JPH0633853Y2 - Interdental toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

An interdental toothbrush has a handle made from a mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer and a general purpose polypropylene. A twisted wire brush projects from the handle in axial alignment therewith. The toothbrush can be held within a loosely clasped fist, with one end of the brush held between a thumb and an index finger. By manipulating the thumb and index finger, the angle at which the brush projects may be changed at will. In this way, the insertion of the brush in more difficult to reach spaces in or around teeth is more easily performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a toothbrush, and more particularly to an interdental toothbrush.

(Prior Art) An interdental toothbrush is a toothbrush that is inserted into a gap between and around teeth. This type of toothbrush is commonly used by those who need special brushing. For example, some bridges are suspensions that are hung between adjacent teeth, with a chewing surface,
There is nothing below the biting surface and above the gums. Therefore, there arises the problem of how to cleanly clean the teeth adjacent to the underside of the bridge. Of course, there are other places where similar tooth brushing must be performed.
Toothbrushes that polish such areas are, for example, U.S. Pat.
559,226, 4,222,143 and 4,387,479 and other specifications.

While traveling, i.e. away from home, it is inconvenient to use a toothbrush of the type shown in the above-mentioned U.S. patent specification with a long handle. In such cases, use a small portable toothbrush that easily fits in your pocket or purse. This portable small toothbrush is composed of two parts: a brush integrated with a handle and a cover that covers the brush. The length of the brush and handle is typically about 5 cm (2 inches), with the brush on the stem of the strand protruding from the end of the handle. One such toothbrush is Dent, located in Brisbane, California, USA.
icator Company, Inc.) under the trademark "SPIREX V".

Since the handle and brush of a conventional interdental toothbrush is a rigid unit as a whole, having that unit is similar to having a pencil of that length, either under the bridge or in the gap between adjacent teeth. When inserting from the mouth, the entire unit must be inserted deep into the mouth. For this reason, you have to bulge your cheeks and use both hands.

If you find a gap between your teeth, unless you're looking for another one to look for, you'll have to brush without losing sight of the gap. In addition, if the brush comes out too violently and the brush comes out from the gap during brushing, the gum may be pierced or the wire handle brush may be bent. Therefore, conventionally, it is difficult to clean the space between teeth, and it is more difficult to brush the space between the teeth or the back side of the teeth where it is difficult to brush while looking.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a novel interdental toothbrush, and a small toothbrush that can be carried in a pocket or a purse.

Another problem is to provide a toothbrush that can be used as the feel of the forefinger of the person who brushes his teeth.

Still another problem is to provide an interdental toothbrush that can be guided to a brushing position by a slight change in the posture of the tip of a finger.

Yet another object is to provide an interdental toothbrush that can be easily used in the back of the mouth and in hard-to-reach places in the mouth.

Yet another problem is to provide an interdental toothbrush that can be bent at an appropriate angle during use and is straight when not in use.

Yet another object is to provide a toothbrush that can clean the interdental space with very small movements of the fingertips, reducing the likelihood of piercing the gums when the brush moves away from the teeth.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention is composed of a handle and a brushing means as in the prior art. However, after the length of the handle is made very short, the portion where the brushing means is formed is formed. It is characterized by having flexibility so that the bending condition can be operated with the index finger.

More specifically, it is composed of an integrated first portion and second portion, and the first portion is composed of a neck portion and a connecting portion connecting the neck portion and a second portion thicker than the neck portion. An interdental brush comprising a plastic handle and brushing means formed of a brush and a strand stem extending from the brush in the axial direction of the handle, wherein the strand stem includes the neck portion and the connecting portion. The first part is integrally molded so that it does not reach the second part of the handle through and does not come off, and only slightly out of the neck, and the first part is easily bent and removed by the force of the finger. It has elasticity to restore the state, and the length of the handle is such that the first part is pinched with the forefinger and the tip of the thumb and the second part is along the forefinger so that the rear end of the handle does not reach the palm. What to do Therefore, it is characterized in that it has to be able to bend the first portion at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the second portion by applying a pressure of a finger.

(Operation) As described above, the present invention provides the handle with the flexible first.
Part and a thick second part, and the first part is composed of a thin neck part and a truncated cone concatenated with this neck part, so that the first part can be freely sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger. It can be bent in any direction and the brush can be made to follow it. In other words, the direction of the brush can be changed in the same way as if the index finger itself were moved. Moreover, the length of the handle is so short that it does not reach the palm of the hand, so not only can a brush be inserted between the teeth from the front side of the teeth to be brushed, but also the interdental toothbrush can be placed in the oral cavity and You can easily brush it by inserting a brush between them.

(Example) Hereinafter, the interdental toothbrush of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The brush of FIG. 1 has a handle 20 and a cap 22. The cap 22 is a cylindrical member, one end of which is closed. The other end 24 of the cap is opened and is interference fit over the brush handle 20 (FIG. 7). If desired, to facilitate brush drying after use,
The cap can be provided with one or more holes 21. The provision of an annular stop 25 or the like to reduce the inner diameter of the cap limits the length that the cap 22 fits into the end of the handle 20 and thus protects the brush 26 from being bent by pushing the cap.

Friction-increasing ridges 29 (FIG. 12) are provided longitudinally on the inner surface of the cap. The reason for providing such a ridge is that the cap cannot be molded into a perfect circle with a tolerance that is small enough to always fit snugly into the handle. The holding force of this bump 29 is
It is especially important when the cap still needs to be covered after use and the cap may slip off the handle.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the inner diameter of the cap is equal from step 24 to end 23 in order to smooth the inner surface of the cap. It is desirable to provide sawtooth-like longitudinal ridges on the outside of the handle 20 and the outside of the cap 22 so that the handle 20 and the cap 22 can be handled with wet hands. These ridges increase the friction between the cap 22 and the wall of the cavity that forms it.

With a smooth inner surface, when the male mold is opened during cap manufacturing, the smoothness of the inner surface causes the cap to separate from the male mold,
It remains captured by the female mold. It requires a knockout pin to leave a small scratch on the cap surface to retrieve it. To avoid this, a plurality of circumferential grooves are provided in the male mold which form some ridges 25a on the inner surface of the cap. When pulling out the male mold, those ridges enter the groove,
A holding force greater than the frictional force between the cap 22 and the male member is provided. Since the depth of this groove is shallow (or the height of the protrusion 25a is low), the cap 22 can be knocked out from the male mold thereafter. It is desirable to provide a smooth surface flange 24a on the bottom of the cap so that it can be knocked out without damaging it. This flange is
It also exhibits controlled resistance to outward spreading of the open end (ie, its flange also acts like a rubber band to hold cap 22 in place, though slightly).

A brush 26 mounted on the stem of the strand of any suitable configuration projects longitudinally from the handle 20. handle
The other end 27 of 20 is a solid material. The cap 22 is the handle 20
Once fitted, the brush 26 remains clean and hygienic. Also, if you insert the cap from the opposite side of the handle, it will become longer as a whole. The ridges 29 provided on the inside surface of the cap provide more secure attachment to the opposite side of the handle 20 and are much easier and more secure to grip with the palm of the hand at the portion 34 between the thumb and forefinger. Step 25 is a handle
Limit the length of the end of 20 into the cap 22.

The large cross-section (second part) of the handle 20 has a diameter of about 0.64 cm (about 1/4 inch) and a length A of about 2.
It is a solid member that is 54 cm (about 1 inch). In addition, the diameter of the first portion gradually decreases from 28 at the shoulder 33 to a length of about 1/4 inch to the neck 31. That is, the shoulder portion constitutes a connecting portion that connects the neck portion and the second portion. Its neck 31 is also about 0.64 cm (1/4 inch) long and has a diameter of about 0.34 cm (about 1/8 inch). Strand stem 32 has a tip
About 0.16 cm (1/16 inch) between 31 end and brush 26
Is exposed for the length of.

The stem 32 of the brush 26 extends through the tip and is embedded in the molded handle. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the stranded stem extends a sufficient distance over the region of handle 20 shown in cross section. Stem 32
When the handle is molded, it is embedded in the plastic of the handle and molded at the same time. It is desirable to bend or crimp the ends of the strands, as shown at 36 in FIG. 9 to prevent the brush from slipping out of the handle.

A longitudinal ridge 38 is provided on the handle 20 and cap 22. These ridges enhance the aesthetic appearance of the product and make the handle and cap more comfortable to the user. In addition, these ridges help remove the cap from the handle, especially after using the brush.

To achieve the desired flexural properties, the handle 20 is preferably made of a blend of thermoplastic elastomer, polymeric material and a conventional homopolymer grade polypropylene. More specifically, in the embodiment manufactured and found to be satisfactory, the handle has about 80% "C-Flex" and 20% "polypropylene #".
Manufactured in 5820 ".

The “C-Flex” material is a concept polymer tech company (Concept Polymer Te), located in 19 Southwater, Clearwater, Florida, USA.
cnologies, Inc.). The company's technical data sheet indicates that "C-Flex" is a substance with the following properties.

Polypropylene _# 5820 (12 melts) is a shell chemical company (Shel) located at 1415 West 22nd Street, Oak Brool, 60521, Illinois, USA.
l Chemical Company). According to the company, the properties of the substance are:

Shall also reports that the product is a high flow general purpose material suitable for injection molding of complex parts containing long flow paths. The antistatic material reduces static buildup during manufacture and subsequent storage, thus reducing dust buildup. Manufacturers desire to have good flex life, good chemical and solvent resistance, high strength / weight ratio, and very high stress cracking resistance.

The two substances meet exactly the federal standards for physiological-medical applications and direct contact with food.

To control the amount of bending that can occur in the first portion 33,31, the diameter of the stranded stem 32 can be slightly larger or smaller, and the diameter and length of the first portion 33,31 can be reduced. Can be changed. Those making the brushes of the present invention will determine the best diameter and length based on their particular needs. In general, the diameter of the stranded stem of conventional interdental toothbrushes can be increased by 10-50%.

The length of the handle 20 is so short that the handle extends along the index finger when the neck 31 of the handle is sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger, and the other end does not reach the palm. Further, the length of the cap 22 is set such that when the other end of the handle is covered with the cap, the end of the cap is caught by the portion 34 between the thumb and the index finger on or near the palm of the hand.

By pressing the index finger against the neck 31 while holding the handle 20 with the thumb, the brush can be bent in line with the tip of the finger. If you want to bend the brush in other directions, you can roll the brush between your thumb and forefinger, or apply a small amount of pressure to the brush with the tip of your forefinger to straighten it or bend it to another position. . In this way, the interdental toothbrush can change the bending angle of the brush at the user's will.

It is easy to point a finger at an object due to the touch feeling of the finger. This facilitates the use of the brush of the present invention. In contrast, it is difficult to orient a brush with a relatively long handle. This is because the brush can be held at any angle and the user often does not know where the tip of the brush is. Furthermore, the conventional interdental toothbrush has a long handle,
Further, since the tip end portion of the handle for pointing the brush does not have the bending property, it is impossible to perform the endodontic brushing from the inside of the oral cavity to the outside. While the tip is finger held and bent as shown in FIG. 8, use of the brush is more like pointing with a finger. This is because the natural bending method aligns the brush with the fingers. This is an advantage of the present invention over conventional interdental toothbrushes.

The present invention, when the brush is further held as shown in FIG. 8, as compared with the case where the brush is inserted straight into the gap between the mouths as shown in FIG. It's much easier to put a brush in the gap between the back of your mouth. This is because the inherent curvature at this position is most appropriate for reaching the brush deep in the mouth. The advantage of the interdental toothbrush of the present invention is that the strand stem embedded in plastic and covered by the neck is more resistant to breakage due to repeated or excessive bends than if the strands were exposed. large.

[Advantage of Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the length of the handle is extremely short, and the first portion with the protruding brushing means has a flexible structure. It can be operated with the index finger, and the direction of the brushing means can be arbitrarily changed with the index finger. Therefore, the interdental brush of the present invention can be operated as if the index finger itself is moved, and thus is very easy to use.

Further, since the toothbrush of the present invention is short as a whole, it can be easily used by inserting it into the space between the teeth from the oral side, and any space between teeth can be easily brushed.

Further, in the present invention, since the stem provided with the brush is surrounded by the flexible first portion, the stem does not easily break even if the bending operation of the stem is repeated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brush and a cap of one embodiment of the present invention when viewed by a user, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partial cross section of the brush and the cap of the above embodiment, and FIGS. FIG. 6 is an end view taken along lines 3-3 to 6-6 in FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state where the cap is fitted to the brush, and FIG. 8 is a brush with the force of a finger. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in use showing how the cap is bent, FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment with the upper part partially cut away to show the internal groove in the cap when the cap is being inserted, and FIG. 11 is a view showing the state where the cap is fitted to the lower part of the brush handle. FIG. 12 is a side view of the illustrated embodiment, FIG. 12 showing the enlarged portion of the internal longitudinal ridges of FIG. It is a cross-sectional view of the flop. 20 …… Handle, 22 …… Cap, 26 …… Brush, 31 …… Tip, 32 …… Twisted stem, 33 …… Shoulder.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Thomas P. Kelly, USA 60067 Illinois, Palatine Oak Wood Court, 370, (56) References, published 58-93235 (JP, U), published 52- 43964 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 59-31938 (JP, U) Actual public 54-5165 (JP, Y1)

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A first part and a second part which are integrated with each other, the first part connecting the neck part (31) and a second part thicker than the neck part and the neck part ( An interdental brush comprising: a plastic handle consisting of (33), a brush (26), and a brushing means formed by a strand stem extending from the brush in the axial direction of the handle. The stem is integrally molded so as not to reach the second portion of the handle through the neck portion (31) and the connecting portion (33) and to be detached from the neck portion, and the first portion is formed by the finger portion. The handle is elastic so that it can be easily bent and restored to its original state when the force is removed. The length of the handle is such that the first part is pinched with the index finger and the tip of the thumb, and the second part is the index finger. The rear end of the handle To a length that does not reach interdental toothbrush, characterized in that the axial direction of the second portion by applying pressure of the finger can be bent a first portion at a predetermined angle. 2. The total length of the first portion is about 1.27 cm.
(About 1/2 inch) and the diameter of the neck is about 0.32
cm (about 1/8 inch) and the length is about 0.64 cm (about 1/4)
Inch), and the connecting portion is tapered from the diameter of the neck portion to the diameter of the second portion, about 0.64 cm (a quarter inch), and the tooth according to claim 1 of the utility model. Inter toothbrush. 3. The interdental toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the strand of the brushing means is selected to be a thickness that allows bending operation. 4. The utility model registration as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handle is made of a plastic material of about 80% thermoplastic elastomer polymer and about 20% general polypropylene. Interdental toothbrush.