JP4808791B2 - Dental floss holder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dental floss holder that can be easily handled.

  In general, the dental floss holder applies tension to the dental floss. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the conventional floss holder includes a hollow main body 60, a floss support member 70 for attaching the dental floss, and a main body. And a control member 80 provided rotatably at the lower end of 60 (see Patent Document 1 below).

  This dental floss holder rotates the rotating screw shaft inside the main body 60 by rotating the control member 80, and the floss support member 70 provided at the upper end of the rotating screw shaft can be moved in the axial direction (arrow direction). It is a thing. For example, the floss support member 70 is normally retracted into the main body 60, and when used, the floss support member 70 is rotated from the main body 60 by rotating the rotating screw shaft after the dental floss is drawn around the floss support member 70. Protrusions and apply dental floss tension.

  However, since this dental floss holder grips both ends of the dental floss with one gripping part, handling such as adjustment of the dental floss or replacement with a new dental floss is troublesome. In addition, when the control member 80 provided at the lower end of the main body 60 is rotated and the floss support member 70 is moved in the axial direction, a large tension is generated using a long rotating screw shaft. Alternatively, there may be a problem in terms of durability, and the length of the entire dental floss holder at the completion of use becomes long, which is not preferable in terms of storage. Further, when installing some other component (for example, an electric motor or the like), the control member 80 becomes an obstacle and the installation possibility is limited.

See US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0247328

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems associated with the above-described prior art, and can be easily handled, such as adjusting the tension of dental floss or replacing it with a new dental floss, and can reduce the overall length of the dental floss holder. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dental floss holder in which other components can be additionally installed.

  The dental floss holder of the present invention that achieves the above object is provided with a first gripping portion for fixing one end side of the dental floss on the side portion of the floss support member to which the dental floss is attached, and in the vicinity of the first gripping portion. Provided with a second gripping part for fixing the other end of the dental floss, the first gripping part has a nut and an enlarged head for clamping one end of the dental floss, and rotates only in one direction. Then, the tension of the dental floss can be increased, and the dental floss can be released by loosening the nut with respect to the enlarged head.

  In the present invention, when the dental floss is attached to the floss support member, the front end side of the dental floss is clamped to the first gripping portion of the unidirectional rotating member, and the other end side is fixed to the second gripping portion. By rotating the nut in one direction, the dental floss can be easily pulled and tension can be applied, and by rotating the nut in the opposite direction, the dental floss can be released. Therefore, it can be performed without moving the floss support member in the axial direction at the time of tension adjustment of the dental floss, which is advantageous in terms of strength or durability, and further, adjustment of the tension or replacement with a new dental floss, etc. It can be handled easily and the user can easily perform flossing.

  In addition, since a control member for moving the floss support member in the axial direction is not required, the overall length of the dental floss holder can be shortened. Additional elements can be provided and the user convenience is significantly improved. In addition, a massage effect can be provided by providing a vibration part.

1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the first embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of a 1st holding part. It is a partial cross section enlarged side view of a 1st holding part. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the 2nd grasping part. It is sectional drawing of the 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the conventional dental floss holder.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
In FIG. 1, the dental floss holder according to the first embodiment generally has a cylindrical main body 10, and a holding portion in which a floss package 40 (see FIG. 2) is accommodated at the lower end of the main body 10. The floss support member 13 that supports the dental floss 42 is provided at the upper end of the main body 10, and the overall shape is a cylindrical rod that is easy to grip by the user.

  The main body 10 includes a cylindrical housing 11, a tapered portion 12 formed integrally with the housing 11, and a floss support member 13 that supports the dental floss 42. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 11 is a tubular body, in which a housing chamber is formed, in which a floss package 40 provided in a holding unit 30 described later is housed. A triangular notch 111 into which the dental floss 42 is inserted and at least one positioning cut 113 are formed at the lower end of the housing 11. A partition wall 112 protrudes upward at the upper end of the housing 11. A cutter 121 (see FIG. 6) that cuts the dental floss 42 is provided between the partition wall 112 and the tapered portion 12, thereby preventing the cutter 121 from being exposed and preventing the user from being damaged by the cutter 121. . In addition, the dental floss 42 can be moved along the outer surface of the tapered portion 12, and the dental floss 42 can be easily cut.

  The taper portion 12 is located between the housing 11 and the floss support member 13, and a taper chamber 122 (see FIG. 6) is formed therein and communicated with the housing chamber of the housing 11.

  The floss support member 13 includes an intermediate body 131 integrally formed on the tapered portion 12, and a first support bar 132 and a second support bar 133 that are bifurcated and provided at the upper end of the intermediate body 131. The first grip part 20 provided in the intermediate body part 131 and the second grip part 20A provided in the taper part 12 are provided.

  A mounting hole 1311 is formed in the intermediate body 131 and communicates with the tapered chamber 122 in the tapered portion 12 (see FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first support bar 132 has a substantially inverted L shape, and a positioning groove 1321 in which the dental floss 42 is accommodated and a positioning in which the dental floss 42 is locked. A recess 1322 is formed. The positioning groove 1321 is a part formed on the upper surface of the first support bar 132 and arranged so that the dental floss 42 extends. The positioning recess 1322 is formed at the tip of the first support bar 132, and the positioning groove 1321. This is the portion where the dental floss 42 is extended.

  Similarly, the second support rod 133 has an inverted L shape, and has a positioning groove 1331 and a positioning recess 1332. The positioning groove 1331 is formed on the upper surface of the second support bar 133, and the positioning recess 1332 is formed at the tip of the second support bar 133.

  The first gripping portion 20 is provided so as to protrude to the side of the intermediate body 131 in the floss support member 13, that is, in the direction opposite to the support rods 132 and 133. As shown in FIG. 3, the first gripping portion 20 includes a position-fixed mounting member 21, a unidirectional rotating member 22 that rotates only in one direction, a nut 23 that fixes or releases the dental floss 42, and a unidirectional direction. A spring 24 that urges the rotating member 22 toward the mounting member 21 and a fixing bolt 25 that holds the spring 24 are provided.

  The attachment member 21 includes an annular base portion 211 formed integrally with the intermediate body portion 131 of the floss support member 13, a plurality of first claw teeth 212 formed at the distal end side end portion of the base portion 211, and the base portion 211. A cylindrical stud 213 provided to project outward from the center and having an inner screw 2131 formed at the inner end.

  The one-way rotating member 22 is generally a cylindrical body that is rotatably provided on the stud 213 of the base portion 211, and includes a screw portion 221 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion, and the mounting member 21 side of the screw portion 221. A relatively large-diameter enlarged head 222 having a second claw tooth 2221 that engages with the first claw tooth 212 on the end surface, and a through-hole 223 formed through the inside. ing.

  The nut 23 screwed into the screw portion 221 is screwed and pressed against the enlarged head 222 so that the dental floss 42 is sandwiched between the enlarged head 222. Note that the outer peripheral surface of the nut 23 is knurled so that the user can easily rotate the nut 23.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the enlarged head 222 has a size corresponding to the plurality of first claw teeth 212 of the base 211, and second claw teeth 2221 are formed on the end surface. The enlarged head 222 is urged by the spring 24 toward the base 211, and the second claw tooth 2221 and the first claw tooth 212 maintain a meshing state against rotation in the reverse direction (counterclockwise direction) With respect to rotation in the positive direction (clockwise direction), the second claw teeth 2221 can overcome the first claw teeth 212 against the biasing force of the spring 24.

  That is, when the fixing bolt 25 extends through the spring 24 and is screwed into the internal screw 2131 of the stud 213, the head engages with the spring 24, and the spring 24 is properly applied to the one-way rotating member 22. The spring 24 is provided around the front end of the stud 213 that protrudes from the base 211 and passes through the through hole 223, and has one end abutting against the end surface of the screw portion 221 of the unidirectional rotating member 22. The other end is pressed by the nut 23, and the second claw tooth 2221 is pressed against the first claw tooth 212 with a predetermined pressure to enable rotation in only one direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the second gripping portion 20 </ b> A is provided in the tapered portion 12 at a position that is shifted by approximately 90 degrees with respect to the first gripping portion 20 attached to the floss support member 13.

  The second gripping portion 20A is a miniaturized version of the first gripping portion 20, and has a fixing bolt 123 implanted in the intermediate body portion 131, and a fixing nut 14 screwed into the fixing bolt 123. A dental floss 42 is installed or wound between the fixing nut 14 and a base portion 12a provided on the tapered portion 12, and the fixing nut 14 is screwed to clamp the dental floss 42 between the fixing nut 14 and the base portion 12a. It is configured as follows.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding portion 30 is a tubular body having a trunk portion 32 a and an insertion portion 32 b, and a step portion 32 c is formed between the trunk portion 32 a and the insertion portion 32 b. When inserted into the step, the stepped portion 32c comes into contact with the end surface of the main body 10 so that the insertion portion 32b and the holding portion 30 are flush with each other.

  A cut 31 is formed in the insertion portion 32b. When the insertion part 32b is inserted into the main body 10, the notch 31 and the notch 111 of the housing 11 are aligned, and the dental floss 42 of the floss package 40 provided in the holding part 30 is connected to the notch 31 and the main body of the insertion part 32b. It is pulled out through 10 notches 111. In order to ensure such alignment, the insertion portion 32 b is provided with at least one fixing rib 33, and the fixing rib 33 is fitted into the positioning notch 113 of the main body 10. Further, the fitting between the fixing rib 33 and the positioning notch 113 also functions as a rotation stopper for the holding portion 30 with respect to the housing 11. A closed wall 34 and a through hole 35 formed in the closed wall 34 are provided at the lower end of the body portion 32a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the floss package 40 is provided in the housing chamber of the housing 11 and is held by the holding portion 30, and is wound around the floss spool 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the floss spool 41 many times. And a dental floss 42. The end of the dental floss 42 is drawn out through the notch 31 of the holding part 30 and the notch 111 of the housing 11.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the dental floss holder 42 is used, the distal end portion of the dental floss 42 protruding outside through the notch 31 of the holding portion 30 and the notch 111 of the housing 11 is pulled out outward. As shown, the second gripping portion 20A is inserted between the fixing nut 14 and the base portion 12a. Then, the tip of the dental floss 42 is further pulled and extended so as to pass in the order of the positioning groove 1321 of the first support rod 132 → the positioning recess 1332 → the positioning recess 1322 of the second support rod 133 → the positioning groove 1331. The front end of 42 is installed or wound between the nut 23 and the enlarged head 222. Then, the nut 23 is screwed in until it completely contacts the enlarged head 222 on the one-way rotating member 22, and the end of the dental floss 42 is firmly clamped between the nut 23 and the enlarged head 222, and the second The fixing nut 14 of the grip 20A is also screwed . Thereby, the dental floss 42 is in a state where one end side is fixed to the second gripping portion 20 </ b> A and the other end side is fixed between the unidirectional rotating member 22 and the nut 23.

  In this state, when the nut 23 screwed with the one-way rotating member 22 is rotated forward, one end of the dental floss 42 is pulled and the dental floss 42 between the first support bar 132 and the second support bar 133 is pulled. The user can easily insert the dental floss 42 between the teeth. At this time, the unidirectional rotating member 22 cannot rotate, the tension of the dental floss 42 is maintained, and the interdental portion can be continuously cleaned. In order to replace the dental floss 42 that has become dirty due to use, first, the fixing nut 14 of the second grip 20A is loosened to release one end of the dental floss 42. Next, when the one-way rotating member 22 is rotated forward with the nut 23, the dirty dental floss 42 between the first support bar 132 and the second support bar 133 moves forward and is replaced with a new dental floss 42. . Thereafter, one end of the dental floss 42 is fixed again with the fixing nut 14. When the nut 23 is rotated in the forward direction, the dental floss 42 is re-tensioned and the interproximal portion can be continuously cleaned. When the cleaning is completed, the nut 23 and the fixing nut 14 are loosened to completely release the contaminated dental floss 42, and the cutter 121 breaks and removes it.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the first gripping portion 20 is provided on the side portion of the floss support member 13, and the control member provided at the lower end of the conventional dental floss holder is not required, so that the total length of the dental floss holder can be shortened. it can.

  Therefore, in 2nd Embodiment, the vibration part 50 is provided as an additional element in the lower part of the dental floss holder which concerns on 1st Embodiment using this.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the second embodiment, and members that are the same as those shown in FIGS. In FIG. 7, the vibration unit 50 is provided below the holding unit 30 and includes a case 51, a motor 52, a pulsation shaft 53, an eccentric block 54, a battery 55, and a cap 56.

  The case 51 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and the upper end is connected to the lower end of the holding unit 30. The motor 52 is provided in the case 51, and the motor shaft 521 protrudes toward the holding unit 30. The upper end of the motor shaft 521 is connected to the lower end of the vibration shaft 53, and the vibration shaft 53 extends through the accommodation chamber in the housing 11 and the taper chamber 122 in the taper portion 12. 1311 is inserted. An eccentric block 54 is attached in the vicinity of the upper end of the vibration shaft 53 and is disposed so as to be rotatable in the taper chamber 122.

  The battery 55 is electrically connected to the motor 52 to provide a driving force, and the cap 56 functions as a switch so that this connection can be selectively performed. That is, the cap 56 is provided in the case 51 to hold the battery 55. However, when the cap 56 is rotated in a direction to tighten the case 56, the battery 55 and the motor 52 are electrically connected to each other in a loosening direction. When rotated, the battery 55 is disconnected from the motor 52.

  Since the second embodiment is configured as described above, when the motor 52 rotates the pulsation shaft 53 via the motor shaft 521, the pulsation shaft 53 pulsates due to the eccentric rotation of the eccentric block 54, and the floss support member 13 The dental floss 42 can be pulsated, the dental floss 42 can be quickly put into the gap between the teeth, and the tartar in the gap can be quickly cleaned.

  As described above, when the dental floss holder according to the present invention clamps the other end of the dental floss 42 with one end fixed to the one-way rotating member 22 and rotates the nut 23 of the first holding part 20 in one direction, Tension can be easily applied to the floss 42. Further, the dental floss 42 can be easily released by rotating the nut 23 in the reverse direction. Therefore, the user can easily adjust the tension of the dental floss 42 and floss the teeth. In addition, since the control member 80 described above is not required, the length of the dental floss holder can be shortened. This also means that an additional element such as the vibrating part 50 can be provided in the dental floss holder. In addition, if the vibration part 50 is provided, the space | interval of the dental floss 42 will become quick and can also provide a massage effect.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the technical idea of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a dental floss holder that can be easily handled, such as adjusting the tension of dental floss or changing a used dental floss forward to a new one.

10 ... body,
11 ... Housing,
111 ... Notches,
112 ... partition wall,
122 ... taper chamber,
113 ... positioning cut,
12 ... taper part,
12a ... the base,
121 ... Cutter,
123 ... fixing bolt,
1321, 1331 ... positioning grooves,
1322, 1332 ... positioning recesses,
13 ... Floss support member,
131: Intermediate torso,
1311 ... mounting hole,
132 ... first support rod,
133 ... the second support rod,
14 ... fixing nut,
20 ... 1st holding part,
20A ... second gripping part,
21 ... Mounting member,
211 ... the base,
212 ... first nail teeth,
213 ... Stud,
22: One-way rotating member,
221: Screw part,
222 ... enlarged head,
2221 ... second claw tooth,
23 ... Nut,
30 ... holding part,
31 ... Incision,
32a ... trunk,
32b ... insertion part,
32c ... a step,
33 ... fixed ribs,
40 ... Floss package,
42. Dental floss,
50 ... vibration part,
51 ... Case,
52 ... Motor,
521 ... motor shaft,
53 ... vibration axis,
54. Eccentric block,
55 ... Battery,
56 ... Cap.

Claims (5)

A main body having a cylindrical housing, a floss support member having a positioning groove and a positioning recess that are connected to one end of the housing and support the dental floss, respectively.
A tubular body provided continuously with the other end portion of the housing and having a trunk portion and an insertion portion, and a holding portion in which a floss package is accommodated;
A dental floss holder having
The floss support member is branched into a bifurcated shape provided at one end of the housing, an intermediate body portion integrally formed on the taper portion, and an upper end of the intermediate body portion. A first support rod and a second support rod; a first gripping portion for fixing one end side of dental floss provided to protrude in a direction opposite to the support rods of the intermediate body portion; A second gripping part provided in the vicinity of one gripping part for fixing the other end side of the dental floss, and the first gripping part has
A mounting member including a first claw tooth formed on an end surface of a base portion provided in the intermediate body portion and a stud protruding from a central portion;
An enlarged head having a second claw tooth meshing with the first claw tooth at one end and being rotatable only in one direction, and a screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the other end of the enlarged head A one-way rotating member that rotates around the stud when the first claw teeth and the second claw teeth mesh with each other;
A nut that is screwed into a threaded portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the one-way rotating member,
By screwing the nut into the threaded portion, the distal end side of the dental floss is sandwiched between the nut and the enlarged head, and the dental is rotated by rotating the nut in a loosening direction with respect to the threaded portion. Dental floss holder characterized by releasing floss. The second gripping portion is provided at a position shifted by 90 degrees with respect to the first gripping portion attached to the floss support member,
A fixing bolt provided on a base portion formed in the tapered portion, and a nut screwed to the fixing bolt;
The dental floss is provided between the nut and the base, and the dental floss is sandwiched between the nut and the base by screwing the nut. Dental floss holder. The holding part is
An insertion portion to be inserted into the housing, and a body portion provided in the insertion portion via a stepped portion,
By inserting the insertion portion into the housing, a housing portion for accommodating the floss package is formed therein, and a fixing rib formed in the step portion is fitted into at least one positioning cut formed in the housing. The dental floss according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notch formed in the insertion portion and the notch formed in the housing are aligned so that the dental floss can be drawn out from the internal floss package. holder.   The housing has a tapered portion between the floss support member, projects a partition wall so as to face the outer surface of the tapered portion, and cuts the dental floss between the partition wall and the tapered portion. The dental floss holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a cutter is provided. The holding part is provided with a vibrating part at the bottom,
The vibrating part has a hollow cylindrical case whose upper end is connected to the lower end of the holding part,
A motor provided in the case;
A vibration shaft connected to the upper end of the motor shaft protruding from the motor, extending through the accommodation chamber in the housing and the taper chamber in the taper portion, and fitted in the mounting hole of the intermediate body portion,
An eccentric block attached near the upper end of the vibration shaft;
A battery provided in the case and providing a driving force to the motor;
A cap provided on the case for holding the battery;
Have
The dental floss holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dental floss holder is configured to function as a switch that disconnects the battery from the motor when the cap is rotated in a tightening direction to the case and is connected to the battery and is rotated in a loosening direction.

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