Brush and method for its fabrication

United States Patent Application 20040088812

A brush has a bristle section comprising a plurality of bristles, bristle bundles or pins and is fixed to a bristle carrier. To reduce the risk of dirt accumulation and mold and bacteria formation, in the vicinity of the bristle section the bristle carrier surface is at least zonally and preferably full-surface sealed. The seal can be formed by a coating or by a bristle carrier surface layer compacted or compressed by thermal energy.

Weihrauch, Georg (Wald-Michelbach, DE)

10/275864

05/13/2004

03/20/2003

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WEIHRAUCH GEORG

15/186

300/21, 15/201

A46B9/02; (IPC1-7): A46B3/00

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KARLS, SHAY LYNN

Paul J Vincent (Karlsruhe, DE)

1. Brush with a bristle section (15) comprising a plurality of bristles (14), bristle bundles or pins and which is fixed to a bristle carrier (13), characterized in that, in the region between bristles of the bristle section (15), the surface of the bristle carrier (13) is at least zonally sealed. cm 1. Brush with a bristle section (150 comprising a plurality of bristles (14), bristle bundles or pins and which is fixed to a bristle carrier (13), characterized in that, in the vicinity of the bristle section (15), the surface of the bristle carrier (13) is at least zonally sealed.

2. Brush according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the bristle carrier (13) is sealed in full-surface manner in the vicinity of the bristle section (15).

3. Brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the complete surface of the bristle carrier (13) is sealed.

4. Brush according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bristle carrier (13) is formed by a flexible carrier plate.

5. Brush according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the seal is formed by a coating (16).

6. Brush according to claim 5, characterized in that the coating (16) is transparent.

7. Brush according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that an information carrier (17) is located below the coating (16).

8. Brush according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the coating (16) forms the information carrier.

9. Brush according to one of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the coating (16) is provided with an antimicrobial finish.

10. Brush according to one of the claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the coating is built up from several layers (16a, 16b).

11. Brush according to claim 10, characterized in that the inner layer (16b) of the coating (16) is completely covered by an outer layer (16a).

12. Brush according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the coating (16) contains silver or comprises a thin silver layer.

13. Brush according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the seal is formed by a compacted surface layer of the bristle carrier (13).

14. Method for the manufacture of a brush according to one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein the bristle carrier (13) is at least zonally surface sealed prior to the application of the bristle section (15).

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that a coating (16) of one or more layers is applied as the seal.

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the coating (16) is at least partly applied in a two or multi-component injection molding process.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that a silver or silver-containing layer is applied as one of the layers.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the silver-containing layer is formed by a silver foil.

19. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the seal is formed by a compacted surface layer of the plastic bristle carrier.

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that thermal energy is applied to the bristle carrier surface for forming the seal.

21. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that the thermal energy is applied by means of a laser.

[0001] The invention relates to a brush with a bristle section comprising a plurality of bristles, bristle bundles or pins and which is fixed to a bristle carrier. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of a corresponding brush.

[0002] Brushes have a section or area formed from a plurality of brush elements, which can be individual bristles, bristle bundles or also pins made from metal, wood or plastic. Reference is made in exemplified manner hereinafter to a bristle section, but this term can also cover a section formed from bristle bundles or pins.

[0003] Conventionally the bristle section is fixed to a bristle carrier, which in the case of high quality hairbrushes is made from wood and e.g. in the case of utensil and massage brushes generally of plastic. In many cases a handle is filled or integrally shaped to the bristle carrier. If the bristle section comprises pins, as is normally the case with so-called pneumatic hairbrushes, the bristle carrier is frequently formed by a flexible, rubber or elastomer carrier or support plate, which is held in deformable manner on a brush base body. All said bristle carrier materials have a relatively porous surface, which can lead to hygienic problems. In particular the bristle carrier surface in the vicinity of the bristle section is susceptible to an accumulation of dirt and the formation of mold and bacteria. It is inappropriate to clean with aqueous soap solution in the case of wooden bristle carrier, because the latter can absorb moisture, which in turn encourages the formation of mold. In the case of pneumatic hairbrushes moisture can also penetrate the space between the bristle carrier and the brush base body. If in addition the bristle section is relatively tightly packed, it is not possible to completely adequately clean the inter-bristle region at the base of the bristles.

[0004] The problem of the invention is to provide a brush of the aforementioned type, with which the risk of dirt accumulation and mold and bacteria formation is reduced. In addition, a method is provided enabling such a brush to be manufactured in a simple, inexpensive manner.

[0005] With regards to the brush, the invention solves this problem in that the surface of the bristle carrier is at least zonally sealed in the vicinity of the bristle section. Preferably the bristle carrier surface is sealed in full-surface manner in the vicinity of the bristle carrier. As a result of sealing in the vicinity of the bristle section, instead of a porous surface the bristle carrier now has a substantially smooth surface, which reduces the risk of the adhesion of dirt or the colonization of bacteria. In addition, the bristle carrier surface can be more easily and efficiently cleaned due to the sealing action.

[0006] According to a further development of the invention, the entire bristle carrier surface is sealed, which must in particular be the case if, in a possible development of the invention, the bristle carrier is formed by a rubber or elastomeric material, flexible carrier plate.

[0007] A sealing of the bristle carrier can be brought about simply by a coating. In particular it is possible to use a non-porous plastic varnish or paint or a water-resistant printing ink or paint. According to a special development of the invention the coating is transparent, which leads to the important advantage that an information carrier can be located on the bristle carrier below the coating and which is visible through said coating and is protected against wear by the coating even in the case of prolonged use. The information carrier can either relate to pictorial information and/or text information, e.g. concerning the use and care of the brush. The information carrier can firstly be applied to the bristle carrier, which can either take place by spraying or painting on or by the application of a prefabricated information carrier. If the information carrier is pictorial information, this can be assisted in that the bristles of the bristle section are incorporated into or at least accentuate the pictorial information by a zonally differently colored design. It is alternatively possible for the coating to constitute the information carrier, in that said coating is only applied in partial areas and/or zonally has a different coloring.

[0008] For the application of the coating it is possible to use conventional printing and lining processes, as well as dipping and spraying, electrostatic coating, plastisol coating, spraying in an injection molding process and in particular the production of the bristle carrier and the sealing thereof in a two or multi-component injection molding process. In order to mount the bristles in gapless manner on the bristle carrier, the bristles can be welded on or welded, stamped or injected in.

[0009] In order to inhibit or avoid the development of bacteria and the formation of mold, according to a further development of the invention the coating is provided with an antimicrobial finish. Among the various possible per se known substances, mention is made of only chlorhexidine and triclosan.

[0010] In order to adapt the action of the coating in optimum manner to the intended use, it can be built up from several layers and the individual layers can have a different surface extension, i. e. with one layer being applied in full or large-surface manner, another only being applied to specific partial areas. However, it is to be ensured that an inner layer of the coating is completely covered by an outer layer and is consequently protected by the latter. The outer layer can in particular be constituted by non-hygroscopic and non-porous thermoplastics, e.g. PVC and polyester.

[0011] An effective sealing can be obtained in that the coating comprises a thin, at least partly silver layer. The silver or silver-containing layer can be used as the sole seal or as one layer in a multi-layer structure and can be applied to the bristle carrier by vapor deposition or galvanically, but preferably it is fastened as a prefabricated silver foil or plate to the bristle carrier. Instead of a foil or plate made entirely of silver, the foil or plate can be made from a different material, in which silver is incorporated or in which a plurality of silver threads is embedded. Silver also has an antimicrobial action, which under certain environmental conditions acts into the surface-near portions of the bristle carrier.

[0012] In place of a coating, the seal can also be formed by a compressed or compacted surface layer of the bristle carrier. This can be particularly easily obtained if the bristle carrier is made from plastic, rubber or an elastomer and then by subjecting to thermal energy action there is a surface forming or shaping of the material accompanied by simultaneous compaction and thereby sealing. Thermal energy can be applied simply e.g. using a laser. Particularly in the case of a pneumatic hairbrush this procedure in advantageous if onto the bristle carrier an information is burned by means of the laser, the bristle carrier portions carrying the information being consequently simultaneously sealed.

[0013] With regards to the method the set problem is solved in that, optionally prior to the application of the bristle section, the bristle carrier is at least zonally surface-sealed. In the indicated manner the seal can be formed by a one or multi-layer coating, which can comprise a silver or silver-containing layer. Alternatively the seal is formed by a compacted surface layer of the bristle carrier, in that the bristle carrier material is shaped by heat. Further features of the method can be gathered from the preceding description of the brush.

[0014] Further details and features of the invention can be gathered from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein show:

[0015] FIG. 1 A view of pneumatic brush.

[0016] FIG. 2 Section II-II in FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 3 Detail III in FIG. 2.

[0018] FIG. 4 A representation of an alternative embodiment similar to FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 5 A modification of the construction according to FIG. 4.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a pneumatic brush 10 having a conventional structure. The brush 10 comprises a plastic or wooden brush base body 11, which has an integrally shaped handle 12 and a holding portion 18 with a housing-like construction, whose upper opening is bordered by a circumferential holding edge 18a. In said housing-like holding portion 18 is inserted a flexible carrier plate 13 made from a flexible material, e. g. rubber or elastomer and which carries a bristle section 15. The bristles 14, which can also be plastic or metal pins, are fixed, in a manner not shown, to the support or carrier plate 13 and project normally therefrom. The carrier plate 13 engages below the holding edge 18a of the holding portion 18, so that it is fixed to the brush base body 11. The hitherto described construction is in accordance with a conventional pneumatic brush.

[0021] In partial areas or in the inter-bristle region of the bristle section 15 or also in full-surface manner, the carrier plate 13 is provided with a seal in the form of a coating 16 (cf. FIG. 3). The coating 16 can be formed by an applied paint, varnish or ink coating. Whereas FIG. 3 shows a single-layer coating 16, FIG. 4 shows a coating comprising two layers 16a, 16b. The lower layer 16b resting directly on the carrier plate 13 can be a silver layer, which is covered and protected by an external, plastic layer 16a.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows another construction in which on the carrier plate 13 is placed a prefabricated information carrier 17, which is then covered by the preferably transparent coating 16. In place of a prefabricated information carrier 17, it is also possible to directly apply information to the carrier plate 13 and cover it by the coating 16.

[0023] Translation of PCT/EP01/05240 claim 1 as amended on May 7, 2002.