US20240215708A1

US20240215708A1 - Brush head for facial skin cleaning

Info

Publication number: US20240215708A1
Application number: US18/402,261
Authority: US
Inventors: Yanbo Zhu
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 2022-12-30
Filing date: 2024-01-02
Publication date: 2024-07-04

Abstract

Provided is a brush head for cleaning a surface of skin of a face. Tip-end-curved bristle bundles and tapered bristle bundles are implanted in a plurality of implantation holes of an implantation base portion so that the tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles have the same height. The tip-end-curved bristle bundles are implanted in implantation holes at an outermost peripheral part of the implantation base portion, and form an outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group. The tapered bristle bundles are implanted in implantation holes in an inner region relative to the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group, and form an inner tapered-bristle bundle group. The inner tapered-bristle bundle group includes a center tapered-bristle bundle row formed of ones of the tapered bristle bundles, the ones being implanted in implantation holes on a center cross line that crosses a center of the inner region, and other ones of the tapered bristle bundles than the ones forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles are implanted in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to the central cross line.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to provisional application No. 63/477,980 filed Dec. 30, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a brush head for facial skin cleaning for cleaning the surface of the skin of the face.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brush heads for cleaning are sometimes used, for example, for cleaning the surface of the skin of the face, or applying cosmetics. In order that such brush heads for washing are used preferably for cleaning the surface of the skin of the face, it is strongly desired that the brush heads be designed to have a unique function which is specialized in cleaning the surface of the skin of the face so that both comfort and an effect of cleaning off dirt from the surface of the skin can be provided. Current brush heads for cleaning typically have general bristle-type designs at present. Such bristle-type designs are liable to apply load to the skin of the face in use, which may hinder appropriate washing of the skin. Even when a user applies additional pressure to the brush head so as to clean the skin of the face appropriately and further effectively, simply applying the pressure is not very effective, which results in a risk of damaging the skin.
Meanwhile, as an example of commodities having the bristle-type designs, there are toothbrushes for cleaning the inside of the oral cavity. In order that plaque and the like can be effectively removed by efficiently performing appropriate brushing in accordance with types of teeth such as front teeth and back teeth, or with parts of the teeth such as interdental areas, surface portions of the teeth, cervical portions, and back portions of the teeth, and in order that excellent feel can be provided during the brushing, various ingenuity is applied, for example, to arrangements of bristle bundles and to shapes of ends of bristles of the toothbrushes. Specifically, in a known toothbrush, the ends of the bristles to be implanted into the brush head are formed into a tapered shape, or preferably into a spherical shape to form protruding curved surfaces. In such a way, a unique feature is added to the bristles. In addition, other toothbrushes having brush heads in various forms in which, for example, dimensions such as their lengths and diameters of the bristles are variously set, and in which ingenuity is applied to combinations of types of the bristles or arrangements of the bristles also have been disclosed (refer, for example, to Patent Literature 1, Patent Literature 2, Patent Literature 3, and Patent Literature 4).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

- Patent Literature 1 JP 2017-118939A
- Patent Literature 2 JP 2019-208972A
- Patent Literature 3 JP 2019-208973A
- Patent Literature 4 JP 2020-198989A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a brush head for facial skin cleaning for cleaning a surface of skin of a face,

- the brush head including:
  - an implantation base portion including a front portion and a rear portion; and
  - a plurality of bristle bundles formed by bundling a plurality of bristles and implanted in a plurality of implantation holes formed in the front portion of the implantation base portion.

The plurality of bristle bundles include:

- a plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles formed by bundling a plurality of tip-end-curved bristles each including a tip end portion having a protruding curved surface; and
- a plurality of tapered bristle bundles formed by bundling a plurality of tapered bristles each including a tapered part reduced in cross-sectional area toward a tip end portion.

The plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles are implanted in the plurality of implantation holes in the front portion so that the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles have a same height.
The plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles

- are implanted in a plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes provided along a peripheral part of the front portion of the implantation base portion, and
- form an outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group.

The plurality of tapered bristle bundles

- are implanted in a plurality of inner implantation holes provided in an inner region relative to the plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes around the inner region in the front portion of the implantation base portion, and
- form an inner tapered-bristle bundle group.

the plurality of tapered bristle bundles includes

- a plurality of first tapered bristle bundles being implanted in a plurality of center-row implantation holes provided on a center cross line that crosses a center of the inner region, and
- a plurality of second tapered bristle bundles, and

the inner tapered-bristle bundle group includes a center tapered-bristle bundle row formed of the plurality of first tapered bristle bundles.
The plurality of second tapered bristle bundles and the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles are implanted in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to the central cross line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front-portion-side perspective view of a tool for facial skin cleaning, the tool using a brush head for facial skin cleaning according to a preferred first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an explanatory view of the tool for facial skin cleaning in use.

FIG. 1C is a rear-portion-side perspective view of the tool for facial skin cleaning, the tool using the brush head for facial skin cleaning according to the preferred first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory schematic front view of the brush head for facial skin cleaning according to the preferred first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory schematic side view of the brush head for facial skin cleaning according to the preferred first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory schematic cross-sectional view of simplified tip-end-curved bristle bundles and tapered bristle bundles.

FIG. 5A is a front view of an implantation base portion before the bristle bundles are implanted in the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction indicated by arrows A-A in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is an exemplary schematic front view illustrating another form of the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 6B is an exemplary schematic front view illustrating an even another form of the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 6C is an exemplary schematic front view illustrating a yet another form of the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory schematic front view of a brush head for facial skin cleaning according to a preferred second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is an exemplary schematic front view illustrating another form of the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 8B is an exemplary schematic front view illustrating an even another form of the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 8C is an exemplary schematic front view illustrating a yet another form of the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 8D is an exemplary schematic front view of an even yet another form of the brush head for facial skin cleaning.

FIG. 9A is an explanatory schematic front view of a brush head according to Comparative Example 1.

FIG. 9B is an explanatory schematic front view of a brush head according to Comparative Example 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unlike the brush heads of the toothbrushes, as described above, the brush heads to be used for cleaning the surface of the skin of the face have not been designed at present to have the unique function that is specialized in cleaning the surface of the skin of the face so that both the comfort and the effect of cleaning off dirt from the surface of the skin can be provided. However, it is probable that the brush heads for facial skin cleaning, the brush heads being used for cleaning the surface of the skin of the face, can be designed to have the unique function that is specialized in cleaning the surface of the skin of the face by applying ingenuity, for example, to the arrangements of the bristle bundles to be implanted and to shapes of the ends of the bristles of the brush heads for facial skin cleaning like applying ingenuity to the brush heads of the toothbrushes.
The present invention relates to a brush head for facial skin cleaning, the brush head being designed to have a unique function that is specialized in cleaning the surface of the skin of the face, thereby being capable of providing both comfort and an effect of cleaning off dirt from the surface of the skin.
According to the present invention, there is provided a brush head for facial skin cleaning for cleaning a surface of skin of a face,

The plurality of bristle bundles include:

The plurality of tapered bristle bundles

- are implanted in a plurality of inner implantation holes provided in an inner region relative to the plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes around the inner region in the front portion of the implantation base portion, and form an inner tapered-bristle bundle group.

the plurality of tapered bristle bundles includes

the inner tapered-bristle bundle group includes a center tapered-bristle bundle row formed of the plurality of first tapered bristle bundles.
The plurality of second tapered bristle bundles and the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles are implanted in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to the central cross line.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, a brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to a preferred first embodiment of the present invention is joined preferably integrally to one end portion of a handle portion (holding portion) 21, and forms a tool 20 for facial skin washing cooperatively with the handle portion (holding portion) 21. In other words, the brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment is configured preferably to be used as a part of the tool 20 for facial skin washing. The brush head 10 is configured to be capable of effectively cleaning the skin of the face, for example, by pressing, by a user who holds the handle portion 21, a tip end part of a brush portion 16 formed of a plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 implanted in a front portion 11 of the brush head 10 against a desired position on the surface 23 of the skin of the face (refer to FIG. 1B), applying pressure, and sliding the brush head 10 along the surface 23 of the skin. The brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment (hereinafter, sometimes abbreviated as a brush head) is designed to enable ingenuity to be applied, for example, to arrangements of the plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 to be implanted, and to shapes of bristles 17 and 18 that form these bristle bundles. With this, the brush head 10 to be used for cleaning the surface 23 of the skin of the face can have a specialized and unique function. In this way, the brush head 10 is configured to be capable of effectively providing both comfort and an effect of cleaning off dirt from the surface 23 of the skin.
In addition, the brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment is a brush head for cleaning the surface 23 of the skin of the face. The brush head is joined preferably integrally to the handle portion 21, and is used as a part of the tool 20 for facial skin washing. As illustrated also in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 , the brush head includes an implantation base portion 13 including the front portion 11 and a rear portion 12, and the plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 formed by bundling the plurality of bristles 17 and 18 and implanted in a plurality of implantation holes 19 (refer to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B) formed in the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13.
The plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 respectively include a plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 (refer to FIG. 4 ) formed by bundling a plurality of tip-end-curved bristles 17 each including a tip end portion 17 a having a protruding curved surface 17 b, and a plurality of tapered bristle bundles 15 (refer to FIG. 4 ) formed by bundling a plurality of tapered bristles 18 each including a tapered part 18 b reduced in cross-sectional area toward a tip end portion 18 a. The plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted in the plurality of implantation holes 19 in the front portion 11 in such a manner that the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles 15 have the same height h (refer to FIG. 3 ). The plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in a plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes 19 a (refer to FIG. 5A) provided as ones of the implantation holes 19, the ones being at an outermost peripheral part of the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13, and form an outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A (refer to FIG. 2 ). Meanwhile, the plurality of tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted in a plurality of inner implantation holes 19 b (refer to FIG. 5A) provided in an inner region relative to the plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes 19 a therearound in the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13, and form an inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A (refer to FIG. 2 ).
In addition, the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A includes a center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B (refer to FIG. 2 ) formed of ones of the tapered bristle bundles 15, the ones being implanted in a plurality of center-row implantation holes 19 b′ (refer to FIG. 5A) provided on a center cross line C1 (refer to FIG. 2 ) that crosses a center of the inner region. Meanwhile, other ones of the tapered bristle bundles 15 than the ones forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to the central cross line C1.
Further, in the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment, in the inner region at a central part of the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13, as six to ten central implantation holes 19 c, for example, six implantation holes 19 are provided preferably in a symmetrical arrangement at three to five locations (three locations in the first embodiment) each on both sides relative to the central cross line C1 (refer to FIG. 5A). The tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the central implantation holes 19 c. With this, center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B are formed in such a manner the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B is sandwiched between the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B (refer to FIG. 2 ).
Even further, in the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment, the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted preferably in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to a perpendicular center-cross line C2 (refer to FIG. 2 ) that crosses the center of the inner region and that is perpendicular to the center cross line C1.
Yet further, in the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment, the implantation base portion 13 preferably includes the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 each having a circular shape.
In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, the implantation base portion 13 of the brush head 10 and the handle portion 21 form a brush body 22. The brush body 22 may be formed by using generally-used synthetic resins without particular limitation. The brush body 22 may be obtained by forming the implantation base portion 13 and the handle portion 21 integrally with each other preferably through injection molding with use of a resin of one kind or two or more kinds selected from among, for example, polypropylene, a polyacetal resin, a polystyrene resin, a polyethylene terephthalate resin, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin, a cellulose propionate resin, a polyarylate resin, a polycarbonate resin, an acrylonitrile styrene resin, polyester, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylen terephthalate, and polycyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate. In the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13 of the brush head 10 constituting the formed brush body 22, the plurality of implantation holes 19 are formed in a scattered arrangement (refer to FIG. 5A). The plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 are implanted in these implantation holes 19. With this, the brush portion 16 is formed.
In the first embodiment, the implantation base portion 13 of the brush head 10 includes the front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 each having the circular shape and a diameter of, for example, approximately 23 mm, and has a thickness of, for example, approximately 4 mm. The front portion 11 and the rear portion 12 are connected to each other in a thickness direction via an outer peripheral portion 13 a (refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 3 ). As illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, in the front portion 11, the plurality of (a large number of) implantation holes 19 are opened. The implantation holes 19 are each formed to have a circular cross-sectional shape with a diameter of, for example, approximately 1.2 mm, and preferably to have a depth d of approximately 3 mm (refer to FIG. 5B). Further, the plurality of implantation holes 19 are formed preferably in the scattered arrangement and in a staggered pattern at intervals of, for example, approximately 1.1 to 1.6 mm between their rim portions all over an implantation region such as a hexagonal region out of a peripheral part of the front portion 11 (refer to FIG. 5A).
Even further, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, on the rear portion 12 of the implantation base portion 13 of the brush head 10, embossed anti-slip portions 12 a are formed, for example, by arranging three arcuate linear ribs 12 b having sizes of, for example, large, medium, and small at an interval in line. Specifically, the three arcuate linear ribs 12 b are provided under a state in which respective peak portions of the arches are arranged on a center line along an extension direction of a center axis of the handle portion 21 in the rear portion 12, in which the three arcuate linear ribs 12 b are provided at the interval from each other in series in an order of the sizes of large, medium, and small from a side where a tip end portion of the rear portion 12 is present to a side where the handle portion 21 is present, and in which the three arcuate linear ribs 12 b protrude in a linear shape on a surface of the rear portion 12. In this way, the embossed anti-slip portions 12 a are formed. The embossed anti-slip portions 12 a formed on the rear portion 12 of the implantation base portion 13 enables, for example, easy adjustment of pressure to be applied to the face by applying fingers to the rear portion 12 in use.
The plurality of bristles 17 and 18 that respectively form the plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 and are implanted in the plurality of implantation holes 19 in the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13 may be formed with use of, for example, resin materials including polyamide (such as 6-12 nylon, 6-10 nylon, and 12-nylon), polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polytrimethylen terephthalate), polyolefin (such as polypropylene), and elastomers (such as olefinic ones and styrenic ones), or combinations of them. The bristles 17 and 18 are each formed to have a circular cross-sectional shape with a diameter of, for example, approximately 0.14 to 0.18 mm. The bristles 17 and 18 may each be formed preferably to have a length such that the height h (refer to FIG. 3 ) is approximately 12.5 to 16 mm, for example, at a time of being implanted into the implantation holes 19 while folded into two. The bristles 17 and 18 need not necessarily have the circular cross-sectional shape, and may have, for example, other horizontal cross-sectional shapes such as a triangular cross-sectional shape, a quadrangular cross-sectional shape, and a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.
In addition, in the first embodiment, among the plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15, ones that form the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 correspond to the tip-end-curved bristles 17 (refer to FIG. 4 ), and ones that form the tapered bristle bundles 15 correspond to the tapered bristles 18 (refer to FIG. 4 ). The tip-end-curved bristles 17 are bristles each including the tip end portion 17 a with the protruding curved surface 17 b. In the first embodiment, the protruding curved surface 17 b is formed preferably of a flat spherical portion 17 c provided at the tip end portion 17 a. The protruding curved surface 17 b formed of the flat spherical portion 17 c is provided, for example, while curved with a radius of curvature of approximately 0.08 to 0.20 mm in a circular region that has a diameter of approximately 0.16 to 0.30 mm and that jetties from the tip end portion 17 a of the tip-end-curved bristle 17. The flat spherical portion 17 c with the protruding curved surface 17 b has a height of, for example, approximately 0.106 to 0.141 mm.
The protruding curved surface 17 b formed at the tip end portion 17 a of each of the tip-end-curved bristles 17 enables dead skin cells on the surface 23 of the skin to be easily exfoliated, and dirt, dust, sebum, and the like to be easily removed. With this, an effect of cleaning the skin of the face can be enhanced, which can be utilized also for preventing acne, pimples, blackheads, leukoderma, and the like.
The tapered bristles 18 are bristles each including the tapered part 18 b reduced in the cross-sectional area toward the tip end portion 18 a. In the first embodiment, the tip end portion 18 a is formed so that a tip end reduced in the cross-sectional area is formed to have a diameter (width) of, for example, approximately 0.005 to 0.055 mm. Such a tapered shape of the tip end portion 18 a enables the tip end to be inserted into micropores 24 (refer to FIG. 1B) in the skin of the face, the micropores 24 each having a diameter (width) of approximately 0.06 to 0.16 mm in general. With this, clogging of the micropores 24 in the skin of the face can be cleared. In addition, this also enables dead skin cells on the skin of the face to be exfoliated, and dirt, dust, sebum, acne (such as blackheads and leukoderma), and the like to be removed from the micropores 24 such as pores.
In addition, in the first embodiment, the tip-end-curved bristles 17 and the tapered bristles 18 can respectively be formed into the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the tapered bristle bundles 15 by bundling, for example, ten to thirty bristles 17 and 18 as many as predetermined numbers in accordance with a horizontal cross-sectional area of each of the implantation holes 19. (In FIG. 4 , for the sake of better understanding, the bristle bundles 14 and 15 are each formed of only two bristles 17 and 18, respectively. Actually, the bristle bundles 14 and 15 are each formed by bundling a plurality of the predetermined numbers of more bristles 17 and 18, respectively). In addition, the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the tapered bristle bundles 15 that are formed by bundling the predetermined numbers of the bristles 17 and 18 may be implanted into the implantation holes 19 formed in the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13 preferably by various known methods for implanting the bristle bundles, such as a method of forcing-in these bristle bundles 14 and 15 that have been folded into two with use of a flat wire, the methods being employed for toothbrushes and the like.
In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, in the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13, the plurality of (large number of) implantation holes 19 are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined interval in the scattered arrangement with the implantation holes 19 lined up vertically and horizontally in the staggered pattern, for example, in the implantation region such as the hexagonal region. Of these implantation holes 19, for example, twenty-six implantation holes 19 arranged at an outermost peripheral part 11 a correspond to the plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes 19 a. The tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the outer-peripheral implantation holes 19 a preferably to have the height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. With this, the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A is formed (refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 ).
In addition, in the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13, forty-six implantation holes 19 provided in a region on an inner side relative to the plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes 19 a therearound correspond to the plurality of inner implantation holes 19 b. The tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted in the inner implantation holes 19 b preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. With this, the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A is formed.
Note that, in the first embodiment, eight implantation holes 19 provided on the center cross line C1 (refer to FIG. 2 ) that crosses the center of the inner region 11 b correspond to the plurality of center-row implantation holes 19 b′. The inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A includes the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B formed of the tapered bristle bundles 15 implanted in the center-row implantation holes 19 b′.
Further, in the first embodiment, in the inner region 11 b at the central part of the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13, six central implantation holes 19 c are provided preferably in the symmetrical arrangement at three locations each on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. The tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the central implantation holes 19 c preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. With this, the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B are formed in such a manner that the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B is sandwiched between the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B. Preferably four to ten central implantation holes 19 c in which the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted may be provided in a symmetrical arrangement at two to five locations each on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1.
Even further, in the first embodiment, the tapered bristle bundles 15 other than those in the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. The tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted preferably in the symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the perpendicular center-cross line C2 (refer to FIG. 2 ) that crosses the center of the inner region and that is perpendicular to the center cross line C1.
The brush head 10 according to the first embodiment, the brush head 10 having the above-described configuration, enables cleaning of the skin of the face, for example, by pressing, by the user who holds the handle portion 21, the tip end part of the brush portion 16 formed of the plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 implanted in the front portion 11 of the brush head 10 against a desired position on the surface 23 of the skin of the face, applying desired pressure, and sliding the brush head 10 along the surface 23 of the skin.
In other words, the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment includes the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A formed, for example, of the twenty-six tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14, and the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A formed, for example, of the forty-six tapered bristle bundles 15 arranged in the inner region relative to the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A. These tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and tapered bristle bundles 15 are each implanted preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. The inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A includes the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B (refer to FIG. 2 ) formed, for example, of the eight tapered bristle bundles 15 implanted in the plurality of center-row implantation holes 19 b′ (refer to FIG. 5A) provided on the center cross line C1 (refer to FIG. 2 ) that crosses the center of the inner region. The tapered bristle bundles 15 other than those in the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. Thus, by preferably balancing and arranging these tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and tapered bristle bundles 15, comfort, smoothness of movement, and the effect of cleaning off dirt from the surface 23 of the skin of the face in use of pressing the brush portion 16 of the brush head 10 against the surface of the skin can be provided at once.
For example, by the tip-end-curved bristles 17 of the preferably twenty-six tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 that form the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A, a grainy sensation during contact can be effectively alleviated. In addition, by moving the brush portion 16 along the surface 24 of the skin of the face, the skin of the face can be massaged further comfortably with use of the brush head 10. At the same time, the surface of the skin of the face can be washed (cleaned), and hence dead skin cells can be exfoliated, and dirt, dust, sebum, and the like can be removed.
Further, for example, by the tapered bristles 18 of the preferably forty-six tapered bristle bundles 15 that form the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A, specifically, by causing tapered tip ends of these tapered bristles 18 to enter the pores 24 in the surface 23 of the skin of the face, these pores 24 can be effectively washed (cleaned). In addition, the tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted to have the same height h as that of the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 in the inner region that is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A. Thus, by causing the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 of the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A to support pressing force at the time when the brush portion 16 is pressed against the surface 23 of the skin of the face, a pricking sensation that is felt under a state in which the tapered tip ends of the tapered bristles 18 of the tapered bristle bundles 15 are held in contact with the surface 23 of the skin of the face can be effectively alleviated and suppressed.
Even further, the preferably-eight tapered bristle bundles 15 that form the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A are included in this inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A, and are implanted as the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B on the center cross line C1 (refer to FIG. 2 ). The other tapered bristle bundles 15 and the other tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. With this, an overall balance to be achieved by these bristle bundles 14 and 15 is enhanced, and the massage and the cleaning can be further comfortably performed while moving the brush portion 16 along the surface 23 of the skin of the face.
As described above, the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment is designed to have a unique function that is specialized in cleaning the surface 23 of the skin of the face. With this, both the comfort and the effect of cleaning off dirt from the surface 23 of the skin can be effectively provided.
Further, in the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment, the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B formed of the six tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 arranged preferably in the symmetrical arrangement at the three locations each are formed in such a manner that the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B is sandwiched between the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B. Thus, by moving the brush head 10 while pressing the tip end portions 17 a of the tip-end-curved bristles 17 of the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 of the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B against the surface 24 of the skin of the face so that the tip end portions 17 a also support the pressing force, the brush portion 16 is further stably moved along the surface 24 of the skin of the face. With this, the massage and the cleaning can be further comfortably performed while moving the brush head 10 along the surface 24 of the skin of the face.
Even further, in the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment, the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted preferably in the symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the perpendicular center-cross line C2 that crosses the center of the inner region and that is perpendicular to the center cross line C1. With this, the overall balance to be achieved by these bristle bundles 14 and 15 is further enhanced, and the massage and the cleaning can be further comfortably performed while moving the brush portion 16 along the surface 24 of the skin of the face.
FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C illustrate other forms of the brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment in an exemplary way. The brush head 10 illustrated in FIG. 6A is different from the brush head 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 in that the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A is formed of twenty-two tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14, and in that four tapered bristle bundles 15 are interposed and implanted among the twenty-two continuously provided tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 in a manner that the four tapered bristle bundles 15 are replaced with the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 to be implanted in corresponding ones of the outer-peripheral implantation holes 19 a. In addition, in the inner region that is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A, the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B formed of the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are not provided, and only the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A formed of fifty-two tapered bristle bundles 15 that include the eight tapered bristle bundles 15 forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B is provided.
The brush head 10 illustrated in FIG. 6B is different from the brush head 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 in that the preferably-hexagonal implantation region in the front portion 11 of the implantation base portion 13 is smaller in size, and in that the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A is formed of twenty-two continuous tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 including two tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 arranged on the central cross line C1. In the inner region that is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A formed of the twenty-two continuous tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14, the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A formed of twenty-six tapered bristle bundles 15 that include six tapered bristle bundles 15 forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B is provided. In addition, at a central part of the inner region that is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A, the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B formed of four tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are provided.
The brush head 10 illustrated in FIG. 6C is different from the brush head 10 illustrated in FIG. 6B in that the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 14B formed of the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are not provided at the central part of the inner region which is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A, and in that only the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A formed of thirty tapered bristle bundles 15 that include the six tapered bristle bundles 15 forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B is provided at the central part.
The brush heads 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the other forms illustrated in FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C also each include the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 14A formed of the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 15A formed of the tapered bristle bundles 15. These tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and tapered bristle bundles 15 are each implanted preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. The inner tapered-bristle bundle groups 15A each include the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B. The tapered bristle bundles 15 other than those in the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in symmetrical arrangements on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. With this, the same functions and the same advantages as those of the above-described brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment can be provided.
FIG. 7 illustrates a brush head 30 for facial skin cleaning according to a preferred second embodiment of the present invention in an explanatory way. The brush head 30 according to the second embodiment is different from the above-described brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment in including an implantation base portion 33 with a front portion 31 and a rear portion each preferably having an elliptical shape. Other components are substantially the same as those of the above-described brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment.
Specifically, in the brush head 30 for facial skin cleaning according to the second embodiment, the implantation base portion 33 includes the front portion 31 and the rear portion each having the elliptical shape and sized to have, for example, a minor diameter of approximately 20 mm and a major diameter of approximately 30 mm. Similar to the brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment, in the front portion 31, the plurality of (a large number of) implantation holes are opened. The implantation holes are each formed to have the circular cross-sectional shape with the diameter of, for example, approximately 1.2 mm, and preferably to have the depth of approximately 3 mm (refer to FIG. 5B). Further, the plurality of implantation holes are formed preferably in the scattered arrangement and in the staggered pattern at the intervals of, for example, approximately 1.1 to 1.6 mm between their rim portions all over an implantation region such as a vertically-elongated hexagonal region out of a peripheral part of the front portion 31. Similar to the brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment, in the plurality of implantation holes in the front portion 31 of the implantation base portion 33, the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 formed by bundling the tip-end-curved bristles 17 and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles 15 formed by bundling the tapered bristles 18 are implanted to each preferably have the height h of approximately 12.5 to 16 mm (refer to FIG. 3 ).
Further, in the second embodiment, in the front portion 31 of the implantation base portion 33, the plurality of (large number of) implantation holes are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined interval in a scattered arrangement with the implantation holes lined up vertically and horizontally in a staggered pattern, for example, in the implantation region such as the vertically-elongated hexagonal region. Of these implantation holes, for example, thirty implantation holes arranged at an outermost peripheral part correspond to a plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes. The tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the outer-peripheral implantation holes preferably to have the height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. With this, an outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A is formed (refer to FIG. 7 ).
In addition, in the front portion 31 of the implantation base portion 33, fifty-three implantation holes provided in a region on an inner side relative to the plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes therearound correspond to a plurality of inner implantation holes. The tapered bristle bundles are implanted in the inner implantation holes preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. With this, the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A is formed.
Note that, in the second embodiment, eleven implantation holes provided on the center cross line C1 that crosses a center of the inner region correspond to a plurality of center-row implantation holes. The inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A includes a center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B formed of the tapered bristle bundles 15 implanted in the center-row implantation holes.
Further, in the second embodiment, preferably in the inner region at a central part of the front portion 31 of the implantation base portion 33, eight central implantation holes are provided in a symmetrical arrangement at four locations each on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. The tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the central implantation holes preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. With this, center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 34B are formed in such a manner that the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B is sandwiched between the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 34B.
Even further, in the second embodiment, the tapered bristle bundles 15 other than those in the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. The tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the tapered bristle bundles 15 are implanted preferably in a symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the perpendicular center-cross line C2 that crosses the center of the inner region and that is perpendicular to the center cross line C1.
The brush head 30 according to the second embodiment, the brush head 30 having the above-described configuration, similar to the brush head 10 according to the first embodiment, enables cleaning of the skin of the face, for example, by pressing, by the user who holds the handle portion 21, a tip end part of a brush portion 36 formed of the plurality of bristle bundles 14 and 15 implanted in the front portion 31 of the brush head 30 against a desired position on the surface 23 of the skin of the face, applying desired pressure, and sliding the brush head 30 along the surface 23 of the skin.
In addition, the brush head 30 according to the second embodiment includes the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A formed, for example, of the thirty tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14, and the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A formed, for example, of the fifty-three tapered bristle bundles 15 arranged in the inner region relative to the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A. These tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and tapered bristle bundles 15 are each implanted preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. The inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A includes the center tapered-bristle bundle row 15B formed, for example, of the eleven tapered bristle bundles 15 implanted in the plurality of center-row implantation holes provided on the center cross line C1 that crosses the center of the inner region. The tapered bristle bundles 15 other than those in the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in the symmetrical arrangement on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. Thus, by preferably balancing and arranging the plurality of these tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and tapered bristle bundles 15, the same functions and the same advantages as those of the above-described brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment can be provided.
FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D illustrate other forms of the brush head 30 for facial skin cleaning according to the second embodiment in an exemplary way. The brush head 30 illustrated in FIG. 8A is different from the brush head 30 illustrated in FIG. 7 in that the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A is formed of twenty-eight tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14, and in that these twenty-eight tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 include six corner parts of the vertically-elongated hexagonal region as the implantation region, and are continuously implanted at an outermost peripheral part. In addition, in the inner region which is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A formed of the twenty-eight tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 continuously implanted at the outermost peripheral part, the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 34B formed of the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are not provided, and only the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A formed of fifty-one tapered bristle bundles 15 that include nine tapered bristle bundles 15 forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B is implanted.
The brush head 30 illustrated in FIG. 8B is different from the brush head 30 illustrated in FIG. 8A in that the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are not implanted at the six corner parts of the hexagonal shape of the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A implanted at the outermost peripheral part of the vertically-elongated hexagonal region as the implantation region, in that this outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A is formed of twenty-six tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 which are continuously provided in a circumferential direction but are intermittent at the corner parts, and in that, in the inner region which is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A, only the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A formed of sixty-five tapered bristle bundles 15 that include eleven tapered bristle bundles 15 forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B is implanted.
The brush head 30 illustrated in FIG. 8C is different from the brush head 10 illustrated in FIG. 7 in that the preferably-vertically-elongated-hexagonal implantation region in the front portion 31 of the implantation base portion 33 is smaller in size, and in that the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A is formed of twenty-two tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 which include two tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 arranged on the central cross line C1 and from which tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 at four of the corner parts of the vertically-elongated hexagonal shape are omitted. In the inner region that is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A formed of the twenty-two tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 at the outermost peripheral part, only the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A formed of thirty-nine tapered bristle bundles 15 that include nine tapered bristle bundles 15 forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B is implanted.
The brush head 30 illustrated in FIG. 8D is different from the brush head 30 illustrated in FIG. 8C in that, in the inner region which is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A formed of twenty-two tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 at the outermost peripheral part, the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A formed of thirty-one tapered bristle bundles 15 that include nine tapered bristle bundles 15 forming the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B is provided, and in that, in the inner region which is surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A at the outermost peripheral part, the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups 34B formed of eight tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted.
The brush heads 30 for facial skin cleaning according to the other forms illustrated in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D also each include the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group 34A formed of the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and the inner tapered-bristle bundle group 35A formed of the tapered bristle bundles 15. These tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 and tapered bristle bundles 15 are each implanted preferably to have the same height h of 12.5 to 16 mm. The inner tapered-bristle bundle groups 35A each include the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B. The tapered bristle bundles 15 other than those in the center tapered-bristle bundle row 35B and the tip-end-curved bristle bundles 14 are implanted in symmetrical arrangements on both the sides relative to the central cross line C1. With this, the same functions and the same advantages as those of the above-described brush head 10 for facial skin cleaning according to the first embodiment can be provided.
Note that, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be variously modified. For example, the tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the tapered bristle bundles need not necessarily be implanted in the symmetrical arrangements on both the sides relative to the perpendicular center-cross line that crosses the center of the inner region and that is perpendicular to the center cross line. The implantation base portion may include the front portion and the rear portion each having a shape other than the circular shape or the elliptical shape. The tip end portion of each of the tip-end-curved bristles may have the protruding curved surface not by being provided with the spherical portion but by being rounded. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to the present invention need not necessarily be used while joined integrally to the handle portion, and may be used, for example, by forming the implantation base portion into a hand-friendly shape so that the brush head for facial skin cleaning itself is preferably held in hand.

Examples

Now, toothbrushes for facial skin cleaning according to the present invention are described in further detail in Examples and Comparative Examples. The present invention is not limited at all to the following description of Examples and Comparative Examples.

(Brush Heads According to Examples 1 to 4)

A brush head that had the same configuration as that of the brush head according to the first embodiment, the brush head being illustrated in FIG. 2 , and that included the tip-end-curved bristles each having a diameter and a height corresponding to values shown in Table 1, and the tapered bristles each having a diameter and a height corresponding to values shown in Table 1 was prepared as a brush head according to Example 1. A brush head that had the same configuration as that of the brush head according to Example 1 except that the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups were not provided in the inner region that was surrounded by the outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group, and that, in the inner region, only the tapered bristle bundles were implanted at fifty-two locations to form the inner tapered-bristle bundle group was prepared as a brush head according to Example 2. Brush heads each having the same configuration as that of the brush head according to Example 1 except that the tip-end-curved bristles each had a diameter and a height corresponding to values shown in Table 1, and that the tapered bristles each had a diameter and a height corresponding to values shown in Table 1 were prepared as a brush head according to Example 3 and a brush head according to Example 4. Pricking sensations, grainy sensations, and smoothness of movement on the surface of the skin of the face of the brush heads according to Example 1 to Example 4 were evaluated by evaluation methods described below. Results of the evaluation are shown in Table 1.

	TABLE 1

	Evaluation Conducted on Brush-to-Brush Basis

Bristle●

Bristle◯

Result of Evaluation

				Pricking	Grainy	Smoothness
Diameter	Height	Diameter	Height	Sensation	Sensation	of Movement

Example 1	0.16	mm	14	mm	0.16	mm	14	mm	1	1	1
Example 2	0.16	mm	14	mm	0.16	mm	14	mm	1	1	2
Example 3	0.16	mm	17	mm	0.16	mm	17	mm	1	1	3
Example 4	0.16	mm	11.5	mm	0.16	mm	11.5	mm	1	3	1
Comparative	0.16	mm	14	mm	0.16	mm	14	mm	2	3	1
Example 1
Comparative	0.16	mm	14	mm	0.16	mm	14	mm	2	2	1
Example 2
Comparative	0.16	mm	13	mm	0.16	mm	15	mm	3	1	1
Example 3
Comparative	0.16	mm	15	mm	0.16	mm	13	mm	2	3	1
Example 4

(Brush Heads According to Comparative Examples 1 to 4)

A brush head that had the same configuration as that of the brush head according to Example 1 except that the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles were implanted in a scattered arrangement in a front portion of an implantation base portion as illustrated in FIG. 9A, and that a diameter and a height of each of the tip-end-curved bristles which formed the tip-end-curved bristle bundles and a diameter and a height of each of the tapered bristles which formed the tapered bristle bundles corresponded to values shown in Table 1 was prepared as a brush head according to Comparative Example 1. A brush head that had the same configuration as that of the brush head according to Example 1 except that, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, an arrangement of the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles was inverted to the arrangement in the brush head according to Example 1 was prepared as a brush head according to Comparative Example 2. A brush head that had the same configuration as that of the brush head according to Example 1 except that the height of each of the tip-end-curved bristles which formed the tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the height of each of the tapered bristles which formed the tapered bristle bundles were not the same as each other, specifically, as shown in Table 1, the height of each of the tapered bristles was larger than the height of each of the tip-end-curved bristles was prepared as a brush head according to Comparative Example 3. A brush head that had the same configuration as that of the brush head according to Example 1 except that the height of each of the tip-end-curved bristles which formed the tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the height of each of the tapered bristles which formed the tapered bristle bundles were not the same as each other, specifically, as shown in Table 1, the height of each of the tip-end-curved bristles was larger than the height of each of the tapered bristles was prepared as a brush head according to Comparative Example 4. Similar to the brush heads according to Examples 1 to 4, pricking sensations, grainy sensations, and smoothness of movement on the surface of the skin of the face of the brush heads according to Comparative Example 1 to Comparative Example 4 were evaluated by the following evaluation methods. Results of the evaluation are shown in Table 1.

(Method of Evaluating Pricking Sensation)

The pricking sensations were evaluated by sensory evaluation where a plurality of participants evaluated pain that was similar to needle pricks and that was felt at a time when the brush heads were moved along the surfaces of the skin of their faces. A rating of “1” represents that the pain was not felt, a rating of “2” represents that the pain was somewhat felt, and a rating of “3” represents that the pain was felt.

(Method of Evaluating Grainy Sensation)

The grainy sensations were evaluated by sensory evaluation where the plurality of participants evaluated pain that was similar to rubbing with a grainy rough surface and that was felt at the time when the brush heads were moved along the surfaces of the skin of their faces. A rating of “1” represents that the pain was not felt, a rating of “2” represents that the pain was somewhat felt, and a rating of “3” represents that the pain was felt.

(Method of Evaluating Smoothness of Movement on Surface of Skin of Face)

The smoothness of the movement on the surface of the skin of the face was evaluated by sensory evaluation where the plurality of participants determined that the smoothness of the movement was excellent if they felt movement of brushing with bristles by moving the brush heads along the surfaces of the skin of their faces. A rating of “1” represents that the smoothness of the movement was felt, a rating of “2” represents that the smoothness of the movement was somewhat felt, and a rating of “3” represents that the smoothness of the movement was not felt.
The evaluation results shown in Table 1 demonstrate that the brush heads according to Examples 1 to 4 provided better comprehensive evaluation of the pricking sensations, the grainy sensations, and the smoothness of the movement on the surface of the skin of the face than that of the brush heads according to Comparative Examples 1 to 4.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to the present invention is designed to have a unique function that is specialized in cleaning the surface of the skin of the face. With this, both the comfort and the effect of cleaning off dirt from the surface of the skin can be provided.

Claims

1. A brush head for facial skin cleaning for cleaning a surface of skin of a face,

the brush head comprising:

an implantation base portion including a front portion and a rear portion; and

a plurality of bristle bundles formed by bundling a plurality of bristles and implanted in a plurality of implantation holes formed in the front portion of the implantation base portion, wherein

the plurality of bristle bundles include:

a plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles formed by bundling a plurality of tip-end-curved bristles each including a tip end portion having a protruding curved surface; and

a plurality of tapered bristle bundles formed by bundling a plurality of tapered bristles each including a tapered part reduced in cross-sectional area toward a tip end portion,

the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles are implanted in the plurality of implantation holes in the front portion in such a manner that the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles have a same height,

the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles

are implanted in a plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes provided along a peripheral part of the front portion of the implantation base portion, and

form an outer-peripheral tip-end-curved-bristle bundle group,

the plurality of tapered bristle bundles

are implanted in a plurality of inner implantation holes provided in an inner region relative to the plurality of outer-peripheral implantation holes around the inner region in the front portion of the implantation base portion, and

form an inner tapered-bristle bundle group,

the plurality of tapered bristle bundles comprises

a plurality of first tapered bristle bundles being implanted in a plurality of center-row implantation holes provided on a center cross line that crosses a center of the inner region, and

a plurality of second tapered bristle bundles,

the inner tapered-bristle bundle group includes a center tapered-bristle bundle row formed of the plurality of first tapered bristle bundles, and

the plurality of second tapered bristle bundles and the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles are implanted in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to the central cross line.

2. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 1, wherein

in the inner region at a central part of the front portion of the implantation base portion, four to ten central implantation holes are provided in the symmetrical arrangement at two to five locations each on both the sides relative to the central cross line, and

the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles

are implanted in the four to ten central implantation holes, and

form center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups in such a manner that the center tapered-bristle bundle row is sandwiched between the center tip-end-curved-bristle bundle groups.

3. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles are implanted in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to a perpendicular center-cross line that crosses the center of the inner region and that is perpendicular to the center cross line.

4. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles are implanted in a symmetrical arrangement on both sides relative to a perpendicular center-cross line that crosses the center of the inner region and that is perpendicular to the center cross line.

5. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles are each implanted to have a height of 12.5 to 16 mm.

6. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of tip-end-curved bristle bundles and the plurality of tapered bristle bundles are each implanted to have a height of 12.5 to 16 mm.

7. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 1, wherein the implantation base portion includes the front portion and the rear portion each having one of a circular shape and an elliptical shape.

8. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 2, wherein the implantation base portion includes the front portion and the rear portion each having one of a circular shape and an elliptical shape.

9. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of tip-end-curved bristles each have a protruding curved surface formed of a spherical portion at a tip end portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of tip-end-curved bristles.

10. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of tip-end-curved bristles each have a protruding curved surface formed of a spherical portion at a tip end portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of tip-end-curved bristles.

11. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 1, the brush head being joined integrally to one end portion of a handle portion, and used as a part of a tool for facial skin washing.

12. The brush head for facial skin cleaning according to claim 2, the brush head being joined integrally to one end portion of a handle portion, and used as a part of a tool for facial skin washing.