EP0193101B1 - Interdental toothbrush - Google Patents

Interdental toothbrush Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0193101B1
EP0193101B1 EP86102162A EP86102162A EP0193101B1 EP 0193101 B1 EP0193101 B1 EP 0193101B1 EP 86102162 A EP86102162 A EP 86102162A EP 86102162 A EP86102162 A EP 86102162A EP 0193101 B1 EP0193101 B1 EP 0193101B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
handle
brush
cap
interdental toothbrush
approximately
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP86102162A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0193101A3 (en
EP0193101A2 (en
Inventor
Emanuel B. Tarrson
Dane Maric
Thomas P. Kelly
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sunstar Americas Inc
Original Assignee
John O Butler Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=24826611&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0193101(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by John O Butler Co Inc filed Critical John O Butler Co Inc
Priority to AT86102162T priority Critical patent/ATE51746T1/de
Publication of EP0193101A2 publication Critical patent/EP0193101A2/en
Publication of EP0193101A3 publication Critical patent/EP0193101A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0193101B1 publication Critical patent/EP0193101B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
    • A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
    • A46B5/0075—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body being adjustable and stable during use
    • A46B5/0079—Adjustable and stable shaft or handle, e.g. generally in one piece
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B17/00—Accessories for brushes
    • A46B17/04—Protective covers for the bristles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B3/00—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier
    • A46B3/18—Brushes characterised by the way in which the bristles are fixed or joined in or on the brush body or carrier the bristles being fixed on or between belts or wires
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
    • A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
    • A46B5/0075—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body being adjustable and stable during use
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/02—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware specially shaped for holding by the hand
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B7/00—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body
    • A46B7/04—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body interchangeably removable bristle carriers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
    • A46B2200/108—Inter-dental toothbrush, i.e. for cleaning interdental spaces specifically

Definitions

  • This invention relates to interdental brushes.
  • An interdental brush is one which fits into spaces between and around the teeth. This kind of brush is generally used by people who have special brushing needs. For example, some bridges are suspensions which run between adjoining teeth. The biting surface is present, but there is nothing under that surface and above the gum line. Therefore, there is a problem of how best to clean under the bridge and against adjacent teeth. Of course, there are many other places where similar interdental brushing problems may occur. Such brushes are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,559,226; 4,222,143; 4,387,479, and others.
  • the handle and brush of the prior art devices are generally a rigid unit; therefore, use of the unit is similar to holding a pencil of a comparable length and projecting it into the back of the mouth, while trying to fit the point into a gap under abridge or between adjacent teeth.
  • This kind of rigidity may require an extension of the cheek or the use of two hands.
  • the brushing must occur without a loss of gap orientation unless one is willing to go through the process of finding the gap again. Also, if one brushes too vigorously and loses the gap while doing so, he may jab himself in the gum or tooth and also bend the wire stem brush. Thus, interdental cleaning may be difficult to perform, especially where visual contact is not easy to achieve.
  • an object of the invention is to provide an interdental toothbrush having a handle and a brush with a twisted wire characterized by the handle having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being flexible, and a second portion being relatively rigid, the brush twisted wire stem being embedded in at least said first portion of the handle and projecting from said first portion in axial alignment with the handle, said first portion having a cross-section less than the cross-section of the second portion and of such flexibility that with a small amount of finger pressure, said first portion flexes to move said brush at an angle to the handle axis to enable said brush to be inserted between teeth in hard to reach places.
  • an interdental brush having a handle with a flexible neck or first portion and a less flexible second portion.
  • the dimensions of the brush and handle are such that a small amount of finger pressure upon the neck region causes the tip of the brush to deflect, bend or flex to a convenient brushing angle.
  • the flexibility can be either plastic or resilient.
  • the neck may be straightened from the deflected position.
  • the brush may be repeatedly bent and straightened for repeated use. Furthermore, it may be bent at different angles to afford access to different areas of the mouth.
  • one side of the interdental space may be brushed by slightly increasing the deflection responsive to an added finger pressure and the other side of the space may be brushed responsive to decreasing the deflection by reduced finger pressure.
  • the brush may be rolled between the fingers to enable the finger tip to help straighten or to change the angle of the tip.
  • the brushing itself may be accomplished by slight movements of the finger tip and thumb.
  • the brush of Figs. 1 and 8 includes a handle 20 and a cap 22.
  • the cap 22 is a cylindrical member, having one end 23 closed.
  • the other end 24 is open and slips over the brush handle 20 with friction fit (as best seen in Fig. 7).
  • one or more vents 21 may be provided in the cap to facilitate drying of the brush after use.
  • a reduction in internal diameter, such as annular stop 25, limits the distance which the cap 22 may be slipped over the end of handle 20 and, therefore, protects the brush 26 from the cap being jammed downwardly.
  • Internal ribs 29 (Fig. 12) run longitudinally within the cap 22 to provide added friction for holding the cap in place on the handle 20.
  • the internal diameter of the cap is uniform throughout the distance from the step 24 to the closed end 23 to give a smooth internal wall. It is desirable forthe outside of the handle 20 and cap 22 to be serrated with longitudinal ribs so that they may be better manipulated by a person with wet hands. These ribs add friction, in the mold between the cap 22 and walls of the cavity in which it was formed.
  • the male mold part is given a plurality of circumferential grooves to form a number of ribs 25a, inside the cap 22.
  • these ribs and grooves are engaged to provide enough holding forces to overcome the friction between the cap 22 and the female mold part. Thereafter the cap 22 may be knocked off the male part since the depth of the grooves (or the height of the ribs 25a) is very shallow.
  • a smooth surfaced flange 24a is provided for on the bottom of the cap. This flange also provides a controlled amount of resistance to a flaring of the open end (i.e., it acts somewhat as a rubberband would act to hold the cap 22 in place).
  • Handle 20 has a brush 26 of any suitable design on a twisted wire stem 32 projecting longitudinally from the handle 20.
  • the opposite end 27 of handle 20 is solid.
  • the brush 26 is kept clean and sanitary.
  • the handle is made longer.
  • the internal ribs 29 help secure the cap 22 on the opposite end of the handle 20 so that, together, they provide a more secure tool which may be gripped with greater ease within the hand and .braced against the palm at the fleshy fold 34 between the thumb and the index finger.
  • the stop 25 limits the distance that the end of the handle 20 extends onto the cap 22.
  • the handle 20 is a solid member which is approximately a quarter-inch in diameter (.635 cm), for a distance A, which may be about one-inch (2.54 cm). Beginning at shoulder 28, the diameter of a tip end 33 gradually reduces over a distance, which may be about one-quarter inch (.635 cm), to an outer tip 31, which is also approximately one-quarter inch (.635 cm) in length and an eighth-inch (.32 cm) in diameter.
  • the wire stem 32 is exposed over a distance between the top of tip end 31 and the bottom of brush 26 which is about one-sixteenth of one-inch (.16 cm).
  • the wire stem 32 of brush 26 extends through and is embedded in the tip end 33 and handle of the molded part. This wire stem continues for a substantial distance into the full diameter section of handle 20, as shown, for example in Fig. 2.
  • the brush stem 32 is molded into the plastic of the handle at the time when the handle is made.
  • the end of the wire may be bent or crimped, as shown at 36 in Fig. 9.
  • Longitudinal ribs 38 are provided in the handle 20 and the cap 22. These ribs enhance the aesthetic appearance of the product and give the handle and cap a better feel to the user. The ribs also aid in removal of the cap from the handle, particularly after the brush has been used.
  • the handle 20 is preferably made from a mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer, polymer material and a polypropylene of a general purpose homopolymer grade. More particularly, in one embodiment which was constructed and found satisfactory, the handle was made of approximately 80% "C-Flex" and 20% “Polypropylene #5820".
  • C-Flex The "C-Flex” material is manufactured by Concept Polymer Technologies, Inc. of 12707 U.S. 19 South, Clearwater, Florida 33546. In its technical data sheets, the manufacturer reports that "C-Flex” has the following properties.
  • Polypropylene #5820 (12 melt) is manufactured by the Shell Chemical Company, having an address at 1415 West 22 Street, Oak Brook, Illinois 60521. The manufacturer of this product describes its physical properties as follows:
  • Shell further describes this product as being a high flow, general purpose material suitable for injection molding of intricate parts where long flow paths are involved.
  • An antistat component reduces electrical charges during processing and subsequent storage, thereby reducing dust pickup.
  • the diameter of wire stem 32 may be either increased or decreased somewhat and the diameter and length of the neck region 33, 31 may be modified. It is thought that those who manufacture the inventive brush will determine the best diameters and lengths for themselves and for their own particular needs.
  • the wire stem of a conventional interdental brush may be increased in diameter in the approximate range of 10-50%.
  • the method of using the inventive brush is shown in Fig. 8.
  • the length of handle 20 is such that, when the tip end 33 is held between the thumb'and index finger, the opposite end of the handle is captured and stabilized along the length of the finger. Or, if the cap is in place on the end of the brush, its end might be captured in or near the palm of the hand, as in the fleshy fold 34, which is between the thumb and index finger.
  • the handle may be rolled between the thumb and index finger or a small amount of thumb pressure may be applied to the brush to straighten it or bend it to the other position.
  • the flexed angle of the brush may be varied, at the will of the user.

Landscapes

  • Brushes (AREA)
EP86102162A 1985-02-21 1986-02-19 Interdental toothbrush Expired - Lifetime EP0193101B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT86102162T ATE51746T1 (de) 1985-02-21 1986-02-19 Zahnbuerste fuer die zwischenraeume.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US70374585A 1985-02-21 1985-02-21
US703745 1985-02-21

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0193101A2 EP0193101A2 (en) 1986-09-03
EP0193101A3 EP0193101A3 (en) 1987-09-23
EP0193101B1 true EP0193101B1 (en) 1990-04-11

Family

ID=24826611

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86102162A Expired - Lifetime EP0193101B1 (en) 1985-02-21 1986-02-19 Interdental toothbrush

Country Status (15)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0193101B1 (ko)
JP (3) JPS61240907A (ko)
KR (1) KR930005085B1 (ko)
AT (1) ATE51746T1 (ko)
AU (1) AU586465B2 (ko)
BE (1) BE904241A (ko)
CA (1) CA1264512A (ko)
CH (1) CH668537A5 (ko)
DE (1) DE3670200D1 (ko)
ES (1) ES9100013A1 (ko)
FR (1) FR2577398B1 (ko)
GB (1) GB2171296B (ko)
IE (1) IE57247B1 (ko)
IL (1) IL77906A (ko)
IT (1) IT1188501B (ko)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9167882B2 (en) 2014-03-14 2015-10-27 Import Partners, Inc. Toothbrush with interdental brush storage

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IL77906A (en) * 1985-02-21 1989-09-28 Butler John O Co Interdental toothbrush
US4861179A (en) * 1986-03-07 1989-08-29 Henlopen Manufacturing Co., Inc. Mascara brush
FR2638631A1 (en) * 1988-11-08 1990-05-11 Legoff Jean Tube with a cap serving as a support for a miniaturised brush for cleaning the interdental spaces
JPH0322723U (ko) * 1989-07-19 1991-03-08
JPH0344428U (ko) * 1989-09-04 1991-04-25
JPH0372723U (ko) * 1989-11-18 1991-07-23
JPH0443131U (ko) * 1990-08-09 1992-04-13
ES2079318B1 (es) * 1994-05-04 1996-08-16 Dentaid Sa Cepillo interdental.
US5896615A (en) * 1997-04-28 1999-04-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Interdental brush
GB2350783A (en) * 1999-06-10 2000-12-13 Nicholas Arundel Toothbrush with flexible neck
US6397425B1 (en) * 1999-08-31 2002-06-04 Gillette Canada Company Polypropylene brush body
GB2358129A (en) * 2000-01-14 2001-07-18 Tracy Roofe Toothbrush with substantially symmetrical head
JP2003527191A (ja) * 2000-03-20 2003-09-16 スティーブン エム．アントラー 歯垢除去器具
GB0200472D0 (en) * 2002-01-10 2002-02-27 Complement Genomics Ltd A sampling device for collecting a cell sample and related methods
DE102006040241A1 (de) * 2006-08-28 2008-03-06 Synpart Ag Griff für Geräte zur Körper- und Schönheitspflege
JP2009089849A (ja) * 2007-10-05 2009-04-30 Hashimoto Brush Seisakusho:Kk 口腔内ケア用ブラシ
KR101786154B1 (ko) * 2010-07-23 2017-10-17 라이온 가부시키가이샤 치간 브러시

Family Cites Families (21)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH105903A (de) * 1923-07-18 1924-07-16 Ronning & Gjerloff Aktieselska Tubenpinsel.
FR671738A (fr) * 1929-03-19 1929-12-18 Brosse à dents
GB390985A (en) * 1931-08-17 1933-04-20 Edward Jones Improvements in electric brushes
FR1204669A (fr) * 1958-05-22 1960-01-27 Brosse pour le nettoyage des appareils dentaires mobiles
US3204275A (en) * 1961-11-22 1965-09-07 Ernest G Baker Tooth brush
US3609789A (en) * 1970-01-12 1971-10-05 Frank W Slater Disposable toothbrush and method of making the same
JPS5243964B2 (ko) * 1972-10-30 1977-11-04
GB1497093A (en) * 1975-09-08 1978-01-05 Overbury R Toothbrush
JPS5243964U (ko) * 1975-09-17 1977-03-29
FR2394399A1 (fr) * 1977-06-13 1979-01-12 Cit Alcatel Barrette d'impression d'une image
JPS545165U (ko) * 1977-06-15 1979-01-13
DE7728103U1 (de) * 1977-09-10 1977-12-15 Karl, Georg, 8802 Bechhofen Zahnreinigungsgeraet
US4280518A (en) * 1979-04-09 1981-07-28 Gambaro Susan M Tooth cleaning implement
JPS57127716A (en) * 1981-01-29 1982-08-09 Ebara Corp Fluidized incineration
JPS5840008U (ja) * 1981-09-10 1983-03-16 株式会社葛飾プレス工業所 マスカラ塗布具
JPS59108Y2 (ja) * 1981-12-21 1984-01-05 万都江 正田 インタ−デンタルブラシ
JPS5931938A (ja) * 1982-08-17 1984-02-21 Ricoh Co Ltd 原稿照明結像光学装置
JPS5931938U (ja) * 1982-08-23 1984-02-28 モンブランはぶらし株式会社 歯間部清掃用ブラシ
US4520526A (en) * 1984-06-22 1985-06-04 Peters Charles W Resiliently flexible toothbrush
IL77906A (en) * 1985-02-21 1989-09-28 Butler John O Co Interdental toothbrush
JPH0633853U (ja) * 1992-10-12 1994-05-06 村田機械株式会社 給紙装置における繰り込みローラ

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9167882B2 (en) 2014-03-14 2015-10-27 Import Partners, Inc. Toothbrush with interdental brush storage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2577398A1 (fr) 1986-08-22
IL77906A (en) 1989-09-28
JPH0337920U (ko) 1991-04-12
IT8619496A0 (it) 1986-02-21
KR860006235A (ko) 1986-09-09
GB2171296B (en) 1988-09-07
JPS61240907A (ja) 1986-10-27
IT8619496A1 (it) 1987-08-21
CH668537A5 (fr) 1989-01-13
EP0193101A3 (en) 1987-09-23
ATE51746T1 (de) 1990-04-15
IT1188501B (it) 1988-01-14
EP0193101A2 (en) 1986-09-03
DE3670200D1 (de) 1990-05-17
GB8603989D0 (en) 1986-03-26
AU5377186A (en) 1986-08-28
FR2577398B1 (fr) 1991-04-12
JP2510593Y2 (ja) 1996-09-11
BE904241A (fr) 1986-06-16
IE57247B1 (en) 1992-06-17
ES9100013A1 (es) 1991-05-01
JPH0335730U (ko) 1991-04-08
IE860484L (en) 1986-08-21
CA1264512A (en) 1990-01-23
GB2171296A (en) 1986-08-28
JPH0633853Y2 (ja) 1994-09-07
ES552123A0 (es) 1991-05-01
KR930005085B1 (ko) 1993-06-15
AU586465B2 (en) 1989-07-13

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