BATTERIEBETRIEBENE ZAHNBÜRSTE

A tubular body(2) contains a power unit(9) which is inserted into an internal chamber(44) via an entry(29) at the rear. A locking mechanism(38) for holding the power unit in the correct position engages in openings(35) in the body. The openings are filled with thermoplastic elastomer and the spring force of the locking mechanism is sufficient to drive some of the thermoplastic elastomer outwards from the openings during engagement. On the outside of the openings(35) there is a channel and both channel and openings are filled by the purged thermoplastic elastomer. The outer surface of the elastomer and the outer surface(49) of the brush body form the outer surface(50) of the toothbrush. The locking mechanism(38) comprises hooks running towards the open end of the housing. A transverse face at the free end of each hook acts as a stop face against a wall of the opening. The wall of the opening and end face of the hook are perpendicular to the power unit insertion direction(x). An independent claim is included for a process for manufacturing the toothbrush in which: a) a tubular body(2) with openings is molded in an injection tool; b) the opening and an adjoining external channel are filled with a thermoplastic elastomer; c) the power unit(9) is inserted into the internal chamber(44) from the open end until the locking hooks engage with the inside of each opening and some elastomer is pushed radially out of the opening.