JP2003000468A - Earpick - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve satisfaction of users of earpicks of different ages and sexes by allowing the users to choose earpicks of different stiffness. SOLUTION: This invention relates to an earpick mounted to small diameter shaft part 4 provided on the head of a holding stick member 3 and which has a tubular elastic body 5 with bottom for an ear spoon providing of some circular brim shaped protuberances 6 in an axis direction. As for the structure characteristic, the elastic body 5 is constituted by more than three kinds of 5A, 5B and 5C which is different from the hardness and a color changes depending on the hardness therefore users choose a favorite hardness by identifying the color and can attach it to and detach from the small circular shaft 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to improvement of a simple earpick.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 4A to 4C show three conventional ear picks. The ear-picking tool 20 of FIG.
No. 000-116564) is a spiral part 2 for removing earwax having a holding rod member 21 provided on the tip side.
2 or a spiral part 22 having a slit 23 in the axial direction. Each of the spiral portions 22 is formed by machining so that the earwax is sandwiched in the groove 24 between the spiral blades to be taken out. The ear-picking tool 30 shown in FIG.
No. 1-290233) is a holding rod member 3
1 has a cover 33 with a projection group 32 on the tip side. The cover 33 is made of thermoplastic elastomer or the like and is attached to the tip end side of the rod member 31. Projection group 32
The unit projection 33 is formed in a convex shape and has an uneven shape as a whole, so that the earwax is removed and the inner wall of the ear canal is stimulated so that a pleasant sensation can be obtained. On the other hand, in the earpick 40 shown in FIG. 4 (c) (described in JP-A-11-313777), the earwax is attached to the small diameter shaft portion 42 provided with the holding rod member 41 on the tip side. Attachment piece 45 or 46 for taking
have. In this structure, the attachment piece 45 or 46 is covered and protected by the cap 43, and the stick member 41 is also protected.
Is a cylindrical shape, and the spare attachment piece 45 or 46 is stored in the cylinder so that it can be taken out through the rear cap 44. The attachment piece 45 or 46 has a substantially circular brim-shaped protrusion 45.
It is preferable that a plurality of a are provided in the axial direction or a plurality of lateral slits 46a are formed around the cylinder.

[0003]

As described above, the earwax scraping portion has various shapes such as a spiral shape, a spiral shape with a horizontal slit, an uneven shape, a plurality of circular brims, and a cylindrical shape with a horizontal slit. Has been proposed, but none have been satisfactory to everyone who uses it. In this regard, the inventors
We have explored a better form of the earwax scraping part through prototypes. As a result, the shape of the plurality of circular brim-shaped projections 45a in FIG. 4C was generally more popular than the others. However, the evaluation and the degree of satisfaction are that the user is an infant,
Adults and elderly people have large variations depending on their age and sex. For example, infants and women are soft-oriented, and adult men are hard-oriented. In other words, in the prior art, the shape of the earwax scraping part has been exclusively improved, but it is confirmed that even if the same scraping part shape is selected with the desired hardness, the evaluation and satisfaction can be greatly improved. was gotten.

The present invention has been completed from the above background. The purpose is to further devise the shape of the earwax scraping part,
At the same time, it is possible to selectively use the one having the hardness desired by the user so that the evaluation and the satisfaction can be improved even for the users having different sexes, and for example, the most suitable household hygiene product can be realized.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is mounted on a small diameter shaft portion 4 provided on the tip side of a holding rod member 3 as illustrated in FIGS. In an earpick 1 having a bottomed cylindrical elastic body 5 for scraping earwax, in which a plurality of substantially circular brim-shaped projections 6 are provided in the axial direction, the elastic body 5 has different hardness and hardness. 3 that changed the color according to
It is characterized in that it is configured as a set of types 5A, 5B, 5C or more, and the one having a desired hardness is identified by a color so that it can be attached to and detached from the small diameter shaft portion 4.

In the above-described product of the present invention, the user selects one having a desired hardness from among three or more elastic bodies 5A, 5B, 5C having different hardnesses, and selects the small diameter shaft portion 4 of the rod member 3 from the selected one. After putting on, the earwax is scraped off by the same operation as the conventional product. At the time of selection, since each elastic body 5A, 5B, 5C is changed in color according to hardness, it is easy to remember the one having the hardness suitable for oneself. That is, in this structure, when used by a plurality of people such as at home, at first, for example, by referring to the specification sheet (the degree of hardness is specified by color) or by checking the hardness from the feel, it is preferable. The next time you use it, you can immediately determine whether it is the hardness that suits you or not, and if it is different from the one currently installed, replace it and have it for yourself. It is possible to use the one with high hardness.

The above invention is more preferably embodied as claimed in claims 2 and 3. That is, first, each of the protrusions 6 is integrated with a circular flange portion 7 that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylinder of the elastic body 5 and the end surface of the circular flange portion 7 on the front end side. The bulging portion 8 has a substantially frustoconical outer contour and is protruding with the outer peripheral end face portion 7a remaining. With this projection shape, when the elastic body 5 attached to the small diameter shaft portion 4 is inserted into the ear canal passage, the earwax adhering to the inner wall of the ear hole is scraped off by the small outer peripheral end surface portion 7a on the insertion side. The earwax remaining in the process of being restrained between the elastic body 5 and the ear canal can be removed and moved efficiently while being scraped off efficiently by the relatively large rear end face 7b on the opposite side of the circular brim portion 7. Have advantages. The elastic body 5 is highly flexible and safe, and can be attached to and detached from the small diameter shaft portion 4 by simple press-fitting / pulling-out. -Second, the protrusion 6
Is composed of 3 or 4 and the elastic body 5
Is formed in the cavity 5a up to a position corresponding to the second projection next to the tip of the plurality of projections, and the small diameter shaft portion 4 is press-fitted into the cavity 5a and the elastic body 5 is mounted. In this state, the leading edge of the protrusion is swingable or swingable via the body portion 5b which is formed between the protrusion and the second protrusion. In this case, of the plurality of protrusions 6, the most distal protrusion 6 is likely to be swung or swing-displaced via the body portion 5b, so that the elastic body 5 can be easily inserted deep into the ear canal passage. Due to the deformation of the tip, the safety is also improved.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an earpick to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the earwax, the same (a) is a front view, and the same (b) is a sectional view taken along line AA of (a). It is a figure. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an enlarged main part.
In the following description, the functions of the respective parts will be clarified while referring to the functions.

The ear scraper 1 of the embodiment has a body 2 and three elastic bodies 5 (5A, 5B, 5C) for scraping earwax as a set. Of these, the main body 2 is made of metal such as brass and formed by machining, and then surface-treated by chrome plating. The material may be other than metal (for example, a resin molded product), but since this kind of ear scratching tool 1 is relatively small and light, it is made of metal to ensure weight and enable stable use and to give a high-class feeling. Preferably. This main body 2 has a small diameter shaft portion 4 formed on the tip side of a holding rod member 3 that is gripped by a user, and has an overall size of 75 to 95 mm.
It is of a degree. The rod member 3 is knurled on the gripping outer periphery 3a excluding the outer peripheral portion 3b located on the small-diameter shaft portion 4 side to prevent slipping and decoration. The small diameter shaft portion 4 is the maximum diameter of the rod-shaped member 3 (about 3.5 to 6 mm).
It is thinner (about 1 to 2 mm) and has a rounded tip.

The elastic body 5 is formed of a molded bottomed tubular elastic rubber, and has three substantially flange-shaped projections 6 in the axial direction on the outer periphery of the tip side as the earwax scraping portion shape. The material may be natural or synthetic rubber or a material similar thereto, but high-quality silicone rubber excellent in touch is preferable. In the example, manufactured by Asahi Kasei Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd.-Hardness 40 ° (EL-1401) as main raw material, hardness 5
0 ° (EL-1501), hardness 70 ° (EL-170
1) and three types of oil bleed materials (EL-73
96) and 80: 20% by mass, and a commercially available product manufactured by Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd. was mixed with the coloring pigment. The rubber material can be selected arbitrarily, and it can be simplified by omitting the oil bleed material (giving it wettability and adhesiveness) as an auxiliary material, or conversely mixing other auxiliary materials to improve the quality. Good. Each elastic body 5A, 5B, 5C in FIG. 3 has the same shape,
Hardness and color are different.

In terms of shape, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2 (b), it has three projections 6 provided in the axial direction on the outer peripheral tip side, and the cylindrical cavity 5a has a small diameter. The inner diameter corresponding to the shaft portion 4 extends from the base end 5c to the second protrusion 6 from the tip end side. The small-diameter shaft portion 4 of each elastic body 5 has a cavity 5a.
When it is press-fitted into the shaft, it is mounted on the small-diameter shaft portion 4 so as not to accidentally come out or move. The cavity 5a may be formed up to the tip of the protrusion 6, but it is preferable to keep the cavity 5a near the second protrusion 6 from the tip side. This means that, with the elastic body 5 mounted on the small diameter shaft portion 4 as described above, the tip end projection 6 swings or swings via the body portion 5b that forms a gap between the second projection 6. This is because it can be moved easily, for example, when the elastic body 5 is inserted deep into the ear canal passage, it is easy to disperse so as not to receive a local load on the inner wall of the ear canal as much as possible, and the insertability is maintained well. The proximal end 5
c is formed to be slightly thicker than the body portion 5b, and when the elastic body 5 is attached to the small diameter shaft portion 4, the thin base portion 5c is pinched by the thumb and forefinger to insert the small diameter shaft portion 4 into the cavity 5a. It is designed to be easy to do.

Although the number of the projections 6 is three in this embodiment, it may be four or five. According to the test, if the number of the protrusions 6 is 5 or more, the usability is deteriorated unless the distance between the protrusions 6 is shortened, and if the distance between the protrusions 6 is too short, it is difficult to efficiently remove the earwax. The projecting shape is a circular flange portion 7 which is slightly larger than the body portion 5b of the elastic body 5, and a bulging portion which is integrated with the end surface of the circular flange portion 7 on the front end side and protrudes leaving the outer peripheral end surface portion 7a of the end surface. It consists of 8. The bulging portion 8 has a substantially frustoconical outer contour, but in the case of the projection 6 on the most distal side, the bulging portion 8 is close to a hemisphere (bulging portion 8a). Further, the bulging portion 8 that constitutes the second protrusion 6 is located in front of the circular flange portion 7 of the most distal protrusion 6, and the bulging portion 8 that constitutes the third protrusion 6 is the second. The protrusion 6 is located in front of the circular flange portion 7, and a body portion 5b is left between the circular collar portions 7. As a result, in this earwax scraping portion shape, in the process of inserting the elastic body 5 into the ear canal passage, the earwax adhering to the inner wall of the ear canal is scraped off by the small outer peripheral end surface portion 7a on the insertion side. It is constrained around the torso 5b between the ridges, and the earwax remaining in the process of pulling out the elastic body 5 from the ear canal is efficiently scratched by the relatively large rear end face 7b on the opposite side of the circular collar 7. You can remove it while taking it.

As for the hardness of each elastic body 5, assuming that the elastic body 5A is the hardest (hardness 70 °), the elastic body 5B is softer than that and the elastic body 5C is further softer than the elastic body 5B. This hardness is, for example, hard, regular,
It can be displayed as software. The important thing is the elastic body 5
Is colored according to hardness. It is preferable that this coloring setting allows the user to reasonably estimate the hardness of the elastic bodies 5A, 5B and 5C when they look at them. In the embodiment, the hardest elastic body 5A has the deepest blue color, the hardest elastic body 5B has the light blue or yellow green color, and the softest elastic body 5C has the white or semitransparent color. Of course, this is merely an example, and other colors and color settings may be used. Such coloring is caused by the elastic bodies 5A, 5B,
It not only serves as an index for identifying the hardness of 5C, but also has a decorative function and functions to further motivate purchasing.

The above ear scratching tool 1 is provided in a state where the main body 2 and the plurality of elastic bodies 5 are contained as a set in a small case (a case where the inside can be seen through) or a transparent bag. Then, the user can scrape the earwax by selecting one of the elastic bodies 5A, 5B, 5C having a desired hardness and mounting it on the small diameter shaft portion 4. The scraping operation itself is the same as that of the conventional product, but with this structure, the earwax can be efficiently and sensibly removed due to the peculiar function of the projection 6 described above. Since the user selectively uses the elastic bodies 5A, 5B, and 5C having the desired hardness, the evaluation or the satisfaction can be satisfied to the same degree even for an infant or an adult. Of course, in this structure, the elastic body 5 can be detached from the small diameter shaft portion 4 for cleaning.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned form, as long as it meets the requirements specified in the claims. For example, in addition to the elastic bodies 5A, 5B and 5C, those having different hardness may be combined, or the hard elastic body 5A, the soft elastic body 5C and two regular elastic bodies 5B may be combined. Further, it is also conceivable that the elastic bodies 5A, 5B, 5C may be configured as a set including other shapes.

[0016]

As described above, in the earpick of the present invention, the user can select and use one having a desired hardness from three or more elastic bodies having different hardness. Users of different ages and genders can further satisfy the evaluation and satisfaction, and the hardness of each elastic body can be identified and memorized by color, so that you can easily select the one that suits you when you use it repeatedly. , The usability and product value can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ear pick according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view showing a configuration of a main part of the earpick of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a main part of the earpick device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing three examples of conventional ear scrapers.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ear scraping tool 2 ... Main body 3 ... Bar member 4 ... Small diameter shaft parts 5, 5A, 5B, 5C ... Elastic body (5a is a cavity, 5b is a trunk part) 6 ... Protrusion 7 ... Circular collar part 6 ... Protrusion 7 ... Round collar part 8 ... Swelling part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A bottomed cylindrical elastic body for scraping earwax, which is attached to a small-diameter shaft portion provided on the tip side of a holding rod member and has a plurality of substantially circular brim-shaped projections in the axial direction. In the earpick, the elastic body is configured as a set of three or more kinds having different hardnesses and different colors according to the hardness. Earpicks characterized by being removable and replaceable on the shaft. 2. Each of the protrusions is integrated with a circular flange portion that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylinder of the elastic body, and an end surface of the circular flange portion on the front end side, and leaves an outer peripheral end surface portion of the end surface. The earpick device according to claim 1, comprising a bulging portion having a protruding outer shape of a substantially truncated cone. 3. The projection is composed of three or four pieces, and the elastic body is formed in a cavity up to a position corresponding to a second projection next to the most distal projection of the plurality of projections. , With the small diameter shaft portion press-fitted into the cavity and the elastic body mounted, the tip end protrusion can swing or swing through the body portion that is formed between the second protrusion. The earpick device according to claim 2, wherein