US20090064435A1 - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Toothbrush Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090064435A1
US20090064435A1 US12/297,933 US29793307A US2009064435A1 US 20090064435 A1 US20090064435 A1 US 20090064435A1 US 29793307 A US29793307 A US 29793307A US 2009064435 A1 US2009064435 A1 US 2009064435A1
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Prior art keywords
bristles
tuft
bristle
tufted
synthetic resin
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Abandoned
Application number
US12/297,933
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English (en)
Inventor
Takenori Fukugaki
Shinya Sakurai
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Sunstar Inc
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Sunstar Inc
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Application filed by Sunstar Inc filed Critical Sunstar Inc
Assigned to SUNSTAR INC. reassignment SUNSTAR INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FUKUGAKI, TAKENORI, SAKURAI, SHINYA
Publication of US20090064435A1 publication Critical patent/US20090064435A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
    • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
    • A46B9/028—Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
    • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
    • A46B9/04—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
    • A46B9/06—Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/023—Bristles with at least a core and at least a partial sheath
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0238—Bristles with non-round cross-section
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0276—Bristles having pointed ends
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46D—MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES
    • A46D1/00—Bristles; Selection of materials for bristles
    • A46D1/02—Bristles details
    • A46D1/0292—Bristles having split ends
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a toothbrush.
  • a toothbrush has been proposed in which soft bristles, such as polyester thermoplastic elastomer, are tufted in outer portion in the width direction of a toothbrush head of the toothbrush and hard bristles, such as nylon, are tufted in an inner portion in the width direction of a toothbrush head of the toothbrush and which provides a massaging effect to the gum by the outer soft bristles at the outer portion, while maintaining a cleaning effect by the hard bristles at the inner portion mainly in the case of horizontal brushing method (rolling-stroke method) (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2).
  • rolling-stroke method e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2
  • the Bass method refers to a method of finely vibrating a toothbrush while tilting the toothbrush by 45° angle to the gum line, and is a cleaning method having a relatively high cleaning effect in the dental grooves where a dental plaque is easily accumulated.
  • the hard bristles at the inner portion damage the gum.
  • the above-described toothbrush cannot be used for persons with weak gum.
  • the above-described toothbrush can massage the gum by the soft bristles at the outer portions when horizontally brushed, such soft bristles are spread out in a short period of time in the course of using, giving a problem with durability.
  • Patent-Document 1 Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. 6-12647
  • Patent Document 2 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2002-514946
  • the present invention aims to provide a toothbrush which gives a high massaging effect to persons with weak gum while reducing the stimulus and not damaging the gum in various kinds of brushing methods, especially in the Bass method and which is excellent also in durability.
  • the present invention is a toothbrush in which bristles are tufted in a toothbrush head so as to solve the above-described problems.
  • the toothbrush is structured such that thermoplastic elastomer bristles made of a polyester elastomer or a polyamide elastomer are tufted in the inner portion in the width direction of a toothbrush head and bristles made of synthetic resin harder than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles are tufted in the outer portions in the width direction of a toothbrush head.
  • the diameter of the thermoplastic elastomer bristles be 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm.
  • the number of bristle tufting rows is not limited, and is preferably 3 to 5 rows, and particularly preferably 3 rows. Among the above, in the case of thermoplastic elastomer bristles, the number of bristle tufting rows is preferably 1 to 3 rows.
  • thermoplastic elastomer bristles be tufted in the tip portion and the base end portion in the longitudinal direction in the inner portion in the width direction of a toothbrush head.
  • a tuft made of the thermoplastic elastomer bristles is tufted in each tuft holes except tuft holes at the tip and the base end near the neck of handle in the longitudinal direction in a single inner row or a plurality of inner rows, and a bristle made of the synthetic resin bristles is tufted in the tuft holes at the tip and the base end of the inner row(s) and in each tuft hole in both outer rows.
  • the synthetic resin bristle be made of a polyester resin in which one or two or more members selected from polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate have been melt-mixed, or a polyamide resin, or be a sheath-core type composite filament formed of a core filament made of a polyamide resin and a sheath portion made of a polyester resin.
  • each bristle tufted in a toothbrush head becomes successively or stepwise shorter from the inner portion to the outer portion in the width direction.
  • the angle of inclination of a straight line, which passes through the tip of the bristles at the central portion and the tip of the bristle at the outermost sides, relative to a tufting surface is preferably 5 to 40° angle, and most preferably 10 to 30° angle.
  • the bristle length of the bristles at the outermost side is shorter than the bristle length of the bristles at the central portion by preferably 0.5 to 2.5 mm, and more preferably 1.0 to 2.0 mm.
  • the line passing through the tip of each bristle substantially linearly incline from the central portion to the outer portion in the width direction and the bristle length of each bristle become successively shorter from the central portion to the outer portion.
  • the bristles of the tufts tufted in each tuft hole have the same bristle length; the bristle length of the bristles of the tufts at the outer portions are shorter than the length of the bristles of the tufts at the inner portion in the width direction of a toothbrush head; and the length of each bristle becomes stepwise shorter from the central portion to the outer portion.
  • thermoplastic elastomer bristles are preferably made of thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness of 30 D to 100 D.
  • thermoplastic elastomer bristles are tufted in the inner portion in the width direction of a toothbrush head which contacts sensitive portions of the gum or the interproximal portions in the Bass method, and thus the gum or the interproximal portions are hard to damage and massaging effect of the gum is provided.
  • thermoplastic elastomer bristle is set to 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm, narrow part cleaning effect with the elastomer bristles for boundaries between the teeth and the gum and interproximal gaps can be improved.
  • the soft elastomer bristles can be supported by the hard synthetic resin bristles from the longitudinal direction and the width direction, i.e., all directions, to thereby prevent the soft elastomer bristles from spreading out, resulting in that the cleaning effect by the elastomer bristles and the durability can be further improved.
  • the synthetic resin bristles at the outer row opposite to the side contacting the tooth surface can be avoided from contacting the gum at the time of cleaning by the Bass method; a sufficient massaging effect and narrow part cleaning effect can be obtained by the long elastomer bristles; and sufficient cleaning effect can be maintained by the synthetic resin bristles at the side contacting the tooth surface.
  • the synthetic resin bristles at the outer rows are short as described above, the contact between the synthetic resin bristles and the gum is reduced at the time when horizontally brushed to thereby prevent damaging the gum.
  • thermoplastic elastomer bristles are made of a thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness of 30 D to 100 D, outstanding cleaning effect can also be obtained simultaneously with that the stimulus to the gum is suppressed to thereby achieve a favorable massaging effect.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an essential part of a toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the same part as in FIG. 1 as viewed from the tip side in the longitudinal direction.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the same part as in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating the usage manner of the toothbrush according to the first embodiment of the present invention by Bass method.
  • FIGS. 5( a ) and ( b ) are explanatory views illustrating modified examples in the first embodiment, respectively.
  • FIGS. 6( a ) and ( b ) are explanatory drawings illustrating other modified examples.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an essential part of a toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating the same part as in FIG. 7 as viewed from the tip side in the longitudinal direction.
  • FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the same part as in FIG. 7 .
  • FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating the usage manner of the toothbrush according to the second embodiment of the present invention by Bass method.
  • FIGS. 11( a ) and ( b ) are explanatory views illustrating an essential part of a synthetic resin bristle in the second embodiment.
  • FIGS. 12( a ) and ( b ) are explanatory views illustrating modified examples of the synthetic resin bristle in the second embodiment.
  • FIGS. 13( a ) to ( e ) are explanatory views illustrating other modified examples of the synthetic resin bristle in the second embodiment.
  • FIGS. 14( a ) and ( b ) are explanatory views illustrating still other modified examples of the synthetic resin bristle in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of the toothbrush according to the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1 to 6 illustrate a first embodiment
  • FIGS. 7 to 14 illustrate a second embodiment.
  • the reference numerals 1 , 2 , and 3 denote a toothbrush, a toothbrush body, and a brush part, respectively.
  • a feature of a toothbrush 1 according to the present invention resides in that bristles 4 are tufted in a toothbrush head 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1 in which thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 , . . . are tufted in an inner portion R 1 in the width direction of a toothbrush head 20 and synthetic resin bristles 42 , . . . harder than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles are tufted in outer portions R 2 and R 3 in the width direction of a toothbrush head 20 .
  • the toothbrush 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a toothbrush body 2 made of a synthetic resin and a brush part 3 provided on a toothbrush head 20 of the toothbrush body 2 .
  • the toothbrush body 2 is composed of a toothbrush head 20 , a neck of handle 21 , and a handle (not shown) which have been integrally molded by injection molding of a synthetic resin, such as polypropylene, for example.
  • the brush part 3 provided on a toothbrush head 20 is obtained by two-folding a tuft 5 obtained by bundling a plurality of bristles 4 , . . . into a U shape; inserting and fixing (driving) the tuft 5 in each tuft hole 20 a of a toothbrush head 20 with an anchor wire (also referred to as a metal wire material, a wire staple, etc.); and then trimming the tip of each tuft 5 to the equal length.
  • an anchor wire also referred to as a metal wire material, a wire staple, etc.
  • employable as a method of fixing the bristles 4 to a toothbrush head 20 are the same bristle tufting methods as conventional bristle tufting methods, such as an in-mold method which involves heat sealing the base part of the tuft in which bristles are similarly bundled to form a fusion lump, placing the base part in a molding cavity at the time of shaping of a toothbrush body, and fixing the bristles to the toothbrush head by integral molding, and a fuse in method.
  • three tuft rows are provided along the longitudinal direction of a toothbrush head 20 in which one central row is a tuft row of thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 , . . . and each outer row parallel thereto is a tuft row of the synthetic resin bristles 42 , . . . harder than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles. It should be noted that it is a matter of course that the number of tuft rows, the number of the tufts forming each row, and the arrangement relationship are not limited at all in the present invention.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 are made of thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness of 30 D to 100 D, such as a polyester elastomer or a polyamide elastomer, and the diameter is set to 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm.
  • the diameter is smaller than 0.1 mm, a sufficient durability cannot be obtained.
  • the diameter is larger than 0.4 mm, the cleaning effect of gaps decrease. More preferably, the diameter is set to 0.15 to 0.25 mm.
  • the hardness is lower than 30 D, the cleaning effect cannot be obtained.
  • the hardness is higher than 100 D, the stimulus to the gum is too strong.
  • the hardness is set to 55 to 80 D.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer is engineering plastic having rubber elasticity.
  • polyester elastomers such as “Hytrel” (manufactured by Du Pont-Toray Co., Ltd.), “Arnitel” (manufactured by Akzo), “Gaflex” (manufactured by GAF), and “Pelprene” (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) and polyamide elastomers, such as, “Grilax” (manufactured by DIC Corporation) and “Pebax” (manufactured by Atochem).
  • the synthetic resin bristles 42 are harder than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 .
  • Usable as a material thereof are synthetic resins known as bristles of a toothbrush, such as: a polyamide resin, such as nylon or aramid; a polyester resin in which one or two or more members selected from polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate (polytrimethylene terephthalate), and polyethylene terephthalate have been melt-mixed; and a polyolefin resin, such as polypropylene and polyethylene.
  • a synthetic resin made of nylon or a polyester resin in which one or two or more members selected from polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate have been melt-mixed is preferable from the viewpoint that excellent cleaning effect can be obtained.
  • each tuft 5 tufted in a toothbrush head 20 is trimmed in such a manner that the bristle length of the bristles 4 becomes successively shorter from the inner portion to the outer portion in the width direction. More specifically, the tufts of thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 at the central row are trimmed in such a manner that the length of the bristles at the central portion is the highest and the length thereof becomes gradually shorter towards both outer portions and the synthetic resin bristles 42 at the outer rows are trimmed in such a manner that the length thereof becomes gradually shorter from the inner portion to the outer portion.
  • the line passing through the tip of each bristle is trimmed in such a manner as to substantially linearly incline from the central portion to the outer portion in the width direction.
  • the angle of inclination ⁇ to the head surface is set to 5 to 40° angle.
  • the bristle length difference h 1 between the bristles (thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 ) at the central portion and the bristles (synthetic resin bristles 42 ) at the outermost side is set to 0.5 to 2.5 mm.
  • the bristle length difference h 1 is smaller than 0.5 mm, the feeling that the toothbrush contacts the teeth and the gum is almost the same with a feeling that the bristles having the same length (straight line) contact the teeth and the gum, and thus the length difference is hard to recognize; the massaging effect by the elastomer bristles cannot fully be obtained; a possibility that the synthetic resin bristles at a lower part contact the gum during cleaning becomes high.
  • the bristle length difference h 1 is larger than 2.5 mm, the elastomer bristles become excessively long, and thus the tip thereof are not sufficiently supported by the synthetic resin bristles, resulting in that the massaging effect and narrow part cleaning effect decrease, and also cleaning effect decrease because the synthetic resin bristles at an upper part do not sufficiently contact the tooth surface. More specifically, only the central portion contacts the brushing target, and thus cleaning effect to the tooth surface cannot be expected.
  • toothbrushes similarly preferable are a toothbrush in which the bristles are trimmed in such a manner as to incline in a substantially curved shape as illustrated in FIG. 5( a ) and a toothbrush in which only the synthetic resin bristles 42 at the outer rows are similarly trimmed while inclining in such a manner that the synthetic resin bristles 42 at the outer rows are shorter than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 at the central row and the outer portions of the outer rows are shorter and that the tip of the tuft of the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 at the central row are horizontally trimmed as illustrated in FIG. 5( b ).
  • the angle of inclination ⁇ of a straight line, which passes through the tip of the bristles at the central portion and the tip of the tuft at the outermost side, relative to a tufting surface as viewed in a cross section is preferably adjusted to 5 to 40° angle.
  • a toothbrush is also preferable in which, in the inner portion R 1 in the width direction of a toothbrush head, the synthetic resin bristles 42 harder than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 are tufted in a portion RIO at the tip in the longitudinal direction and a portion R 11 at the base end in the longitudinal direction as illustrated in FIG. 6( a ).
  • the tuft made of the synthetic resin bristles is tufted in each tuft hole at the tip and the base end in the longitudinal direction of the central row and each tuft hole forming both the outer rows sandwiching the central row.
  • the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 , . . . are surrounded by the hard synthetic resin bristles 42 from all directions in the width direction and the longitudinal direction, resulting in that the cleaning effect by the elastomer bristles 41 and the durability further increase.
  • the synthetic resin bristles 42 in the portions R 10 and R 11 may be the same in the bristle length as the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 .
  • the synthetic resin bristles 42 in the portions R 10 and R 11 be trimmed while inclining in such a manner that the tip of the tufts of the synthetic resin bristles 42 in the portions R 10 and R 11 are shorter than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 and the outer portions, i.e., the tip and the base end in the longitudinal direction of the central row, are shorter than the central portion similarly as in the synthetic resin bristles 42 at the outer portions R 2 and R 3 , to thereby avoid the synthetic resin bristles 42 from contacting the gum.
  • each tuft 5 is trimmed in such a manner as to incline in the width direction, and may be trimmed in such a manner as to form an uneven surface also in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, when the tip of the thermoplastic elastomer bristle 41 or the synthetic resin bristle 42 is processed into a tapered shape, the insertion properties to a narrow part are improved.
  • tuft rows are provided along the longitudinal direction of a toothbrush head 20 in which one central row is a tuft row of thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 , . . . and each outer row parallel thereto is a tuft row of the synthetic resin bristles 42 , . . . harder than the thermoplastic elastomer bristles, respectively.
  • each tuft 5 is tufted in such a manner that the tip of each tuft 5 becomes substantially horizontal or the tip of each tuft 5 is substantially horizontally trimmed after tufting.
  • the trimming is performed in such a manner that the bristle length of the bristles 4 becomes successively shorter from the inner portion to the outer portion in the width direction (one level difference in this embodiment). More specifically, the bristle length of the synthetic resin bristles 42 forming the tufts at the outer rows is shorter than the bristle length of the thermoplastic elastomer bristles 41 forming the tufts at the central row.
  • the bristle length difference h 2 is set to 0.5 to 2.5 mm, and the angle of inclination ⁇ of a straight line, which passes through the tip of the bristles at the central portion and the tip of the bristle at the outermost side, relative to a tufting surface as viewed in a cross section is set to 5 to 40° angle.
  • the cross section is formed of a filament made of a synthetic resin having a sheath-core type composite and three core filaments 61 are projected from the tip of a sheath portion 60 as illustrated in FIG. 11 .
  • Such a synthetic resin can be produced by dissolving the sheath portion 60 from the tip to thereby expose a core filament 61 , which is achieved by forming the core filament 61 using a material containing a polyamide resin, such as nylon, as a main component; forming the sheath portion 60 using a composite synthetic resin monofilament made of a material containing a polyester resin, such as polybutylene terephthalate, as a main component; immersing the above in a chemical solution, such as caustic soda.
  • a synthetic resin bristle the dental plaque removing effect and cleaning effect in narrow parts, such as the interproximal portions and the boundaries between the teeth and the gum, are improved.
  • the number of projected core filaments may be 1 (as illustrated in FIG. 12 ), 2, or 4 or more.
  • the tapered shape at the tip of the sheath portion 60 or the exposure length of the core filament 61 can be suitably adjusted by the concentration of the chemical solution, immersion time, speed of pulling the resultant from the chemical solution, etc.
  • the tapered shape at the tip of the sheath portion increases insertion properties and accessibility into narrow parts in the mouth.
  • the tip shape of the core filament 61 is suitably determined, and can be processed into proper shapes, such as the shape of a hemisphere.
  • a tapered bristle in which tapered branch bristles in the number according to the number of the connected unit cross sectional elements are formed on the tip of the bristle can be formed as a tapered bristle used as the synthetic resin bristle 42 .
  • the shape and the length of the branch bristles can be suitably adjusted by the concentration of a chemical solution, immersion time, speed of pulling up the resultant from the chemical solution, etc.
  • FIG. 13( c ) illustrates a tapered bristle formed of two unit cross sectional elements
  • FIG. 13( d ) illustrates a tapered bristle formed of three unit cross sectional elements which are arranged in one row
  • FIG. 13( e ) illustrates a tapered bristle formed of four unit cross sectional elements.
  • a tapered bristle in which a tapered branch bristle(s) is (are) formed on the tip of the bristles can be formed.
  • a core filament is formed in the central part of each unit cross sectional element, and each branch bristle can be formed into the same sheath-core type composite as the above.
  • the toothbrush By mounting the toothbrush described in each embodiment described above to a toothbrush body having a shortened handle and a driving unit, the toothbrush can also be applied to a brush of an electric toothbrush which vibrates the brush part 3 .
  • each embodiment of the present invention was subjected to a cleaning effect test, a durability test, and a sensory test, such as feeling of use, and the test results will be described.
  • Toothbrushes of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 are as shown in Table 1. Each toothbrush is formed of three tuft rows (the central row and both outer portion rows).
  • An “elastomer filament” is a bristle having a diameter of 0.2 mm made of a thermoplastic polyester elastomer (“Hytrel”, manufactured by Du Pont-Toray).
  • a “polyester bristle” is a bristle having a diameter of 0.15 mm made of a melt-mixture of polytrimethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate.
  • a “sheath-core” is a bristle having a diameter of 0.19 mm formed of a core filament made of nylon and a sheath portion made of polybutylene terephthalate in which three core filaments are projected from the tip.
  • a “roof shape” is a shape in which the tip of the bristles are trimmed in such a manner as to substantially linearly incline from the central portion to the outer portion in the width direction; the angle of inclination is set to 25° angle; and the bristle length difference of the bristles between the central portion and the outer end is set to 1.5 mm.
  • a “(high inclination)” refers to a state where the angle of inclination is set to 40° angle and the bristle length difference between the bristles at central portion and the bristles at the outer portion is set to 2.5 mm.
  • a “convex shape” refers to a state where the bristle length of bristles at outer rows is further shortened as compared with the bristle length of bristles at the central row; the bristle length difference (level difference) is set to 1.0 mm; and the angle of inclination of a straight line, which passes through the tip of the bristles at the central portion and the tip of the bristle at the outermost side, relative to a tufting surface is set to 25° angle.
  • a “(large level difference)” refers to a state where the bristle length difference is set to 2.5 mm, and the angle of inclination of a straight line, which passes through the tip of the bristles at the central portion and the tip of the bristle at the outermost side, relative to a tufting surface is set to 40° angle.
  • An artificial plaque is adhered to an upper second premolar of a jaw model, and the jaw model is attached to a brushing simulation machine.
  • Each toothbrush of Examples and Comparative Examples is placed in such a manner that one end of a bristle tufting part contacts the upper second premolar and a bristle tufting part covers the second premolars.
  • Brushing is performed for 3 seconds while setting a stroke in the transverse direction to 20 mm and applying a load of 150 g.
  • the area of the artificial plaque is measured and calculated in each part with an image analyzer. Then, a ratio of the area where the artificial plaque is removed to the area where the artificial plaque was adhered was defined as a plaque removal ratio.
  • the results are shown in Table 2.
  • Table 2 shows that Examples 1, 2, 5, and 6 (a roof shape and a convex shape) have a cleaning ability (average) and a cleaning stability (error) to the tooth surface portion which are equivalent to or more excellent than the conventional polyester bristles (Comparative Examples 3 to 5) and excellent cleaning effect both to the tooth surface portion and the cervical margin in comparison with Comparative Examples 1 and 2 each having a massaging effect.
  • Table 3 shows that Examples 1, 2, 4, and 6 have a difficulty of spreading out and durability which are equivalent to or higher than those of conventional polyester bristles (Comparative Examples 2 to 5), although Examples 1, 2, 4, and 6 use elastomer bristles.
  • Each toothbrush of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 was subjected to sensory test in terms of the massaging feeling, existence of a stimulus, feeling of use, and ease of contacting the cervical margin by 10 subjects, and evaluated according to the following criteria.
  • Table 4 shows that Examples 1 and 2 have excellent brushing comfortability, feeling of use, and ease of contacting the cervical margin as compared with Comparative Examples 1 and 2 having a conventional massaging effect and polyester bristles (Comparative Examples 3-5).
  • Examples 5 and 6 having a straight line, the synthetic resin bristles at the outer portion contact the gum again.
  • Examples 5 and 6 are inferior to Examples 1 and 2 in terms of the ease of contacting gum.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
  • Artificial Filaments (AREA)
  • Multicomponent Fibers (AREA)
US12/297,933 2006-04-21 2007-04-10 Toothbrush Abandoned US20090064435A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2006-118162 2006-04-21
JP2006118162A JP4992285B2 (ja) 2006-04-21 2006-04-21 歯ブラシ
PCT/JP2007/057861 WO2007123013A1 (ja) 2006-04-21 2007-04-10 歯ブラシ

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US12/297,933 Abandoned US20090064435A1 (en) 2006-04-21 2007-04-10 Toothbrush

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US (1) US20090064435A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2011416B1 (de)
JP (1) JP4992285B2 (de)
CN (1) CN101426396B (de)
CA (1) CA2649825C (de)
ES (1) ES2483691T3 (de)
WO (1) WO2007123013A1 (de)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US20150150365A1 (en) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Cheng Fang Integral brush with no gaps between cleaning assembly and handle and manufacturing process thereof
US20150354098A1 (en) * 2013-05-08 2015-12-10 Pedex Gmbh Plastic monofilament and toothbrush bristle made of a corresponding monofilament
USD754443S1 (en) 2014-06-11 2016-04-26 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
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EP2499933A4 (de) * 2009-11-13 2016-12-14 Sunstar Inc Kern/hüllen-verbundfaser für zahnbürsten und zahnbürste damit
AU2014274861B2 (en) * 2013-06-06 2017-06-15 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
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US10477952B2 (en) 2015-10-09 2019-11-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10702057B2 (en) 2015-07-07 2020-07-07 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement and monofilament bristle for use with the same
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Cited By (23)

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US20090188521A1 (en) * 2008-01-17 2009-07-30 Evazynajad Ali M Dental Floss Formed from Botanic and Botanically Derived Fiber
USD657566S1 (en) 2008-08-15 2012-04-17 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Toothbrush
USD719356S1 (en) 2008-08-15 2014-12-16 Dr. Fresh, Llc Toothbrush handle
USD720541S1 (en) 2008-08-15 2015-01-06 Dr. Fresh, Llc Toothbrush
USD680747S1 (en) 2008-09-30 2013-04-30 Dr. Fresh, Llc Toothbrush feature
USD710615S1 (en) 2008-09-30 2014-08-12 Dr. Fresh, Llc Toothbrush handle
US20100280793A1 (en) * 2008-12-09 2010-11-04 Joachim Wilhelm Method and device for measuring the efficacy of plaque removal
USD670504S1 (en) 2009-05-27 2012-11-13 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Toothbrush
US20110030160A1 (en) * 2009-08-06 2011-02-10 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Bristle configuration
EP2499933A4 (de) * 2009-11-13 2016-12-14 Sunstar Inc Kern/hüllen-verbundfaser für zahnbürsten und zahnbürste damit
WO2013183908A1 (ko) * 2012-06-05 2013-12-12 주식회사 엘지생활건강 이중 구조의 팁을 갖는 칫솔모와 이를 포함하는 칫솔
US20150354098A1 (en) * 2013-05-08 2015-12-10 Pedex Gmbh Plastic monofilament and toothbrush bristle made of a corresponding monofilament
AU2014274861B2 (en) * 2013-06-06 2017-06-15 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
US10004322B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2018-06-26 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
US10729232B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2020-08-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Head for an oral care implement
US11641932B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2023-05-09 Braun Gmbh Head for an oral care implement
USD754442S1 (en) 2013-07-17 2016-04-26 Colgate-Palmolive Company Toothbrush
US20150150365A1 (en) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Cheng Fang Integral brush with no gaps between cleaning assembly and handle and manufacturing process thereof
USD754443S1 (en) 2014-06-11 2016-04-26 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10426250B2 (en) 2014-12-23 2019-10-01 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US11779102B2 (en) 2014-12-23 2023-10-10 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10702057B2 (en) 2015-07-07 2020-07-07 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement and monofilament bristle for use with the same
US10477952B2 (en) 2015-10-09 2019-11-19 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement

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CA2649825A1 (en) 2007-11-01
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CN101426396A (zh) 2009-05-06
EP2011416B1 (de) 2014-07-16
JP2007289265A (ja) 2007-11-08
CN101426396B (zh) 2012-10-24
EP2011416A4 (de) 2012-03-14
WO2007123013A1 (ja) 2007-11-01
EP2011416A1 (de) 2009-01-07
JP4992285B2 (ja) 2012-08-08

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