JP2022011649A - Interdental cleaning instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an interdental cleaning instrument allowing a user to insert a cleaning part into a narrow interdental part so as to suppress deterioration in a cleaning ability and operability despite of having elongated brush bristles.SOLUTION: An interdental cleaning instrument comprises a body having a base part and a shaft part 3, and a cleaning body covering a prescribed length from a tip of the shaft part 3 to the base part, and insertable into between teeth. The cleaning body comprises a covering part 41 adhering to the whole circumference of the prescribed length of the shaft part 3, and a brush part having a plurality of brush bristles 421 projecting from the covering part 41. The plurality of brush bristles 421 are arranged along two virtual lines L where a virtual plane P passing a shaft core X of the shaft part 3 crosses the covering part 41. A length of a first brush bristle 421a at an arbitrary portion in a first brush bristle group being the plurality of brush bristles 421 arranged along one of the virtual lines L is longer than a length of a second brush bristle 421b in the vicinity of the portion in a second brush bristle group being the plurality of brush bristles 421 arranged along the other of the virtual lines L.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool for cleaning the interdental space.

Conventionally, an interdental cleaning tool suitable for cleaning the interdental space is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1 has a grip portion as a handle that can be gripped with a finger (“handle portion” in Patent Document 1) and a shaft portion extending from the grip portion (Patent Document 1). In No. 1, a cleaning portion for cleaning the interdental teeth located on the tip end side of the “core portion”) is provided. By inserting the cleaning portion between the teeth and reciprocating it, foreign matter (such as food residue) caught between the teeth and foreign matter (such as plaque) adhering to the teeth can be scraped off and removed.

The cleaning portion of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1 is configured by integrally molding a cleaning portion main body made of an elastomer material on the tip end side of a shaft portion made of synthetic resin. The portion of the shaft portion covered by the cleaning portion main body is formed in a gently tapered shape whose diameter decreases from the proximal end side to the distal end side. The main body of the cleaning portion includes a coating portion covered with a shaft portion and a plurality of brush bristles (“protrusion portion” in Patent Document 1) formed by projecting outward at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the coating portion. Have.

International Publication No. 2014/0653668

Since the interdental cleaning tool is used by inserting the cleaning portion between the teeth and reciprocating it, each brush bristles of the cleaning portion main body is bent along the shaft portion and falls down during the reciprocating movement. In order to scrape foreign matter out from between the teeth and effectively remove it, it is preferable that the brush bristles have a long length. If the length of the brush bristles is long, the spatial area (the area of the closed curve (for example, a circle) formed by connecting the vertices of only the relatively long brush bristles when viewed along the axis) can be increased. Because. On the other hand, the brush bristles are tapered from the tip and thicken toward the root so as not to break during the reciprocating movement between the teeth. Therefore, the longer the brush bristles, the thicker the roots of the brush bristles. Therefore, if the length of the brush bristles is lengthened as a whole, the outer diameter of the cleaning part body (between teeth) when viewed along the shaft portion due to the thickness of the base of the fallen brush bristles during reciprocating movement. The passing diameter of the main body of the cleaning unit that passes through becomes larger.

In the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, the lengths of the plurality of brush bristles arranged on the main body of the cleaning portion gradually become shorter from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the covering portion (shaft portion). On the other hand, in the circumferential direction of the covering portion, the lengths of the plurality of brush bristles arranged in the vicinity of an arbitrary circumference are substantially the same. As described above, when the length of the brush bristles is lengthened as a whole, there is a limit to the outer diameter (passage diameter) of the cleaning portion that can be inserted between the teeth. Therefore, if the length of the brush bristles is lengthened as a whole in the configuration of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, the outer diameter of the cleaning portion main body becomes large, so that the cleaning portion is difficult to enter between the teeth and the teeth. There is a risk that the cleaning ability and operability of the cleaning tool will deteriorate.

Therefore, there is a demand for an interdental cleaning tool that can insert a cleaning portion into a narrow interdental portion while increasing the length of the brush bristles and suppresses deterioration of cleaning ability and operability.

The configuration of the interdental cleaning tool according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a main body having a base portion and a shaft portion arranged on the side of one end of the base portion, and an elastic material having a hardness lower than the hardness of the main body. It is provided with a cleaning unit main body having an outer shape that covers a predetermined length from the tip of the shaft portion toward the base portion and can be inserted between teeth, and the cleaning unit main body has the predetermined length of the shaft portion. It consists of a covering part that is in close contact with the entire circumference of the sword and a brush part having a plurality of brush bristles protruding outward from the covering part, and a virtual plane passing through the axis of the shaft part intersects the covering part. A plurality of brush bristles are arranged along the two virtual lines, and the first of any part of the first brush bristles group which is the plurality of the brush bristles arranged along the one virtual line. The length of the brush bristles is characterized in that it is longer than the length of the second brush bristles in the vicinity of the portion of the second brush bristles group which is the plurality of the brush bristles arranged along the other virtual line. Have.

In this interdental cleaning tool, the first brush bristles and the second brush bristles are arranged along two virtual lines, and the length of the first brush bristles at any place in the first brush bristles. Since the length of the second brush bristles is longer than the length of the second brush bristles in the vicinity of the portion of the second brush bristles, for example, the length of the first brush bristles is the brush bristles of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1. By making the length of the second brush bristles shorter than the length of the brush bristles of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, the space area is increased by the long first brush bristles. It can be spread out and effectively scrapes foreign matter out of the teeth. Further, when the cleaning portion is inserted between the teeth and reciprocated, the root of the first brush bristles becomes thicker than that of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, while the root of the second brush bristles. Since it is thin, it is possible to suppress an increase in the outer diameter (passing diameter) of the cleaning portion main body as a whole of the interdental cleaning tool.

As described above, it was possible to provide an interdental cleaning tool capable of inserting a cleaning portion into a narrow interdental portion while increasing the length of the brush bristles and suppressing deterioration of cleaning ability and operability.

As another configuration, a plurality of the first brush bristles and a plurality of the second brush bristles are arranged along the circumferential direction of the covering portion, and the first brush bristles group and the second brush bristles are arranged. It is preferable that the groups are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction.

With such a configuration, since the first brush bristles can be dispersedly arranged over the entire circumference of the covering portion, foreign matter can be effectively scraped off and removed over the entire circumference between the teeth. In addition, the foreign matter scraped off by the first brush bristles of the first brush bristles having a long brush bristles is located between the first brush bristles and is located between the first brush bristles. It can be captured by hair, and the cleaning effect can be further enhanced.

As another configuration, it is preferable that the distances in the circumferential direction between the first brush bristles and the second brush bristles adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the covering portion are all equal.

With such a configuration, the first brush bristles can be evenly arranged over the entire circumference of the covering portion, so that foreign matter can be more effectively scraped off and removed over the entire circumference between the teeth. can.

It is a perspective view which shows the interdental cleaning tool which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement of the 1st brush bristles group and the 2nd brush bristles group of the cleaning part main body which concerns on this embodiment. It is a partially enlarged vertical sectional view which shows the cleaning part main body which concerns on this embodiment. It is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view which shows the cleaning part main body which concerns on this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the interdental cleaning tool which concerns on another embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the interdental cleaning tool D according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the base portion 1 having the grip portion 11 and the extending portion 12, the bent portion 2 and the shaft portion 3 are integrally molded. The main body A is made of a soft member, which is an elastic material having a hardness lower than the hardness of the main body A, and includes a cleaning part main body 4 that covers the shaft portion 3. Hereinafter, the portion of the shaft portion 3 covered with the cleaning portion main body 4 and the cleaning portion main body 4 are collectively referred to as a cleaning portion B. The user has the grip portion 11, inserts the cleaning portion B between teeth such as molars, and reciprocates the cleaning portion B to use the interdental cleaning tool D. Hereinafter, among the interdental cleaning tools D, the outside of the bend from the base 1 to the bend 2 (on the right side of the paper in FIG. 1) will be referred to as the dorsal side, and the inside of the bend (on the left side of the paper in FIG. 1) will be referred to as the ventral side.

The main body A is composed of one or a combination of two or more synthetic resins such as polypropylene, ABS, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polyacetal. The main body A in this embodiment is made of polypropylene. Further, it is preferable that the synthetic resin constituting the main body A contains a reinforcing agent for increasing the rigidity. Examples of the reinforcing agent include fibrous reinforcing agents such as glass fiber, nanocellulose fiber, aramid fiber, and carbon fiber, plate-shaped reinforcing agents such as mica and glass frame, powder-like strengthening agents such as talc, and warastonite. Needle-shaped strengthening agent can be mentioned. The content of the fortifier is 5% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less, preferably 10% by weight or more and 40% by weight or less, and more preferably 15% by weight or more and 40% by weight or less.

The soft member, which is the material of the cleaning unit main body 4, is made of an elastomer having a hardness lower than the hardness of the main body A. As this elastomer, a styrene-based elastomer is preferable, and silicon, an olefin-based elastomer, a polyester-based elastomer, or the like may be used.

In the main body A, the extending portion 12 is formed in the shape of a flat rod extending from the grip portion 11 in the first direction Xa. Further, the bent portion 2 extends from the end portion of the extending portion 12 opposite to the grip portion 11 and intersects the first direction Xa from the first direction Xa (in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the bending internal angle is 120). Degree) It is composed of a flat shape that bends toward the second direction Xb. The crossing angle (bending internal angle) between the first direction Xa and the second direction Xb is composed of 30 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less, preferably 80 degrees or more and 140 degrees or less, and more preferably 100 degrees or more and 130 degrees or less. It is good to be there.

A back surface portion 5 covered with a soft member is formed on about half of the extending portion 12 and the bent portion 2 of the main body A on the dorsal side. Synthetic resin is exposed on about half of the extending portion 12 and the bending portion 2 of the main body A on the ventral side.

In the main body A, the shaft portion 3 is formed in the shape of a truncated cone rod that gradually tapers along the second direction Xb from the end portion opposite to the extending portion 12 with respect to the bent portion 2 (FIG. 3). reference). That is, the entire outer shape of the shaft portion 3 has a tapered surface whose diameter decreases (reduces in diameter) at a constant rate from the connection portion with the bent portion 2 toward the tip end.

The cleaning portion main body 4 made of a soft member covers the entire outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3 and has an outer shape that can be inserted between teeth, and constitutes the cleaning portion B together with the shaft portion 3. The cleaning unit main body 4 in the present embodiment includes a covering portion 41 that covers and adheres to the entire longitudinal direction (direction along the second direction Xb) of the shaft portion 3, and a plurality (many) protruding outward from the covering portion 41. It has a brush portion 42 having a brush bristles 421. The covering portion 41 is configured to have a wall thickness (thickness) smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion 3. The brush bristles 421 of the brush portion 42 are formed in a conical shape that becomes tapered as it is separated from the covering portion 41 (as it goes radially outward with respect to the axis X of the shaft portion 3). The axis X of the shaft portion 3 means an axis (center line) passing through the center of the shaft portion 3. In the interdental cleaning tool D according to the present embodiment, when the cleaning portion B is inserted between the teeth and reciprocates, the brush bristles 421 of the brush portion 42 are flexibly deformed, and the covering portion 41 and the brush bristles 421 are each flexibly deformed. Can adhere to the teeth and scrape off foreign substances (such as food scraps) caught between the teeth and foreign substances (such as plaque) attached to the teeth. The back surface portion 5 formed on the back side of the extending portion 12 and the bending portion 2 is integrally formed with the cleaning portion main body 4. The cleaning unit main body 4 may have a structure that covers a part of the shaft portion 3 from the tip end in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 3.

Next, a method of manufacturing the interdental cleaning tool D according to the present embodiment will be described. The interdental cleaning tool D is manufactured by a two-color molding method in which a cleaning portion main body 4 or the like is molded on a shaft portion 3 of the main body A made of synthetic resin by a known method such as injection molding. Specifically, first, the main body A is formed by a known method such as injection molding. Next, the formed main body A is placed on a mold for two-color molding, and the molten elastomer is injected into the mold from a gate provided near the tip of the shaft portion 3 of the main body A to fill the mold. The filled molten elastomer solidifies into a soft member, and the cleaning portion main body 4 and the back surface portion 5 are formed. In this way, the interdental cleaning tool D is manufactured.

Next, the structure of the cleaning unit main body 4 of the interdental cleaning tool D according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the plurality (many) brush hairs 421 protruding outward from the covering portion 41 are arranged linearly along the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 3. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, in the cleaning unit main body 4, when the virtual plane P passing through the axis X is assumed, on two virtual lines L and L where the virtual plane P and the covering portion 41 intersect. A plurality of brush bristles 421 are arranged in the. Of these, a plurality of brush bristles 421 arranged on one virtual line L are collectively referred to as a first brush bristles group 42a, and each brush bristles 421 constituting the first brush bristles group 42a is referred to as a first brush bristles 421a. Refer to. Similarly, a plurality of brush bristles 421 arranged on the other virtual line L are collectively referred to as a second brush bristles group 42b, and each brush bristles 421 constituting the second brush bristles group 42b is referred to as a second brush bristles 421b. Refer to.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the length of each of the first brush bristles 421a gradually increases from the tip of the shaft portion 3 toward the bent portion 2. Further, the length of each bristles of the second brush bristles 421b also gradually increases as the tip of the shaft portion 3 approaches the bent portion 2, similar to the first brush bristles 421a. In the present embodiment, the length of the first brush bristles 421a at any portion of the first brush bristles group 42a is greater than the length of the second brush bristles 421b in the vicinity of the portion of the second brush bristles group 42b. Is getting longer. As shown in FIG. 3, the "second brush bristles 421b in the vicinity of the relevant portion" are both sides of the first brush bristles 421a1 with respect to any first brush bristles 421a1 of the first brush bristles group 42a. It means the second brush bristles 421b1, 421b2 arranged between the two cross sections S1 and S2 perpendicular to the axis X passing through the two adjacent first brush bristles 421a2 and 421a3 respectively. The ratio of the lengths of the first brush bristles 421a1 and the second brush bristles 421b1 and 421b2 is 1: 1.05 to 1: 2.3, preferably 1: 1.1 to 1: 1.9. It is more preferably 1: 1.2 to 1: 1.6. Further, the relationship between the first brush bristles 421a1 and the second brush bristles 421b1 and 421b2 may be specified not by the ratio of the lengths but by the absolute value of the lengths. For example, the length of the first brush bristles 421a in the vicinity of the bent portion 2 is 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably 1.2 mm to 1.8 mm, and more preferably 1.4 mm to 1.6 mm. Is. The length of the second brush bristles 421b in the vicinity of the bent portion 2 is 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.7 mm to 1.3 mm, and more preferably 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Is.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, three sets of combinations of the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b are arranged along the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41. The "combination of the first brush bristles 42a and the second brush bristles 42b" is the first brush bristles arranged on two virtual lines L, L where one virtual plane P and the covering portion 41 intersect. It means the group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b. That is, the combination of the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b of one set is the first brush bristles group 42a arranged at a position that is axisymmetric (twice symmetric) with respect to the axis X. It means the second brush bristles 42b.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41. Further, the adjacent first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b are arranged so that the central angle with respect to the axis X is 60 degrees. That is, the distances in the circumferential direction between the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41 are all equal.

As described above, in the interdental cleaning tool D, the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b are arranged along the two virtual lines L and L, and among the first brush bristles group 42a. Since the length of the first brush bristles 421a at an arbitrary portion is longer than the length of the second brush bristles 421b in the vicinity of the portion of the second brush bristles group 42b, for example, the length of the first brush bristles 421a. Is longer than the length of the brush bristles of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, and the length of the second brush bristles 421b is shorter than the length of the brush bristles of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, a closed curve (for example, shown in FIG. 4) formed by connecting the apex of only the relatively long brush bristles 421a when viewed along the shaft portion 3 by the long first brush bristles 421a. The area of the virtual circle C) can be expanded, and foreign matter can be effectively scraped out from between the teeth. Further, when the cleaning portion B is inserted between the teeth and reciprocated, the root of the first brush bristles 421a is thicker than that of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, while the second brush bristles are thickened. Since the root of 421b is thin, it is possible to suppress an increase in the outer diameter of the cleaning unit main body 4 (passing diameter of the cleaning unit main body 4 passing between the teeth) as a whole of the interdental cleaning tool D.

Further, since the first brush bristles 42a and the second brush bristles 42b are alternately arranged at intervals of 60 degrees along the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41, the first brush is arranged over the entire circumference of the covering portion 41. Since the bristles 42a can be evenly distributed, the foreign matter scraped off by the first brush bristles 421a of the first brush bristles 42a is the second of the second brush bristles 42b located between the first brush bristles 42a. It is possible to capture with 2 brush bristles 421b, and it is possible to more effectively scrape and remove foreign matter over the entire circumference between teeth, and the cleaning effect can be further enhanced.

[Other embodiments]
(A) In the interdental cleaning tool D according to the first embodiment, the combination of the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b is three sets, but the combination is not limited to this. The combination of the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b may be two sets or four or more sets.

(B) In the interdental cleaning tool D according to the first embodiment, a set of the first brush bristles 42a and the second brush bristles 42b intersect the virtual plane P passing through the axis X and the covering portion 41. It was arranged on two virtual lines L and L, but it is not limited to this. When the first brush bristles group 42a is on the virtual plane P, as long as the increase in the outer diameter of the cleaning unit main body 4 is suppressed, the second brush bristles group 42b of the same set is slightly displaced from the virtual plane P. Even if it is arranged in a place, it is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(C) In the interdental cleaning tool D according to the first embodiment, the first brush bristles 42a and the second brush bristles 42b are alternately arranged along the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41. Not limited. For example, when a combination of four sets of the first brush bristles 42a and the second brush bristles 42b is arranged on the cleaning unit main body 4, the first brush bristles 42a, the first brush bristles 42a, are arranged along the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41. 1 brush bristles 42a, 2nd brush bristles 42b, 2nd brush bristles 42b may be arranged. When viewed along the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41, the first brush bristles group 42a and the second brush bristles group 42b are arranged in a well-balanced manner as the brush portions 42, and an increase in the outer diameter of the cleaning portion main body 4 is suppressed. As long as the first brush bristles 42a and the second brush bristles 42b are not arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the covering portion 41.

(D) In the first embodiment, the "second brush bristles 421b in the vicinity of the portion" refers to the second brush bristles 421b1, 421b2 arranged between the two cross sections S1 and S2 shown in FIG. It means, but it is not limited to this. The "second brush bristles 421b in the vicinity" may be, for example, further adjacent to two first brush bristles 421a2, 421a3 adjacent to each other on both sides of an arbitrary first brush bristles 421a1 of the first brush bristles group 42a. It may be the second brush bristles arranged between the cross sections passing through the first brush bristles 421. As long as the increase in the outer diameter of the cleaning unit main body 4 is suppressed, the first brush bristles 421a and the second brush bristles 421b whose lengths are to be compared are slightly separated from each other in the direction along the axis X. Even if it is, it is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(E) As shown in FIG. 5, the interdental cleaning tool D does not have the bent portion 2 of the first embodiment, and the base portion 1 and the shaft portion 3 having the grip portion 11 and the extending portion 12 are formed. It may be composed of an integrally molded linear main body A. In the interdental cleaning tool D according to the present embodiment, the cleaning portion main body 4 is formed only in a part (an example of a predetermined length) from the tip of the shaft portion 3. At this time, the shapes of the shaft portion 3 and the cleaning portion main body 4 can be any of the above-mentioned first embodiment and other other embodiments (a) to (d). As described above, if the shapes of the shaft portion 3 and the cleaning portion main body 4 are as described above, the shape of the main body A is arbitrary.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as an interdental cleaning tool for cleaning interdental spaces.

1: Base part 3: Shaft part 4: Cleaning part main body 5: Back part 11: Grip part 12: Extension part 41: Covering part 42: Brush part 42a: First brush hair group 42b: Second brush hair group 421: Brush Hair 421a: 1st brush hair 421a1: 1st brush hair 421a2: 1st brush hair 421a3: 1st brush hair 421b: 2nd brush hair 421b1: 2nd brush hair 421b2: 2nd brush hair A: Main body D: Between teeth Cleaning tool L: Virtual line P: Virtual plane

Claims (3)

A main body having a base portion and a shaft portion arranged on the side of one end of the base portion,
It is made of an elastic material having a hardness lower than the hardness of the main body, covers a predetermined length from the tip of the shaft portion toward the base portion, and has a cleaning portion main body having an outer shape that can be inserted between teeth.
The cleaning portion main body includes a covering portion in close contact with the entire circumference of the shaft portion having the predetermined length, and a brush portion having a plurality of brush bristles protruding outward from the covering portion.
A plurality of the brush bristles are arranged along two virtual lines where the virtual plane passing through the axis of the shaft portion intersects the covering portion, and the plurality of the brush hairs arranged along the one virtual line. The length of the first brush bristles at any position in the first brush bristles that are brush bristles is the length of the second brush bristles that are a plurality of the brush bristles arranged along the other virtual line. An interdental cleaning tool that is longer than the length of the second brush bristles near the location. A plurality of the first brush bristles and a plurality of the second brush bristles are arranged along the circumferential direction of the covering portion, and the first brush bristles group and the second brush bristles group are the circumferences. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, which is arranged alternately along the direction. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distances in the circumferential direction between the first brush bristles and the second brush bristles adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the covering portion are all the same.

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