JPH05111409A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a toothbrush by which pressing force for pressing the toothbrush against teeth, etc., is appropriate even if a user is not skilled and even if he does not pay close attention thereto. CONSTITUTION:In the toothbrush provided with a bristle plated part 15 in which brush bristles 14 are plated and a grip part 12 gripped with a user, the toothbrush is constituted so that at least the bristle planted part 15 is supported so as to be oscillated elastically by the reaction force of pressing force to teeth against the grip part 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to toothbrushes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various methods have been proposed in the past for brushing teeth with a toothbrush, but in recent years, a so-called bath, in which the brush bristle tip is reciprocally moved in the axial direction of the toothbrush main body with a short stroke of about several millimeters, has been proposed. Law, scrubbing,
It is recognized that it is most effective in removing plaque. However, the pressing force for the general person to press the bristles on the tooth surface is about 300.
g to 500 g, and in this case, the normal brush bristle tip splashes, and it is difficult for the brush bristle tip to reach a place where plaque is likely to accumulate, such as an interdental portion or a space between the tooth and the gingiva. However, since the brush bristle tip has been twisted, an effective brushing effect cannot be exerted, so that even if the toothbrush is reciprocated with a short stroke, the effect of removing plaque cannot be expected. Further, when the tooth is brushed with such a large pressing force, there is a problem that the gingiva retracts, the tooth surface is also worn, and a wedge-shaped defect occurs. Here, the pressing force of the brush bristles is about 70 g to 20 g.
The optimum value is 0 g. If you polish the bath method and scrub method with this pressing force, brush between the teeth and gums in the interdental area where plaque such as anaerobic bacteria that causes alveolar pyorrhea is most likely to accumulate. As the hair ends reach, the plaque is agitated by the brush hair ends, and oxygen is supplied to the plaque, whereby growth of the plaque can be suppressed. In addition, wedge-shaped defects can be prevented. Thus, in order to expect an appropriate brushing effect on teeth, it is not only necessary to pay attention to the way or direction in which the hand is moved, but it is extremely important to make the pressing force of the bristles on the teeth etc. appropriate. Is. However, heretofore, there is no toothbrush that considers the pressing force of the toothbrush against the tooth or the like and considers brushing with an appropriate pressing force.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pressing force for pressing a toothbrush against a tooth or the like even if the user is not skilled. Even if you don't pay close attention
To provide a toothbrush that can be suitable.

[0004]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a toothbrush having a bristle-implanted portion in which brush bristles are planted and a gripping portion to be grasped by a user, in which at least the bristle-implanted portion is The gripping portion is elastically swingably supported by the reaction force of the pressing force against the teeth.

[0005]

With this structure, even if the bristles are strongly pressed against the tooth surface, the bristles elastically oscillate and escape, and within a certain range in which the bristles can sway The pressing force that is applied does not become the pressing force of the bristles as it is,
The pressing force is reduced. Since the pressing force applied by a general person with a conventional toothbrush is greater than the optimum pressing force as described above, unless the user presses the toothbrush with an extremely large force, the pressing force on the tooth surface etc. The reduced pressing force matches or approximates to the optimal pressing force, which prevents gingival retraction and tooth surface wear, and effectively removes plaque.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention,
The toothbrush shown here mainly includes a head portion 10 and a grip portion 12. As is well known, the head portion 10 has a flocked portion 15 in which brush bristles 14 are flocked, and in this embodiment, it is formed integrally with the grip portion 12.
As shown in FIG. 1, the head portion 10 is connected to the grip portion 12 at a bent portion 17, and the head portion 10 is connected to the grip portion 12.
On the other hand, the bending portion 17 is bent in the bristle tip direction. The toothbrush main body is made of a material such as synthetic resin, but especially the bent portion 17 is formed thinner than the other portions, so that the bent portion 17 has flexibility and elasticity that makes it easy to bend. ..

In this way, the head portion 1 including the flocked portion 15
In the normal state, 0 is bent toward the tip of the brush bristles and is urged toward the bent state by its elasticity. However, when the bristles 14 are applied to the tooth surface or the like, the pressing force to the tooth surface or the like is applied. The head portion 10 can elastically oscillate at the bent portion 17 as indicated by a phantom line in FIG. When the pressing force is reduced or the brush bristles 14 are separated from the tooth surface or the like, the head portion 10 returns to the original position where it is bent in the brush tip direction due to the elastic restoring force of the bending portion 17. In this way, even if the toothbrush is pressed too strongly against the tooth surface or the like, the head portion 10, at least the bristle portion 15 will escape from the tooth surface or the like, and therefore the pressing force of the brush bristles 14 against the tooth surface or the like will be reduced. It can be maintained at a substantially proper value in the range of 10 oscillations. Further, since the head portion 10 is biased toward its original bent state, the brush bristle tip is uneven from the tooth surface to the tooth surface without causing the user to actively adjust it by hand. It is possible to automatically follow irregularities and the like on the space. As a result, when the toothbrush is reciprocated, the brush bristle tips can always be brought into contact with the teeth and gums, the efficiency of brushing can be further enhanced, and the gums can be massaged with an appropriate pressure.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the head portion 10 and the grip portion 12 are separate members. An elastic connecting member 19 such as an elastic shaft or a leaf spring is planted at the tip of the grip portion 12, and the connecting member 19 projects while being slightly inclined with respect to the axis of the grip portion 12. One toothbrush is configured by connecting the base end of the head portion 10 to the connecting member 19.

Also in this embodiment, in a normal state, the head portion 10 is bent in the brush bristle tip direction, and when the brush bristle 14 is pressed against the tooth surface or the like, the reaction force of the head portion 10 causes the head portion 10 to move the connecting member 19. While elastically deforming, it swings as shown by the imaginary line in the figure. In this embodiment, if the head portion 10 can be easily connected to and disconnected from the connecting member 19, only the head portion 10 can be replaced and replaced when the brush bristles 14 spread. ..

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a so-called electronic toothbrush or ion toothbrush. A battery 50 is accommodated in the grip portion 12, and one electrode of the battery 50 is
It is connected to the base end of the conductive support shaft 20 extending in the axial direction, and the other electrode is connected to the conductive plate 53 mounted on the outer periphery of the grip portion 12. The support shaft 20 further extends from the grip portion 20 so as to further project in the axial direction, and a coil spring 42 is formed at a substantially central portion of the projecting length. A head portion 10 formed separately from the grip portion 12 is detachably attached to the protruding support shaft, and in the attached state, the support shaft 20 has a support shaft insertion hole 16 formed in the head portion 10 in the axial direction. Inserted inside. Of the shank-shaped portion extending from the hair-implanted portion 15 of the head portion 10, a portion corresponding to the coil spring 42 of the support shaft 20 is a bent portion 17 having at least flexibility. As a result, the bent portion 17 has flexibility that allows it to bend easily and elasticity that tends to return it to its original position. Further, a communication groove 50 for connecting the surface of the flocked portion 15 on the side where the bristles 14 are flocked and the tip portion of the support shaft 20 via saliva is provided with the communication groove 50.
Is formed in.

In this embodiment, in a normal state, the head portion 10 extends substantially coaxially with the axis of the grip portion 12,
When the reaction force of the pressing force to the teeth acts on the brush bristles 14, the head portion 10 elastically swings at the bent portion 17. When the user touches the conductive plate 53 while gripping the grip portion 14 by hand, and inserts the brush bristles 14 into the mouth to brush, the brush bristles 14 and the communication groove 4 are caused by saliva or the like.
0 gets wet. With this, an electric circuit of battery 50 → conductive plate 53 → human body → tooth → brush bristles 14 → saliva → spindle 20 → battery 50 is formed, which causes a flow of electrons,
The function of a so-called electronic toothbrush that facilitates effective removal of dental plaque from the tooth surface is achieved.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a receiving portion 56 that opens in the front end direction is formed on the front end surface of the grip portion 14, and the receiving portion 56 has a bottomed hole shape. The locking member 44 is swingably supported around the pin 58 in the receiving portion 56, and the proximal end portion of the locking member is biased in the receiving portion 56 by the spring 70 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Has been done. This locking member 44
A head portion 10 which is separate from the grip portion 12 is detachably connected to the tip of the.

Also in this embodiment, in the normal state, the head portion 10 is biased and biased in the brush bristle tip direction with respect to the grip portion 12, and the reaction force of the pressing force to the tooth surface acts on the brush bristle 14. Then, the head portion 10 and the locking member 44 integrally swing against the biasing force of the spring 70 around the pin 58.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, which is a combination of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the third embodiment of the electronic toothbrush shown in FIG. It is a thing. That is, first, the support shaft is divided into the one on the grip portion 12 side and the one on the head portion 20b, and the tip of the support shaft 20a on the grip portion side has a receiving portion 56 formed at the tip of the grip portion 12. It projects inward and terminates. This support shaft 20a
Is in contact with an elastic and electrically conductive connecting fitting 54 provided on the inner wall of the receiving portion 56.
Reference numeral 4 is bent in a substantially L shape and is in pressure contact with the top of the support shaft 20a. The other support shaft 20b is pivotally supported in the receiving portion via a pin 58, and its base end is biased and pressed counterclockwise by a spring 70. The spring 70 is interposed between the support shaft 20b and the connection fitting 54,
As a result, the connection fitting 54 is pressed against the inner wall of the receiving portion 56, and the connection fitting 54 is fixed in accordance with the pressure contact relationship with the support shaft 20a. The support shaft 20b projects from the grip portion 12 and has a locking member 44 integrally in the middle thereof.
The head portion 10 has substantially the same shape as that shown in FIG. 3 and has a communication groove 40, but does not have a flexible bent portion. The head portion 10 is the locking member 4
4 is detachably connected. In addition, both support shafts 2 that have been divided
0a and 20b are electrically connected to each other via the connection fitting 54 and the spring 70. Reference numeral 57 is a sealing O-ring mounted on the outer periphery of the battery 50. Also according to this embodiment, there is an operation in combination with each of the embodiments shown in FIGS.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
At least the flocked portion elastically swings due to the reaction force of the pressing force to the teeth, so unless the user pays particular attention to the brush bristles, the brush bristles should be used within the range in which the flocked portion can swing. Can be pressed against the tooth surface with an appropriate pressing force. In addition, since the bristles are elastically oscillated and the brush bristles are urged in the oscillating range in a direction to restore the original position, when the toothbrush is reciprocated, fine adjustment is not required by hand. By this elastic force, the brush bristle tip can automatically follow the gingiva and the unevenness of the tooth surface, so that the plaque removal effect can be further ensured and the gingiva can be appropriately massaged. is there.

[0017]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a first embodiment of a toothbrush according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Head Part 12 Gripping Part 14 Brush Bristles 15 Flocking Part 17 Bending Part 19 Elastic Connection Member 20 Spindle 42 Coil Spring 70 Spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush provided with a bristle-implanted portion into which bristle bristles are planted and a gripping portion to be gripped by a user, wherein at least the bristle-forming portion is elastic with respect to the gripping portion by a reaction force of a pressing force against a tooth. Toothbrush supported in a swingable manner.