JP3051698B2 - Interdental cleaning tool and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool used for removing plaque and the like adhering between teeth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an interdental cleaning tool for removing plaque and the like adhering between teeth, one having a structure shown in FIG. 9 has been provided. This interdental cleaning tool a is manufactured by injection molding, and is attached to the two holding portions b, b of the resin body c having a pair of holding portions b, b facing each other at a predetermined interval. Both ends e, e of a filamentous body d for removing plaque and the like inserted between teeth were embedded and fixed. When used, the handle d is inserted between the teeth by grasping the handle f of the main body c, and the plaque between teeth is removed by moving the thread d back and forth or up and down. Met.

However, with the interdental cleaning tool having such a configuration, there is a problem that the end portion e of the thread-like body d tends to come off from the holding portion b due to the force applied to the thread-like body when plaque or the like is removed. .

Accordingly, the present applicant has provided an interdental cleaning tool having the following configuration in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-285276. As shown in FIG. 10, the plaque or the like is inserted between the teeth of the two holding parts b, b of the resin body c integrally having the holding parts b, b facing each other at a required interval. When embedding and fixing both end portions of the filamentous body d for removal,
Out of the embedded portion of the filamentous body d, the outer side portion g is made to have a loosely twisted state of the yarn, and the resin is also present between the loosely twisted fibers. Had been manufactured.

[0005]

However, the interdental cleaning tool according to Japanese Patent Application No. 5-285276 has the following problems, and there is room for improvement.

That is, the interdental cleaning tool is, as described above, in a state where the twist outside the embedded portion of the thread-like body d is loosened, and the injection-molded resin is injected between the fibers having the loose twist. Although the presence of the resin is intended to improve the fixing strength of the filament d by the holding portion b, if the pressure of the resin at the time of injection molding is weak, the biting of the resin between the loose fibers becomes weak. As a result, there is a problem that the end portion of the thread-like body embedded and fixed in the holding portion is easily pulled out.

In addition, since a manufacturing method is employed in which a loosely twisted portion is formed by crushing the filaments by the molds outside the holding portion b produced by injection molding, the cut filaments are formed. The end h of the body is the holding part b
Had to be protruded on the outer surface i. Since the end portion h of the thread-like member protrudes from the outer surface i of the holding portion in this way, when the interdental cleaning tool is used, the protruding end portion h of the thread-like member stimulates the mouth and causes a sense of incongruity. was there.

The present invention has been developed in view of such conventional problems, and has as its object to provide an interdental cleaning tool from which a thread is less likely to come off. It is intended to provide an interdental cleaning tool.

[0009]

The present invention employs the following means to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention has a thread-like shape for removing plaque or the like by being inserted between the teeth in the two holding portions of the resin body integrally having the holding portions facing each other at a required interval. When fixing both end portions of the body, of the end portions of the thread-like body, the middle portion in the length direction is flattened and crushed, and at least both side portions of the end portion are embedded in the holding portion. It is characterized by being fixed to.

In the interdental cleaning tool, an opening is provided in a holding portion thereof in a thickness direction thereof, and the flattened portion of the end portion of the filament is present in the opening. The remaining portion of the end portion of the thread may be configured to be fixed in the holding portion in an embedded state. Alternatively, the flattened portion is buried in resin,
In some cases, the resin is present between the fibers in the flattened portion.

In each of the interdental cleaning tools, it is preferable that the outer end of the thread is embedded in the holding portion. This can be realized, for example, by completely embedding a portion of the end portion located outside the flatly crushed portion in the holding portion in a bent state.

[0012] The method of manufacturing the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention comprises:
A manufacturing method for manufacturing an interdental cleaning tool in which a portion located outside a flatly crushed portion is completely embedded in a holding portion in a bent state, wherein the end portion includes a portion outside a flatly crushed portion. The portion located is bent in the injection direction by the injection pressure of the resin when the resin body is injection-molded, and the portion located on the outside in the bent state is completely embedded in the holding portion. Is what you do.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, an interdental cleaning tool 1 according to the present invention is a resin body (for example, integrally molded using a thermoplastic resin such as a polystyrene resin) integrally having a pair of holding portions 2 and 2 facing each other at a required interval. 3)
The two end portions 6, 6 of the thread member 5 for removing plaque or the like inserted between the teeth are fixed to the holding portions 2, 2 in an embedded state. The filament 5 is, for example,
Nylon fibers with a diameter of about 1/1000 mm
It is formed as a twisted yarn formed by twisting about this.

The fixing of both end portions 6 and 6 of the filament 5 is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, an intermediate portion 7 in the longitudinal direction of the end portion 6 of the thread member 5 is formed in a flatly crushed state, and both side portions 9, 9 of the end portion are embedded in the holding portion 2. It is in a state. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the two holding parts 2 and 2 are formed as opposed parts of a U-shaped part 10, and a handle 11 is protruded from the U-shaped part 10.

At the center of the front end portion of the holding portion 2,
For example, an elliptical opening 12 penetrating in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the filament 5 is provided.

The flattened intermediate portion 7 of the end portion 6 of the filament 5 is present in the opening 12 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, a portion connected to the inner end of the flattened intermediate portion 7 has a half length portion located on the opening 12 side as a region 13 where the twist of the yarn is loosened. Resin is present in a biting state between the loose fibers. The portion 9a connected to the outer end of the flattened portion is bent in the injection direction by the injection pressure of the resin when the main body 3 is injection-molded, and is buried and fixed to the holding portion 2 in this state. ing.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a part of a mold for manufacturing the interdental cleaning tool having the above structure. FIG.
6 and 16 show a state where they are open. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the two dies 16 and 16 are closed with each other. By this closing, a mold cavity 17 constituting the holding portion 2 is formed.
Then, in a state where both the molds 16 and 16 are opened,
As shown in FIG. 4, the thread 5 is stretched so as to penetrate the mold cavity 17.

Further, the filament 5 stretched in this way is
Pressing members 19, 19 for crushing the mold cavity 17 from both sides and forming the opening 12 at the center portion of the mold cavity 17 are provided as a part of the molds 16, 16.
The pressing members 19 and 1 are opened and closed in accordance with the mutual opening and closing operations of the pressing members 19 and 1.
Numeral 9 is able to advance and retreat in a direction F orthogonal to the stretched filament 5.

By closing the two dies 16, 16, the portions 20, 2 of the filament 5 outside the mold cavity 17 are closed.
The thread path 21 for holding the dies 0 in a crushed state is formed by the two dies 16 and 16.
Are formed between the opposing surfaces 22, 22 (FIG. 4). On the outer end side of the mold cavity 17, a cutting blade 23 is provided on one of the molds 16a, and a receiving blade 24 is provided on the other mold 16b.

However, after the thread 5 is stretched so as to penetrate the mold cavity 17, the molds 16 and 16 are closed to each other, as shown in FIGS.
The fibrous body 5 is crushed into a flat body by being sandwiched between the tips 25,25 of 9,9. In this crushed state, the mold cavity 17 is divided into inner and outer portions 17a and 17b by pressing members 19 and 19 that crush the filament 5. At the same time,
The portions 20, 20 of the filamentous material on both sides of the mold cavity are sandwiched in a crushed state in the yarn path 21 formed by closing the molds. Road 21
To prevent leakage. Simultaneously with the closing of the mold, the cutting blade 23 and the receiving blade 24 cut the filament 5 at the outer end of the mold cavity 17 as shown in FIG.

In this state, the resin is injected into the mold cavity 17, but due to the crushing by the pressing members 19, the resin does not enter the crushed portion. Then, in the inner mold cavity 17a, a region 13 where the twist of the yarn is loose occurs at a portion connected to the inner end of the intermediate portion 7 crushed flat by the crushing (FIG. 2). It also cuts between the fibers in the region 13.

In the outer mold cavity 17b,
The outer end portion 9a of the filament 5 is bent in the injection direction F2 as shown in FIG. 2 by the injection pressure of the injected resin, and the bent portion 9a is completely embedded in the holding portion 2.
According to such a manufacturing method, the interdental cleaning tool 1 shown in FIG.
Will be manufactured.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, the holding portion 2 is provided with the closed opening 12, but this opening 12 is opened at the tip of the holding portion 2 as shown in FIG. It may be 25.

The flattened intermediate portion 7 of the end portion 6 of the filament 5 is buried with a resin 26 as shown in FIG. May also be configured such that a synthetic resin is present.

[0025]

When the interdental cleaning tool according to the present invention is used, in addition to the fact that both sides of the end portion of the thread are fixedly embedded in the holding portion, the middle portion of the end portion is flattened. It is in a collapsed state and serves as a retaining portion. As described above, in the present invention, since the end portion of the filament is prevented from coming off at three locations on both sides and the intermediate portion of the end portion, the fixing strength of the end portion of the filament by the holding portion is obtained. Is extremely improved, and therefore, the thread is extremely difficult to come off as compared with the conventional interdental cleaning tool described above.

In particular, when the end portion of the filament is formed so that the portion connected to the inner end of the flattened portion has a region where the twist of the yarn is loose, the fiber between the loose fibers is preferably used. Also, the synthetic resin is present, so that the fixing strength of the end portion of the filament is further improved.

[0027] Further, when a portion connected to the outer end of the flattened portion is bent, the fixing strength of the end portion of the thread in the holding portion is further improved by the anchoring action. Will be. When the bent state of the end portion is formed by the injection pressure of the resin when the main body is injection-molded, no special bending means is required.

Further, by making the flattened portion buried in the resin, the synthetic resin also exists between the fibers of the flattened portion, and the end portion of the thread-like body by the holding portion is formed. Can be more firmly fixed. Further, by setting this synthetic resin to a color different from that of the resin forming the main body, a one-point design can be provided, and the design effect of the interdental cleaning tool can be changed.

[0029] Furthermore, since the outer end of the filament is embedded in the holding portion, the end of the filament protrudes from the retaining portion, so that there is no sense of incongruity at the time of use as in the related art. Can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an interdental cleaning tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a fixed state of the thread in the holding portion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a flatly crushed portion of a filament exists in an opening.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a mold for manufacturing the interdental cleaning tool of the present invention in an open state.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a mold in a closed state.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a mold in a closed state.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing another mode of the opening provided in the holding unit.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a flattened intermediate portion of the filament is buried with resin.

FIG. 9 is a partial front view showing a conventional interdental cleaning tool.

FIG. 10 is a partial front view showing a conventional improved interdental cleaning tool.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Interdental cleaning tool 2 Holder 5 Thread 6 End part 7 Intermediate part 12 Opening 13 Area where thread twist is loosened 16 Mold 19 Pressing member

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] An end portion of a thread for removing plaque or the like inserted between teeth is fixed to both holding portions of a resin body integrally having holding portions facing each other at a required interval. In doing so, of the end portions of the thread, the middle portion in the length direction is flattened and crushed, and at least both end portions of the end portion are fixed in the holding portion in a buried state. Between teeth cleaning tool. 2. An opening which penetrates the holding portion in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the flattened portion of the end portion of the thread is present in the opening, and 2. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the remaining portion of the end portion is fixed in the holding portion in a buried state. 3. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the flattened portion is buried in a resin, and the resin is present between fibers of the flattened portion. 4. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein an outer end of the filament is embedded in the holding portion. 5. The end portion, wherein a portion located outside a flatly crushed portion is completely buried in a holding portion in a bent state.
The interdental cleaning tool according to 3 or 4. 6. The manufacturing method for manufacturing an interdental cleaning tool according to claim 5, wherein a portion of the end portion located outside a flatly crushed portion is formed by injection molding the resin body. A method of manufacturing the interdental cleaning tool, characterized in that the resin is bent in the injection direction by the injection pressure of the resin at that time, and the outer portion in the bent state is completely embedded in the holding portion.