JP2004105377A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toothbrush capable of effectively brushing teeth according to the kind or part of each tooth with a plurality of bristle groups with different outer configurations (unified characteristics) while improving both the feeling of well brushing molars and the feeling of well brushing interdental parts. <P>SOLUTION: In the toothbrush 10, the planting surface of a bristle planting base 11 comprises a tip area 16, a center belt-like area 17 in the rear of the tip area, and a pair of outside belt-like areas 18. A tip bristle group 19A, a center bristle group 19B and outside bristle groups 19C are planted in the tip area 16, the center belt-like area 17, and the outside belt-like areas 18 respectively. The unified characteristics of the tip bristle group 19A, the center bristle group 19B and the outside bristle groups 19C are different. The longest length of tip bristles 14a and 14b is longer than the longest length of center bristles 14c, and the average length of outside bristles 14d is shorter than the average length of center bristles 14c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toothbrush in which a plurality of bristle bundles obtained by bundling a plurality of bristles are planted on a flocking table.
[0002]
Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention
The toothbrush is formed by implanting and fixing a hair bundle formed by bundling a plurality of bristles by, for example, a method of driving a flat wire into a plurality of flocked holes provided on a flocked surface of a flocked bed or fusing with heat. Is what is done. In addition, the toothbrush efficiently removes plaque etc. by efficiently performing appropriate brushing according to the type of teeth such as front teeth, back teeth, etc., and the parts of teeth such as interdental parts, tooth surfaces, cervical parts etc. Various arrangements have been made to the arrangement of the bristle bundles, the shape of the bristle tips, and the like so as to make it possible to obtain a good feel during brushing.
[0003]
On the other hand, it is necessary to perform appropriate brushing with a single toothbrush on multiple tooth types such as back teeth and front teeth, and multiple tooth sites such as interdental parts, tooth surfaces, and cervical parts. To be able to do so, various toothbrushes have been developed in which a plurality of bristle bundles having different appearance forms (unified features) suitable for brushing each tooth type and site are planted on a flocking table.
[0004]
However, when a plurality of hair bundle groups having different appearances are implanted in one toothbrush (for example, see Patent Literature 1), if the arrangement of the plurality of hair bundle groups and the length of the bristle are not appropriate, It is not possible to balance the feeling that the back teeth can be polished and the feeling that the teeth can be polished.
[0005]
For example, on the flocking surface of the flocking table, a tip region, a central band-shaped region when the rear part of the tip region is divided into three band-shaped regions along the axial direction of the toothbrush, and a central band-shaped region on both sides of the central band-shaped region In the case of a toothbrush having four regions including a pair of outer belt-shaped regions, the longest bristle of the tip bristle constituting the group of bristle bundles planted in the tip region is the center bristle planted in the central band region. The average bristle length of the outer bristle group that constitutes the outer bristle group that is planted in the outer belt-shaped region constitutes the central bristle group only by being longer than the longest bristle length of the central bristle that forms the bundle group. If it is not shorter than the average bristle length of the central bristle, the bristle of the longest bristle of the tip bristle bundle will reach the back teeth and be well polished, but the central bristle will It is difficult to reach deep inside and it can not be polished well It becomes door.
[0006]
On the other hand, if the average bristle of the outer bristle is only shorter than the average bristle of the central bristle, and the longest bristle of the tip bristle is not longer than the longest bristle of the central bristle, between the teeth On the other hand, the central bristle reaches the back of the teeth and can be polished well, but for the back teeth, the bristle with the longest hair length of the tip hair bundle group is difficult to reach the back of the back teeth, and even if it reaches, the force is hardly transmitted It will not be able to polish well.
[0007]
The present invention improves the feel of both the teeth that can be polished well and the teeth that can be polished well and improves the feel of each tooth by using a plurality of hair bundle groups having different appearance forms (unified features) according to the type and location of each tooth. An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush that can effectively perform brushing.
[0008]
[Patent Document] 1
JP-A-9-149815
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a toothbrush in which a plurality of bristle bundles obtained by bundling a plurality of bristles are planted on a flocking surface of a flocking table, wherein the flocking surface of the flocking table has a tip region and a tip region. The front end portion has four regions: a central band-shaped region when the rear portion is divided into three band-shaped regions along the axial direction of the toothbrush, and a pair of outer band-shaped regions on both sides of the central band-shaped region. The tip bristle group planted in the region, the central bristle group planted in the central band region, and the outer bristle group planted in each of the outer belt regions have unified characteristics. In addition, the tip hair bundle group, the center hair bundle group, and the outer hair bundle groups have different unified characteristics, and the longest bristle length of the tip bristle constituting the tip hair bundle group Is longer than the longest hair length of the central bristle constituting the central hair bundle group. In addition, the above object was achieved by providing a toothbrush in which the average bristle length of the outer bristle constituting the outer bristle bundle group was shorter than the average bristle length of the central bristle constituting the central bristle bundle group. Things.
[0010]
Further, in the toothbrush of the present invention, the longest bristle height of the tip bristle constituting the tip bristle bundle group is 1.02 to 1.30 times the longest bristle length of the central bristle constituting the central bristle bundle group. And the average length of the outer bristle constituting the outer bristle bundle group is 0.70 to 0.97 times the average bristle length of the central bristle constituting the central bristle bundle group. Is preferred.
[0011]
Here, in the present application, the “unified feature” refers to the tip shape of the hair bundle (the angle or curvature of the surface on which the hair bundle is cut or the surface on which the bristles are aligned), the cross-sectional shape of the hair bundle, and the inclination of the hair bundle. Characteristics include direction and tilt angle, hair bundle thickness, hair implantation height, hair bundle axial direction with long and short axes, bristle tip shape, average bristle hardness theoretical value, etc. This means that the group of hair bundles is formed in a single shape (for example, a concentric shape or a mountain shape) as a whole.
[0012]
In addition, each feature has a priority, and the highest priority is when the hair bundle group is formed in one shape as a whole, and then the tip shape of the hair bundle, the inclination direction and the inclination of the hair bundle. The angle, the height at which the hairs are implanted, the thickness of the hairs, the axial direction of the hairs having a cross section having a major axis and a minor axis, the average of the theoretical value of the hardness of the bristle, and the shape of the tip of the bristle. Therefore, when a plurality of “unified features” exist in one hair bundle, the hair bundle is included in a hair bundle group having a feature with a higher priority.
[0013]
The difference in the “unified feature” of each hair bundle group mainly depends on the types of a plurality of teeth such as the back teeth and the front teeth and the parts of the plurality of teeth such as an interdental portion, a tooth surface portion, and a cervical portion. This is due to the difference in the specific functions of each hair bundle group for performing appropriate brushing on the hair bundles.
[0014]
Further, in the present application, the longest bristle of the tip bristles is the length of the longest tip bristles of all the tip bristles constituting the tip bristles group, and these longest tip bristles are the same as those of all the tip bristles. Preferably, it accounts for 5% or more, particularly 10% or more. The longest bristle length of the central bristle is also the bristle length of the longest central bristle of all the central bristles constituting the central bristle bundle, and these longest central bristles are 5% of the total central bristle. Preferably, it accounts for 10% or more.
[0015]
In addition, the bristle of the longest bristle does not mean only the one longest bristle selected strictly, but the bristle of the bristle which is considered to be substantially the same as the bristle of the longest bristle. Bristle is also intended to be included in the longest bristle.
[0016]
Furthermore, in the present application, the average bristle of the outer bristle constituting the outer bristle bundle group is a value obtained by dividing the sum of the bristle lengths of all the outer bristles constituting the outer bristle bundle group by the number of all the outer bristles. The average hair length of the central bristle constituting the hair bundle group is a value obtained by dividing the sum of the hair lengths of all the central bristles constituting the central hair bundle group by the number of all the central bristle.
[0017]
According to the toothbrush of the present invention, the longest bristle of the tip bristles constituting the tip bristle bundle group implanted in the tip end region of the flocking table has the central bristle implanted in the central band-like region of the flocking table. Since the length of the bristle group is longer than the longest bristle of the central bristle, the tip bristle of the longest bristle increases the reach to the back of the back teeth and is implanted in the outer region of the flock table. Since the average bristle length of the outer bristle group forming the outer bristle bundle is shorter than the average bristle length of the central bristle group forming the central bristle group planted in the central band-shaped region of the flocking table, Reachability between teeth is enhanced. By these actions, while improving both the feeling of brushing the back teeth and the feeling of brushing between the teeth, according to the type and location of each tooth by a plurality of hair bundle groups with different appearance forms (unified features) Cleaning can be performed effectively.
[0018]
According to the toothbrush of the present invention, it is preferable that the longest bristle of the tip bristle is 1.02 to 1.30 times the longest bristle of the central bristle. If the longest bristle length of the tip bristle is shorter than 1.02 times the longest bristle length of the center bristle (for example, the longest bristle length of the center bristle is 11.5 mm and the longest bristle length of the tip bristle is 11.6 mm) When these longest hair lengths are equal (1.00 times), the feeling that the back teeth are polished and no change is lost, and the longest bristle length at the tip bristle is the same as the longest bristle length at the center bristle. If it is longer than 1.30 times (for example, the longest bristle length of the central bristle is 9.0 mm and the longest bristle length of the tip bristle is 1.33 times when it is 12.0 mm), only the tip bristle hits the teeth, The effect of brushing according to the type and site of each tooth by each hair bundle group is reduced.
[0019]
Further, according to the toothbrush of the present invention, it is preferable that the average bristle length of the outer bristle is 0.70 to 0.97 times the average bristle length. If the average bristle length of the outer bristle is shorter than 0.70 times the average bristle length of the central bristle (for example, if the average bristle length of the outer bristle is 8.0 mm and the average bristle length of the central bristle is 11.5 mm, 0 is used). .69 times), the outer bristle is too short and hard to hit the teeth, so the brushing effect of each bristle group according to the type and location of each tooth is low, and the average bristle of the outer bristle is reduced by the central bristle. If the average bristle length is longer than 0.97 times (for example, the average length of the outer bristle is 11.3 mm and the average length of the central bristle is 11.5 mm, it is 0.98 times). Is equal (1.00 times), the feeling and the change between teeth can be eliminated.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A toothbrush 10 according to a preferred first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B has a flocked toothbrush body including a grip portion (not shown), a flocked table 11 and a neck 12 connecting these. A plurality of bristles (tufts) 15a, 15b, 15c, and 14d formed by bundling a plurality of bristles 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are respectively implanted in a plurality of flocking holes 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d formed in the table 11. (Planting).
[0021]
According to the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment, the toothbrush main body is a known one made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or ABS resin, and the flat flocking surface of the flocking table 11 is approximately 1/4 of the tip. A front end region 16 occupying the region, a center band region 17 when the rear portion of the front end region 16 is divided into three band regions 17, 18 along the axial direction X of the toothbrush 10, and a central band region 17. It has four regions with a pair of outer band regions 18 on both sides.
[0022]
In the tip end region 16, five track-shaped first flocking holes 13a having a major axis of 1.5 mm and a minor axis of 0.8 mm are provided at five places, and similarly, the major axis is 1.5 mm and the minor axis is 0.1 mm. 8 mm track circular second flocking holes 13b are formed at seven locations (total of 12 locations). Also, in the central band-shaped region 17, third circular flocking holes 13 c having a track circular shape having a short axis of 0.8 mm parallel to the axial direction X of the toothbrush 10 and a long axis perpendicular to the short axis of 3.0 mm are formed at five places. ing. Further, in each outer band-shaped region 18, eight track-shaped fourth flocking holes 13d each having a major axis parallel to the axial direction X of the toothbrush 10 of 2.2 mm and a minor axis perpendicular to the major axis of 0.8 mm are formed. , Are formed at a total of 16 locations.
[0023]
In addition, in the first flocked holes 13a at five places out of the twelve flocked holes 13a and 13b in the tip end region 16, first bristles 15a schematically illustrated in black in FIG. In the hole of the second hair implantation 13b, a second hair bundle 15b, which is schematically shown in white, is implanted. Further, a third bristle bundle 15c, which is schematically shown by a shaded line, is provided in each of the five third flocking holes 13c in the central belt-like region 17, and a toothbrush 10 is provided in each of the four flocking holes 13d in each outer belt-like region 18. Fourth hair bundles 15d, which are schematically illustrated by drawing circles offset in the axial direction X, are each planted.
[0024]
According to the present embodiment, the tip region 16, the center band region 17, and the outer band region 18 on the flocking surface of the flocking table 11 are, for example, a tip bristle bundle group 19A and a central bristle bundle group planted in each region. 19B, between the outer circumferences of a pair of hair bundles 15b, 15c, 15d arranged at a position adjacent to another hair bundle group among the hair bundles 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d constituting the outer hair bundle group 19C. It is defined by a line segment L obtained by connecting the midpoints on the flocked surface.
[0025]
The bristles 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d constituting each of the hair bundles 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d are filament materials having a thickness of, for example, 6 to 9 mils made of a synthetic resin such as nylon. By bundling ten to several tens of hairs, each hair bundle 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is formed.
[0026]
According to the first embodiment, the first bristle bundle 15a implanted in the distal end region 16 is configured by bundling 15 distal first bristles 14a having a thickness of 9 mil (0.229 mm). Each tip first bristle 14a has a hair length of 11.0 to 12.0 mm from the flocking surface (11.5 mm in order from the tip first bristle 14a constituting the first bristle bundle 15a on the tip side of the flocking table 11; 0 mm, 11.5 mm, 11.0 mm hair length).
[0027]
The second bristle bundle 15b is configured by bundling 19 tip second bristles 14b each having a thickness of 8 mil (0.203 mm), and each tip second bristle 14b is 10.5-11. Hair is implanted with a hair length of 5 mm (11.5 mm, 11.0 mm, 10.5 mm hair length in order from the tip second bristle 14b constituting the second hair bundle 15b on the tip end side of the flocking table 11).
[0028]
That is, according to the first embodiment, the entire upper end brush surface of the hair bundle group 19A in the distal end region 16 including the five first hair bundles 15a and the seven second hair bundles 15b is a flocking table. The two first bristle bundles 15a (having a hair length of 12.0 mm) in the second row from the tip end of the toothbrush 11 have the highest mountain-like shape when viewed from the side of the toothbrush 10 (FIG. 1 ( b)). Each of the five first hair bundles 15a and the seven second hair bundles 15b implanted in the tip end region 16 has an angle of 5 degrees with respect to a direction perpendicular to the hair implantation surface of the hair implantation table 11. The toothbrush 10 is implanted so as to be tilted to the tip side in the axial direction X of the toothbrush 10.
[0029]
According to the first embodiment, the third bristle bundle 15c implanted in the central band-shaped region 17 is configured by bundling 38 central bristles 14c each having a thickness of 9 mil (0.229 mm). Each central bristle 14c is implanted with a hair length of 11.5 mm from the implanted surface. The fourth bristle bundle 15d implanted in each outer belt-shaped region 18 is configured by bundling 48 outer bristles 14d each having a thickness of 7 mil (0.178 mm), and each outer bristle 14d is positioned 9 cm from the flocking surface. Hair is planted with a hair length of 0.0 to 11.5 mm.
[0030]
Each of the five third bristle bundles 15c implanted in the central band-like region 17 has a tip end side in the axial direction X of the toothbrush 10 at an angle of 10 degrees with respect to a direction perpendicular to the flocking surface of the flocking table 11. Each of the fourth bristle bundles 15d located at the tip of the eight fourth bristle bundles 15d planted in each outer belt-shaped region 18 is disposed at the tip thereof. The toothbrush 10 is tilted and implanted at an angle of 10 degrees with respect to a direction perpendicular to the flocked surface in the axial direction X of the toothbrush 10.
[0031]
Further, according to the first embodiment, the fourth bristle bundle 15d has the highest bristle height (11.5 mm) as shown in an enlarged top view and a side view in a portion A of FIG. 1B. ) From the outer bristle 14d to the outer bristle 14d having the lowest bristle height (9.0 mm), the hair is implanted in a state where the bristle of the outer bristle 14d is gradually reduced so that the tip shape becomes a concave curved shape. I have.
[0032]
According to the first embodiment, the hair bundles 15 a, 15 b, 15 c, and 15 d are planted on the flocking table 11 as described above. The one bristle bundle 15a and the seven second bristle bundles 15b have substantially the same cross-sectional shape, tilt angle, and the like, and form a single chevron as a whole. As a set of hair bundles 15a and 15b having the same, a group of tip hair bundles 19A is constituted. The tip first bristles 14a and the tip second bristles 14b constituting the hair bundles 15a and 15b have a thickness of 9 mil or 8 mil, and the hair bundles 15a and 15b are tilted and implanted. Therefore, the tip hair bundle group 19A has a tilted hard form suitable for brushing the back teeth.
[0033]
Further, the five third hair bundles 15c implanted in the central band-shaped region 17 have the same characteristics in cross-sectional shape, the direction of inclination of the hair bundle, the inclination angle, and the like, and thus have unified characteristics. A set of central hair bundles 19B is formed as a set of the hair bundles 15c. Further, the fourth bristle bundles 15d at eight locations implanted in the respective outer belt-shaped regions 18 have the same tip shape (curvature of the surface on which the bristles are aligned), cross-sectional shape, and the like. A set of outer hair bundles 19C is constituted as a set of the hair bundles 15d having the above-mentioned characteristics.
[0034]
The tip hair bundle group 19A, the central hair bundle group 19B, and the outer hair bundle group 19C have the hair bundles 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d constituting the respective hair bundle groups 19A, 19B, and 19C. Since they are clearly different in tilt angle and the like, they have different appearances that can be clearly distinguished.
[0035]
According to the first embodiment, as described above, the hair bundles 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d are planted on the flocking table 11, so that the tip first bristles 14a and the tip that constitute the tip hair bundle group 19A are formed. The longest bristle length of the second bristle 14b is 12.0 mm (the bristle height of the first first bristle 14a constituting the two first bristle bundles 15a in the second row from the front end side of the flocking table 11), and the central bristle bundle group The longest bristle length of the central bristle 14c constituting the tip bristle bundle 19c is 11.5 mm, and the longest bristle length (12.0 mm) of the first bristle tip 14a and the second bristle tip 14b constituting the tip bristle bundle group 19A is The length is about 1.04 times the longest hair length (11.5 mm) of the central bristle 14c constituting the central hair bundle group 19B.
[0036]
Further, according to the first embodiment, since the hair bundles 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d are planted on the flocking table 11 as described above, the outer bristles 14d constituting the outer hair bundle groups 19C are formed. The average bristle length is 10.0 mm, the average bristle 14c constituting the central bristle bundle group 19B has an average bristle length of 11.5 mm, and the average bristle length of the outer bristle 14d is shorter than the average bristle length of the central bristle 14c. The average bristle height of the outer bristle 14d constituting each outer bristle bundle group 19C is 0.87 times the average bristle length of the central bristle 14c constituting the central bristle bundle group 19B.
[0037]
Then, according to the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment, while improving both the feeling that the back teeth can be polished well and the feeling that the teeth can be polished well, each tooth is formed by a plurality of bristle bundle groups having different unified features. It is possible to effectively perform the cleaning according to the type and the part. That is, according to the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment, the longest bristle length (12.0 mm) of the tip bristles 14a and 14b constituting the tip hair bundle group 19A implanted in the tip region 16 of the flocking table 11 Is longer than the longest bristle length (11.5 mm) of the central bristle 14c constituting the central bristle bundle group 19B implanted in the central band-like region 17 of the flocking table 11, so that the tip of the longest bristle length The reach of the back teeth to the back is improved by the bristles 14a. The average bristle height (10.0 mm) of the outer bristle 14d forming the outer bristle bundle group 19C implanted in the outer region 18 of the flocking table 11 is determined by the central bristle implanted in the central band-like region 17 of the flocking table 11. Since the central bristle 14c constituting the bundle group 19B is shorter than the average bristle length (11.5 mm), the reach of the central bristle to the depth between the teeth is improved.
[0038]
Therefore, by these actions, while improving both the feeling of brushing the back teeth and the feeling of brushing between the teeth, each tooth of the plurality of hair bundle groups 19A, 19B, 19C having different appearance forms (unified features) is improved. It is possible to effectively perform the cleaning according to the type and the part.
[0039]
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a toothbrush 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The toothbrush 20 of the second embodiment includes a plurality of flocked holes 23 formed in a flocked table 21 of a toothbrush main body including a gripping portion (not shown), a flocked table 21 and a neck 22 connecting these. The hair bundles (tufts) 25a, 25b, and 25c, which are obtained by bundling the bristles 24a, 24b, and 24c, are respectively planted (planted).
[0040]
Further, according to the toothbrush 20 of the second embodiment, the toothbrush body is a known one made of a synthetic resin such as, for example, polypropylene or ABS resin, like the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment. Is divided into a tip region 26 occupying approximately one-third of the tip, and a rear portion of the tip region 26 divided into three band-like regions 27 and 28 along the axial direction X of the toothbrush 20. And a pair of outer belt-shaped regions 28 on both sides of the central belt-shaped region 27.
[0041]
In the flocking surface of the flocking table 21, flocking holes 23 having a circular cross section with a diameter of 1.6 mm are arranged in a grid pattern in 24 rows and 4 rows, and in the tip region 26, 8 rows are provided. In addition, the flocking holes 23 are provided at eight positions in the central band-like region 27 and at four positions in the outer band-like region 28 in total.
[0042]
In addition, a first hair bundle 25a, which is schematically indicated by a black circle in FIG. 2A, is provided in the eight flocked holes 23 in the tip end region 26, and a double bristled in the eight flocked holes 23 in the central band-like region 27. A third hair bundle 25d, which is schematically indicated by a white circle, is implanted in each of the eight flocking holes 23 of the second belt 25b, which is schematically indicated by a circle, at each of four locations in the outer band-shaped region 28.
[0043]
Further, the bristles 24a, 24b, 24c constituting each of the bristle bundles 25a, 25b, 25c are filament materials made of synthetic resin such as nylon and having a thickness of, for example, 6 to 9 mils. By bundling several tens, each hair bundle 25a, 25b, 25c is formed.
[0044]
According to the second embodiment, the first bristle bundle 25a implanted in the distal end region 26 is configured by bundling 36 distal bristles 24a having a thickness of 8 mil (0.203 mm). The bristle 24a has a hair length of 9.5 to 11.0 mm from the flocking surface (approximately 11.0 mm, 10.3 mm, and 9.5 mm in order from the distal bristle 24a constituting the first bristle bundle 25a on the distal side of the flocking table 21). Hair length).
[0045]
That is, according to the second embodiment, the entire upper end brush surface of the tip bristle bundle group 29A in the tip end region 26 including the eight first bristle bundles 25 a The first hair bundle 25a (having a hair length of 11.0 mm) has the highest shape, and the height of the hair bundle gradually decreases obliquely as it goes from the tip to the rear as viewed from the side of the toothbrush 20 ( FIG. 2 (b)). Each of the eight first bristle bundles 25 a planted in the distal end region 26 is planted in a direction perpendicular to the flocking surface of the flocking table 21. As a result, the eight first hair bundles 25a constitute a set of tip hair bundle groups 29A as a set of hair bundles 25a having unified characteristics.
[0046]
According to the second embodiment, the second bristle bundle 25b implanted in the central band-shaped region 27 is configured by bundling 36 central bristles 24b each having a thickness of 8 mil (0.203 mm). Each central bristle 24b is implanted with a hair length of 10.0 mm from the implanted surface. The eight second hair bundles 25 b implanted in the central band-shaped region 27 are all implanted in a direction perpendicular to the implanted surface of the implanted table 21. Thus, the eight second hair bundles 25b constitute a group of central hair bundles 29B as a set of hair bundles 25b having unified characteristics.
[0047]
Further, according to the second embodiment, the third bristle bundle 25c implanted at each of the four locations in each outer belt-shaped region 28 is configured by bundling 48 outer bristles 24c each having a thickness of 7 mil (0.178 mm). Each outer bristle 24c is implanted with a hair length of 9.0 mm from the implanted surface. In addition, the third hair bundles 25c planted at each of the four locations are planted in a direction perpendicular to the flocking surface of the flocking table 21. Thus, each of the four second hair bundles 25c constitutes a set of outer hair bundle groups 29B as a set of hair bundles 25c having unified characteristics.
[0048]
According to the second embodiment, since the hair bundles 25a, 25b, and 25c are planted on the flocking table 21 as described above, the longest length of the tip first bristles 24a that constitute the tip hair bundle group 29A is obtained. Has a hair length of 11.0 mm (the length of the tip first bristles 24a constituting the two first hair bundles 25a in the first row from the tip end of the flocking table 21), and the central bristle constituting the central hair bundle group 29B. The longest hair length of 24b is 10.0 mm. Also, the longest bristle length (11.0 mm) of the tip first bristles 24a constituting the tip bristle bundle group 29A is about 1 of the longest bristle length (10.0 mm) of the central bristle 24b constituting the central bristle bundle group 29B. .10 times as long.
[0049]
Further, according to the second embodiment, as described above, the hair bundles 25a, 25b, and 25c are planted on the flocking table 21, so that the average bristle of the outer bristle 24c constituting each outer hair bundle group 29C. The length is 9.0 mm, the average bristle 24b constituting the central bristle bundle group 29B has an average bristle length of 10.0 mm, and the average bristle length of the outer bristle 24c is shorter than the average bristle length of the central bristle 24b. The average bristle length of the outer bristle 24c forming each outer bristle bundle group 29C is 0.90 times the average bristle length of the central bristle 24b forming the central bristle bundle group 29B.
[0050]
Also, with the toothbrush 20 of the second embodiment, the longest bristle length (11.0 mm) of the tip bristles 24 a constituting the tip bristle bundle group 29 A implanted in the tip region 26 is added to the central band region 27. The outer side that is longer than the longest bristle length (10.0 mm) of the central bristle 24b that forms the central bristle bundle 29B to be implanted and that configures the outer bristle bundle group 29C that is implanted in the outer region 28 Since the average bristle length (9.0 mm) of the bristle 24c is shorter than the average bristle length (10.0 mm) of the central bristle 24b constituting the central bristle bundle group 29B implanted in the central band-shaped region 27, The same operation and effect as those of the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0051]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made. For example, the shape and arrangement of the flocking holes in the flocking table, the thickness and the number of bristles constituting each bristle bundle are not limited to those in the above embodiment. Further, it is not always necessary to implant only the tip bristle group, the central bristle group, and the outer bristle group on the flocking table of the toothbrush, for example, the central bristle group or the outer bristle group implanted in the central band region or the outer band region. Further hair bundles or hair bundles may be implanted behind the hair bundles.
[0052]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the toothbrush of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0053]
[Examples 1 and 2]
A toothbrush having a configuration similar to that of the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment is defined as a toothbrush of Example 1, and a toothbrush having a configuration similar to that of the toothbrush 20 of the second embodiment is defined as a toothbrush of Example 2 by a method described below. Use evaluation during brushing was performed for "feeling that the back teeth can be polished well" and "feeling that the tooth space could be polished well". The results of the evaluation are shown in FIGS. The ratio of the longest bristle length of the tip bristle to the longest bristle length of the center bristle is 1.04 in Example 1 and 1.10 in Example 2, and the average bristle of the outer bristle is the mean bristle of the central bristle. The ratio to the height is 0.87 in Example 1 and 0.90 in Example 2.
[0054]
[Comparative Examples 1 to 3]
A commercial product A (trade name "Oral-B advantage" manufactured by Oral-B Laboratories) was used as the toothbrush of Comparative Example 1, and a commercial product B (trade name "Aqua Fresh Twist Cross" manufactured by SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was used as a comparative example. The toothbrush of No. 2 and a commercially available product C (trade name "Clear Clean Floss Plus" manufactured by Kao Corporation) were used as the toothbrush of Comparative Example 3, and the ratio of the longest bristle of the tip bristle to the longest bristle of the center bristle and the outer bristle The ratio of the average bristle to the average bristle bristle was calculated, and the use of the brush during brushing was evaluated for "feeling that the back teeth could be polished well" and "feeling that the teeth could be polished well" by the method described below. The results of the evaluation are shown in FIGS. The ratio of the longest bristle length of the tip bristles to the longest bristle length of the center bristle is 1.22 in Comparative Example 1, 1.00 in Comparative Example 2, and 0.88 in Comparative Example 3, and the ratio of the outer bristle is The ratio of the average bristle to the average bristle of the central bristle was 1.17 in Comparative Example 1, 1.01 in Comparative Example 2, and 0.78 in Comparative Example 3.
[0055]
[Evaluation of use during cleaning]
20 panelists actually use the toothbrushes of Examples 1-2 and Comparative Examples 1-3, respectively. According to interviews, "feel that the back teeth can be polished well" and "feel that the tooth gap can be polished well" evaluated. The evaluation criteria are as follows: For the feeling that the back teeth can be polished well, the five-level evaluation of "good polished", "somewhat polished", "neither can be said", "not very good polished", "not good polished", Regarding the feeling that they can be polished well, the panelists' response rate (%) was evaluated on a five-point scale of "I can polish well", "I can polish a little", "I can not say either", "I can not polish very well", "I can not polish well" Was evaluated by. FIG. 4 shows the evaluation results.
[0056]
According to the evaluation results shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the toothbrushes of Examples 1 and 2 according to the present invention can obtain extremely high evaluations on the feel during brushing as compared with the toothbrushes of Comparative Examples 1 to 3. It turns out that.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the toothbrush of this invention, the type of each tooth by the several bristle bundle group from which the external appearance form (unified feature) differs while improving both the feeling that the back teeth are polished well and the feeling that the teeth are polished well. It is possible to effectively perform the cleaning according to the site.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view showing a main part of a toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view and a partially enlarged view thereof.
FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view showing a main part of a toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a side view thereof.
FIG. 3 shows the ratio of the longest bristle of the tip bristle to the longest bristle of the central bristle, and the mean bristle of the outer bristle of the central bristle of each of the toothbrushes of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3. It is a chart which shows the ratio to average hair length.
FIG. 4 is a chart showing evaluation results of usage evaluation at the time of cleaning.
[Explanation of symbols]
10,20 toothbrush
11,21 flocking table
12,22 neck
13a First flocking hole
13b Second flocking hole
13c Third flocking hole
13d 4th flocking hole
23 Flocked hole
14a, 24a Tip first bristle, tip bristle
14b Tip second bristle
14c, 24b Central Bristle
14d, 24c Outside bristle
15a, 25a First hair bundle
15b, 25b 2nd hair bundle
15c, 25c 3rd hair bundle
15d 4th hair bundle
16, 26 Tip area
17, 27 Central band-shaped area
18, 28 Outer band area
19A, 29A Tip hair bundle group
19B, 29B Central hair bundle group
19C, 29C Outer hair bundle group
X Toothbrush axial direction

Claims (2)

A toothbrush in which a plurality of bristle bundles obtained by bundling a plurality of bristles are planted on a flocking table,
The flocking surface of the flocking table has a tip region, a central band region obtained by dividing a rear portion of the tip region into three band regions along the axial direction of the toothbrush, and a pair of both sides of the central band region. Has four regions with an outer band-like region of
The tip bristle group planted in the tip region, the central bristle group planted in the central band-like region, and the outer bristle bundle group planted in each of the outer belt-like regions have unified characteristics. While having, the tip hair bundle group, the central hair bundle group, and each of the outer hair bundle groups are different in their unified characteristics,
In addition, the longest bristle length of the tip bristle constituting the tip bristle bundle group is longer than the longest bristle length of the central bristle constituting the central bristle bundle group, and the outside constituting the outer bristle bundle group. A toothbrush wherein the average bristle height is shorter than the average bristle length of the central bristle group constituting the central bristle bundle group. The longest bristle length of the tip bristle constituting the tip bristle bundle group is 1.02 to 1.30 times the longest bristle length of the central bristle constituting the central bristle bundle group, and the outside The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the average bristle length of the outer bristle constituting the bristle bundle group is 0.70 to 0.97 times the average bristle length of the central bristle constituting the central bristle bundle group.

Images