JP4632608B2 - Toothbrush manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for producing a toothbrush made of a flocked portion in which a plurality of bristle tufts are planted, a handle portion for gripping by the hand, neck which connects the the flocked portion handle portion.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
The toothbrush is constituted by a flocked portion where a plurality of hair bundles are flocked, a handle portion gripped by a hand, and a neck portion connecting the handle portion and the flocked portion. Moreover, it is preferable that the toothbrush is formed by integrally molding the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the handle portion using a resin in terms of strength, moldability, and the like. On the other hand, for example, as the material of the hair transplantation part, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of cracking due to the flat wire driven when the hair bundle is implanted, and it is strong without being affected by chemicals such as fragrances contained in alcohol and dentifrice. It is necessary to select a material having physical properties that do not cause deterioration. In addition, for example, as a material for the neck portion, it is necessary to select a material having physical properties that do not cause damage due to fatigue even if the bending stress due to the moment force when pressing the flocked portion during tooth brushing is repeatedly received.
[0003]
Therefore, in the conventional toothbrush, the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the handle portion are integrally molded using a polyolefin-based resin such as polypropylene so that these conditions can be satisfied. However, these resins are opaque. Since it is a resin, it has a low designability, and it has been difficult to impart a tasteful aesthetic to the toothbrush. In order to improve the design, toothbrushes with a handle such as a picture or pattern printed on the handle or a colored elastomer attached to the handle for improved gripping can also be seen. Therefore, there is a limit to the improvement in design properties.
[0004]
In contrast, toothbrushes in which a flocked portion, a neck portion, and a handle portion are integrally formed using a highly transparent resin such as saturated polyester, acrylonitrile styrene resin, and cellulose acetate are commercially available. Such toothbrushes are excellent in design due to their transparency due to the use of a transparent resin, while these resins are vulnerable to repeated stresses and the neck is easily broken during use. Moreover, it is also known that the intensity | strength falls easily under the influence of chemicals, such as a fragrance | flavor contained in alcohol or a dentifrice, and the flocked part of a toothbrush may be broken during use.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a toothbrush that can easily improve design properties due to a sense of transparency and is excellent in resistance to chemicals and fatigue resistance against repeated stress.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes a flocked portion in which a plurality of bristle tufts are planted, a handle portion for gripping by the hand, Ri Do from neck which connects the bristles portion and the handle portion, the flocked portion, said neck portion and said handle portion The base is integrally molded using a polyolefin-based resin, and the base of the handle portion is a saturated polyester-based resin or polystyrene-based or polyolefin-based resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more. A method of manufacturing a toothbrush in which an elastomer is embedded and exposed on the surface of the handle part, and after the resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more is molded into a size and shape corresponding to an opening hole, the light The base of the flocked part, the neck part, and the handle part is integrally molded using the polyolefin-based resin while a resin having a transmittance of 70% or more is wound inside the base. By providing a method for manufacturing a brush, in which to achieve the above objects.
[0007]
The handle base in the above description is a part that is molded integrally with these using the same resin as the flocked part and the neck part, and is a part that exhibits strength as a main part of the handle part, and is at least manually from the neck part of the toothbrush. It is provided continuously over the entire length of the gripping length.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a toothbrush 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the toothbrush manufacturing method of the present invention is gripped by a flocked portion 11 in which a plurality of hair bundles 14 are flocked and by hand. And a neck portion 13 that connects the flocked portion 11 and the handle portion 12. The base 15 of the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the handle portion 12 is integrally formed using, for example, an opaque resin 16 having a light transmittance of 30% or less, and is formed on the base 15 of the handle portion 12. The transparent resin 17 (including translucent resin) having a high light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded and exposed on the surface of the handle portion 12.
[0009]
Further, according to the first embodiment, the base 15 of the handle portion 12 is provided with the opening hole 18 formed through the front and back of the handle portion 12 so as to fill the opening hole 18. Thus, the transparent resin 17 having the light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded in the base 15.
[0010]
The flocking table 11 is a portion where a plurality of hair bundles 14 formed by bundling a plurality of bristles are flocked. According to the first embodiment, a plurality of flocked holes formed on the flocking table 11 are, for example, Each hair bundle 14 is implanted by a method of driving a flat wire. Further, the flocking table 11 is a portion where a dentifrice is applied to the hair bundle 14 during brushing and is inserted into the oral cavity for cleaning, and has resistance to chemicals such as fragrances contained in the dentifrice. Need to be.
[0011]
The handle portion 12 includes an opening hole 18 having an elongated oval flat cross-sectional shape inside, and includes a base 15 formed in an annular shape and a transparent resin 17 embedded in the opening hole 18. The portion that is provided continuously from the neck portion 13 of the toothbrush 10 to the entire length of the handle portion 12 so as to surround the transparent resin 17, and serves as a main body of the handle portion 12 and exhibits the strength of the handle portion 12.
[0012]
The neck portion 13 is interposed between the flocked portion 11 and the handle portion 12, and transmits the load when pressing the flocked portion 11 against the tooth surface or the like when brushing the teeth to be supported by the handle portion 12. It is necessary to have fatigue resistance that does not cause breakage due to fatigue even if it is subjected to bending stress due to moment force repeatedly.
[0013]
According to the first embodiment, in view of these physical properties such as resistance and fatigue resistance and efficient moldability, the flocking table 11, the neck portion 13, and the base 15 of the handle portion 12 are made of an opaque resin. 16 is integrally molded. Here, as the opaque resin 16, a polyolefin-based resin such as polypropylene, which is an inexpensive and general-purpose resin, is used. Moreover, even if it has some transparency like some polypropylene and low density polyethylene, it does not matter as long as it has the above-mentioned physical properties.
[0014]
Further, according to the first embodiment, the transparent resin 17 having a light transmittance of 70% or more embedded so as to fill the opening hole 18 of the handle portion 12 is a saturated polyester type such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate. Polystyrene-based or polyolefin-based elastomers such as these resins, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, and propylene rubber are used.
[0015]
The transparent resin 17 having a light transmittance of 70% or more is preferably used in an appropriate color in order to improve design properties. In addition, it is particularly preferable to use a resin having a light transmittance of 85% or more before coloring as the transparent resin 17 in order to effectively enhance the improvement in design properties due to the transparency. Further, the thickness of the transparent resin 17 to be embedded is preferably about 5 mm to 15 mm if the resin has a light transmittance of 85% or more. If it is 5 mm or less, the rigidity of the handle will be low, and if it is 15 mm or more, the transparency will be inferior and molding will be difficult, and it will be difficult to hold when using it. When the light transmittance is 75% or more and less than 85%, the thickness is preferably 5 mm to 10 mm.
[0016]
According to the first embodiment, as a method of embedding the transparent resin 17 in the base 15 of the handle portion 12 so as to fill the opening hole 18, the transparent resin 17 has a size and shape corresponding to the opening hole 18. A method of forming the base 15 of the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the handle portion 12 with the opaque resin 16 while the transparent resin 17 is wound inside the base 15 after the molding can be adopted. In such a manufacturing method , the transparent resin 17 is embedded by using the shrinkage at the time of curing of the opaque resin 16 so that the transparent resin 17 is transparent in the opening hole 18 even when the adhesion between the opaque resin 16 and the transparent resin 17 is poor. The base 17 and the transparent resin 17 can be firmly bonded by filling the resin 17 without a gap .
[0017]
And according to the toothbrush 10 of this 1st Embodiment, while improving the designability by a transparent feeling can be aimed at easily, the resistance with respect to chemicals and the fatigue resistance with respect to a repeated stress can be exhibited easily. . That is, according to the first embodiment, since the transparent resin 17 is embedded in the base 15 of the handle portion 12 and exposed on the surface of the handle portion 12, the transparency of the transparent resin 17 is excellent. In addition, the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the base 15 of the handle portion 12 are integrally formed using the opaque resin 16, and the opaque resin 16 is sufficient for chemicals. Resistance and sufficient fatigue resistance against repeated stress can be provided.
[0018]
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a toothbrush 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. According to the second embodiment, the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the base 25 of the handle portion 22 are integrally formed using the opaque resin 16, and the handle 25 has a handle 25 on the base 25. Opening holes 28a and 28b formed through the front and back of the portion 22 are provided at two locations, and light transmittances colored in different colors are obtained by filling the opening holes 28a and 28b, respectively. 70% or more of transparent resins 27 a and 27 b are embedded in the base 25.
[0019]
Even with the toothbrush 20 of the second embodiment of the present invention, the same effects as those of the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment are obtained, and the transparent resins 27a and 27b are colored in different colors, so that it is further rich. It will have an aesthetic appearance.
[0020]
3A and 3B show a toothbrush 30 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. According to the third embodiment, the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the base 35 of the handle portion 32 are integrally formed using the opaque resin 16, and the base 35 of the handle portion 32 has the base 35. A transparent resin 37 having a light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded so as to fill a pair of belt-like grooves 38 formed along the longitudinal direction, and the surface of the handle portion 32 is exposed in a stripe shape.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows a toothbrush 40 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to the fourth embodiment, the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the base 45 of the handle portion 42 are integrally formed using the opaque resin 16, and the base 45 of the handle portion 42 has a heart shape. A transparent resin 47 having a light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded so as to fill the three holes 48 formed in the shape pattern, and is expressed as a heart-shaped pattern on the surface of the handle portion 42.
[0022]
FIG. 5 shows a toothbrush 50 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to the fifth embodiment, the base portion 55 of the flocked portion 11, the neck portion 13, and the handle portion 52 is integrally molded using the opaque resin 16, and the base 55 of the handle portion 52 has no light. A transparent resin 57 having a transmittance of 70% or more is embedded and exposed on the surface of the handle portion 52, and the light transmittance is not limited to a portion of the base 55 so as not to overlap the transparent resin 57. As an elastomer, a colored elastomer 59 is attached via, for example, injection molding or an adhesive. In addition, as the elastomer 59, the above-mentioned polystyrene-based or polyolefin-based elastomer can be used in addition to natural rubber, polyisoprene rubber, silicon rubber and the like.
[0023]
The toothbrushes 30, 40, 50 of the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments have the same operational effects as the toothbrush 10 of the first embodiment, and particularly according to the toothbrush 50 of the fifth embodiment. The grip of the handle portion 52 can be improved by the elastomer 59, and the harmony between the colored elastomer 59 and the transparent resin 57 provides a more pleasing aesthetic appearance.
[0024]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, the toothbrush of the present invention does not necessarily have to be flocked on the flocking table by flat line flocking, and may be a toothbrush in which the bunch is flocked by fusion flocking or the like. Further, the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the handle portion do not necessarily have to be continuous through the stepped portion, and may be integrally formed with, for example, substantially the same cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, the resin that integrally forms the base of the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the handle portion need not be an opaque resin as long as it is a resin that can ensure resistance to chemicals and fatigue resistance against repeated stress, and is not necessarily transparent. It may be a resin having properties.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to a toothbrush manufactured by the manufacturing method of the toothbrush of the present invention, it is possible to easily improved in design due to transparency, it is excellent in fatigue resistance against resistant and repeated stress for chemicals.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B show a toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a side view.
2A and 2B show a toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a side view.
3A and 3B show a toothbrush according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a side view.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a toothbrush according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a toothbrush according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 Toothbrush 11 Flocked portion 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 Handle portion 13 Neck portion 14 Hair bundle 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 Base of handle portion 16 Opaque resin 17, 27a, 27b Transparent resin (light transmittance of 70% or more)
18, 28a, 28b Opening hole 19 Boundary portion 37, 47, 57 between teeth and gums Transparent resin (resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more)
38 Belt groove 48 Hole 59 Elastomer

Claims (5)

It consists of a flocked part in which a plurality of hair bundles are flocked, a handle part gripped by hand, and a neck part connecting the flocked part and the handle part, and the base of the flocked part, the neck part, and the handle part is a polyolefin. It is molded as a single unit using a resin of the system, and a saturated polyester resin is embedded in the base of the handle part as a resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more and is exposed on the surface of the handle part. A method of manufacturing a toothbrush,
Size corresponding to the opening hole, after which the light transmittance was molded more than 70% saturated polyester resin in a shape, the resin of the light transmittance of the saturated polyester of 70% or more to the inside of the base A toothbrush manufacturing method in which a base of the flocked portion, the neck portion, and the handle portion is integrally formed using the polyolefin-based resin while being wound. The saturated polyester resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more is embedded in the base so as to fill an opening hole formed in the base through the front and back of the handle portion. A method for producing the toothbrush according to claim 1. The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an elastomer having no light transmittance is attached to a base of the handle portion at a position where the light transmittance does not overlap with a saturated polyester resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more. Production method. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the saturated polyester resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more is a resin having a light transmittance of 85% or more, and a thickness to be embedded is 5 mm to 15 mm. Production method. The saturated polyester resin having a light transmittance of 70% or more is a resin having a light transmittance of 75% or more and less than 85%, and the embedded thickness is 5 mm to 10 mm. Method of manufacturing a toothbrush.

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