EP1173081B1 - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

The toothbrush consists of a brush head with bunches of bristles (2, 3, 4) arranged in a longitudinal bristle bed (1) and a handle (6), which is connected to the bristle bed (1) by a connecting part (5). The length of the bunches of bristles (3, 4) varies in the longitudinal direction of the bristle bed (1) in a wave shape. The first bunches of bristles (2) are situated at the two outer sides of the bristle bed (1), have split bristle ends and are of essentially the same length. The second bunches of bristles (3, 4), whose length varies in the longitudinal direction of the bristle bed (1), are situated between the two outer sides of the bristle bed (1). The inventive toothbrush has an improved cleaning action, especially for interdental spaces but also for the gingival line.

Description

The invention relates to a toothbrush with a handle that has a Connecting part with a brush head having an elongated bristle bed is connected to first bristle bundles on both outer sides of the bristle bed, and with longer longer ones arranged between the two outer sides Bristle bundles and shorter third bristle bundles, being in the longitudinal direction of the Bristle bed successively second bristle bundle and third bristle bundle are provided so that a wave-like profile results in the longitudinal direction. Such a toothbrush is known from EP 0 619 711 B1.

With the horizontal cleaning method usually used by the user Known toothbrushes achieve good cleaning because the moving ones Filaments the toothbrush a quick distribution of the toothpaste on Effect tooth and rub the toothpaste over the surface of the teeth, whereby superficial impurities absorbed, dispersed and thus removed become. However, when using a toothbrush with a usual one plan to leave out the particularly caries-active interdental areas, because the bristles do not come into contact with the tooth surface in such interdental spaces to have.

EP 0 619 711 B1 therefore describes one in the longitudinal direction of the bristle bed known sinusoidal profile of the bristle bundles of a toothbrush, at which the points of maximum amplitude essentially with the gaps coincide, which are formed between the teeth of the user. All bristles have rounded ends to prevent tooth damage and avoid gums due to sharp edges. It will be an improvement cleaning performance in the interdental area, because the superscript Bristles penetrate better into the recesses between the teeth can.

When brushing the outside of the teeth, the gum line becomes strong claims what is not only uncomfortable, but despite the rounded Bristle ends can also lead to gum injury. this applies especially if a strong pressure to improve cleaning performance is applied to the toothbrush. The user therefore avoids a vigorous one Brush the outside of your teeth so that not only the outside of your teeth and the gum line, but also the interdental area is insufficient is cleaned. The same applies to the inside of the teeth.

Another disadvantage of the known toothbrush as well as toothbrushes A completely planned bristle field is that a large part of the abandoned Toothpaste already uses the bristle field after the first brushing movements leaves and can no longer contribute to cleaning.

The invention has for its object a toothbrush with an improved Cleaning performance, especially for the interdental spaces, but also for the Gum line, to develop.

This task is the toothbrush of the type mentioned solved according to the invention in that the first bristle bundles with one another have substantially the same length and with spliced bristle ends are provided.

Through the outside first bristle bundle with spliced bristle ends the gumline is considerably less stressed, so that the user is not afraid to brush with increased pressure, so that a thorough cleaning the outside of the teeth and especially the interdental spaces the wavy inner bristles is reached. At the same time clean the spliced bristle ends of the outer bristle bundle the gumline particularly gentle and thorough due to the large number of fine filament ends and distribute the toothpaste particularly effectively on the surface of the tooth and the gums. The combination of is therefore essential in the invention Inner bristles with a wave-like varying length with outer bristles, the ends of which unraveled, i.e. spliced.

The first as well as the second and third bristle bundles consist of the same or a comparable material, namely from high-quality plastics, in particular made of nylon 66 or the like. The diameter of the Bristles (filaments) are preferably 0.1 to 0.25 mm, in particular 0.15 to 0.225 mm. Each bundle of bristles comprises 40 to 60 bristles, the so-called anchor methods 20 to 30 bristles are preferred.

Furthermore, it is proposed on the one hand that the upper ends of the outer first bundle of bristles above the lowest ends of the inner shorter third bristle bundles are arranged. Secondly, it is from Advantage if the upper ends of the outer first bristle bundle highest ends of the inner shorter third bristle bundle exceed at most 1 mm and in particular up to the extend the highest ends of the inner longer second bristle bundle.

This has several advantages in terms of improving cleaning performance reached. First, the outside bristles are short enough to hold the Internal bristles for cleaning the interdental areas and the outside of the Teeth to take effect. If the outer bristles were too long, it would set a "stilt effect" so that the ends of the inner bristles do not More contact with the outside of the teeth and especially with the interdental spaces have. Second, the outside bristles are too long enough to allow the inner bristles to contact the gum line prevent. Third, limit bristles with such a minimum length the "troughs" formed by the inner bristles, so that the on the inner bristles applied toothpaste to improve cleaning performance longer is available and not as quickly as with conventional toothbrushes Bristle field leaves.

It is also suggested that the splice depth of the outer first Bristle bundle is up to 4 mm, in particular up to 2 mm. Is an advantage also if there are 5 to 10 outer first bristle bundles per bundle row are provided.

The inner second and third bristle bundles preferably have one Length (cutting height), measured from the bristle base to the ends, from 8 to 14 mm, in particular from 9 to 12.5 mm. To achieve a particularly good one Cleaning performance is suggested that the length difference between the second and third bristle bundles is 1 to 2 mm. The ends of the the second and / or the third bristle bundle are - in contrast to the spliced ends of the first bristles - not spliced, but rounded to one ensure additional safety against injury to the gums.

It is further preferred that the inner second and third bristle bundles arranged in rows transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bristle bed are 1 to 2 rows of third bristle bundles with short bristles, especially with the same bristle length, with 1 to 2 rows of second bristle bundles alternate with long bristles, especially with the same bristle length. In order to achieve optimal cleaning performance, the area of the shorter one should third bristle bundle, measured in the longitudinal direction of the bristle bed between the adjacent longer second bristle bundles, a length of 6 to 10 mm to have.

Below are further advantageous refinements of the invention for improvement the cleaning performance of the toothbrush called both the first as well as the second and third bristle bundles. The distance between the centers of neighboring bristle bundles, measured at the bristle base, should be 1.5 to 3.5 mm, in particular 2.0 to 3.0 mm. With this distance When brushing the teeth, such flexibility of the bristle bundles is achieved, which further improves cleaning performance. It is also preferred that 20 to 30 inner bundles of bristles, in particular 23 to 28 bundles of bristles, are provided are.

Further important embodiments of the invention, which the general structure of the Concern toothbrush and contribute to the solution of the object according to the invention, are explained below. The ergonomics of the toothbrush is also for one good cleaning result important. This applies in particular to the cleaning of the Oral cavity in the back area of the sitting teeth, i.e. the cheek and wisdom teeth. The connecting part between the bristle bed and the handle, which is also called web, should therefore have a diameter of no more than Have 10 mm. A web with an oval cross section is preferred, the longer axis lies in the plane of the bristle bed and has a length of 5 to 7 mm should have. The shorter axis perpendicular to it has an advantage a length of 4 to 6 mm. The ratio of long to should be on the handle short axis be about 1.1 to 1.5 to 1. Because the longer axis in the plane of the bristle bed is a lateral evasion of the bristle bed at Brushing the teeth hampers, but the bristle bed gives way perpendicular to this level relieved so that too much pressure on the toothbrush is balanced becomes.

The connecting part (the web) can vary from the handle attachment to the attachment of the Taper the bristle bed to 60% of the original diameter.

The angle between the bristle bed and the web on the one hand and the Handle on the other hand should be in the sense of ergonomics of the toothbrush at 3 ° to 10 °, in particular at 5 ° to 9 °, so that in particular the molars are much easier to reach. The through the bristle bed, the web and the Handle formed plane is preferably perpendicular to the plane of the Bristle bed.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine Zahnbürste gemäß der Erfindung,

Figur 2

eine Seitenansicht der Zahnbürste nach Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine vergrößerte Draufsicht auf das mit Borsten bestückte Borstenbett der Zahnbürste nach den Figuren 1 und 2 und

Figur 4

einen Schnitt IV-IV in Figur 3.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show it

Figure 1

a plan view of a toothbrush according to the invention,

Figure 2

2 shows a side view of the toothbrush according to FIG. 1,

Figure 3

an enlarged plan view of the bristle bed of the toothbrush with bristles according to Figures 1 and 2 and

Figure 4

a section IV-IV in Figure 3.

In all drawings, the same reference numerals have the same meaning and may therefore only be explained once.

The toothbrush consists essentially of four parts in a manner known per se, namely an elongated flat bristle bed 1 with 40 bundles of bristles 2, 3, 4 is equipped and connected to the handle 6 via a connecting part (web) 5 is. In the present case, the one piece with the bristle bed 1 is made of Plastic injection molded connector 5 inside of a transparent Plastic injection molded handle 6 anchored.

The angle already mentioned between the bristle bed 1 and the web 5 on the one hand and the handle 6 on the other hand is clear from Figure 2. There the bristle bundles are shown only schematically.

The height of the bristle bundles 2, 3, 4 made of polyamide and their Arrangement on the bristle bed 1 can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 out. Two outer rows of seven first bristle bundles 2 middle Height, namely with a length of 10.8 mm above the bristle base 7, partially enclose 10 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bristle bed 1 Rows of second and third bristle bundles 3, 4. In this interior alternate - seen in the longitudinal direction of the bristle bed 1 - 2 rows each of long second bristle bundles 3 with a length of 11.5 mm above the Bristle base 7 with 2 rows of short third bristle bundles 4 with a length from 10.1 mm above the bristle base 7. The inner long bundles of bristles (second bristle bundle) 3 are dashed in Figure 3, the inner short Bristle bundle (third bristle bundle) 4 with a small circle and the outer spliced bundle of bristles (first bundle of bristles) 2 with a zigzag line characterized. The length differences of the bristle bundles are shown in FIG. 4 especially clear. The rear outer ones in this illustration protrude here Bristle bundle 2 beyond the front short third bristle bundle 4 and are therefore visible at all in Figure 4.

The ends of the outer first bristles are spliced with a Splice depth of about 1 mm. It is also important that the area of short third bristle bundle 4, measured in the longitudinal direction of the bristle bed 1 between the adjacent long second bristle bundles 3, has a length a of 8 mm (Figure 3).

The bristle bundles 2, 3, 4 are anchored in bores 8, which have a diameter of 1.7 mm and a bristle bundle neighboring from center to center measured distance of 2.5 mm.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

bristle bed

2

outer bristle bundle, first bristle bundle

3

inner long bristle bundle, second bristle bundle

4

inner short bristle bundle, second bristle bundle

5

Connecting part (web)

6

handle

7

bristle base

8th

drilling

Claims (12)

1. Toothbrush comprising a handle (6) joined by a connecting part (5) to a brush head with an elongate bristle bed (1); first bristle bundles (2) on both outsides of the bristle bed (1); and longer, second bristle bundles (3) and shorter, third bristle bundles (4) disposed between the two outsides, the second bristle bundles (3) and third bristle bundles (4) following one another longitudinally of the bristle bed (1) so that a wave-like profile is obtained in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that the first bristle bundles (2) are substantially equal in length and are provided with split bristle ends.
2. Toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the upper ends of the outer, first bristle bundles (2) are disposed above the lowest ends of the inner, shorter third bristle bundles (4).
3. Toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper ends of the outer, first bristle bundles (2) project beyond the highest ends of the inner, shorter third bristle bundles (4) by at most 1 mm and, in particular, extend at most to the highest ends of the inner, longer second bristle bundles (3).
4. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer, first bristle bundles (2) are split to a depth of up to 4 mm and, more particularly, up to 2 mm.
5. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are 5 to 10 outer, first bristle bundles (2) per row of bundles.
6. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner, second and third bristle bundles (3,4) have a length of 8 to 14 mm and, more particularly, 9 to 12.5 mm.
7. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the difference in length between the second and third bristle bundles (3,4) is 1 to 2 mm.
8. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends of the second and/or third bristle bundles (3,4) are rounded.
9. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner, second and third bristle bundles (3,4) are arranged in rows extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the bristle bed (1), one or two rows of third bristle bundles (4) with short bristles, more particularly equal in length, alternating with one or two rows of second bristle bundles (3) with long bristles, more particularly equal in length.
10. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the region of the shorter, third bristle bundles (4), as measured longitudinally of the bristle bed (1) between the adjoining longer, second bristle bundles (3), has a length of 6 to 10 mm.
11. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the middle points of adjacent bristle bundles (2,3,4), as measured at the bristle base (7), is 1.5 to 3.5 mm and more particularly 2.0 to 3.0 mm.
12. Toothbrush as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are 20 to 30 inner bristle bundles (3,4), more particularly 23 to 28 bristle bundles (3,4), and 10 to 20 outer, split bristle bundles (2).

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