JP3170598U - Earpick - Google Patents

Abstract

An earpick that can irradiate the outer ear without requiring a power source and can scrape ear wax safely. A stick-shaped earpick 1 including a handle portion 3 and a tip portion 2 for scraping ear wax formed at one end of the handle portion 3 includes a light emitter A included in the handle portion 3. . [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an earpick that illuminates the ear canal and scrapes the earwax of the ear canal.

  Currently, there are earpick devices with many functions. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an earpick that can illuminate a tip of an earpick with an LED and perform earpick while watching the earwax in the other ear canal.

JP 2002-238996 A

  However, what is illuminated with an LED or light bulb requires a power source. For this purpose, a button battery or the like can be used. In this case, it is possible that the battery will run out and cannot be used, and it will take time to replace it. Further, since a space for mounting the battery is necessary, the structure becomes complicated and the shape becomes large. Considering environmental issues, it is desirable to avoid the use of batteries. Furthermore, since the tip of the hook is formed at the tip of the light guiding portion made of a straight hard plastic, there is a problem that the external auditory canal is easily damaged and easily broken.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an earpick that can irradiate the outer ear without requiring a power source and can scrape the earwax safely.

  In order to solve the above problems, an earpick according to the present invention is a rod-shaped earpick comprising a handle and a tip for scraping earwax formed at one end of the handle, The portion includes a light emitting member.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an earpick that can irradiate the outer ear without requiring a power source and can scrape the earwax safely.

1 is a plan view of an earpick 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the earpick 1a which concerns on the modification 1 of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the earpick 1b which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the earpick 1c which concerns on the modification 2 of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the earpick 1d which concerns on the modification 3 of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the earpick 1e which concerns on the modification 4 of 2nd embodiment of this invention. (A) It is a top view of the earpick 1f which concerns on the modification 5 of this invention. (B) It is an exploded view of the earpick 1g. (A) It is a top view of the earpick 1g which concerns on the modification 6 of this invention. (B) It is an exploded view of the earpick 1g.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of an earpick 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the earpick 1 has a substantially rod-shaped handle portion 3 and a tip portion 2 curved in a hook shape formed at one end of the handle portion 3. Further, a light emitting portion 4 in which the light emitter A is included is formed from the approximate center of the handle portion 3 to the other end opposite to the tip portion 2.

The light emitter A is a rod-like light emitting member that can emit light without requiring a power source. Any member that can emit light may be used as the illuminant A. For example, a phosphorescent member having a phosphorescence action using light reception energy may be used. As the daylighting member, for example, a material such as resin or glass obtained by mixing and applying a daylighting substance such as strontium aluminate (SrAl ₂ O ₄ ) or zinc sulfide (ZnS) can be used. Of course, a fluorescent member having a fluorescent action may be used as the light emitting member, or a mixed member in which a phosphorescent member and a fluorescent member are mixed.

  The handle 3 has a light guide 5 formed so as to be gradually narrowed from the approximate center in the longitudinal direction toward the tip 2, and guides the light from the light emitter A toward the tip 2. . Therefore, a material having translucency and a high refractive index is used for such a light guide portion 5. In particular, by using a material having a refractive index higher than that of the outside air, it becomes possible to totally reflect incident light having a critical angle or more at the boundary surface (outer peripheral surface). Examples of such a material include plastic resin (acrylic, polycarbonate, polypropylene, elastomer, etc.) and silicon rubber. Here, since the portion excluding the light emitter A is integrally formed, it is assumed that all parts other than the light emitter A are formed of such a material. Hereinafter, such a member is referred to as a light guide member.

  Specifically, the light guide 5 transmits and reflects incident light incident from the light emitter A at the boundary surface (outer peripheral surface) and totally reflects the light, and guides the light toward the distal end portion 2. Further, a scattering portion 8 with fine irregularities is formed on the bottom surface of the bowl-shaped tip portion 2 to diffusely reflect the light reaching here. Therefore, for example, when the incident light a passes through the light guide portion 5 and reaches the distal end portion 2, it strikes the scattering portion 8 and is irregularly reflected, and becomes scattered light aa and illuminates the inside of the ear.

  In addition, since the internal reflection and the light induction rate increase as the material having a high refractive index is used for the light guide member, the inside of the ear can be irradiated with higher and stronger light. In particular, silicon rubber has a high degree of transparency and a certain degree of flexibility, and is therefore a preferable material that is difficult to damage the ear. Specifically, by forming a core material with polypropylene resin or acrylic resin and forming the periphery with silicon rubber, there is a core and the periphery can be a soft tip.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an earpick 1a according to Modification 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, components having the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the earpick 1 a is provided with a light guide film 10 that covers about 70% of the outer peripheral surface of the handle 3 (a part of the light emitting part 4 and the light guide part 5). Different from the earpick 1.

  The light guide coating 10 is made of a material made of a material (for example, transparent silicon rubber) having a light transmitting property and a lower refractive index than that of the light guide member, and is formed by pasting or simply covering the handle 3 with this. Is done.

  Such a light guide coating 10 totally reflects incident light having a refractive index higher than that of the light guide member having a higher refractive index than that of the light guide film 10 and guides the incident light to the tip portion 2. Therefore, even when the user uses the light guide coating 10 with his / her finger, the incident light a ′ is totally reflected and the light from the light emitter A can be efficiently guided to the distal end portion 2.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the earpick 1b according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the earpick 1 b has a light-emitting portion 4 a that is entirely made of a phosphorescent member similar to the light emitter A, and has a reflection mirror 9 that covers the outer peripheral surface near the center in the longitudinal direction of the handle 3. This is different from the first embodiment. In addition, such a light emission part 4a is provided as a member different from the front-end | tip part 2 and the light guide part 5 which are integrally formed, and the handle | guide part 3 forms the light guide part and the end part in contact. ing.

The reflection mirror 9 is a member having a mirror surface structure at least on the inner peripheral surface, and is formed, for example, by processing an aluminum vapor-deposited plating, nickel-plated, or the like into a pipe shape and finishing the mirror.
Although not shown in the figure, aluminum vapor deposition plating may be applied to the light emitting section or the light guide section itself. Such a reflecting mirror 9 reflects incident light from the light emitting portion 4 a inside and guides it to the distal end portion 2. For example, the incident light b is reflected by the reflection mirror 9 and is emitted as the outgoing light bb from the vicinity of the tip of the tip 2.

  By providing such a reflection mirror 9, light from the phosphorescent member can be efficiently reflected and guided, and the inside of the ear can be irradiated with light having higher luminance.

<Modification 2>
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an earpick 1c according to Modification 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the earpick 1 c is different from the earpick 1 b in that it has a light guide part 5 a in which a light collecting part 6 is formed.

The condensing unit 6 includes a light receiving surface 7 formed so that the diameter of the end surface on the light emitting unit 4a side of the light guide unit 5a is maximized in the cross section in the short direction so that the contact surface with the light emitting unit 4a is widened. It is. Thereby, more light from the phosphorescent member can be received, and the inside of the ear can be illuminated with high luminance. For example, when the light c from the light emitting part 4a reaches the light receiving surface 7, it is guided to the tip part 2 and emitted as outgoing lights cc and ccc.
<Modification 3>
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an earpick 1d according to Modification 3 of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the earpick 1d is different from the earpick 1b in that it has a light emitting portion 4b made of a plurality of phosphorescent members.

  The light emitting unit 4b has a configuration in which a plurality of rod-shaped light storage members are bundled, and different light storage materials can be used for each of the light storage members. For example, the user can enjoy various colors of light by using different colors. Moreover, you may use freely the combination of a fluorescent member, a luminous member, and its mixed member.

<Modification 4>
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an earpick 1e according to Modification 4 of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the earpick 1 e is different from the earpick 1 b in that the earpick 1 e has a light emitting part 4 c in which a light collecting part 6 a is formed at one end thereof.

  The condensing part 6a is formed in the front-end | tip part opposite to the contact end with the light guide part 5 of the light emission part 4c, the diameter of a terminal spreads conically, and a terminal surface has a convex curve shape. Such a condensing unit 6a efficiently condenses light (external light) incident on the light receiving surface 7a formed of a convex curved surface, and guides it to the inside of the handle unit 3. In addition, by covering the outer periphery of the light emitting portion 4c other than the light receiving surface 7a with the reflecting mirror 9, the emitted light to the outside of the handle portion 3 is reduced, and highly efficient light guiding is possible. For example, light d, e, and f incident on the light receiving surface 7a from each direction are reflected by the reflecting mirror 9 and emitted from the tip portion 2 as emitted light dd, ee, and ff. You may use the light emitted by external light, the synthesized light which combined the light stored, and external light.

  In such earpick 1e, the light emitting portion 4c is covered by the reflecting mirror 9 except for the light receiving surface 7a. Therefore, you may comprise the light emission part 4c so that removal is possible for the light storage of a light storage member. Specific examples are shown below.

<Modification 5>
Fig.7 (a) is a top view of the earpick 1f which concerns on the modification 5 of this invention, FIG.7 (b) is an exploded view of the earpick 1g.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the earpick 1f includes a reflecting mirror 9a that covers the light guide 5 and one end of the light emitting unit 4c on the tip 2 side, and one end on the light collecting unit 6a side. The reflective mirror 9b is covered. The light emitting unit 4c is detachably fitted to the reflecting mirror 9a, and the reflecting mirror 9a connects the light guide unit 5 and the light emitting unit 4c. Thereby, when the afterglow of a phosphorescent member falls, after light-emitting part 4c is cut off from a main part, it can be made to accumulate by holding up to external light. In addition, since there is a portion that is not covered by the reflecting mirror on the outer peripheral surface of the light emitting unit 4c, it is possible to store light not only on the light collecting unit 6a but also on the outer peripheral surface without being disassembled. Thereby, more efficient phosphorescence is performed. The reflection mirror 9a is not made a reflection mirror inside, but only a part of the periphery of the light guide unit 5 and the light emitting unit 4c is brought into contact, and the other part is covered with a gap so that the light guide unit 5 and the light emitting unit 4c are covered. You may comprise so that it may be totally reflected with the open air of space.

<Modification 6>
Fig.8 (a) is a top view of the earpick 1g which concerns on the modification 6 of this invention, FIG.8 (b) is an exploded view of the earpick 1g.

  As shown in FIG. 8 (b), the earpick 1g includes a reflecting mirror 9c that covers the light guide 5 and one end of the light emitting unit 4c on the tip 2 side, and a light receiving surface 7b of the light emitting unit 4c. It is divided into a reflection mirror 9d that covers the part to be removed. The light emitting unit 4c is detachably fitted to the reflecting mirror 9c, and the reflecting mirror 9c connects the light guide unit 5 and the light emitting unit 4c.

  In addition, a plurality of substantially rhombic protrusions are formed on the light receiving surface 7b of the light collecting portion 6b. As a result, the area of the light receiving surface increases, and light from more directions can be received. Furthermore, the tip portion 2 has a shape in which three loop-shaped wires are inserted into the light guide portion 5. For example, incident light g is emitted from the exposed portion of the light guide portion 5 around the tip portion 2. It is emitted as emitted light gg.

  Heretofore, the embodiments and examples of the earpick according to the present invention have been described. According to the earpick according to the present invention, a sufficient amount of light for ear cleaning can be secured without requiring a power source. The earpick according to the present invention is not limited to the above, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, the shape of the tip is not limited to the above, and may have any shape. Further, the light guide around the tip may be illuminated without the tip itself emitting light. Furthermore, the position of the light emitter may be provided in the light guide part (that is, in the vicinity of the tip part), or the whole may be formed from a phosphorescent material.

  The light receiving surface is the same and symmetrical with the axis of the handle. However, the light receiving surface may be asymmetric with respect to the axis, and the light receiving surface may not be perpendicular to the axis.

  In addition, it can also be used combining each characteristic in said each embodiment and modification.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1a-1g: Earpick, 2: Tip part, 3: Handle part, 4, 4a-4c: Light emission part, 5, 5a: Light guide part, 6, 6a-6b: Light collection part, 7, 7a- 7b: Light condensing part, 8: Scattering part, 9, 9a to 9d: Reflecting mirror, 10: Light guide film, A: Luminescent body.

Claims (11)

A stick-shaped earpick comprising a handle and a tip for scraping ear wax formed at one end of the handle,
An earpick characterized in that a light emitting member is included in the handle. The earpick according to claim 1,
The handle portion and the tip portion are integrally formed,
Other than the light emitting member, the earpick is a translucent light guide member having a higher refractive index than the outside air. The earpick according to claim 1 or 2,
At least a part of the handle is covered with a coating member having a lower refractive index than that of the light guide member. A stick-shaped earpick comprising a handle and a tip for scraping ear wax formed at one end of the handle,
The handle is
A light-emitting portion made of a light-emitting member;
A light guide part formed integrally with the tip part and in contact with the light emitting part at one end opposite to the tip part;
The earpick characterized by comprising: a light-transmitting light guide member having a refractive index higher than that of outside air. The earpick according to claim 4,
An earpick characterized in that a light scattering part provided with fine irregularities for scattering light from the light guide part is formed on at least a part of the tip part. The earpick according to claim 4 or 5,
The earpick characterized in that the light emitting part is formed by bundling a plurality of light emitting members. The earpick according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
The earpick characterized in that the light guide part is formed so that the diameter of the surface in contact with the light emitting part is maximized. The earpick according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
The earpick characterized in that the light emitting part is formed with a light collecting part having a convex curved light receiving surface at one end opposite to the light guiding part. The earpick according to claim 8,
An earpick characterized in that at least a part of the handle part excluding the light receiving surface is covered with a reflection mirror having a mirror structure on the inside. The earpick according to any one of claims 4 to 9,
The earpick characterized in that the light emitting part and the light guiding part are formed to be detachable from each other. The earpick according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The earpick characterized in that the light emitting member is at least one of a phosphorescent member, a fluorescent member, and a mixed member thereof.

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