EP2687124A1 - Haltevorrichtung für Interdentalbürste und ähnliche Werkzeuge für Mundhygiene - Google Patents

Haltevorrichtung für Interdentalbürste und ähnliche Werkzeuge für Mundhygiene Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2687124A1
EP2687124A1 EP13177053.9A EP13177053A EP2687124A1 EP 2687124 A1 EP2687124 A1 EP 2687124A1 EP 13177053 A EP13177053 A EP 13177053A EP 2687124 A1 EP2687124 A1 EP 2687124A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
head
interdental brush
handle
interdental
handle rod
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13177053.9A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Eligio Ponzini
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.)
Ponzini SpA
Original Assignee
Ponzini SpA
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
Application filed by Ponzini SpA filed Critical Ponzini SpA
Publication of EP2687124A1 publication Critical patent/EP2687124A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/0004—Additional brush head
    • A46B5/0016—Brushes with heads on opposite sides or ends of a handle not intended for simultaneous use
    • 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
    • A46B5/0087—Mechanical joint featuring a ball and socket
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
    • A46B5/0095—Removable or interchangeable brush heads
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0055—Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
    • A46B15/0061—Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors with a container for accessories, e.g. pills, polish, condoms, cells
    • 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
    • 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

  • the present invention relates to a support device for an interdental brush for interdental cleaning and a manufacturing method thereof.
  • interdental brush devices for interdental cleaning are largely available on the market, which in general consist of a suitably shaped arm, called “handle”, at the free end of which a small brush body is mounted, called in short "interdental brush”.
  • the cleaning part that is the actual interdental brush, comprises a portion of thin stem wherefrom a plurality of brushed depart, which are apt to the cleaning action.
  • the stem is normally in the shape of a twisted metal wire, between the coils of which the brushes remain locked.
  • the interdental brush Due to evident hygiene and functional reasons, it is suitable for the interdental brush to be replaced often.
  • a mounting head shaped so as to allow easy mounting and removing of the interdental brush is normally provided, albeit with the required safety (to prevent the interdental brush from becoming accidentally detached and being ingested).
  • the interdental brush In pocket device instead, due to construction economy and to the low economic impact of the handle, the interdental brush is often not replaceable.
  • the interdental brush is traditionally mounted at the end of a support rod, with the stem aligned with the rod itself, and then protected by a closed-end tubular cap.
  • the cap engages with the free end of the rod and acts as a handle; when not used, the cap engages with the end carrying the interdental brush and covers it, protecting it from outside agents.
  • this pocket device is not devoid of drawbacks.
  • the interdental brush when the interdental brush must be discarded - because consumed, damaged, aged or in any case for hygiene reasons - the entire device must be discarded comprising the interdental brush device, with recycling problems, since the complex of plastic and metal materials.
  • the interdental brush device which projects aligned with the rod handle implies difficulties in the cleaning maneuvers of the interdental gaps; that substantially unlike the standard devices, wherein the interdental brush projecting crosswise to the handle allows to arrive more easily and more effectively also between the innermost teeth of the oral cavity.
  • the problem at the bottom of the present invention is to propose a support device for an interdental brush which eliminates the drawbacks set forth above.
  • it is meant to provide a pocket interdental brush device which can exploit a rectilinear configuration, hence with a small crosswise bulk, but which at the same time allows to arrange the brush orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, in a simple way free from involuntary displacements/removals.
  • a pocket interdental brush device for interdental cleaning comprising a handle rod and at least a head supporting an interdental brush mutually connected through coupling means, said handle rod and said head abutting each other through respective ends where said coupling means are located in the shape of a spherical or cylindrical head of one of the handle rod or the head which engages with a corresponding seat having a complementary spherical or cylindrical cavity of the other of the handle or the head, wherein said coupling means are rotation-symmetry coupling means, said handle rod and said head are mutually connected through said coupling means in a rotating manner along an axis having an angle in the range from about 30° to about 70°, preferably of the order of 45°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle rod, said handle rod and said support head are arranged abutting each other through respective parallel slipping planes inclined according to an angle complementary to
  • the device according to the invention comprises a handle rod 1, which ends with a support head 2 of an interdental brush 3; a tubular cap 4 is furthermore provided which may also be applied ( fig. 1 ) at the distal end of the handle rod (i.e. the opposite end to that whereon the interdental brush is installed) to act as extension of handle 1.
  • fig. 2 handle rod 1, head 2, interdental brush 3 with a bristle-free extension 3a thereof, referred to in the following as shank 3a, and cap 4 are equally shown.
  • Fig. 2 furthermore shows a bush with trunco-conical cavity 2a, the usefulness of which will be shown in detail further below.
  • Handle rod 1 is preferably in the shape of a hollow cylindrical body, closed at the distal end by a small plug 5: handle 1 hence acts also as container for a stock of replacement interdental brushes 3'.
  • Plug 5 which closes the container of spare interdental brushes 3', easily engages with handle 1, with a reduced-diameter, upper part 5a thereof; as a matter of fact, this part has a diameter which tightly adapts to the inner tubular cavity of the handle.
  • This container function is also made possible by the fact that handle 1 is sufficiently long to offer gripping for a hand's fingers.
  • the proximal end of handle 1 end with an abutment plane 1a inclined by a certain angle ( ⁇ ) with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X of the handle, from which a rotation-symmetry coupling means projects, namely in the shape of a spherical head 1b.
  • the coupling means allow a rotation according to a rotation axis inclined by angle ⁇ ', complementary to ⁇ , with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X of the handle.
  • Inclination angle ⁇ of the abutment plane preferably lies in the range 20°-60°, better about 45°.
  • Complementary angle ⁇ ' is hence 70°-30°, preferably in the order of 45°.
  • the body of head 2 has an abutment surface 2j arranged on a plane B 2 -B 2 also forming the same angle ( ⁇ ) with respect to its longitudinal centre line X-X, i.e. the axis along which the brush shank lies.
  • a coupling seat is obtained complementary with spherical head 1b, so that when spherical head 1b and the seat thereof in body 2 are mutually coupled, a mutual rotation is allowed of head 2 with respect to handle 1 about an axis Y-Y perpendicular to parallel planes B 1 -B 1 and B 2 -B 2 .
  • head 2 rotates with respect to handle 1 with the two surfaces 2j and 1a in mutual sliding/slipping contact, but axial disconnection is prevented by the spherical coupling.
  • head 2 extends into a trunco-conical appendix 2b, whereon a trunco-conical bush 2a is applied ( figs. 3 and 4 ) so as to determine coupling means for a removable interdental brush.
  • appendix 2b has a generically trunco-conical outer shape and comprises a longitudinal bore 2c, which opens in a hole at the distal end, apt to act as housing for the shank of an interdental brush.
  • the appendix is furthermore sectioned from side to side by an L-shaped slit 2d, as clearly visible in figs. 4A , 4C and 4E .
  • Slit 2d has an arm 2d' aligned to the longitudinal axis of the appendix and an arm 2d " crosswise thereto.
  • the inner surface of longitudinal arm 2d' is preferably provided with teeth or other rough elements which increase the friction coefficient thereof.
  • the appendix body substantially takes up the shape of a flexible hook, suited to yield slightly imparting a radial pressure from the outside.
  • an elastically yielding flap 2f is defined, connected cantilever-like to the end part of the appendix; that is, flap 2f of appendix 2b bends around a small hinge bridge 2g.
  • Bush 2a has a closed eyelet 2a' accordingly wherein halt peg 2e is housed.
  • Eyelet 2a' is elongated in a longitudinal direction and has two end widenings which determine two residence positions of halt peg 2e.
  • Bush 2a furthermore has an inner conical hole, meant to couple with the conical surface of appendix 2b.
  • bush 2a is pushed onto the appendix from the distal end to the proximal end, until it partly overcomes peg 2e which then snaps inside eyelet 2a'.
  • the bush can be shifted between two extreme positions, determined by the two residence positions taken up by the peg within eyelet 2a'.
  • Bush 2a may hence take up a loose open position, when it is at a distance from appendix 2b, or an engaged/closed position, when it is coupled with interference with appendix 2b.
  • the bush elastically pushes flap 2f towards bore 2c, so as to narrow the seat in which the shank of an interdental brush 3 is inserted.
  • bush 2a In order to replace interdental brush 3, when worn, bush 2a is pushed outwards from appendix 2b, until it reaches the travel end determined by peg 2e, so as to allow the elastic return of flap 2f which is free to move away from shank 3a, leaving interdental brush 3 free, which may be removed.
  • cap 4 may be used without distinction to close the head part of the device ( fig. 5 ), so as to protect the interdental brush without having to remove it every time, or as extension of the handle ( fig. 1 ) so as to make the use thereof more comfortable.
  • handle body 1 has a narrow flange or circumferential rib 1c which acts as halt surface of cap 4 in both modes of use.
  • interdental brush device which - on the one hand - is basically small and hence easy to carry on a journey, however, without losing the advantage of the use of a crosswise-extendable interdental brush device like the one of the standard devices of the prior art.
  • the joint coupling means are obtained by co-moulding of incompatible plastic materials.
  • head 2 is co-moulded on a previously manufactured handle 1, with a choice of materials and temperatures which leads to no welding between the parts, but allows instead to accomplish a precise coupling (to the advantage of the regularity of the rotation movement) and a highly stable one (to the advantage of the safety of use).
  • the term "incompatible" is used here to indicate that a first material does not weld or does not bond, due to physical or chemical features, to a second material. That implies both a non-affinity between the materials, and a sufficient melting temperature difference to prevent one from deforming the other.
  • the moulding can thus be accomplished in two steps, of a first material A in an own mould thereof and then of a subsequent material B which, at least in part, exploits as mould the component moulded with material A.
  • the handle is moulded with a type-A material
  • it is moulded - at least partly above material A - the head with a type-B material, which does not bind to the type-A material.
  • a mould is used for head 2 which is defined, at least in part, by the other component, i.e. by plane 1a and by the spherical head 1b of handle 1; thereby having the certainty that, after the moulding of the type-B material to form head 2, this material B embraces spherical head 1b, perfectly matching the shape thereof but without binding thereto. Thereby the free rotation of head 2 with respect to handle 1 remains possible.
  • a plastic material of the aromatic polyester group for example PC polycarbonate, PET Poly-ethyl-teraphtalate, PBT polyethylen-teraphtalate), of the polyamides homopolymers and copolymers (for example PA6, PA66, PA12) may be used, which all have a relatively high melting point (for example above 215-225°C), while for B material use may be made of plastic materials of the polyolefin group (for example PE-LD, PE-HD, PP homopolymer and copolymer), vinyl polymers (for example polymers of homopolymer styrol, such as PS or MS; copolymer polystyrols such as SAN or ABS; polymers of vinyl chloride such as PVC), methacrylic polyacrylic polymers (for example PMMA, methacrylate-(acrylonitrile)-butadien-styrene copolymer) which have a relatively low melting point (for example below 185-195°C
  • the interdental brush may be obtained in a conventional way, by fastening the bristles to a twisted metal wire, and then coupled with the head by overmoulding of the plastic material on the interdental brush shank.
  • the interdental brush may be obtained by injection of plastic material, for example by manufacturing integrally the stem and head part and then injecting therein the material meant to form the filaments or bristles of the interdental brush.
  • both ends of the handle have orientable heads with respective interdental brushes.
  • the inclined planes Y-Y and Y'-Y' of the two orientable heads are mutually parallel or even intersecting, so as to define two different inclination angles of the two interdental brushes with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X of the handle.
  • the handle body is provided accordingly with two protection caps 4 and 4' for the two interdental brushes at the ends thereof.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
EP13177053.9A 2012-07-18 2013-07-18 Haltevorrichtung für Interdentalbürste und ähnliche Werkzeuge für Mundhygiene Withdrawn EP2687124A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT001246A ITMI20121246A1 (it) 2012-07-18 2012-07-18 Dispositivo di supporto per scovolino interdentale e simili utensili per igiene orale e relativo procedimento di fabbricazione.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2687124A1 true EP2687124A1 (de) 2014-01-22

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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EP13177053.9A Withdrawn EP2687124A1 (de) 2012-07-18 2013-07-18 Haltevorrichtung für Interdentalbürste und ähnliche Werkzeuge für Mundhygiene

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EP (1) EP2687124A1 (de)
IT (1) ITMI20121246A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105919275A (zh) * 2016-06-16 2016-09-07 朱群益 一种牙缝刷
CN112423620A (zh) * 2020-04-14 2021-02-26 株式会社名优 牙间刷
WO2021035275A1 (en) 2019-08-26 2021-03-04 Jamie Webber An interdental cleaning device

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2749567A (en) * 1951-08-07 1956-06-12 Krueger Max Adjustable tooth brush
US4222143A (en) 1979-03-16 1980-09-16 John O. Butler Company Interproximal brush handle
US4319377A (en) 1980-08-25 1982-03-16 John O. Butler Company Interproximal toothbrush
US4654922A (en) 1985-05-28 1987-04-07 Chen Horng Y Brush with universal joints
EP0311937A1 (de) 1987-10-13 1989-04-19 John O. Butler Company Bürste für Zahnzwischenräume
EP0537663A1 (de) 1991-10-16 1993-04-21 PONZINI S.p.A. Interdentalzahnbürste
US5394584A (en) 1992-01-09 1995-03-07 Breitschmid Ag. Retaining member on a handle, and dental brush for exchangeable attachment to a holder
DE19625878A1 (de) 1996-06-27 1998-01-02 Helmut Purner Zahnbürste
US5974618A (en) * 1997-02-18 1999-11-02 Georg Karl Geka-Brush Gmbh Interdental cleaning device
DE20310334U1 (de) 2003-07-04 2003-09-18 Welter S Co Zahnpflegewerkzeug

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2749567A (en) * 1951-08-07 1956-06-12 Krueger Max Adjustable tooth brush
US4222143A (en) 1979-03-16 1980-09-16 John O. Butler Company Interproximal brush handle
US4319377A (en) 1980-08-25 1982-03-16 John O. Butler Company Interproximal toothbrush
US4654922A (en) 1985-05-28 1987-04-07 Chen Horng Y Brush with universal joints
EP0311937A1 (de) 1987-10-13 1989-04-19 John O. Butler Company Bürste für Zahnzwischenräume
EP0537663A1 (de) 1991-10-16 1993-04-21 PONZINI S.p.A. Interdentalzahnbürste
US5394584A (en) 1992-01-09 1995-03-07 Breitschmid Ag. Retaining member on a handle, and dental brush for exchangeable attachment to a holder
DE19625878A1 (de) 1996-06-27 1998-01-02 Helmut Purner Zahnbürste
US5974618A (en) * 1997-02-18 1999-11-02 Georg Karl Geka-Brush Gmbh Interdental cleaning device
DE20310334U1 (de) 2003-07-04 2003-09-18 Welter S Co Zahnpflegewerkzeug

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105919275A (zh) * 2016-06-16 2016-09-07 朱群益 一种牙缝刷
WO2021035275A1 (en) 2019-08-26 2021-03-04 Jamie Webber An interdental cleaning device
CN112423620A (zh) * 2020-04-14 2021-02-26 株式会社名优 牙间刷

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