KR20040024687A - Improvement toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Provided is an improved toothbrush which has a structure capable of flexibly bending a toothbrush head upon brushing one's teeth not to damage the teeth or the gum and to remove plague more easily. CONSTITUTION: The toothbrush(100) comprises: a grip member(10) of a predetermined length made of plastic to be easily held by a user; and a toothbrush head(50) which is provided with a soft elastic member(30) with a predetermined thickness and width and integrally connected to the grip member(10) and a frame member(20) having multiple frame joints for flexibly bending the soft elastic member(30) according to a tooth brushing angle, being interposed in the soft elastic member(30) and having multiple toothbrush hairs(40) planted on the top surface.

Description

Improved Toothbrush {Improvement toothbrush}

The present invention relates to an improved toothbrush, and in particular, a toothbrush head made of a soft elastic rubber material has a structure in which the toothbrush head itself can be flexibly bent when brushing by embedding a skeleton having a plurality of skeletal nodes. It relates to an improved toothbrush.

In general, in order to maintain healthy teeth, plaque removal and gum disease prevention by brushing teeth is important. For effective plaque removal, it is important to brush your teeth evenly to reach the teeth deep inside your mouth. In addition, in order to prevent gum disease, it is important to provide proper gum massage or reduce excessive force applied to teeth or gums when brushing teeth to prevent gum damage.

However, since the conventional toothbrush is made of a hard plastic material having a predetermined width and does not elastically flow in accordance with the shape of the tooth, the brush head does not reach the teeth located deep in the mouth, so that the effective toothbrushing mentioned above Not only that, there was a problem of applying excessive force to the teeth or gums to remove the plaque when brushing. In order to overcome this, in recent years, toothbrushes protruding the front of the bristles were developed so that the bristles reach deep into the mouth, these toothbrushes have a problem that the protruding bristles easily open.

In recent years, toothbrushes that give flexibility to toothbrush heads have also been developed. However, these toothbrushes also have sufficient effect to prevent gum damage by properly acting on the tooth shape as described above to effectively remove the plaque or dispersing excessive force applied to the teeth and gums when brushing teeth. Since it does not have flexibility, there is an unreasonable problem in terms of maintaining healthy teeth by brushing teeth.

The present invention has been conceived to improve the above problems, do not damage the teeth or gums by properly dispersing the pressure applied to the teeth when brushing teeth, the toothbrush head is moved in the most suitable form according to the shape of the teeth brushing In order to further facilitate the removal of the plaque, which is the biggest function, the toothbrush head made of soft elastic rubber material has a structure in which the toothbrush head itself can be flexed flexibly when brushing by embedding a skeleton having a plurality of skeletal nodes. The object is to provide an improved toothbrush.

1 is a perspective view showing an improved toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional configuration of FIG.

3A to 3C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing an improved toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10 ... handle member 20 ... skeletal member

21 ... lower skeletal body 22 ... upper skeletal body

30 ... soft elastic member 40 ... brush head

50 ... Toothbrush Head

The present invention for achieving the above object, the handle member of a predetermined length made of a plastic material to facilitate the user gripping; And a flexible elastic member integrally connected to the handle member having a predetermined thickness and width, and having a plurality of skeletal nodes so that the flexible elastic member can be flexibly flexed according to the tooth angle. The bristle of the toothbrush is provided with a toothbrush head having a skeletal member.

In the improved toothbrush according to the present invention, the soft elastic member is preferably made of any one selected from the group consisting of EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber, SEBS (Styrene Ethylene Butadiene Styrene) rubber and silicone (Silicone) rubber.

In the improved toothbrush according to the present invention, the skeletal member may include: a lower skeletal body having a plurality of “c” shaped spaces spaced at regular intervals in an upwardly open form; And continuously disposed between adjacent lower skeletons so as to take the same shape as the lower skeleton and connect each lower skeleton complementarily while facing the lower skeleton in a downwardly open form. The bristles are provided with the upper skeleton body implanted.

In the improved toothbrush according to the present invention, the lower and upper skeletons each have one or two selected points of 3 to 10 locations.

In the improved toothbrush according to the present invention, the lower skeleton and the upper skeleton are preferably made of an aspect ratio of 20: 1 to 1: 1 or 1:20 to 1: 1.

Therefore, the present invention has a structure in which the toothbrush head itself is flexibly flexed according to the user's tooth angle by the soft elastic member and the skeletal member, so that the elasticity of the handle member and the toothbrush head is increased and the force applied to the teeth or the gums at the same time. It does not damage the teeth or gums, and the durability of the bristles is increased so that the bristles are not easily opened due to excessive force, and the toothbrush head flows in the most suitable shape according to the shape of the teeth. Not only is the overall satisfaction with usability, such as bristles reaching and brushing of teeth, but also the prag index being significantly reduced.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings an improved toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

1 is a perspective view showing an improved toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

1 and 2, the improved toothbrush 100 according to the present invention can not have enough flexibility in the characteristics of the toothbrush material as conventional, the brush bristles properly reach the corner of the mouth when brushing teeth to effectively remove the prag In order to improve the disadvantages of the toothbrush, the damage to the gums by applying excessive force to the teeth or gums, and the durability of the toothbrush that easily opens the bristles when brushing teeth. By embedding a skeleton having a plurality of skeletal nodes in the soft elastic rubber material has a structure that the toothbrush head itself can be flexibly bent according to the tooth angle.

To this end, the toothbrush 100, the handle member 10 of a predetermined length made of a plastic material to facilitate gripping, the soft elastic member 30 connected integrally with the handle member 10 and the handle member (according to the tooth angle) 10) a skeletal member having a plurality of skeletal nodes and embedded in the flexible elastic member 30 and having a plurality of bristles 40 on the upper surface thereof so that the flexible elastic member 30 can be flexibly flexed in response to the force applied thereto. And a toothbrush head 50 with 20.

The handle member 10 is made of a general plastic material such as PP (polypropylene), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate), AS (acrylonitrile styrene), CP (cellulose propionate) or ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). It is made of any one selected from the group, and the anti-slip projection (not shown) may be formed to facilitate the user to grip.

The toothbrush head 50 is a skeleton member 20 is a plurality of skeletal bodies (21, 22) are complementary connected to the toothbrush head 40 is implanted to form a plurality of skeletal nodes, and the skeleton member 20 ) Has a structure in which the soft elastic member 30 is molded.

More specifically, the skeletal member 20 is made of a conventional plastic, for example, PP, ABS, PETG material, a plurality of "c" shaped lower skeletal body 21 is arranged spaced apart at regular intervals in an upwardly open form And a plurality of upper skeletal bodies 22 having the same shape as the lower skeletal body 21 and being staggered while facing the lower skeletal body 21 in a downwardly open form and having a plurality of bristles 40 planted on the upper surface thereof. It is provided. That is, the upper skeleton 22 is continuously disposed between the adjacent lower skeletons 21 so as to complementarily connect the respective lower skeletons 21.

The bristles 40 are planted on the upper surface of the upper skeleton 22, and the bristles 40 are not filled between the adjacent upper skeletons 22 by filling the soft elastic member 30 to be described later. Part provides the necessary clearance when the toothbrush head 50 is bent.

The soft elastic member 30 is to impart a predetermined elasticity to the skeletal member 20 so that the skeletal member 20 can be flexibly bent when brushing teeth, and is generally EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer). The elastic material, such as a rubber material or SEBS (Styrene Ethylene Butadiene Styrene) rubber material or silicone (Silicone) rubber material is molded in a double injection molding method to the skeleton member 20 connected in series. That is, the soft elastic member 30 is formed in the shape of a head of a general toothbrush, and increases the elasticity of the toothbrush head 50 by the bending action of the skeletal member 20 according to the tooth angle, the skeleton member during brushing (20) is provided to be an effective brushing while bending flexibly in the vertical direction, front and rear, left and right directions according to the tooth angle. In addition, the soft elastic member 30 has a softer surface than a general toothbrush and does not damage the gums, so that the user does not feel a foreign body.

When described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the manufacturing method and use example of the improved toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured as described above.

3A to 3C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of manufacturing an improved toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, first, a general plastic material such as PP (polypropylene), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate), AS (acrylonitrile styrene), CP (cellulose propionate) or ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene) Styrene) or the like to form the handle member 10.

Subsequently, the lower skeleton 21 and the upper skeleton 22 are alternately arranged up and down. In detail, the lower skeletal body 21 having a “c” shape is disposed to be spaced apart at regular intervals in an upwardly open shape, and then the upper skeletal body 22 having the same shape as the lower skeletal body 21 is opened downward. A plurality of skeletal nodes are formed by successive arrangements between the adjacent lower skeletons 21 so as to face the lower skeletons 21 in the form. At this time, it is preferable that the upper frame | skeleton 22 arranges two places or 3-10 places. If the number of the upper skeletal body 22 is 10 or more, there are too many skeletal nodes that provide flexibility, so that a constant force applied to the bend of the tooth is less dispersed, so that it cannot be effectively brushed.

In addition, the lower skeleton 21 and the upper skeleton 22 is preferably made of an aspect ratio of 20: 1 to 1: 1 or 1:20 to 1: 1. More specifically, it is preferable that the lower surface of the lower skeleton 21 has a width of 1 to 20 mm. However, when the lower surface of the lower skeleton 21 is 1 mm or less, the strength for supporting the upper skeleton 22 is not sufficient. If the width is 20mm or more, the flexibility is insufficient to effectively brush the teeth. In addition, the upper surface width of the upper skeleton 22 is preferably maintained to 1 ~ 20mm, if the upper surface width is 2mm or less, the number of bristles 40 planted in the upper skeleton 22 is too small and the flexion node is too As the toothbrush head 50 gets less when brushing teeth, the feeling of use decreases when brushing teeth. And, if the upper surface width of the upper skeleton 22 is 20mm or more, it can not be different from the general toothbrush.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the conventional bristles 40 are fixed to the upper surface of the upper skeleton 22.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3C, the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber material or the styrene ethylene butadiene styrene (SEBS) rubber material or the silicone (silicone) rubber material is applied to the lower skeleton member 20 having a plurality of skeletal nodes. The soft elastic member 30 made of soft elastic rubber such as is molded by a double injection molding method. Then, the manufacture of the improved toothbrush 100 according to the present invention is completed. At this time, the flexible elastic member 30 is preferably molded at the end of the skeleton member 20 and the end of the handle member 10 at the same time so as to connect the handle member 10 integrally. In addition, the upper surface of the flexible elastic member 30 and the upper surface of the upper skeleton 22 is preferably maintained to a thickness of approximately 0.1 ~ 5mm, if the thickness is less than 0.1 to maintain the shape of the skeleton member 20 If it is difficult to make, 5mm or more, the toothbrush head 50 is so thick that the feeling of use is not good.

According to the present invention, the flexibility and elasticity of the toothbrush head 50 in accordance with the interrelationship of the number of the lower skeleton 21, the number of the upper skeleton 22, the thickness of the soft elastic member 30, etc. Note that there may be some differences in.

In the case of using the toothbrush 100 of the present invention manufactured as described above, the force applied to the teeth or gums during normal brushing is a force of about 250 to 500g depending on the user, the toothbrush head 50 is the tooth angle And a flexion of the skeletal node portion of the skeletal member 20 according to the pressure applied to the handle member 10 and the flexible elastic member 30 to increase flexibility and flexibility, thereby applying a force to the teeth or the gums. This is substantially dispersed so as not to damage the teeth or gums, and because it can implement a conventional brushing effect while applying less force when brushing the brush, the durability of the bristles 40 is increased, the bristles 40 by excessive force Will not be easily opened. In addition, since the toothbrush head 50 is bent in the most suitable form according to the tooth shape it is easy to remove the plaque.

Hereinafter, using the toothbrush of the present invention and a conventional toothbrush, a comparative evaluation experiment on the consumer evaluation of the usability and the elasticity and plaque removal effect of the toothbrush head.

<Example>

As shown in Table 1 below, the toothbrush head of the present invention was designed to have the most effective elasticity and the mold was manufactured.

Comparative Example

As shown in Table 1 below, the experiment was conducted using a toothbrush of a conventional single head structure.

division Example Comparative example Toothbrush head Double head structure Single head structure Number of upper skeletal bodies 5 None Width of lower skeletal body 3 mm - Width of upper skeletal body 5 mm - Thickness of soft elastic member 1.5 mm -

Experimental Example 1 Evaluation of Preference for Consumer Usability

Evaluation of the usability of the toothbrush used in the above Examples and Comparative Examples was evaluated by the following evaluation method.

Toothbrushes manufactured according to the above Examples and Comparative Examples were used for a certain period of time (30 days) for a list of 35 panelists, and the average value of the preference for the usability was measured using a five-point comparison method through a comparative panel test. The results are shown in Table 2.

division Example Comparative example Flexibility of the grip member (elasticity) 4.3 3.5 A feeling of reaching every corner of the mouth 4.4 3.3 Cleaning feeling after brushing 3.9 3.5 Overall satisfaction 4.1 3.4

(Evaluation criteria: 5 / very good, 4 / good, 3 / normal, 2 / poor, 1 / very poor)

As shown in the results of Table 2, in the case of the embodiment, compared to the comparative example, the flexibility of the handle member, every tooth in the mouth of the bristles to reach the teeth, the feeling of preference for overall satisfaction such as brushing was much superior.

Experimental Example 2 Comparative Evaluation Test for Plaque Removal Effect

When brushing teeth using the toothbrush prepared in the above Examples and Comparative Examples, the effect of reducing the plaque index (Plaque Index) was evaluated by the following method.

Thirty clinical subjects were selected, and each of 15 toothbrushes manufactured in Examples and Comparative Examples was used for a predetermined period (30 days), and then 14 days after 0 days and 30 days after the plaque index ((Plaque Index ) Reduction (%) was measured and the results are shown in Table 3.

division Reduction Rate (%) Example Comparative example After 14 days 4.5 ± 0.2 3.3 ± 0.2 30 days after 8.6 ± 0.3 4.9 ± 0.1

As shown in Table 3, the toothbrushes of the comparative example showed a decrease of 3.3% and 4.9% in the Prag index after 14 days and 30 days of use, respectively, while the toothbrushes prepared in Examples of the present invention had values of 4.5% and 8.6%. It was found that the plaque removal effect is more excellent.

As described above, the improved toothbrush according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has the following effects.

First, since the toothbrush head itself is flexibly flexed according to the user's brushing angle by the soft elastic member and the skeletal member, the elasticity of the handle member and the toothbrush head is increased and the force applied to the teeth or the gums is dispersed. It will not damage the teeth or gums, and the durability of the bristles will increase, so bristles will not be easily opened by excessive force.

Second, since the toothbrush head is flowed in the most suitable form according to the shape of the teeth, not only the overall satisfaction of usability such as bristles reachability, brushing feeling for all teeth is excellent, but also the prag index is greatly reduced.

Claims (5)

A handle member of a predetermined length made of a plastic material so as to be easily gripped by a user; And A flexible elastic member integrally connected to the handle member having a predetermined thickness and width, and has a plurality of skeletal nodes so that the flexible elastic member can be flexibly flexed according to the tooth angle, and is embedded in the flexible elastic member and has a plurality of upper surfaces. An improved toothbrush comprising a toothbrush head having a skeletal member in which bristles are implanted. The method of claim 1, The flexible elastic member is an improved toothbrush, characterized in that made of any one selected from the group consisting of EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber, SEBS (Styrene Ethylene Butadiene Styrene) rubber and silicone (Silicone) rubber. The method of claim 1, The skeletal member is: A lower "skeleton" shaped lower skeletal body which is spaced apart at regular intervals in an upwardly open form; And It is continuously disposed between adjacent lower skeletons so as to take the same shape as the lower skeleton and to complementarily connect each lower skeleton while facing the lower skeleton in a downwardly open form, An improved toothbrush, comprising: an upper skeleton in which bristles are implanted. The method of claim 3, The lower skeleton and the upper skeleton is improved toothbrush, characterized in that each having one or two selected from 3 to 10 places. The method of claim 3, The lower skeleton and the upper skeleton is an improved toothbrush, characterized in that consisting of an aspect ratio of 20: 1 to 1: 1 or 1:20 to 1: 1.