WO2015039672A1

WO2015039672A1 - Interdental cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO2015039672A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/002820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arndt Graeve; Markus Hörenbaum; Louis Bahlmann
Original assignee: M+C Schiffer Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-09-19
Filing date: 2013-09-19
Publication date: 2015-03-26

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning device with a first branch (4) which, at its free end (32), has a bore (54) surrounded by a cone (56) protruding to a cleaning side, and with a second branch (6) which, at its free end (60), has a fixture (36) for an interdental brush (40) that can be guided through the bore (54), wherein the first and second branches (4; 6) are connected to each other, at their securing ends (22, 24), such that the free ends (32, 60) of the first and second branches (4; 6) are pivotable relative to each other. An interdental cleaning device that is inexpensive to produce, complies with the requirements of user comfort and permits gentler cleaning is made available by virtue of the fact that the first and second branches (4; 6) are formed by an injection-moulded, unified main body (2) which is made from a main component and which is provided at any rate partially with an encapsulation (10) of a soft elastic plastics material, which at any rate surrounds the outer periphery of the cone (56).

Description

Interdental cleaning device

The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning device with the preamble features of claim 1.

Such an interdental cleaning device is known from DE 42 36 167 A1. In this prior art, the interdental cleaning device comprises a first leg which forms a projecting cone and a second leg which forms a holder for an interdental brush. The cone of the first leg is dimensioned so that the interdental brush or a cleaning-active portion of the same can be passed through a bore formed within the cone. Thus, the cone for use of the interdental brush on two, forming the interdental space teeth can be created. The conical configuration facilitates positioning between the usually convexly curved tooth outer surfaces such that the bore is centered centrally between the teeth. By elastic pivoting of the second leg relative to the first leg, the cleaning-active section of the interdental brush can be positioned excellently through the bore. The interdental brush cleans the interdental space located in the extension of the cone.

In the aforementioned prior art, both legs can be formed in a unitary injection mold, in such a way that the legs are provided parallel and in extension to each other. After shaping, this preform is reshaped, so that the legs now run at a distance strictly parallel to each other. A latching connection secures this forming part.

The preparation of the previously known interdental cleaning device is expensive. According to DE 42 36 167 A1, the forming step is expected of the consumer. Accordingly, the previously known interdental cleaning device does not meet today's comfort requirements. Furthermore, the previously known interdental cleaning device with regard to a gentle cleaning of the interdental spaces in need of improvement. The present invention is based on the problem to provide an interdental cleaning device that overcomes the above-mentioned problems in whole or in part.

With regard to the underlying task, the present invention proposes an interdental cleaning device with the features of claim 1.

In this interdental cleaning device, an injection molded, i. molded uniform basic body provided. The main body forms the first and second legs in the manner previously described, i. a reshaping of the legs after demolding is not necessary. The legs are already arranged in the base body relative to each other, as is required in the subsequent use. In other words, the legs are arranged one behind the other on the base body in the extension direction of the cleaning-active section of the interdental brush, so that the interdental brush held on the second limb can be passed through the hole cut out on the first limb. Accordingly, the two legs are connected together via an injection-molded fastening-side end and there they have the ability to be pivoted against each other. Their orientation relative to each other, however, is fixed within limits. Correspondingly, a base body according to the current application request allows a pivoting movement of the two legs relative to one another by a few 10 °. However, a pivoting movement of more than 90 °, preferably by more than 60 °, is not possible with the injection-molded base body.

The main body is usually formed from a hard component which gives the body the necessary elasticity, so that the free ends of the two legs can pivot against each other, against the bias of a resilient biasing force applied and held by the body. The basic body imparts no pretensioning force in an initial position in which the interdental brush does not yet project beyond the cone on the outside. In the initial situation, the two legs are usually kept free of tension relative to each other and connected to each other via their fastening-side end. In this initial position, however, is the cleaning-active end of the interdental brush usually in the hole and is accordingly prepositioned, so that a pivoting movement the two legs towards each other leads directly to the fact that the cleaning-active side of the interdental brush protrudes beyond the free end of the cone through the guide within the bore in order to cover the interdental space. On the other hand, from the starting position, the second leg can be pivoted relative to the first leg so that an assembly or disassembly of the interdental brush is possible to supply or remove from this holder of the second leg and then with their active cleaning section in the Introduce bore.

In the interdental cleaning device according to the invention, furthermore, the basic component, i. regularly the hard component at least partially provided on its outer side with an encapsulation of a soft elastic plastic. In any case, this soft-elastic plastic surrounds the cone on the outside. Usually, the soft elastic plastic surrounds the cone both on its free outer face and on its outer circumference to the foot, i. the transition between the cone and the first leg. The first leg extends in a conventional manner regularly approximately at right angles to the longitudinal extension of the cone. By the soft elastic plastic shock protection is provided on the base component, so that the interdental cleaning device can be gently, especially gently positioned for the sensitive gum between individual teeth and the area of the tooth necks.

Through the sum of the features discussed above, an interdental cleaning device is provided which can be produced more cost-effectively, meets the requirements of today's ease of use and, moreover, lends itself to the gentler cleaning of the interdental spaces.

With a view to cleaning the interdental spaces as gently as possible, the cone is preferably completely formed from the soft-elastic plastic. Correspondingly, the cone protrudes beyond the outer surface of the first limb, which is basically flat in the longitudinal direction, as an exclusively soft-elastic component, which is provided opposite to the second limb and thus on the outside of the forceps-like interdental cleaning device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the soft elastic plastic is recessed at a Aufsteckbereich. At this Aufsteckbereich is the Interdental brush attachable, and regularly in about the longitudinal direction of the free leg. An attachment foot of the interdental brush accordingly cooperates with the base component provided in the region of the holder, which can be realized with higher accuracy and low friction values on the surface than the soft elastic plastic.

With a view to a low-friction and accurate guidance of the interdental brush, it is proposed according to a preferred development of the present invention to form an opening of the bore facing the holder through the basic component. In this embodiment, usually at least the inner peripheral surface of the bore leading to the cone is formed with the thickness of the base component at the level of the cone exclusively by the basic component. But at least the holder facing the mouth of the bore is formed by the base component. The basic component is therefore usually exposed on the inner surface of the second leg in the region of the bore. In this case, the opening facing the holder of the bore may be conical in order to facilitate a funnel-shaped collection of the cleaning-active portion of the interdental brush.

With a view to improving the haptic properties, it is proposed according to a preferred development of the present invention to provide the soft elastic plastic covering at least one outer surface of at least one of the two legs. In this case, usually the soft elastic plastic is provided on the first leg over the entire length of the leg and on its outer surface. As a result, both impact protection in the region of the cone and beyond are formed, as well as improved tactile properties for gripping the interdental cleaning device on the outside are provided. Since the two legs must be pivoted by external pressure to use the interdental cleaning device against each other, the formed by the soft elastic plastic haptics are usually formed at about the middle height or towards the free end of the leg to this. Also, the outer surface of the second leg is usually almost completely covered with the soft elastic plastic, wherein - as already explained above - at least the Aufsteckbereich the second leg remains recessed. It has proved to be particularly practical to form a rod section from the basic component, which according to a preferred development of the present invention adjoins a connecting region of the first and second leg. In this case, the rod portion may preferably extend in straight extension of the first or second leg, whereas the other leg is arcuate relative to this straight extension to the outside, meanwhile, with its free end are usually parallel to the one leg. The rod portion enhances the support of the interdental cleaning device in the hand of a user. Furthermore, the interdental cleaning device can be inserted deeper into the oral cavity without the hand holding the interdental cleaning device substantially impairing this insertion movement.

With regard to the best possible impact protection when using the interdental cleaning device according to the invention, it is proposed according to a preferred development of the present invention to provide the encapsulation of the soft elastic plastic on the outer surface of the first leg, the second leg and the rod portion circumferentially. It goes without saying that the soft-elastic encapsulation can not only cover the outer surface of the first and / or second leg. Rather, the soft elastic coating should be provided in the manner of a U-shaped shell on the outer surface of the same and also cover opposite edge surfaces of the legs and thus form a shock protection, so that the relatively hard base component when using the interdental cleaning device with the teeth and the Gums can come into contact.

The interdental cleaning device according to the invention is further claimed in conjunction with an interdental brush. After the development according to claim 9, the interdental brush is provided with a mounting foot, which forms a plug-on opening. This plug-in opening extends substantially at right angles to the interdental brush and is adapted so that the plug-on opening can be plugged onto the previously presented attachment region of the second leg. Furthermore, the interdental brush has at its attachment area a cylindrical holding portion which fits into the bore. The mounting foot is preferably shaped so that it continues the contour of the free end of the second leg paragraph-free on the outer surface, whereby also meets hygienic requirements, since slits and other imperfections are avoided as far as possible at the mooring, where bacteria and pollution can accumulate. The adaptation of the cylindrical holding portion to the bore allows the deepest possible penetration of cleaning active portion of the interdental brush in the interdental space. This insertion usually finds an end only when the two inner surfaces of the free ends of the legs and the attachment foot abut against each other.

The holder of the second leg and the mounting foot are preferably coordinated so that the mounting foot can be locked with the second leg.

Finally, it is proposed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention to match the mounting foot on the holder so that when mounted on the second leg interdental brush of the mounting foot is seated on a collar which is formed from the base component. As a result, the plug-in opening of the mounting foot is sealed by the hard component in an improved manner.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. In this show:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the embodiment;

Figure 2 is another perspective side view of the embodiment;

Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment;

Figure 4 is a plan view of an edge surface formed by the second leg of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged sectional view along the line V-V in the representation according to FIG. 3

6 shows the illustration according to FIG 5 for another embodiment of a

Interdental brush and Figure 7 is a representation according to Figures 5 and 6 for a further, third embodiment of an interdental cleaning element.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in perspective the embodiment shown, which comprises a hard component, in this case PP sprayed base body 2, which forms three functional areas, namely a first leg 4, a second leg 6 and a rod portion.

This main body 2 is provided on inner and outer edge surfaces (12a-d) with an encapsulation 10 of a flexible plastic. The encapsulation 10 covers not only outwardly projecting edge surfaces 12a, 12d or the inwardly projecting edge surfaces 12b, 12c of the legs 4, 6, which are respectively opposite each other or provided on the opposite and opposite outer side of the legs 4, 6, but also edge surfaces 14 ad, which extend substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces 12 ac. The encapsulation 10 is accordingly formed on the outside of the legs 4, 6 substantially U-shaped around the hard component of the main body 2 in the region of the legs 4, 6. The cylindrical rod portion 8, which extends with its outer surface substantially the edge surface 12 d and the outer surfaces 14 c, 14 d of the first leg 4 linearly, is substantially completely enveloped by the encapsulation 10. Only opposing edge surfaces 16a, 16b of the rod portion 8 allow the basic component of the main body 2 to be recognized as a decorative element 18.

The two limbs 4, 6 enclose in a connection region 20 a nearly circular shape of eye 26 enclosed at the connection region 20 (connected) on the fastening side. The second limb 6 first passes from this eye 26 into an outwardly concave curvature region 28 and thereafter in a convex curvature region 30 and extends toward a free end 32 in an end region 34 in a straight line. This end region 34 extends parallel to the rectilinear second leg 4.

The free end 32 of the second leg 6 forms a Aufsteckbereich 36, which is free of the soft elastic plastic of the overmold 10 and in a plug-in opening 38 of a marked with reference numeral 40 interdental brush engaged and locked with this (see Fig. 5). The plug-in opening 38 is attached to a mounting foot 42 of the interdental brush 40 is provided, from which a rod-shaped cleaning element 44 protrudes, which is formed from a wire 46, at the free end of which several filaments fastened to the wire 46 define a cleaning-active portion 48. The mounting foot 42 is seated with its opening edge in the locked state on a collar 49 of the plug holder 36 of the second leg 6. The wire 46 is surrounded at its fastening-side end region 50 by a cylindrical holding section 52, which is formed by the plastic of the fastening foot 42. Accordingly, the wire 46 extends substantially perpendicular to the end portion 34.

FIGS. 6 and 7 each show variants with different interdental cleaning elements 64. The interdental cleaning element shown in FIG. 6 is a cleaning element with a rod-shaped core 66, which is formed integrally by means of injection molding with the fastening foot 42. By two-component injection molding, the rod-shaped core 66 in the region of its distal end in a substantially helically around the rod-shaped core 66 arranged blades 68. These fins 68 may be made by injection molding and connected to the rod-shaped core 66.

The interdental cleaning element 64 shown in FIG. 7 is a cylindrical, needle-shaped cleaning element. On the outer peripheral surface of this interdental cleaning element 64, a coating may be provided which acts in the manner of a dental floss. This coating can also be produced in two-component injection molding.

The fastening foot 42 of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 can each be color-coded in order to make the different interdental cleaning elements 44, 64 directly distinguishable and identifiable.

In the tension-free starting position of the two arms 4, 5 shown in the drawing, the cleaning-active section 48 projects through a hole 54 which is recessed in the first leg and which is surmounted by a cone 56 on its outer surface facing away from the second leg 6. The cone 56 is formed from the soft-elastic plastic component of the encapsulation 10 and rises from the base component via a rectilinear end section 58 of substantially rod-shaped design. The cone 56 is located immediately adjacent to a free end 60 of the second leg 4. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 to 3, the encapsulation 10 forms a plurality of ribs extending parallel to each other and at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the legs 4 and 6, approximately at the middle height of the legs 4, 6 and on the respective outer surface 12a, 12d 62 as haptic elements that increase the grip of the legs 4, 6 at this point. With this design of the soft elastic plastic in the context of extrusion coating 10, a shock protection is formed on the respective outer surfaces 12a and 12d of the first and second legs 4, 6 and the adjoining outer surfaces of the rod portion 8.

Starting from the starting position shown in the drawing, the embodiment shown can first be introduced into the oral cavity and applied with the cone 56 to an interdental space defining flanks of two adjacent teeth. Due to the conical outer peripheral surface of the cone 56 is necessarily a centering with slight pressure of the embodiment against the tooth surfaces. Thereafter, the second leg 6 is pivoted against the bias of the base body 2 in the direction of the first leg 4. The cleaning-active portion 48 of the interdental brush 40 passes through the bore 54 until the cleaning-active portion 48 projects beyond the cone 56 on the outer side 12d of the first leg 4 and accordingly enters the interdental space and cleans there. If the pressure is released against the second leg 6, this resiliently springs back to its starting position; the cleaning-active section 48 is pulled out of the interdental space.

The main body of the first leg is the second leg Bar portion encapsulation a outer surface of the second leg b inner surface of the second leg c inner surface of the first leg d outer surface of the first leg a, 14b

c, 14d edge surface a, 16b edge surface of the rod portion decoration element connecting portion fixing side end fixing side end eye concave curvature of the second leg 6 convex curvature of the second leg 6 free end 34 end area

36 attachment area

38 push-on opening

40 brush interdental

42 mounting foot

44 rod-shaped cleaning element

46 wire

48 cleaning-active section

49 collar

50 mounting side area

52 holding section

54 bore

56 cone

58 end section

60 free end

62 rib

Claims

Expectations

Interdental cleaning device with a first leg (4), which has at its free end (32) a bore (54) surrounded by a cone (56) projecting towards a cleaning side, and a second leg (6), which at its free end (60) has a holder (36) for an interdental brush (40) which can be passed through the bore (54), the first and second legs (4; 6) being connected to one another at their fastening-side ends (22, 24) in such a way that the free ends (32, 60) of the first and second legs (4; 6) can be pivoted relative to one another,

characterized,

the first and second legs (4; 6) are formed by an injection-molded, uniform base body (2) from a basic component, which is at least partially provided with an overmolding (10) made of a soft, elastic plastic, which in any case surrounds the outer circumference of the cone (56). .

Interdental cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the soft elastic plastic forms the cone (56).

Interdental cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the soft-elastic plastic is on a free end (32) of the second leg which forms an attachment area (36) for the interdental brush (40).

(6) is left out.

Interdental cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening of the bore (54) facing the holder (36) is formed by the base component.

Interdental cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the soft-elastic plastic covers at least one outer surface (12a; 12d) of at least one of the two legs (4; 6).

Interdental cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the soft elastic plastic on the outer surface (12a, 12d) of the first and / or second leg (4; 6) forms haptic elements (62).

7. Interdental cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the basic component forms a rod section (8) adjoining a connecting region (20) of the first and second legs (4; 6).

8. Interdental cleaning device according to claim 7, characterized in that the soft elastic plastic is formed circumferentially on the outer surface (12a, 12d) of the first leg (4), the second leg (6) and the rod section (8).

9. Interdental cleaning device with an interdental brush (40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interdental brush (40) is provided with a fastening foot (42) which forms an attachment opening (38) which is essentially at right angles to a cleaning-active section (48) of the interdental brush (40), and that the interdental brush (40) has a cylindrical holding section (52) at its fastening-side end (50) which fits into the bore (54).

10. Interdental cleaning device according to claim 9, characterized in that the fastening foot (42) is locked with the holder (36) of the second leg (6).

11. Interdental cleaning device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the interdental brush (40) attached to the second leg (6) sits with its fastening foot (42) on a collar (49) formed by the base component.