Patent ID: 9609942
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: A46B,A46D,B29C,B29L

Claim:
1. A method for making a toothbrush comprising a handle, a head comprising at least one cleaning element extending therefrom, and a hinge arranged between the head and the handle, said hinge being defined at a joint between the handle and the head and comprising an internal thermoplastic component covered by an external thermoplastic component, said method comprising: forming a base body by injection molding of a first thermoplastic material into a first mold forming one of the handle or the head, and injection molding of a second thermoplastic material into the first mold for forming the other of the handle or the head to thereby fuse the second thermoplastic material against the first thermoplastic material; placing the base body into a further mold; and injection molding the external thermoplastic component for covering the joint, wherein the first mold is dividable by a movable gate configured to separate the first mold into a first portion and a second portion corresponding essentially to volumes of the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material of a finished toothbrush, respectively, wherein the movable gate is disposed in the first mold at a position corresponding to the joint between the handle and the head of the toothbrush, and wherein the first thermoplastic material is injection molded into the first portion of the first mold closed by the movable gate and wherein the movable gate is opened after the injection molding of a predetermined volume of the first thermoplastic material into the first portion and before the second thermoplastic material is injection molded into the second portion of the first mold.