Patent Application
20110219558
This application claims priority to DE 10 2010 051 878.6 filed Nov. 22, 2010 and DE 10 2009 057 483.2, filed Dec. 10, 2009, the contents of each being incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a toothbrush having a toothbrush head with a top side to which cleaning elements for cleaning teeth are arranged.
The utilization of toothbrushes to clean one's teeth has long been known. In general, toothbrushes include a head and a handle. The head includes a plurality of bristle tufts which extend from a top surface of the head. The bristle tufts generally consist of a plurality of filaments which are attached to the head in a suitable fashion. In addition to bristle tufts, some toothbrushes available on the market also provide elastomeric elements in an effort to achieve benefits such as gum massaging, tongue cleaning, etc.
The use of elastomers at various points on toothbrush heads is known. The elastomer in toothbrushes can be provided at the bottom side of the head or the lateral surface as a soft surface. As an example, tongue scrapers made of elastomer plastic on the bottom side of the head are well known. Furthermore, toothbrushes are known in which elastomer massaging rods are arranged at the lateral surfaces or laterally spaced from the tooth cleaning elements on the top side of the head. Finally, also known are elastomers at the top side of the head as cleaning elements for cleaning teeth. Relevant examples are WO-A-2003/055351, WO-A-1999/037181, WO-A-2000/076369, WO-A-1998/018364, and US-A-2007/0101525.
In an effort to increase efficiency, some toothbrushes utilize a much more densely populated cleaning element field. Bristle tufts and/or elastomeric elements can be spaced very close together. However, a disadvantage of such toothbrushes is that, during brushing, plaque and other undesired substances can get caught between the bristles, which are then retained in the cleaning element field and thereby may have a damaging effect on the tooth enamel when teeth are cleaned and polished.
Therefore, there is a need for a toothbrush which can facilitate the removal of plaque and other undesired items from the cleaning element field.
A toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention can facilitate the removal of plaque and/or undesired substances from the bristle field. In some embodiments, foam removal, plaque removal, and/or undesired particle removal may be accomplished by utilization of lateral surfaces having a curvature that deviates from a straight line. An elastomer region at the lateral surface can be provided either with a constriction or a flat portion or a convex curvature, and the provision of a section at the lateral surface that consists of hard plastic and that is provided with an outward bulge or a convex curvature can facilitate this removal.
In other embodiments, a toothbrush is provided having a toothbrush head at whose top side first and second cleaning elements for cleaning teeth are provided, wherein the first cleaning elements have first bristle tufts with a long and a short side and thus, in cross-section, an approximately rectangular or oval base. This essentially creates toothpaste and foam carriers within the elongated tufts, which make it possible for foam to escape at the corners of the base where no tufts are arranged. As an alternative, first bristle tufts are provided, also named compound or multiple tufts, each of which conventionally has a circular cross-section; however, because they are strung together along a straight line each, the result is a square or rhombic bristle arrangement. Accordingly, for a rhombus, 4 straight lines are provided, each having several bristle tufts. These tufts are designed to be longer the than cleaning elements arranged within the polygon (e.g., the rhombus), resulting in the formation of a recessed, in particular trough-like, toothpaste receiving reservoir that is surrounded by tufts. This contributes to the toothpaste gradually distributing in the oral cavity during tooth brushing. According to the alternative design, the “corners” of the rhombus, square, or other polygon are formed by bristle tufts, and according to the embodiment having tufts with a short and a long side by interstices without forming a corner in the strictly geometric sense.
In contrast to the conventional rounded, possibly pot-shaped, design of a recessed toothpaste receiving region, the polygonal design of this toothpaste receiving reservoir in the bristle area makes it easier, after the toothbrush head has been packed with bristles, to trim the bristles that border the receiving region on the side to their desired length and round off their ends in order to achieve the desired topography of the free bristle ends. Because in a polygonal design of the toothpaste receiving region that is recessed on the inside, the centers of the bristle tuft forming the polygon as a tuft or as a plurality of tufts lie on a straight line in each case, it is possible that adjacent tufts that are not part of the polygon can be more easily pushed out of the way by means of deflector plates or displacers in order to trim certain regions of the bristle area to the desired length and/or to round off the ends in isolation from other bristle tufts. In doing so, the deflector plate is threaded between the bristle tufts of the packed head and subsequently pivoted laterally, making it possible to separately trim tufts to the correct length relative to adjacent tufts. The polygonal design of the toothbrush receiving region may certainly also be of advantage for those toothbrushes that are not produced in this way using anchor wire tufting but rather, e.g., without an anchor wire.
An advantageous further design provides that a plurality of first bristle tufts are arranged on the top side in such a way that their combined circumferential surface forms an approximately triangular, square, rhombic, or pentagonal base.
An advantageous further design provides that the first bristle tufts are arranged in such a way that four first bristle tufts enclose a square base.
An advantageous further design provides that the second cleaning elements have second bristle tufts with a circular cross-section and/or elastomer cleaning elements.
An advantageous further design provides that the first bristle tufts are designed to be longer than the second bristle tufts and/or that the first bristle tufts enclose the second bristle tufts or the elastomer cleaning elements.
An advantageous further design provides the compound/multiple bristle tufts of the first bristle tufts and the bristle tufts of the second and third cleaning elements each have circular cross sections, wherein immediately adjacent bristle tufts are arranged with the shortest lateral distance to one another; in the direction of the longitudinal center axis with a distant smaller than 0 mm and in the direction of the transverse axis with a distance of from 0 to 0.5 mm. A distant smaller than 0 mm along the longitudinal axis of the brush can be achieved by a shifted placement of the tufts of the polygon and the tufts inside the polygon. Thus if the brush is viewed from the lateral longitudinal side the distance between neighboring tufts appears to be overlapping and less than 0 mm.
According to a further aspect, a toothbrush is provided having a toothbrush head with cleaning elements for cleaning teeth, which are grouped in various care zones in each case, having at least one pre-cleaning zone with longer cleaning elements relative to the cleaning elements in the cleaning zone, wherein the pre-cleaning zone is arranged at the free end of the toothbrush head, and having a polishing zone or massaging zone consisting of elastomer cleaning elements and a toothpaste receiving zone designed in a trough-like shape. In known bristle areas, multiple care zones are not arranged separated from one another; rather, differently effective cleaning elements are mixed with others nearby. Therefore, the care properties of the cleaning elements should be arranged according to their various functions at the head in local groupings.
Further goals, advantages, features, and possible applications of the present invention result from the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments by way of the drawings. The subject matter of the present invention is formed from all of the described or depicted features, individually or in any meaningful combination, and independently of their summary in the claims or their relations of dependence.
It is shown:
Referring to
The constriction 4 proceeds in a concave manner 8 and is thus directed to the inside towards the longitudinal center plane of the toothbrush head. The concave curvature can be formed by the angle β and different radii RXi. The effect of a narrow concave constriction radius provided with elastomer can be that toothpaste foam 20 is received very well. The passage of the foam 20 from a top side 16 of the head 1 to the constriction 4 can further be influenced by the angle α.
For example, where the tops side 16 is angled downward toward the constriction 4, plaque 25 sliding down the cleaning elements 10 during brushing can be moved more easily with foam 20 in the direction of the constriction 4. Accordingly, the foam 20 first migrates partly from the free ends of the cleaning elements 10 to the top side 16 of the head 1 and then to a lateral surface of the head 3. Due to the change of direction during brushing, foam 20 can be effectively retained and then removed along with the plaque 25 contained therein from the constrictions 4 to the preferably convexly curved sections of the same lateral surfaces 3, which may be made of hard plastic.
According to several embodiments shown—see in particular FIGS. 5 to 10—each of the constrictions divides the brush into different tooth care zones. The care zones for various tooth care tasks are arranged at specific local sections of the head, which can reduce the likelihood of a mixing of other cleaning elements for other cleaning purposes within a zone. The tasks of the care zones can be determined by various types of cleaning elements, e.g., different types of filaments, tuft cross-sections, size of bristle tuft crosssections, elastomer elements 17, or the effective length of the cleaning elements.
Each of the zones can be divided into two or more subzones. Each subzone is designed and equipped in such a way that various tasks are possible during the brushing process. As shown in
The cleaning elements 511 of the pre-cleaning zones 500A may be configured such that their heights vary. For example, as shown, the cleaning elements adjacent the distal end 720 may be configured such that the height of the cleaning elements 511 decreases in a direction toward the handle. Additionally, these cleaning elements 511 may be trimmed at an angle such that a peak is formed adjacent the cleaning elements 511 nearest the distal end 520. Similarly, the cleaning elements 511 in the pre-cleaning zone 500A adjacent the proximal end 530 may be configured such that the cleaning elements 511 have varying height. As shown, the cleaning elements 511 may decrease in height from the proximal end 530 toward the distal end 520. Additionally, these cleaning elements 511 may be trimmed at an angle such that a peak is formed adjacent the cleaning elements 511 nearest the proximal end 530.
A cleaning zone 500B may be disposed between the pre-cleaning zones 500A. Additionally, an interdental zone 500D may be generally disposed in a similar area as the cleaning zone 500B. The interdental zone 500D may comprise cleaning elements 513 which are disposed on either side of cleaning elements 512 for the cleaning zone 500B. As shown, the interdental zone 500D may comprise a convex arcuate trim.
As shown, a polishing zone 500C may comprise a plurality of cleaning elements 514 which are disposed between the cleaning elements 511 for the pre-cleaning zone 500A and the cleaning elements 512 for the cleaning zone 500B. The polishing zone 500C may comprise cleaning elements 514 which have a larger cross section than those adjacent thereto.
As shown in
A cleaning zone 600B may be disposed between the pre-cleaning zones 600A. Additionally, an outer zone 600E may be generally disposed in a similar area as the cleaning zone 600B. The outer zone 600E may comprise cleaning elements 615 which are disposed on either side of cleaning elements 612 and 613.
As shown, the cleaning zone 600B may comprise a convex arcuate trim, and similarly, the outer zone 600E may comprise a convex arcuate trim. In some embodiments, the cleaning elements 615 of the outer zone 600E may have a shorter height than the cleaning elements 613 of the cleaning zone 600B.
As shown, a polishing zone 600C may comprise a plurality of cleaning elements 614 which are disposed between the cleaning elements 611 for the pre-cleaning zone 600A and the cleaning elements 613 for the cleaning zone 600B. The polishing zone 600C may comprise cleaning elements 614 which have a larger cross section than those adjacent thereto.
Zone 600D may comprise a plurality of cleaning elements 612 disposed adjacent a periphery of the head. Additionally, a portion of the plurality of cleaning elements 612 may be disposed inboard of the cleaning elements 615 of the outer zone 600E.
As shown in
The pre-cleaning zone 700A may be configured similar to the pre-cleaning zones discussed heretofore, e.g. 500A and 600A. The post-cleaning zone 700C may be configured such that the cleaning elements 711 increase in height toward a proximal end 730 of the brush head 710. However, unlike the pre-cleaning zone 700A, the gradual increase in height may be slightly less than that present for the cleaning elements 712 of the precleaning zone 700A.
As shown in
Additionally, head 810 may comprise a plurality of elastomeric elements 17 which border a cleaning zone 800B on either one or both sides. The elastomeric elements 17 may extend from a common base 817. The base 817, as shown in
As shown in
The pre-cleaning zone 900A may be configured similar to the pre-cleaning zones 500A, 600A, 700A, and/or 800A discussed heretofore. The cleaning zone 900B may be configured similar to the cleaning zone 500B, 600B, 700B, and/or 800B described heretofore. The pre-cleaning zone 900A may comprise a plurality of cleaning elements 911. The cleaning zone 900B may comprise a plurality of cleaning elements 912 which are disposed between the cleaning elements 911 of the pre-cleaning zones 900A.
Cleaning elements 913 of an outer zone 900D may be positioned between a first set of cleaning elements 912 and a second set of cleaning elements 912. The cleaning elements 913 may be oriented in any suitable shape. As shown, the cleaning elements 913 may be arranged such that the cleaning elements 913 form a diamond shape on the head 910. Within the diamond shape of the cleaning elements 913, cleaning elements 914 of a holding zone 900C may be disposed. The cleaning elements 914 may similarly be configured in a diamond shape. As shown, the cleaning elements 913 and the cleaning elements 914 may be configured such that they form an outer diamond and an inner diamond shape. Additionally, the cleaning elements 913 may have a height which is less than the height of the cleaning elements 914.
The head 910 may further comprise a plurality of elastomeric elements 17. A first set of elastomeric elements 17A may extend from a first base 917A. The first base 917A may be integrally formed with the elastomeric material of the tongue cleaner. Similarly, the first set of elastomeric elements 17A may be integrally formed from the first base 917A. The brush head 910 may further comprise a second set of elastomeric elements 17B may extend from a second base 917B. The second set of elastomeric elements 17B may be configured similar to the first set of elastomeric elements 17A, and the second base 917B may be configured similar to the first base 917A.
As shown, the first set of elastomeric elements 17A and/or the second set of elastomeric elements 17B may have a height which is shorter than that of the cleaning elements 913 of the outer zone 900D. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first set of elastomeric elements 17A and/or the second set of elastomeric elements 17B may have an angle of taper. The angle of taper may be greater than about 0.5 degrees, greater than about 1 degrees, greater than about 1.5 degrees, greater than about 2.0 degrees, greater than about 2.5 degrees, greater than about 3.0 degrees, and/or less than about 3.0 degrees, less than about 2.5 degrees, less than about 2.0 degrees, less than about 1.5 degrees, less than about 1.0 degrees, or any number or any range within the values provided. The angle of taper may be beneficial during the manufacturing process. For example, the angle of taper can facilitate the removal of the elastomeric elements from an injection mold.
A third set of elastomeric elements 17C may extend from a third base 917C. The third set of elastomeric elements 17C may be configured similar to the first set of elastomeric elements 917A, and the third base 917C may be configured similar to the first base 917A. A fourth set of elastomeric elements 17D may extend from a fourth base 917D. The fourth set of elastomeric elements 17D may be configured similar to the first set of elastomeric elements 17A, and the fourth base 917D may by configured similar to the first base 917A.
As shown in
An inner zone 1000D may be surrounded, at least in part, by cleaning elements 1012 of the cleaning zone 1000B. As shown, cleaning elements 1014 of the inner zone 1000D may be completely surrounded by cleaning elements 1012 of the cleaning zone 1000B.
The brush head 1010 may be configured such that a plurality of constrictions 1004 is present along a periphery of the head 1010. The constrictions 1004 may be configured as discussed heretofore with regard to the constrictions 4. Additionally, the pre-cleaning zones 1000A may be separated from the cleaning zone 1000B by a plurality of elastomeric elements 17. For example, as shown, a first set of elastomeric elements 1017A may separate the pre-cleaning zone 1000A adjacent the distal end 1020 from the cleaning zone 1000B. Additionally, a second set of elastomeric elements 1017B may separate the cleaning zone 1000B from the pre-cleaning zone 1000A adjacent the proximal end 1030 of the brush head 1010.
The pre-cleaning zones 1000A may be configured as discussed heretofore with regard to the pre-cleaning zones 500A, 600A, 700A, 800A, and 900A. Additionally, either one or both of the pre-cleaning zones 1000A may be configured similar to the postcleaning zones 700C and 800C described heretofore. The cleaning zones 1000B may be configured similar to the cleaning zones 500B, 600B, 700B, 800B, or 900B.
The various care zones described heretofore may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, cleaning elements may be provided which perform multiple functions and as such, a dual care zone may be created. For example, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
As shown, brush head 1710 may comprise a first plurality of cleaning elements 1728 which have a rectangular cross section. The first plurality of cleaning elements 1728 can be attached in elongated openings of the head 1710 and can have various width to depth proportions. In horizontal cross-section, each of the first plurality of cleaning elements 1728 can be approximately rectangular. The first plurality of cleaning elements 1728 can be arranged at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the head. In some embodiments, the first plurality of cleaning elements 1728 can form an angle delta of between 30 to 60 degrees with the longitudinal axis.
As shown in
As shown, the elastomeric element 1226B may be angled with respect to a top surface 1825 of the head 1810. The angle may be any suitable measure of degrees. The inclination may be away from a proximal end 1830. Embodiments are contemplated where a second elastomeric element similar to the elastomeric element 1226B is utilized adjacent the proximal end 1830. In such embodiments, the second elastomeric element may be inclined with respect to the top surface 1825 away from the distal end 1820. As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Each of
According to
As shown in
Additionally, the nonlinear shape of the head 100 having convex lateral bulges is likewise suitable to exert a positive influence on removing foam, since the foam is more exposed due of the convex curvature, and thus the least amount of foam remains at this location.
Having massaging fingers 103 and a tongue scraper 109, the head 100 can offer at least two care zones, e.g. one for the treatment of the tongue and the cheeks and another for the treatment of the gums. As shown in
For example, provided in one region adjacent to the free end 104 and adjacent to the neck 105 are cleaning elements, forming a pre-cleaning zone 2400A. The precleaning zone 2400A may be configured similar to the pre-cleaning zones described herein. These cleaning elements can be somewhat longer and designed to be slightly angled compared with most of the typical bristle tufts. Because these cleaning elements are arranged on each end of the head, these cleaning elements also automatically pre-clean the teeth.
After the pre-cleaning zone 2400A, a number of cleaning elements follows on both sides of the top side 2475 of the head 100, in particular cleaning elements for interdental cleaning 2400E. These cleaning elements may be designed to be longer than immediately adjacent cleaning elements and can be arranged in a row parallel to the trans-verse axis.
In a center region of the head 100, cleaning elements are arranged to form the cleaning zone 2400B and the polishing zone 2400D. These cleaning elements can be particularly dense, offset in relation to one another in the transverse direction, and arranged at the head in such a way that the bristles bend slightly and provide an intensive cleaning and polishing effect. In contrast, the bristles of the interdental and pre-cleaning zones 2400E and 2400A, respectively, are less densely arranged and can therefore bend easier, so that the greater length is not an unpleasant sensation.
The polishing zone 2400D in this embodiment can be formed by a first plurality of cleaning elements, which together form a rhombic configuration or enclose a rhombic base when viewed from above. The center points of the drill holes of the first plurality of cleaning elements may lie on a straight line 112, 113, 114, and 115 in each case (see
The head is injection-molded to have tuft holes to be packed with bristle tufts, into which the bristle tufts are then packed and attached with an anchor wire, in some embodiments. In the region of the free ends, the bristle tufts are subsequently trimmed to the correct length and end-rounded. In order for the different bristle tufts to be trimmed to the desired length, displacers can be used, which pass laterally through the bristle area and which laterally displace or bend certain cleaning elements in such a way that desired tufts can be treated or trimmed while tufts which are displaced are not treated. It may be assumed that the configuration of the head is also advantageous in anchor free tufting (AFT method).
Shown in
The following describes further advantages and variants of the above-mentioned heads.
In one variant, the toothbrush has: a toothbrush head having a first and a second component, at each of which cleaning elements are arranged for cleaning teeth, wherein the second component has a partly spherical or ball-shaped geometry, wherein each of the first and the second component has a flat top side at which the cleaning elements are arranged and both of these top sides are arranged to be inclined toward one another, wherein the second component is movably mounted relative to the first component, wherein of the first and the second component are made of material having different properties, in particular having different hardnesses, wherein the second component forms a raised platform relative to the top side of the first component.
Advantageously, the constrictions or the different adhesive properties alternating on the lateral surfaces remove the foam created during brushing from the bristle area better and thus provide better wetting of the foam in the entire oral cavity instead of retaining the foam in the bristle area. The continuous removal of freshly created foam furthermore makes it possible that additional foam from the applied toothpaste is created without being impeded by the already existing foam. From this it follows that these constrictions make a greater amount of foam available for brushing during the entire brushing process compared with conventional toothbrush heads. As a result, care substances for tooth enamel, gums, etc. contained in the toothpaste can provided better, faster, and longer-lasting to the desired locations than is the case with conventional toothbrush heads.
It has been shown that along constrictions in combination with an elastomer surface at the lateral surface of the toothbrush head, foam and plaque are transported very differently than at a smooth lateral surface lacking constrictions or elastomer coating. This effect is amplified even more if a surface with very different adhesive properties is designed at the same lateral surface. This is the case when providing partly a foamretaining elastomer and partly a hard component that glides through foam.
By applying a soft material to the hard material with an angle of inclination of the transition region towards the constriction, the flow behavior of the foam can be influenced as to whether it can flow slowly or fast from the brush head.
In a further embodiment of the constriction, it extends over the entire bristle plate and thus functions as a stopper for the mixture of foam and dirt, which is produced in the front and back cleaning zones of the cleaning elements of the head. This mixture of foam and dirt is then effectively removed by the geometry of the constrictions. This effect can be amplified further with the aid of special stop and drain elements and the application of well-directed channel geometry.
Because of the above-describe embodiment, a multifunctional brushing process can be achieved that makes it possible to eliminate plaque, optionally polish the tooth, as well as provide the tooth and the gums with active substances in one tooth brushing motion.
An advantageous further design provides that the lateral surface having the constriction is covered partly with the elastomer and partly with the hard component.
An advantageous further design provides that the constriction is at least partly covered with the elastomer.
An advantageous further design provides that the region of the lateral surface, which is arranged adjacent to the constriction, is provided with the hard component—and not with the elastomer.
An advantageous further design provides that the lateral surfaces are arranged along the longitudinal side of the toothbrush head, are convexly curved to the outside, and are provided with the hard component. A further advantage of the constrictions is better removal of dirt particles that were taken up by the foam from the toothbrush bristle area. The convex curve adjacent to the constriction achieves that the dirt-binding foam is continuously removed from the brushing area, and dirt particles thus cannot damage the tooth during the ongoing brushing and polishing process.
According to a further aspect, it is provided that a platform is arranged on the top side of the toothbrush head, that the elastomer cleaning elements are attached to this platform, and that the elastomer cleaning elements and the platform are made of the same elastomer. The cleaning effect of elastomer cleaning elements is linked to the wiping effect along the tooth. The wiping surface of a rod-shaped cleaning element is increased when it is designed to be thinner. However, depending on the contact force, a negative effect may occur during brushing due to elastomer cleaning elements that are too flexible. It is therefore desirable to determine the flexibility of elastomer cleaning elements not only according to their hardness but also according to how much they yield over their total length. In addition, thin, long elastomer cleaning elements are more difficult to produce. It is suggested that the elastomers are manufactured to have a platform or socket in a single injection-molding cycle.
An advantageous further design provides that the platform has a square, rectangular, oval, or circular base and that an axis of symmetry of the platform base is arranged within the longitudinal center plane of the toothbrush.
An advantageous further design provides that the platform extends away vertically from the top side between 10% to 90%, in particular from 10 to 50%, in particular from 10 to 30% of the total longitudinal extension of the platform having elastomer cleaning elements. This leads to a positive wiping behavior of the cleaning elements and good producibility the same time.
An advantageous further design provides that the top side of the platform at which the elastomer cleaning elements are arranged is designed to be flat and parallel to the top side of the toothbrush head, or designed to be spherically arched.
An advantageous further design provides that the elastomer cleaning elements are designed to be pin-shaped, in particular cylindrical, or that they taper conically towards the free ends.
It is advantageously provided that the free ends of the elastomer cleaning elements are arranged adjacent to the bristle cleaning elements, and wherein the bristle cleaning elements project farther from the top side than the free ends of the elastomer cleaning elements, so that both cleaning elements together create a trough-like cross-sectional area for receiving toothpaste. A trough-like recess formed by the cleaning elements thus leads to uniform distribution of toothpaste in the mouth.
A further aspect provides that the toothbrush head is made of a first and a second component, at each of which cleaning elements are arranged, wherein the second component has a partly spherical or ball-shaped geometry. The ball-shaped geometry also causes a changed flow behavior of toothpaste foam or plaque along this geometry with the above-described advantages.
An advantageous further design provides that each first and second component has a flat top side, at which cleaning elements are arranged and that these two top sides are arranged to be inclined toward one another. Such a design of a second component permits simplified manufacture of cleaning elements in special inclined embodiments while maintaining the brushing advantages through inclined cleaning elements.
An advantageous further design provides that the second component is movably mounted relative to the first component.
An advantageous further design provides that the first and the second component are made of material having different properties, in particular having different hardnesses.
An advantageous further design provides that the second component forms a raised platform relative to the top side of the first component.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102009057483.2 | Dec 2009 | DE | national |
| 102010051877.8 | Nov 2010 | DE | national |
