JP2009178390A - Interdental brush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interdental brush which can be easily inserted obliquely between molars especially and reducing the unpleasant feeling of metals. <P>SOLUTION: In the interdental brush 10 having a wire brush part 2 and a holding part 1 connected to the wire brush part 2 to be held during use, the wire brush part 2 has a wire part 2a and a brush part 2b comprising a plurality of filaments planted to the wire part 2a, and the holding part 1 includes a rear holding part 1b connected to the wire brush part 2 and a front holding part 1a connected to the front of the rear holding part 1b. The buckling strength of the wire brush part 2 is 150-800gf, and an angle formed by the center line of the front holding part 1a and the center line of the rear holding part 1b is 120 to 175 degrees. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an interdental brush, and more particularly to an interdental brush with less metal discomfort due to a metal wire even when used for back teeth.

  Conventionally, an interdental brush wire and an interdental brush in which the tensile strength and breaking elongation of the wire are adjusted by adjusting the amounts of chromium, manganese and nitrogen contained in the wire are known (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  Further, an interdental brush is known in which a brush made of a filament is attached to a wire rod portion formed by twisting a metal wire, and the metal wire is formed of a Co alloy having a Co content of 30 to 60% by weight. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, there are known interdental brushes configured such that the axis (center line) of the front grip part of the grip part forms an angle in the range of 150 to 170 degrees with respect to the axis (center line) of the rear grip part. (For example, see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent No. 3458627 Japanese Patent No. 2538533 Utility model registration No. 3049028

  For example, when using an interdental brush generally called I-shaped or L-shaped and inserting the wire brush part from the direction perpendicular to the interdental area, the vicinity of the center of the wire brush part does not bend. It is preferable that the buckling strength is strong. However, for example, when using the interdental brush as described in Patent Document 3 to clean the interdental space, the wire brush portion of the interdental brush is inserted obliquely with respect to the interdental space. If the buckling strength of the wire brush part is too strong, the brush will not be successfully inserted between the teeth along the tooth surface of the back tooth, and the wire brush part will be in strong contact with the tooth surface and metal discomfort tends to be strong. . Conversely, even if the buckling strength of the wire brush part is too weak, the wire brush part cannot withstand the pressure at the time of insertion and bends near the center, making it difficult to insert, and the wire brush part is in contact with the tooth surface. , Metal discomfort tended to increase.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an interdental brush that can be easily inserted from an oblique direction with respect to the interdental space of the back teeth, and that can reduce the discomfort caused by the metal wire when inserted between the back teeth. And

  In order to solve the above problems, an interdental brush according to the present invention is an interdental brush having a wire brush portion and a gripping portion that is connected to the wire brush portion and is gripped during use. A wire part and a brush part made of a plurality of filaments planted in the wire part, the grip part being connected to the rear grip part connected to the wire brush part and the front of the rear grip part. A buckling strength of the wire brush portion is 150 to 800 gf, and an angle between a center line of the front grip portion and a center line of the rear grip portion is 120 to 175 degrees. It is. Preferably, the buckling strength of the brush part is 300 to 600 gf.

  A position 3 mm away from the connecting portion between the wire brush portion and the rear gripping portion toward the wire brush portion is pushed 3 mm in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the wire brush portion, and the wire brush portion is elastic. It is preferable that the return angle formed by the center line of the rear gripping part and the center line of the wire brush part is 2 to 25 degrees. The brush return angle is more preferably 4 to 15 degrees.

  By configuring the interdental brush of the present invention as described above, since the buckling strength of the interdental brush is within a certain range, it is easy to insert the interdental brush from an oblique direction with respect to the interdental teeth, and the metal at the time of insertion Can reduce discomfort.

  An embodiment of an interdental brush according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig.1 (a) is a side view of the interdental brush 10 of this invention, FIG.1 (b) is the top view which looked at the interdental brush of Fig.1 (a) vertically downward.

  The interdental brush 10 includes a wire brush portion 2 and a grip portion 1 that is fixed to the wire brush portion 2 and is gripped by hand during use. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the gripping portion 1 is smoothly formed into a rod-like rear gripping portion 1b connected to the wire brush portion 2 and the rear gripping portion 1b at a predetermined angle in front of the rear gripping portion 1b. It is comprised from the rod-shaped front holding part 1a connected to.

  The angle θ1 formed by the longitudinal center line X1 of the front gripping portion 1a and the longitudinal centerline X2 of the rear gripping portion 1b is in the range of 120 to 175 degrees. Thereby, the interdental brush 10 is inserted into the mouth, and the wire brush portion 2 of the interdental brush 10 can be more easily inserted between the teeth. For example, when the wire brush portion 2 of the interdental brush 10 is inserted between the teeth of the back teeth (molars, molars), the operability is improved.

  The angle θ1 formed by the center line X1 of the front gripping portion 1a and the centerline X2 of the rear gripping portion 1b is preferably in the range of 150 to 170 degrees. Thereby, it becomes easier to insert the wire brush part 2 of the interdental brush 10 between each tooth.

In this specification, “center lines” X1 and X2 refer to lines passing through the center of the object when the interdental brush 10 is viewed from the side, as shown in FIG.
In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the front grip part 1a is substantially circular (ellipse shape etc.), and the cross-sectional shape of the back grip part 1b is substantially rectangular shape (FIG.1 (c)). Further, the cross-sectional area of the rear gripping portion 1b is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the front gripping portion 1a. Is formed. Here, the cross-sectional area of the front gripping portion 1a has a substantially circular 15 to 40 mm ^2, the cross-sectional area of the rear grip portion 1b has a substantially rectangular shape 3 to 20 mm ^2.

  In the cross section of the rear gripping portion 1b, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the vertical side a (the side that coincides with the direction of the pressing force and the vertical side) is from the horizontal side b (the horizontal side). (For example, the ratio of the vertical side a to the horizontal side b is set to 1 <vertical side a / horizontal side b <1.6). Thereby, when the wire brush part 2 is inserted between teeth and during interdental cleaning after insertion, a pressing force in the vertical direction may act on the wire brush part 2. Even in this case, moderate rigidity (bending strength) is ensured in the rear gripping portion 1b in the direction in which the load is applied. Therefore, since the unnecessary curvature which may arise in the holding part 1 can be suppressed effectively, the operativity of the interdental brush 10 becomes favorable.

  The wire brush portion 2 includes a wire portion 2a extending on the center line X2 from the other end of the rear grip portion 1b, and a center line X3 of the wire portion 2a (that is, the center line X3 is located on the center line X2). And a brush portion 2b made of a plurality of filaments planted in the wire portion 2a.

  The brush portion 2b of the wire brush portion 2 is inserted between each tooth in the mouth (a space formed between adjacent teeth) and moved in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction. At this time, the tip portion of the filament of the brush portion 2b rubs the surface of the teeth, and for example, food residue remaining between the teeth is removed.

  One end of the wire portion 2a is embedded in the tip of the rear gripping portion 1b. The flocking of the filament to the wire portion 2a can be performed by a well-known method, and is not particularly limited. For example, a single wire is folded in half, and a plurality of filaments of synthetic fibers or natural fibers are placed between the folded wires. Can be gripped in a direction perpendicular to the wire, and the wire can be twisted at a predetermined pitch.

The thickness (diameter) of one wire of the wire portion 2a is, for example, about 0.2 to 0.4 mm. Moreover, the wire part 2a is comprised from the stainless steel containing iron, chromium, manganese, nickel, nitrogen etc. which are known as a raw material which is ductile, is rich in corrosion resistance, and is high in strength, for example. Moreover, what has a desired property can be obtained commercially from Nippon Seisen Co., Ltd. etc., for example.
For example, the brush portion 2b cuts the hair ends of filaments made of a bundle of synthetic fibers or natural fibers sandwiched between two wires of the wire portion 2a into a predetermined shape, for example, a substantially conical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape. Brush.

  For example, the filament of the brush portion 2b is not particularly limited, but the brush cut width (the width of the cut end portion) is about 2.5 mm. Moreover, the filament of the brush part 2b consists of polyamide (nylon), polyethylene, a polypropylene, and a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example, and the diameter of each filament is about 2.0-3.5 mils. Further, the interdental brush 10 is characterized by the filament diameter, the number of filaments, and the shape and size of the filament bundles. For example, SSS, SS, S, M, L, etc.

  The gripping portion is made of polyamide (nylon), polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or a combination thereof, and has appropriate rigidity and elasticity. For example, those having desired properties can be commercially obtained from Prime Polymer Co., Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Mitsubishi Plastics Co., Ltd., and the like. Further, the length of the gripping portion is, for example, approximately 25 to 100 mm in a direction parallel to X2 shown in FIG.

The Example and comparative example which concern on the interdental brush of this invention are demonstrated.
Example 1
The filament of the wire brush part 2 of the interdental brush 10 used in Example 1 is nylon, the number is 200, and the brush cut width is about 2.5 mm (All Japan Brush Industry Cooperative Association “Interdental brush passage Size 2) in "Diameter / Voluntary Standard"

  The angle θ1 formed by the center line X1 of the front gripping portion 1a and the centerline X2 of the rear gripping portion 1b was set to 160 degrees. Here, the interdental brush 10 in which the return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion 2 (FIG. 2A) is 27 degrees was used. Each value of the buckling strength and the return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion 2 was measured according to the following measuring method, and the tolerance of the measured value was ± 5%.

(Measurement method of buckling strength of wire brush part 2)
A method for measuring the brush buckling strength of the wire brush portion 2 will be described in detail.

  The holding part 1 is fixed by a fixing means (not shown) so that the wire brush part 2 is vertical. Next, as shown in FIG. 3A, the tip of the wire brush portion 2 is pushed vertically by the flat plate 5 so that the wire brush portion 2 cannot withstand the pressing force of the flat plate and is shown in FIG. The strength when bent in this manner was defined as the buckling strength. The fixing force when fixing the gripping part 1 was set to a force sufficient to prevent the gripping part 1 from moving even if the wire brush part 2 was pushed vertically by the flat plate 5 until the tip of the wire brush part 2 was bent.

  A push-pull gauge (AIKOH ENGINEERING CPU GAUGE 9500SERIES 20kgf B TYPE) was used for the buckling strength measurement.

(Measuring method of return angle θ2 of wire brush part 2)
As seen from the side of the gripping part 1, the fixing position at a distance of 30 mm from the brush joint part 1c to the gripping part 1 side is gripped by a fixing jig so that the center line X3 of the wire brush part 2 is horizontal and fixed. did. Next, as shown in FIG. 2A, the position where the distance from the brush joint 1c to the wire brush part 2 is 3 mm is perpendicular to the center line X2 of the rear grip 1b (the grip 1 is bent). (Direction of dotted line I). Thereafter, the wire brush portion 2 was released from the pressing force (at this time, the wire brush portion 2 tried to return to its original position due to the elasticity of the wire brush portion 2). The return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion 2 formed by the center line X2 of the rear grip portion 1b and the center line X3 of the wire brush portion 2 at the position where the wire brush portion 2 finally returns (dotted line position II) is defined. It measured (FIG. 2 (a)). The fixing force when fixing the gripping part 1 was set to a force sufficient to prevent the gripping part 1 from moving even when the wire brush part 2 was pressed to the dotted line position I.

(Evaluation method of metal discomfort)
The wire brush part 2 of the interdental brush 10 is inserted obliquely with respect to the interdental teeth with 15 users who have used the interdental brush once or more a week and continuously for one year or more. It was evaluated for metal discomfort felt when it was done.

  The test subject and the comparative test example were asked to use the interdental brush 10 and the metal discomfort when obliquely inserted between the molars and continuously cleaned was 0 points (there is much discomfort)- Scale of 10 points (no discomfort) (scale is in 0.5 point increments, 2.5 points are “somewhat”, 5 points are “neither”, and 7.5 points are “not so much”. I was asked to evaluate where it falls under. The obtained evaluation points were averaged, and the second decimal place was rounded off to obtain the average evaluation value. The results are shown in Table 1.

As shown in the results of Table 1, it can be seen that when the buckling strength of the wire brush portion 2 is configured to be in the range of 150 to 800 gf, the evaluation point of metal discomfort is improved more favorably.
Specifically, when the center line X1 of the front gripping portion 1a and the centerline X2 of the rear gripping portion 1b form a specified angle θ1 (120 to 175 degrees), the wire brush portion 2 is inserted diagonally between the teeth. During and after cleaning, the wire brush part does not bend near the center and bends flexibly along the tooth surface. Since no extra force is applied between the brush portion 2 and the tooth surface, it was found that unnecessary contact between the wire brush portion 2 and the teeth can be suppressed, that is, metal discomfort can be reduced. In particular, when the interdental brush 10 having a buckling strength of the wire brush portion 2 of 300 to 600 gf was used, the metal discomfort could be further reduced.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when the interdental brush 10 in which the angle θ1 formed by the center line X1 of the front gripping portion 1a and the centerline X2 of the rear gripping portion 1b is 120 degrees, 140 degrees, and 175 degrees is used. Moreover, the tendency of the result of the same evaluation test as shown in Table 1 was seen.

  In addition, as a method of configuring the buckling strength and the return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion as described above, for example, the composition of the wire portion 2a which is a well-known technique (weight of iron, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, nitrogen) %, Composition material), shape (diameter, cross-sectional shape), and the like. In this example, those obtained from Nippon Seisen Co., Ltd. were used.

  As described above, in the interdental brush 10 of the present invention, by configuring the buckling strength of the wire brush portion 2 within the range of 150 to 800 gf, as shown in Table 1, the wire brush portion 2 of the interdental brush 10 is configured. The metal discomfort evaluation score by the wire brush part 2 when the is inserted obliquely with respect to the gap between the teeth becomes good. That is, metal discomfort when the wire brush portion 2 of the interdental brush 10 is inserted obliquely with respect to the interdental space can be reduced.

(Example 2)
The inventor further found that the metal discomfort can be further improved by setting the return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion 2 in the range of 2 to 25 degrees in the interdental brush 10 of Example 1.
That is, the interdental brush 10 in Example 2 is further configured such that the return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion 2 of the interdental brush 10 in Example 1 is in the range of 2 to 25 degrees.

  Here, the filament of the wire brush part 2 of the interdental brush 10 used in Example 2 was nylon, the number was 200, and the brush cut width was about 2.5 mm (All Japan Brush Industrial Cooperative “Tooth” Size 2) in the "Internal standard of brush passage diameter size".

  The angle θ1 formed by the center line X1 of the front gripping portion 1a and the centerline X2 of the rear gripping portion 1b was set to 160 degrees. Furthermore, the interdental brush 10 having a buckling strength of the wire brush portion 2 of 450 gf was used. In addition, the measuring method of buckling strength and return angle (theta) 2 of the wire brush part 2 was performed according to description of the measuring method as described in Example 1, and the tolerance of each value was set to +/- 5%.

  In the evaluation method of metal discomfort, the evaluation improvement rate was calculated based on the evaluation of the interdental brush 10 of Test Example 1 after evaluating each interdental brush 10 as in Example 1. That is, the score improvement rate is obtained by dividing the average evaluation value of each test time by the average evaluation value (8.3) in Test Example 1 and expressing each divided value as a percentage. Therefore, as the numerical value of the score improvement rate increases, the improvement of the evaluation score is increased, and the reduction of the metal discomfort is increased. Here, Test Example 1 in Example 2 is the same interdental brush 10 as Test Example 7 in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.

  As shown in the results of Table 2, it can be seen that the evaluation point of metal discomfort is further improved by configuring the wire brush portion 2 so that the return angle θ2 is in the range of 2 to 25 degrees. Specifically, since the wire brush part 2 can be easily inserted between teeth and cleaned between teeth by an appropriate repulsive force of the wire brush part 2, no extra force is applied and the tooth surface and the wire brush part 2 It was found that unnecessary contact can be avoided and metal discomfort can be further reduced. In particular, when the return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion 2 is configured within a range of 4 to 15 degrees, the score improvement rate is 110% or more, which is more preferable.

  In Example 2, when the interdental brush 10 having the buckling strength of the wire brush portion 2 of 300 gf, 400 gf, 500 gf and 600 gf is used, and the center line X1 of the front gripping portion 1a and the center of the rear gripping portion 1b Even when the interdental brush 10 having an angle θ with the line X2 of 120 degrees, 140 degrees, and 175 degrees was used, the same tendency of the test results as shown in Table 2 was observed.

  As described above, in the interdental brush 10 according to the second embodiment, the buckling strength of the wire brush portion 2 is in the range of 150 to 800 gf, and the return angle θ2 of the wire brush portion 2 is in the range of 2 to 25 degrees. By being configured, as shown in Table 2, when the wire brush part 2 of the interdental brush 10 is inserted obliquely with respect to the interdental area, the metal discomfort evaluation score by the wire brush part 2 is good. Thus, a better evaluation result can be obtained. That is, it is possible to further reduce metal discomfort when the wire brush portion 2 of the interdental brush 10 is inserted obliquely with respect to the interdental space.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, various modifications may be made and elements may be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention. Will be understood by those skilled in the art. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, but the invention is intended to include all embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

(A) It is a figure which shows the outline of the interdental brush which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention, and is the figure which looked at the interdental brush from the side.

(B) It is the top view which looked at the interdental brush shown in FIG. 1 in the perpendicular downward direction.
(C) It is sectional drawing when the back holding part of the holding part of the interdental brush shown in FIG. 1 is cut | disconnected by straight line AA '.
(A) It is a figure which shows an example of a state when the position which becomes a distance of 3 mm from a brush junction part is pushed 3 mm perpendicularly downward with respect to the centerline of a back grip part, and a wire brush part has returned by the elasticity. FIG. 4A is a side view showing a brush portion before buckling, and FIG. 5B is a side view showing a buckled brush portion, with respect to the buckling strength measuring method in the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Holding part 1a Front holding part 1b Back holding part 1c Brush joint part 2 Wire brush part 2a Wire part 2b Brush part 10 Interdental brush

Claims (2)

In an interdental brush having a wire brush part and a grip part connected to the wire brush part and gripped in use,
The wire brush portion has a wire portion and a brush portion made of a plurality of filaments planted in the wire portion,
The grip part includes a rear grip part connected to the wire brush part and a front grip part connected to the front of the rear grip part, and the buckling strength of the wire brush part is 150 to 800 gf. The interdental brush is characterized in that an angle formed by a center line of the front grip portion and a center line of the rear grip portion is 120 to 175 degrees.   A position 3 mm away from the connecting portion between the wire brush portion and the rear gripping portion toward the wire brush portion is pushed 3 mm in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the wire brush portion, and the wire brush portion is elastic. 2. The interdental brush according to claim 1, wherein a return angle formed by the center line of the rear gripping part and the center line of the wire brush part when returned by 2 is 2 to 25 degrees.

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