JP6117463B2 - toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toothbrush.

In a toothbrush, in order to improve the cleanability which is the basic performance, for example, the density of flocked hair, the hair length of the hair, the diameter of the hair bundle (hair bundle) may be adjusted.
For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to obtain a soft feel while increasing plaque removal power, the center region rather than the hair bundle planted in the center region of the flocked surface (hereinafter referred to as “center region”). In addition, it is disclosed that the bundle diameter of the hair bundle planted in the outer region (hereinafter referred to as “outer region”) is reduced and the hair length is lowered.
In Patent Document 2, in order to improve plaque removal force and stain removal property, the flock density in the central region is made higher than the flock density in the outer region, and the hair length of the central region is set to the hair length of the outer region. It is disclosed to make it lower than the hair length.
In Patent Document 3, in order to increase the cleaning feeling when vibrating by plaque removal force and electric drive, the hair density in the central region is made higher than the hair density in the outer region, and the hair length of the hair bundle in the central region. Is made higher than the hair length of the outer region.

Usually, a dentifrice is used in toothpaste. The faster the dentifrice foams, the smaller the foam diameter, the higher the penetration of the active ingredient into the gums (hereinafter, depending on the speed of foaming and the foam diameter). The degree of foaming evaluated is referred to as “foaming”.) Therefore, there is a demand for not only improving the foaming property of the dentifrice itself but also improving the foaming property of the dentifrice with respect to the toothbrush. For example, in the toothbrushes described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, it is difficult to sufficiently increase the foaming property of the dentifrice.
As a toothbrush which improves the foaming property of dentifrice, what specified the outline shape of the whole hair | bristle bundle provided in the flocked surface is proposed (refer patent document 4).
However, the toothbrush described in Patent Document 4 does not have a sufficient feeling when brushing teeth (such as a brushing feeling that can be brushed to every corner of the oral cavity, a feeling of hitting the gums, etc.).

JP 2001-353025 A Registered Utility Model No. 3146543 Registered Utility Model No. 3148337 JP 2003-250632 A

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the toothbrush which is excellent in both the foamability and the usability | use_condition of a dentifrice.

The present invention has the following aspects.
[1] In a toothbrush in which a hair bundle obtained by bundling a plurality of bristles is planted in a plurality of flock holes provided on a flocked surface, the region is 0.4 to 1.0 cm ² including the center of the flocked surface. A high-density flocking region having a flocking density of 40% or more and 70% or less and a flocking number of 900 to 3,000 / cm ² and a flocking density of 20% or more and less than 40% arranged around the high-density flocking region. A toothbrush comprising a low-density flocked region.
[2] The toothbrush according to [1], wherein the hair bundle in the low-density flocked region has a tapered hair, and the hair bundle in the high-density flocked region has a straight hair.
[3] the density Hair length _{L b} of the tufts in the bristle region longer than Hair length _{L a} of the tufts in the low-density flocked regions, the bristles length difference _(L b -L _a) is 0.5 The toothbrush according to [1] or [2], which is 2.0 mm.
[4] The toothbrush according to any one of [1] to [3], which vibrates when electrically driven.

  The toothbrush of the present invention is excellent in both foaming property and feeling of use of the dentifrice.

It is a side view which shows one Embodiment of the toothbrush of this invention. It is a top view which shows the flocking surface of the head part which comprises the toothbrush of FIG.

An embodiment of the toothbrush of the present invention will be described.
The toothbrush of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment includes a head portion 10 in which a hair bundle 11 in which a plurality of bristles are bundled is planted, and a long handle portion 20 (hereinafter referred to as a head portion and a handle portion) extended to the head portion 10. And the handle body).

The handle body is integrally formed in a long shape as a whole. For example, the handle body is obtained by injection molding using a resin as a material.
As the material of the handle body, polypropylene resin (PP), polyacetal resin (POM), polystyrene resin (PS), polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS), polarate resin, polycarbonate resin, acrylonitrile styrene resin (AS) etc. are mentioned. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
Further, the handle body may be partially or wholly covered with a flexible resin such as an elastomer in order to improve gripping properties.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a large number of staggered flocking holes 13 a and 13 b are formed on the elliptical flocked surface 12 of the head portion 10, and hair bundles are flocked to the flocked holes 13 a and 13 b. Has been. The flocking holes 13 a and 13 b have circular openings, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 10.
In addition, the flocked surface 12 has a high-density flocked region 12a composed of a substantially hexagonal central region of 0.4 to 1.0 cm ² including the center thereof, around the high-density flocked region 12a, and on the edge of the flocked surface 12. And an annular low-density flocked region 12b disposed along the same.
If the area of the high-density flocked region 12a is less than the lower limit value, foamability may not be exhibited. If the upper limit value is exceeded, the location of the low-density flocked region 12b cannot be secured on the flocked surface 12. The area of the high-density flocked region 12a is preferably 0.4 to 1.0 cm ² , more preferably 0.45 to 0.8 cm ² .
Moreover, it is preferable that the area ratio of the high-density flocking area | region 12a in the flocking surface 12 is 40 to 70%, and it is more preferable that it is 50 to 70%. If the area ratio of the high-density flocked region 12a is equal to or higher than the lower limit value, the foaming property is higher, and if it is equal to or lower than the upper limit value, the feeling of use is higher.
Moreover, in the high-density hair transplantation area | region 12a, it is preferable that the length of the head part 10 in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction is 60 to 85% of the length of the hair transplantation area from the base end to the tip end of the head part 10. . Moreover, in the high-density hair transplantation area | region 12a, it is preferable that the length of the short direction of the head part 10 and a parallel direction is 35 to 50% of the width | variety of a hair transplantation area | region. Incidentally, flocking area is an area surrounded by the imaginary line T ₂ obtained when connecting the outermost portion of the hole edge of the flocking holes 13b of the outermost.

The high-density flocking region 12a is a region where the flocking density is 40% or more and 70% or less and the number of flocking is 900 to 3000 / cm ² . Here, the number of flocks refers to the number of hairs protruding from the flocked surface 12, and is a multiple of the number of hairs. The flocking density of the high-density flocked region 12a is a value obtained by the formula [total area of flocked holes 13a in the high-density flocked region 12a / area of the high-density flocked region 12a] × 100 (%). The flocked hole 13a of the high-density flocked region 12a is a flocked hole other than the flocked hole 13b adjacent to the edge of the flocked surface 12, and the center is arranged within the range of the high-density flocked region 12a. Area of high density planting area 12a is an area of a region surrounded by the imaginary line T ₁ obtained when connecting the outermost portion of each hole edge of the planting pores 13a. The imaginary line _{T 1} is adjacent flocking holes 13a, constitutes a tangent 13a to each other.
When the flocking density in the high-density flocking region 12a is less than the lower limit value, foaming properties are insufficient, and when the upper limit value is exceeded, the hair bundle 11 becomes too dense and difficult to bend, so that the feeling of use is impaired. .
When the number of flocks in the high-density flocked region 12a is less than the lower limit, foaming properties are insufficient, and when the number exceeds the upper limit, it is difficult to produce hair having a fineness corresponding to the number. At the same time, it becomes difficult to obtain a sufficient cleaning feeling.
Moreover, it is preferable that the flocking density of the high-density flocking area | region 12a is 40 to 70%, and it is more preferable that it is 50 to 70%. Preferably flocking number of high-density flocking area 12a is 900 to 3000 present / cm ^2, more preferably from 900 to 2,100 present / cm ^2.

The low density flocked region 12b is a region having a flocked density of 20% or more and less than 40%. Here, the flocking density of the low-density flocking region 12b is a value obtained by the equation [total area of flocking holes 13b in the low-density flocking region / area of the low-density flocking region 12b] × 100 (%). Area of low-density flocked area 12b is an area of the region surrounded by the imaginary line T ₂ and the virtual line T _3. Phantom line T ₂ are are lines obtained by outermost portion of the hole edge of the outermost of each bristle holes 13b of the flocking holes 13b adjacent to the edge of the flocked surfaces 12, when the connecting so as not to zigzag. Phantom line T ₃ is a line the innermost portion of the hole edge of the innermost of each bristle holes 13b, obtained when the connecting so as not to zigzag within the planting pores 13b.
Even if the flocking density in the low-density flocking region 12b is less than the lower limit value or exceeds the upper limit value, the feeling of use is impaired.
Moreover, it is preferable that the flocking density of the low-density flocking region 12b is 20 to 40%, and more preferably 30 to 40%.
Preferably flocking number in the low-density flocking region 12b is from 500 to 2,500 present / cm ^2, more preferably from 600 to 1500 present / cm ^2. If the number of flocks in the low-density flocked region 12b is equal to or greater than the lower limit, the foam retention in the high-density flocked region 12a is increased, and if it is equal to or less than the upper limit, the feeling of use is increased.

The hair constituting the hair bundle 11 includes hairs (taper hairs) whose diameter gradually decreases toward the hair tips, and hairs having the same outer diameter (straight hairs) except for the rounded portion of the hair tips. Further, it is possible to use hair for which the hair tip has a shape such as a spatula shape, a spherical shape, or a tip crack shape.
In the toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment, the hair bundle 11 in the high-density flocked region 12a has straight hairs, and the hair bundle 11 in the low-density flocked region 12b has tapered hairs from the viewpoint of improving foamability and cleanability. It is preferable.
The ratio of the straight hair in the hair bundle 11 in the high-density flocked region 12a is preferably 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and more preferably 90% or more because foaming properties are higher. It is particularly preferred.
The ratio of the tapered hairs in the hair bundle 11 in the low-density flocked region 12b is preferably 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and more preferably 90% or more because the cleaning property becomes higher. It is particularly preferred.

Examples of the hair material include polyamide (eg, 6-12 nylon, 6-10 nylon), polyester (eg, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate), polyolefin (eg, polypropylene), elastomer ( Examples: Synthetic resin materials such as olefin and styrene. These resin materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
Further, the bristle may have a multi-core structure having a core part and at least one or more sheath parts provided outside the core part.

  The cross-sectional shape of the bristle is preferably a circle, but is not necessarily limited to a circle, and can be any shape depending on the intended use of the toothbrush 1. For example, the shape may be an ellipse, a polygon (for example, a triangle, a quadrangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, or the like), an irregular shape (for example, a star shape, a three-leaf clover shape, a four-leaf clover shape, or the like).

The thickness of each hair is not particularly limited. For example, when the cross section is circular, 4 to 8 mil (1 mil = 1/1000 inch = 0.025 mm) is preferable. If it is more than the lower limit, the self-supporting property is improved and the cleaning property is higher, and if it is not more than the upper limit, the fluff of the hair bundle 11 becomes moderate and the contact feeling becomes better.
The hairs constituting the hair bundle 11 may all have the same thickness, or two or more different types of hairs may be combined.

  The hair length of the hair is preferably 8 to 13 mm for adults and 6 to 9 mm for children. In addition, from the viewpoint of usability in the oral cavity and usability, it is preferable to shorten the hair length of the hair as the diameter of the hair selected is smaller. Further, a plurality of hairs having different thicknesses may be used in combination depending on purposes such as a feeling of use, a feeling of cleaning, a cleaning effect, and durability.

Further, Hair length L _b of the tufts 11 in the high-density flocking region 12a is longer is favored over Hair length L _a of the tufts 11 in the low-density flocking area 12b, specifically, the hair length difference (L _b− L _a ) is preferably 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and more preferably 0.5 to 1.0 mm. Here, the hair length of the hair bundle 11 is the distance from the flocked surface 12 to the tip of the hair bundle (the tip of the longest hair). If L _b -L _a is equal to or greater than the lower limit, the bristles of the flexible high foaming property becomes higher. Moreover, the level | step difference formed by the difference in hair length is easy to closely_contact | adhere to the boundary of a tooth | gum and a gingiva, a hit feeling becomes better, and a usability is improved more. However, when L _a -L _b exceeds the upper limit, the contact feeling on the gingiva tends to be impaired.
The hair cutting shape (profile of the hair tip) may be any of flat cutting, dome shape, convex shape, and ripple shape, but it is easy to achieve the above-mentioned hair length difference and a higher foaming effect can be expected. Therefore, a dome shape, a convex shape, and a ripple shape are preferable.

As a method for implanting the hair bundle 11, a known method such as a method of driving a flat wire or a method of heat welding can be applied.
In the method of driving a flat wire, a plurality of bristles are bundled and folded in half, and a hair retainer 11 is inserted into the flocked holes 13a and 13b with a retainer called a flat wire in between. To plant the hair.
The flat line passes through the center of the flocked holes 13a and 13b and is placed in the flocked holes 13a and 13b so as to straddle the flocked holes 13a and 13b. Examples of the material of the flat wire include metals such as brass and stainless steel, and other examples include hard plastic and biodegradable plastic.
The length, width, and thickness of the flat wire may be arbitrarily adjusted according to the hair bundle 11 and the flocked holes 13a and 13b. However, the length of the flat wire is usually larger than the diameter of the flocked holes 13a and 13b. The width of the line is made smaller than the depth of the flock holes 13a and 13b. Further, by adjusting the thickness of the flat wire, the hair bundle 11 can be reliably fixed in the flocked holes 13a and 13b to reduce the gaps. Moreover, in order to prevent the flat wire from coming out of the flocked holes 13a and 13b, the total length of the portions protruding from both sides of the flocked holes 13a and 13b is preferably 0.3 to 0.6 mm.

The opening area of the flocking holes 13a and 13b is preferably 1.6 mm ² or less, and more preferably 1.4 mm ² or less. If the opening area of the flock holes 13a and 13b is 1.6 mm ² or less, the hair bundle 11 becomes thin, so that the flexibility is improved and the usability is improved.
Moreover, it is preferable that the diameter of the flock holes 13a and 13b is not less than the minimum diameter that can be produced, and is more preferably not less than 1.0 mm from the viewpoint of suppressing excessive bending of the hair bundle 11 and feeling of hair loss.

  The toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment may be an electric toothbrush that vibrates when electrically driven. When toothbrushing is performed using the toothbrush 1 while being vibrated by electrical drive, foaming becomes faster and the foam diameter becomes smaller, and foaming properties are further improved.

As an electric toothbrush, a battery and a control circuit for controlling the driving of each part are built in a watertight manner inside the proximal end side of the handle part 20, and ultrasonic vibration or An example includes a built-in vibrator that generates vibration such as sound wave vibration.
The battery may be a primary battery (for example, an AA or AAA battery) or a secondary battery (for example, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, or a lithium ion battery).
The control circuit is connected to the battery and generates a control signal corresponding to the operation when the user operates an operation button provided on the handle unit 20, and to a vibrator described later based on the control signal. The power supply and the drive of the vibrator are controlled.
The vibrator is electrically connected to the control circuit in the handle portion 20 through a wiring, and vibrates when electric power is supplied.

  The electric toothbrush may not include the control circuit. For example, when the user operates the operation button, power is directly supplied from the battery to the vibrator, and the vibrator is driven. May be.

  In the toothbrush 1 of the above-described embodiment, the hair bundles 11, 11 planted in the low-density flocked region 12 b are not easily in contact with each other, are easily bent in the oral cavity, and have high density in the high-density flocked region 12 a. Since the bundle 11 is implanted, the feeling of use is excellent. Moreover, since the flocking density in the high-density flocking region 12a is high and the number of flocks is large, it is easy to mix air into the dentifrice and to form fine bubbles. Therefore, the toothbrush 1 is excellent in foaming property.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment.
The shape of the openings of the flocking holes 13a and 13b is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, an ellipse or a quadrangle.
The arrangement of the flock holes 13a and 13b is not necessarily a staggered arrangement, and may be a lattice arrangement, an asymmetric arrangement, or any other arrangement. The arrangement of the flock holes 13a and 13b need not be symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 10.
The shape of the high-density flocked region 12a may be, for example, an elliptical shape or a rectangular shape.

Example 1
A toothbrush provided with a head portion in which a hair bundle was implanted in the flocked hole of the flocked surface was produced. The arrangement pattern of the flock holes (inner diameter 1.4 mm) was as shown in Table 1.
In this example, the hair density of the substantially hexagonal central region including the center of the hair surface is 55%, the number of hair transplants is 2098 / cm ² to form a high-density hair transplant region, and the hair is a straight hair having a circular cross-section and 4 mils. . The central region (high-density flocking region) has an area of 0.45 cm ² , a length in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the head portion is 15.9 mm, and a length in the direction parallel to the short direction is 3.2 mm. It was.
In addition, the outer region disposed outside the central region had a hair density of 35%, the number of hair transplants was 1424 / cm ² to form a low density hair transplant region, and the hair was a straight hair having a circular cross section and 4 mils.
Further, the hair cutting shape was a flat cut, and the difference in hair length (L _b −L _a ) between the hair bundle in the central region and the hair bundle in the outer region was set to 0 mm.

(Example 2)
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the number of flocks in the central region was set to 925 / cm ² to obtain a high-density flocked region, and the hair in the central region and the outer region was made into a 6 mil straight hair with a star-shaped cross section. did.

(Example 3)
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the number of flocks in the central region was 996 / cm ² to obtain a high-density flocked region, and the hair in the central region and the outer region was a 6 mil tapered hair.

Example 4
A toothbrush was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that only the outer region hair was a 6 mil straight hair with a star cross section.

(Example 5)
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the hair cutting shape was a dome shape and the hair height difference (L _b −L _a ) was 1 mm.

(Example 6)
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the hair cutting shape was a convex shape and the hair height difference (L _b −L _a ) was 1 mm.

(Example 7)
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the hair cutting shape was a ripple shape and the hair length difference (L _b −L _a ) was 1 mm.

(Example 8)
Example except that the number of flocks in the central region is 1351 / cm ² , a high-density flocking region is used, the hair in the central region is a 5 mil straight hair with a circular cross section, and the hair in the outer region is a 6 mil tapered hair A toothbrush was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 9
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 8 except that the hair cutting shape was a convex shape and the hair height difference (L _b −L _a ) was 1 mm.

(Example 10)
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 8 except that the hair cutting shape was an inner rippled shape and the hair height difference (L _b −L _a ) was 1 mm.

(Comparative Example 1)
The arrangement pattern of planting pores was changed as shown in Table 1, 36% of the flocking density in the central region, the flocked number of central region 1311 present / cm ^2, except that the area of the central region to 0.41 cm ² Prepared a toothbrush in the same manner as in Example 1.

(Comparative Example 2)
A toothbrush was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the arrangement pattern of the flock holes was changed to that shown in Table 1 and the flock density in the outer region was 50%.

(Comparative Example 3)
A toothbrush was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the number of flocks in the central region was 676 / cm ² , and the bristles in the central region and the outer region were 7 mil straight hairs with a circular cross section.

(Comparative Example 4)
A toothbrush was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the number of flocks in the central region was 569 / cm ² , and the hair in the central region and the outer region was made into 8 mil straight hair with a cross-sectional star shape.

(Comparative Example 5)
A toothbrush was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the number of flocks in the central region was 3733 / cm ² , and the bristles in the central region and the outer region were 3 mil straight hairs with a circular cross section.

  About the toothbrush of Examples 1-10 and Comparative Examples 1-5, the foaming speed, the bubble diameter, and the usability | use_condition were evaluated by the method described below. The evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

[Bubbling speed]
1 g of toothpaste paste was placed on the toothbrush tip of the toothbrush, the surface of the brush plate (width 20 mm, thickness 14 mm) was wiped, and the number of times that the foam overflowed from the brush plate and dropped was measured. . The smaller the number of times of cleaning, the faster the foaming and the better the foaming properties.
The evaluation criteria were as follows: の も の when the number of brushes was 20 or less, ○ when 21 to 40 times, △ when 41 to 60 times, and × when 61 times or more.

[Bubble diameter]
1 g of a toothpaste paste was placed on the tip of the toothbrush and the surface of the brush plate (width 20 mm, thickness 14 mm) was wiped 300 times. And the diameter of the bubble was measured using the stereomicroscope. The smaller the bubble diameter, the better the foaming property.
The evaluation criteria were ◎ for a bubble diameter of 200 μm or less, ◯ for 201-220 μm, Δ for 221-240 μm, and x for 241 μm or more.

[Usage evaluation]
Ten expert panelists performed sensory evaluations on "a feeling of brushing to polish every corner of the oral cavity" and "feeling of hitting the gums". The evaluation criteria are: ◎ if 9 or more out of 10 panelists are good, ◯ if 6-8 are good, △ if 3-5 is good, △, 2 or less are good What was made was set as x.

[Comprehensive evaluation]
Comprehensive evaluation determined from the foaming property and feeling of use is as follows.
A: The foaming is very good and the feeling of use is also very good.
○: Foaming is quite good and the feeling of use is also quite good.
(Triangle | delta): Although foaming is somewhat good, a usability | use_condition is not so good.
X: Foaming is poor and the feeling of use is not so good.

A low density flocked region in which the flocking density in the central region is 40% or more and 70% or less, the flocking number is 900 to 3000 / cm ² , and the flocking density in the outer region is 20% or more and less than 40%. The toothbrushes of Examples 1 to 10 were excellent in foaming properties and usability.
The toothbrush of Comparative Example 1 in which the flock density in the central region was less than 40% was insufficient in both foamability and feeling of use.
The toothbrush of Comparative Example 2 in which the flock density in the outer region exceeded 40% was insufficient in use feeling.
The toothbrushes of Comparative Examples 3 and 4 in which the number of flocks in the central region was less than 900 / cm ² were insufficient in both foamability and feeling of use.
The toothbrush of the comparative example 5 in which the number of flocks in the central region exceeded 3000 / cm ² was insufficient in the usability.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toothbrush 10 Head part 11 Hair bundle 12 Flocked surface 12a High density flocked area 12b Low density flocked area 13a, 13b Flocked hole 20 Handle part

Claims (4)

In a toothbrush in which a hair bundle obtained by bundling a plurality of bristles is planted in a plurality of flock holes provided on the flocked surface of the head part ,
An area of 0.4～1.0Cm ² including the center of the bristle surface, a high-density flocking area flocking density is and flocked number less 70% 40% 900 to 3000 present / cm ^2, the dense flocked disposed around the area, flocking density is perforated and a low-density flocked area of less than 20% to 40%
The high-density flocked region has a length in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the head portion of 60 to 85% of the length of the flocked region, and a length in the direction parallel to the short direction of the head portion. 35-50% of the width of the flocked area,
Thickness of the bristles of the high-density flocked regions, toothbrush characterized by 4~8mil der Rukoto.   The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the hair bundle in the low-density flocked region has a tapered hair, and the hair bundle in the high-density flocked region has a straight hair. Said Hair length _{L b} of the tufts in the high-density flocking region longer than Hair length _{L a} of the tufts in the low-density flocked regions, the bristles length difference _(L b -L _a) is 0.5~2.0mm The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which vibrates when electrically driven.

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