Title of Invention	BRISTLE PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION AND IMPLEMENT HAVING SUCH A BRISTLE
Abstract	Bristle, comprising a core of a comparatively rigid, bending-elastic plastic and at least one layer of a rubberlike plastic, characterized in that the rubberlike layer (3) is a profiled and stamped layer against the core (2).

Full Text

BRISTLE, PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION AND IMPLEMENT HAVING SUCH A BRISTLE The invention relates to a bristle comprising a core of a comparatively rigid, bending-elastic plastic and at least one layer of a rubberlike plas- tic. The invention also relates to a process for the production of such bristles and to implements equipped with such bristles. Independently of the intended use of a brush, certain fundamental demands are made on the bristles. These more particularly include the bending elasticity, flexural strength and resistance to wear. Further and often very differing requirements result from the intended use of the brush. Thus, e.g. brushes for oral and body hygiene must be sufficiently soft to avoid injury, whereas abrasively acting, industrial brushes must have hard and rough bristles. Other technical brushes, such as car wash brushes, must once again be smooth and pliable. This also applies in the case of polish- ing brushes. Brushes or paintbrushes used for the application of media, must have relatively closely juxtaposed, standing bristles for storing the medium, whereas in other applications individual standing bristles or bristle bundles are desired. The action of a bristle on the surface of the object to be treated or worked is decisively dependent on the surface characteristics thereof and the bristle material. Generally bristles are produced from extruded plastic monofilaments. As a result of the choice of the plastic it is essentially only possible to influence the bending and wear resistance, but only to a very limited extent the surface characteristics and the effectiveness of the surface, apart from simple longitudinal profiles. Thus, numerous attempts have been made in the prior art to modify the surface characteristics or the effectiveness of the surface of bristles by additional measures in order to better meet the requirements of each intended use. In the literature reference list following the description, documents (1) to (8) describe bristles with incorporated, abrasively acting particles for different uses. It is in each case a question of giving the bristle a hard, abrading action. Another development referred to in documents (9) to (15) is to profile in different ways the jacket of a bristle formed from a plastic monofilament. It is in each case a question of forming more or less sharp edges and this extends to frayed structures. All the aforementioned solutions with particle-filled or profiled, mono- filament bristles suffer from the decisive disadvantage that the strength characteristics, particularly the bending elasticity, flexural strength and also the resistance to wear are significantly reduced, so that use must once again be made of larger bristle diameters and/or higher quality plas- tics. However, this is often impossible for use reasons and also leads to undesired higher costs. Other known proposals according to documents (16) to (21) aim at producing the bristle from two plastic components, namely a plastic core and a coating applied thereto either in the form of a jacket enveloping the core or in the form of fibres applied to the core. In these known solutions the strength characteristics of the bristle remain substantially controlled. To the extent that the core has a smooth-walled jacket (16), (17), the bristle action can only be insignificantly modified. If only the hard core is profiled and a profile-following, rubber-elastic coating is applied (18), the latter is rapidly worn away at the profile humps and the hard core is exposed. To the extent that the core is flocked with fibres (20), the bristle can only be used for specific purposes and is also complicated and expensive to manufacture. Among the last-mentioned proposals, document (21) proposes a bristle com- prising an extruded, relatively stiff core of PA (polyamide) or high density PE (polyethylene) and a soft, thermoplastic coating of natural or artificial rubber. This known bristle is designed for toothbrushes, where the soft, rubber-elastic coating is mainly intended to ensure a careful treatment of the teeth and gums, whilst the stiff core ensures the necessary strength characteristics for the bristle. However, such a bristle does not satisfy the demands made during cleaning, because its surface is too smooth. It is also unsuitable for applying media to an object. On the basis of this prior art, the problem of the invention is to provide a bristle which, whilst maintaining the necessary strength characteristics in the case of a soft surface also provides a good cleaning action and absorp- tivity for media. On the basis of a bristle comprising a core of a comparatively rigid, bending-elastic plastic and at least one layer of a rubberlike plastic, the invention solves this problem in that the rubberlike layer is profiled by stamping against the core, preferably by hot stamping. The invention is based on the surprising finding that a rubber-like plastic, e.g. a thermoplastic elastomer, even with a very limited thickness, which necessarily arises in the case of bristles and with toothbrushes is only a few tenths of a millimetre, can be profiled by stamping or embossing, with- out there being any shape recovery of the rubberlike plastic. A decisive part is played by the relatively rigid core against which the stamping or embossing forces can be applied. It is possible to implement fine to coarse structures with any random shaping. Small profile depths are in particular chosen in the case of bristles for oral and body hygiene, whereas greater profile depths are used for cleaning or coating brushes for in the first case receiving dirt and in the second application media. The rubberlike layer can surround the core in jacket-like manner or also only zonally and the profiling resulting from stamping can be provided over the entire length of the bristle or only over partial lengths thereof. In the case of the bristle constructed according to the invention the core is made from a plastics material defining the bending and flexural strength of the bristle and the rubberlike layer with its profiling from a plastics material defining the surface action of the bristle on the object and the resistance to wear. Through the choice of the two plastics and the nature of the profiling, the bristle can be readily adapted to random requirements. In a preferred embodiment the core is made from a plastics material having a Shore hardness D>45 and the rubberlike layer from a plastics material with a Shore hardness D ness of the core plastic is D>65 and that of the rubberlike layer 20 Materials fulfilling the aforementioned requirements are e.g. in the case of the core PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) or PA (polyamide) and for the rubberlike layer thermoplastic elastomers. The profiling of the rubberlike layer can be formed by locally defined depressions distributed over the circumference. Instead of this the pro- filing can also run in the bristle extension direction, e.g. along gener- atrixes or in helical manner. Finally, the profiling can also be prepon- derantly oriented transversely to the bristle extension direction. According to a further feature of the invention, to the profiled, rubberlike layer is applied a film-like coating of a soft plastic clinging to its profile. As a result a certain smoothing effect can be obtained on the profiling without removing the surface action therefrom. The core can be formed from one or more monofilaments. The first-mentioned form is recommended for toothbrushes and body brushes, whereas the second is better for industrial brushes and in particular car wash brushes. In this particular application the bristles must be bending-soft, so as to be applied in optimum manner to the contour of the surface to be cleaned and also so as to carefully clean the surface. These bristles are subject to very rapid wear from the free end. This means in the case of the bristle according to the invention, that the rubberlike layer is firstly worn away at the bristle ends. In the variant according to the invention with several core monofilaments they are exposed in the from of fibres, which then still ensure a careful action compared with a single, larger diameter core mono- filament. Normally bristles have a circular cross-section. However, in the case of the construction according to the invention it is possible to implement any other bristle cross-section, in that the core has a cross-section diverging from the circular shape, e.g. a narrow, rectangular or cruciform or stellate cross-section. The rubberlike layer can then have a circular cross-section, so that it has a different thickness and can e.g. be more deeply stamped in the thicker areas. Instead of this it can also have a cross-section following the core cross-section, so that independently of the location of the stamping equal-depth profiles can be produced and here again the core serves as an abutment. Finally, the entire bristle constituted by the core and rubberlike layer can be corrugated transversely to the bristle extension direction. A good adhesion of the rubberlike layer to the core is obtained through a surface structure on the core acting as a primer. For the manufacture of the above-described bristle, the invention proposes a process in which the core and the rubberlike layer are coextruded as a strand and the rubberlike layer, with the strand moving, is profiled by stamping against the core. This process leads to a continuous bristle material, from which the bristles can be cut, as desired, to length immediately after stamping. Instead of this the bristle material can be wound and then the bristle is cut to length, as desired, from the unwound strand at the time of brush manufacture. In another variant of the process, the core and the rubberlike layer are coextruded as a continuous strand, the strand is wound and the rubberlike layer is profiled by stamping against the core on unwinding the strand. In this process stamping can take place at the bristle material manufacturer or only at the brush manufacturer. This process can also be advantageous if the rubberlike layer is constituted by a slowly crosslinking elastomer and the stamping process is only to take place at the end of the crosslinking reaction. In this process the rubberlike layer is preferably profiled by stamping tools acting against one another and against the core and said tools can produce different profiles. In the case of an only one-sided profiling the stamping tool cooperates with an unprofiled counter-tool. In a further variant of the process according to the invention, to the profiled strand at the time of bristle material manufacture or prior to the cutting to length of the bristles, a soft plastic can be applied in film- like manner by extrusion, dipping, spraying or the shrinking on of a film, e.g. in order to smooth the profile. In another variant of the process, the core and the rubberlike layer are coextruded as a strand, the bristle is then cut to length from the strand and then the rubberlike layer is profiled by stamping against the core. In this process the film-like coating can be applied before or after cutting to length by dipping, spraying, or shrinking on a film. The inventively constructed bristle is usable for implements of the most varied types. In the simplest case such a bristle can be directly used as an interdental cleaner, either in the form of a stick or in a similar manner to dental floss. As opposed to this, a brush is provided with a plurality of bristles con- structed according to the invention and said bristles can be provided in separate arrangements. In particular, such a brush can have bristles with differently profiled, rubberlike layers. The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to embodi- ments diagrammatically represented in the attached drawings and which in each case perspectively show in cross-section a bristle. The bristle 1 according to fig. 1 has a core 2 of a bending-elastic, flex- resistant plastic, e.g. PA, PP or PE and a rubberlike layer 3 surrounding in jacket-like manner the core 2, e.g. of a thermoplastic elastomer. In the rubberlike layer 3 is stamped a profile 4 in the form of locally defined, circumferentially distributed depressions 5. Stamping takes place against the rigid core 2. In the embodiment according to fig. 2 the bristle 1 is only stamped with the profile shown in fig. 1 over part of its length, whereas it is unprofiled over the remaining length 6, which e.g. includes the fastening-side end of the bristle. It otherwise once again comprises a core 2 of a rigid plastic, the rubberlike layer 3 with the stamped in depressions and a film-like coating 7, which covers the profiling and clings to the latter, but leads to a certain smoothing effect. In the embodiment of fig. 3 the bristle once again comprises a core 2 and a rubberlike layer 3, which is only zonally applied and runs on the core 2 in the form of longitudinal ribs, which are profiled by transverse stamping, so as to obtain depressions 8 and boss-like humps 9. In the embodiment according to fig. 4 the rubberlike layer 3 is longitudinally profiled on the core 2 and the profile can be produced by stamping after a co-extrusion operation. In addition, the rubberlike layer 3 can have depressions produced by stamping as in tigs. 1 and 2 or transverse stampings as in fig. 3. Whereas in the embodiments according to figs. 1 to 4 at least the core has a circular cross-section, fig. 5 shows a bristle with a core 2 having a cruciform cross-section 10, whilst the rubberlike layer 3 has a circular cross-section. Thus, it is thinnest in the region of the ends of the beam of the cruciform cross-section 10. This leads to sharply defined abutments against which the profile can be particularly well stamped, as indicated by the arrows 11. in the embodiment according to fig. 6 the bristle 1 once again has a core 2 with a circular cross-section. The rubberlike layer 3 enveloping it is stamped with a wavy profile 12. Fig. 7 shows an embodiment modified compared with fig. 1, in that the core 2 comprises four monofilaments 13, which can be positioned parallel or twisted. The rubberlike layer 3 once again surrounds the core with a circular cross-section and has on its jacket the stamped in profiling. In the embodiment according to fig. 8 the core 2 has an elongated cross-section. The rubberlike layer 3 has a constant thickness, so that it follows the cross-section of the core 2 and a strip-like bristle is obtained, which is e.g. only provided on its narrow sides with a stamped profile 4, much as in fig. 3. The bristle according to fig. 9 once again has a core 2 and a rubberlike layer 3 with a profiling 4 resulting from stamping. As a variant compared with the previously described bristles, the bristle 14 according to fig. 9 is corrugated transversely to the longitudinal extension. WE CLAIM 1. Bristle, comprising a core of a comparatively rigid, bending-elastic plastic and at least one layer of a rubberlike plastic, characterized in that the rubberlike layer (3) is a profiled and stamped layer against the core (2). 2. Bristle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rubberlike layer (3) is profiled by hot stamping against the core (2). 3. Bristle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the rubberlike layer (3) surrounds the core (2) in jacket-like manner. 4. Bristle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the rubberlike layer (3) zonally surrounds the core (2). 5. Bristle as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the core (2) comprises a plastics material defining the bending and flexural strength of the bristle (1) and the rubberlike layer (3) with its profiling (4) a plastics material defining the surface action of the bristle (1) on the object and the resistance to wear. 6. Bristle as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the core (2) comprises a plastics material with a Shore hardness D>45 and the rubberlike layer (3) a plastics material with a Shore hardness D 7. Bristle as claimed in claim one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the core (2) comprises a plastics material with a Shore hardness D>65 and the rubberlike layer (3) a plastics material with a Shore hardness 20 8. Bristle as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the core (2) is of PE (polyethylene), PP (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) or PA (polyamide) and the rubberlike layer (3) of a thermoplastic elastomer. 9. Bristle as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the rubberlike layer (3) has circumferentially distributed, locally defined depressions (5). 10. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rubberlike layer (3) has a profile (8, 9) in the extension direction of the bristle (1). 11. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rubberlike layer has a profile extending transversely to the extension direction (8, 9). 12. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that to the profiled, rubberlike layer (3) is applied a film-like coating (7) of a soft plastics material which clings to the profile (4). 13. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the core (2) is formed from a monofilament. 14. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the core (2) is formed from several monofilaments (13). 15. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the core (2) has a non-circular cross-section (10). 16. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the rubberlike layer (3) has a cross-section differing from that of the core (2) and in particular a circular cross-section. 17. Bristle according to claim 15, characterized in that the rubberlike layer (3) has a cross-section following that of the core (2). 18. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the core (2) with the rubber like layer (3) is corrugated transversely to the extension direction of the bristle (1). 19. Bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the core (2) has a surface structure or a corresponding coating acting as a primer for the rubberlike layer (3). 20. Process for the production of bristle material for bristles according to one of the claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the core and the rubberlike layer are coextruded as a continuous strand and, with the strand moving, the rubberlike layer is profiled against the core by stamping. 21. Process for the production of bristle material for bristles according to one of the claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the core and the rubber- like layer are coextruded as a continuous strand, the strand is wound and the rubberlike layer is profiled on unwinding the strand by stamping against the core. 22. Process for the production of bristles according to one of the claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the core and the rubberlike layer are coextruded as a strand, the bristle is cut to length from the strand and subsequently the rubberlike layer of the bristle is profiled by stamping against the core. 23. Process according to one of the claims 20 or 22, characterized in that the rubberlike layer is profiled by means of stamping tools acting against one another. 24. Process according to claim 12 and 20 or 21, characterized in that to the profiled strand is applied in film-like manner a soft plastics material by extrusion, dipping, spraying or the shrinking on of a film. 25. Process according to claim 12 and 22, characterized in that to the profiled bristle is applied in film-like manner a soft plastics material by dipping, spraying or shrinking on a film. 26. Bristle material, produced by the process according to one of the claims 20 to 25. 27. Interdental cleaner having at least one bristle according to one of the claims 1 to 19. 28. Brush having a plurality of bristles according to one of the claims 1 to 19. 29. Brush according to claim 28, characterized in that the plurality of bristles have differently profiled, rubberlike layers. PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 1) DE 322 089 A 2) US 2,642,705 3) DE 1 014 964 B 4) DD 32 963 A 5) GB 1 327 329 A 6) FR 2 546 097 A 7) EP 0 354 352 A 8) WO 93/18891 A 9) US 2,110,371 A 10) US 2,317,485 A 11) US 3,325,845 A 12) US 4,373,541 A 13) DE 3 116 189 A 14) US 5,678,275 A 15) DE 1 140 901 B 16) DE 1 037 434 B 17) DE 83 00 846 U 18) US 3,090,061 A 19) US 4,627,950 A 20) DE 3 717 475 C 21) US 4,263,691 A Bristle, comprising a core of a comparatively rigid, bending-elastic plastic and at least one layer of a rubberlike plastic, characterized in that the rubberlike layer (3) is a profiled and stamped layer against the core (2).

Documents:

in-pct-2000-408-kol-abstract.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-claims.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-correspondence.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-drawings.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-examination report.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-form 1.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-form 18.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-form 2.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-form 3.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-form 5.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-pa.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-priority document.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-reply to examination report.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-specification.pdf

in-pct-2000-408-kol-translated copy of priority document.pdf