RU2264146C2 - Finger-stall - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: means for protecting of body parts.

SUBSTANCE: finger-stall comprises hollow member having open end for insertion of finger. Said member comprises first section connected to second section. First section is made from non-woven material and second section is made from elastic non-woven material. First section is connected with second section along seam. Two versions of cleaning parts including hollow member are also described.

EFFECT: increased efficiency and provision for reliable protection of body part.

34 cl, 16 dwg, 36 ex

Description

This application is based on and claims the priority of the following applications:

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/195517, filed April 6, 2000.

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/195071, filed April 6, 2000.

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/194929, filed April 6, 2000.

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/195072, filed April 6, 2000.

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/194930, filed April 6, 2000.

U.S. Patent Application No. 60/257137, filed December 20, 2000.

State of the art

Cotton balls, tampons and gauze are commonly used for various purposes. For example, a cotton ball can be used to apply ointments against diaper dermatitis, drugs, alcohol, oral anesthetics, etc. In addition, in some cases, a cotton ball can also be used to remove various types of materials from the body, such as, for example, makeup. For each of these applications, cotton balls or tampons are shaped so that they release a particular additive or component to the area of application.

However, in some cases it may be difficult for the user to apply the additive on a cotton ball, for example, so as not to spill part of the additive, which is undesirable. In addition, cotton materials can often be relatively expensive and more difficult to process than other types of materials. Therefore, an improved product capable of isolating an additive, such as a drug, at a specific site of application is currently needed. In particular, a fingertip is now needed that can isolate the finger when a specific supplement is released.

In addition, another area for which an article releasing an additive or component is needed is the area for cleaning teeth or gums. To maintain dental hygiene, you must regularly clean your teeth. Over time, various films and residues, such as plaque, can form on the teeth and gums, which adversely affects the oral cavity. Previously, toothbrushes were used to remove such films and residues. A conventional toothbrush usually has two ends, one end is a handle and the other contains bristles designed to destroy and remove plaque and other debris from the surface being cleaned.

Although conventional toothbrushes are useful in a wide variety of cases, in some cases they are less desirable. In particular, some people want to maintain dental hygiene by brushing their teeth all day. Unfortunately, in many situations during the day there are no conditions conducive to this, or at least allowing it to be done. In addition, travelers and office workers may find it uncomfortable to use a toothbrush during the day. In particular, toothbrushes are usually poorly suited for people to carry with them daily, since they have a bulk shape and you must go to the toilet to use them.

In response to the desire for more frequent dental hygiene and the need for a cleaning product that could be easily used, various portable toothbrushes have been developed. In particular, a number of dentifrice attachments fixed on the finger have been developed, which can be placed on the finger or around the finger and use them to rub the teeth and gums. These products are usually small, portable and disposable.

One example of such a disposable dentifrice is described in US Pat. No. 3,902,509. This product is made of a material with high wet strength, such as woven or non-woven material, laminate, or coated with a moisture-proof material. The waterproof material may be a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene. In addition, various materials can be additionally applied to the product, such as flavoring agents, bacteriostats, dentifrices or detergents. To use this product, you can simply place it on your finger and wipe the surfaces of the teeth with the surface of the product to remove food and plaque films.

A similar fingertip designed to provide oral hygiene is most recently described in US Pat. No. 5,445,825. In particular, this product includes a protective material package that contains a membrane. The membrane can be made, for example, from a layer of non-woven cellulose fibers with an embossed, furrowed texture. This product is dry and uses only moisture contained in the mouth of the user. This bag can also be made of foil or waterproof plastic sheet.

Although these dentifrices are portable, they often don’t fit tightly on the user's finger when cleaning. However, some dentifrice products have been developed that are worn on a finger and contain an elastomeric material that can prevent the product from slipping or falling off the user's finger during cleaning. Examples of such products for cleaning teeth are disclosed in US patent No. 5068941, No. 5348153, No. 5524764 and in the publication of international application No. WO 95/31154. Despite the apparent advantages of these flexible dentifrice products, these products are in many cases unsuitable. For example, these products are often difficult to manufacture using high-speed manufacturing technologies, which inevitably leads to high manufacturing costs. In addition, these products may also not adhere well to the user's finger, may be allergenic to the user, and in some cases do not have an attractive appearance. In addition, these products are often unsuitable for applying various additives used to clean teeth or otherwise improve the hygiene of the oral cavity. In addition, these products are usually neither breathable nor waterproof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Definitions:

As used in the present invention, the term "bicomponent fibers" means fibers that are formed from at least two polymers extruded from the same extruder as a mixture. Bicomponent fibers do not contain various polymer components located in separate zones located relatively constant over the fiber cross-section, and various polymers are usually not continuously located along the entire length of the fiber, but instead form fibers or protofibres, the beginning and ends of which are randomly located. Bicomponent fibers are often referred to as multicomponent fibers. Fibers of this general type are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 5,108,827 and 5,294,482. Bicomponent fibers are also discussed in Polymer blends and Composites. John A. Manson and Leslie H. Sperling, 1976, Plenum Press, Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation of New York, IBSN 0-306-30831-2, pages 273 - 277.

As used in the present invention, the term "breathable fibers" means fibers that are permeable to water vapor and gas. In other words, “breathable barriers” and “breathable films” allow water vapor to pass through them, but are generally impermeable to liquid water. For example, the term "breathable" can refer to a film or laminate, possessing a water vapor permeation rate (hereinafter in the text WVTR) of at least about 300 g / m ^2/24 hours, measured in accordance with ASTM E96-80 standard ( American Society for Testing and Materials) using the vertical cylinder method with the slight modifications described in the research methodology below.

A measure of the breathing capacity of a material is the rate of water vapor permeation (hereinafter referred to as SPV), which for a material sample is usually calculated in accordance with ASTM E96-80 with slight changes in the research methodology described below. Of all the test materials and control material used as CELGARD 2500 sheet material manufactured by Celanese Separation Products of Charlotte, N. C., circular samples were cut with a diameter of three inches. CELGARD 2500 is a microporous polypropylene sheet material. Three samples of each material are prepared. As test cups, test cylinders No. 60-1 Vapometer manufactured by Thwing-Albert Instrument Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are used. 100 milliliters of water are poured into each Vapometer cylinder and separate samples of the test materials and control material are placed on the upper edges of each cylinder. The flanges on the thread are tightened, creating a seal around the edges of each cylinder, so that the surrounding atmosphere acts on the area of the test material or control material with a diameter of 6.5 cm and an area of about 33.17 cm ² . The cylinders are weighed and placed in an oven with forced air circulation set to a temperature of 100 ° F (37 ° C). The furnace is a thermostat that maintains a constant temperature, with forced circulation of outside air, preventing the accumulation of water vapor inside the thermostat. A suitable forced air circulation furnace is, for example, a Blue M Power-O-Matic 600 furnace manufactured by Blue M Electric Co. of Blue Island, Illinois. After equilibration, the cylinders are removed from the furnace, weighed, and immediately returned to the furnace. After 24 hours, the cylinders are removed from the oven and reweighed. Preliminary values of water vapor permeation rate is calculated as follows: MVTR for the sample = (massopoterya for 24 hours in grams) × (315,5 g / m ^2/24 h).

The relative humidity inside the oven is not specifically regulated. Under the pre-established conditions of 100 ° F (37 ° C) and relative humidity of the environment, the WSS value for the CELGARD 2500 control material was found to be 5000 grams per square meter in 24 hours. Similarly all tests carried out the control samples and the obtained preliminary values corrected for the conditions used by the following equation: WVTR = (MVTR for the sample / control sample WVTR) × (5000 g / ^m2 / 24 h).

As used in the present invention, the term “conjugated fibers” means fibers that are formed from at least two polymers extruded from separate extruders but formed together to form a single fiber. Conjugate fibers are sometimes also called multi-element or two-element fibers. Polymers are usually different from each other, although conjugated fibers can also be monocomponent fibers. The polymers are located in separate zones, located mainly constantly along the cross section of the conjugated fibers, and are located continuously along the entire length of the conjugated fibers. The configuration of such a conjugate fiber may be a core-fiber configuration in which one polymer is surrounded by another, or may be a parallel configuration, a layered configuration, or an island configuration. Conjugate fibers are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,108,820, 4,795,668, 5,336,551. Conjugate fibers are also described in US Pat. Curved fibers can also be made using mechanical means and using the method described in German patent DT 2513251 A1. In two-element fibers, polymers can be contained in the ratios 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and in any other necessary ratios. The fibers may also have a different shape, such as those described in US Pat.

When used in the present invention, the terms "elastic" and "elastomeric" usually mean materials that, under the action of an applied force, are capable of stretching or stretching, so that the length in the stretched state is at least about 125% or one and one-fourth of their length in shortened , unstretched state, and which after the termination of the tensile, pulling forces are reduced by at least about 50% of its elongation.

As used in the present invention, the term “thread” means a substantially continuous strand that has a large length to diameter ratio, such as, for example, a ratio of 1000 or more.

As used in the present invention, the term “meltblown fibers” means fibers formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of thin, typically round, capillary channels of an extrusion head in the form of molten filaments or filaments into converging high-speed heated gas streams (e.g. air), thinning filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce their diameter, which can be equal to d and microfiber diameter. After that, the fibers obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt are transferred by a high-speed gas stream and laid on the receiving surface with the formation of a nonwoven material consisting of randomly distributed fibers obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt. Such a method is disclosed, in particular, in US patent No. 3849241. The meltblown fibers are microfibers that can be continuous or discrete, typically have an average diameter of less than 10 microns, and are usually sticky when applied to a receiving surface.

As used in the present invention, the term “moisture barrier element” means any material that is relatively impervious to leakage of liquids, i.e. a material that is a moisture-proof barrier element may have a blood leakage rate determined in accordance with ASTM test method 22 of 1.0 or less.

As used in the present invention, the term “neck-shaped” means an elastic component bonded to an inelastic component, wherein the inelastic component is stretched in the longitudinal direction to form a material elongated in the neck. “Laminate formed with a neck extension” means a composite material comprising at least two layers, in which one layer is an inelastic layer formed with a hood in the neck, and the other layer is an elastic layer, and thus a material that is elastic in transverse direction. Examples of laminates formed with a neck hood are those described in US Pat. Nos. 5,226,992, 4,981,747, 4,965,122 and 5,336,545, which are incorporated herein by reference.

As used in the present invention, the term "nonwoven fabric" means a material whose structure is formed by individual fibers or strands that are intertwined, but not in the same way as a knitted fabric. Non-woven materials or webs are formed using various methods, such as, for example, aerodynamic methods for producing from a melt, spunbond production methods, and methods for manufacturing a non-woven material from a carded web. The surface density of nonwovens is usually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or in grams per square meter (g / m ² ), and fiber diameters are usually expressed in micrometers. (Note that to convert osy to g / m ² you must multiply osy by 33.91).

When used in the present invention, the term “spunbond fibers” means fibers of a small diameter that are formed by extruding molten thermoplastic material in the form of filaments through a plurality of thin capillary channels of a spinneret, typically circular in shape, whereupon the diameter of the extruded filaments is rapidly reduced as this is shown, for example, in US Pat. Wiping surfaces are usually non-sticky. The fibers of the spinneret production method are usually continuous and have an average diameter (according to data for at least 10 samples) exceeding 7 microns, and more precisely equal to from about 10 to about 40 microns.

As used in the present invention, the term “formed with a hood” means a laminate comprising at least two layers, in which one layer is an absorbable layer and the other layer is an elastic layer. The layers are connected to each other in such a way that the elastic layer is in a stretched state, so that after the layers are relaxed, the sorbed layer is assembled. For example, one elastic element may be associated with another element when the elastic element is stretched by at least about 25% of its length in a shortened state. Such a multilayer composite elastic material can be stretched until the inelastic layer expands completely. One type of laminate formed with a hood is disclosed in particular in US Pat. No. 4,720,415, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other elastic composite materials are described and disclosed in US patent No. 4789699, 4781966, 4657802 and 4655760, which are incorporated into this description by reference.

When used in the present invention, the term "textured" means a substrate material having protrusions in the Z-direction on the surface of the material. The protrusions may have a length of, for example, from about 0.1 to about 25 mm, preferably from about 0.1 to about 5 mm, and more preferably from about 0.1 to about 3 mm. The protrusions can have a different shape and can be, for example, bristles, tufts of pile, loop-like structures such as loops used in fasteners on Velcro tapes, etc.

Short description:

The present invention generally relates to a fingertip that can fit a finger. For example, in one embodiment, the fingertip can be used as a dentifrice to clean a user's mouth. The fingertip of the present invention is typically formed from a substrate material that is shaped like a fingertip. In addition, the fingertip may contain a package for accommodating the finger.

In accordance with the present invention, any material commonly used in the art for the manufacture of fabrics, such as wipes, can be used as the backing material. In particular, the substrate material of the present invention is typically made of non-woven material. More specifically, the substrate material of the present invention can be made from cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers, thermomechanical cellulose, or mixtures thereof, so that the material has characteristics similar to those of the fabric. For example, the substrate material can be made from various types of fibers, including meltblown fibers, spunbond fibers, carded fibers, two-element and crimped fibers. In addition, the substrate material may include various other materials, such as elastomeric components or textured non-woven materials. Various laminates, such as elastic and film laminates, can be used in the backing material. For example, suitable laminate materials may include laminate materials formed with a hood and formed with a hood in a neck.

In the general case, the fingertip according to the present invention may have a different structure. For example, in one embodiment, the fingertip may have a uniform structure. In particular, a fingertip having a uniform structure may consist of an elastic non-woven material, so that the substrate material has the ability to take the necessary shape so that the wiping product effectively fits the finger and at the same time remains breathable.

In addition to a uniform structure, the dentifrice product of the present invention can be made of various strips or sections. Strips or sections can be bonded to each other using glue, crosslinking or thermal bonding. Different strips or sections may be made of the same material or may be made of different materials. For example, in one embodiment, the fingertip comprises a hollow member having an open end for finger sticking, said hollow member including a first section attached to a second section, and said first section consisting of non-woven material, said second section consisting of elastic non-woven material. The first section and the second section can be connected to each other in any convenient way. For example, sections can be joined to form two seams. If necessary, the connected sections can be turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside the fingertips.

In another embodiment, the fingertip comprises a hollow element having an open end for sticking in the finger, said hollow element includes a substrate material, said substrate material includes an elastic non-woven material, said hollow element has a textured surface that is configured to clean the user's teeth and gums.

In yet another embodiment, the fingertip may include a hollow member having an open end for sticking in the finger, said hollow member includes a non-woven component and an elastic component, said elastic component allowing said hollow member to stretch or contract to give said cleaning product the ability to take on the desired shape. The inelastic component can be attached to the elastic component in a manner that allows the elastic component to stretch and contract to give the fingertip the ability to take the required shape.

The fingertip may also optionally include an abrasive surface designed to facilitate cleaning. The abrasive surface can be made of various textured materials. For example, as indicated above, in one embodiment, the substrate material includes at least a portion of the cleaning surface with loop-shaped bristles. The loop-shaped bristles may have a size or height of less than about 20 mm, preferably from about 1 to about 5 mm, and more preferably from about 1.5 to about 3.5 mm. When used in the present invention, the size or height of the loop-shaped bristles refers to the size or height of the bristles in the extended state, and not in the shortened state. The loop-shaped bristles can be arranged on the cleaning surface in the form of longitudinal or transverse rows or in the form of any other suitable pattern or arranged randomly. Hinges can be perpendicular to the surface or at any angle to the surface. In addition, the loop-shaped bristles may be spaced apart from each other or may be located close to each other.

Loop-like bristles can be formed using various methods. For example, knitted or woven material containing loop-like bristles can be used. Alternatively, loop-shaped bristles can be formed on the substrate material by piercing with needles. Alternatively, loop-shaped bristles may be formed during hydrobinding, or they may be formed during the formation of the material.

The loop-like bristles themselves can be formed from various types of yarn. For example, loop-shaped bristles can be formed from multifilament yarn, monofilament yarn or staple yarn. In addition, the yarn used to form the loop-like bristles can be textured and / or shaped. Shaped yarn, for example, may have a multi-leaf shape that can provide increased friction to facilitate cleaning.

The textured surface of the fingertip can be made of various other materials, and not just materials containing loop-like bristles. For example, a textured surface may be made of a nonwoven material containing crimped fibers. In another alternative embodiment, the textured surface can be made from a material with point defects in binding. In a material with point binding disorders, there may be many raised tufts of pile. In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the tufts of pile may have a height of at least 0.02 inches.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, the fingertip may also include a moisture-proof barrier element that is incorporated into or applied as a layer to the substrate material. Generally, a moisture-proof barrier element means any barrier, layer or film that is relatively watertight. In particular, the moisture-proof barrier element of the present invention can prevent fluid from flowing through the fingertip, so that when using the wiping product, the finger inserted into it remains dry. In some embodiments, the moisture-proof barrier element may remain breathable, i.e. permeable to vapors, so that the finger inside the fingertip is in more comfortable conditions. Examples of suitable watertight barrier elements may include films, fibrous materials, laminates, and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, if necessary, various additives introduced during manufacture and / or introduced by the consumer can be applied to the fingertip. For example, cationogenic materials such as chitosan (poly-N-acetylglucosamine), chitosan salts, cationic starches, and t .P. In addition, various other additives may be used. Examples of other suitable additives include, but are not limited to, dental reagents such as fluorides, mixtures of peppermint oil, peppermint oil and alcohols; flavoring agents such as xylitol; antimicrobial reagents; polishing agents; hemostatic reagents; surfactants; antiulcer drugs, etc.

Additives may be included in the wiping product of the present invention in the form of an aqueous solution, non-aqueous solution (e.g., oil), lotions, creams, suspensions, gels, and the like. When used, an aqueous solution can be introduced into the product for wiping, for example, by applying, absorbing, spraying or soaking. In some embodiments, the additives may be placed asymmetrically. In addition, in some cases it may be desirable for the additives to comprise less than about 100% by weight of the wipe, and in some embodiments less than about 50% by weight of the wipe, and preferably less than about 10% by weight of the wipe rubbing.

It should be noted that it is understood that any range described in the present invention includes any smaller range and all smaller ranges. For example, range 45-90 will also include ranges 50-90; 45-80; 46-89 etc. Thus, the range from 95 to 99.999% also includes, for example, ranges from 96 to 99.1%, from 96.3 to 99.7% and from 99.91 to 99.999%.

Various features and embodiments of the present invention are discussed in more detail below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The full disclosure of the present invention, including its best embodiment, is intended for those skilled in the art with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fingertip corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bilateral fingertip corresponding to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower section of a bilateral fingertip corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower section of the bilateral fingertip shown in FIG. 3 attached to the upper section to form the bilateral fingertip corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fingertip turned inside out, corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fingertip turned inside out, corresponding to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fingertip having a safety device and corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fingertip having a uniform structure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conical fingertip having two open ends, corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view with a sectional view of portions illustrating one embodiment of a method for turning the fingertip inside out according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention, which is adapted to be put on with two fingers;

13 is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a textured material for use in the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a method of manufacturing the material shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention.

The repeated use of numerical designations in the present description and in the drawings is intended to indicate the same or similar features or elements corresponding to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention and one or more examples, which are given below, will now be described in detail. Each example is provided to clarify the present invention, and not to limit the present invention. In fact, one skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, features presented or described as part of one embodiment may be used in another embodiment to provide another embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and embodiments of the present invention are disclosed therein or are apparent from the following detailed description.

In General, the present invention is directed to a fingertip, which can be used in different cases. For example, in one embodiment, the fingertip is a toothbrushing product that can be used all day more easily than toothbrushes. In particular, the present invention is directed to a dentifrice product that can be put on a person’s finger so that the teeth or gums of a person or animal can be cleaned by simply touching the rubbers. For example, a dentifrice product of the present invention can be used by someone else to clean their teeth or teeth, such as a child, an elderly person, or a pet. In addition, the dentifrice product is particularly suitable for use by young children who are learning how to brush their teeth.

In addition to being used to clean the teeth or gums of a user, the fingertip of the present invention can also be used for other purposes. For example, the fingertip can be used to clean various dishes, objects or surfaces and / or to polish various products. For example, in one embodiment, the fingertip can be used to polish silver.

Fingertips made in accordance with the present invention are typically made of disposable materials, such as non-woven materials made from synthetic and / or cellulosic fibers. For example, when used as a mouth cleaning product, a fingertip typically includes a textured surface adapted to rub or clean a user's teeth or gums. In addition, the fingertip may also include an elastic component designed to impart the ability to take the desired shape.

In particular, it was found that when forming a fingertip with an elastic nonwoven material according to the present invention, the obtained fingertip can fit snugly against the user's finger, so that when used, the fingertip is more securely attached to the finger. In addition, the fingertip according to the present invention can remain “breathable”, which, when used, provides convenience for the user and also retains the ability to basically prevent fluid from being transferred from the outer surface of the fingertip to the user's finger. Liquid transfer can be controlled by using a moisture-proof material and / or by using a liquid-absorbing material.

The fingertip of the present invention can usually be formed in various ways. In particular, in one embodiment, the fingertip can be formed into a uniform structure from a particular substrate material, such as an elastomeric non-woven substrate material. In addition, in another embodiment of the present invention, the fingertip can be formed from two or more sections of the substrate material. Depending on the required characteristics of the fingertip, the sections may be the same or different. For example, in one embodiment, the fingertip is formed of two sections, one section being formed of textured non-woven material and the second section is formed of elastomeric non-woven material.

Figure 1-9 presents various embodiments of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention. Typically, the fingertip of the present invention can be used to apply drugs, ointments, makeup removers, and the like. For example, in one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, to clean the human oral cavity, the fingertip 10 can be put on finger 11.

One embodiment of a fingertip according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 8. As shown in the drawing, the fingertip 10 is formed in the form of a homogeneous structure made of one piece of material.

FIGS. 2-4 depict another embodiment of a fingertip in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the drawing, instead of a uniform structure, the fingertip 10 is made of the first section 20 and the second section 30. Typically, one section of the fingertip 10 can be connected to or attached to another section to form a shape corresponding to the shape of a finger, by any method known in the art techniques, such as adhesive, thermal or mechanical bonding, so that the joining of the sections can lead to the formation of a pocket 12, designed so that it can be inserted into the finger. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first section 20 is attached to the second section 30 to form a shape corresponding to the shape of a finger along the corresponding outer edges with seams 40 to form a fingertip 10 having a pocket 12. After each section tied or connected at the seams 40, the material forming each section 20 and 30 can be cut off next to the seams so that a fingertip 10 is formed having a shape corresponding to the shape of a finger.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to make the seams feel softer with the finger as they are used, a lot of cuts can be made along the edges of the seam. The incisions, which can be considered as micro-incisions, can be located along the seam at small distances from each other. For example, the cuts may be less than 1 cm apart, preferably less than about 0.5 cm, and more preferably less than about 1 mm apart. The notches can be located mainly along the entire width of the seam. For example, the length of the incisions, depending on the particular case, may be from about 0.1 cm to about 0.5 cm.

Micro-incisions can be formed at the seam using any suitable method. For example, incisions can be made using a die cutter, laser technology, ultrasonic scissors, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, in some embodiments, the fingertip 10 can also be turned inside out, so that the seams 40 are located inside the pocket 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the seams 40 of the fingertip 10 can be wrapped in a pocket 12, so that seams 40 remained inside the fingertip 10, as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, an inverted configuration may provide a fingertip with improved appearance. In addition, the seams inside can also provide a better fit by creating more friction against the finger. In addition to this, in some embodiments, the inside-out configuration may provide the fingertip 10 with increased flatness resistance during use. In addition, turning the fingertip inside out can prevent the seams from irritating the mouth when used.

You can use various methods to turn the fingertip inside out. For example, the fingertip can be turned inside out using compressed gas, vacuum, or mechanical means. For example, one mechanical method of turning the fingertip inside out is shown in FIG. 10. As shown in the drawing, in this embodiment, the fingertip 10 is mounted on the cylinder 100. There is a hole 104 in the cylinder 100. To turn the fingertip 10 inside out, the rod 102, preferably having a compressible end, is used to push the closed end of the fingertip 10 until the fingertip is fully inserted hole 104. During this operation, the fingertip 10 is turned inside out.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, in some embodiments, the first section 20 may have a longer length than the second section 30, so that the first section 20 includes a portion (or a pulling tongue) 26 that extends beyond the edge of the second section 30. the edge of the second section 30, the portion 26 can facilitate putting the fingertip 10 on the finger. In particular, the user can comfortably grab onto the portion 26 for putting the fingertip 10 on the finger. The pulling tongue can be located not only on the first section 20, but also located on any suitable portion of the fingertip. For example, the pulling tongue may also be in the second section.

In addition, in another embodiment, the pull tab 26 can also be located in the middle of the fingertip 10, so that the user can pull the tab 26 in a direction perpendicular to the length of the flattened fingertip. As a result, the tongue 26 can facilitate the insertion of the finger into the fingertip 10 by stretching the fingertip up while sticking the finger inward.

In addition, although this is not specifically shown, the fingertip according to the present invention may contain bristles on the first section 20 and / or on the second section 30, especially when used as a mouth cleaning product. For example, you can use the bristles described in US patent No. 4617694, 5287584, which are incorporated into this invention by reference. In addition, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, in order to improve the ability of the fingertip to adhere to the finger, the fingertip 10 may be shaped into a cone shape. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 9, the fingertip 10 may have two open ends 70 and 72, so that the finger can be fully inserted into it.

In some embodiments of the present invention, it may also be desirable to have a fingertip 10 provided with some safety features. In particular, although the fingertip of the present invention can be tightly fitted to the finger, a safety measure can help to ensure that the fingertip does not get into the mouth or throat of the user when used. More specifically, the safety device of the present invention can be attached to one finger of a user, and a fingertip can be put on the other finger. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, one embodiment of a safety device of the present invention includes a security portion 60 that can be wrapped around a user's finger.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the safeguard may also include a connecting portion 62 for connecting the protective portion 60 to the fingertip 10. When using the connecting portion 62, it can be attached to the fingertip using a variety of well-known methods binding, such as thermal, chemical or mechanical binding. For example, in one embodiment, the connecting portion 62 is attached to the fingertip 10 with glue. In another embodiment, the connecting portion 62 is sewn to the fingertip 10.

Typically, the connecting portion 62 can be made of various materials, such as strips, tapes, threads, non-woven materials, etc. In most cases, the connecting portion 62 may have a length of from about 1 to about 12 inches.

Typically, the safety portion 60 may be of any shape such that the safety portion can be put on a finger. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the safety portion 60 is formed so that it has a loop or ring shape so that it can be secured to the finger. In addition, a safety portion having some shape may also be made of the connecting portion itself. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the end 61 of the connecting portion 62 is folded and sewn to part 63 of the connecting portion to form an annular security portion 60. It should be understood that the end 61 can also be attached to part 63 using any bonding method known in this areas of technology, such as, for example, thermal, chemical or mechanical methods of binding. Although this is not specifically shown, the safety portion 60 can also be formed not from the material from which the connecting portion 62 is formed. When separately formed, the safety portion 60 can be attached to connect to the portion 62 using any bonding method known in the art, such as, for example, thermal, chemical or mechanical binding methods.

Typically, the safety portion can be made of the same material from which the joint portion is made, or of another material. For example, in one embodiment, the security portion 60 comprises an elastic material, such as an elastomeric nonwoven material, which allows the security portion to fit snugly against the finger.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the connecting portion 62 is used to attach the safety portion 60 to the fingertip 10, the safety device of the present invention can effectively prevent the fingertip 10 from getting into the mouth or throat of the user. In particular, when the fingertip 10 slides off the finger, the user can simply pull down on the safety portion 60. This pulling down causes the connecting portion 62 to pull the fingertip 10 out of the mouth so that the user does not suffocate.

Typically, the fingertip of the present invention, such as that shown in FIGS. 1-9, can be made from a variety of materials. For example, in one embodiment, the first section 20 and the second section 30 are made of a substrate material. However, it should be understood that when used in the present invention, it is understood that the substrate material of the present invention includes one or more layers of fibrous materials. Typically, a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention can be made of any material used in the art for the manufacture of wipes.

For most applications, fingertips made in accordance with the present invention are made of nonwoven materials containing an elastic component, which in the present invention is called "elastic nonwoven material." An elastic non-woven material is a non-woven material containing inelastic and elastic components or containing only elastic components.

In particular, the elastic component may form a separate fingertip section. For example, the fingertip may be made of two or more sections of material, which include a first section made of inelastic material and a second section made of elastic material. In one embodiment, inelastic material can be used to clean the teeth, gums and tongue of the user, while elastic material can be used to ensure that the fingertip fits snugly against the user's finger. In one embodiment, the inelastic material may be textured to clean the teeth, gums and tongue of the user, while the elastic material has a smooth surface for use in polishing the teeth, gums and tongue of the user.

Alternatively, the fingertip may be made from a single piece of material that contains an elastic component. For example, in this embodiment, the elastic component may be a film, strands, nonwoven materials, or elastic threads included in a layered structure that are well suited for brushing and brushing teeth. The inelastic materials used in the present invention are typically nonwoven materials or films. In particular, nonwoven materials can be materials obtained by the aerodynamic method from a melt, materials of a spunbond production method, materials from a carded web, and the like. Materials can be made of various fibers, such as synthetic or natural fibers.

For example, in one embodiment, synthetic fibers, such as fibers made from thermoplastic polymers, can be used to make the fingertip of the present invention. In particular, suitable fibers may include melt-spun yarns, staple fibers, melt spinning multi-element fibers, and the like.

As is well known in the art, these synthetic fibers or threads used in the manufacture of the nonwoven substrate material may have any suitable morphology and may include hollow or solid, straight or crimped, single-element, conjugated or two-component fibers or threads and blends or blends thereof fibers and / or threads.

The synthetic fibers used in the present invention can be formed from a variety of thermoplastic polymers, the term "thermoplastic polymer" means a long-chain polymer that re-softens when exposed to heat and basically returns to its original state after cooling to ambient temperature. When used in the present invention, the term "polymer" typically includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as, for example, block, grafted, random and random copolymers, ternary copolymers, and the like. and mixtures and modifications thereof. As used in the present invention, the term “mixture” means a mixture of two or more polymers. In addition, unless special restrictions are introduced, the term "polymer" includes all possible geometric configurations of the molecule. These configurations include (but are not limited to) isotactic, syndiotactic, and statistical configurations.

Examples of thermoplastics include, but are not limited to, polyvinyl chlorides, polyesters, polyamides, polyfluorocarbons, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, polyvinyl alcohols, caprolactams and copolymers of the above compounds and elastomeric polymers such as elastic polyolefins, block copolymers of ethers and esters copolymers of amides with ethers, copolymers of ethylene with vinyl acetate (EVA), block copolymers having the general formula of type ABA or AB, such as a copolymer (styrene / ethylene-butene), styrene oli (ethylene-propylene) -styrene, styrene-poly (ethylene-butylene) -styrene, (polystyrene / poly (ethylene-butylene) / polystyrene), poly- (styrene / ethylene-butylene / styrene), type A tetrablock copolymers -B-A-B, etc.

For the manufacture of fibers there are many polyolefins; for example, suitable polymers are polyethylenes such as Dow Chemical's linear low density polyethylene (LDL) PE XU 61800.41 and high density polyethylene 25355 and 12350. Fiber-forming polypropylenes include Exoren® PD 3445 polypropylene and Montell Chemical Co . PF-304 and PF-015. Many other polyolefins are commercially available and include polybutylene and other polymers.

Examples of polyamides and methods for their synthesis are given in the book "Polymer Resins," by Don E. Floyd, publisher - Library of Congress Catalog No. 66-20811, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 1966. Nylon-6, nylon-6.6, nylon-11, and nylon-12 are particularly useful for industrial applications. These polyamides can be obtained from many sources, along with others from Emster Industries of Sumter, South Carolina (Grilon® and Grilamid® nylons), Atochem Inc., Polymers Division of Glen Rock, New Jersey (Rilsan® nylons), Nyltech of Manchester, New Hampshire (grade 2169, nylon-6) and Custom Resins of Henderson, Kentucky (Nylene 401-D).

As indicated above, synthetic fibers added to the substrate material can also include staple fibers, which can be added to increase the strength, bulk, softness and smoothness of the substrate material. Staple fibers may include, for example, various polyolefin fibers, polyester fibers, nylon fibers, polyvinyl acetate fibers, cotton fibers, rayon fibers, non-wood plant fibers, and mixtures thereof. Usually staple fibers are longer than cellulose fibers. Staple fibers can increase the strength and softness of the finished product.

The fibers used in the substrate material of the present invention may also be curled or crimped. The fibers can be curled or crimped, for example, by adding a chemical reagent to the fibers or by treating the fibers mechanically. Curled or crimped fibers can lead to more significant weaving and volume of voids in the material and lead to an additional increase in the number of fibers oriented in the z-direction, as well as improve the strength characteristics of the material.

Synthetic fibers added to the substrate material may also include two-element fibers. Two-element fibers are fibers that contain two materials, such as (but not limited to) being in a parallel configuration, in a fiber matrix configuration in which the fiber-forming polymer has a complex cross-sectional configuration, or in a fiber-core configuration. In the core fiber, the sheath forming polymer has a lower melting point than the core forming polymer, which facilitates the thermal bonding of the fibers. For example, the core-forming polymer may be nylon or a polyester, and the shell-forming polymer may be a polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Such commercially available two-element fibers include CELBOND fibers manufactured by the Hoechst Celanese Company.

For the manufacture of the fingertip in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the addition of synthetic fibers, cellulose fibers can be used. The cellulosic fibers used in forming the substrate material may be soft wood fibers having an average fiber length of more than 1 mm, and preferably from about 2 to about 5 mm, based on the weighted average fiber length. Such fibers may include softwood kraft fibers from northern tree species, mahogany fibers, and pine fibers. Secondary fibers obtained from recycled materials may also be used in the present invention. In addition, solid wood cellulosic fibers such as eucalyptus fibers can also be used in the present invention.

In addition to the above fibers, fibers from thermomechanical cellulose can also be added to the substrate material. As is known to a person skilled in the art, thermomechanical cellulose is cellulose, which is typically less cooked in a cellulose production process than conventional cellulose grades. Thermomechanical cellulose usually contains stiff fibers and contains more lignin. Thermomechanical cellulose can be added to the substrate material of the present invention to create an open-pore structure, which increases bulk and absorbency and improves resistance to abrupt wet shrinkage.

If it is included, then thermomechanical cellulose can be added to the layer of substrate material in an amount of from about 10 to about 30% by weight of the fibers. When using thermomechanical pulp during the formation of the material, it is preferable to add a wetting agent. The wetting agent may be added in an amount of about 1% by weight of the fibers, and in one embodiment, it may be sulfonated glycol.

If cellulose fibers are used to form the substrate material, the material can also be treated with a chemical loosening agent to reduce bond strength between the internal fibers. Suitable disintegrating agents that can be used in the present invention when the substrate material contains cellulosic fibers include cationic disintegrating agents such as quaternary dialkylamine salts of fatty acids, quaternary monoalkylamine salts of fatty acids, salts of primary amines, quaternary salts of imidazoline and salts of amines and unsaturated fatty acids acids. Other suitable disintegrants are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,529,665, which is incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the disintegrant may be quaternary organic ammonium chloride. In this embodiment, the disintegrant may be added to the fiber charge in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 1% based on the total amount of fiber charge.

In addition, in some embodiments of the present invention, the substrate material of the present invention may also be subjected to hydraulic weaving (or hydro-weaving) to give it additional strength. Hydro-interlaced materials, also known as lace materials, are materials that are exposed to vertical jets of fluid that interlace the fibers of the material. Hydro entangling a material usually increases the strength of the material. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, in order to increase the strength of the material, the substrate material according to the present invention can be hydroblocked. For example, in one implementation material, the substrate material may include HYDROKNIT® — a non-woven composite material that contains 70 wt.% Cellulose fibers that are hydraulically intertwined to form a continuous fibrous material. HYDROKNIT® is sold by Kimberly-Clark Corporation of Neenah, Wisconsin. Hydraulic weaving can be performed using conventional equipment for hydraulic weaving, such as described, for example, in US patent No. 3585706, 5389202, the disclosure of which is incorporated into the present invention by reference.

As noted above, for most applications, the non-woven materials used to make the fingertip contain synthetic fibers. In the case of non-woven materials containing significant amounts of synthetic fibers, the materials may be knitted or otherwise bonded to increase the strength of the material. Various methods can be used to bind the materials of the present invention. Such methods include binding by blowing air and thermal dot bonding described in US patent No. 3855046, which is incorporated into this invention by reference. In addition, in some cases, other conventional binding means may be used, such as oven binding, ultrasonic binding, hydroweaving, or a combination of such methods.

In one embodiment, thermal dot bonding is used that binds the fibers to each other in accordance with the pattern. Typically, the thermal dot bonding area, regardless of whether the material is patterned or loosened, can be on the order of 50% or less of the total bonding area. More preferably, the binding areas in the materials of the present invention can be on the order of 40% or less of the total binding area. Even more preferably, the bonding areas in the materials of the present invention can be on the order of 30% or less of the total bonding area and they can be on the order of 15% or less of the total bonding area. Typically, a typical binding area of less than about 10% may be acceptable for the support materials of the present invention, although other common binding areas are included in the scope of the present invention, depending on the specific characteristics required for the finished product. In general, the lower limit of the fraction of the binding area suitable for forming the nonwoven fabric of the present invention is such that pulling the fibers unduly weakens the surface integrity and strength of the material. The bonding area is affected by a number of factors, including the type (s) of polymeric materials used to form the fibers or filaments of the nonwoven material, as well as whether the nonwoven fabric has a single or multilayer fibrous structure, etc. Binding areas ranging from about 15 to about 50%, and more preferably from about 15 to about 40%, have been found to be suitable.

Preferably, the substrate materials made for use in the fingertip of the present invention include a textured surface along which the fingertip contacts the wearer's teeth and gums. A textured surface can facilitate the removal of residues and film from teeth and gums. The textured surface can be placed on the fingertip only where the fingertip will come in contact with the teeth and gums, or it can completely cover the outer surface of the fingertip. In this regard, the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 includes a second section 30, which is made of a substrate material, which is a textured non-woven material. If the second section 30 is made of such a textured non-woven material, then the fingertip 10 can more effectively clean teeth or gums. In particular, when the fingertip 10 is put on the finger, as shown in FIG. 1, the second section 30 can be used to rub the teeth or gums of someone who needs to do this.

The way in which a textured surface is formed on a nonwoven material for use in the present invention may vary depending on what specific result is needed. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the second section 30 is made of a nonwoven material that has undergone thermal point-breaking to form a plurality of tufts of pile 31. When used in the present invention, a substrate that is “subjected to thermal point-breaking” means a substrate on which there are raised unconnected areas or loosely connected areas that are surrounded by connected areas. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the tufts of pile 31 are non-connected or loosely connected portions that form protrusions on the surface of the nonwoven material to create the desired texture.

The thermally spotted loosened abrasive surfaces formed in accordance with the present invention are believed to be unique and provide various advantages and benefits not only when used in fingertips, but also when used in other products. For example, FIG. 14 illustrates heat-spot-disintegrated material 76 made generally in accordance with the present invention. In addition to using fingertips for manufacturing, it is assumed that this material can also be used as an abrasive material in various cases, including use in grinding or polishing products, dishcloths, brushes, etc. Such materials have semi-rigid protrusions of a certain height, in particular protrusions having a height of more than about 0.02 inches.

Previously manufactured various products subjected to thermal point-breaking loosening. In particular, the material subjected to thermal spot disintegration is usually used as part of a fastener on a Velcro tape having loops. However, previously manufactured materials were not made with protrusions or tufts of pile 31 shown in FIG. 14 and having a height corresponding to the present invention. The authors of the present invention have discovered not only a new method of manufacturing materials subjected to thermal point-breaking, but also a new product with improved abrasive characteristics.

FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a method for manufacturing a material 76 subjected to thermal point-breaking loosening. As shown in the drawing, the non-woven base 77 is fed into the gap 82 formed between the first shaped roller 77 and the second smooth roller 80. As the base passes through the gap 82, tufts of pile 31 are formed. As shown in the drawing, tufts of pile 31 are surrounded by connected, pressed sections.

The base 77 used to make the material 76 subjected to thermal spot disintegration may be different depending on the particular application. In particular, the base 77 may be single-layer or may include multiple layers of material. For most applications, the total surface density of the base 77 should be at least 3 osy, and preferably from about 3 to about 9 osy. To form pile tufts 31 of suitable height, a higher surface density is needed.

For most applications, the base 77 should also include at least one layer of non-woven material that has a large volume to mass ratio. Examples of materials having a large volume to mass ratio include non-woven materials obtained by bonding by blowing air and made from polymer fibers and threads. Non-woven materials can be made from crimped polymer fibers and threads and / or from fibers and threads having a shaped sectional shape. For example, crimped two-element polyethylene / polypropylene fibers can be used. Shaped fibers include five-petal fibers and hollow fibers.

In addition to non-woven materials having a large volume, the base 77 may also include films. For example, in one embodiment, in the manufacture of the material 76 subjected to thermal point-breaking, the non-woven material can be connected to a moisture-proof barrier film.

As shown in FIG. 15, after selecting a suitable substrate 77, the substrate is passed through the gap 82. In one embodiment, the thermal point-breaking material 76 is formed using a thermal bonding method. In particular, in one embodiment, the shaped roller 78 and / or smooth roller 80 can be heated to a temperature sufficient to melt and bond the base 77 between the tufts of pile 31. The temperature to which the rollers 78 and 80 are heated depends on the particular case. use, and in particular on the material used to form the base 77. The temperature to which the rollers are heated also depends on the pressure acting on the base 77.

In one embodiment, in the manufacture of warp containing polyethylene fibers, the rollers can be heated to a temperature of from about 230 to about 280 ° F, and preferably from about 240 to about 260 ° F. In most applications, both rollers are heated. However, the shaped roller 78 can be heated to a higher temperature than the roller 80, and vice versa.

In the manufacture of material 76 subjected to thermal point-breaking, the speed of the substrate entering the gap, the tension of the substrate and the pressure in the gap are important factors that must be optimized in the manufacture of the product. For example, when using conventional sized rollers, the speed at which the substrate passes through the gap 82 can vary from about 5 feet per minute to about 100 feet per minute.

For the manufacture of material 76 subjected to thermal point-breaking, in addition to thermal bonding, you can use ultrasonic bonding. Ultrasonic bonding can be performed using a stationary device (not shown) or a rotary device shown in FIG. With ultrasonic bonding, the shaped roller 78 vibrates, which causes the formation of tufts of nap 31. The inventors have discovered that ultrasonic bonding is more effective than thermal bonding. It has also been found that ultrasonic bonding allows the processing of thicker and heavier substrates than thermal bonding. In particular, ultrasonic bonding allows the processing of substrates having a surface density of up to 9 osy. However, conventional thermal bonding systems are more suitable for treating substrates having a surface density of about 5 osy. Ultrasonic bonding also leads to small changes in the morphological characteristics of the surface compared to conventional thermal bonding.

As shown above, the point-disintegrated material 76 contains tufts of pile having a height of at least about 0.02 inches. More preferably, the height of the tufts of tufts varies from about 0.01 to about 0.1 inches. As shown in FIG. 15, the tufts of pile may have a round shape. However, it should be understood that the tufts of pile 31 may have any suitable shape. For example, tufts of pile may be square, triangular or even have an hourglass shape.

The total binding surface area surrounding the tufts of pile 31 may also vary depending on the particular application. For most applications, the binding surface area surrounding the tufts of pile may be from about 15 to about 40% of the surface area of the material, and preferably from about 20 to about 40% of the surface area of the material.

In one specific implementation of the present invention, the material is subjected to thermal spot drying, made of two layers of the base. The first layer of the base is a material bonded by blowing air with a surface density of 3.25 osy. The material can be made of crimped two-element polypropylene / polyethylene fibers. On the other hand, the second base is a non-woven material, bonded by blowing air and made of shaped five-petal fibers. The second material may also have a surface density of about 3.25 osy. Both materials are simultaneously fed into the gap 82 and are subjected to ultrasonic bonding with the formation of tufts of pile 31.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the thermal point-disintegrating material 76 is made of a breathable elongated polyethylene film located between a nonwoven material bonded by blowing air having a surface density of about 3.5 osy and a spunbond material having a surface density of approximately 0.5 osy. The first non-woven material can be made of crimped two-element fibers, and the material of the spunbond production method can be made of polypropylene yarns.

However, it should be understood that the materials and conditions used for the manufacture of the loosened material 76 may vary depending on the final destination of the material.

In addition to the manufacture of materials subjected to thermal point-breaking, there are many other ways to create textured surfaces on the substrate materials and you can use many other textured materials.

Examples of known textured non-woven materials include materials intended for urgent transportation, fleecy materials, non-woven materials formed on a wire mesh and the like. In addition, fibers bonded by air purging, such as bicomponent fibers of a spunbond manufacturing method, or fibers subjected to thermal spot disintegration, such as thermally spotted fibers of a spunbond method, can be included in the substrate material to create texture on a product for wiping; production.

As the substrate material of the present invention, textured materials having protrusions of about 0.1 to about 2.5 mm high, such as aerodynamic production materials formed on a needle surface or wire mesh, can be used. Another example of a material suitable for use as a textured substrate material are textured co-formed materials. Typically, “co-molding” means a process in which at least one extrusion die of an aerodynamic production method is located close to a trough in which other materials are added to it during molding. Such other materials may include, for example, cellulose, superabsorbent particles, or cellulosic or staple fibers. Co-molding processes are described in US Pat. Nos. 4,818,464 and 4,100,324. Materials obtained by co-molding are commonly referred to as co-formed materials.

In one embodiment, the textured material may be a loop-like material. When used in the present invention, a loop-like material means a material that has a surface that is at least partially covered with loop-shaped bristles. Loop-shaped bristles are believed to provide additional advantages over conventional bristles. In particular, the characteristic stiffness of the loop-like structure allows the use of finer yarn and, with a given stiffness, a corresponding increase in surface area. The absence of a sharp tip on the loop-shaped bristles can reduce abrasiveness, which is associated with damage that soft tissue creates in the mouth.

The loop-shaped bristles that can be used in the present invention may vary depending on the particular application. For example, the stiffness of the loop-like bristles can be changed by changing various characteristics, including the height of the loop, the intrinsic properties of the loop-like material, fiber diameter, fiber type and any kind of post-molding treatment (e.g. chemical coating) that the loop-like material can be subjected to.

Typically, the loop-shaped bristles should be short enough so that the likelihood of the loops catching on the teeth or other rubbed structures is less, but also long enough so that they can effectively clean the deep areas. For most applications, the loop length should be less than about 20 mm, preferably from about 1 to about 5 mm, and more preferably from about 1.5 to about 3.5 mm. The height of the loop-like bristles on the loop-like material may be the same or different. The loop-like bristles may form a specific pattern on the loop-like material or randomly positioned on the loop-like material. For example, in one implementation material, loop-like bristles can be grouped on the loop-like material in longitudinal and transverse rows. Loop-like bristles can be positioned vertically or at any suitable angle to the surface of the material. In addition, the loop-shaped bristles may be spaced apart from each other or may be located close to each other.

The loop-like material can be made using a number of different methods. For example, loops can be made on a woven fabric or knitted fabric. In one embodiment, loop-shaped material is obtained by making loops on a substrate using needles. In other embodiments, loop-shaped material can be made using a hydro-weaving procedure, or it can be molded, for example, by an injection molding procedure. Of course, you can also use any other suitable methods known in the art.

Loop-like bristles can be made from various natural or synthetic materials. For example, loop-shaped bristles can be made from polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, polylactic acid and various other polymers. Loop-like bristles can also be made from natural fibers, including cotton and wool. Loop-like bristles can be made from monofilament yarn, multifilament yarn or staple fibers.

In addition, the yarn may consist of fancy yarns, such as multi-petal yarns. As used in the present invention, the term “shaped” yarns or fibers means yarns or fibers whose cross section is not round. For example, you can use five-petalled threads.

In accordance with the present invention, loop-shaped bristles can be aromatized and non-aromatized. In addition, loop-shaped bristles may be treated, for example, with fluorine compounds or other additives described below, or may be untreated.

In addition, loop-shaped bristles can be made of the same material as the substrate material on which the loop-like bristles are located, or they can be made of another material. For example, as shown above, bristles can be made on a woven or non-woven substrate layer using needles. The loop-like material can also be made from a single layer of material, or it can be a layered material. For example, a backing layer containing loop-shaped bristles can be adhered to various other layers. For example, the backing layer can be glued to a woven layer, a knitted layer, a nonwoven layer, an expanding layer such as a spandex layer, a layer formed with an hood, or a layer formed with a hood in a neck, or attached to various nonwoven materials, including nonwovens spunbond production method and nonwoven materials obtained by the aeromic method from the melt, or to a layered material of the type (spunbond production method) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material fi ernogo production process).

To change the characteristics of the loop-like material, this material can be subjected to various types of subsequent processing. For example, the material may be sheared, teased, cleaned or sanded. With these types of processing, some loops may be erased and / or cut off. For example, in one embodiment, part of the loops may be trimmed. In another embodiment, such processing steps can be used not to cut the loops, but to loosen the loops so that the bristles become softer.

In one embodiment of a particular implementation of the present invention, the loop material used in the fingertip is a loop material commonly used to make Velcro fasteners. For example, you can use material VELCRO loops No. 002 manufactured by VELCRO, USA, Inc. This material is made with nylon loops. In an alternative embodiment, the loop-shaped fastener material may be elastic. Elastic woven loop-like materials include VELSTRETCH Tare 9999 and MEDFLEX Tare 9399 sold by VELCRO, USA, Inc.

As indicated above, along with various inelastic materials and, if necessary, a textured surface, the fingertip according to the present invention may also contain an elastomeric component.

Due to the presence of the elastomeric component, the fingertip according to the present invention may fit better on the user's finger. In this regard, FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a fingertip made of a substrate material containing at least one elastomeric component. In particular, the first section 20 is usually made of a substrate material that includes an elastomeric nonwoven material. In some embodiments, both the second section 30 and the first section 20 are made of a substrate material that includes an elastomeric nonwoven material. In addition, in other embodiments, the fingertip 10 can be made from a uniform base material containing an elastomeric component.

When included in the fingertip, the elastomeric component may have a different shape. For example, the elastomeric component may be elastic threads or sections uniformly or randomly distributed over the substrate material. Alternatively, the elastomeric component may be an elastic film or an elastic non-woven material. The elastomeric component may be a single layer or may be a multilayer material.

Typically, any material known in the art and having elastomeric characteristics can be used as the elastomeric component in the present invention. Suitable elastomeric materials may include, but are not limited to, films, foams, nonwovens, and the like. For example, suitable elastomeric resins include block copolymers having the general formula ABA, where A and A 'are end blocks of a thermoplastic polymer that contain a styrene moiety, such as polyvinylarene, and B means a middle block of a thermoplastic polymer, such as conjugated diene or lower polyalkene. The block copolymers form blocks A and A 'and these block copolymers encompass linear, branched and radial block copolymers. In this regard, radial block copolymers can be denoted by the formula (AB) m-X, where X is a multifunctional atom or molecule, and each (AB) m- is bonded to X in such a way that A is an end block. In a radial block copolymer, X may be an organic or inorganic polyfunctional atom or molecule, am is an integer equal to the number of functional groups originally contained in X. Usually m is not less than 3, and often equal to 4 or 5, but not limited to by these values. Thus, in the present invention, the term "block copolymer" and, in particular, the block copolymer "ABA" and "AB" covers all block copolymers, including such rubbery blocks and thermoplastic blocks, which, as shown above, can be extruded (for example, using the aerodynamic method from the melt) and in which there are no restrictions on the number of blocks. The elastomeric nonwoven material can be formed, for example, from elastomeric block copolymers (polystyrene / poly (ethylene-butylene) / polystyrene). Examples of such commercially available elastomeric copolymers are, for example, materials known as KRATON® manufactured by Shell Chemical Company of Houston, Texas. KRATON® block copolymers are available in several different formulations, some of which are described in US Pat. Nos. 4,663,220, 4,323,534, 4,834,738, 5,093,422 and 5,304,599, which are incorporated herein by reference.

When implementing the variants of the present invention, it is possible to use polymers that are elastomeric tetrablock copolymers of the form ABA-AB. Such polymers are discussed in US patent No. 5332613. In such copolymers, A means a thermoplastic polymer block, and B means an isoprene monomer unit, hydrogenated mainly to form a monomer unit of the poly (ethylene-propylene) system. An example of such a tetrablock copolymer is the poly (ethylene-propylene) -styrene-poly (ethylene-propylene) elastomeric block copolymer, or SEPSEP, sold by Shell Chemical Company of Houston, Texas under the trade name KRATON® G-1657.

Other typical elastomeric materials that can be used include polyurethane elastomeric materials, such as, for example, sold under the trade name ESTANE® by B. F. Goodrich & Co. or MORTHANE® manufactured by Morton Thiocol Corp., polyester elastomeric materials, such as, for example, sold under the trade name HYTREL® by E. I. DuPont De Nemours & Company, and a material known under the trade name ARNITEL® previously manufactured by Akzo Plastics ofAmhem, Holland, now available from DSM ofSittard, Holland.

Another suitable material is an ester block copolymer having the formula

where n is a positive integer, PA is a polyamide polymer segment, and PE is a polyester polymer segment. In particular, the ester block copolymer of amide has a melting point of from about 150 to about 170 ° C., measured in accordance with ASTM D-789; a melt index of from about 6 g in 10 minutes to about 25 g in 10 minutes, measured in accordance with ASTM D-1238, conditions Q (235 ° C., 1 kg charge); a bending modulus of about 20 to about 200 MPa, measured in accordance with ASTM D-790; a tensile strength of from about 29 to about 33 MPa, measured in accordance with ASTM D-638, and an elongation at break of from about 500 to about 700%, measured in accordance with ASTM D-638. A particular embodiment of an ester block copolymer has a melting point of about 152 ° C., measured in accordance with ASTM D-789; a melt index of about 7 g per 10 minutes, measured in accordance with ASTM D-1238, conditions Q (235 ° C, 1 kg charge); a flexural modulus of approximately 29.50 MPa, measured in accordance with ASTM D-790; a tensile strength of approximately 29 MPa, measured in accordance with ASTM D-638, and an elongation at break of approximately 650%, measured in accordance with ASTM D-638. Various grades of such materials are marketed under the trade name REVAX® by ELF Atochem Inc. of Glen Rock, New Jersey. Examples of the use of such polymers are described in US patent No. 4724184, 4820572 and 4923742.

Elastomeric polymers may also include copolymers of ethylene with at least one vinyl monomer, such as, for example, vinyl acetates, unsaturated aliphatic monobasic carboxylic acids, and esters of such monobasic carboxylic acids. Elastomeric copolymers and the formation of elastomeric nonwoven materials from these elastomeric copolymers are disclosed, for example, in US patent No. 4803117.

Thermoplastic elastomeric ester copolymers include ether and ester copolymers having the general formula

where G is selected from the group consisting of poly (oxyethylene) alpha, omega diol, poly (hydroxypropylene) alpha, omega diol, poly (oxytetramethylene) alpha, omega diol, and a and b are positive integers, including values 2, 4 and 6, m and n mean positive integers, including values 1-20. Such materials typically have a relative elongation at break of about 600 to about 750%, measured in accordance with ASTM D-638, and a melting point of about 350 to about 400 ° F (176 to 205 ° C), measured in accordance with ASTM D-2117.

Examples of such materials from commercially available ester copolymers are, for example, a material known under the trade name ARNITEL®, previously manufactured by Akzo Plastics of Amhem, Holland, and now manufactured by DSM ofSittard, Holland, and a material known under the name HYTREL® and manufactured by E. I. Du Pont De Nemours of Wilmington, Delaware. The formation of an elastomeric nonwoven material from elastomeric materials made from ester copolymers is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,741,949 and US Pat. No. 4,707,398.

Elastomeric olefin polymers are manufactured by Exxon Chemical Company of Baytown, Texas under the trade name ACHIEVE® for propylene-based polymers and EXACT® and EXCEED® for ethylene-based polymers. Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Michigan produces polymers sold under the name ENGAGE®. Exhop typically calls the metallocene catalysts used in its technology “one-center” catalysts, and Dow calls them “geometric constrained” catalysts called INSIGHT® to distinguish them from traditional Ziegler-Natta catalysts that have many reaction centers.

When incorporating an elastomeric component, such as described above, into the substrate material of the present invention, it is often desirable that the elastomeric material forms an elastic laminate with one or more layers, such as foams, films, perforated films and / or non-woven materials. The elastic laminate typically contains layers that can be bonded to each other so that at least one layer possesses the characteristics of an elastic polymer. Examples of elastic laminate materials include, but are not limited to, laminate materials formed with a hood, and laminate materials formed with a hood in a neck.

The elastic component used in materials formed with a hood in the neck, materials formed with a hood, laminated materials formed with a hood, laminated materials formed with a hood in a neck, and other similar laminated materials can be made from materials such as those described above which are formed into films, such as a microporous film, fibrous materials, such as material made from meltblown fibers, or into foams. In particular, a film can be made by extruding an elastomeric polymer with a filler and then drawing it in order to make the film microporous.

Extruded polymers can also form fibrous elastic materials. For example, as indicated above, in one embodiment, the fibrous material may comprise meltblown fibers. The fibers may be continuous or intermittent. The melt-blown material is typically made by extruding a thermoplastic polymer material through a die to produce fibers. When the molten polymer exits the spinneret, a high-pressure fluid, such as heated air or steam, thins the molten polymer filaments into thin fibers. Cold air is supplied around the hot air stream to cool the fibers and cause them to solidify. Then the fibers are randomly deposited on a perforated surface and receive material. The material has integrity, but if necessary, can additionally be subjected to binding.

However, it should be understood that in addition to materials obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt, other fibrous materials can be used in accordance with the present invention. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the elastic materials of the spinneret production method can also be obtained from the fibers of the spinneret production method. Spunbond production materials are typically obtained by heating a thermoplastic polymer resin to a temperature not lower than its softening temperature, then extruding it through a multi-channel mouthpiece to form continuous fibers, which can then be passed through a fiber drawing unit. The fibers exiting the fiber drawing unit are distributed over a perforated surface where they are formed into a material and then bonded, for example, by chemical thermal or ultrasonic means.

In one embodiment, the elastic member may be an elongated and elongated laminate. When used in the present invention, an elongated and elongated laminate means a laminate made from a combination of a laminate formed with a hood in a neck and a laminate formed with a hood. Examples of elongated and elongated laminated materials are disclosed in US Patent Nos. 5114781 and 5116662, which are incorporated herein by reference. A particular advantage is that the laminated material elongated and elongated in the neck can be stretched in the longitudinal and transverse directions. In addition, the laminated material elongated and elongated in the neck can be made with a non-woven substrate that is textured. In particular, the laminated material elongated and elongated in the neck can be made to include a non-woven face layer that is assembled so that a textured surface is formed. Thus, the laminated material elongated and elongated in the neck can be used to form the entire fingertip, which extends in two directions and has a textured surface for cleaning the user's teeth and gums.

Along with the inclusion of an inelastic component or an elastic component, the fingertip according to the present invention may further comprise a moisture-proof barrier element that is incorporated into or adhered to the substrate material of the present invention. Such a barrier element can prevent or at least minimize leakage from the outside of the fingertip by creating a barrier for fluid to pass from the fingertip to the finger located therein. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a layer of material or film may be provided that forms a moisture-proof barrier element 50, which can act as a barrier between the outer part of the fingertip 10 and the finger. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the moisture-proof barrier element 50 can act as a backing only for the second section 30, when the first section 20 does not have such a backing. However, it should also be understood that the moisture-proof barrier element 50 can act as a lining for both the first section 20 and the second section 30. In addition, the moisture-proof barrier element 50 can be applied asymmetrically or unevenly to the fingertip, so that one portion of the fingertip is mainly waterproof and the other not. It should be understood that the moisture-proof barrier element 50 can be applied to the fingertip 10 as a layer of substrate material or as an outer lining for the substrate material. In addition, it should also be understood that the moisture-proof barrier element 50 can be integral with the structure of the substrate material, so that it does not form a separate lining on it.

In one specific application, a moisture-proof barrier element can be used to attach the bristles to the substrate material. For example, in one embodiment, bristles or loop-shaped bristles can be formed on the substrate material by piercing with needles. In accordance with this method, holes can be made in the substrate material that will allow fluid to penetrate through the surface of the fingertip into the interior of the fingertip. In this case, the application of a moisture-proof barrier element can be applied to the substrate material in the form of an inner lining, not only in order to make the substrate material waterproof, but also for attaching the bristles to the surface of the substrate material.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the moisture-proof barrier element 50 can be made from moisture-proof plastic films, such as polyethylene or polypropylene films. Typically, such plastic films are impervious to gases and water vapor, as well as liquids.

Although fully moisture-proof films can prevent fluid from flowing from the outside of the fingertip onto the finger, the use of such moisture- and vapor-tight barrier elements can sometimes lead to the relatively uncomfortable moisture level created in the fingertip 10.

Therefore, in some embodiments, it is desirable to use breathable, watertight barrier elements. As used in the present invention, the term "breathable" means that the barrier element or film is permeable to vapors and gases. In other words, the "breathing barrier elements" and the "breathing films" allow the passage of water vapor and gases, but not necessarily liquids.

For example, some suitable breathable, moisture-proof barrier elements may include barrier elements, such as those disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,828,556, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The breathable barrier element is a multilayer tissue-like barrier element consisting of at least three layers. The first layer is a porous non-woven material; the second layer, which is bonded to one side of the first layer, is a continuous film of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); and the third layer, which is bonded either to the second layer or to the other side of the first layer, which is not connected to the second layer, is another porous non-woven material. The second layer of the continuous film of PVA is not microporous, which means that it basically does not contain voids that connect the upper and lower surfaces of the film.

In other cases, in order for the films to become breathable, they can be made microporous. Micropores form what is often called winding passages through the film. Liquid falling on one side of the film cannot directly leak through the film. On the contrary, the network of microporous channels in the film prevents water from seeping, but allows the passage of water vapor.

In some cases, breathable, moisture-proof barrier elements are made from polymer films that contain any suitable substance, such as calcium carbonate. The films are made breathable by drawing films with filler to create microporous channels that are formed when the polymer is separated from calcium carbonate during drawing. In some embodiments, breathable film layers of a thickness of from about 0.01 to about 5 mils (1 mil = 0.001 inches) can be used, and in other embodiments, from about 0.01 to about 1.0 mils.

An example of a breathable but liquid resistant material is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,591,510, which is incorporated herein by reference. The textile material contains a breathable outer layer of paper pulp and a layer of breathable, moisture-proof non-woven material. The material also includes a thermoplastic film, in which there are many holes that allow the film to be breathable, but do not allow direct leakage of liquid.

In addition to the above films, various other breathable films can be used in the present invention. One type of film that can be used is a non-porous continuous film that, due to its molecular structure, can form a vapor-permeable barrier. Various polymer films of this type include films made using an amount of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyurethane, ethylene methyl acrylate and ethylene methyl acrylic acid sufficient to make them breathable. Although the authors of the present invention do not intend to come to a conclusion about a specific mechanism of action of the films, it is assumed that films made from such polymers solubilize the molecules of the ox and allow the transfer of these molecules from one side of the film to the other. In this regard, in order to make such films moisture-proof, but vapor-permeable, they can be made sufficiently continuous, i.e. non-porous.

Other breathable moisture-proof barrier elements that can be used in the present invention are disclosed in US Patent Application Serial Number 08/928787 entitled "Breathable, Liquid-Impermeable Apertured Film / Nonwoven Laminate and Process for Making the Same", which in its entirety Included in the present invention for reference. In particular, breathable films and / or perforated films can be used in the present invention. Such films can be included in the layered structure. In one embodiment, a breathable, moisture-proof, perforated film / nonwoven laminate may be formed from a nonwoven layer, a perforated film layer and a breathable film layer. The layers may be arranged such that a layer of a perforated film or a layer of a breathable film is attached to the nonwoven layer.

In particular, in another embodiment of the present invention, a perforated film that is made of a thermoplastic film, including films made of polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene or ethylene copolymers, and a film with calcium carbonate as a filler can be used. The specific perforation techniques used to produce the perforated film layer may be different. The film may be formed as a perforated film, or may be formed as a continuous, non-perforated film, and then subjected to a mechanical perforation operation.

In the manufacture of the fingertip of the present invention, the moisture-proof barrier layers described above can be used individually or included in a laminate. When incorporated into the laminate, this laminate may include various non-woven materials in combination with a moisture-proof barrier layer. For example, moisture-proof barrier laminate materials can be formed using various methods, such as, for example, aerodynamic melt forming methods, spunbond methods, co-molding methods, (spunbond production method) / (melt spun aerodynamic method) / (spunbond production method) (SMS), (spunbond production method) / (aerodynamic melt forming method) (SM), and methods for forming from a carded web. For example, in one embodiment, the non-woven layer of a moisture-proof laminated barrier material according to the present invention is a material with a configuration (spunbond production method) / (aerodynamic method for melt-forming) / (spunbond production method) (SMS) and / or (spunbond method production) / (aerodynamic melt forming method) (SM). SMS is described in US Pat. No. 4,041,203, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other SMS products and methods are described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 5,464,688, 5,169,706 and 4,766,029, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Typically, the SMS material contains melt aerodynamic material located between two outer materials of a spunbond production method. Such SMS laminates are produced by Kimberly-Clark Corporation under the name Spunguard® and Evolution®. The layers of the spunbond production method in SMS materials give durability, and the inner barrier layer obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt gives porosity and, when touched, gives an additional sensation similar to the sensation of fabric. By analogy with the SMS laminate, the SM laminate is a spunbond production layer connected to a melt-blown layer.

When forming the fingertip of the present invention with a moisture-proof barrier element, the barrier element can be connected to other layers of the product for wiping in a number of different ways. Thermal bonding, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, extrusion coating, and the like. are merely examples of various binding methods that can be used in the present invention to connect a moisture-proof barrier element to the fibrous layer of the fingertip.

In some embodiments, any of the above layers and / or materials may also be painted or stained so as to form a substrate material or a moisture-proof barrier element having a specific color. For example, in one embodiment, the moisture barrier element 50 may have a colored background. In particular, white tufts of pile, colored tufts of pile and / or white titanium oxide can be used as a background.

As shown above, the fingertip according to the present invention can be made from various components that have different features. For example, the fingertip may include an inelastic component, an elastic component, and a moisture-proof barrier element. If necessary, the fingertip may have a textured surface designed to facilitate rubbing and cleaning of teeth and gums. In addition, the fingertip can be made of single-layer materials or multilayer materials, as well as various materials and fibers. Now will be discussed one specific embodiment of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention, presented in FIG.2.

In this embodiment, the fingertip 10 includes a first section 20 thermally bonded to the second section 30. The second section 30 is for contact with the teeth and gums of the user, and the first section 20 is made of an elastic laminate designed to give the fingertip the ability to acquire a tight shape.

More specifically, in this embodiment, the second section is a three-layer laminate. This laminate includes an inner polypropylene layer of a spinneret production method, a middle moisture-proof barrier layer, and an outer bicomponent layer obtained by the aerodynamic method from a melt that forms the outer surface of the fingertip.

The polypropylene layer of the spinneret production method is made of polypropylene filaments of the spinneret production method and may have a surface density of from about 0.3 to about 1.0 osy, and preferably may have a surface density of about 0.5 osy. On the other hand, the moisture barrier layer may be a film made of linear low density polyethylene containing calcium carbonate as a filler. The film may be stretched to form pores, making the film breathable, but which remains substantially watertight. The moisture barrier layer may have a surface density of about 0.2 osy to about 1.0 osy, and may preferably have a surface density of about 0.5 osy. The polypropylene layer of the spunbond production method can be bonded to the moisture-proof barrier layer using glue.

In an alternative embodiment, the inner polypropylene layer of the spunbond production method can be replaced with a nonwoven fabric made from two-element polypropylene / polyethylene fibers. Alternatively, the middle moisture barrier layer may be a film made from a mixture of polymers, such as a CATALLOY film sold by Pliant Corporation.

The outer layer may be a spunbond production method material or an air purge bonded material made from two-element polypropylene / polyethylene filaments in a parallel configuration. The outer layer may have a surface density of from about 1.0 to about 5.0 osy, and preferably may have a surface density of from about 2.0 to about 4.0 osy. Alternatively, the outer layer itself may have a layered structure. For example, a two-row method can be used in which a layer of fibers of a larger diameter is formed on a layer of fibers of a smaller diameter.

The outer two-element layer of the spunbond production method can be connected to other layers using a thermal dot bonding method, such as a spot shaped loosening method. More specifically, the layers can be point-loosened to form a textured surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the point loosening mode can be made so that round tufts of pile protrude from the surface of the laminate.

As noted above, the first section 20 is an elastic laminate. For example, the first section 20 may be a sheet laminate formed with a hood. The sheet laminate formed with the hood may include elastic strands made of an elastomeric material located between two polypropylene layers of a spunbond production method. The elastic strands can in particular be made from a styrene- (ethylene-butylene) -styrene block copolymer such as KRATON G 2740 manufactured by Shell Chemical Company. The layered material formed with the hood may have a surface density of from about 1.0 to about 5 osy, preferably from about 1.5 to about 3.5 osy, and more preferably from about 2.0 to about 3, 0 osy.

Instead of a sheet laminate formed with a hood, the first section 20 may be a sheet laminate formed with a hood in a neck. The sheet laminate formed with a hood in the neck may include an elastic polyethylene film obtained using a metallocene catalyst located between two polypropylene layers of a spunbond production method. Layers and spunbond production methods may have a surface density up to drawing equal to about 0.45 osy. On the other hand, the polyethylene film may have a surface density of about 0.5 to about 1.5 osy.

The first section 20 can be attached to the second section 30 using various methods. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first section 20 can be connected using the ultrasonic method to the second section 30 at opposite edges to form a pocket for accommodating a finger.

After the first section 20 and the second section 30 are connected to each other, excess material can be cut off and removed from the fingertip. Typically, any suitable cutting method can be used to remove excess material. For example, the material can be cut off using a high-pressure water jet known as a water knife, or it can be cut off using a conventional mechanical device, such as a cutter or scissors. In one embodiment, the first section 20 and the second section 30 can be simultaneously connected to each other and cut off from the materials from which they are made. For example, ultrasonic energy can be used to bind and cut materials in one step.

The dimensions of the fingertip, which is formed in accordance with the present invention, will depend on the particular application and the purpose for which the fingertip is to be used. For example, the fingertip can be made to fit the finger of an adult or the finger of a child. In addition, the fingertip can be made to be worn on two fingers. For most single finger fingertips, the wiping product should have a length of about 1 to about 5 inches, with an average flattened width of about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches. In the manufacture for putting on two fingers, depending on the elasticity of the wiping product, the fingertip may have an average width of about 0.75 to about 2.5 inches.

11-13, three other embodiments of fingertips made in accordance with the present invention are presented. In these embodiments, the textured material is a loop-like material. For example, in FIG. 1, the fingertip 110 is shown in general terms. The fingertip 110 includes a first section 120 that is thermally bonded, sewn, or otherwise attached to the second section 130. The second section 130 includes a textured surface that is a loop-like material containing many bristles 132 .

In this embodiment, the loop-like material 130 is a knitted material. Loop-like bristles 132 are arranged on this material in a regular manner. In particular, the loop-shaped bristles 132 form rows on the surface of the fingertip 110.

As shown in FIG. 11, the bristles 132 are located over the entire surface of the second section 130. However, it should be understood that the loop-shaped bristles can be located on a specific area, for example, only at the end of the fingertip or on all surfaces of the fingertip. For example, the area occupied by the loop-shaped bristles may have a round, oval, or any other suitable shape.

The first section 120 may be made of various materials. For example, in one embodiment, the first section 120 may be made of an elastic material, such as a laminate formed with a hood. 12, in general terms, another alternative embodiment of the fingertip 210 is shown. In this embodiment, the fingertip 210 is shaped so that it is worn on two fingers 212.

The fingertip 210 includes a first section 220 and a second section 230. The second section 230 is a loop-like material containing loop-shaped bristles 232. In this embodiment, the loop-like bristles 232 are densely packed on the loop-like material 230 and randomly placed. The loop-like material 230 is similar to the part of the velcro fastener having loops. As shown in the drawing, the loop-like material 230 includes not only the loop-like bristles 232, but also a substrate layer 234. The substrate layer 234 can be made of various materials, including elastic materials, such as spandex materials.

13, another alternative embodiment of the fingertip 310 is shown in general terms. In this embodiment, the fingertip 310 includes a first section 320 connected to a second section 330. On the second section 330, there are a plurality of hooks 334. In one embodiment, the surface comprising hooks , can be used to clean adjacent surfaces.

In an alternative embodiment, the fingertip 310 further includes a loop-like material 312 comprising loop-shaped bristles 332. As shown, loop-shaped bristles 332 are located on both sides of the loop-like material 312. In this case, one side of the loop-like material 312 can be attached to the second section 330 by fastening, such as fastening Velcro tape. The loop-like material applied to the second section 330 can then be used as a cleaning surface.

In this embodiment, the loop-like material 312 can be removed from the fingertip 310 and replaced if necessary. Therefore, this implementation option is usually called a fingertip, which has a removable component.

In an alternative embodiment of the fingertip shown in FIG. 13, the second section 330, instead of including a plurality of hooks 334, may be made of non-woven material on which there is a loop-shaped fastening surface. In this embodiment, material 312 may include loop-shaped bristles 332 on one side of the material and may include fastening hooks on the opposite side of the same material. In this case, the hooks located on the material 312 can be connected to the surface of the second section 330.

In the embodiments presented in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the material containing the loop-like bristles may be inelastic or elastic. However, when using an elastic material containing loop-shaped bristles, the entire fingertip can be made from this material. For example, an elastic material containing loop-like bristles, such as VELSTRETCH Tare, 9999 or MEDFLEX Tare, 9399 manufactured by VELCRO, USA, Inc., can be tubular and then joined at the edges. The resulting product will have the ability to acquire a tight-fitting shape and include an external rubbing surface containing loop-shaped bristles.

In yet another embodiment, hook-shaped structures may be glued to a substrate of elastic material comprising loop-shaped bristles, as shown above. In this embodiment, the elastic loop-like material can be wrapped around the finger and fastened to itself using hook-like structures. Once attached to the finger, the material can be used to wipe the adjacent surface.

On Fig in General terms presents another embodiment of a fingertip 410, made in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the denture 410 is a denture that is worn on two fingers. More specifically, the fingertip 410 includes two toothbrushing products that are worn on one finger and are connected to each other so that both sides of the teeth can be cleaned at the same time. Each of the wipes includes a first section 420 connected to a second section 430, on which there is a textured surface. The two wiping articles are connected to each other by means of a connecting portion 450. In one embodiment, the connecting portion 450 can be made of thread for cleaning the interdental spaces.

Typically, various chemical additives can also be applied to the fingertip. For example, any material, chemical, or additive typically applied to cotton balls, tampons, or gauze can be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. Examples of such additives may include, but are not limited to, medications, anti-diaper dermatitis ointments, alcohols, oral anesthetics, makeup remover reagents, and the like. In addition, various other additives, chemicals and materials may be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. For example, some additives can be applied when the fingertip is used as a mouthwash. For example, in one embodiment, cationic polymers can be applied to the fingertip. Cationic polymers can help clean teeth and / or gums, since they usually have a good ability to attract negatively charged bacteria and harmful acid by-products that accumulate in plaque. One example of a cationic polymer suitable for use in the present invention is chitosan (poly-N-acetylglucosamine, a chitin derivative) and chitosan salts. Chitosan and its salts are natural biopolymers that have both hemostatic and bacteriostatic characteristics. As a result, chitosan can help reduce bleeding, reduce plaque and weaken gingivitis.

In addition to chitosan and chitosan salts, any other cationic polymer can be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, cationogenic starches are used in the present invention. One such suitable cationic starch is, for example, COBOND, manufactured by National Starch. In another embodiment, cationogenic materials that are oligomeric compounds can be used. In some embodiments, combinations of cationogenic materials may be used.

In addition to the chemical additives noted above, various other additives can be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. For example, other well-known dental reagents may be used. Examples of such dental reagents include, but are not limited to, alginates, soluble calcium salts, phosphates, fluorides such as sodium fluoride (NaF) and tin fluoride (SnF ₂ ), and the like. In addition, peppermint oil and peppermint oil mixtures can be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, peppermint oil may be applied to the fingertip. In addition, in another embodiment, a peppermint oil / ethanol mixture may be applied. You can also use peppermint oil components (for example, menthol, carvone). In addition to this, various moisturizing agents can be applied to the fingertip. Examples of wetting agents include peroxides and in situ sources of peroxides, such as carbamide peroxide.

In addition, in some embodiments, the fingertip may also contain an antiulcer component. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention may include a component for controlling H. pylori. Typically, any compound known in the art as antiulcer or exterminating H. pylori can be used in the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, bismuth salts may be used. One particularly effective bismuth salt, basic bismuth citrate, is described in more detail in US Pat. No. 5,834,002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Another example of a suitable bismuth salt is PEPTO-BISMOL sold by The Procter & Gamble Company and containing basic bismuth salicylate. In addition to bismuth salts, other examples of suitable antiulcer additives include, but are not limited to, tetracycline, erythromycin, clarithromycin, and other antibiotics. In addition, other additives useful for treating peptic ulcers, such as H2 blockers, omeprazole, sucralfate and metronidazole, can also be used.

In addition to the additives mentioned above, other additives can also be applied to the fingertip. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, flavoring agents, antimicrobial agents, preservatives, polishing agents, hemostatic agents, surfactants, and the like. Examples of suitable flavors include various sugars, breath fresheners and artificial sweeteners, as well as natural flavors such as cinnamon, vanilla and citruses. In addition, in one embodiment, xylitol can be used as a flavoring agent, which when dissolved in the mouth creates a cooling effect and is an anti-caries agent. As noted above, preservatives such as methyl benzoate or methyl paraben can be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. These additives can be applied to the fingertip in a pure form or they can be encapsulated to preserve the additives and / or to provide a delayed release additive.

Recommended polishing agents include, but are not limited to, silicon and sodium bicarbonate. Recommended antimicrobial or antibacterial reagents include, but are not limited to, triclosan, thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate, chlorhexidine, hexetidine, hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. Recommended anticaries agents include, but are not limited to, triclosan, xylitol, and fluoride. Recommended plaque reagents include, but are not limited to, triclosan, menthol, thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, and cetyl pyridinium chloride.

In addition, various other additives and combinations thereof can be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. In particular, examples of various materials that can be used as additives in the present invention are those described in US Pat. Nos. 3,902,509, 5,445,825, which are incorporated herein by reference. Although various specific additives are specifically indicated above, it should be understood that any additive can usually be applied to the fingertip of the present invention. These additives can be applied to the fingertip in a pure form or they can be encapsulated to preserve the additives and / or to provide a delayed release additive.

Typically, the chemical additives described above can be applied to the fingertip of the present invention using a variety of methods known in the art. For example, additives can be applied to the fingertip using a saturating system, such as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,486,381, which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, additives can be applied by printing, roller, spatula, by spraying, spray drying, in the form of foam, brush, etc., which is well known in the art. In addition, additives can be applied as a mixture of molten salts or coextruded onto the fingertip. In addition, in another embodiment, chemical additives can impregnate the material in its manufacture, which is well known in the art. It should be understood that when applied to the fingertip, as shown above, additives can be applied to the substrate material before or after the substrate material is cut out or bonded to form the fingertip of the present invention. In addition, it should also be understood that, if necessary, various additives, solutions and chemicals, the consumer can apply to the fingertip immediately before use.

In another embodiment, the additive is encapsulated and then applied to the fingertip. Encapsulation is a procedure by which a material or mixture of materials is coated with another material or mixture of materials or included in them. This method is commonly used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The material that is coated or incorporated into other materials is usually a liquid, although it can be either a solid or a gas, and in the present invention is called core material. The material that forms the coating is called the carrier material. Many encapsulation methods are known in the art that can be used in the present invention, including spray drying, spray cooling, coacervation, fluid bed coating, liposome entrapment, rotational suspension separation and extrusion.

Spray drying is usually used to encapsulate food products and flavors. To prepare the material for spray drying, the carrier material is dissolved in water. A core component is added to this solution and mixed thoroughly. Typically, the ratio of carrier material to core material is 4: 1, although more significant or smaller ratios can be used. The mixture is homogenized and then sent to a spray drying apparatus, in which it is sprayed into a stream of hot air. Water evaporates and dried particles remain, containing core material included in the carrier matrix.

Suitable carrier materials include, but are not limited to, gums, gum arabic, modified starches, gelatin, cellulose derivatives, and maltodextrins. Suitable core materials along with various additives noted above include, but are not limited to, flavoring agents, natural oils, additives, sweeteners, stabilizers.

Regardless of the method used to apply chemical additives to the fingertip, additives can be applied to the fingertip in the form of an aqueous solution, non-aqueous solution, oil, lotion, cream, suspension, gel, etc. When using an aqueous solution, it may contain various liquids, such as various solvents and / or water. In addition, the solution can often contain more than one additive. In some embodiments, the additives applied with an aqueous solution or other method comprise about less than 80% by weight of the fingertip. In other embodiments, the additives may be applied in an amount of less than about 50% by weight of the fingertip.

In addition, in some embodiments, the additives can be applied asymmetrically to the fingertip to reduce costs and maximize the performance of the fingertip. For example, in one embodiment, a coating of a specific substance is asymmetrically applied to a flat sheet of substrate material, and then it is cut out and bonded to form a fingertip according to the present invention, so that only the surface used to clean the teeth is coated with additives. In another embodiment, the fingertip is cut out and bound, and then a coating of a particular reagent is asymmetrically applied to it.

Prior to shipment and sale, the fingertip according to the present invention may be placed in various sealed containers so as to preserve the additive applied to the fingertip or to contain the fingertip in a sterile environment. Various packaging materials that can be used include films of a copolymer of ethylene with vinyl alcohol (EMU), laminated materials consisting of films and foils, metallized films, multilayer plastic films, and the like. Depending on the purpose, the package may be completely impermeable or may be selectively permeable to flavorings.

The present invention can be better understood by referring to the following examples:

EXAMPLES

Tested various fingertips made in accordance with the present invention. The fingertips are made using various materials as described in the following examples. Fingers are made of materials using ultrasonic welding to form seams. In each of the following examples, unless otherwise indicated, each fingertip is made of a mold having a length of about 2.75 to about 3.0 inches. The fingertips are made with an open end for inserting a finger and with a closed end. The width of the fingertip in a flattened state decreases by a cone from the open end to the closed end. The width of the mold at the open end ranges from 1.063 to 1.25 inches. The width at the closed end is in the range of 0.8 to 0.9 inches. After forming, the fingertips are cut into pieces ranging in length from 1.0 to 3.0 inches. The width of the hole is usually in the range of 0.6 to 1.0 inches (width of the inside). With a pull tab, the length of the tab is in the range of 0.2 to 0.8 inches.

EXAMPLE 1

The fingertip corresponding to the present invention is formed as follows. Namely, the first section, made of laminated material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot loosening, is connected by ultrasonic welding to sheet laminated material formed with a hood (SBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot loosening, forms the front of the fingertip, and the sheet SBL forms the back of the fingertip.

The layered material of the spunbond production method subjected to point-breaking loosening is obtained by thermally bonding the polypropylene material of the spunbond production method, a sheet of a breathable film and a two-element material of the spunbond production method. A sheet of breathable film is placed between the materials of the spunbond production method.

The polypropylene material of the spunbond production method has a surface density of 0.5 osy. The two-element material of the spunbond production method is made of two-element yarns having a polyethylene element and a polypropylene element in a parallel configuration. The two-element material of the spunbond production method has a surface density of 2.5 osy. The breathable film sheet is made of linear low density polyethylene containing calcium carbonate as a filler. The film is stretched to form a microporous film. The film has a surface density of 0.5 osy.

The two-element material of the spunbond production method is thermally bonded to the film laminate by spot loosening, which leads to texturing. In particular, on the side of the laminate on which the two-element material of the spunbond production method is located, round tufts of pile are formed. During bonding, the upper bonding roller, creating a point loosening, is heated to 260 ° F, and the lower bonding roller is heated to 240 ° F.

On the other hand, SBL sheet material includes fibers of elastic material located between two polypropylene layers of a spunbond production method. The elastic material used is a KRATON G2740 S-EB-S block copolymer manufactured by Shell Oil Company. SBL sheet material has a surface density of 2.5 osy. For ultrasonic bonding of SBL sheet material with point-wound disintegrated layered production material, a shaped magnesium bonding plate was used as a support.

When performing ultrasonic welding, a two-element layer of a spinneret method for producing material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to a layer of SBL sheet material, so that the convexity of the texture is located on the other side of the SBL sheet material. After ultrasonic welding, the excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside. Peppermint oil is applied to the fingertip and then the fingertip is used to clean the teeth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 2

The fingertip described in Example 1 is made and soaked in peppermint oil. Then the fingertip is used by adults to clean the mouth of a baby starting to walk.

EXAMPLE 3

A fingertip is made according to Example 1. The fingertip is immersed in juice from chopped meat and then used by an adult to clean the dog's mouth.

EXAMPLE 4

A fingertip was made corresponding to Example 1. However, in this example, a two-element sheet material of a spinneret method for producing a layered spunbond method of production subjected to spot loosening has a surface density of 3.6 osy. During spot loosening, the upper binder roller is heated to 270 ° F, and the lower binder roller is heated to 240 ° F. After manufacturing, the fingertip is turned inside out and treated with peppermint oil. Then the fingertip is used to clean the teeth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 5

A fingertip is made, similar to the fingertip described in Example 1. However, in this embodiment, the two-element sheet material of the spinneret method for producing the layered material of the spinneret method of production, subjected to spot loosening, is a two-element fibrous material bonded by blowing air with a surface density of 1.8 osy. Two-element yarns contain a polyethylene element and a polypropylene element in a parallel configuration. During spot loosening, the upper binder roller is heated to 260 ° F, and the lower binder roller is heated to 240 ° F. After manufacturing, the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the protrusions of the texture described in Example 1 are on the outside.

EXAMPLE 6

The fingertip is made as described in Example 5. However, in this example, the two-element fibrous material bonded by blowing air has a surface density of 2.5 osy. In addition, the two-element material is painted yellow.

EXAMPLE 7

The fingertip is made in accordance with the description in Example 1. However, in this example, the layered material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is replaced by a multilayer layered material that includes a layered material of the form (material of spunbond production method) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt ) - (spunbond production method material) that is glued to a strip of loop-like material that is a component of a Velcro fastener. Layered material of the type (material of the spunbond method of production) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) has a total surface density of 1.0 osy. The layered material includes an inner layer, obtained by aerodynamic method from a melt, with a surface density of 0.4 osy, made of polypropylene fibers. The two outer layers of the spinneret production method are also made of polypropylene.

The loop-like material is a VELCRO loop 2000 material manufactured by VELCRO, USA, Inc.

The obtained multilayer material by ultrasonic welding is bonded to the laminate formed with the hood described in Example 1, so that a layer of material of the form (material of the spunbond production method) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond production method) is located next to a layer of laminate formed with a hood. The loop-like material forms the front of the fingertip. The fingertip is treated with a fragrance composition comprising curly peppermint and peppermint oil and then used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 8

The fingertip is made as described in Example 1 and is used to remove makeup. However, in this example, the punctured laminate of the spunbond production method is replaced with sheet material obtained by co-molding. Co-formed sheet material is a melt blown material containing 50 wt.% Cellulose fibers and 50 wt.% Polypropylene fibers. Co-formed sheet material has a surface density of 1.2 osy. The sheet material obtained by co-molding, by ultrasonic welding, is bonded to a laminate formed with a hood as described in Example 1.

In this example, the fingertip is not turned inside out. In addition, the fingertip section made of the joint-formed sheet material is longer than the section made of the laminate formed with the hood and forms a pull tab. Then the fingertip is immersed in alcohol and used to remove makeup.

EXAMPLE 9

A fingertip is made, similar to the fingertip described in Example 1. In this example, the two-element spunbond production method contained in the punctured spunbond layered production material has a surface density of 3.5 osy. During spot loosening, the upper binder roller is heated to 270 ° F, and the lower binder roller is heated to 250 ° F.

However, unlike Example 1, instead of using a sheet layered material formed with an extract, the layered spunbond production method material subjected to spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a laminate formed with an exhaust in the neck. A layered material formed with a hood in the neck is obtained by gluing a polyurethane film having a surface density of 15 g / m ² between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spunbond production method. Findley H2525A manufactured by Findley, Inc., is used to manufacture the laminate formed with a hood in the neck. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 30% of their original width.

After bonding the layered material of the spunbond spunbond production method to a laminate formed with a hood in the neck, the fingertip is turned inside out so that the protrusions of the texture form the outer surface of the fingertip. Peppermint oil is applied to the fingertip and then used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 10

A fingertip is made, similar to the fingertip described in Example 1, using the same layered spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening. However, unlike Example 1, instead of a laminate formed with a hood, a laminate formed with a hood is used as the elastic material. The layered material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot loosening, is ultrasonically bonded to a laminate formed with a hood.

The layered material formed with the hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 15 g / m ² obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spunbond production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in a neck to a width of 45% of their original width.

After bonding the layered material of the spunbond spunbond production method to a laminate formed with a hood in the neck, the fingertip is turned inside out so that the protrusions of the texture form the outer surface of the fingertip. Peppermint oil is applied to the fingertip and then used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 11

A fingertip was made similar to the fingertip described in Example 9. However, in this example, a sheet laminate formed with a hood in the neck is formed by gluing a polyamide elastic film (REVAX-2533 film manufactured by Elf Atochem) having a surface density of 15 g / m ² between the two face layers of a bi-directional stretchable polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front polypropylene materials of the spinneret production method, prior to the hood or the neck, have a surface density of 0.3 osy. When bonding with an elastic film, the front polypropylene materials of the spinneret production method are pulled into the neck to a width of 40% of their original width, and then crimped so that their length is reduced by 50%.

The layered material formed with the hood in the neck, using ultrasonic welding, is bonded to the layered material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot loosening. The resulting fingertip is turned inside out and treated with peppermint oil. It was found that a sheet laminate formed with a hood in the neck has elasticity in two directions. The fingertip is then used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 12

The fingertip described in Example 1 is made of a layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening by ultrasonic welding associated with a laminate formed with a hood. The total surface density of the sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is 0.3 osy.

The following additive is applied to the fingertip.

Additive Content, wt.% Peppermint Oil (Global Essence, Inc.) 0.51 Chitosan Citrate Solution, 1% (obtained from Vanson Chemical's chitosan 0.01 Company and citric acid manufactured by Archer Daniels Midland) Surfactant T MAZ-80 0.55 Polysorbat (manufactured by BASF) Xylitol (manufactured by Cultor, Inc.) 8.56 Water 90.31

After immersion in the above aqueous solution, the fingertip is allowed to dry and sealed in a plastic film. After a period of time, the fingertip designed for wiping is removed and used to treat the user's mouth.

EXAMPLE 13

A fingertip is made, similar to that described in Example 1. In this example, the spot-dried laminate has a total surface density of 2.75 osy. Then, instead of welding with a laminated material formed with a hood, the spot-dried laminated material is glued with an elastomeric ether-ester copolymer melt blown (ARNITEL EM400 ether and ester copolymer manufactured by DSM Enginering Plastics). A material made from a copolymer of a simple and complex ester, aerodynamically processed from a melt, has a surface density of approximately 2 osy.

EXAMPLE 14

A fingertip is made, similar to that described in Example 1. In this embodiment, the point-disintegrated laminate has a surface density of 2.75 osy.

In this example, the point-disintegrated laminate is welded with a laminate of the form (spunbond material) - (meltblown material) - (spunbond material) that is glued to a thin strip of elastic material commonly used in as an elastic band for the legs in diapers. Namely, the layered material of the type (material of the spunbond production method) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) has a total surface density of 1.0 osy, the inner layer obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt, has a surface density of 0.4 osy. The elastic strip has a width of 1 cm and is glued to a laminate of the type (material of the spunbond production method) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production). The elastic strip includes elastic strands located between two polypropylene face layers of the spinneret production method.

The obtained fingertip made by welding of a layered material of the type (material of a spunbond production method) - (material obtained by an aerodynamic method from a melt) - (material of a spunbond method of production) with sheet material of a spunbond method of production subjected to spot loosening is elastic due to the presence of an elastic strip attached to the layered material of the type (material of the spunbond production method) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material spunbond with production allowance). The elastic strip is not uniformly elastic. The fingertip is made so that after sticking the finger into the fingertip, the elastic strip remains between the first and second joints of the finger of an adult.

EXAMPLE 15

An alternative embodiment of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention is obtained as follows. In this example, the fingertip includes a first section made of a layered material of the form (material of a spunbond production method) - (material obtained by an aerodynamic method from a melt) - (material of a spunbond method of production) welded with a second section made of a layered material formed with a hood in the neck. Layered material of the type (material of the spunbond method of production) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) forms the front side of the fingertip, and the layered material formed with the hood in the neck forms the back side.

Layered material of the type (material of the spunbond method of production) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) is made of polypropylene and has a total surface density of 0.8 osy.

On the other hand, the laminate formed with a neck extension is similar to the laminate formed with a neck extension described in Example 10, except that it has a heavier film and a heavier face layer. In addition, the front layers are elongated in the neck to a width of 40% of their original width. The layered material has a total surface density of 4.2 osy.

These two sections are thermally connected to each other in the form of a fingertip, and the excess material is cut off at the edges of the product for wiping. Then the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are inside. A fingertip section made of a layered material of the form (material of a spunbond production method) - (material obtained by an aerodynamic method from a melt) - (material of a spunbond method of production) is longer than a section made of a layered material formed with a hood in the neck, so that a tensile is formed a tab designed to facilitate putting on the product for rubbing on the finger. More precisely, the length of the section made of a layered material of the type (material of the spunbond method of production) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) is approximately 5 cm, while the length of the layered material formed with a hood in the neck , equal to about 4 cm. After flattening the fingertip, the width of the lower part of the product for wiping is approximately 2.4 cm.

EXAMPLE 16

An alternative implementation of a fingertip made in accordance with the present invention is obtained as follows. In this example, the fingertip includes a first section made of a layered material of the form (material of a spunbond production method) - (material obtained by an aerodynamic method from a melt) - (material of a spunbond method of production) welded with a second section made of a layered material formed with a hood in the neck. Layered material of the type (material of the spunbond method of production) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) forms the front side of the fingertip, and the layered material formed with the hood in the neck forms the back side.

Layered material of the type (material of the spunbond method of production) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) is made of polypropylene and has a total surface density of 0.8 osy.

On the other hand, the laminate formed with a neck extension is similar to the laminate formed with a neck extension described in Example 10, except that it has a heavier film and a heavier face layer, so that it has a common surface density equal to 4.2 osy. In addition, the front layers are elongated in the neck to a width of 40% of their original width.

These two sections are thermally connected to each other in the form of a fingertip, and the excess material is cut off at the edges of the product for wiping. Then the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are inside. A fingertip section made of a layered material of the form (material of a spunbond production method) - (material obtained by an aerodynamic method from a melt) - (material of a spunbond method of production) is longer than a section made of a layered material formed with a hood in the neck, so that a tensile is formed a tab designed to facilitate putting on the product for rubbing on the finger. More precisely, the length of the section made of a layered material of the type (material of the spunbond method of production) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond method of production) is approximately 5 cm, while the length of the layered material formed with a hood in the neck , equal to about 4 cm. After flattening the fingertip, the width of the lower part of the product for wiping is approximately 2.4 cm.

EXAMPLE 17

The fingertip is made similarly to the fingertip of Example 1 in that the elastic material is welded to a textured surface to form a finger-shaped article. However, in contrast to Example 1, instead of a laminate formed with a hood, a laminate formed with a hood in a neck is used as an elastic material. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density equal to 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spunbond production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width.

Also, unlike Example 1, the textured material is not a nonwoven fabric that has undergone thermal point-breaking, but a knitted nylon material having loop-shaped bristles about 3-4 mm long. This knitted material has a surface density of approximately 2.5 osy. The bristles include a dense directional component that allows wiping in a direction with a relatively large or small coefficient of friction, i.e., along or against the orientation of the bristles. The loop-like bristles are rather uniform in size and distribution and usually their ends are 3-4 mm apart from the surface. The hinges of the bristles are made of many threads.

Textile material using ultrasonic welding is associated with a layered material formed with a hood in the neck. Then peppermint oil is applied to the fingertip and after that it is used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 18

The fingertip is made similarly to the fingertip of Example 1 in that the elastic material is welded to a textured surface to form a fingertip shaped article. However, in contrast to Example 1, instead of a laminate formed with a hood, a laminate formed with a hood in a neck is used as an elastic material. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width.

Also, unlike Example 1, the textured material is not a nonwoven fabric subjected to thermal spot disintegration, but a knitted nylon material having loop-shaped bristles approximately 3 mm long. This knit material has a surface density of approximately 2.5 osy and is joined by ultrasonic welding along the perimeter of the breathable film laminate (1.0 osy) to form a laminate of the form (nonwoven fabric) / (knit fabric) containing loop-like bristles and moisture-proof barrier element.

This laminar material of the type (non-woven fabric) / (knitted fabric) containing loop-shaped bristles is ultrasonically bonded to a laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) so that the loop-shaped bristles are adjacent to the NBL. The fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seam is located inside, and the bristles are outside. Then a commercial toothpaste for children (GERBER Tooth & Gum Cleanser) is applied to the fingertip and after that it is used to clean the mouth of a baby starting to walk.

EXAMPLE 19

A fingertip was made, similar to the fingertip of Example 1. The layered material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot loosening, is connected by ultrasonic welding to a laminated material formed with a hood in the neck. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width.

However, unlike Example 1, the textured material is a loop-containing portion of a conventional Velcro fastener, VELCRO Med-Flex Tape 9399, containing nylon and spandex. This material is elastic. The loop-like bristles are monofilament and are 0.5 to 3 mm apart from the surface in an unstretched state and extend to about 10 mm when tensile forces are applied. Textile material using ultrasonic welding is associated with a layered material formed with a hood in the neck. Then peppermint oil is applied to the fingertip and then used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 20

A fingertip is made similar to the fingertip of Example 1. However, in contrast to Example 1, instead of a laminate formed with a hood, a laminate formed with a hood in a neck is used as an elastic material. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width.

Also unlike Example 1, the textured material is a regular Velcro fastener, VELCRO Loop 002 Tare 0599, with a surface density of 0.5 osy, and consisting of nylon glued to a breathable film laminate (1.0 osy ) The textured material is ultrasonically bonded to a laminate formed with a hood in the neck. Then a commercial toothpaste for children (GERBER) is applied to the fingertip and after that it is used to clean the mouth of a baby starting to walk.

EXAMPLE 21

A fingertip is made similar to the fingertip of Example 1. However, in contrast to Example 1, instead of a laminate formed with a hood, a laminate formed with a hood in a neck is used as an elastic material. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width. Also, unlike Example 1, the textured material is a nonwoven substrate, perforated with needles, having a surface density of about 5 osy.

The textured material is ultrasonically bonded to a laminate formed with a hood in the neck. Then peppermint oil is applied to the fingertip and then used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 22

The ability of the preservative of the present invention has been demonstrated to attach to a fingertip toothbrush. A fingertip toothbrush according to the present invention is made as follows. Namely, the first section made of the polypropylene material of the die-casting method of production, subjected to spot loosening, is connected by ultrasonic welding to sheet laminated material formed with a hood (SBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The dotted loosened layered production material forms the front of the fingertip and the sheet SBL forms the back of the fingertip.

The spunbond production method spunbond material has a surface density of about 2.7 osy. The material of the spunbond production method is thermally bonded to form a point loosening pattern, which imparts a texture. In particular, round tufts of pile are formed on the material of the spunbond production method. During bonding, the upper binder roller with a dot loosening pattern is heated to 330-360 ° F, and the lower binder roller is heated to 300 ° F.

On the other hand, SBL sheet material includes fibers of elastic material located between two polypropylene layers of a spunbond production method. The elastic material used is a KRATON G2740 S-EB-S block copolymer manufactured by Shell Oil Company. SBL sheet material has a surface density of 2.5 osy. For ultrasonic bonding of SBL sheet material with point-wound disintegrated layered production material, a shaped magnesium bonding plate was used as a support.

The resulting structure has the shape of a fingertip with a more rounded portion in the upper part and straight sides diverging in the form of a cone, so that the inner width of 3.7 cm in the upper part becomes approximately 1.8 cm. Excess material is cut along the seam and a textured fingertip toothbrush with a pull tab (from the SBL side) is obtained.

A narrow (0.6 cm) SBL strip is bent into a ring (1.5 cm in diameter) with a free end and the ring is thermally bonded. The free end (5 cm) is thermally bonded to the pulling tongue of a fingertip toothbrush and a fingertip toothbrush with a safety ring attached. The fingertip is treated with peppermint oil (5 μl) and used by a small child.

EXAMPLE 23

The suitability of the fingertip of the present invention for the application of an antiulcer component has been demonstrated. The fingertip according to the present invention is made as follows. Namely, the first section made of the laminated material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot loosening, is connected by ultrasonic welding to a sheet laminate formed with a hood (SBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot loosening, forms the front of the fingertip, and the sheet SBL forms the back of the fingertip.

The layered material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is obtained by thermally bonding together the first polypropylene material of the spunbond production method, a sheet of a breathable film and the second polypropylene material of the spunbond production method. A sheet of breathable film is placed between the materials of the spunbond production method.

The first polypropylene spunbond production material has a surface density of 0.5 osy. The second polypropylene spunbond production material has a surface density of 2.8 osy with an average fiber diameter of 7.05 denier. The breathable film sheet is made of linear low density polyethylene containing calcium carbonate as a filler. The film is stretched to form a microporous film. The film has a surface density of 0.5 osy.

The material of the spunbond production method is thermally bonded to form a point loosening pattern, which imparts a texture. In particular, round tufts of pile are formed on the second material of the spunbond production method. During bonding, the upper binder roller with a dot-loosening pattern is heated to 350 ° F, and the lower binder roller is heated to 300 ° F.

On the other hand, SBL sheet material includes fibers of elastic material located between two polypropylene layers of a spunbond production method. The elastic material used is a KRATON G2740 S-EB-S block copolymer manufactured by Shell Oil Company. SBL sheet material has a surface density of 2.5 osy. For ultrasonic bonding of SBL sheet material with point-wound disintegrated layered production material, a shaped magnesium bonding plate was used as a support.

During ultrasonic welding, the second layer of the polypropylene material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the SBL sheet material, which leads to the location of the texture protrusions on the other side of the SBL sheet material. After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside.

The obtained product for wiping has the shape of a fingertip with the location of a more rounded section in the upper part and with straight sides diverging in the form of a cone, so that the width of the bound section at a distance of 1 cm from the upper part is 2.3 cm and at a distance of 4.5 cm from the upper part is 2.8 cm.

Then tetracycline tetrachloride and peppermint oil (20 μl) are applied to the fingertip. Use tetracycline tetrachloride manufactured by Apothecon, a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb, a drug sold under the name SUMYCIN. Tetracycline tetrachloride is applied to the fingertip in the form of a solution in the amount of 100 μl of a solution of SUMYCIN in water at a concentration of 40 mg / ml.

EXAMPLE 24

The suitability of the fingertip of the present invention for the application of the antiulcer component indicated below has been demonstrated. The fingertip obtained in Example 1 is treated with metronidazole and peppermint oil (20 μl). A topical gel metronidazole is used under the name METROGEL sold by Galderma. 200 mg of METROGEL is applied to the fingertip, which corresponds to applying 1.5 mg of metronidazole to the product for wiping.

EXAMPLE 25

The suitability of the fingertip of the present invention for the application of the antiulcer component indicated below has been demonstrated. The fingertip obtained in Example 1 is treated with bismuth basic salicylate, which is the active ingredient in PEPTO-BISMOL, sold by Procter and Gamble. 300 μl of PEPTO-BISMOL is applied to the fingertip and then used to clean the user's mouth.

EXAMPLE 26

The suitability of the fingertip of the present invention for the application of the antiulcer component indicated below has been demonstrated. The fingertip obtained in Example 1 is treated with a suspension of basic bismuth salicylate (200 μl of PEPTO-BISMOL), metronidazole (50 mg of METROGEL lotion), tetracycline (10 mg of SUMYCIN) and peppermint oil (20 μl) is applied to the fingertip and then used to clean the user's mouth.

EXAMPLE 27

The layered material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is formed by thermal bonding (using a point pattern of loosening) of three materials: a two-element spunbond production method (PE / PP (polyethylene / polypropylene), parallel configuration, 0.45 osy), films ( 0.0007 CATALLOY film from Pliant Corporation) and air-bonded material (PE / PP, parallel configuration, 3.5 osy) at binding pressure, linear speed and temperature sufficient to allow Cookies with the necessary degree of binding and texture. In this case, the upper shaped roller is heated to 256 ° F, and the lower binding roller is heated to 248 ° F. The obtained laminated sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to thermal spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a sheet laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width.

To obtain the shape of the fingertip during ultrasonic bonding, a shaped stainless steel link plate is used as a support. During ultrasonic welding, a layer of a two-element layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the NBL sheet material (this means that during welding, the texture protrusions are pressed and are located on the other side of the SBL sheet material). After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside. A flavoring of peppermint oil (37 μl) is applied to the fingertip and then packaged in a layered packaging material, which for the most part retains the flavor. After a month, the packaging is opened and the product is used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 28

The layered material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is formed by thermal bonding (using a point pattern of loosening) of three materials: a two-element spunbond production method (PE / PP, parallel configuration, 0.45 osy), films (0.0007 CATALLOY film manufactured by Pliant Corporation) and air-bonded material (PE / PP, parallel configuration, 3.5 osy) at binding pressure, linear velocity and temperature sufficient to provide the required degree no binding and texture. In this case, the upper shaped roller is heated to 256 ° F, and the lower binding roller is heated to 248 ° F. The obtained laminated sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to thermal spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a sheet laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width.

To obtain the shape of the fingertip during ultrasonic bonding, a shaped stainless steel link plate is used as a support. During ultrasonic welding, a layer of a two-element layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the NBL sheet material (this means that during welding, the texture protrusions are pressed and are located on the other side of the SBL sheet material). After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside. A suspension of encapsulated flavors in oil is applied to the fingertip (200 mg of a suspension prepared from 300 mg of encapsulated wintergreen oil manufactured by Flavors Of Notrh America, Inc. as a flavoring agent, 220 mg of encapsulated natural mint flavoring from Flavors Of Notrh America, Inc., 120 mg xylitol from Cultor Corporation and 2 g of sunflower oil). The product is packaged, sealed and after 48 hours the package is opened and used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 29

Example 28 is repeated. However, instead of using sunflower oil, encapsulated flavors are mixed with edible propylene glycol.

EXAMPLE 30

The dotted loosening spunbond layered material is formed by ultrasonic bonding (using a dot loosening pattern using two rotational supports for ultrasonic bonding) of two materials: a film (0.0007 CATALLOY film from Pliant Corporation) and a bonded material air (PE / PP, parallel configuration, 3.8 osy) at binding pressure, linear velocity and temperature sufficient to provide the required degree of binding and texture. The material bonded by blowing air is located next to the shaped roller during bonding. The obtained laminated sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to thermal spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a sheet laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width.

To obtain the shape of the fingertip during ultrasonic bonding, a shaped stainless steel link plate is used as a support. During ultrasonic welding, a layer of a two-element layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the NBL sheet material (this means that during welding, the texture protrusions are pressed and are located on the other side of the SBL sheet material). After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside.

Peppermint oil is applied to the fingertip and then used to clean the mouth of an adult.

EXAMPLE 31

The layered material of the spunbond spunbond production method is formed by ultrasonic bonding (using a dot pattern of loosening using a 2-inch rotary support for ultrasonic bonding) of two materials: a breathable sheet of film ((LDL / CaCO ₃ ) / polypropylene, 1 osy) and material bonded by air purging (PE / PP, parallel configuration, 3.8 osy) at binding pressure, linear velocity and temperature sufficient to provide the required degree of binding and texture. The obtained laminated sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to thermal spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a sheet laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width. To obtain the shape of the fingertip during ultrasonic bonding, a shaped stainless steel link plate is used as a support. During ultrasonic welding, a layer of a two-element layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the NBL sheet material (this means that during welding, the texture protrusions are pressed and are located on the other side of the SBL sheet material). After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside.

EXAMPLE 32

The layered material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is formed by ultrasonic bonding (using a dot pattern of loosening using a 2-inch rotary support for ultrasonic bonding) of two materials bonded by blowing air. Both materials are made of two-element PE / PP fibers with a parallel configuration. The upper material, when bonded located next to the shaped support, consists of five-petalled fibers and has a surface density of 3.5 osy. The lower material consists of ordinary round fibers and has a surface density of 3.8 osy. Bonding pressure (60 lbf / ⁱⁿ²⁾ and the linear velocity (80 ft / min) are chosen to provide the required degree of coupling, although the power adjustment may allow the use of other settings providing nearly equivalent bonding. The obtained laminated sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to thermal spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a sheet laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width. To obtain the shape of the fingertip during ultrasonic bonding, a shaped magnesium bonding plate is used as a support. During ultrasonic welding, a layer of a two-element layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the NBL sheet material (this means that during welding, the texture protrusions are pressed and are located on the other side of the SBL sheet material). After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside.

EXAMPLE 33

The layered material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot-breaking, is formed by ultrasonic bonding of two materials connected by blowing air. Both materials are made of two-element PE / PP fibers with a parallel configuration. The depth of the round elements (corresponding to the loosened areas) on the shaped support is 0.060 inches. The upper material, when bonded located next to the shaped support, consists of five-petalled fibers and has a surface density of 3.5 osy. The lower material consists of ordinary round fibers and has a surface density of 3.8 osy. Bonding pressure (60 lbf / ⁱⁿ²⁾ and the linear velocity (80 ft / min) are chosen to provide the required degree of coupling, although the power adjustment may allow the use of other settings providing nearly equivalent bonding. The obtained laminated sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to thermal spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a sheet laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width. To obtain the shape of the fingertip during ultrasonic bonding, a shaped magnesium bonding plate is used as a support. During ultrasonic welding, a layer of a two-element layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the NBL sheet material (this means that during welding, the texture protrusions are pressed and are located on the other side of the SBL sheet material). After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside.

EXAMPLE 34

The layered material of the spunbond production method, subjected to spot-breaking, is formed by ultrasonic bonding of two materials connected by blowing air. Both materials are made of two-element PE / PP fibers with a parallel configuration. The depth of the round elements (corresponding to the loosened areas) on the shaped support is 0.120 inches. The upper material, when bonded located next to the shaped support, consists of five-petalled fibers and has a surface density of 3.5 osy. The lower material consists of ordinary round fibers and has a surface density of 3.8 osy. Bonding pressure (60 lbf / ⁱⁿ²⁾ and the linear velocity (80 ft / min) are chosen to provide the required degree of coupling, although the power adjustment may allow the use of other settings providing nearly equivalent bonding. The obtained laminated sheet material of the spunbond production method subjected to thermal spot-breaking by ultrasonic welding is bonded to a sheet laminate formed with a neck hood (NBL) using a Branson 920 IW ultrasonic welding apparatus. The layered material formed with a hood in the neck contains a polyethylene film with a surface density of 1.0 osy obtained using a metallocene catalyst glued between two face layers of polypropylene material of a spinneret production method. The front materials of the spunbond production method, prior to the hood or the hood, have a surface density of 0.5 osy. The front materials of the spunbond production method are elongated in the neck to a width of 42% of their original width. To obtain the shape of the fingertip during ultrasonic bonding, a shaped magnesium bonding plate is used as a support. During ultrasonic welding, a layer of a two-element layered material of a spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is placed next to the NBL sheet material (this means that during welding, the texture protrusions are pressed and are located on the other side of the SBL sheet material). After ultrasonic welding, excess material is cut off at the edges and the fingertip is turned inside out, so that the seams are located inside, and the convexity of the texture is outside.

EXAMPLE 35

The fingertip described in Example 1 is made and used to apply petroleum jelly on a baby when changing a diaper. However, in this example, the layered material of the spunbond production method subjected to spot loosening is replaced by a layered material of the form (material of the spunbond production method) - (material obtained by the aerodynamic method from the melt) - (material of the spunbond production method). The layered material has a surface density of 1.4 osy and is made only of polypropylene fibers. The layered material by ultrasonic welding is associated with a layered material formed with a hood and described in Example 1.

In this example, the fingertip is turned inside out. Then the fingertip is immersed in liquid paraffin, which is applied to the baby when changing the diaper.

EXAMPLE 36

In this example, the fingertip of the present invention is made from a single sheet of material. In particular, the laminate formed with the hood and described in Example 1 is ultrasonically bonded to form a J-shape. The resulting fingertip is closed at one end and open at the other end, so that a pocket for sticking in the finger is formed. To facilitate pulling the fingertip over the finger, one side of the open end of the fingertip is left longer than the second. The fingertip has a conical shape. Namely, the fingertip has a length of about 5.7 cm and a width at the finger insertion hole of about 2.4 cm (width of the inside).

Although the present invention has been described using specific terms, products, and methods, this description is intended to be illustrative only. The text provided is a text that contains descriptions and not imposes restrictions. It should be understood that a specialist with general training in the art can make changes and modifications without deviating from the scope and essence of the present invention, which are given in the claims below. In addition, it should be understood that the features of various implementation options can be fully or partially replaced. Therefore, the scope and essence of the attached claims should not be limited to the descriptions of the preferred options contained in the present invention.

Claims (34)

1. A fingertip containing a hollow element having an open end for sticking in the finger, said hollow element includes a first section attached to a second section, said first section consists of non-woven material, said second section consists of elastic non-woven material, said first section is associated with said the second section with the formation of a seam. 2. The fingertip according to claim 1, wherein said first section includes a textured surface. 3. The fingertip of claim 2, wherein said textured surface includes loop-shaped bristles. 4. The fingertip according to claim 2, wherein said textured surface includes spot-loosened material, said spot-loosened material includes a plurality of protruding tufts of pile surrounded by connected areas. 5. The fingertip according to claim 1, wherein said elastic non-woven material is a laminate formed with a hood. 6. The fingertip according to claim 1, wherein said elastic non-woven material is a laminate formed with a hood in the neck. 7. The fingertip according to claim 1, in which the specified hollow element is turned inside out so that the specified seam is located inside the specified fingertip. 8. The fingertip according to claim 1, wherein said seam includes a plurality of microcuts at a certain distance. 9. The fingertip according to claim 1, wherein said non-woven material is a laminate comprising a moisture-proof barrier element located between the first non-woven material and the second non-woven material. 10. The fingertip according to claim 1, wherein said elastic non-woven material includes an elastic material located between the first non-woven material and the second non-woven material. 11. The fingertip of claim 10, wherein said elastic material is a film. 12. The fingertip of claim 10, wherein said elastic material is elastic strands. 13. The fingertip of claim 10, wherein said first section is inelastic. 14. The fingertip according to claim 4, in which these tufts of pile contained in the specified material, subjected to spot loosening, have a height equal to at least 0.02 inches. 15. A cleaning product comprising a hollow member having an open end for finger sticking, said hollow member includes a backing material, said backing material includes an elastic non-woven material, said hollow member has a textured surface that is configured to clean the user's teeth and gums. 16. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the textured surface includes loop-shaped bristles. 17. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified elastic non-woven material includes an elastic component and an inelastic component. 18. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified product for cleaning includes a closed end located opposite the specified open end. 19. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified elastic non-woven material is a layered material formed with a hood. 20. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified elastic non-woven material is a layered material formed with a hood in the neck. 21. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified open end is given a shape that allows you to insert two fingers of the user. 22. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified hollow element includes a first section attached to the second section, the specified first section consists of the specified elastic non-woven material, and the specified second section consists of inelastic material. 23. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified substrate material further includes a moisture-proof barrier element. 24. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified product for cleaning is coated with an additive, said additive is a material selected from the group comprising cationogenic materials, fluorides, flavoring agents and mixtures thereof. 25. The cleaning product according to clause 15, in which the specified product for cleaning applied anti-ulcer agent. 26. The cleaning product according to paragraph 24, wherein said additive is an encapsulated flavoring agent. 27. The cleaning product according to clause 15, further comprising a sealed package containing the specified product for cleaning. 28. The cleaning product according to item 22, in which the specified second section includes the specified textured surface, the specified second section has a surface density equal to more than about 3.5 osy. 29. The mouthwash product of claim 25, wherein said antiulcer reagent is an additive selected from the group consisting of sucralfate, H2 blocker, tetracycline, metronidazole, bismuth, omeprazole, and combinations thereof. 30. A cleaning product comprising a hollow member having an open end for sticking in a finger, said hollow member includes a non-woven component and an elastic component, said elastic component allowing said hollow member to stretch or contract to give said cleaning product a form that is tight-fitting. 31. The cleaning product according to claim 30, wherein said non-woven component and said elastic component are joined together to form a layered material. 32. The cleaning product according to claim 30, wherein said hollow element includes a first section attached to a second section, said first section consists of said elastic component, and said second section consists of a non-elastic component. 33. The cleaning product according to claim 30, wherein said hollow member includes a textured surface, said textured surface includes spot-loosened material, said spot-loosened material includes a plurality of protruding tufts of pile, each tuft of pile has a height not equal to less than 0.02 inches. 34. The product for cleaning according to clause 33, in which the specified material, subjected to spot loosening, includes many protruding tufts of pile surrounded by connected sections, characterized in that the said connected sections are formed using ultrasonic bonding.

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