further comprises a pad attaching step in which, during or after the body providing step, the foil of one or more bristled pads is attached to the at least one bristle carrier to line the bristle carrier with bristles such that:
- a) the back surface of the foil faces the bristle carrier,
- b) the back surface of the foil follows the shape of the surface of the bristle carrier to which it is attached, and
- c) the front surface of the foil faces away from the bristle carrier into the recess.
(canceled)
Method of manufacturing a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, the mouthpiece being of the type comprising a body defining a recess which is lined with bristles and has a J-shaped or U-shaped length direction and an at least partly U-shaped cross-section transverse to the length direction;
- wherein the method comprises a pad manufacturing step in which at least one pad with bristles is made;
- the pad consisting of a pliable plastic foil and plastic bristles projecting from a front surface of the foil;
- the foil having a back surface opposite the front surface;
- and the pad manufacturing step comprising
- providing bristle with a fixed end and a free end,
- providing a prefabricated foil, and
- fusing the fixed ends of the bristles with the prefabricated foil, resulting in a bristled pad with a foil having a thickness of at least 1.5 mm;
- wherein the method further comprises a body providing step in which a body of the mouthpiece to be manufactured is provided;
- the body providing step comprising providing a body with a recess and at least one bristle carrier;
- the recess having a J-shaped or U-shaped length direction and an at least partly U-shaped cross-section transverse to the length direction and being configured for encompassing a dental arch of multiple dental positions;
- the at least one bristle carrier delimiting the recess;
- and
- wherein the method further comprises a pad attaching step in which during or after the body providing step one or more bristled pads are attached to the at least one bristle carrier to line the bristle carrier with bristles;
- the back surface side of the foil facing the bristle carrier and the front surface side of the foil facing away from the bristle carrier into the recess.
(canceled)
-21. (canceled)
(canceled)
-34. (canceled)
Mouthpiece comprising a body having a recess and at least one bristle carrier lined with bristles, the recess having a J-shaped or U-shaped length direction and an at least partly U-shaped cross-section transverse to the length direction and being configured for encompassing a dental arch of multiple dental positions, the at least one bristle carrier delimiting the recess;
- wherein the mouthpiece comprises one or more pads, the pad consisting of a pliable foil and bristles projecting from a front surface of the foil;
- the foil having a thickness of at most 400 μm;
- the bristles having a fixed end fused with the foil;
- the foil having a back surface opposite the front surface;
- and
- wherein the one or more pads are attached to the at least one bristle carrier to line the bristle carrier with bristles, the back surface side of the foil facing the bristle carrier and the front surface side of the foil facing away from the bristle carrier into the recess.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.