CN110169647B

CN110169647B - Tooth brush

Info

Publication number: CN110169647B
Application number: CN201910470158.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金丸直史
Original assignee: Lion Corp
Current assignee: Lion Corp
Priority date: 2016-03-09
Filing date: 2017-03-09
Publication date: 2021-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-09
Also published as: KR102185323B1; JP2018114362A; CN110063567B; KR20190057425A; KR20190057427A; JP7149730B2; KR101970282B1; KR20190057424A; WO2017155033A1; KR102183114B1; SG11201807607XA; TWI729082B; JP6385023B2; CN108778048A; KR20180085041A; TW202130301A; CN110801097B; TW201731419A; KR102183120B1; SG10202008762YA

Abstract

Provided is a toothbrush having more excellent cleaning power and more excellent feeling of use. A toothbrush (1) is characterized by comprising a handle body (10) which comprises a head (2), a neck (4) extending to the head (2), and a handle (6) extending to the neck (4), wherein tufts are implanted on a bristle-implanted surface of the head (2), and the product of a deflection A of the head (2) and a deflection B of the neck (4), which is measured by a specific measurement method, is 0.8 to 10.

Description

Tooth brush

The application is a divisional application of an invention patent application with application date of 2017, 03 and 09, application number of 201780016029.0 and invention name of 'toothbrush'.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to toothbrushes.

The present application claims priority based on 2016 in Japanese patent application No. 2016-.

Background

In the prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease, it is important to remove plaque in the oral cavity by brushing teeth with a toothbrush. Conventionally, various toothbrushes have been proposed to improve plaque removal effects. For example, by thinning the head and neck of the toothbrush, the bristles can reach deep into molars (on the throat side of molars) which are difficult to reach by a conventional toothbrush. Patent document 1 describes a toothbrush having a thin head and excellent oral operability.

On the other hand, in a person with periodontal disease, it is important to remove the stain of periodontal pockets or massage the gums by brushing the teeth with a toothbrush. Appropriate deflection of bristles is required for removing stains from periodontal pockets or massaging gums, and toothbrushes with dense bristles having a small diameter or toothbrushes using extremely fine bristles at their tips have been proposed.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. Hei 7-143914

Disclosure of Invention

[ problem to be solved by the invention ]

However, in order to improve cleaning force for the deep portion of a molar tooth or the like which is difficult to reach with a normal toothbrush, if only the head portion of the toothbrush is thinned, the folding strength of the head portion or the strength of the hair bundle falling off is reduced, and the quality of the toothbrush is reduced. Further, the head is made thin, so that the head is easily bent during use, and the user feels impaired such as the hair bundle is scattered. Thus, head thinning is limited.

Further, the brush bristles are greatly deflected, so that the contact feeling to the gum is improved, and the use feeling is improved. However, if the deflection of the bristles is too large, the entry of the bristles into the periodontal pocket is reduced, the cleaning power is reduced, the bristle scattering becomes serious, and the durability of the toothbrush is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a toothbrush having more excellent cleaning power and more excellent feeling of use.

[ means for solving problems ]

The present invention has the following structure.

[1] A toothbrush comprising a handle body having a head, a neck extending to the head, and a handle extending to the neck, wherein tufts are implanted on a bristle-implanted surface of the head, and the product (A x B) of a deflection A of the head measured by the following method (α) and a deflection B of the neck measured by the following method (β) is 0.8 to 10.

Method (a): the bristle surface of the head is directed upward in the vertical direction, the height of the front end of the handle body in a state in which the position of the boundary between the head and the neck is fixed is used as a reference height, a hammer of 200g is suspended at a position 10 ± 3% away from the front end of the bristle part with respect to the length in the long axis direction of the bristle part in the head in the fixed state, and the amount of displacement (in mm) in height of the front end of the handle body from the reference height after 10 seconds is used as the deflection amount A of the head.

Method (β): the bristle-implanted surface of the head is directed upward in the vertical direction, the height of the distal end of the handle body in a state in which the position of the boundary between the neck and the handle is fixed is set as a reference height, a 200g hammer is suspended at a position 50 ± 3% away from the distal end of the bristle-implanted portion with respect to the length in the long axis direction of the bristle-implanted portion in the head in the fixed state, and the amount of displacement (in mm) in height of the distal end of the handle body from the reference height after 10 seconds is set as the amount of deflection B of the neck.

[2] The toothbrush according to [1], wherein a product of a deflection A of the head and a deflection B of the neck is 2 to 10.

[3] The toothbrush according to [1] or [2], wherein the product of the deflection A 'of the head and the deflection B of the neck, which is measured by the following method (α'), is 2.5 to 12.

Method (α'): the bristle surface of the head is directed upward in the vertical direction, the height of the distal end of the handle body in a state where the distal end is fixed at a position shifted by 10mm from the position of the boundary between the head and the neck toward the handle portion side is set as a reference height, a 200g hammer is suspended at a position spaced by 10 ± 3% from the distal end of the bristle part with respect to the length in the long axis direction of the bristle part in the head in the fixed state, and the amount of displacement (in mm) in height of the distal end of the handle body from the reference height after 10 seconds is set as the amount of deflection a' of the head.

[4] A toothbrush comprising a handle body, the handle body comprising a head, a neck portion provided so as to extend to the head, and a handle portion provided so as to extend to the neck portion, wherein tufts are implanted in a bristle-implanted surface of the head, and the product of a deflection A 'of the head measured by the following method (α') and a deflection B of the neck measured by the following method (β) is 2.5 to 12.

[5] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the thickness of the head is 2.0 to 4.0 mm.

[6] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the thickness of the head is 2.0 to 4.0mm, and the smaller of the minimum width and the minimum thickness of the neck is 3.0 to 4.5 mm.

[7] The toothbrush according to [6], wherein the minimum width of the neck is 3.0 to 4.5 mm.

[8] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the strength of the tip of the bristles constituting the tufts is 1.7 to 3.0N.

[9] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein a material of the handle body is a polypropylene resin.

[10] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein in the method (β), a position 42.4% apart from a front end of the handle body with respect to a length of the handle body in a long axis direction is fixed.

[11] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [3] or [5] to [10], wherein A < B out of the deflection A and the deflection B.

[12] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [3] or [5] to [11], wherein a difference (B-A) between the deflection A and the deflection B satisfies 1 ≦ 4.

[13] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [3] or [5] to [12], wherein the deflection A is 0.5 to 3.0.

[14] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [13], wherein the deflection amount B is 2.1 to 5.0.

[15] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [3] or [5] to [14], wherein the handle body is made of polyacetal resin, the product of the deflection A of the head portion and the deflection B of the neck portion is 2 to 10, the thickness of the head portion is 2.0 to 4.0mm, and the smaller one of the minimum width and the minimum thickness of the neck portion is 3.0 to 4.5 mm.

[16] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [15], wherein the bristle surface of the head is implanted with bristles of a flat wire (flat plate) type.

[ Effect of the invention ]

The toothbrush of the present invention has more excellent cleaning power and more excellent feeling in use.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a plan view of a toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a side view of a toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a method of measuring the amount of deflection of a head.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a method of measuring the amount of deflection of the head.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of measuring the strength of the tip of a hair.

[ description of symbols ]

1 toothbrush

2 head part

4 neck part

6 handle part

10 handle body

Detailed Description

[ invention 1]

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the toothbrush according to the invention 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1A and 1B.

The toothbrush 1 shown in fig. 1A and 1B includes a head 2 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, a neck 4 extending to the head 2, and a grip 6 extending to the neck 4 (hereinafter, the head 2, the neck 4, and the grip 6 are collectively referred to as a grip 10). The head 2 is provided with a bristle-implanted portion (not shown).

The handle body 10 is integrally molded in a long shape as a whole, and may be obtained by injection molding using a resin as a material, for example.

Examples of the material of the handle body include polypropylene resin (PP), polyacetal resin (POM), polystyrene resin (PS), polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET), polybutylene terephthalate resin (PBT), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS), polyarylate resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylonitrile styrene resin (AS), and polyester resin (PCTA). Among them, from the viewpoint of high strength and excellent moldability, PP, POM and PBT are preferable, and PP and POM are more preferable. Further, PP is particularly preferable as the material of the grip body from the viewpoint that the effects of the present invention can be obtained at lower cost.

The above resins may be used alone in 1 kind, or in combination of 2 or more kinds.

The bending elastic modulus of the handle body is preferably 1200 to 3000MPa, more preferably 1500 to 3000 MPa. When the bending elastic modulus of the material of the handle body is within the above range, the amount of deflection of the head portion can be set to an appropriate value, and the oral cavity cleaning force, the operability, and the user's feeling of use can be improved. The flexural modulus of the material of the grip body was measured according to JIS K7171.

In the handle body 10, a part or the whole of the handle portion 6 may be covered with a soft resin. By covering a part or the whole of the grip portion 6 with a soft resin, the gripping ability of the user when gripping the grip portion 6 can be further improved. Examples of the soft resin include elastomer resins such as polyolefin elastomers, styrene elastomers, polyester elastomers, and polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers, and silicone resins.

The length L1 of the handle body 10 can be determined in consideration of operability and the like, and can be, for example, 150 to 200 mm.

The head 2 is set to: the handle body 10 is long in the longitudinal direction, and 4 flat plates each having a substantially rectangular shape and a curved top portion are formed in a planar view. A plurality of implantation holes 22 are formed on one surface (implantation surface 20) of the head 2. The bristle holes 22 are implanted with tufts in which bristles are bundled, thereby forming a bristle-planted portion including a plurality of tufts.

In the present specification, the plan view means that the toothbrush is viewed from the implanted surface side of the head. The width is set in a direction parallel to the hair-planted surface 20 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle body 10, and the thickness is set in a direction perpendicular to the hair-planted surface 20. The side facing the hair-planted surface 20 is the front surface, and the opposite side to the side facing the hair-planted surface 20 is the back surface.

The head 2, in plan view, widens in the width direction as it goes from the front end 9 toward the neck 4, then extends with the same width, and then narrows in the width direction until a boundary P1 between it and the neck 4.

In the present embodiment, the boundary P1 is: the head 2 has a plan view shape in which the end point of a curve forming a cut angle from the neck 4, that is, a position where the bending direction of the curve forming the cut angle changes. That is, the boundary P1 of the head and neck is: the head in the plan view changes from a curved line or a straight line R1 to a curved line or a straight line having a wider width, or changes to a position of a straight line having the same width. The curve or line R1 forms two edges narrowing in width from the corner cut portion of the neck. Further, in the case of a toothbrush in which the neck portion is widened in width toward the handle portion in a plan view, the boundary P1 coincides with a position in which the width in the head portion and the neck portion is smallest in a plan view.

However, the position of the boundary P1 may be difficult to determine, for example, in a toothbrush in which the head and the neck are formed to have the same width. In this case, a position 17.5% away from the front end 9 of the handle body 10 with respect to the length L1 (for example, a position 31.5mm away from the front end 9 of the handle body 10 when the length L1 is 180 mm) is defined as the boundary P1.

The size of the head 2 can be determined in consideration of the oral cavity operability and the like.

If the maximum width W1 of the head 2 is too large, the oral cavity operability is deteriorated, and if it is too small, the number of flocked tufts is too small, and the cleaning force is easily impaired. Therefore, the width W1 may be, for example, 5 to 13 mm.

The thickness T1 of the head 2 is preferably 2.0 to 4.0mm, more preferably 2.0 to 3.5mm, and further preferably 2.5 to 3.2 mm. When the thickness T1 is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, sufficient strength can be easily secured in the head portion 2. Further, the implanted holes 22 are easily formed in the thickness direction, the bundles of hairs are easily firmly implanted in the implanted holes 22, and the falling of the bundles of hairs is easily suppressed. When the thickness T1 is equal to or less than the upper limit, the oral cavity operability of the toothbrush 1 is further improved. Further, the bristles can reach the inner corner of the oral cavity such as the deep side of a molar tooth, and the effect of removing stains in the oral cavity is further improved.

When the thickness of the head 2 is not fixed, T1 indicates the minimum thickness of the head 2.

If the length L2 of the head 2 is too long, the oral cavity operability is easily impaired, and if it is too short, the number of implanted hair bundles is too small, and the cleaning effect is easily impaired. Therefore, the length L2 can be determined appropriately within a range of, for example, 10 to 40 mm.

The shape of the implantation hole 22 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circle such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, and a polygon such as a triangle or a quadrangle.

The number of the implantation holes 22 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 10 to 60.

The diameter of the implanted pores 22 can be determined according to the thickness of a desired hair bundle, and can be, for example, 1 to 3 mm.

The arrangement pattern of the implanted holes 22 is not particularly limited, and may be any arrangement pattern such as a checkerboard pattern or a staggered pattern.

Examples of bristles constituting the bundle of bristles include bristles (tapered bristles) having a diameter gradually decreasing toward the tip of the bristle, bristles (straight bristles) having substantially the same outer diameter except for a spherical portion of the tip of the bristle, and bristles having a shape such as a blade shape, a spherical shape, or a bifurcated tip shape.

As the bristles, tapered bristles are preferable. By making the bristles tapered, the effect of removing stains from periodontal pockets and the like can be improved. Further, the massaging effect of the gum is improved, and the feeling of use is further improved.

Examples of the material of the brush include synthetic resin materials such as polyamide such as 6-12 nylon and 6-10 nylon, polyester such as PET, PBT, polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and polybutylene naphthalate (PBN), polyolefin such as polypropylene, olefin-based elastomer, and styrene-based elastomer. These resin materials may be used alone in 1 kind, or may be used in combination of 2 or more kinds.

Further, the bristle may have a multiple core structure having a core portion and at least 1 or more layers of sheath portions disposed outside the core portion.

The cross-sectional shape of the bristles is preferably circular, but is not limited to circular, and may be set to any shape according to the intended use of the toothbrush 1. For example, it may be set to an oval shape, a polygonal shape (e.g., a triangle, a quadrangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, etc.), a deformed shape (e.g., a star shape, a three-leaf clover shape, a four-leaf clover shape, etc.), or the like.

The thickness of each bristle is not particularly limited, and for example, in the case of a perfect circle in cross section, it is preferably 4 to 8 mils (1 mil: 1/1000 inch: 0.025 mm). If the lower limit value is not less than the lower limit value, the self-standing property is improved, and the cleaning property is further improved, and if the upper limit value is not more than the upper limit value, the bristle rigidity of the tufts 11 is moderate, and the contact feeling is further improved.

The bristles constituting the tufts 11 may all be of the same thickness, or may be a combination of at least 2 bristles of different thicknesses.

The bristle length is preferably 8 to 15mm for adults and 6 to 12mm for children, for example. In view of the oral usability and the feeling of use, it is preferable to select bristles having smaller diameters and shorter bristle lengths. Further, a plurality of bristles having different thicknesses may be used in combination depending on the purpose of the use feeling, brushing feeling, cleaning effect, durability, and the like.

The neck portion 4 connects the head portion 2 and the grip portion 6.

In the present embodiment, the neck portion 4 extends from the boundary P1 to the grip portion 6 with substantially the same diameter, and then expands in diameter until reaching the boundary P2 with the grip portion 6. The boundary P2 is: the end point of the expansion of the neck 4, that is, the end point of the straight line forming the both edges of the widened portion or the position where the bending direction of the curve forming the both edges of the widened portion changes in plan view. In fig. 1A, the boundary P2 between the neck and the grip is: from a straight line or a curved line R2 forming both edges of the portion where the width is widened in plan view, the neck portion changes to a position of a curved line where the width is gradually narrowed.

However, the position of the boundary P2 may be difficult to determine, for example, in a toothbrush in which the neck and the grip portion are formed to have the same width. In this case, a position apart from the front end 9 of the handle body 10 by 42.2% with respect to the length L1 (for example, a position apart from the front end 9 of the handle body 10 by 76.0mm when the length L1 is 180 mm) is defined as the boundary P2.

The width W2 of the neck 4 is preferably 3.0 to 4.5mm, more preferably 3.0 to 4.2 mm. When the width W2 is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, sufficient strength can be easily secured in the neck portion 4 in view of folding endurance and the like. Further, the toothbrush 1 does not become too weak, and a good feeling of use due to moderate deflection is easily obtained. When the width W2 is equal to or less than the upper limit value, the oral cavity operability of the toothbrush 1 is improved. Further, the bristles can reach the corner corners in the oral cavity, and the effect of removing stains in the oral cavity is further improved.

In addition, in the case where the width of the neck portion 4 is not fixed, the width W2 refers to the minimum width of the neck portion 4.

The thickness T2 of the neck 4 is preferably 3.0 to 4.5mm, more preferably 3.0 to 4.2 mm. When the thickness T2 is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, sufficient strength can be easily secured in the neck portion 4 in view of folding endurance and the like. Further, the toothbrush 1 does not become too weak, and a good feeling of use due to moderate deflection is easily obtained. When the thickness T2 is equal to or less than the upper limit, the oral cavity operability of the toothbrush 1 is improved. Further, the bristles can reach the corner corners in the oral cavity, and the effect of removing stains in the oral cavity is further improved.

In addition, in the case where the thickness of the neck portion 4 is not fixed, the thickness T2 refers to the minimum thickness of the neck portion 4.

The minimum diameter of the neck 4 is preferably 3.0 to 4.5mm, more preferably 3.0 to 4.2 mm. When the minimum diameter of the neck portion 4 is equal to or larger than the lower limit value, sufficient strength is easily secured in the neck portion 4 in view of folding endurance and the like. Further, the toothbrush 1 does not become too weak, and a good feeling of use due to moderate deflection is easily obtained. When the minimum diameter of the neck 4 is equal to or smaller than the upper limit value, the oral cavity operability of the toothbrush 1 is improved. Further, the bristles can reach the corner corners in the oral cavity, and the effect of removing stains in the oral cavity is further improved.

The minimum diameter of the neck 4 is a smaller value of the width W2 and the thickness T2, i.e., a smaller value of the minimum width and the minimum thickness of the neck 4. More preferably, the neck portion has the same minimum thickness and the same minimum width or has a minimum width smaller than the minimum thickness, and the minimum width is 3.0 to 4.5 mm.

The length L3 of the neck 4 can be determined in consideration of the length L2 of the head, and is, for example, 30 to 90mm, more preferably 30 to 60 mm. When the length L3 is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, the bristles can easily reach the corner angles in the oral cavity, and the effect of removing stains in the oral cavity is further improved. When the length L3 is equal to or less than the above upper limit, the oral cavity operability of the toothbrush 1 is further improved.

(deflection amount of head 2A)

The deflection a of the head is measured by the following method (α).

Method (a):

the bristle-implanted surface of the head is directed upward in the vertical direction, and the height of the tip of the handle body in a state where the position of the boundary between the head and the neck of the toothbrush is fixed is set as a reference height. Further, in a state where the position of the boundary P1 was fixed, a 200g hammer was suspended at a position 10 ± 3% away from the distal end of the implanted portion with respect to the length of the implanted portion in the long axis direction of the head, and the amount of displacement (in mm) in height from the reference height of the distal end of the handle body after 10 seconds was used as the deflection amount a of the head.

The "length of the implanted portion in the longitudinal direction" means a distance between the distal end of the implanted hole located on the most distal side and the rear end of the implanted hole located on the most distal side when the head is viewed in a plan view.

For example, when the width of the portion of the neck portion from the head is the same in plan view, the width is measured while gradually changing the position toward the head in the portion of the neck portion from the head, and the position at which the portion having the same width and the portion whose width starts to increase is changed is defined as the boundary P1. In addition, when the width of the portion of the neck portion from the head portion becomes narrower as it approaches the head portion in a plan view, the width is measured while gradually changing the position toward the head portion in the portion of the neck portion from the head portion, and the position at which the width is smallest is defined as a boundary P1.

In the present invention, the deflection amount a of the head 2 is measured as follows.

As shown in fig. 2A, the toothbrush 1 is fixed by the jig 100 at the position of the narrowest part of the neck (boundary P1) so that the bristle surface 20 faces upward. At this time, the height of the front end 9 of the handle body 10 is set as a reference height H₀。

Then, as shown in fig. 2B, a weight 102 of 200g was suspended at the position S, the height of the tip 9 of the handle body 10 after 10 seconds was measured, and the height was defined as H₁. The S is: the distance between the front end of the implanted part and the long axis direction of the implanted part is 10 +/-3%. For example, when the implanted portion is 19mm, S is a position 2.0mm away from the tip.

Next, H is reacted with₁And H₀The absolute value of the difference is determined as a (unit is mm). The a may be measured by an altimeter or the like, for example. The assay was performed at 25. + -. 3 ℃ at room temperature.

The measurement was performed 5 times, and the average value of a was defined as the deflection a of the head 2.

The deflection A is preferably 0.4 to 3.0, more preferably 0.4 to 2.5, and still more preferably 0.4 to 2.0. The deflection A is preferably 0.5 to 3.0, more preferably 0.5 to 2.5, and still more preferably 0.5 to 2.0. When the deflection amount a is within the above range, the head 2 itself is appropriately deflected, the implanted part of the implanted head 2 is soft, and the feeling of contact with the gum, that is, the feeling of use, is further improved. When the deflection amount a is equal to or greater than the lower limit, the feeling of use is good. If the deflection amount a is equal to or less than the upper limit value, sufficient strength can be easily secured in the head 2. Further, the toothbrush 1 is not too weak, and good oral cavity operability and cleaning force are easily obtained.

The amount of deflection a can be adjusted by adjusting the flexural modulus of the material of the head 2 (i.e., the material of the handle body 10), the thickness and width of the head 2, and the like.

(deflection amount B of neck 4)

The deflection B of the neck portion is measured by the following method (β).

Method (β):

the bristle surface of the head is directed upward in the vertical direction, and the height of the front end of the handle body in a state where the position of the boundary between the neck of the tooth and the handle is fixed is set as a reference height. In the fixed state, a 200g hammer was suspended at a position 50 ± 3% away from the tip of the implanted part with respect to the length of the implanted part in the longitudinal direction of the head part, and the amount of displacement (in mm) in height from the reference height of the tip of the handle body after 10 seconds was used as the amount of deflection B of the neck part.

In the present invention, the deflection B of the neck 4 is measured in the same manner as the deflection a of the head 2, except that the position (boundary P1) at which the toothbrush 1 is fixed by the jig 100 and the position S of the suspending weight 102 are different from the method for measuring the deflection a of the head 2.

In the measurement of the deflection B of the neck 4, the position where the toothbrush 1 is fixed by the jig 100 is the boundary P2. Further, S is: the distance between the tip of the implanted part and the longitudinal length of the implanted part is 50 + -3%. For example, when the implanted portion is 19mm, S is a position 9.5mm apart from the tip.

Next, the reference height H before the suspension weight 102 is determined in the same manner as the method of measuring the deflection amount a of the head 2₀And height H of the suspension hammer 102 after 10 seconds₁Absolute value of the difference (in mm). The assay was performed at 25. + -. 3 ℃ at room temperature. The assay is performed 5 times, andthe average value thereof is taken as the deflection amount B of the neck 4.

The deflection B is preferably 2.1 to 5.0, more preferably 2.3 to 4.5, and still more preferably 2.5 to 4.0. When the deflection amount B is within the above range, the neck portion 4 is deflected appropriately, and an appropriate cushioning property is exhibited, and the contact feeling of the implanted portion with respect to the gum is further improved. When the deflection B is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, the bristles can reach the corner corners in the oral cavity, such as the deep portions of the molars, and the cleaning power in the oral cavity can be further improved. Further, the penetration of the brush into the periodontal pocket is improved, and the cleaning power of the periodontal pocket is further improved. If the deflection amount B is equal to or less than the upper limit value, sufficient strength can be easily secured in the neck portion 4. Further, the toothbrush 1 does not become too weak, and a good feeling of use is easily obtained.

The amount of deflection B can be adjusted by adjusting the flexural modulus of the material of the neck portion 4 (i.e., the material of the handle body 10), the minimum diameter of the neck portion, the cross-sectional shape of the boundary P2, and the like.

The product (A x B) of the head deflection A and the neck deflection B is 0.8 to 10, preferably 1 to 10, more preferably 1 to 6, and still more preferably 1 to 3.5. Further, (A × B) is preferably 2 to 10. (A × B) when the range is within the above range, a moderate degree of flexure in harmony of the head 2 and the neck 4 can be obtained. Thus, when the implanted part is slid with respect to the part to be cleaned (tooth, gum, etc.), the implanted part is soft and cushioned, and the contact feeling of the implanted part becomes good. The lower limit of (a × B) is 0.8 or more, preferably 1 or more. Further, 2 or more is preferable. When (a × B) is not less than the lower limit, appropriate deflection is obtained, and therefore, the contact feeling to the gum is good, a good massaging effect to the gum is obtained, and the feeling of use is improved. The upper limit of (a × B) is 10 or less, preferably 6 or less, and more preferably 3.5 or less. When (a × B) is equal to or less than the upper limit value, excessive bending of the region formed by the head 2 and the neck 4, reduction in operability, and reduction in cleaning force can be suppressed. Further, the reduction of the massaging effect on the gums caused by the excessive deflection and the feeling of weakness when the user uses the toothbrush 1 can be suppressed. Further, the strength of the toothbrush 1 is improved, and the durability is improved.

The deflection A and the deflection B are preferably A < B. When A < B, the operability of the toothbrush 1 is further improved.

The difference (B-a) between the deflection a and the deflection B is preferably 1 or more, preferably 1.5 or more, and more preferably 2 or more. (B-a) when the value is equal to or higher than the lower limit value, the deflection of the neck 4 is kept large relative to the head 2, the cushioning is improved, the contact feeling to the gum is improved, and the user can easily and practically feel the massaging effect to the gum.

Further, (B-a), preferably 4 or less, more preferably 3 or less. If (B-a) is equal to or less than the upper limit value, the amount of deflection of the neck 4 relative to the head 2 is not excessively large, and oral operability is easily improved. Further, the user can easily feel soft when using the toothbrush 1.

(B-A) is preferably 1 to 4, more preferably 1 to 3.

The ratio (B/A) of the deflection B to the deflection A is preferably 1.5 to 5.0, more preferably 1.8 to 4.8.

(deflection amount A' of head 2)

The deflection a 'of the head is measured by the following method (α').

Method (α'):

the bristle-implanted surface of the head is directed upward in the vertical direction, and the height of the distal end of the handle body in a state where the position of the boundary between the head and the neck in the toothbrush is fixed at a position shifted by 10mm toward the handle portion side is set as a reference height. In the fixed state, a 200g hammer was suspended at a position of the head portion 10 ± 3% away from the distal end of the implanted portion with respect to the length of the implanted portion in the longitudinal direction, and the amount of displacement (in mm) in the height from the reference height of the distal end of the handle body after 10 seconds was used as the deflection a' of the head portion.

In the present invention, the deflection a' of the head 2 is measured in the same manner as the deflection a of the head 2, except that the position (boundary P1) at which the toothbrush 1 is fixed by the jig 100 is different from the method for measuring the deflection a of the head 2.

In the measurement of the deflection amount a' of the head 2, the position at which the toothbrush 1 is fixed by the jig 100 is a position P3 shifted by 10mm from the position of the boundary P1 toward the handle portion side in the longitudinal direction.

Next, the reference height H before the suspension weight 102 is measured in the same manner as the method of measuring the deflection amount a of the head 2₀Height H after 10 seconds from the suspension hammer 102₁Absolute value of the difference (in mm). The assay was performed at 25. + -. 3 ℃ at room temperature. This measurement was performed 5 times, and the average value thereof was defined as the deflection amount a' of the head 2.

The deflection A' is preferably 1 to 5, more preferably 1 to 4, and still more preferably 1 to 3. When the deflection amount a' is within the above range, the head 2 itself is deflected appropriately, the implanted part of the implanted head 2 is soft, and the feeling of contact with the gum, that is, the feeling of use, becomes better. When the deflection amount a' is equal to or more than the lower limit, the feeling of use is good. If the deflection amount a' is equal to or less than the upper limit value, sufficient strength can be easily secured in the head 2. Further, the toothbrush 1 is not too weak, and good oral cavity operability and cleaning force are easily obtained.

The amount of deflection a' can be adjusted by adjusting the flexural modulus of the material of the head portion 2 (i.e., the material of the handle body 10), the thickness, width, and the like of the head portion 2.

The product (A '× B) of the deflection A' of the head and the deflection B of the neck is preferably 2.5 to 12, more preferably 3 to 12, still more preferably 3 to 10, and still more preferably 3 to 7. When the amount is within the above range, (a' × B) is easy to obtain a moderate amount of coordinated deflection of the head 2 and the neck 4. When the implanted part is slid with respect to the part to be cleaned (tooth, gum, etc.), the implanted part exhibits softness and cushioning properties, and the contact feeling of the implanted part becomes better. Further, (A'. times.B) is 2.5 or more, preferably 3 or more. When (a' × B) is not less than the lower limit, moderate deflection is obtained, and therefore, the contact feeling with the gum is further improved, a higher massaging effect with respect to the gum is obtained, and the feeling of use is further improved. (A'. times.B) is 12 or less, preferably 10 or less, more preferably 7 or less. By setting (a' × B) to the upper limit or less, excessive bending of the region formed by the head portion 2 and the neck portion 4, a decrease in operability, and a decrease in cleaning force are easily suppressed. Further, the reduction of the massaging effect on the gums caused by the excessive deflection and the feeling of weakness when the user uses the toothbrush 1 can be suppressed. Further, the strength of the toothbrush 1 is improved, and the durability is further improved.

The ratio (B/A ') of the deflection B to the deflection A' is preferably 0.8 to 2.5, more preferably 0.9 to 2.0.

(Hair tip Strength of bristles)

The strength of the tip of the bristles constituting the tuft was measured as follows.

As the measuring apparatus, an ISO bristle stiffness strength tester was used. The ISO bristle stiffness strength tester 200 shown in fig. 3 includes: a reference plane 202 and a ladder 204 disposed on the reference plane. The ladder 204 is provided with a plurality of columnar rods (made of stainless steel, having a diameter of 3 mm). The rods were arranged in parallel with each other at a certain interval (10 mm interval between the centers of the rods).

First, the toothbrush 1 is set on the testing machine 200. At this time, the tip of the brush of the head 2 implanted in the toothbrush 1 is brought into contact with the reference surface 202 of the testing machine 200. Next, the maximum resistance value when the head 2 is slid horizontally with respect to the reference surface 202 is obtained and is used as the bristle tip strength of the brush. The sliding direction of the head 2 is: the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush 1 and the longitudinal direction of the rod are perpendicular to each other. The sliding speed of the head 2 was set to 10 mm/min.

The strength of the bristle tip of the bristle is preferably 1.7 to 3.0N, more preferably 1.9 to 2.8N. When the bristle tip strength of the bristles is within the above-described preferred range, the plaque removal force is further improved, the contact feeling of the bristles with respect to the gum is further improved, and the usability is further improved.

The toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment can be manufactured by a conventionally known toothbrush manufacturing method. For example, a hard resin is injected into a mold to mold the handle body 10. Next, the bristle tufts are implanted into the bristle implanting surface 20 of the obtained handle body 10, thereby obtaining the toothbrush 1. As a method of implanting the hair bundle, for example, flat-wire type hair implantation in which the hair bundle is implanted by folding the hair bundle in two and driving a flat wire sandwiched therebetween into the implantation hole 22; a thermal fusion bonding method in which the lower end of the bundle of bristles is pressed into the molten resin to be the bristle-implanted portion and fixed; and an in-mold process (in-mold process) in which the lower end of the bundle of bristles is heated to form a molten mass, and then molten resin is injected into a mold to mold the implanted portion.

The toothbrush of claim 1 is particularly effective when the toothbrush is a toothbrush in which tufts of bristles are implanted by flat-line type implantation. In the case of the flat wire type flocking, a load due to the striking of the flat wire is applied to the head. Therefore, the thinner the head portion is, the lower the strength against deformation at the time of application of force becomes. In the toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment, the force applied to the head during brushing or the like can be dispersed from the head to the entire neck by making the neck have appropriate flexibility. Therefore, in the case of the flat-wire type hair planting, the effects of the present invention can be obtained particularly remarkably.

Particularly, when a toothbrush is obtained by using a flat-line bristle planting using a polypropylene resin having low strength as a material of a handle body, when a value X of a deflection amount (a/L2) of a head portion corresponding to a length (L2) per unit head portion is set to 0.015 to 0.045, a ratio Y/X of a value Y of a deflection amount (B/(L2+ L3)) of a neck portion corresponding to a sum (L2+ L3) of lengths of the head portion and the neck portion to the value X is preferably set to 0.8 to 2.0. The above X is preferably set to 0.018 to 0.45, more preferably 0.018 to 0.040, and in this case Y/X is preferably set to 0.9 to 2.0, more preferably 0.9 to 1.9.

When a high-strength polyacetal resin is used as a handle material and a toothbrush is obtained by using a flat-line bristle planting method, the Y/X ratio is preferably 1.0 to 1.4, more preferably 1.0 to 1.3 when X is 0.027 to 0.035, more preferably 0.029 to 0.032.

A method of using the toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

First, the grip portion 6 is gripped. The manner of holding the grip portion 6 is not particularly limited, and may be a grasping type or a pen-holding type. In general, cleaning is performed while applying pressure to the target region, and therefore, in any of the gripping methods, the handle portion 6 is gripped by touching the thumb or the like near the boundary P2 of the rear end of the neck portion.

Then, the head 2 is inserted into the oral cavity, and the implanted part is slid on the cleaning target site while pressing the grip part 6. The force applied to the handle 6 is transmitted to the head 2 through the neck 4, and further transmitted from the head 2 to the implanted part, whereby the implanted part cleans the region to be cleaned while applying pressure thereto. In this case, the product (A x B) of the deflection A of the head and the deflection B of the neck is 0.8 to 10, so that a moderate deflection in cooperation between the head and the neck can be obtained. As a result, the bristles implanted into the head 2 of the toothbrush 1 can easily reach the corner corners in the oral cavity such as the deep portions of the molars, and the cleaning power in the oral cavity can be improved. Further, the bristles are easily inserted into the periodontal pocket, and the cleaning power of the periodontal pocket is improved. In addition, since appropriate deflection can be obtained, the softness and cushioning of the implanted portion are improved, the contact feeling of the implanted portion to the gum becomes good, a good massage effect to the gum can be obtained, and the use feeling is improved.

When the product (A '× B) of the deflection A' of the head and the deflection B of the neck is 2.5 to 12, it is easier to obtain a proper deflection in which the head and the neck are coordinated. This further improves the cleaning power for the deep molars and periodontal pockets in the oral cavity, and also facilitates a good massaging effect on the gums, thereby further improving the feeling of use.

Further, when the thickness T1 of the head 2 is 2.0 to 4.0mm and the minimum diameter of the neck 4 is 3.0 to 4.5mm, the bristles implanted in the head 2 can more easily reach the corner corners in the oral cavity such as the deep side of a molar tooth, and the cleaning power in the oral cavity can be further improved. Further, the operability of the toothbrush 1 is further improved.

In addition, if the strength of the tip of the bristle is 1.7 to 3.0N, the bristle is more likely to enter the periodontal pocket, and the cleaning power of the periodontal pocket is further improved. Further, the contact feeling to the gum is further improved, and the use feeling is further improved.

[ invention 2]

The toothbrush of claim 2 is a toothbrush comprising a head portion in which tufts are implanted, a neck portion provided so as to extend to the head portion, and a handle portion provided so as to extend to the neck portion, wherein the product (a '× B) of a deflection amount a' of the head portion and a deflection amount B of the neck portion is 2.5 to 12. The toothbrush of claim 2 is the same as the toothbrush of claim 1 except that the product (A '× B) of the deflection A' of the head and the deflection B of the neck is required to be 2.5 to 12, and preferred embodiments thereof are the same.

The A' x B is as described in the invention 1.

In the toothbrush of claim 2, the product (a '× B) of the amount of deflection a' of the head and the amount of deflection B of the neck is 2.5 to 12, so that a moderate amount of deflection in cooperation between the head and the neck can be obtained. As a result, the bristles implanted in the head of the toothbrush can easily reach the corner corners in the oral cavity such as the deep portions of the molars, and the cleaning power in the oral cavity can be improved. Further, the bristles are easily inserted into the periodontal pocket, and the cleaning power of the periodontal pocket is improved. In addition, since the appropriate deflection can be obtained, the softness and cushioning of the implanted part are improved, the contact feeling of the implanted part to the gum becomes good, a good massage effect to the gum can be obtained, and the use feeling is improved.

The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

The materials used in this example are as follows:

< handle body >

POM-1 (flexural modulus of elasticity: 2600MPa)

PP-1 (flexural modulus of elasticity: 1900MPa)

PP-2 (flexural modulus of elasticity: 1400MPa)

< bristles >

·PBT

Examples 1 to 3, comparative examples 1 to 2

A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The length L1 of the handle body of each toothbrush was 180mm, and the head thickness T1, the head length L2, the head width W1, the minimum neck diameter T2, the neck length L3, the width of the boundary P2, and the thickness of the boundary P2 were the dimensions shown in table 1. In the head, 23 bristles (made of PBT) were bundled as a bundle, and the bundle was implanted in accordance with the hair-planting pattern shown in fig. 1A, and a hair-planting portion was provided. The length and thickness of the brush bristles in each example were as shown in table 1.

The materials of the toothbrushes of the examples are shown in Table 1.

Furthermore, the deflection A of the head, the deflection B of the neck, and the strength of the bristle tip (boundary P1: 31.5mm from the tip 9 of the handle body 10, boundary P2: 76.0mm from the tip 9 of the handle body 10) of the toothbrush of each example were measured in the manner described above

The deflection a, the deflection B, A × B, and the bristle tip strength of the toothbrushes of each example are shown in table 1.

(examples 4 to 9, comparative examples 3 to 7)

A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The length L1 of the handle body of each toothbrush was 180mm (examples 4 to 9, comparative examples 3 to 7), and the thickness T1 of the head, the length L2 of the head, the width W1 of the head, the minimum diameter T2 of the neck, the length L3 of the neck, the width of the boundary P2, and the thickness of the boundary P2 were the dimensions shown in tables 2 and 3. In the head, 23 bristles (made of PBT) were bundled as a bundle, and the bundle was implanted in accordance with the hair-planting pattern shown in fig. 1A, and a hair-planting portion was provided. The length and thickness of the brush bristles in each example were as shown in tables 2 and 3.

The materials of the toothbrushes of the examples are shown in tables 2 and 3.

The deflection a of the head, the deflection a' of the head, the deflection B of the neck, and the strength of the bristle tip of each toothbrush were measured in the above-described manner. The position of the boundary P1 and the position of the boundary P2 in which the toothbrush is fixed are determined as described above in the toothbrushes of the respective examples.

The deflection a, deflection a ', deflection B, A × B, A' × B and bristle tip strength of the toothbrushes of the respective examples are shown in tables 2 and 3.

The toothbrushes of the respective examples were evaluated for cleaning power, feeling of use, and operability as follows.

The evaluation results are shown in tables 1 to 3.

[ cleaning power deep in molar teeth (throat side of molar teeth) ]

In 10 experimental groups, the oral cavity was cleaned with the toothbrushes of each example, and the cleaning effect on the deep side of the molar teeth at this time was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria. The 10 experimental groups were divided into 4 or more sections and "small" sections, 2 or more and less than 4 sections and "small" sections, and 2 or less and "small" sections.

< evaluation Standard >

And 5, dividing: the touch feeling of stain falling in the deep of molars can be sensed very well.

And 4, dividing: the tactile sensation of stain falling deep in molars is strongly felt.

And 3, dividing: feel the tactile sensation of stain falling deep in the molars.

And 2, dividing: the tactile sensation of stain falling deep in the molar teeth is less felt.

1 minute: the feeling of stain falling deep in the molars was not felt.

[ evaluation of feeling of use ]

The oral cavity was cleaned with the toothbrushes of 10 test groups, and the feeling of contact with the gum was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria, to evaluate the feeling of use of the toothbrushes. The 10 experimental groups were divided into 4 or more sections and "small" sections, 2 or more and less than 4 sections and "small" sections, and 2 or less and "small" sections.

< evaluation Standard >

And 5, dividing: the gum was not painful, and the feeling of contact was excellent.

And 4, dividing: the gum was not painful and the feeling of contact was excellent.

And 3, dividing: the gum was not painful and was excellent in touch feeling.

And 2, dividing: the gum feels weak pain.

1 minute: the gums felt strongly painful.

[ oral operability ]

The 10-person test group cleaned the oral cavity and evaluated the operability of the toothbrushes of each example. The evaluation of the operability was classified into 7 grades of 1 to 7, and the higher the operability was, the higher the score was. The average scores of the 10 experimental groups were classified according to the following criteria to determine oral cavity operability.

< decision reference >

O: the average score is more than 5.

And (delta): the average score is 3 to less than 5.

X: the average score is less than 3.

[ Table 1]

[ Table 2]

[ Table 3]

As shown in table 1, the toothbrushes according to examples 1, 2 and 3 of the present invention had excellent intraoral cleaning power and good feeling of use. Further, the oral cavity operability is excellent.

On the other hand, the toothbrush having a × B of less than 0.8 (comparative example 1) and the toothbrush having a × B of more than 10 (comparative example 2) have insufficient cleaning power for the deep portion of the molar teeth, and good operability in the oral cavity cannot be obtained.

Further, as shown in Table 2, the toothbrushes of the present invention (examples 4 to 9) were excellent in oral cavity cleaning ability and good in feeling of use. Further, the oral cavity operability is excellent.

On the other hand, as shown in table 3, at least 1 of the cleaning power for the deep of molar teeth, the cleaning power for periodontal pocket, the feeling of use and the oral cavity operability was insufficient in the toothbrushes (comparative examples 3 to 7) in which axb was less than 0.8 or a' × B was less than 3.

Based on the above results, it was confirmed that the oral cavity cleaning power using the toothbrush of the present invention was more excellent and the feeling of use was more excellent.

Claims

1. A toothbrush is characterized by comprising a handle body, wherein the handle body comprises a head part, a neck part extending to the head part and a handle part extending to the neck part, hair bundles are implanted on a hair implanting surface of the head part,

the hair bundle implanted on the hair implanting surface of the head part is flat line type hair implantation,

the thickness of the head part is 2.0 to 4.0mm, the minimum width of the neck part is 3.0 to 4.5mm,

the handle body is made of polypropylene resin,

when the deflection of the head portion measured by the following method alpha is A and the deflection of the neck portion measured by the following method beta is B, the value X of A/L2, which is the deflection of the head portion relative to the head length L2, is 0.015 to 0.045,

the ratio Y/X of the value Y of B/(L2+ L3) which is the amount of neck deflection relative to the sum of the head length L2 and the neck length L3 and is L2+ L3 to X is 0.8 to 2.0,

method α: a hammer of 200g is suspended at a position of 10 + -3% from the tip of the implanted part with respect to the length in the long axis direction of the implanted part in the head part in the fixed state with the height of the tip of the handle body in the state where the position of the boundary between the head part and the neck part is fixed with the implanted surface of the head part directed upward in the vertical direction as a reference height, and the amount of displacement in mm in the height of the tip of the handle body from the reference height after 10 seconds is used as the deflection amount A of the head part,

method beta: the bristle surface of the head is directed upward in the vertical direction, the height of the distal end of the handle body in a state in which the position of the boundary between the neck and the handle is fixed is set as a reference height, a hammer of 200g is suspended at a position 50 ± 3% away from the distal end of the bristle part with respect to the length in the long axis direction of the bristle part in the head in the fixed state, and the amount of displacement in mm in the height from the reference height of the distal end of the handle body after 10 seconds is set as the amount of deflection B of the neck.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the deflection A is 0.4 to 3.0mm and the deflection B is 2.1 to 5.0 mm.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the neck has a minimum thickness of 3.0 to 4.5 mm.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1 or 2, wherein the neck has a minimum width of 3.0 to 4.2 mm.

5. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the neck has a minimum thickness of 3.0 to 4.2 mm.

6. A toothbrush is characterized by comprising a handle body, wherein the handle body comprises a head part, a neck part extending to the head part and a handle part extending to the neck part, hair bundles are implanted on a hair implanting surface of the head part,

the handle body is made of polyacetal resin,

when the deflection of the head portion measured by the following method alpha is set to be A and the deflection of the neck portion measured by the following method beta is set to be B, the value X of A/L2 which is the deflection of the head portion relative to the head length L2 is set to be 0.027-0.035,

the ratio Y/X of the value Y of B/(L2+ L3) which is the amount of neck deflection relative to the sum of the head length L2 and the neck length L3 and is L2+ L3 to X is 1.0 to 1.4,

7. The toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein the deflection A is 0.4 to 3.0mm and the deflection B is 2.1 to 5.0 mm.

8. The toothbrush of claim 6 or 7, wherein the neck has a minimum thickness of 3.0 to 4.5 mm.

9. A toothbrush according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the neck has a minimum width of 3.0 to 4.2 mm.

10. The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the neck has a minimum thickness of 3.0-4.2 mm.