JP2000316632A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toothbrush whose embedded bristles can exhibit sufficiently the bristling strength, the important quality of a toothbrush, stand up well and clean effectively. SOLUTION: A toothbrush made by an in-mold method or a fusion method wherein bristles 3, swollen portions 4 of which are formed at the bases thereof, are embedded in the whole or a part of the bristling surface of a brush head 1 at a prescribed interval so that adjacent swollen portions may not touch each other. The overhang size of the swollen portions 4 formed at the bases of the embedded bristles 3 set at 0.01 mm to 0.8 mm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush having a buried brush with sufficient flocking strength, good hairiness and an excellent cleaning effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Toothbrush manufacturing methods include a conventionally known flat wire flocking method in which a hair bundle is driven into a flocking hole of a toothbrush head using a metal wire (flat wire). An in-mold method of embedding the formed bristle bundle into the toothbrush head by injection molding (Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-16725,
JP-A-61-268208, JP-A-2-1113
No. 05), and a heat fusion method in which a hair bundle having an enlarged portion at the base end is fused to the flocked surface of the toothbrush head by heat (Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-46962, JP-A-2-9900).
No. 2) is known.

[0003] However, in the case of a toothbrush in which the bristle bundle of the brush is implanted in the head portion, a large gap is formed between adjacent bristle bundles, so-called cleaning in which the brush does not hit the teeth during cleaning. Because of the ineffective space, none of them had perfect performance in terms of cleanability and usability.

On the other hand, without bundling brushes into a hair bundle,
There is also known a method in which individual brushes are made independent of each other and implanted by an in-mold method or a heat fusion method (see Jpn.
No. 14366, JP-T-11-500946). However, the toothbrushes manufactured by these known methods are simply vaguely embedded with brushes one by one in the toothbrush head portion, and the specific enlarged portion required to sufficiently satisfy the quality as a toothbrush is used. The dimensions were not studied, and no description of such specific dimensions was found in the above publications.

[0005] If the overhang of the enlarged portion from the brush is small, the bristle planting strength (the force at which the brush is pulled out from the bristle planted surface) is weak, and the brush easily falls off in the mouth during use.
In addition to giving the user a great deal of discomfort, such as swallowing the brush, there is a possibility that the cleaning function may not be satisfactory as a toothbrush.

Also, if the overhang of the enlarged portion from the brush is large, when integrally molded by the in-mold method,
Since the enlarged portion of the base end of the brush protrudes into the mold, the brush is pushed and inclined by the inflow pressure of the molten resin injected at the time of injection molding, and there is a possibility that hairiness is reduced.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is directed to a toothbrush manufactured by an in-mold method or a heat-sealing method, wherein a tooth is enlarged at a base end. The brush having the portion formed is embedded in the toothbrush embedded on the entire or part of the flocked surface of the brush head portion at a predetermined interval so that the enlarged portions of adjacent brushes do not come into contact with each other. An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush in which a brush that has been used can sufficiently exhibit bristle planting strength, which is important as a toothbrush quality, has good bristle, and has an excellent cleaning effect.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a toothbrush made by an in-mold method or a heat-sealing method, wherein a brush having an enlarged portion at a base end is provided. In a toothbrush buried on the entire surface or a part of the flocked surface of the brush head, at a predetermined interval so that enlarged portions of adjacent brushes do not come into contact with each other, the base end of the buried brush The size of the enlarged portion formed on the enlarged portion from the brush is 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm.
It is characterized in that it is 8 mm.

[0009] In the case of such a configuration, the flocking strength which is important as the quality of the toothbrush can be sufficiently exhibited by the anchoring action of the overhang portion. In addition, the brush does not tilt due to the influence of the inflow pressure of the molten resin injected at the time of injection molding, so that the toothbrush has good hairiness and an excellent cleaning effect.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of P surrounded by a chain line in FIG.
FIG. 1 (c) is an enlarged view of the portion (the enlarged portion) of FIG. 1 (b).
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a toothbrush head portion,
1 is a toothbrush head portion, 2 is a flocked surface, 3 is a brush made of one piece each embedded in the flocked surface 2 by an in-mold method or a heat fusion method, and 4 is formed at the base end of the brush 3 It was the enlarged part.

In the illustrated toothbrush, all the brushes 3 are provided with a predetermined interval so that they do not come into contact with each other.
This shows an example in which each of the toothbrushes is independently embedded and embedded in the entire surface of the flocked surface 2 of the toothbrush head portion 1 by an in-mold method or a heat fusion method. The overhang dimension L of the enlarged portion 4 from the brush 3 is set to 0.01 to 0.8 mm, preferably 0.05 to 0.8 mm.
０．５0.5 mm.

With such an overhanging dimension, the anchoring action of the overhanging portion can sufficiently exert the flocking strength which is important as the toothbrush quality. Also,
Since the overhang size is neither too large nor too small, the brush 3 is not tilted under the influence of the inflow pressure of the molten resin injected during the injection molding by the in-mold method, and the brushing is good. It becomes something.

In the case of the illustrated toothbrush, all the brushes 3 are not in contact with each other on the outer surface of the flocked surface 2 of the toothbrush head portion 1 and are separated from each other. In addition, a toothbrush having a high cleaning effect and having no useless space on the flocking surface 2 can be provided.

In order to form the enlarged portion 4 at the base end of the brush 3, the base end of the brush may be melted using hot air, warm air, a hot plate, laser, ultrasonic wave, infrared light or the like. In addition, in order to control the shape and size of the enlarged portion 4, the base end of the brush may be melted by thermal means and then shaped by pressing a plate or the like. In addition, when using a hot plate,
It is also possible to provide a concave portion on the surface of the hot plate in advance and shape it into a desired shape simultaneously with melting.

The center axis of the brush 3 and the center axis of the enlarged portion 4 do not necessarily have to be concentric, and their cross-sectional shapes need not be similar.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the enlarged portion 4 is formed in a spherical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and examples of other shapes are shown in FIGS. In each figure, (a) is an enlarged side view of the enlarged portion formed at the base end of the brush, (b) is a bottom view thereof, FIG. 3 shows the enlarged portion 4 in an elliptical shape, and FIG. 5, FIG. 6 shows an example of a quadrangular pyramid, FIG. 6 shows an example of a truncated cone, FIG. 7 shows an example of a hexagonal flat body, and FIG.

The cross section of the brush 3 is mainly circular, but is not particularly limited to a circle. For example, brushes having other cross-sectional shapes such as a square and a hexagon can be used.

The material of the brush 3 may be a commonly used polyamide (eg, nylon 6-12, nylon 6-12).
10, 10 nylon, etc.), polyester (eg, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, etc.), polypropylene and the like can be used. Of course, a composite material combining these may be used.

The thickness of the brush 3 is 3 to 10 mils (0.07
6-0.254 mm, 1 mil = 1/1000 inch),
Preferably 5-8 mils (0.127-0.203 mm)
But it is suitable for general toothbrushes.

Normally, the brush diameter is the same within one brush except for the rounded portion of the brush tip, but the brush thickness is in the above range near the root portion, and gradually increases toward the brush tip. It may be in the form of highly tapered bristles with a smaller diameter. Also, brushes having different thicknesses may be mixed on the flocked surface. Further, the tip end of the brush 3 may have a spatula shape, a scraper shape, a spherical shape, or the like.

With regard to the bristle cut shape, a desired shape such as a mountain cut, a flat cut or a round cut can be provided, similarly to a normal toothbrush.

The material of the toothbrush handle including the toothbrush head 1 may be a thermoplastic resin, and examples thereof include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, polymethyl methacrylate, cellulose propionate, and ABS. However, polypropylene is preferable in terms of physical properties, cost, and the like. It is also preferable to form a multicolor molded handle in which these resins are combined with each other or with a thermoplastic elastomer.

The toothbrush illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows an example in which the brush 3 is implanted on the entire surface of the implanted surface 2.
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, FIG.
As shown in (a) to (e), the brush 3 described above and the hair bundle 5 formed by bundling the brushes in the same manner as in the related art may be mixed and implanted. As described above, when the brush 3 and the hair bundle 5 are mixed and implanted, the bristle portion can be a portion having a high scraping force, and a toothbrush having a more excellent cleaning effect can be obtained.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and can be modified in accordance with the gist of the invention.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the size of the brush buried in the flocked surface of the toothbrush head portion is determined appropriately from the brush of the enlarged portion, so that the bristle planting strength, which is important as the toothbrush quality, can be sufficiently improved. It is possible to provide a toothbrush that can exert its effects and has good hairiness and an excellent cleaning effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, FIG.
2 is an enlarged view of a portion P (enlarged portion) surrounded by a chain line in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a bottom view of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a toothbrush head of the toothbrush according to one embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B show an example in which the enlarged portion is formed in an ellipsoidal shape, wherein FIG. 3A is an enlarged side view and FIG. 3B is a bottom view.

4A and 4B show an example in which the enlarged portion is formed in a cubic shape, wherein FIG. 4A is an enlarged side view and FIG. 4B is a bottom view.

5A and 5B show an example in which the enlarged portion is formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape, wherein FIG. 5A is an enlarged side view thereof, and FIG. 5B is a bottom view thereof.

6A and 6B show an example in which the enlarged portion is formed in a truncated cone shape, where FIG. 6A is an enlarged side view and FIG. 6B is a bottom view.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example in which the enlarged portion is formed in a hexagonal flat body shape, where FIG. 7A is an enlarged side view and FIG. 7B is a bottom view.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show an example in which the enlarged portion is formed into a hemispherical compey sugar shape, wherein FIG. 8A is an enlarged side view and FIG. 8B is a bottom view.

FIGS. 9A to 9E are plan views of toothbrush heads each showing an example of a toothbrush in which a brush and a bristle bundle formed by bundling brushes are mixed and planted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toothbrush head part 2 Flooding surface 3 Brush 4 Enlarged part 5 Hair bundle L Overhang dimension of enlarged part from brush

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takao Kato 1-37 Honjo, Sumida-ku, Tokyo F-term in Lion Corporation (reference) 3B202 AA06 AB19 EB00 EG01 EG03 EG03

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush manufactured by an in-mold method or a heat-sealing method, wherein a brush having an enlarged portion formed at a base end thereof is provided so that enlarged portions of adjacent brushes do not come into contact with each other. At a predetermined interval, in a toothbrush buried on the entire surface or a part of the flocked surface of the brush head, the enlarged dimension of the enlarged portion formed at the base end of the buried brush from the brush is 0. .01mm to 0.8mm
A toothbrush characterized by the following.