Importance

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Abstract

In a toothbrush having a pair of adjustable bristle-mounting tabs which pivot relative to the bristle-mounting base so that the bristles mounted on the tabs may deflect in order to conform to varying tooth surfaces, a metal plate formed within the head of the toothbrush has opposite lobes thereof which extend into and form part of the tabs to provide better hinging action for the tabs and to prevent the tabs from breaking off and possibly being swallowed. The toothbrush is made using an injection mold, the lower half of which has a pair of dowels which are inserted in apertures within the opposite lobes of the metal plate to initially position the metal plate therein. The lower half and an opposite mating upper half together provide opposite mating pins which engage the opposite sides of the metal plate so as to precisely position the plate within a cavity defined by the joined opposite halves of the mold. Plastic material is injected into the cavity so as to surround the metal plate and form a toothbrush frame. Following removal of the formed toothbrush frame from the mold, holes are drilled in the base and the adjoining pair of tabs and groups of bristles are inserted in such holes to form the completed toothbrush.

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First Claim