JP5323182B2 - Interdental brush and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an interdental brush used for cleaning an interdental portion.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-113736 for which it applied to Japan on May 8, 2009, and uses the content here.

  Interdental brush is an intraoral cleaning tool that efficiently removes food residues and plaque sandwiched between interdental parts that are difficult to remove by brushing with a regular toothbrush. It is known to be very effective for prevention.

  Such interdental brushes have a structure in which a plurality of filaments are planted in the brush part, but the number of filaments is reduced (decreased flocking density) in order to improve the insertion between the teeth. As a filament, a method of using soft material hair or thin hair with a small diameter is considered (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, in order to improve the interdental cleaning power, the interdental cleaning tool which formed the interdental insertion part with the synthetic resin is also provided (patent document 3).

JP-A-8-266336 Japanese Patent No. 37044949 JP 2004-209242 A

  However, since the filament is forcibly inserted between the narrow teeth and repeatedly performs the cleaning movement, if the filament of soft material or thin hair is used as the filament, the filament hangs quickly and the durability is poor. was there. In addition, since the durability of the filament is poor, there is also a disadvantage that the cleaning power is weak.

  Moreover, in the interdental cleaning tool which formed the interdental insertion part with the synthetic resin, there existed a problem that the insertion property to an interdental part was bad.

  Under such a background, an interdental brush with high interdental insertability and high interdental cleaning power has been desired, but effective and appropriate ones are not provided as it is difficult to achieve both. Is the actual situation.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an interdental brush having high interdental insertion properties and high interdental cleaning power.

Therefore, the present invention employs the following configuration.
An interdental brush according to the present invention includes a brush portion in which a plurality of filaments are sandwiched between twisted wires, a neck portion that holds a proximal end portion of the wire, and the brush that is interposed through the neck portion. And a handle portion connected to the wire portion, the filament is disposed to be inclined toward the proximal end side of the wire with respect to the wire axis , and the brush portion is formed in a substantially V shape. the filament is sandwiched in the wire which is folded in two, the wire is interdental brush ing been twisted. On the base end side of the wire, an angle formed by the filament with respect to the axis of the wire is in a range of 20 degrees to 60 degrees.
In the method of manufacturing an interdental brush according to the present invention, the filament is formed in a substantially V shape, the filament formed in the substantially V shape is sandwiched between the two folded wires, and the wire is twisted. A method of manufacturing an interdental brush, wherein the brush portion is formed.

In the present invention, since the filament is arranged to be inclined toward the proximal end side of the wire with respect to the axis of the wire, an effect of increasing interdental insertion and interdental cleaning power is obtained.
In other words, in the present invention, since the filament is inclined at a predetermined angle toward the base end side of the wire, the filament is inserted at an acute angle with respect to the insertion direction. As a result, the resistance during insertion can be reduced. Further, when pulling out the interdental brush, the filament is less likely to fall in the direction opposite to the pulling direction, and the tip of the filament is caught between the teeth, so that dirt can be efficiently scraped off.

  Further, in the present invention, on the base end side of the wire, the angle formed by the filament with respect to the axis of the wire is set in a range of 20 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less, so that the interdental brush interdental insertion property and Interdental cleaning power becomes higher.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an interdental brush according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a brush portion of the interdental brush shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view schematically showing a method of forming the brush portion. These are top views which show typically the formation method of a brush part. These are top views which show typically the formation method of a brush part. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a brush portion of an interdental brush according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the interdental brush which is embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the interdental brush 1 of this embodiment includes a brush portion 4 in which a filament 3 is sandwiched between twisted wires 2 and a neck portion 5 that holds a base end portion 2 a of the wire 2. And a handle portion 6 connected to the brush portion 4 via the neck portion 5.

As shown in FIG. 3C, the brush unit 4 sandwiched a bundle of a plurality of filaments 3 continuously or at regular intervals from the tip 2 b side between the wires 2 that are folded in two and twisted together 7. It has a configuration.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filament 3 is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle α toward the base end 2 a side of the wire 2 with respect to the axis of the wire 2.
In particular, the angle α formed by the filament 3 with respect to the axis of the wire 2 is preferably in the range of 20 degrees to 60 degrees.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the brush portion 4 having such a configuration is formed by folding the wire 2 in half and sandwiching the filament 3 formed in a substantially V shape between the two folded wires 2. It is formed by twisting the wire 2.
As another method, first, a linear filament 3 is sandwiched between two folded wires 2 and the wire 2 is twisted to produce a brush portion 4. Thereafter, a conical or cylindrical shape (not shown) is produced. The tube may be covered with the brush portion 4, the filament 3 may be angled, and the shape may be fixed by heat setting. In this case, the filament 3 may be angled before or after the brush portion 4 is embedded in the handle portion 6.

  For the wire 2, a conventionally used metal wire such as stainless steel or Co alloy may be used. The thickness of the wire 2 should just be about 0.23-0.35 mm in diameter like the conventional interdental brush.

For the filament 3, a conventionally used filament may be used. For example, a resin filament such as nylon, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), PTT (polytrimethylene terephthalate), or natural hair such as animal hair is used. Also good.
Moreover, it can also modify | reform within the range which does not impair the characteristic of the filament 3. FIG. For example, heat or light stabilizers, flame retardants, fillers, surface lubricants, antistatic agents, modifiers such as bactericidal materials (antibacterial materials), other hard resins and elastomers, etc. You may mix | blend suitably the seed | species or apply | coat to a monofilament.

The thickness of the filament 3 is preferably in the range of 0.03 to 0.13 mm (1.2 to 5 mil), and in the range of 0.05 to 0.09 mm (2 to 3.5 mil). Is more preferable.
The size of the interdental brush 1 is limited by the size of the interdental gap. Generally, the filament 3 is properly used in accordance with the size of the interdental brush. In consideration, a plurality of filaments 3 having different thicknesses may be combined with one interdental brush 1.
In addition to the thickness, the material, length, color, and cross-sectional shape can be changed.

  The cross-sectional shape of the filament 3 is not only round (circular) but also polygons such as ellipses, triangles and quadrilaterals, stars, trefoil and four-leaf clovers, straight lines, curves, and indefinite shapes combining straight lines and curves. It is also good.

  The hair cutting (or profile) shape of the interdental brush 1 can be arbitrarily set. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the lengths of the filaments 3 are configured to be equal to each other, and the filaments 3 are respectively at the same angle α with respect to the axis of the wire 2 on the proximal end portion 2a side of the wire. It may be inclined and arranged.

The neck portion 5 and the handle portion 6 are integrally formed. The neck part 5 is a part which connects between the handle part 6 and the brush part 4, and the handle part 6 is a part which a user holds.
The material of the neck portion 5 and the handle portion 6 is polystyrene resin (PS), polypropylene resin (PP), polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS), cellulose propionate resin (CP), polyarylate. Resin, saturated polyester resin (PCTA, PCTG), polycarbonate resin (PC), acrylonitrile styrene resin (AS), polyacetal resin (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), biodegradable resin, etc., alone or in combination Can be used. Moreover, it is good also as a multicolor molded handle combining these resins, thermoplastic elastomer, silicon resin, etc. However, it is not necessary to be limited to these materials, and any material can be used as long as it can be used as the neck portion 5 and the handle portion 6.

In the interdental brush 1 having the above-described structure, the filament 3 is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle α toward the base end 2 a side of the wire 2 with respect to the axis of the wire 2. As a result, the effect that interdental insertion property and interdental cleaning force become high is acquired.
In other words, in the present invention, the filament 3 is disposed at a predetermined angle α toward the proximal end portion 2a side of the wire 2, so that the filament 3 is inserted at an acute angle with respect to the insertion direction. As a result, the resistance during insertion can be reduced. Further, when the interdental brush 1 is pulled out, the filament 3 is less likely to fall in the direction opposite to the pulling direction, and the tip of the filament 3 is caught between the teeth, so that dirt can be efficiently scraped off.
Further, since the conventional material can be used without changing the material of the filament 3 to a soft material, the interdental cleaning force does not decrease.

Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the angle (alpha) which the filament 3 makes with respect to the axis line of the wire 2 exists in the range of 20 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less with respect to the base end part 2a side of a wire.
Thereby, the interdental insertion property and the interdental cleaning force of the interdental brush 1 become higher. That is, since the angle α is 20 degrees or more, when the interdental brush 1 is pulled out, the filament 3 is caught between the teeth, and dirt can be scraped more efficiently. Further, since the angle α is 60 degrees or less, the resistance during insertion is smaller, the filament 3 is less likely to fall down on the opposite side in the pulling direction during pulling, and the interdental cleaning power is further increased.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary.
For example, in the present embodiment, the I-shaped interdental brush in which the neck portion 5 is linear and the brush portion is formed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle portion 6 has been described. However, the neck portion is substantially L-shaped. It may be an L-shaped interdental brush in which the brush portion is formed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle portion.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the hair cutting shape of the interdental brush 1 is such that the filament 3 sandwiched between the wires 2 has a hair length in order from the distal end 2 b side to the proximal end portion 2 a side of the wire 2. May be arranged to be longer. Moreover, the filament 3 may be arrange | positioned so that hair length may become long or short in order toward the middle from the front-end | tip 2b side of the wire 2, and the base end part 2a side.

  Hereinafter, the effects of the present invention will be made clearer by examples. In addition, this invention is not limited to a following example, In the range which does not change the summary, it can change suitably and can implement.

As Examples 1 to 4, an interdental brush to which the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 is applied was actually produced. As Comparative Examples 1 to 4, an interdental brush having an angle α of 15 degrees or less and 90 degrees or more. Was actually produced.
Specifically, 300 pieces of nylon hair (filament) having a diameter of 0.25 mm was twisted and planted into a wire having a diameter of 0.24 mm made of the material SUS304, and then cut into a taper shape. Then, the flocked filament was covered with a conical tube and heat set to fix the shape, thereby completing the brush part. Finally, this brush part was embedded in a bitetone interdental brush handle (Lion Corporation) to produce an interdental brush. As shown in Table 1, the angle α formed by the filament with respect to the axis of the wire was in the range of 15 to 120 degrees.
The interdental brush thus obtained was tested for “insertability”, “cleanability” and “use feeling”, and the evaluation shown in Table 1 was obtained.

<Experiment method>
The experiment was conducted in a format in which 20 specialist panelists were allowed to use 10 round trips between appropriate teeth in the oral cavity.
<Evaluation method>
About "insertability", the ease of insertion at the time of interdental insertion was evaluated by the panelist's sensuality. Specifically, the evaluation was made with 1 point for “hard to insert”, 2 points for “neither”, and 3 points for “easy to insert”.
Regarding “cleanability”, the degree of removal of dirt after using an interdental brush by dyeing the interdental stain with a plaque staining solution (DENT. Liquid plaque tester: Lion Co., Ltd.) before using the interdental brush. , And evaluated by panelist sensuality. Specifically, 1 point is given if “stains between teeth are almost left”, 2 points if “slightly dirt between teeth” is left, and 3 points if “slightly dirt between teeth” is left. Rated as a point.
Regarding the “feeling of use”, the panelist's sensory evaluation evaluated the stimulation of toothpaste during insertion and back-and-forth brushing movements, and the presence / absence of pain in the toothpick. Specifically, 1 point is given for “strong toothpick stimulation”, 2 points for “slight toothpick stimulation”, and 3 points for “little toothpick stimulation”. As evaluated.
<Criteria>
For any item, when the average score is 2.5 points or more, it is determined as “A”, and when the average score is 2 points or more and less than 2.5 points, it is determined as “B”. When the number of points was less than 2, it was determined by three stages for determining “C”.

As shown in Table 1, for the insertability, on the proximal end side of the wire, the angle α formed by the filament with respect to the axis of the wire is preferably in the range of 15 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, and 15 degrees or more. More preferably, it is in the range of 60 degrees or less.
As for the cleanability, the angle α formed by the filament with respect to the wire axis on the base end side of the wire is preferably in the range of 20 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, and in the range of 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less. It is more preferable.
Regarding the feeling of use, it is preferable that the angle α formed by the filament with respect to the axis of the wire is in the range of 15 degrees to 70 degrees on the proximal end side of the wire.

  From the above results, it can be seen that, on the base end side of the wire, the angle α formed by the filament with respect to the axis of the wire is preferably less than 90 degrees as compared to 90 degrees or more. Moreover, it turns out that it exists in the range of 20 degree | times or more and 60 degrees or less.

  Since the interdental brush of the present invention has high interdental insertion and interdental cleaning power, it is useful for preventing periodontal disease.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Interdental brush 2 Wire 2a Wire base end part 3 Filament 4 Brush part 5 Neck part 6 Handle part
7 Between the wires

Claims (3)

A brush portion in which a plurality of filaments are sandwiched between each twisted wire;
A neck that holds the proximal end of the wire;
A handle portion connected to the brush portion via the neck portion,
The filament is arranged to be inclined toward the proximal end side of the wire with respect to the axis of the wire ,
The brush section, the filament formed into a substantially V-shape is sandwiched by the wire which is folded in two, interdental brushes, wherein the wire is such is twisted Rukoto.   The interdental brush according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed by the filament with respect to an axis of the wire is in a range of 20 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less on the proximal end side of the wire. The filament is formed in a substantially V shape, the filament formed in the substantially V shape is sandwiched between the two folded wires, and the wire is twisted to form the brush portion. The manufacturing method of the interdental brush of Claim 1 or 2.

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