JP2004242781A - Interdental toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interdental tooth brush which can used while being bent and is excellent in durability. <P>SOLUTION: In the interdental tooth brush 1, a strand wire brush 3 is formed in a state where it is buried into a handle body 2. The brush 3 consists of: a buried part 3a buried in the handle body 2; and a brush part 3b transplanted projecting from the handle body 2. The handle body 2 has a fixed part 2a integrated with the buried part 3a of the brush 3 formed on the side of an end part where the brush 3 is buried, and has a flexibly deformable part 2b which is formed at a part adjacent to the fixed part and can flexibly be deformed by operation with the thumb and the index finger in a state where the fixed part 2a is held between the thumb and the index finger. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interdental toothbrush.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, an interdental toothbrush in which a stranded wire brush is embedded and formed in a handle main body is known as a toothbrush to be used by being inserted into a gap between teeth or around the tooth.
[0003]
Such an interdental toothbrush can be easily used as it is when inserted into the gap between the front teeth, but when inserted into the gap between the back teeth, it is inserted into the mouth with the handle body bent Must be used.
[0004]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a first portion b having flexibility and elasticity has been provided at one end of an interdental toothbrush which is conventionally made to be able to flexibly bend such a handle portion. A handle d having a rigid second portion c at the other end, a distal end e embedded in at least the first portion b of the handle d, and a base f projecting from the first portion b of the handle d An interdental toothbrush a including a brush g with a stranded wire stem having the following has been proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2928990 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-61-240907
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the conventional interdental toothbrush a, as shown in FIG. 7, if the first portion b is continuously used while being bent, the end portion of the brush g with the stranded wire stem embedded in the first portion b is used. e, the stress due to bending continues to be applied, and the brush g with the stranded wire stem has a disadvantage that the end portion e is easily broken inside the first portion b and falls off from the handle d. Will occur.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an interdental toothbrush which can be used by bending and has excellent durability.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An interdental toothbrush of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is an interdental toothbrush in which a stranded wire brush is embedded and formed in a handle body, and the stranded wire brush has an embedded portion embedded in the handle body, and a handle body. The handle body is formed with a fixed portion that is integrated with the embedded portion of the stranded wire brush at the end side where the stranded wire brush is embedded. The portion adjacent to the portion is formed with a flexible deformable portion that can be flexibly deformed by operation of the thumb and the index finger with the fixed portion sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger.
[0009]
In the above-mentioned interdental toothbrush, the handle main body is such that the fixed portion and the flexible deformable portion are respectively formed of different materials.
[0010]
Further, in the interdental toothbrush, in the handle body, the fixed portion and the flexible deformable portion are made of the same material, and the flexible deformable portion is formed to be structurally weaker than the fixed portion, so that the flexible deformable portion is flexible. It is made deformable.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
1 to 3 show an interdental toothbrush 1 according to the present invention.
[0013]
That is, in the interdental toothbrush 1, the stranded wire brush 3 is embedded and formed in the handle body 2, and the stranded wire brush 3 is formed by embedding the embedded portion 3a embedded in the handle body 2 and protruding from the handle body 2. The handle body 2 is formed with a fixed portion 2a that is firmly integrated with the embedded portion 3a of the stranded wire brush 3 on the end side where the stranded wire brush 3 is embedded. A flexible deformation portion 2b having flexibility is formed at a portion adjacent to the fixing portion 2a.
[0014]
The stranded wire brush 3 is configured by twisting the metal wire 31 folded in two around an axis along the longitudinal direction. At this time, by keeping the hair 30 sandwiched between the metal wires 31 in a desired range from the bent end side of the folded metal wire 31, the hair 30 diffuses radially in the circumferential direction. Thus, the brush part 3b is formed. The portion of the metal wire 31 that does not hold the blank 30 is the buried portion 3a. The metal wire 31 and the hair 30 constituting the stranded wire brush 3 are made of a material suitable for use in the mouth. The size of the stranded wire brush 3 is about 10 mm for the buried portion 3a and about 10 mm for the brush portion 3b. The size of the stranded wire brush 3 is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed within a range suitable for use in the mouth.
[0015]
The handle main body 2 is formed of a polypropylene resin and has a substantially conical column shape with a diameter of about 7 mm and a length of about 40 mm. A portion having a length of about 20 mm from one end of the handle main body 2 is tapered so as to have a diameter decreasing toward the end, thereby forming a fixed portion 2a. The buried portion 3a of the stranded wire brush 3 is buried in a range of about 10 mm from the tip of the fixed portion 2a. A range of a length of about 10 mm from the other end of the handle main body 2 is a support 2c.
[0016]
The central portion of the fixed portion 2a and the supporting portion 2c in a range of a length of about 10 mm therebetween is reduced in diameter by about 1/2 to form a flexible deformable portion 2b. The outer periphery of the flexible deformation portion 2b is covered with a non-slip 21 made of silicone rubber.
[0017]
By reducing the diameter of the flexible deformable portion 2b to about １ ／ of the diameter of the fixed portion 2a, the flexible deformable portion 2b is formed to be structurally weaker than the fixed portion 2a. When the main body 2 is bent, the handle main body 2 does not bend at the position of the fixed portion 2a and the support portion 2c, and only the flexible deformation portion 2b is flexibly deformed. A rib 22 is formed on the fixing portion 2a and the support portion 2c along the longitudinal direction so that when the handle main body 2 is bent, it does not bend like the flexible deformation portion 2b. The non-slip 21 covering the outer periphery of the flexible deformable portion 2b is provided with a plurality of grooves 23 along the circumferential direction on the outer periphery so as not to hinder the deformation of the flexible deformable portion 2b when the handle body 2 is bent. ing. The flexibility of the flexible deformable portion 2b is such that the handle body 2 can be bent by the operation of the thumb and the forefinger while the handle main body 2 is held in the hand with the fixing portion 2a sandwiched between the thumb and the forefinger. I just need. Therefore, what constitutes the handle main body 2 is not particularly limited to the polypropylene resin, and various resin materials can be used. However, even when structural strength is provided between the fixed part 2a and the support part 2c and the flexible deformation part 2b, the entire handle body 2 bends together regardless of these structural strengths. Don't let it go away.
[0018]
The handle body 2 holds the handle body 2 in the hand with the fixing portion 2a sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger, and abuts and supports the support portion 2c on the palm or another finger, thereby allowing the hand to move. It can be in a stable state. Therefore, in a use situation where a force is applied to the handle main body 2, the support portion 2c is effective. However, in a state in which the flexible deformable portion 2b is easily flexibly deformed, in a situation where a force is applied to the handle main body 2, the flexible deformable portion 2b itself is supported before the support portion 2c supports the force. Will be bent, and the support portion 2c will not play its original role.
[0019]
Accordingly, the flexible deformable portion 2b is flexibly deformed with respect to a force from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the handle main body 2, but is somewhat deformed with respect to a force of the handle main body 2 from the axial direction. It is preferable that the structure of the flexible deformable portion 2b with respect to the fixed portion 2a and the support portion 2c and the material of the handle body 2 be considered so as to have elasticity enough to exert the supporting force. However, since the handle main body 2 can be used only in a state where the flexible deformable portion 2b is put in the hand with the fixing portion 2a interposed between the thumb and the index finger, there is no support portion 2c itself, and the handle portion 2a It may be constituted only by the flexible deformation portion 2b.
[0020]
The fixed portion 2a has a length of about 20 mm from one end of the handle main body 2. The fixed portion 2a is firmly integrated with the buried portion 3a of the stranded wire brush 3, and is fixed to the handle main body 2. It is only necessary to secure a buried pad that can prevent the stranded wire brush 3 from falling off. Therefore, of the embedded portion 3a having a length of about 10 mm, if the fixed portion 2a and the embedded portion 3a are firmly integrated over a range of about 5 mm, the stranded wire brush 3 may fall off from the handle body 2. If it can be prevented, the fixing portion 2a may be formed to have a length of about 5 mm from one end of the handle main body 2, and the remaining portion may be formed as the flexible deformation portion 2b. In this case, the remaining portion of about 5 mm of the buried portion 3a is buried in the flexible deformable portion 2b. It is feared that it will break in the flexible deformation part 2b. However, even if the embedded portion 3a of the stranded wire brush 3 is broken inside the flexible deformation portion 2b due to such a situation, the embedded portion 3a is firmly integrated with the fixed portion 2a of the handle main body 2. Since the state can be maintained, the drop of the stranded wire brush 3 from the handle main body 2 can be prevented.
[0021]
In the interdental toothbrush 1, for example, the embedding portion 3a of the stranded wire brush 3 is set so as to be located in a cavity of a mold (not shown), and then the handle main body 2 is formed of a polypropylene resin material in the cavity. Thereafter, it can be manufactured by molding a non-slip 21 with a silicone rubber material on an outer peripheral portion of the flexible deformable portion 2b of the handle main body 2. As a molding method, it can be produced by injection molding or various types of pressure molding.
[0022]
The interdental toothbrush 1 thus configured can be used in a state where the handle body 2 is held in the hand with the fixing portion 2a interposed between the thumb and the index finger. When used in the gap between the back teeth in the mouth and the like, the handle body 2 is bent by the operation of the thumb and the forefinger to make it easy to insert into the mouth. At this time, the handle body 2 can be easily used even in the gap between the back teeth and the like by bending the flexible deformable portion 2b.
[0023]
In addition, since the handle body 2 bends at the position of the flexible deformation portion 2b without bending at the fixing portion 2a, the embedded portion 3a of the stranded wire brush 3 that is firmly integrated with the fixing portion 2a exerts stress due to bending. Can be prevented from being added. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the stranded wire brush 3 from breaking at the position of the buried portion 3a and falling off from the handle main body 2, thereby obtaining excellent durability.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, the handle main body 2 of the interdental toothbrush 1 reduces the diameter of the flexible deformable portion 2b to approximately one half of the diameter of the fixed portion 2a and the support portion 2c, thereby forming the fixed portion 2a. In contrast, the flexible deformable portion 2b is formed to be structurally weaker, but the configuration of the handle main body 2 is not limited to this. For example, the entire handle main body 2 has the same diameter. The flexible deformable portion 2b is formed with a groove along the circumferential direction so as not to inhibit bending, and the other portion is formed with a rib along the longitudinal direction so as not to bend, so that the fixing portion 2a However, the flexible deformable portion 2b may be formed to be structurally weak. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the flexible deformable portion 2b can be freely formed into a spiral shape (see FIG. 4A), a bellows shape (see FIG. 4B), a ball joint (see FIG. 4C), or the like. It may be configured so as to bend in a vertical direction.
[0025]
Further, in the present embodiment, the handle main body 2 of the interdental toothbrush 1 has a structurally weak flexible deformation portion 2b with respect to the fixed portion 2a. However, the material is not limited to a fixed material. For example, a rigid material is used for the material forming the fixed portion 2a, and a material that easily deforms flexibly is used for the material forming the flexible deformation portion 2b. May be used. In this case, as a combination of a material forming the fixing portion 2a and a material forming the flexible deformation portion 2b, for example, when a polypropylene resin is used for the fixing portion 2a, an EPDM polypropylene resin is used as the flexible deformation portion 2b. , SBR polypropylene resin, metallocene catalyzed polyethylene resin, etc. can be used. When a saturated polyester resin is used for the fixing portion 2a, the flexible portion 2b is made of EVA resin, a composite resin of polyester resin and polyether resin. When a polyethylene resin is used for the fixing portion 2a, a metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene resin or the like can be used for the flexible portion 2b. However, this combination is merely an example, and the fixed portion 2a and the flexible deformable portion 2b can be integrally formed, and when the handle body 2 is bent, only the flexible deformable portion 2b is formed without deforming the fixed portion 2a. Any other combination of resin materials may be used as long as it is a combination of resins that can bend.
[0026]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the interdental toothbrush 1 may be configured such that a portion of the stranded wire brush 3 can be covered with a cylindrical cap 4. The cap 4 is detached from the stranded wire brush 3 and then inserted into the handle main body 2 from the support 2c side so that the flexible deformable portion 2b cannot be flexibly deformed. Therefore, in the case of the interdental toothbrush 1 provided with such a cap 4, in a situation where the flexible deformable portion 2b must be bent and used, the cap 4 is removed and used, and the flexible deformable portion 2b is bent. If there is no need, the cap 4 can be used with the cap 4 attached.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the handle body of the interdental toothbrush is bent by bending the flexible deformation portion without bending the fixed portion firmly integrated with the buried portion of the stranded wire brush. It can be used even in the gap between the back teeth.
[0028]
Also, since the fixed portion firmly integrated with the embedded portion of the stranded wire brush does not bend and the flexible deformation portion bends, it is possible to prevent stress due to bending from being applied to the embedded portion of the stranded wire brush, Excellent durability can be obtained by preventing the stranded wire brush from breaking at the position of the buried portion and falling off from the handle body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the entire configuration of an interdental toothbrush according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an overall configuration of an interdental toothbrush according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a use state of the interdental toothbrush according to the present invention.
4 (a) to 4 (c) are front views showing another embodiment of the interdental toothbrush according to the present invention.
5 (a) to 5 (c) are schematic views showing a use state of an interdental toothbrush according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a conventional interdental toothbrush.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a use state of a conventional interdental toothbrush.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Interdental toothbrush 2 Handle main body 2a Fixed part 2b Flexible deformation part 3 Stranded wire brush 3a Embedded part 3b Brush part

Claims (3)

An interdental toothbrush in which a stranded wire brush is embedded and formed in the handle body,
The stranded wire brush consists of a buried part embedded in the handle body and a brush part that is planted and protruded from the handle body,
The handle body has a fixed portion integrated with the embedded portion of the stranded wire brush formed on the end side where the stranded wire brush is embedded, and a portion adjacent to the fixed portion includes a thumb and a forefinger. An interdental toothbrush comprising a flexible deformable portion that can be flexibly deformed by operation of a thumb and a forefinger with a fixed portion sandwiched therebetween. 2. The interdental toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the handle main body has a fixed portion and a flexible deformable portion formed of different materials. 2. The handle body according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion and the flexible deformable portion are made of the same material, and the flexible deformable portion is formed to be structurally weaker than the fixed portion, so that the flexible deformable portion can be flexibly deformed. The interdental toothbrush as described.

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