JP2001218623A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toothbrush having an appropriate brushing and cleaning feeling, wherein bristle tips thoroughly reach between teeth, gaps of a border between teeth and gums, and triangle parts between teeth. SOLUTION: Bristle bundles 2, which are aggregates of a plurality of columnar bristles wherein the tips of the bristle bundles 2 are planted thereon so as to form inclined surfaces 3 inside the bristle bundles or between the bristle bundles. Tapered bristles 4 are planted on the toothbrush so that their bristle tips are higher than the maximum height position of the inclined surfaces 3 formed on the tips of the bristle bundles 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush having an appropriate brushing feeling and excellent reach of a bristle tip between teeth, a gap between teeth and a gum, and a triangular part between teeth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The function of commercially available toothbrushes is mainly to clean tooth surfaces, interdental portions and cervical portions. As shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, the toothbrush head portion 1 is used as a flocked portion specification for improving the cleaning effect of the interdental portion.
A so-called “mountain cut” toothbrush is known in which a hair bundle 2 is cut and planted so that the tip of the hair bundle 2 becomes an inclined surface 3 in the hair bundle 2 implanted in the hair or between the adjacent hair bundles 2. Have been. By making such a mountain cut, a bristle tip can reach a deeper interdental portion as compared with a flat cut in which the tip of the hair bundle is cut into a flat surface.
However, the brush used in these toothbrushes has a thickness of about 6 to 9 mils (about 0.15 to 0.23 mm), and has a problem that it is difficult to reach deeper interdental portions.

There is also known a toothbrush in which a brush whose hair tip is formed into a tapered shape is planted with a brush (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
154, JP-A-6-141923, JP-A-8-182694, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-189241, and Japanese Patent Application No. 10-196187. Such a toothbrush has a bristle tip that is thinner than the root part, even if the root part of the brush is 6 to 9 mils thick. Excellent reach of the hair tips to the triangular part. However, in the case of a toothbrush using this tapered brush, there is a problem in that the feeling of actual cleaning is weaker than that of a normal columnar brush (often a columnar brush).

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has an appropriate feeling of brushing, a gap between teeth, a gap between teeth and a gum, a triangle between teeth, and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush excellent in reach of hair tips to a part.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses a hair bundle in which a plurality of columnar brushes are assembled, and the tip of the hair bundle has an inclined surface inside or between the hair bundles. In the toothbrush planted so as to form, a tapered brush is planted so that the tip is higher than the maximum height position of the inclined surface formed at the tip of the bristle bundle. is there.

Since the toothbrush of the present invention has such a structure, for example, when brushing the teeth by a scrubbing method or a bathing method, which is a typical brushing method, a bristle bundle composed of a columnar brush gives a good feeling of brushing. The protruding tapered brush surely reaches the interdental portion, the gap between the teeth and the gum, and the triangular portion between the teeth, and the attached dirt can be effectively removed.

The term "toothbrush planted such that the tip of the hair bundle forms an inclined surface within the hair bundle or between the hair bundles" in the present invention refers to a so-called mountain cut as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 described above. It refers to a hair whose tip is machined in a shape.

In general, the term “cut-together” refers to the case where the toothbrush handle is cut-together when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush handle, that is, from the front end or rear end of the toothbrush head. This also includes the case where the toothbrush handle is formed into a mountain-cut shape when viewed from the short axis direction, that is, from the side of the toothbrush head. further,
For example, an upwardly convex or downwardly convex cone or quadrangular pyramid, a V-shaped groove,
Others are included as long as the inclined surface forms a sharp point that is pointed upward at any part of the tip end surface of the hair bundle.

The "column-shaped brush" means a brush having substantially the same cross-sectional area from the root to the tip of the brush.
Although the cross-sectional shape of the brush is not particularly limited, a cross-sectional shape such as a circle, a square, a rectangle, a parallelogram, a rhombus, an ellipse, a star, and a clover shape is used. In this case, it is preferable that the tip of the brush is rounded in a semicircular or semielliptical shape because it is gentle to the gum.

[0010] The "tapered brush" is a brush whose brush cross-sectional area becomes smaller or smaller continuously or discontinuously toward the tip of the brush than at or near the root of the brush. For example, the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 6-154
JP, JP-A-6-141923, JP-A-8-1
No. 82694, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-189241,
It refers to a brush having the shape shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-196187. The cross-sectional shape of the tapered brush does not need to be circular.
The shape may be an ellipse or a polygon as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5812, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-88110, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1-59421, and the like.

These tapered brushes may be obtained by chemically treating polyester hair with an alkali or an acid, or by treating polyester or nylon hair by mechanical polishing. The surface of the hair that has been dissolved and treated is smooth,
More preferred.

The tip of the tapered brush only needs to protrude upward by a predetermined height from the maximum height position of the tip inclined surface of the bristle bundle formed of the columnar brush. Specifically, it is preferable to set the height to be 0.5 mm to 10 mm, more preferably 1 to 5 mm higher.

The material of the brush is not particularly limited. For example, polyamide (eg, nylon 6-10, nylon 6-12) or polyester (eg, PBT, PET) can be used.

The material of the toothbrush handle including the toothbrush head is not particularly limited. For example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate,
Cellulose propionate, polyurethane, polyamide,
ABS or the like can be used.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention. (A) is a side view of a toothbrush head part, (b) is its top view. The same or corresponding parts as in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The toothbrush according to the first embodiment comprises:
Each of the bristle bundles 2 formed by bundling the columnar brushes is formed in a square shape in plan view, and the bristle bundle tip surfaces are formed between the adjacent bristle bundles 2, 2 on inclined surfaces 3, 3 having a triangular roof shape. And a tapered brush 4 projecting upward by a predetermined height d from the tip of the inclined surface. The protrusion height d is 0.5 as described above.
mm to 10 mm, more preferably 1 to 5 mm.

Such a toothbrush can be manufactured by the following method. First, after shaping the entire bristle bundle so that the tip of the bristle bundle 2 in which a plurality of columnar brushes are bundled becomes the inclined surface 3, the tip of the columnar brush group forming the bristle bundle 2 is rounded. I do. Next, after a plurality of tapered brushes 4 are arranged at predetermined positions in the rounded bristle bundle 2 so as to protrude upward by a predetermined length, the base ends of the bristle bundles are cut to remove the bristle. The entire bundle is trimmed to a predetermined length. Then, the base end of the trimmed bristle bundle is melted to integrate the entire brush, and the fused and integrated bristle bundle is fixed to the toothbrush head unit 1 by a heat fusion method or an in-mold method. by this,
A toothbrush as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

In the case of the toothbrush according to the first embodiment, the tapered brush 4 protruding upward by a height d from the tip of the inclined surface 3 of the bristle bundle 2 has an interdental portion or a boundary between the tooth and the gum. The clearance reaches deep inside the triangular portion between teeth, and the cleaning effect can be further improved as compared with the conventional toothbrush. In addition, since the bristle bundle 2 constituted by the columnar brushes gives an appropriate feeling of actual brushing, the feeling of actual brushing becomes excellent.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention. In the toothbrush according to the second embodiment, each bristle bundle 2 formed by bundling columnar brushes is formed in a circular shape in plan view, and the distal end surface of each bristle bundle 2 is formed with a triangular roof-shaped inclined surface 3. A tapered brush 4 is formed along the leading edge of each of the triangular roof-shaped inclined surfaces 3 and 3 and protrudes upward by a predetermined height d from the tip of the inclined surface. Also in the case of the toothbrush according to the second embodiment, as in the case of the toothbrush according to the first embodiment, the toothbrush is excellent in both the cleaning effect and the feeling of actual cleaning.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention. In the toothbrush according to the third embodiment, each of the bristle bundles 2 formed by bundling columnar brushes is formed in a square shape in plan view, and the bristle bundle tip surface between the adjacent bristle bundles 2 is a triangle roof. Formed on the inclined surfaces 3 and 3, projecting upward from the front end of the inclined surface by the above-mentioned predetermined height d at the opposing surface positions of the tufts 2 and 2 forming a pair. The tapered brushes 4 and 4 are respectively planted.

The toothbrush according to the third embodiment comprises:
After processing only one side of the cylindrical brush into a taper shape, a plurality of the brushes are bundled and folded into two, and the folded hair bundles are flat lines (metal pieces) into the flocking holes provided in the toothbrush head.
After fixing by buffing, the column-shaped bristle bundle on the brush side is cut obliquely, and the bristle tip can be rounded.

In the case of the toothbrush according to the third embodiment, as in the case of the toothbrush according to the first embodiment, the toothbrush is excellent in both the cleaning effect and the feeling of actual cleaning.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention. In the toothbrush according to the fourth embodiment, each of the bristle bundles 2 formed by bundling columnar brushes is formed in a square shape in plan view, and the bristle bundle tip surface between the adjacent bristle bundles 2 is a triangle roof. Formed on the inclined surfaces 3 and 3, protruding upward from the tip of the inclined surface by the above-described predetermined height d at the position facing the hair bundles 2 and 2, and
Tapered brushes 4 and 4 each having a triangular roof shape whose leading end surfaces smoothly connect to the inclined surfaces 3 and 3 of the hair bundles 2 and 2 are planted.

In the case of the toothbrush according to the fourth embodiment, the protruding tapered brushes 4 are also formed as triangular roof-shaped inclined surfaces, so that the tapered brushes 4 are located between the teeth and at the boundary between the teeth and the gums. , It is easy to reach deeper into the interdental triangular portion, and the cleaning effect and the feeling of actual cleaning can be further improved.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention. In the toothbrush according to the fifth embodiment, each bristle bundle 2 formed by bundling columnar brushes is formed in a circular shape in plan view, and the tip end surface of each bristle bundle 2 is formed on a conical inclined surface 3. A tapered brush 4 projecting upward from the tip by a predetermined height d above the tip of the conical inclined surface 3 is planted in a circular shape.

In the case of the toothbrush according to the fifth embodiment, the tip of the bristle bundle 2 has a conical surface, and the tapered brush 4 is planted in a circular shape at the tip position. The entire shape formed by the brush 4 has the same symmetrical shape when viewed from any direction. For this reason, it is possible to obtain an excellent cleaning effect and a feeling of actual cleaning in all directions.

FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention. In the toothbrush according to the sixth embodiment, each bristle bundle 2 formed by bundling columnar brushes is formed in a circular shape in plan view, and the distal end surface of each bristle bundle 2 is formed into a downward conical shape, that is, a funnel shape. A tapered brush 4 is formed in the center of the funnel-shaped inclined surface 3 and protrudes upward by a predetermined height d from the edge of the funnel-shaped inclined surface 3.

Also in the case of the toothbrush according to the sixth embodiment, the entire shape formed by the bristle bundle 2 and the tapered brush 4 has the same symmetric shape when viewed from any direction. For this reason, as in the case of the toothbrush according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to obtain an excellent cleaning effect and a real feeling of cleaning in all directions.

FIG. 7 shows a seventh embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention. In the toothbrush according to the seventh embodiment, each bristle bundle 2 formed by bundling columnar brushes is formed in a circular shape in plan view, and the tip end surface of each bristle bundle 2 is formed into a V-shaped inclined surface 3, 3. A tapered brush 4 is implanted along the bottom of the V-shaped inclined surfaces 3 and 3 and protrudes upward by a predetermined height d from the edge of the inclined surface. .

Also in the case of the toothbrush according to the seventh embodiment, the tapered brush 4 projecting upward reaches deep into the interdental portion, the gap between the teeth and the gum, and deep into the interdental triangular portion.
Also, since the bristle bundle 2 composed of the columnar brush gives a proper feeling of brushing, the toothbrush is excellent in both the cleaning effect and the brushing feeling.

In each of the above embodiments,
The shape of the bristle bundle 2 and the tapered brush 4 when viewed from the side surface side of the toothbrush head unit 1 has been illustrated, but the shape of the bristle bundle 2 and the tapered brush 4 when viewed from the tip side of the toothbrush head unit 1. May be configured to look like the above-described examples.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An inclined surface formed at the tip of a bristle bundle in a toothbrush using a bristle bundle in which a plurality of columnar brushes are collected, and the tip of the bristle bundle being planted so as to form an inclined surface within or between the bristle bundles Because the brush tip is brushed so that the bristle tip is higher than the maximum height position, it has an appropriate feeling of brushing at the same time, the gap between the teeth, the gap between the teeth and the gums, the triangle between the teeth A toothbrush excellent in hair tip reachability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a first embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a side view of a toothbrush head, and FIG.
Is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a side view of a toothbrush head portion, and (b).
Is a plan view thereof.

3A and 3B show a third embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a side view of a toothbrush head, and FIG.
Is a plan view thereof.

4A and 4B show a fourth embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a side view of a toothbrush head portion, and FIG.
Is a plan view thereof.

5A and 5B show a fifth embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a side view of a toothbrush head, and FIG.
Is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention, in which (a) is a partially cut-away side view of a toothbrush head portion, and (b) is a plan view.

FIG. 7 shows a seventh embodiment of the toothbrush according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a side view of a toothbrush head portion, and (b).
Is a plan view thereof.

8A and 8B show an example of a conventional toothbrush that makes a mountain cut, in which FIG. 8A is a side view of a toothbrush head portion, and FIG. 8B is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 9 shows another example of a conventional toothbrush that is cut into a mountain cut, in which (a) is a side view of a toothbrush head portion,
(B) is a plan view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toothbrush head part 2 Bristle bundle consisting of columnar brushes 3 Inclined surface of bristle bundle tip 4 Tapered brush d Height of tapered brush projection

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush in which a plurality of pillar-shaped brushes are collected and a hair brush is implanted such that a tip of the hair bundle forms an inclined surface in or between the hair bundles. A toothbrush, characterized in that a tapered brush is planted so that a bristle tip is higher than a maximum height position of an inclined surface formed in the toothbrush.