JP2011125582A - Bristle material for toothbrush and toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bristle material for a toothbrush and the toothbrush which have touch, interdental cleaning performance, and tooth surface cleaning performance which are not in the conventional bristle material for the toothbrush. <P>SOLUTION: The bristle material for the toothbrush consists of a cut bristle of a synthetic resin monofilament, wherein the cut bristle is constituted by forming tapered parts A and B at both ends of a body, respectively, the tip diameter of the tapered part A is within 2-20% of the diameter of the body, and the tip diameter of the tip B is within a range of exceeding 20% and less than 50% of the diameter of the body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toothbrush bristle material and a toothbrush that have both tactile sensation, interdental cleaning property and tooth surface cleaning property that are not found in conventional toothbrush bristle materials.

  Synthetic resin monofilaments are used in conventional bristle materials for toothbrushes, and it is known that the diameter of the tip of the cut bristle formed by processing this synthetic resin monofilament has a significant effect on the cleaning performance of the toothbrush. .

  First, there are two types of cleaning properties of toothbrushes using synthetic resin monofilaments as described above, mainly cleaning the tooth surface and cleaning between the teeth.

  The cleaning effect on the tooth surface differs depending on the thickness of the monofilament, so that the massage effect on the gingiva is different, and it is difficult to determine the thickness preferred by the individual.

  And the cleaning effect of the interdental part depends on the diameter of the implanted monofilament, and the thinner the monofilament, the deeper the interdental part can be inserted and the dirt and plaque can be removed. On the other hand, thin monofilaments tend to bend, have a low durability in brushing as a toothbrush, and cause not only the cause of hair breakage but also a lack of touch.

  On the other hand, in the case of a thick monofilament, not only the insertability into the interdental portion is insufficient, but also the bad touch is a problem.

  Therefore, in recent years, a tapered bristle with only the tip of the cut bristle being tapered is used to improve the insertion property between the teeth while maintaining the diameter of the normal cut bristle, and to compensate for lack of fur and durability. Proposed.

  In other words, this tapered bristle is made by tapering only the tip of the cut bristle by chemical treatment with acid or alkali, so that the main body of the bristle is the diameter of the normal cut bristle, but the tooth and teeth are cut by the taper of the tip. The cleaning effect such as removal of dirt and plaque accumulated between or between the teeth and gums is improved.

  The appearance of this tapered bristle has significantly increased the functionality of the toothbrush bristle material, and various improvements have been attempted with the aim of further improving the functionality.

  For example, the tip is not sharpened, and the diameter of each part of 1 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, and 8 mm from the tip is 25 to 35%, 55 to 70%, 80 to 90%, and 90 to 100% of the diameter of the bristle body part, respectively. %, A toothbrush having a soft tactile sensation and an improved tooth surface cleaning property (see, for example, Patent Document 1) is provided, but this toothbrush is excellent in tooth surface cleaning property. In addition to the lack of interdental cleanability, there was a problem that some dissatisfaction remained with the tactile sensation.

  Thus, it is difficult to obtain toothbrush hair materials and toothbrushes that have the effects of tactile sensation, interdental cleaning properties, and interdental cleaning properties, and the development of toothbrush hair materials that have these advantages coexisting is continually required. It is the actual situation.

JP-A-6-141923

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush bristle material and a toothbrush having both tactile sensation, interdental cleaning property and tooth surface cleaning property which are not found in conventional toothbrush bristle materials.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a bristle material for a brush comprising a synthetic resin monofilament cut bristle, wherein the cut bristle has tapered portions A and B formed at both ends of the main body. The tip diameter of the tapered portion A is in the range of 2 to 20% of the diameter of the main body portion, and the tip diameter of the tip portion B is in the range of more than 20% and less than 50% of the diameter of the main body portion. A toothbrush bristle material is provided.

  In the bristle material for toothbrushes of the present invention, when the tip diameter of the tapered portion A in the cut bristle is x and the tip diameter of the tapered portion B is y, the ratio x / y is 0.1 to 0.1. It is mentioned as a more preferable condition that it exists in the range of 0.7.

  Further, the toothbrush of the present invention is characterized by using the brush bristle material as at least a part of the bristle material, and planting the longitudinal center part of each bristle into the flock hole of the base material. .

  According to the present invention, since the tip diameters of the tapered portions at both ends are made different, a tactile sensation, interdental cleaning property, and tooth surface cleaning property that are not found in conventional brush hair materials, even though it is a tapered bristle made of a synthetic resin monofilament. A toothbrush bristle material and a toothbrush can be obtained.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the bristle material for brushes of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the bristle material for brushes of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bristle material for brushes of the present invention is composed of a synthetic resin monofilament and has a basic structure of a tapered bristle having tapered portions with different tip diameters at both ends.

  The bristle material for brushes of the present invention in FIG. 1 is a schematic view when a monofilament is a cut bristle and this is a tapered bristle, wherein 1 is a bristle material for brushes, 2 is a taper part A, 3 is a taper part B, Reference numeral 4 denotes a main body portion, 5 denotes a tip portion on the taper portion A side, and 6 denotes a tip portion on the taper portion B side.

  The cut bristle is formed with tapered portions A2 and B3 at both ends of the main body portion 4, the diameter of the tip 5 of the tapered portion A2 is in the range of 2 to 20% of the diameter of the main body portion 4, and The diameter of the tip 6 of the tip B3 is in the range of more than 20% and less than 50% of the diameter of the main body 4.

  The method for producing the tapered bristle of the present invention is not particularly limited. As a general method, a synthetic resin monofilament is spun using a known melt spinning machine, and the tip of the cut bristle is chemically reduced. The method of tapering by the method is mentioned. Specifically, the synthetic resin is supplied to a melt spinning machine, melted in the melt spinning machine, and then a synthetic resin melt is extruded from the die. Subsequently, the extruded melt of synthetic resin is cooled and solidified in a cooling bath, and then stretched and heat set to become a synthetic resin monofilament. Then, the obtained synthetic resin monofilament is cut into a necessary length as a hair bundle to form a cut bristle. Furthermore, by immersing one side of the cut bristle in an alkaline aqueous solution or acid for a specified time and making it non-sharp, then immersing the other side in an alkaline aqueous solution or acid for less than the specified time to make it sharp. A tapered bristle having tapered portions having different tip diameters at both ends is obtained.

  At this time, the diameter at a position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the taper portion A2 on the sharp side is in the range of 2 to 20% of the diameter of the main body portion 4, and 0. 0 mm from the tip of the taper portion B3 on the non-sharp side. It is important that the diameter at the position of 1 mm is in the range of more than 20% and less than 50% of the diameter of the main body 4.

  When the diameter of the distance of 0.1 mm from the tips of the tapered portions A and B is less than the above range with respect to the diameter of the main body portion, the tactile sensation is insufficient, and the massage effect on the gingival portion is reduced. Moreover, although interdental insertion property improves, since a tooth surface cleaning property may fall, it is unpreferable. Moreover, when it exceeds the said range, although a front-end | tip is too large and a tactile feeling will worsen and tooth surface cleaning property will improve, since interdental insertion property falls, it is not preferable.

  For example, when the tip diameter of the taper portion A is less than 2% of the main body portion diameter, the strength of the tip is reduced, the effect of insertion into the interdental portion is lost, and foreign matter cannot be removed. Moreover, when the tip diameter of the taper part B exceeds the range of 20% of the main body part diameter, the insertion effect into the interdental part decreases.

  When the tip diameter of the taper part B is 20% or less of the diameter of the main body part, the interdental cleaning property is improved, but the tooth surface cleaning property is lowered and the tactile sensation is insufficient, and the massage effect on the gingiva is lost. And when the tip diameter of the taper part B is 50% or more of the main body part diameter, the tooth surface cleaning property is improved, but the interdental cleaning property is lost.

  If the tip diameters of both taper portions satisfy the above range, the taper bristle functions sufficiently. However, the tip diameter of the taper portion A in the cut bristle is x, and the tip diameter of the taper portion B is y. The x / y ratio is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 0.7.

  For example, when the ratio x / y is less than 0.1, the taper portion A has less influence on the tactile sensation, and only the taper portion B has a tactile sensation. The tooth surface cleanability of A decreases, the interdental cleanability of the tapered portion B is lost, and the taper effect tends to decrease. Moreover, when the ratio of x / y exceeds 0.7, the tip diameters of the taper part A and the taper part B are similar, and the tactile sensation and the tooth surface cleaning property are improved, but the interdental cleaning property is extremely high. It tends to decrease.

  Further, at this time, although not particularly defined, the diameter at a position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the tapered portion A is formed in a range of 2 to 20% of the diameter of the main body, and 30 to 60% at 3 mm from the tip. The diameter of the taper portion B is in the range of 80 to 100% at 10 mm, and the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the tapered portion B is formed in the range of 20 to 50% of the main body portion diameter. More preferably, it is formed in the range of 70 to 95% at ˜85% and 10 mm.

  By the way, if it is below the above range, there is an advantage that the interdental cleaning property is improved, but the tooth surface cleaning property is lowered and the tactile sensation tends to be insufficient. In addition, if it exceeds the above range, the tactile sensation and the tooth surface cleaning property are improved, but the interdental cleaning property tends to be reduced, and the overall balance is poor, so it is likely to cause breakage of hair, or the massage effect on the gums Tends to be insufficient.

  Here, the method for flocking the toothbrush bristle material of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, as a general method for producing a toothbrush, a flocked hole is previously formed in a toothbrush base material, and the tapered bristle is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction. The tapered bristle can be implanted in the brush base material by bending it into two and embedding it in the flocked hole together with the brush flat wire.

  In addition, when folding the tapered bristle in half, if it is folded at a position different from the longitudinal center of the tapered bristle, the toothbrush brushing not only reduces the area where the tip of the tooth hits but also the contact angle is different. This is not preferable because the cleaning property is reduced.

  The synthetic resin used in the bristle material for brushes of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of polyamide resin, nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 612, nylon 46, nylon 56, nylon MDX6, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 6.66 copolymer, and a blend of two or more of these.

  In the case where the synthetic resin is a polyester resin, examples thereof include polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as PET), polybutylene naphthalate (hereinafter referred to as PBT), polypropylene terephthalate, and polypropylene naphthalate.

  In addition, when processed as a toothbrush, it is known that when compared with a polyamide-based resin, for example, N610, and a polyester-based resin, for example, PBT, the touch feeling and insertion feeling to the gums are greatly different in the same shape.

  In addition, as long as the purpose and effect of the present invention are not affected, particles such as various inorganic particles, various metal particles and cross-linked polymer particles, antioxidants, light-proofing agents, antifouling agents, ions, etc. Exchangers, anti-coloring agents, antistatic agents, various colorants, waxes, silicone oils, various surfactants and various reinforcing fibers can also be added.

  The cross-sectional shape of the synthetic resin monofilament used in the brush hair material of the present invention is not particularly limited, and other than circular, hollow, flat, square, half moon, triangle, five or more polygons, multi-leaf, dock The shape may be a bone shape or a saddle shape.

  Hereinafter, although the hair material for brushes of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples, the present invention is not limited to the following examples unless it exceeds the gist.

  In order to investigate the influence of the diameter of the tapered portion of the synthetic resin monofilament of the present invention on the feeling of use of the toothbrush, the cleaning property, the tactile sensation, and the feeling of use were evaluated as follows with a tapered bristle having a different tip diameter of the tapered portion. It was. As an evaluation object, it implemented with the toothbrush using the tapered bristle which made the bristles into the different taper shape.

  In addition, the toothbrush base used the base which processed the flock hole of diameter 1.5mm and depth 3.0mm in the toothbrush base made from a polypropylene (9 mm x 22 mm). In addition, as for the method of flocking, the tapered bristle was folded in half at the center in the longitudinal direction, and 20 flocks per hole were carried out in the flocked hole of the polypropylene base together with a metal flat wire.

  These toothbrushes were evaluated for actual cleaning feeling and use feeling. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

[Evaluation of cleanability]
A load of 150 g was applied to the toothbrush vertically from the back side of the toothbrush sliding surface. The stainless uneven plate coated with virtual dirt was slid 5000 times at an amplitude of 10 mm and a speed of 180 rpm, and the removal rate of the virtual dirt was measured to evaluate the cleaning property. As the stain removal rate, the removal rate of the virtual stain in the concave portion corresponding to the gap between the convex portions is expressed as follows.
: Excellent cleaning performance (dirt removal rate ≧ 80%)
○: Excellent cleaning property (80%> stain removal rate> 60%)
Δ: Normal cleanability (60%> stain removal rate ≧ 40%)
×: Inferior cleanability (40%> dirt removal rate)

[Usage survey]
The above-mentioned toothbrushes were used by 20 adults for 5 days per type, and tactile replies were obtained for three items: a feeling of inserting into a narrow part, a feeling of hitting the gums, and a feeling of massaging the gums. The evaluation criteria are as follows.
◎: “Very good”
○: “Good”
△: `` Normal ''
×: “Bad”

[Example 1]
PBT (1200S manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) was used as a raw material. The PBT pellets were charged into a melt spinning machine and melted in the melt spinning machine, and then the melt was extruded from the die. Subsequently, after being extruded and cooled and solidified in a cooling bath, stretching and heat setting were performed to obtain a synthetic resin monofilament having a diameter of 0.19 mm.

  Next, the obtained synthetic resin monofilament is cut, and one end of this cut bristle is immersed in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution for chemical weight reduction, and the other end is immersed in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution for chemical treatment. Weight reduction was performed to obtain a tapered bristle having tapered portions with different tip diameters shown in Table 1 on both sides.

[Example 2]
Immerse until the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the taper part A becomes 15% of the diameter of the main body part, and then the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the other taper part B becomes the main body part. A tapered bristle and a toothbrush were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film was immersed until the diameter reached 50% of the diameter of the tape.

[Example 3]
Immerse until the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the taper part A becomes 5% of the diameter of the main body part, and then the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the other taper part B A tapered bristle and a toothbrush were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film was immersed until the diameter reached 50% of the diameter of the tape.

[Example 4]
Immerse until the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the taper part A is 35% of the diameter of the main body part, and then the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the other taper part B A tapered bristle and a toothbrush were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film was immersed until the diameter became 65% of the diameter.

[Comparative Example 1]
Immerse until the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the taper part A becomes 5% of the diameter of the main body part, and then the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the other taper part B A tapered bristle and a toothbrush were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film was immersed until the diameter reached 90% of the diameter.

[Comparative Example 2]
It is immersed until the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the taper part A is 40% of the diameter of the main body part, and then the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the other taper part B is the main body part. A tapered bristle and a toothbrush were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film was immersed until the diameter became 40% of the diameter of the tape.

[Comparative Example 3]
Immerse until the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the taper part A becomes 30% of the diameter of the main body part, and then the diameter at the position of 0.1 mm from the tip of the other taper part B becomes the main body part. A tapered bristle and a toothbrush were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the film was immersed until the diameter became 40% of the diameter of the tape.

  The evaluation results of these toothbrushes are shown in Table 1.

  As is apparent from the results shown in Table 1, the toothbrush using the toothbrush bristle material of the present invention has significantly better cleaning properties and tactile sensation than the brush using the toothbrush hair material that does not satisfy the conditions of the present invention. I understand.

  The toothbrush bristle material of the present invention is superior to the conventional toothbrush bristle material in terms of interdental cleaning, tooth surface cleanability and tactile balance, and can be used as a toothbrush that can have variations in tactile sensation. It is.

1 Brush material 2 Taper part A
3 Taper B
4 Body 5 Taper A Side Tip 6 Taper B Side Tip

Claims (3)

A bristle material for a brush comprising a synthetic resin monofilament cut bristle, wherein the cut bristle is formed with tapered portions A and B at both ends of the main body portion, respectively, and the tip diameter of the tapered portion A is the same as that of the main body portion. A bristle material for a toothbrush, characterized in that it is in the range of 2 to 20% of the diameter, and the tip diameter of the tip B is in the range of more than 20% and less than 50% of the diameter of the main body. The x / y ratio is in the range of 0.1 to 0.7, where x is the tip diameter of the tapered portion A and y is the tip diameter of the tapered portion B in the cut bristle. The bristle material for toothbrushes according to claim 1. A toothbrush comprising the bristle material for a brush according to claim 1 or 2 as at least a part of the bristle material, and having a central portion in the longitudinal direction of each bristle material implanted in a flock hole of a base material. .

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