JP2003144229A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toothbrush which is excellent in advancing property into interdental sections, and at the same time, of which the brush-cleaning feeling is high, and in addition, which is excellent in the yield of bristles at the time of manufacture. SOLUTION: For this toothbrush, the distal end sides of the bristles are branched into a plurality, and also, respective branched bristles 2 are formed into a sharp tapered shape, and such bristles 1 are flocked. In such a toothbrush, the cross-sectional shape of the proximal end of the bristle 1 on a flocking base surface 4 comprises a shape for which a plurality of unit cross-sectional elements having a specified shape are connected. Then, when a connected section distance between the elements with each other at the proximal end cross section is taken as S, and the maximum diameter of the unit cross-sectional element is taken as D, the ratio P = S/D is set to be 0.3 to 0.8. Also, the length h of the branched bristle 2 which becomes a tapered shape is set to be 0.5 mm to 4 mm, and at the same time, the cross-sectional area at the position of 0.1 mm from the distal end of the bristle of the branched bristle 2 which becomes the tapered shape is set to be 0.00002 mm<2> to 0.002 mm<2> . Also, the cross-sectional area at the position of 0.5 mm from the distal end of the bristle is set to be 0.0003 mm<2> to 0.005 mm<2> .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush excellent in interdental penetration and having a high cleaning impression.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 5-15834 discloses a toothbrush using a brush that is tapered by a chemical treatment. However, in the case of this toothbrush, since it uses a tapered brush, there is a drawback that the actual brushing feeling is low, and if the brush diameter is increased to increase the actual brushing feeling,
There is a problem that the hair becomes too strong and pain occurs when the tip of the hair hits the gingiva.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-322821 discloses a toothbrush using a brush having a double core structure having a plurality of projecting core bristles at the tip of the brush. However, in the case of this toothbrush, since the tips of the protruding core bristles are not sharpened, there is a drawback in that the ability to enter the interdental part is poor.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-98837 discloses that
There is shown a toothbrush which is composed of a composite fiber composed of a resin skin layer and a core layer which are not adhered to each other, and which uses a brush whose tip is ground to be divided into a plurality of pieces. However, in the case of this toothbrush, the tips are divided by polishing and sharpened,
The tips of hair are thin and cannot be sharpened. Therefore, as in the case of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-322821, there is a drawback that the interdental part is poor in penetration.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-88110 discloses a toothbrush using a monofilament having a multilobed cross section and a bending recovery rate of 60% or more as a brush. However, this toothbrush has the same drawbacks as those described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 15834/1993 because the bristle tips are not branched.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the applicant of the present invention has previously proposed that, according to Japanese Patent Application No. 11-357206, the tip of the brush is branched into a plurality of branches, and each branch is sharply tapered. There has been proposed a toothbrush using a brush having a shape (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-169827). Then, in this proposal, it was mentioned that a brush having a clover-shaped cross section may be used in order to produce a brush having the above-described branched bristles. However, as a result of further experiments and research after that, it is difficult to make a brush branched to an appropriate length according to the specifications by simply changing the cross-sectional shape of the brush to a clover shape, etc. Was found to be a problem.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide a toothbrush which is excellent in interdental penetration, has a high feeling of cleaning, and is excellent in the yield of the brush during manufacturing.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a toothbrush in which a brush tip side is branched into a plurality, and each branch bristle is formed into a sharp taper shape. When the base cross-sectional shape on the flocking table surface is a shape in which a plurality of unit cross-sectional elements having a predetermined shape are connected, and the connecting portion distance between the elements in the base cross-section is S and the maximum diameter of the unit cross-sectional element is D, Ratio P
= S / D is 0.3 to 0.8, more preferably 0.45
It is set to 0.65. When the ratio P = S / D is 0.8 or more, almost no branch portion is formed at the tip of the brush. On the other hand, if it is less than 0.3, the branch portion becomes too long.

Further, according to the present invention, the length of the branched bristles is 0.5 mm to 4 mm. Further, the cross-sectional area of the tapered branched bristles at a position of 0.1 mm from the brush tip is 0.00002 mm ² to 0.002 m.
m ² , and the cross-sectional area at the position of 0.5 mm from the tip of the brush is 0.0003 mm ² to 0.005 mm ² .

By using a brush having the above-mentioned size and shape, it is possible to make a brush having a plurality of branches on the tip side of the brush, and each branch having a sharp taper shape, with a high yield. It is possible to provide a toothbrush that is excellent in cleaning properties and has a high feeling of actual cleaning, at a lower cost.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, in a toothbrush using a brush having the above-mentioned size and shape, at least a part of the hair bundle is constituted by a brush whose base cross-sectional shape is a cross-sectional shape having a major axis and a minor axis. Then, the brushes forming the bristles were arranged so that the major axis direction thereof was substantially parallel or perpendicular to the center line of the toothbrush handle in the longitudinal direction. With such a brush arrangement, it is possible to further improve the feeling of actual brushing and to further improve the interdental part penetration.

As the material of the brush, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polypropylene or the like can be used, but polybutylene terephthalate is more preferable in view of processability and usability. . To make a tapered brush with a branched brush tip, a hydrolysis method in which the brush is immersed in a solution of acid or alkali can be used.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a side view of the brush used in the embodiment, FIG. 1B is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 2A is a plan view of a head portion. FIG. 2B is an enlarged plan view of the hair bundle that is planted on the head portion, and FIG. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the brush that constitutes the hair bundle.

The brush 1 used in the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the tip side of the brush is branched into a plurality (two in the illustrated example), and each of the branch bristles 2 is sharpened in a taper shape (hereinafter, referred to as “tip branch taper brush”). Therefore, the base cross-sectional shape of the tip branch taper brush 1 at the position of the bristle implantation surface 4 of the head portion 3 is a shape in which two circular unit cross-section elements are connected, and the connecting portion distance between the elements in this base cross-section is S , And the maximum diameter of the unit cross-section element is D, the ratio P = S / D is 0.3 to 0.8.
And further, the length h of the branched bristles 2 which is tapered.
Is in the range of 0.5 mm to 4 mm, and the cross-sectional area at the position of 0.1 mm from the brush tip of the branch hair 2 is 0.
00002mm ² ~0.002mm ^2, 0.0003mm ² ~ the cross-sectional area of 0.5mm position from the brush tip
It is 0.005 mm ² .

With the above dimensions and shape,
It is possible to make a brush in which the tip end side of the brush is branched into a plurality and each of the branched hairs has a sharp taper shape with a high yield, and the yield at the time of brush production can be significantly improved.

The toothbrush according to the illustrated example is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), a plurality of tip branch taper brushes 1 having the above size and shape are bundled to form a hair bundle 5.
This bristle bundle 5 is flocked on the flocking table surface 4 of the head part 3 by a flat line 6, and in the flocking, the longitudinal direction of the cross-sectional shape of the tip-branching taper brush 1 in which two circular unit cross-section elements are connected. Is the long axis, and the direction orthogonal to this is the short axis. For each hair bundle 5, as shown in FIG. Is arranged so as to be substantially parallel (including parallel) to the center line O-O 'in the longitudinal direction.

With the brush arrangement as described above,
When brushing with the scramble method or the bath method, which is a typical brushing method, the direction of the back and forth movement of the toothbrush coincides with the long axis direction of the brush. it can. On the contrary, in the case where the brush is arranged so that the major axis direction is substantially perpendicular (including a right angle) to the longitudinal centerline OO ′ of the toothbrush handle, the interdental penetration of the brush is improved. Can be raised.

The hair bundle 5 may have the tips of the hairs abraded after the hair is transplanted,
Further, in order to make the hair length uniform, the tip of the hair may be cut by 0.5 to 1.5 mm and then polished.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the toothbrush is constructed by using only the tip-branching taper brush 1 is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 3 (a) or FIG. 3 (b), the tip-branching taper brush is used. Hair bundle 5 consisting of 1 (hair bundle shown by white circles)
And a hair bundle 7 using an ordinary brush whose tip is not branched
You may comprise using both (the hair bundle shown by the black circle).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a brush having a base cross-sectional shape in which two circular unit cross-section elements are connected is used as the tip-branching taper brush 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, for example, FIG.
Brushes having various base cross-sectional shapes as shown in (g) can be used.

FIG. 4 (a) shows three circular unit cross-section elements arranged in a line, FIG. 4 (b) shows three circular unit cross-section elements arranged in a clover shape, and FIG. ) Is a four-leaf clover-shaped four-lobed unit cross-section element arranged, FIG. 4 (d) is a combination of two elliptical unit cross-section elements, and FIG. FIG. 4 (f) is a combination of three unit cross-section elements in a clover shape, and FIG. 4 (f) is a combination of three unit cross-section elements in a clover shape. It is a connection.

It should be noted that in any of the tip branch taper brushes 1 shown in FIG. 4, the ratio P between the connecting portion distance S between the elements in the base section and the maximum diameter D of the unit section element is 0.3 to.
0.8, the length h of the branch hair 2 (not shown) on the tip side is 0.5 mm to 4 mm, and 0.1 m from the brush tip of the branch hair 2.
The cross-sectional area at the m position is 0.00002 mm ^{2 to} 0.0
02Mm ^2, making the cross-sectional area of 0.5mm position from the brush tip and 0.0003mm ² ~0.005mm ² are the same as those of the above-described embodiments.

[0023]

Examples (1) Yield distribution of branched hairs Table 1 shows the yield distribution of branched hairs in a tip-branched tapered brush depending on the difference of P = S / D. As is clear from Table 1, the yield of branched hair is high when P = S / D is in the range of 0.3 to 0.8. In addition, FIG. 5 (a) (b)
An example of a tip-branching taper brush 1 with P exceeding 0.8 is shown in FIG.
(A) and (b) show examples of the tip branch taper brush 1 having P less than 0.3.

[0024]

[Table 1]

(2) Bifurcation Length, Interdental Penetration, and Cleaning Feeling Table 2 shows the relationship between the bifurcation length and the interdental penetration and cleaning feeling in a tip-branch tapered brush. Table 2
As is clear from the above, the length of the branched hair is 0.5 mm.
It can be seen that ~ 4 mm is desirable.

[0026]

[Table 2]

(3) Bifurcation Cross-sectional Area and Interdental Cleaning Effect Table 3 shows the relationship between the bifurcation cross-sectional area and interdental cleaning effect of a tip-branch tapered brush. As is clear from Table 3, the cross-sectional area at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the branched hair is 0.0
0002 mm ^{2 to} 0.002 mm ² , and the cross-sectional area at the position of 0.5 mm from the tip of the branched hair is 0.0003 mm ^2.
It can be seen that ˜0.005 mm ² is desirable.

[0028]

[Table 3]

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a toothbrush which is excellent in interdental penetration and has a high feeling of brushing, and which is excellent in the yield of the brush during manufacturing. Further, it is possible to effectively perform the cleaning of the gap between the teeth and the periodontal pocket, which is difficult with the conventional toothbrush.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a side view of a brush used in the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a head portion, FIG. 2B is an enlarged plan view of a hair bundle that is planted in the head portion, and FIG. 2C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a brush that constitutes the hair bundle.

3A and 3B are plan views of an example of a toothbrush using both a tip-branching taper brush and a normal brush whose tip is not branched.

FIGS. 4A to 4G are views showing examples of other base cross-sectional shapes of the tip-branching tapered brush used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a tip-branch taper brush with P exceeding 0.8, (a) is a side view of the brush, and (b) is a diagram in (a).
It is an II-II line expanded sectional view.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a tip-branch tapered taper brush with P less than 0.3, (a) is a side view of the brush, and (b) is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III in (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Brush (tapered branch taper brush) 2 branched hair 3 head 4 Flocking surface 5 Hair bundle consisting of a tip-branching taper brush 6 flat lines 7 Hair bundles using ordinary brushes

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush in which a bristle tip side is divided into a plurality of branches, and each branch bristle is formed into a sharp taper, and a toothbrush is planted. When a distance between connecting elements in the base cross section is S and a maximum diameter of a unit cross-section element is D, the ratio P = S / D is 0.
A toothbrush characterized by being 3 to 0.8. 2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the tapered branched bristles have a length of 0.5 mm to 4 mm. 3. The tapered cross-section of the branched bristles has a cross-sectional area of 0.00002 m at a position of 0.1 mm from the brush tip.
m ² ~0.002mm ^2, the cross-sectional area at 0.5mm position from the brush tip 0.0003mm ² ~0.005mm
Claim 1 or 2 toothbrush wherein a is ^2. 4. At least a part of the hair bundle is constituted by a brush whose base cross-sectional shape is a cross-sectional shape having a long axis and a short axis, and each brush constituting the hair bundle has a toothbrush whose major axis direction is The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the toothbrush is arranged so as to be substantially parallel or at a right angle to a centerline of the handle in the longitudinal direction.