JP2003159121A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toothbrush which can be easily improved in design and has excellent resistance against chemicals and fatigue resistance against repeated stress. <P>SOLUTION: This tooth brush is constituted of a bristled part 11 in which a plurality of bristle bundles 14 are planted, a handle part 12 to be held by a hand, and a neck part 13 to connect the bristle part 11 with the handle part 12. The bristled part 11, the neck part 13, and the mount part 15 of the handle part 12 are integrally molded using opaque resin 16. Transparent resin 17 with light transmittance over 70% is buried in the mount 15 of the handle part 12 and is exposed on the surface of the handle part 12. The opaque resin is polyolefin based resin, for instance such as polypropylene, and the transparent resin is saturated polyester resin, for instance such as polyethylene terephthalate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush comprising a hair-implanted portion in which a plurality of hair bundles are transplanted, a handle portion gripped by a hand, and a neck portion connecting the handle portion and the hair-implanted portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A toothbrush is composed of a hair-implanted portion into which a plurality of hair bundles are implanted, a handle portion to be gripped by a hand, and a neck portion connecting the handle portion and the hair-implanted portion. ing. Further, in the toothbrush, it is preferable that the flocked portion, the neck portion and the handle portion are integrally formed using resin from the viewpoint of strength, formability and the like. On the other hand, for example, as a material for the flocking part, it is possible to avoid cracks caused by a flat line that is driven when flocking a hair bundle, and to have a strength that is not affected by chemicals such as alcohol and perfume contained in dentifrice. It is necessary to select a material that has physical properties that do not cause deterioration. Further, for example, as the material of the neck portion, it is necessary to select a material having physical properties that will not cause damage due to fatigue even if bending stress is repeatedly applied by a moment force when the flocked portion is pressed when brushing teeth.

Therefore, in the conventional toothbrush, the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the handle portion are integrally formed by using a polyolefin resin such as polypropylene so as to satisfy these conditions. Since it is an opaque resin, it has a poor design and it is difficult to give the toothbrush a rich aesthetic appearance. In addition, there are toothbrushes that have pictures or patterns on the handle to improve design, or colored elastomer is attached to the handle for the purpose of improving grip. Therefore, there is a limit to the improvement in designability.

On the other hand, toothbrushes in which the flocked portion, the neck portion and the handle portion are integrally formed using a highly transparent resin such as saturated polyester, acrylonitrile styrene resin and cellulose acetate are commercially available. Since such a toothbrush uses a transparent resin, the toothbrush has excellent designability due to its transparency, while these resins are vulnerable to repeated stress and the neck portion is easily broken during use. It is also known that the strength of the toothbrush is apt to decrease under the influence of chemicals such as alcohol and fragrances contained in dentifrice, and the bristle implant part of the toothbrush may break during use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush which is capable of easily improving the designability due to the transparent feeling and which is excellent in resistance to chemicals and fatigue resistance to repeated stress.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a toothbrush comprising a hair-implanted portion into which a plurality of hair bundles are transplanted, a handle portion gripped by a hand, and a neck portion connecting the hair-implanted portion and the handle portion. The flocked portion, the neck portion, and the base of the handle portion are integrally formed using resin, and the base of the handle portion has a light transmittance (JIS K 71
The above object was achieved by providing a toothbrush in which a resin having a light transmittance (measured by a light transmittance test method defined in 05) of 70% or more is embedded and exposed on the surface of the handle portion. It is a thing.

The base of the handle portion in the above description is a portion that is integrally molded with the flocked portion and the neck portion by using the same resin, and serves as a main body of the handle portion and exerts strength, from the neck portion of the toothbrush. It is provided continuously over at least the entire length of the length gripped by the hand.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A toothbrush 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. Handle part 12 to be gripped with, flocked part 11 and handle part 12
And a neck portion 13 for connecting with. And the flocked part 1
1, the neck portion 13, and the base 15 of the handle portion 12 are integrally molded using, for example, an opaque resin 16 having a light transmittance of 30% or less, and the base 15 of the handle portion 12 has a light transmitting property. Highly transparent transparent resin with a rate of 70% or more 17
(Including a translucent resin) is embedded and exposed on the surface of the handle portion 12.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the base 15 of the handle portion 12 is provided with the opening hole 18 penetrating the front and back of the handle portion 12, and the opening hole 18 is formed. As it is filled, the transparent resin 17 having the light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded in the base 15.

The flocking table 11 is a part where a plurality of bristles 14 formed by bundling a plurality of bristles are flocked, and according to the first embodiment, a plurality of flocking holes formed in the flocking table 11. To the hair bundle 1 by, for example, a method of driving a flat wire.
No. 4 is transplanted. In addition, the flocking table 11 is a portion where a toothpaste is applied to the hair bundles 14 when brushing teeth and is inserted into the oral cavity for brushing, and is provided with resistance to chemicals such as fragrances contained in the toothpaste. Need to be

The handle portion 12 is provided with an opening hole 18 having an elongated oval flat cross section inside, a base 15 formed in an annular shape, and a transparent resin 17 embedded in the opening hole 18.
The base 15 is continuously provided over the entire length of the handle portion 12 from the neck portion 13 of the toothbrush 10 so as to surround the periphery of the transparent resin 17, and serves as the main body of the handle portion 12 of the handle portion 12. This is the part that exerts strength.

The neck portion 13 includes a hair-implanted portion 11 and a handle portion 12.
And a portion for transmitting a load when the flocked portion 11 is pressed against the tooth surface or the like at the time of brushing the tooth to the handle portion 12 so that the handle portion 12 supports the bending force due to a moment force. Even if I receive it repeatedly
It must have fatigue resistance that does not cause damage due to fatigue.

According to the first embodiment, in view of these physical properties such as resistance and fatigue resistance, and efficient moldability,
Flocking table 11, neck 13, and base 15 of handle 12
Are integrally molded using the opaque resin 16. Here, as the opaque resin 16, for example, it is preferable to use a polyolefin resin such as polypropylene which is an inexpensive and general-purpose resin, but if it has chemical resistance and fatigue resistance against repeated bending, The material does not matter.
Further, even if it has a slight transparency such as some polypropylenes or low density polyethylene, it may have the above-mentioned physical properties.

Further, according to the first embodiment, as the transparent resin 17 having a light transmittance of 70% or more, which is embedded so as to fill the opening hole 18 of the handle portion 12, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate or the like is used. It is preferable to use a polystyrene-based resin or a polystyrene-based or polyolefin-based elastomer such as styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber or propylene rubber. Acrylonitrile styrene resin, cellulose acetate, methacrylic resin, etc. can also be used.

The transparent resin 17 having a light transmittance of 70% or more.
Is preferably colored in an appropriate color in order to improve the design. Further, it is particularly preferable to use a resin having a light transmittance of 85% or more before coloring as the transparent resin 17 in order to effectively enhance the designability due to the transparent feeling. The thickness of the transparent resin 17 to be embedded is preferably about 5 mm to 15 mm if the resin has a light transmittance of 85% or more. If it is 5 mm or less, the rigidity of the handle becomes low, and if it is 15 mm or more, not only the transparency becomes poor and molding becomes difficult, but also it becomes difficult to hold when used. When the light transmittance is 75% or more and less than 85%, the thickness is preferably 5 mm to 10 mm.

According to the first embodiment, as a method of embedding the transparent resin 17 in the base 15 of the handle portion 12 so as to fill the opening hole 18, for example, the flock portion 11 and the neck portion 13 as well as the handle portion 12 are filled. Base 15 is opaque resin 1
After molding by 6, the transparent resin 17 may be molded and embedded in the opening hole 18 by insert molding. Further, after the transparent resin 17 is molded into a size and shape corresponding to the opening hole 18, the transparent resin 17 is wound inside the base 15, and the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13,
Also, a method of molding the base 15 of the handle portion 12 with the opaque resin 16 can be adopted. In the latter method, the shrinkage of the opaque resin 16 at the time of curing is used, and the transparent resin 17 is embedded by caulking, so that even if the adhesiveness between the opaque resin 16 and the transparent resin 17 is poor, the transparent holes 17 are transparent. It is possible to fill the resin 17 without any gap and firmly bond the base 15 and the transparent resin 17 together.
Further, the flocked portion 1 integrally molded with the opaque resin 16
1, a method of embedding the transparent resin 17 in the base 15 by separately forming the base 15 of the neck portion 13 and the handle portion 12 and the transparent resin 17 and then assembling them with an adhesive or the like You can also do it.

Further, according to the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment, it is possible to easily improve the designability due to the transparency, and easily exhibit resistance to chemicals and fatigue resistance to repeated stress. be able to. That is, according to the first embodiment, the base 1 of the handle portion 12
5, the transparent resin 17 is embedded and exposed on the surface of the handle portion 12. Therefore, the transparent resin 17 gives a transparent design, and the flocked portion 1 has excellent designability.
1, the neck portion 13, and the base 15 of the handle portion 12 are integrally molded using the opaque resin 16, and thus the opaque resin 16 ensures sufficient resistance to chemicals and sufficient resistance to repeated stress. It becomes possible to have fatigue.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a toothbrush 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. According to the second embodiment, the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the base 25 of the handle portion 22 are integrally formed by using the opaque resin 16, and the base 25 of the handle portion 22 includes:
Opening hole 28 formed through the front and back of the handle portion 22
a and 28b are provided at two places, and these transparent holes 27a and 27b, which are colored in different colors and have a light transmittance of 70% or more, are filled in the opening holes 28a and 28b, respectively.
b is embedded in the base 25.

The toothbrush 20 of the second embodiment of the present invention also has the same function and effect as the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment, and the transparent resins 27a and 27b are colored in different colors. It will have a aesthetic appeal.

3A and 3B show a toothbrush 30 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. According to the third embodiment, the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the base 35 of the handle portion 32 are integrally formed by using the opaque resin 16, and the base 35 of the handle portion 32 includes:
The transparent resin 3 having a light transmittance of 70% or more is filled with a pair of strip-shaped grooves 38 formed along the longitudinal direction thereof.
7 are embedded and exposed on the surface of the handle portion 32 in a stripe shape.

FIG. 4 shows a toothbrush 40 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to the third embodiment,
Base 45 of the flocked part 11, the neck part 13, and the handle part 42
Is integrally molded using opaque resin 16,
In addition, the base 45 of the handle portion 42 is filled with the transparent resin 47 having a light transmittance of 70% or more so as to fill the three holes 48 formed in the heart-shaped pattern, and the surface of the handle portion 42. It is exposed as a heart-shaped pattern.

FIG. 5 shows a toothbrush 50 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to the fifth embodiment,
Base 55 of the flocked part 11, the neck part 13, and the handle part 52
Is integrally molded using opaque resin 16,
In addition, a transparent resin 57 having a light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded in the base 55 of the handle portion 52 so as to be exposed on the surface of the handle portion 52, and the transparent resin 57 is partially attached to the base 55. A colored elastomer 59, which is an elastomer having any light transmittance, is attached at a position where it does not overlap with, for example, via injection molding or an adhesive. In addition,
As the elastomer 59, in addition to natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber, silicone rubber, etc., the above-mentioned polystyrene-based or polyolefin-based elastomer can be used.

The toothbrushes 30, 40, 50 of the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments also have the same effects as the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment, and in particular, the toothbrush 50 of the fifth embodiment. According to this, the gripping property of the handle portion 52 can be improved by the elastomer 59, and the colored elastomer 59 and the transparent resin 5 can be used.
The harmony with 7 will give it a more aesthetic appeal.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, the toothbrush of the present invention does not necessarily have to be a bristles to which the bristles are to be planted on the flocking table, and may be a toothbrush in which the bristles are to be flocked by fusing or the like. Further, the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the handle portion do not necessarily need to be continuous through the stepped portion, and may be integrally formed with, for example, substantially the same cross-sectional shape. Further, the resin for integrally molding the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the base of the handle portion is not necessarily an opaque resin as long as it is a resin that can ensure resistance to chemicals and fatigue resistance to repeated stress, and is not necessarily transparent. It may be a resin having a property.

[0025]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the toothbrush of the present invention, it is possible to easily improve the designability due to the transparent feeling, and is excellent in resistance to chemicals and fatigue resistance to repeated stress.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.

FIG. 2 shows a toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.

FIG. 3 shows a toothbrush according to a third embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a toothbrush according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a toothbrush according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20, 30, 40, 50 Toothbrush 11 Bristles 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 Handle 13 Neck 14 Hair bundles 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 Handle base 16 Opaque resin 17, 27a, 27b Transparent resin (resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more) 18, 28a, 28b Opening hole 19 Border portion 37, 47, 57 between teeth and gums Transparent resin (resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more) 38 Strip groove 48 Hole 59 elastomer

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush comprising a hair-implanted portion into which a plurality of hair bundles are implanted, a handle portion gripped by a hand, and a neck portion connecting the hair-implanted portion and the handle portion, wherein the hair-implanted portion, the neck portion, and the The base of the handle part is integrally molded using resin, and the base of the handle part is filled with a resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more and exposed on the surface of the handle part. toothbrush. 2. The resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded in the base so as to penetrate the front and back surfaces of the handle portion and fill an opening hole formed in the base. The toothbrush according to claim 1. 3. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the resin for integrally molding the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the base of the handle portion is a polyolefin resin. 4. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more is a saturated polyester resin. 5. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more is a polystyrene-based or polyolefin-based elastomer. 6. An elastomer regardless of light transmittance is attached to the base of the handle portion at a position where it does not overlap with the resin having the light transmittance of 70% or more.
The toothbrush according to any one of 1.