JP4548983B2 - toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toothbrush in which a plurality of tufts made of a plurality of bristles are implanted in a flocking table.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
A toothbrush is formed by planting and fixing a tuft formed by bundling bristles by a method of driving a flat wire into a plurality of flock holes provided in a flocking table or fusing them with heat. Also, tufts are generally planted perpendicular to the flocking table, but for the purpose of improving the cleaning effect and improving the feel of brushing, a part or all of the tufts are tilted and planted. The provided toothbrush is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-6821, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-88325, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-34591, and the like.
[0003]
The toothbrushes described in these publications tilt the tuft mainly in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-6821) or in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-88325). ), Tilting in the center direction (refer to Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-34591), the effect of tilting the tuft can be obtained only in a specific direction, or the hair ends of adjacent tufts are In some cases, the effects of tilting cannot be obtained sufficiently due to interference.
[0004]
The present invention is less likely to cause interference between adjacent tuft tips at the time of brushing, and has the effect of increasing the contact stress of the bristle to the interdental part and the tooth surface and the effect of improving the interdental part reachability. It aims at providing the toothbrush which can be exhibited.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a toothbrush in which a plurality of tufts composed of a plurality of bristles are planted on a flocking table, and are provided with at least two tuft rows adjacent to each other, each comprising a plurality of tufts tilted in the same direction. The center lines of the tuft rows are substantially parallel to each other and have a crossing angle of 10 to 80 degrees, 100 to 170 degrees, -10 to -80 degrees, or -100 to -170 degrees with respect to the longitudinal center line of the toothbrush. The tufts constituting one tuft row and the tufts constituting the other tuft row in the two adjacent tuft rows are opposite to each other in a direction intersecting the longitudinal center line. The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a toothbrush that is tilted and implanted. Here, the term “substantially parallel” in the above description includes both being exactly parallel and being substantially parallel.
[0006]
According to the toothbrush of the present invention, the adjacent two tuft rows tilted to the opposite side are substantially parallel to each other, so that interference between the adjacent tuft tips is less likely to occur at the time of brushing. Further, the tufts constituting two adjacent tuft rows are inclined to the opposite side, and these tufts are 10 to 80 degrees, 100 to 170 degrees, -10 to -80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal center line of the toothbrush. , Or in a direction intersecting at an intersection angle of −100 to −170 degrees, each tuft tilts in both the toothbrush brushing direction and the direction perpendicular to the brushing direction. Therefore, the effect of increasing the contact stress of the bristle to the interdental part and the tooth surface due to tilting in the brushing direction and the interdental part arrival rate due to tilting in the direction perpendicular to the brushing direction are reduced. Both of the improving effects can be fully exhibited.
[0007]
In addition, when the crossing angle of each tuft row with respect to the longitudinal center line of the toothbrush is 80 to 100 degrees or −80 to −100 degrees, the contact stress of the bristle to the interdental tooth surface is increased. The tilting effect in the direction perpendicular to the brushing direction, which improves the reach of the interdental portion of the bristle, is not sufficiently exhibited when the tilting effect is not sufficiently exhibited. Become.
[0008]
In addition, according to the toothbrush of the present invention, if substantially all of the plurality of tufts planted on the flocking table constitute a tuft row composed of tufts tilted in the same direction, the above-described effects are remarkably achieved. However, even when only a part of the plurality of tufts planted on the flocking table constitutes a tuft row composed of tufts tilted in the same direction, the same effect can be obtained. Here, “substantially all” in the above description includes both of all the plurality of implanted tufts and substantially all being tilted.
[0009]
If the tufts planted on the toothbrush flocking table are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line of the toothbrush, both the upper jaw and the lower jaw can be polished evenly. Can achieve the effect of good balance.
[0010]
In addition, the tilt angles of a plurality of tufts constituting each tuft row may be a fixed angle or may be different without being set to a fixed angle. Regardless of the brushing speed, it is possible to sufficiently exhibit the above-described effects by tilting the tuft regardless of the polishing method.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the toothbrush 10 according to the present embodiment bundles a plurality of bristle 11 on a flocking table 14 of a toothbrush body including a gripping part (not shown), a flocking table 14, and a neck 15 connecting them. A plurality of tufts (brissle bundles) 12 configured as described above are implanted.
[0012]
Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the tufts 12 that are planted on the flocking table 14 are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center line C in the longitudinal direction X of the toothbrush 10. ing. And each area | region of the flocking table 14 divided into 2 symmetrically on both sides of the centerline C is adjacently provided with 5 rows of tuft rows 13 and 13 'composed of a plurality of tufts 12 inclined in the same direction. The center lines Y and Y ′ of the adjacent tuft rows 13 and 13 ′ are parallel to each other. The center lines Y and Y ′ of the tuft rows 13 and 13 ′ are center lines of the tuft row 13 disposed on the lower side in FIG. 2 from the reference line when the longitudinal center line C is viewed in the rear end direction of the toothbrush 10. Y intersects at an intersecting angle θ of 30 degrees clockwise (-150 degrees clockwise from the reference line when the longitudinal center line C is viewed in the direction of the tip of the toothbrush 10), and is arranged on the upper side of FIG. The center line Y ′ of the tuft row 13 ′ thus positioned is symmetrical to the center line Y of the tuft row 13 disposed on the lower side, and is rotated −30 degrees clockwise (the longitudinal center line C is the tip of the toothbrush 10). It intersects at a crossing angle θ ′ of 150 degrees clockwise from the reference line viewed in the direction. Further, the tuft 12 constituting one tuft row 13, 13 'and the tuft constituting the other tuft row 13, 13' in each two adjacent tuft rows 13, 13 'are as shown in FIG. The tufts 13 and 13 ′ intersecting the longitudinal center line C are planted so as to be inclined to the opposite side along the center lines Y and Y ′.
[0013]
The toothbrush body is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or ABS resin, and a total of 28 flocking holes 16 are arranged on the surface of the flocking table 14 so as to be symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line C. Evenly distributed. Each flock hole 16 has a cross-sectional shape such as a circle or a rectangle with a hole diameter of about 0.8 to 3.0 mm, and the interval m between the tufts 12 in each tuft row 13 and 13 ′ is 1.5. Openings are formed at a pitch such that the interval n between the tuft rows 13 and 13 'is about 1.5 to 4.0 mm. Then, tufts 12 are implanted in each flocked hole 16 by flat flocking by driving a flat wire, or by adhesive flocking by a heat fusion method or an in-mold method.
[0014]
The bristle 11 constituting each tuft 12 is a filament material made of a synthetic resin such as nylon and having a thickness of, for example, 0.1 to 0.3 mm. Each tuft is bundled by, for example, several to several hundreds. 12 is formed.
[0015]
Each tuft 12 is planted with a bristle length of about 7.0 to 14.0 mm from the surface of the flocking table 14, and is 30 degrees clockwise with respect to the longitudinal center line C of the toothbrush 10 as described above. Two or three tufts 12 are continuously arranged along center lines Y and Y ′ extending in a direction intersecting at an intersecting angle θ and θ ′ of −30 degrees, whereby five tuft rows 13 are arranged. , 13 ′ are formed in each region of the flocking table 14 divided into two. The tufts 12 are planted in the same direction along the center lines Y and Y ′ in the respective tuft rows 13 and 13 ′ in a state tilted at a constant tilt angle of about 2 to 20 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. In addition, as described above, the tuft 12 constituting one tuft row 13, 13 ′ and the tuft constituting the other tuft row 13, 13 ′ in each two adjacent tuft rows 13, 13 ′ Is planted tilted to the opposite side.
[0016]
Moreover, according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, all the several tufts 12 planted by the flocking table 14 comprise the tuft row | line | columns 13 and 13 'which consist of the tuft 12 inclined in the same direction. It has become a thing. In FIG. 2, each small circle indicates the position of the root portion of the tuft 12, and the arrow in the small circle indicates the direction in which the tuft 12 is tilted.
[0017]
And according to the toothbrush 10 of this embodiment, interference of the bristles of the tuft 12 adjacent at the time of brushing does not occur easily, the effect of increasing the contact stress of the bristle 11 to the interdental part and the tooth surface, and the interdental part The effect of improving the arrival rate can be sufficiently exhibited. That is, according to the present embodiment, the adjacent two tuft rows 13 and 13 'inclined to the opposite side are substantially parallel to each other, and therefore, the interference of the hair tips of the adjacent tufts 13 and 13' during the brushing is performed. Is less likely to occur. Further, the tufts 12 constituting the two adjacent tuft rows 13 and 13 ′ are inclined to the opposite side, and these tufts 12 are 30 degrees or −30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal center line C of the toothbrush 10. Since they are arranged in a direction intersecting at the intersecting angles θ and θ ′, each tuft 12 is inclined in both the toothbrush brushing direction and the direction perpendicular to the brushing direction. Therefore, the effect of increasing the contact stress of the bristle 11 to the interdental part and the tooth surface due to the tilt in the brushing direction and the effect of improving the interdental part arrival rate by the tilt in the direction perpendicular to the brushing direction. It is possible to fully exhibit both.
[0018]
Moreover, according to the toothbrush 10 of this embodiment, since the plurality of tufts 12 planted on the flocking table 14 are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line C of the toothbrush 10, The upper and lower jaws can be evenly polished, and the effect of being well balanced visually is obtained.
[0019]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, it is not always necessary to make the tilt angle of the tufts in each tuft row constant, and the tufts may be tilted at different angles as appropriate. Further, the number of tufts composed of a plurality of tufts tilted in the direction intersecting the longitudinal center line of the toothbrush is not necessarily five as long as it is two or more. Also, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), only a part of the bristle 12 can be tilted in the intersecting direction, and as shown in FIG. It can also arrange | position so that it may become an asymmetrical form on both sides. Furthermore, the crossing angle of the tuft row with respect to the longitudinal center line is not necessarily 30 degrees or −30 degrees.
[0020]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the toothbrush of this invention is demonstrated still in detail by Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3.
[0021]
[Example 1]
About the toothbrush of Example 1 which has the structure similar to the toothbrush 10 of the said embodiment, the plaque removal rate and the interdental part arrival rate were evaluated by the model evaluation mentioned later. In addition, 203 μm (8 mil) bristle made of nylon 6-12 was used as a bristle, and 36 pieces were tufted together. In addition, each tuft was implanted in a circular flock hole having a diameter of 1.6 mm with a hair length of 10.5 mm and an inclination angle of 5 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. The evaluation results are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and (b).
[0022]
[Comparative Example 1]
About the toothbrush of the comparative example 1 each implanted so that it may become substantially perpendicular to the flocking table without tilting the tuft in the plurality of flocking holes arranged as shown in FIG. The plaque removal rate and the interdental arrival rate were evaluated. In addition, 203 μm (8 mil) bristle made of nylon 6-12 was used as a bristle, and 36 pieces were tufted together. Each tuft was implanted with a hair length of 10.5 mm in a circular planting hole having a diameter of 1.6 mm. The evaluation results are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and (b).
[0023]
[Comparative Example 2]
Comparative Example 2 in which tufts are respectively implanted in a plurality of flock holes arranged as shown in FIG. 5 (b) in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the toothbrush in a direction indicated by an arrow. About the toothbrush, the plaque removal rate and the interdental portion arrival rate were evaluated by model evaluation described later. In addition, 203 μm (8 mil) bristle made of nylon 6-12 was used as a bristle, and 36 pieces were tufted together. In addition, each tuft was implanted in a circular flock hole having a diameter of 1.6 mm with a hair length of 10.5 mm and an inclination angle of 5 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. The evaluation results are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and (b).
[0024]
[Comparative Example 3]
With respect to the toothbrushes of Comparative Example 3 in which the tufts are respectively implanted by tilting in the direction indicated by the arrow in the longitudinal direction X of the toothbrush in the plurality of flock holes arranged as shown in FIG. The plaque removal rate and interdental arrival rate were evaluated. In addition, 203 μm (8 mil) bristle made of nylon 6-12 was used as a bristle, and 36 pieces were tufted together. In addition, each tuft was implanted in a circular flock hole having a diameter of 1.6 mm with a hair length of 10.5 mm and an inclination angle of 5 degrees with respect to the vertical direction. The evaluation results are shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and (b).
[0025]
[Model evaluation]
Two pieces of aluminum block with corners on one side processed into an arc-shaped curved surface with a radius of 4 mm were prepared, and the molar-shaped curved surface portion formed when they were brought into close contact with each other symmetrically was used as an interdental model. . A transparent film coated with a paint with a uniform thickness was attached to the curved surface portion, and brushing using a brushing machine was performed to quantitatively confirm the cleaning effect of the toothbrushes of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3. . The brushing load is 300 g, the brushing speed is 2 times / second, and the brushing width is 30 mm. The tip of the toothbrush is set to be in contact with the upper surface of the interdental model, and the reciprocating motion is performed for 1 minute in the presence of dentifrice. It was. After the test, the film is taken out and placed on a flat surface, and the geometrical characteristic values (area and reach depth of the hair tip) of the part where the paint is peeled off are calculated by image analysis. The plaque removal rate and the interdental portion arrival rate were obtained from a predetermined calculation formula such as / (area of the entire evaluation region) × 100 (%).
[0026]
From the evaluation results shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it was found that the toothbrush of Example 1 according to the present invention can provide good results for both the plaque removal rate and the interdental portion arrival rate.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the toothbrush of the present invention, interference between adjacent tuft tips at the time of brushing hardly occurs, the effect of increasing the contact stress of the bristle to the interdental part and the tooth surface, and the effect of improving the interdental part reachability Can be fully exhibited.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of a toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a situation where a tuft is tilted and planted.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a main part of a modification of the toothbrush of the present invention.
FIGS. 5A to 5B are plan views showing main parts of toothbrushes according to comparative examples 1 to 3. FIGS.
6A is a chart showing evaluation results of plaque removal rates of the toothbrushes of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 by model evaluation, and FIG. 6B is a chart showing evaluation results of interdental portion arrival rates. It is.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Toothbrush 11 Bristle 12 Tuft 13, 13 'Tuft row 14 Flocking table 15 Neck part 16 Flocking hole C Longitudinal center line X Longitudinal direction Y, Y' Center line θ of tuft row, θ 'Longitudinal direction of center line of tuft row Intersection angle with respect to the center line

Claims (4)

In a toothbrush in which a plurality of tufts consisting of a plurality of bristles are implanted in a flocking table,
At least two rows along the centerline in a direction that intersects at a crossing angle of 10 to 80 degrees, 100 to 170 degrees, -10 to -80 degrees, or -100 to -170 degrees with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the toothbrush Adjacent tuft rows are each provided with a plurality of tufts,
The center lines of the at least two adjacent tuft rows are substantially parallel to each other, and the plurality of tufts constituting each tuft row are inclined in the same direction along each center line, and each adjacent 2 A toothbrush in which a tuft constituting one tuft row and a tuft constituting the other tuft row in a row of tuft rows are implanted so as to be inclined to the opposite side along a direction intersecting the longitudinal center line. 2. The brush according to claim 1, wherein substantially all of the plurality of tufts planted on the toothbrush base of the toothbrush constitute the at least two adjacent tuft rows.   The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of tufts planted on the toothbrush table of the toothbrush are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal center line of the toothbrush. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an inclination angle of tufts constituting the at least two adjacent tuft rows is 2 to 20 degrees with respect to a direction perpendicular to the flocking table .

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