# US 8,540,918 B2 · Method of producing a tooth-cleaning device

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- Number: US 8,540,918 B2
- Document ID: US8540918B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/734,189
- Filed: 2008-10-23
- Published: 2010-09-16
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2007-10-24
- Assignees: Trisa Holding AG
- Applicants: Philipp Pfenniger
- Inventors: Philipp Pfenniger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540918B2

## CPC

- A61C 15/02: Toothpicks
- A46B 3/18: the bristles being fixed on or between belts or wires
- A46B 7/04: interchangeably {removable bristle carriers}
- A46D 3/005: {by moulding or casting a body around bristles or tufts of bristles}
- A61C 15/00: Devices for cleaning between the teeth
- B29C 45/14426: {Coating the end of wire-like or rod-like or cable-like or blade-like or belt-like articles}
- B29C 45/162: {using means, e.g. mould parts, for transferring an injected part between moulding stations}
- B29C 45/1671: {with an insert}
- B29C 45/2711: {Gate inserts}
- A46B 2200/108: Inter-dental toothbrush, i.e. for cleaning interdental spaces specifically
- B29C 45/2673: {with exchangeable mould parts, e.g. cassette moulds (B29C45/1756 takes precedence)}
- B29C 45/37: Mould cavity walls {, i.e. the inner surface forming the mould cavity, e.g. linings}
- B29L 2031/425: {Toothbrush}
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)
- A46D: MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

The wire of the interdental treatment part is inserted into a shaft opening of the injection molding tool, preferably into a strip of the injecting molding tool such that said treatment part projects with a mounting section thereof into a cavity connected to the shaft opening. Preferably, a first cavity section is configured is configured on the strip, and a second cavity section is configured on a cavity body, to with the strip abuts at least during the injection molding process. After injection of plastic into the cavity, and after the at least partial curing thereof, the handle part thus formed is moved by a distance in the direction against the cavity along with the interdental treatment part, and the handle part is removed from the opened injection molding tool.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of producing a tooth-cleaning device having an interdental treatment part, in which a stem, which bears a treatment head and is made from a wire, is encapsulated by injection molding in a plastics material in order to form a retaining part, the method comprising:
inserting the wire of the interdental treatment part into a stem aperture in a clamping bar of an injection mold such that the wire projects into a first cavity portion by way of a fastening portion spaced apart from the treatment head of the interdental treatment part, the first cavity portion forming a part of the clamping bar and following the stem aperture, the clamping bar having a protrusion that corresponds to a depression and projects into the first cavity portion;
abutting the clamping bar against a cavity body of the injection mold, on which a second cavity portion is formed, such that the first and second cavity portions form the cavity, the cavity body and the clamping bar being separable;
injecting the plastics material into the cavity in order to form the retaining part, thereby encapsulating the fastening portion;
partially curing the retaining part; and
removing the retaining part with the interdental treatment part from the open injection mold by a stroke motion of the retaining part guided in the stem aperture, in a direction from the treatment head towards the retaining part and opening the injection mold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
inserting the wire into the stem aperture, the stem aperture being formed on the clamping bar of the injection mold, such that the fastening portion projects into the first cavity portion of the cavity, the first cavity portion being integrally formed on the clamping bar;
abutting the clamping bar against the cavity body of the injection mold, on which the second cavity portion is formed, such that the first and second cavity portions form the cavity;
injecting the plastics material into the cavity;
partially curing the plastics material injected into the cavity;
opening the cavity body;
moving the clamping bar in relation to the cavity body such that the retaining part is moved, at least in part, out of the second cavity portion; and
executing the stroke motion and opening the clamping bar to remove the retaining part with the interdental treatment part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stroke motion is executed prior to the clamping bar being opened.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stroke motion is executed during the opening operation of the clamping bar.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hard plastics material is used.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a soft plastics material is used.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining part is produced by multi-component injection molding, from a hard plastics material and a soft plastics material, and the stroke motion takes place following the injection of the final component.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a handle of the tooth-cleaning device is produced by the injection molding of the retaining part.