JP7228537B2 - interdental cleaning tool - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool.

It is useful to keep the oral cavity clean for the prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease in the oral cavity. A toothbrush is widely used as a cleaning tool for keeping the oral cavity clean. In addition, interdental cleaning tools for cleaning interdental spaces that are difficult for toothbrush bristles to reach are becoming popular. As an interdental cleaning tool, a toothpick having a head portion supporting both ends of a wire called floss and a grip portion connected to the head portion is known. The toothpick includes an F-shaped toothpick in which the longitudinal direction of the gripping portion coincides with the direction of the floss, and a Y-shaped toothpick in which the longitudinal direction of the gripping portion and the direction of the floss are perpendicular to each other.

There has also been research into separate interdental cleaning implements in which two separate grips each support a floss. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose such separate interdental cleaning tools.

Utility Model Registration No. 3158023 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-22936 U.S. Pat. No. 00591229

However, although both separable interdental cleaning tools can be used in a separated state in which the two grips are separated, they are difficult to use in a combined state in which the two grips are connected. For this reason, the above-described separate type interdental cleaning tool has a low degree of freedom in usage.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool with improved flexibility in usage.

In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention provides a first operating member having a first engaging portion and supporting one side of interdental cleaning floss, and a second engaging portion. and a second operating member that supports the other side of the floss, wherein the first engagement is performed from a separated state in which the first operating member and the second operating member are separated. It relates to an interdental cleaning tool, in which a state is changed to a coupled state in which the first operating member and the second operating member are coupled by engaging the portion and the second engaging portion.

As described above, according to the interdental cleaning tool of the present invention, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of usage.

It is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the interdental cleaning tool according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view showing the cleaning efficiency of each interdental cleaning tool. It is explanatory drawing which shows the separation state of an interdental cleaning tool. It is explanatory drawing which shows the usage condition of an interdental cleaning tool. 1 is a plan view of an interdental cleaning tool, and a cross-sectional view obtained by cutting the interdental cleaning tool along line II. FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an interdental cleaning tool according to a first modified example; FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a combined state of an interdental cleaning tool according to a second modified example; FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a separated state of the interdental cleaning tool according to the second modified example; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a combined state of the interdental cleaning tool according to the third modified example; FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a separated state of the interdental cleaning tool according to the third modified example; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a combined state of an interdental cleaning tool according to a fourth modified example; FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a separated state of the interdental cleaning tool according to the fourth modification; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an interdental cleaning tool according to a fifth modified example;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, thereby omitting redundant description.

<Schematic configuration of interdental cleaning tool>
An embodiment of the present invention relates to an interdental cleaning device for cleaning the oral cavity, particularly between the teeth. First, referring to FIG. 1, a schematic configuration of an interdental cleaning tool according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of an interdental cleaning tool 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an operation member 10A used as a first operation member, an operation member 10B used as a second operation member, and a floss 20. , provided.

The operating member 10A and the operating member 10B are members that are grasped and operated by the user. Specifically, the operating member 10A has a head portion 110A that supports one side of the floss 20 and a grip portion 120A that is gripped by the user. The operation member 10B also has a head portion 110B that supports the other side of the floss 20 and a grip portion 120B that is gripped by the user. FIG. 1 shows the combined state of the interdental cleaning tool 1 in which the operating member 10A and the operating member 10B are coupled.

Such operation member 10A and operation member 10B may have a completely symmetrical structure, or may have a generally symmetrical structure and a partially asymmetrical structure. In this specification, the operation member 10A and the operation member 10B may be collectively referred to as the operation member 10 when describing the operation member 10A and the operation member 10B in common. Similarly, the head portion 110A and the head portion 110B may be collectively referred to as the head portion 110, and the grip portion 120A and the grip portion 120B may be generically referred to as the grip portion 120. Other configurations may also be collectively referred to by names that do not use alphabets, which are distinguished by adding alphabets at the end.

Further, in this specification, the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 120 is referred to as the front-rear direction (the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 1), and the direction in which the head portion 110 is positioned with respect to the grip portion 120 is referred to as the front direction. The direction in which the grip portion 120 is positioned with respect to 110 is referred to as the rearward direction. The direction in which the operation members 10A and 10B are arranged is called the width direction (the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1), and the direction perpendicular to the front-back direction and the width direction is the up-down direction (the Z-axis direction shown in FIG. 1). direction).

The head portion 110 of the operation member 10 includes curved regions 112 (112A and 112B) that curve outward in the width direction from the boundary position with the grip portion 120, and one side in the vertical direction (hereinafter also referred to as the downward direction). The extension regions 114 (114A, 114B) extend to the outside, and the support end of the floss 20 is positioned at the distal end of the extension region 114. As shown in FIG. Due mainly to the existence of the curved region 112 of the head portion 110 described above, the head portions 110A and 110B form the opening S together with the floss 20 in the coupled state of the interdental cleaning tool 1 . Due to the formation of the opening S, when the floss 20 is inserted between the two teeth, the front tooth of the two teeth can be positioned so as to pass through the opening S, so the floss 20 is inserted between the teeth. easy to do

A grip portion 120 of the operation member 10 has a protruding portion 122 protruding outward in the width direction. The projecting portion 122 has an upper surface and a lower surface that are spaced apart in the vertical direction. Since the upper surface and the lower surface protrude outward in the width direction, a large contact area between the user's fingers and the upper surface and the lower surface can be secured, so that the user can easily grip the grip part 120 . Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which a region of the gripping portion 120 other than the overhanging portion 122 has a linear shape, but the shape of the gripping portion 120 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, the outer shape of the grip part 120 may have an area that draws a curved shape, a curved shape, or a meandering shape on the XY plane or the XZ plane shown in FIG.

The floss 20 is a wire supported between the supporting ends of the head portion 110A and the head portion 110B. In the coupled state of the interdental cleaning tool 1, the floss 20 is supported along the separating direction between the supporting ends of the head portion 110A and the head portion 110B. The floss 20 may be supported in a linear shape as shown in FIG. 1 from the viewpoint of ease of insertion between the teeth in the bonded state of the interdental cleaning tool 1 . Also, even if the floss 20 is slightly loose, it is possible to insert the floss 20 between the teeth. It may be supported to The separation direction between the support ends of the head portion 110A and the head portion 110B is, for example, the width direction of the interdental cleaning tool 1, and may be a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the interdental cleaning tool 1.

Such floss 20 may be, for example, polyethylene, polyester, nylon, or polytetrafluoroethylene. In particular, floss 20 is preferably polyethylene. When the floss 20 is made of polyethylene, it is possible to obtain the effect that the floss 20 is hard to cut even if it is used several times.

<Background>
The background of embodiments of the present invention will now be described. As interdental cleaning tools, there are F-shaped tools in which the longitudinal direction of the gripping part matches the direction of the floss, Y-shaped tools in which the longitudinal direction of the gripping part and the direction of the floss are perpendicular to each other, and tools that hold the cut floss directly with your fingers. The pincushion mold to be used, etc. are known. In general, the Y shape is excellent in insertability between teeth, the F shape is excellent in terms of manufacturing cost, and the pincushion shape is excellent in operability after being inserted between teeth. From the viewpoint of cleaning efficiency, the pincushion type is the best, followed by the Y-shape and the F-shape. The cleaning efficiency of each interdental cleaning tool will be specifically described below.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the cleaning efficiency of each interdental cleaning tool. As shown in FIG. 2, in the F-shape and the Y-shape, the contact area between the tooth and the floss tends to be limited because the floss has a substantially linear shape. On the other hand, in the pincushion type, the floss can be manipulated so as to be wrapped around the teeth, so the contact area between the teeth and the floss is widened, resulting in high cleaning efficiency. However, with the pincushion type, it is difficult to insert the floss between the teeth, and it is difficult to use the floss in public because the fingertips may enter the oral cavity.

Thus, each interdental cleaning tool has advantages and disadvantages, and a new interdental cleaning tool having the advantages of each interdental cleaning tool is desired. The interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention was created from such a viewpoint, and the interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has both insertability between teeth and cleaning efficiency. Hereinafter, the interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described again in detail.

<Details of interdental cleaning tools>
As described with reference to FIG. 1, the interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention functions as a Y shape in which the longitudinal direction of the grip part 120 and the direction of the floss 20 are perpendicular to each other in the coupled state. On the other hand, the interdental cleaning implement 1 according to embodiments of the present invention is capable of changing in both directions between a coupled state and a separated state in which the operating members 10A and 10B are separated. Hereinafter, the separated state of the interdental cleaning tool 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the separated state of the interdental cleaning tool 1. FIG. The gripping portion 120A and the gripping portion 120B have two magnetic bodies 124 separated from each other in the front-rear direction. The coupled state shown in FIG. 1 is realized by adhesion between the magnetic body 124 of the grip portion 120A and the magnetic body 124 of the grip portion 120B. On the other hand, when the user applies a force in the opposite direction to, for example, the projecting portion 122A of the grip portion 120A and the projecting portion 122B of the grip portion 120B, the adhered magnetic material 124 separates, thereby resulting in the state shown in FIG. As shown, the interdental cleaning tool 1 is separated. In the separated state, the separation distance between the supporting ends of the head portion 110A and the head portion 110B can be shortened. As it does, it is possible to manipulate the floss to wrap around the teeth.

That is, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 4, the user can enjoy the merit of insertability between the teeth of the Y-shape by inserting the floss 20 between the teeth in the bonded state. . On the other hand, after insertion, the user can enjoy the advantage of the cleaning efficiency of the pincushion by cleaning between the teeth in a separated state as shown in the right diagram of FIG. In other respects, since the interdental cleaning tool 1 can be used in a bonded or separated state, the interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used in other separated types of interdental cleaning that can only be used in a separated state. Compared to tools, it can be said that the degree of freedom in usage is high. Furthermore, the user can improve the fit of the interdental cleaning tool 1 by returning the interdental cleaning tool 1 to the coupled state when the interdental cleaning tool 1 is not in use.

The two magnetic bodies 124 included in the grip portion 120A are an example of a first engaging portion, and the two magnetic bodies 124 included in the grip portion 120B are an example of a second engaging portion. 120 A of holding parts may have one magnetic body as a 1st engaging part, and may have three or more magnetic bodies. Similarly, the grip part 120B may have one magnetic body as the second engaging part, or may have three or more magnetic bodies. Coupling of gripping portion 120A and gripping portion 120B may be realized by engagement of a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion other than magnetic body 124 . For example, the first engaging portion may be one of the mating structures and the second engaging portion may be the other of the mating structures.

A specific design example of the interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the interdental cleaning tool 1 and a sectional view obtained by cutting the interdental cleaning tool 1 along line II. The length L1 shown in FIG. 5 is the length between the support points of the floss 20 . It is desirable that the length L1 be equal to or greater than the buccolingual diameter of the tooth with the largest buccolingual diameter so that the floss 20 can be inserted between the teeth. Teeth with the largest buccolingual diameter are generally molars, and it is known that the buccolingual diameter of molars is approximately 10 to 12 mm. Therefore, it is preferable that the length L1 is 12 mm or more. On the other hand, the lingual surface of the molar is in contact with the tongue, and the distance between the buccal surface of the molar and the buccal mucosa is about 14 mm. Therefore, by setting the length L1 to 26 mm or less, which is the total value of 12 mm, which is the buccolingual diameter of the molars, and the above-mentioned interval of 14 mm, the cheeks are less likely to get in the way when the floss 20 is inserted.

The length L2 shown in FIG. 5 is the length from the tip of the head portion 110 to the rear end of the opening S in plan view. The length L2 is desirably designed so that the front tooth of the two teeth can pass through the opening S when the floss 20 is inserted between the two teeth, as described above. Teeth with the largest mesio-distal diameter are generally molars, and it is known that the mesio-distal diameter of molars is approximately 10 to 12 mm. For this reason, length L2 preferably exceeds 12 mm, the mesio-distal diameter of the molar. On the other hand, if the length L2 is too large, the operability is impaired, so the length L2 is preferably 25 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or less, and most preferably 16 mm.

A length L3 shown in FIG. 5 is the length from the upper surface of the curved region 112 of the head portion 110 to the lower end of the extended region 114 . The larger the length L3, the more difficult it is for the gripping portion 120 to come into contact with other teeth when the floss 20 is inserted between the teeth. On the other hand, if the length L3 is too large, the operability in the separated state is impaired. From this point of view, the length L3 is preferably 8 mm or more, more preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 12 to 20 mm.

Angle Q shown in FIG. 5 is the extension angle of extension region 114 relative to curved region 112 . The angle Q is preferably 90 degrees or more and 130 degrees or less, particularly preferably 110 degrees or more, and 120 degrees or less, from the viewpoint of reachability to the back teeth and operability in the separated state. is preferred.

The head portion 110 may be formed so that the curved region 112 and the extended region 114 are not clearly distinguished, and the curved region extends to one side in the vertical direction. In that case, the length from the upper surface of the curved region 112 to the lower end extending from the upper surface (corresponding to L3) is preferably 8 mm or more, more preferably 10 mm or more, and preferably 20 mm or less from the same viewpoint as L3 described above. In addition, from the same viewpoint as the angle Q, the angle of the head portion 110 with respect to the grip portion 120 (corresponding to the angle Q) is preferably 90 degrees or more, more preferably 110 degrees or more, preferably less than 180 degrees, and 170 degrees or less. is more preferred.

<Modification>
The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Several variations of the embodiments of the present invention are described below. In addition, each modification described below may be applied to the embodiment of the present invention independently, or may be applied to the embodiment of the present invention in combination. Further, each modification may be applied instead of the configuration described in the embodiment of the invention, or may be additionally applied to the configuration described in the embodiment of the invention.

(First modification)
A first modification relates to a configuration in which the floss 20 is detachable. Hereinafter, the configuration of the interdental cleaning tool 2 according to the first modified example will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an interdental cleaning tool 2 according to a first modified example. As shown in FIG. 6, the interdental cleaning tool 2 according to the first modification includes an operating member 12A and an operating member 12B. Each operating member 12 includes a grip portion 120 and a head portion 210 having a curved region 212 and an extended region 214 .

In the interdental cleaning tool 2 according to the first modified example, the floss 20 is detachably attached to the extension region 214A of the operation member 12A and the extension region 214B of the operation member 12B. A configuration in which the floss 20 is detachably attached will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a section taken along line II-II shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the extension region 214 has sidewalls 216 forming a hollow region H and side openings 218 communicating with the hollow region H. As shown in FIG. A floss support unit 230 that supports one end of the floss 20 is inserted into the hollow region H. The floss support unit 230 has two claws 232 . The floss 20 and floss support unit 230 are attached to the extension region 214 by exposing the two claws 232 through the side opening 218 and engaging the side wall 216 . be done.

On the other hand, when the user presses the two claw portions 232, the two claw portions 232 are buried in the side opening portion 218, and the engagement between the two claw portions 232 and the side wall portion 216 is released. Once disengaged, the user can remove the floss support unit 230 from the extension region 214 .

Thus, according to the first modification, since the floss 20 and the floss support unit 230 are detachable, it is possible to repeatedly use the interdental cleaning tool 2 while exchanging the floss 20 and the floss support unit 230. It is possible.

Note that the configuration for enabling attachment and detachment of the floss 20 is not limited to the floss support unit 230 . For example, if the floss 20 has a ball stop on both ends and a groove along the width direction is formed at the tip of the extension region, the floss 20 is inserted into the groove so that the ball stop is positioned on the outside in the width direction. By doing so, it is possible to attach the floss 20 to the extension region. Alternatively, in an interdental cleaning tool configured to hold the floss 20 by pinching it, the floss 20 can be attached and detached by switching between pinching the floss 20 and releasing the pinching.

(Second modification)
A second modification relates to a configuration for improving operability in the separated state. Hereinafter, the configuration of the interdental cleaning tool 3 according to the second modification will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the combined state of the interdental cleaning tool 3 according to the second modification. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the separated state of the interdental cleaning tool 3 according to the second modification. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the interdental cleaning tool 3 according to the second modification includes an operating member 13A, an operating member 13B, and a floss 20. As shown in FIGS.

Each operating member 13 has a head portion 310 that supports one side of the floss 20 and a grip portion 320 that is gripped by the user. Grip portion 320 has a columnar shape. 8 and 9 show a columnar shape as the columnar shape, the grip portion 320 may have a prismatic shape.

As shown in FIG. 9, the gripping portion 320A has a plurality of concave portions 322A separated from each other in the front-rear direction, and the gripping portion 320B has a plurality of convex portions 322B separated from each other along the front-rear direction. The plurality of concave portions 322A and the plurality of convex portions 322B function as engaging portions that engage with each other, and the engagement of the plurality of concave portions 322A and the plurality of convex portions 322B brings the interdental cleaning tool 3 into a coupled state.

Unlike the relationship between the head portion 110 and the grip portion 120 according to the first embodiment, the head portion 310 according to the second modification can be manipulated in the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 320 and in the coupled state as shown in FIG. It is provided along an imaginary plane P that is perpendicular to the plane formed by the width direction in which the member 13A (first operating member) and the operating member 13B (second operating member) are arranged and passes through the grip portion. That is, the virtual plane P extends in the vertical direction, and the head portion 310 is provided along the virtual plane P passing through the grip portion 320 and formed by the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. According to such a configuration, in the separated state, the force of the user who operates the grip part 320 is more linearly transmitted to the supporting end of the floss 20, so it is possible to improve the operability.

(Third modification)
A third modification relates to a configuration for improving operability in the separated state. The configuration of the interdental cleaning tool 4 according to the third modification will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the combined state of the interdental cleaning tool 4 according to the third modification. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the separated state of the interdental cleaning tool 4 according to the third modification. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the interdental cleaning tool 4 according to the third modification includes an operating member 14A, an operating member 14B, and a floss 20. As shown in FIGS.

Each operating member 14 has a head portion 410 that supports one side of the floss 20 and a grip portion 420 that is gripped by the user. The gripping portion 420A has a main shaft portion formed along the front-rear direction, and three projecting portions 422A projecting inward in the width direction from positions separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the main shaft portion. The gripping portion 420B has a main shaft portion formed along the front-rear direction, and three projecting portions 422B projecting inward in the width direction from positions separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the main shaft portion.

The projecting portion 422A and the projecting portion 422B function as engaging portions that engage with each other. For example, a magnetic material may be provided at the tip of the protruding part 422A and the protruding part 422B, and the protruding part 422A and the protruding part 422B may be detachably engaged via the magnetic material.

In the interdental cleaning tool 4 according to the third modified example, the main shaft portion of the grip part 420 can be made thinner and lighter than the interdental cleaning tool 3 according to the second modified example. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability of the operating member 14 especially in the separated state.

(Fourth modification)
An example in which the technology related to the present invention is applied to a Y-shaped interdental cleaning tool has been described so far, but the technology related to the present invention can also be applied to an F-shaped interdental cleaning tool. The configuration of the F-shaped interdental cleaning tool 5 according to the fourth modification will now be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the combined state of the interdental cleaning tool 5 according to the fourth modification. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the separated state of the interdental cleaning tool 5 according to the fourth modification. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the interdental cleaning tool 5 according to the fourth modification includes an operating member 15A, an operating member 15B, and a floss 20. As shown in FIGS.

Each operating member 15 has a head portion 510 that supports the floss 20 and a grip portion 520 that is gripped by the user. Head portion 510 extends vertically from grip portion 520 . The floss 20 is supported along the separation direction between the supporting ends of the head portion 510A and the head portion 510B. The floss 20 may be supported in a linear shape as shown in FIG. 12 from the viewpoint of ease of insertion between the teeth in the combined state of the interdental cleaning tool 1 . Also, even if the floss 20 is slightly loose, it is possible to insert the floss 20 between the teeth. It may be supported to The separation direction between the support ends of the head portion 510A and the head portion 510B is equal to the front-rear direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 520 . However, the separation direction between the support points does not have to be completely aligned with the front-rear direction, and it is sufficient if the separation direction between the support points is closer to the front-rear direction than the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 13, the grip portion 520A has a recess 521 and two pins 522A formed in the recess 521 and separated from each other in the front-rear direction. The grip portion 520B has two hole portions 522B separated from each other in the front-rear direction. By fitting the grip portion 520B into the recess 521 and inserting the two pins 522A into the two holes 522B, the grip portion 520A and the grip portion 520B are detachably engaged. That is, the recessed portion 521 and the two pins 522A function as a first engaging portion, and the grip portion 520B, particularly the two hole portions 522B function as a second engaging portion.

Moreover, the gripping portion 520B has a region that overlaps with the gripping portion 520A and a region that does not overlap with the gripping portion 520A in the coupled state. In FIG. 12 , a projecting region 524 indicates a region where the grip portion 520B does not overlap the grip portion 520A. According to such a configuration, the user can easily separate the interdental cleaning tool 5 by applying force to the projecting region 524 in the coupled state.

In the separated state, as shown in the left and right diagrams of FIG. 13, the user can clean between the teeth while variously changing the positional relationship of the operating members 15A and 15B.

(Fifth Modification)
Thus far, we have described an interdental cleaning device that can be used in both a coupled and separated configuration. However, the technology relating to the present invention is also applicable to interdental cleaning tools that are not used in a combined state but are used in a separated state. Hereinafter, the configuration of such an interdental cleaning tool 6 will be described as a fifth modification.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an interdental cleaning tool 6 according to a fifth modified example. As shown in FIG. 14, the interdental cleaning tool 6 according to the fifth modification includes an operating member 16A, an operating member 16B, and a floss 20. As shown in FIG.

The operating member 16A supports one end of the floss 20, and the operating member 16B supports the other end of the floss 20. As shown in FIG. The operation member 16A and the operation member 16B have two magnetic bodies 124 at positions spaced apart along their longitudinal directions. The magnetic body 124 functions as an engaging portion, and detachably couples the operation member 16A and the operation member 16B. However, the magnetic body 124 is merely an example of the engaging portion, and another configuration such as a fitting structure may be used as the engaging portion.

Although the interdental cleaning tool 6 according to the fifth modification is not used for cleaning interdental spaces in the bonded state, it can be returned to the bonded state after being used in the separated state, so that when the interdental cleaning tool 6 is not in use, It is possible to improve the fit of

(Sixth modification)
In the above description, the interdental cleaning tool 1 is capable of both the state change from the bonded state to the separated state and the state change from the separated state to the bonded state. It may be an irreversible change. For example, when the operation member 10A and the operation member 10B are integrally formed via a fragile portion, the interdental cleaning tool 1 is separated when the fragile portion is destroyed by a force applied by the user. You can become In such a configuration, the interdental cleaning tool 1 does not need to have an engaging portion such as a magnet for changing the state from the separated state to the connected state while securing the degree of freedom in the method of use, so the manufacturing cost is reduced. can be reduced.

<Supplement>
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present invention can conceive of various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. is naturally within the technical scope of the present invention.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, interdental cleaning tool 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 operating member 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 head portion 112, 212 curved region 114, 214 extension Area 216 Side wall 218 Side opening 120, 220, 320, 520, 520 Grip 122 Overhang 124 Magnetic material 322A Recess 322B Projection 422 Projection 521 Recess 522A Pin 522B Hole 524 Projection region 230 Floss support unit 232 Claw Department

Claims (7)

a first operating member having a first engaging portion and supporting one side of interdental cleaning floss;
a second operating member having a second engaging portion and supporting the other side of the floss;
with
The floss can be used in a coupled state in which the first operating member and the second operating member are coupled by engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion,
By releasing the engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, the coupled state changes to a separated state in which the first operating member and the second operating member are separated. is set to change,
The first operating member and the second operating member each have a grip portion gripped by a user, and a head portion that supports the floss and forms an opening together with the floss in the coupled state. cage,
In the coupled state, the floss is supported along the separation direction between support points of the floss on the head portions of the first operating member and the second operating member. ,
The longitudinal direction of the gripping portion is orthogonal to the separation direction between the support points of the floss in the combined state,
The head section is perpendicular to a plane formed by the longitudinal direction of the gripping section and the width direction in which the first operating member and the second operating member are arranged in the coupled state, and passes through the gripping section. An interdental cleaning tool provided on the surface . 2. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said gripping portion has a projecting portion projecting outward in the width direction along which said first operating member and said second operating member are aligned in said coupled state. . 3. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least part of said floss or said floss and said head part is detachably provided with respect to other parts of said interdental cleaning tool. The interdental cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion contain a magnetic material. The interdental cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion include fitting structures that fit together. The interdental gap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the state is changed from the separated state to the coupled state by engaging the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion. cleaning tools.
tools. The interdental cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the change in state from the bonded state to the separated state is an irreversible change.

Images