EP1646299B1 - Manual toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a manual toothbrush (1) comprising a toothbrush head (4) that is provided with a forward free end (5) and a rear section (6), next to which a handle (2) is located. At least one first bunch of bristles (21) that extends from the surface (7) of the toothbrush head (4), which is located on the bristle side, in an upward direction is embodied at the forward free end (5) as a first group (8) while a second group (9) of bunches of bristles (25, 26) is placed immediately next to the first group (8) in a rearward direction. Said second group (9) encompasses several bunches of bristles (25) that protrude from the surface (7), are disposed one behind another in an annular area, and extend at an angle from the surface (7) of the toothbrush head (4) in the peripheral direction of the annular area, and at least one additional bunch of bristles (26) which protrudes from the surface (7) and extends within the bunches of bristles (25) located in the annular area. According to the invention, a third group (10) of bunches of bristles (28) lies adjacent to the second group (9) of bunches of bristles (25) in the direction of the rear section (6). Said third group (10) is composed of several bunches of bristles (28) which protrude from the surface (7) and are positioned one behind another in an annular area. The bunches of bristles (28) of the third group (10) are inclined in the opposite direction of the bunches of bristles (25) of the second group (9) in the peripheral direction such that said bunches of bristles (25, 28) can easily penetrate the interdental spaces, resulting in an improved brushing effect.

Description

The invention relates to a manual toothbrush according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a manual toothbrush is already out of the WO 01/43584 A1 known. In the case of this manual toothbrush, bristle tufts arranged on an annular surface protrude in the middle region of the toothbrush head from the surface on the surface of the toothbrush surface, all of which are inclined relative to the circumferential direction to the surface of the toothbrush head. Radially within this bristle tufts are further tufts of bristles, which are arranged on a second annular surface of smaller diameter and which also run in the same direction as the outer bristle tufts inclined.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a manual toothbrush, in which not only in an up and down movement but also in a reciprocating motion of the manual toothbrush during a cleaning process as many bristle tufts easily penetrate into the interdental spaces and clean them thoroughly. Furthermore, the lateral flanks of the teeth during a cleaning process should be cleaned very thoroughly.

Due to the features of the invention, a manual toothbrush is created, with which the interdental spaces and their side edges can be cleaned particularly well. This is achieved in particular by the fact that the outer bristle tufts arranged on an annular surface of the second group are inclined relative to the bristle tufts of the third group and are spatially separated from one another in the longitudinal direction. By means of this arrangement according to the invention, those bristle tufts reach very well into the interdental spaces, which are inclined in the direction of movement of the manual toothbrush, while the bristle tufts, which run in an inclined manner relative to the direction of movement of the manual toothbrush, more or less clean the surface of the tooth flanks. Now, if the toothbrush moves in the other direction, now attack the oppositely directed bristle tufts better in the interdental spaces, but now from the other side, so that they can then clean the interdental spaces from the other side better.

During the reciprocating movement of the manual toothbrush, in particular those bristle tufts arranged on the annular surface are particularly effectively in cleaning engagement, which in particular are arranged more or less at the edge region of the toothbrush head. This is particularly because individual bristle tufts in the direction of movement on the side edges run the toothbrush and therefore during the cleaning process on the interdental spaces or the tooth surface from above - similar to a scraper - push transversely against it and so particularly effectively remove the plaque from the tooth surface.

The bristle tufts inclined transversely thereto in the reciprocating motion of the manual toothbrush, which are arranged more or less in the inner region of the toothbrush head, extend transversely to the direction of movement of the toothbrush and therefore bring about a more sliding effect on the end faces of the teeth, viewed from the side are easily accessible.

Now, if the toothbrush perpendicular to the reciprocating movement up or moved, so moved substantially parallel to the interdental spaces, so now take the scraping and sliding cleaning effect arranged in the central region of the toothbrush head on the outer annular surface bristle tufts, especially in the interdental spaces, which leads to a better cleaning result in the interdental spaces and also on the front sides of the teeth in a shorter time. The bristle tufts formed on the outer edge, however, carry out a wiping movement during this up and down movement, which then rather clean the surface of the tooth flanks, since they do not penetrate the interdental spaces so well. By toothbrush according to the invention so the interdental spaces are cleaned better in a shorter cleaning time, as is the case in the prior art.

In addition, the first group of bristle tufts formed at the front free end of the toothbrush head takes over the cleaning of the rearmost molar region, since they are formed furthest forward upon penetration of the toothbrush head into an oral cavity.

Due to the features of claim 2, the outer, formed on an annular surface bristle tufts are supported in their cleaning effect to the effect that when pressing the bristles against the tooth surface by the third group of bristle tufts from the inside obtained a supporting effect and thus better penetrate into the interdental spaces or better clean the front surfaces. At the same time, the third group of bristle tufts additionally cleans the front surfaces of the teeth area better, so that the outer bristle tufts not alone have to take over the cleaning work. This additionally increases the service life of the manual toothbrush.

A further improved cleaning on the tooth surfaces is achieved by the features of patent claim 3. Due to the almost closed surface of the arranged inside the annular surfaces of the outer bristle tufts inner bristle tufts especially the surface of the tooth surface is cleaned, so that even with increased cleaning pressure not immediately the bristles bend away to the sides, what the cleaning result and for the durability of less advantage would. Furthermore, the toothpaste can adhere better to the closed surface and can not run down the bristle tufts.

Due to the features of claim 4, a particularly uniform roughened, closed plaster surface is achieved at the free ends of the inner bristle tufts. In this case, the free ends of the individual bristles of the bristle tufts engage in such a way due to their fine fiber structure that they can no longer be distinguished from each other. Thus, the bristles of all inner bristle tufts form a common bristle tufts with only one common plaster surface, which can clean the tooth surface over a large area. The fanning of the bristle tufts takes place by means of a rapidly rotating disc, on the surface perpendicular to the disc extending small knives are formed, which tear the toothbrush side ends of the inner bristle tufts and so auffaßen that their fine fibers interlock and create a closed but roughened surface to let.

Due to the features of claim 5, particularly good cleaning results, because due to the low inclination, the individual bristle tufts afford a fairly good resistance when pressing them against the tooth surface, so that as much as possible by the hand of an operator dispensed contact pressure can be delivered to the tooth surfaces , This increases the efficiency of a toothbrush with better cleaning results in a shorter time.

By the features of claim 6, the Zahnputzoberfläche the manual toothbrush is soft and elastic, ie, at a low contact pressure initially formed on the outer annular surface bristle tufts to rest against the tooth surfaces and when the contact pressure is increased to the tooth surface, those bristle tufts, which have not penetrated into a tooth space, so far that now reach the other, shorter bristle tufts used. This condition is noted by an operator in that the manual toothbrush becomes harder on further pressurization. Then, namely, the contact pressure on the manual toothbrush must be increased considerably, if you bend all bristle tufts on the toothbrush head or to deform in order to obtain an intensive cleaning. This bristle tuft arrangement improves the handling of the manual toothbrush, because this results in a better feed back to an operator, who can then respond quickly to higher or lower pressure.

The features of claim 7 ensure that the arranged between the second and third group of bristle tufts fourth group of bristle tufts in the cleaning movement supports the bristle tufts of the second and third groups in small margins side reinforcing, ie, they wear in addition to their own cleaning task for higher bending stiffness these bristle groups better and thus ensure a higher stability of the manual toothbrush according to the invention. The features of claim 8 further support this effect, so that overall less wear on the bristle tufts of the manual toothbrush arises.

Less wear is also facilitated by the fact that according to the features of claim 9, the bristle tufts of the fourth group are at the same level as the bristle tufts, which lie within the formed on an annular surface bristle tufts; but they can also be longer than the bristle tufts, which lie within the bristle tufts formed on the annular surface and thereby be shorter than the bristle tufts formed on the annular surface. In the first case, the bristle tufts are used simultaneously and harden the toothbrush surface of the bristle tufts, in the second case, the bristle tufts are used slightly later, but they then still harden the toothbrush surface of the bristle tufts to a sufficient extent. They also form a supporting action for the bristle tufts of the first to third groups formed between these bristle tufts.

The features of claim 10 provide a support for the bristle tufts next coming bristle tufts of the second group. Due to the vertical arrangement of the bristle tufts of the fourth group, these can be arranged on the toothbrush head so that they come very close to the formed on the annular surface Börstenbüschel zoom to get the support effect right at the beginning of the cleaning process.

Due to the features of claim 11, the cleaning result of the manual toothbrush according to the invention improves, because even the front portion of the toothbrush head reaches even deeper to the molars and also the rearmost region of the molars can clean better. Due to the features of claim 12 reaches the brush end of the first group of bristle tufts with its inclined plane relatively flat on the toothbrush surface and thus causes a flat uniform cleaning of the molars, without having to constantly the pressure must be changed in conventional manual toothbrush maintenance.

Due to the features of claims 13 and 14 results in a particularly easy-to-manufacture manual toothbrush, in which the tufts have the same cross section but still different bristle thickness and color. The tools required for such a manual toothbrush are easier to produce due to these features, so that the manufacturing cost of the manual toothbrush can be reduced.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht auf eine Handzahnbürste mit der erfindungsgemäßen Beborstung,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Handzahnbürste in Richtung X nach Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine teilweise Seitenansicht auf den Zahnbürstenkopf mit der gesamten Beborstung nach Fig. 1, allerdings in vergrößertem Maßstab und

Fig. 4

eine teilweise Draufsicht auf den Zahnbürstenkopf mit kompletter Beborstung nach Fig. 3.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

a side view of a manual toothbrush with the bristles invention,

Fig. 2

a plan view of the manual toothbrush in the direction X to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a partial side view of the toothbrush head with the entire bristles after Fig. 1 , but on a larger scale and

Fig. 4

a partial plan view of the toothbrush head with complete bristles after Fig. 3 ,

In the Figures 1 and 2 is a manual toothbrush 1 shown, which consists of an elongate handle 2, a subsequent to the handle 2 and tapering in cross-section neck 3 and adjoining the neck 3 toothbrush head 4. The toothbrush head 4 has a front end 5 and a rear end 6, between which from the surface 7 upwards ( Fig. 1 ) four groups 8 to 11 of bristle tufts 21 and 24 to 30 extend, as these also in an enlarged scale in the FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown. At the top 12 of the handle 2 a suitable for the thumb of an operator grip surface 13 is formed, which is easily embedded in the surface 12 and the transverse free from the rear end to the handle 2, raised Ridges 14 which consist of thermoplastic elastomer and which are slightly bent forward to the toothbrush head 4 out.

At the bottom 15 of the handle 2 is after FIG. 1 at the level of the gripping surface 13, a further gripping surface 35 is formed, which is formed from transverse to the longitudinal axis of the manual toothbrush 1, lamellar ribs 16 which are very narrow and therefore give in Andrükken individual fingers, similar to a cushion. The fine ribs 16 and the ribs 16 interconnecting substrate 17 is also made of thermoplastic elastomer and is sprayed onto the base body 18 of the handle 2 and is formed only in the front region and the side of the handle 2.

How out Fig. 2 can be seen, the manual toothbrush 1 is designed symmetrically and has a longitudinal axis of the manual toothbrush 1 extending symmetry or center axis 23. The toothbrush head 4 has in plan view the shape of an elongated oval, the strongly curved end faces of which form the front and rear ends 5, 6. The surface 7 of the toothbrush head 4, from which the four groups 8 to 11 of bristle tufts 21 and 24 to 30 protrude, extends inclined by the angle a to a shelf 19 upwards. The shelf 19 may be any surface of a furniture part. Put the manual toothbrush 1, like this Fig. 1 shows, on this shelf 19 from, so the manual toothbrush 1 is supported on some on its underside 20 formed depositing surfaces 36, 37 on the shelf 19 and thus comes to a stable position so that the top 12 is substantially perpendicularly upward, like this Fig. 1 is apparent. The angle a between the shelf 19 and the surface 7 extends between 2 to 6 °, preferably 4 °. By this angle a, the handling of the manual toothbrush 1 is particularly good, because the hand of an operator does not need to be twisted so that the groups 8 to 11 of the bristle tufts 21 and 24 to 30 relatively perpendicular to the tooth surfaces (not shown) of a treated operator Arrive plant.

After the FIGS. 1 to 4 joins the front end 5 a first group 8 of bristle tufts 21, which are inclined by the angle b with respect to the vertical to the surface 7 to the front. The angle b extends between 5 and 9 °, preferably 7 °. The free ends 22 of the bristle tufts 21 form a common plane, which extend obliquely upward with respect to the surface 7 by the angle c. The angle c extends between 13 and 18 °, preferably at 15 °. The foremost point E1 of the foremost bristle tufts 21 has a length L1 to the surface 7 of about 12 mm. The last Point E2 of the two rearmost bristle tufts 21 has a length L2 to the surface 7 of 10.5 mm. The bristle tufts 21 of the first group protrude from the surface 7 so that they according to the Figures 2 and 4 in plan view, all together define a substantially crescent-shaped cross-section. The first group 8 is formed by six bristle tufts 21, of which five bristle tufts 21 extend parallel to the edge 38 and a bristle tufts 21 is located within these bristle tufts 21, so that this group 8 in plan view gives a substantially crescent-shaped appearance.

To the first group 8 of bristle tufts 21, a fourth group 11 of bristle tufts 24 connects, which extend transversely to the center axis 23 of the manual toothbrush 1, as the Figures 2 and 4 demonstrate. The fourth group 11 consists of three bristle tufts 24, which have substantially the same distance to the next adjacent bristle tufts 21 of the first group 8. They are therefore on a pitch circle diameter and extend symmetrically to the center axis 23, wherein the middle bristle tufts 24 is arranged directly in the center of the center axis 23.

The fourth group 11 of bristle tufts 24 closes after the FIGS. 1 to 4 the second group 9 of bristle tufts 25, which are arranged on a diameter D equidistant from each other and according to Fig. 2 are inclined counterclockwise at an angle f to the surface 7. The angle f is 6 to 8 °, preferably about 7 °, while the diameter D is between 7 and 10 mm, preferably at 8.5 mm. The bristle tufts 25 are arranged diametrically opposite one another and consist of eight to fourteen, preferably ten bristle tufts 25. Radially inside, four bristle tufts 26 extend from the surface 7 from the second group 9 which likewise run diametrically opposite and whose center is the same center point M. as is the case for bristle tufts 25. The bristle tufts 26 extend vertically from the surface 7 upwards. They lie on a common diameter D1 and are offset by 90 ° to each other, with two bristle tufts 26 extending centrally to the center axis 23.

In turn, this fourth group 9 is followed by a fourth group 11 of two bristle tufts 27, which run perpendicular to the center axis 23 and have the same distance from the center axis 23 and which extend vertically from the surface 7 upwards.

The bristle tufts 27 are followed by a third group 10 of bristle tufts 28, which likewise consists of ten bristle tufts 28 distributed uniformly on the circumference. The Tufts 28 are not like the bristle tufts 25 counterclockwise, but circumferentially inclined by the angle g clockwise, which has the same inclination of 6 to 8 °, preferably 7 °, as already indicated for the angle f of the second group 9 has been. Radially within the bristle tufts 28, in turn, four bristle tufts 29 are arranged, which protrude vertically from the surface 7 upwards. Further details are no longer made to the third group 10, since the bristle tufts 28, 29 and their arrangement on the toothbrush head 4 with the exception of the opposite direction of inclination have the same dimensions, as has already been stated for the second group 9.

The third group 10 is in turn followed by a fourth group 11 of three bristle tufts 30, of which the middle bristle tuft 30 extends centrally to the center axis 23. The two outer bristle tufts 30 have the same distance from the center axis 23.

While after the FIGS. 1 and 3 the bristle tufts 21 of the first group 8 project furthest upwards, the bristle tufts 25 and 28 form a common plane E4 (FIG. FIG. 3 ), which runs parallel to the surface 7. The distance L3 from the surface 7 to the plane E4 is 9 to 11 mm, preferably 10 mm. The distance d from the plane E4 to the free surface 31 of the bristle tufts 30, 27, 24 of the fourth group 11 is the same and is 0.7 to 1.1 mm, preferably 0.9 mm. The distance e from the plane E4 to the free surface 32 of the bristle tufts 29 and 26 is 1.2 to 1.8 mm, preferably 1.5 mm. While the bristle tufts 25 and 28 have a diameter i of 1.6 mm, the diameters h of all other bristle tufts 21, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 30 are 1.9 mm. The free ends 31, 32 of the bristle tufts 30, 27, 24 and 29 and 26 also extend parallel to the surface 7.

Since the mode of operation of the manual toothbrush 1 according to the invention has already been indicated in the introduction to the description of the individual patent claims, a renewed description is dispensed with at this point in order to avoid repetition.

The bristle tufts 25 and 28 lie behind FIG. 4 on an imaginary annular surface 33 and 34, respectively, in FIG Fig. 4 are shown as thin lines. The inner and outer diameter of the annular surfaces 33, 34 affect in the worst case, the side wall of the bristle tufts 25 and 28. In the other case, a distance between the edge of the bristle tufts 25 and 28 and the inner or outer diameter of the annular surfaces 33, 34 be present.

But it can also be a bristle tufts 25 and 28 more at the inner radius or more at the outer radius of the annular surface 33, 34 may be arranged.

The arranged within the bristle tufts 25 and 28 bristle tufts 26 and 29 are so close together that they, if the free ends 32 are frayed, form a nearly closed surface, but in the Figures 2 and 4 was not shown in order to represent the bristle tufts 26, 29 better in their basic cross-section.

The bristle tufts 24, 27, 30 of the fourth group 11 have a length L5 which extends from the surface 7 to their free ends 31. The bristle tufts 26, 29 have a length L4 from the surface 7 to their free ends 32. The length L4 is smaller than the length L5, which in turn is smaller than the length L3. The measure L4 is calculated from L3 minus e, the measure L5 from L3 minus d.

Claims (14)

1. A manual toothbrush (1) with a toothbrush head (4) that has a forward free end (5) and a rearward segment (6) to which a handle (2) is connected, wherein at the forward free end (5) of the toothbrush head (4) at least one bristle tuft (21) as a first group (8) extends away from the bristle-side surface (7) of the toothbrush head (4), and a second group (9) of bristle tufts (25) is attached to the rearward segment (6) that - on the one hand consists of multiple bristle tufts (25) protruding from the surface (7) and arranged one after another on a ring area (33), which bristle tufts (25) extend in the circumferential direction of the ring area (33), inclined at the angle (f) relative to the surface (7) of the toothbrush head (4), and which second group (9) consists - on the other hand - of at least one additional bristle tuft (26) projecting from the surface (7), which additional bristle tuft (26) extends within the bristle tufts (25) arranged on the ring area (33),
   characterized in that
   a third group (10) of bristle tufts (28, 29) follows the second group (9) of bristle tufts (25, 26) towards the rearward segment (6), which third group (10) consists of multiple bristle tufts (28) projecting from the surface and arranged one after another on a ring area (34), and in that the bristle tufts (28) of the third group (10) are inclined counter to the direction of the bristle tufts (25) of the second group (9) in the circumferential direction.
2. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the third group (10) of the bristle tufts (28) arranged on the ring area (34) furthermore consists of at least one additional bristle tuft (29) that extends within the bristle tufts (28) arranged on the ring area (34).
3. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 1 and 2,
   characterized in that
   the bristle tufts (26, 29) of the second and third group (9, 10) that are arranged within the ring areas (33, 34) form a nearly closed surface at their ends at the side that brushes the teeth.
4. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 3,
   characterized in that
   the closed surface of the bristle tufts (26, 29) of the second and third group (9, 10) is formed by separating their free ends (32) into fibers.
5. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the bristle tufts (25, 28) of the second and third group (9, 10) that are arranged on the ring areas (33, 34) have an angle of inclination (for, respectively, g) of 5 to 12° - preferably of 8° - relative to the surface (7) of the toothbrush head (4).
6. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 1 and 2,
   characterized in that
   the bristle tufts (25, 28) of the second and third group (9, 10) arranged on the ring areas (33, 34) have a common length L3 that is greater than the common length L4 of the additional bristle tufts (26, 29) lying inward of these bristle tufts (25, 28).
7. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 1 and 2,
   characterized in that
   a fourth group (11) of bristle tufts (24, 27, 30) extending transversal to the longitudinal direction (23) of the toothbrush head (4) respectively follows each of the first, second and third groups (8, 9, 10) of bristle tufts (21, 25, 26, 28, 29).
8. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the bristle tufts (24, 27, 30) of the fourth group (11) respectively consist of bristle tufts arranged at a distance from one another that have a greater hardness than the individual bristle tufts (21, 25, 26, 28, 29) of the first through third groups (8, 9, 10).
9. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the bristle tufts (24, 27, 30) of the fourth group (11) have a common length L5 whose dimensions are between the lengths L3 and L4 or are equal to L4.
10. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 9,
    characterized in that
    the bristle tufts (24, 27, 30) of the fourth group (11) project upward essentially orthogonally from the surface (7) of the toothbrush head (4).
11. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 1,
    characterized in that
    the forward bristle tuft (21) of the first group (8) is inclined towards the forward end (5) by the angle (b) relative to the perpendicular to the surface (7) of the toothbrush head (4).
12. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the first group (8) consists of six bristle tufts (21) whose free ends end at a common plane (22) that runs inclined by the angle (c) relative to the surface (7), and in that the plane (22) runs above the plane (E4) formed by the free ends of the bristle tufts (25, 28) of the second and third group (9, 10).
13. The manual toothbrush according to any preceding Claim,
    characterized in that
    the cross sections of the individual bristle tufts (21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30) are fashioned to be essentially circular.
14. The manual toothbrush according to Claim 13,
    characterized in that
    the cross sections of the bristle tufts (21, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30) are essentially identical and have a larger diameter than the bristle tufts (25, 28).

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