JP5465985B2 - toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toothbrush.

The toothbrush has a configuration in which a plurality of hair bundles in which a plurality of bristles are bundled are planted on a flocking table.
As a conventional toothbrush, one in which the tip side of a bristle protruding from the surface of the flocking table is curled is known.
For example, Patent Document 1 uses a toothbrush in which a bunch of synthetic monofilaments bundled in a flocking table and has a curled shape at the tip as a synthetic monofilament. A toothbrush whose length is within 20% of the total length of the brush is described. Patent Document 2 also describes a toothbrush having a curled portion at the tip.
On the other hand, Patent Document 3 describes a toothbrush in which a bristle protruding from the surface of the flocking table is bent near the center in the protruding direction.

JP 2000-189252 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-126823 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-119841

The toothbrushes described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a curled shape at the tip of the brush, while a soft feeling is obtained. On the other hand, when the curled portion hits the tooth surface, the bristle is further bent by the stress and the tip of the bristle becomes It may be difficult to hit the tooth surface and the brushing ability between the teeth may be reduced. In particular, when the tip is tapered, it becomes easier to bend because the cross-sectional area is small. Further, since the toothbrush bends so that the tip region of the bristle opens outwardly when used, the curled bristle may give an impression like a toothbrush after use even in an unused state. Moreover, even if it is used only for a short time, it may give an impression of being used over a long period of time and may be wasted in a state where it can still be used sufficiently.
On the other hand, the toothbrush described in the cited document 3 is bent in the direction of the brush base (planting table) so that the teeth of the toothbrush are sandwiched between the teeth. There is a problem that it is difficult to insert in the desired direction.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to make it difficult for the naked eye to have a bent portion at the tip of the bristle, and there is no possibility of giving the impression that it is a toothbrush after use although it is unused. An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush excellent in insertability and scraping performance between teeth and in the gingival crevice and cleanability of the tooth surface.

  The present invention is a toothbrush in which a plurality of bristle bundles obtained by bundling a plurality of bristles are planted on a flocking table, and the bristle has a tapered portion whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the tip. A bristle that includes a bristles in the bristles constituting the bristle bundle, and the bended bristles having a bent portion with a bent angle within 40 degrees within a range from the tip to a length of 80 μm are provided. To do.

  The toothbrush of the present invention makes it difficult for the naked eye to have a bent portion at the tip of the bristle, and there is no possibility of giving the impression of a toothbrush after use even though it is unused. It has excellent insertability, scratching ability, and tooth surface cleanability.

It is a side view which shows one Embodiment of the toothbrush of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of the flock hole provided in the flock base of the toothbrush of FIG. It is a figure which expands and shows one bristle of the toothbrush shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a figure which shows the whole of one bristle, (b) is an enlarged view of the circular part of (a), (c) ) Is an enlarged view of a circular portion of (b). It is a microscope picture which shows the front-end | tip part of the front-end | tip bending bristle in an Example. It is a microscope picture (lower magnification than FIG. 4) of the bristle used by the Example and the comparative example.

The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a toothbrush 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a brush portion 2 in which a plurality of hair bundles 22 in which a plurality of bristles are bundled are planted on a hair transplant table 21. It has a handle portion 3 that is a portion to be held, and a neck portion 4 that connects the brush portion 2 and the handle portion 3. In the flocking table 21, a plurality of flocking holes 23 are formed, for example, in the arrangement shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the X direction is the longitudinal direction of the flocking table 21 (the direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush 1), and the Y direction is the width direction of the flocking table 21 (the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction).

The bristle bundle 22 implanted in the toothbrush 1 includes a tip bending bristle 5 shown in FIG. 3 as a bristle constituting the bristle bundle 22.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the tip bending bristle 5 has a tapered portion 52 whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the tip 51. The tip bending bristle 5 in this embodiment has a non-tapered portion 53 having a uniform diameter and cross-sectional area over a predetermined length on the flocking table 21 side, but the tip bending bristle 5 is entirely tapered. The part 52 may be used.

In the taper portion 52, the length L2 from the tip 51 is preferably 40 to 80%, more preferably 40 to 60% of the height L from the bristle flocking table surface 21a. The height L of the bristle from the flocking table surface 21a can be, for example, 10 to 15 mm, preferably 12 to 14 mm, and more preferably 12 from the viewpoint of giving a soft touch to the gums and insertion between the teeth. .5 to 13.5 mm. The taper portion 52 includes a chemical processing step of processing the tip of the bristle with a solvent capable of dissolving the resin constituting the bristle, in addition to a method including a mechanical processing step of grinding or polishing the tip of the bristle. It can be formed by a method, a method of providing a chemical treatment step after a mechanical treatment step of grinding or polishing the tip of a bristle, etc., and a step by chemical treatment from the point of making the touch to the gingiva softer It is preferable to form by the method containing. All the bristle which comprises the bristle bundle 22 in the toothbrush 1 has a taper part.
Solvents capable of dissolving the resin constituting the bristle include, for example, when the bristle contains polyester, an alkaline aqueous solution such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and when the bristle contains polyamide, calcium chloride and methanol. And oleyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, and zinc chloride aqueous solution.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c), the tip bending bristle 5 has a bending portion 54 in the taper portion 52 within a range up to 80 μm from the tip 51. The “length from the tip” is measured along a center line passing through the center of the cross section of the bristle 5 as shown in FIG. The length L3 from the bristle tip 51 to the bent portion 54 is within 80 μm, more preferably 2 to 60 μm, still more preferably 5 to 50 μm.

Moreover, the bending part 54 has a bending angle within 40 degrees. The bending angle θ of the bending portion 54 is the bending angle of the bristle in the bending portion 54, more preferably 2 to 40 degrees, and further preferably 10 to 38 degrees. As shown in FIG. 3C, the bending angle θ of the bristle at the bent portion 54 is an extension of the center line of the portion closer to the tip 51 than the bent portion 54 and the center line of the portion closer to the flock base 21 than the bent portion 54. The angle formed by the line. The tip bending bristle 5 may be wavy on the tip side with respect to the bending portion 54 as long as it forms a predetermined angle with the straight portion 57 via the bending portion 54, but the tip bending bristle 5 is substantially linear. preferable.
The bending range L4, which is the length between the distal end 51 of the bent portion 56 and the center line 55 passing through the center of the cross section of the straight portion 57 of the bristle 5, is difficult to notice with the naked eye, and is easy to insert into the gingival sulcus It is preferable that it is less than 50 micrometers from a point, More preferably, it is 2-40 micrometers, More preferably, it is 5-30 micrometers.

  The bristle (including the tip bending bristle 5) constituting the bristle bundle 22 in the toothbrush 1 is made of synthetic resin. As the synthetic resin for bristle, various resins conventionally used for bristle can be used without particular limitation, for example, polyamides such as nylon (registered trademark) and nylon 6, polyesters such as polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins Etc.

  In the toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the bent portion 54 is provided in the taper-shaped tapered portion 52 within the range from the tip 51 to a length of 80 μm. It is difficult to confirm with the naked eye that there is a portion 56) on the tip side from the bent portion. Therefore, there is no possibility of giving the user an impression as if it is a toothbrush after use although it is unused. Further, since the bent portion 56 is so small that it cannot be confirmed with the naked eye, the tip portion including the bent portion 56 of the bristle 5 (for example, a portion of about 1 to 3 mm from the tip 51) is inserted between the teeth or the gingival crevice (periodontal pocket). ) Can be easily inserted.

  Further, since the bending angle θ of the bent portion 54 is within 40 degrees, the tip 51 of the bent portion 54 and the bent portion 56 of the bristle 5 inserted between the teeth or the gingival sulcus is replaced with the tooth surface in the interdental or gingival sulcus. Easy to hit. Further, since the bent portion 54 has rigidity due to the bent shape, the bent portion 54 and the portion closer to the tip 51 are also bent on the tooth surface and the like (unlike the bristle with the tip curled). It is possible to prevent the length of the side portion 56 from being increased and further bending the bent portion 56 of the bristle. Therefore, the scraping ability by the tip 51 of the bent portion 56 and the contact property of the tip of the bristle to the tooth surface are improved, gingival crevice, insertion property between the teeth, and a feeling of brushing are obtained, and the contact with the gingiva is soft. It is possible to obtain both a soft feeling and a wiping feeling.

  The bristles 22 to be planted on the flocking table 21 may be all of the bristles 5 as described above, but the bristles 5 of the bristles in the bristles in one bunch of hairs. The ratio is preferably 10 to 80% and more preferably 10 to 50% in the average of the hair bundles constituting the toothbrush. By setting the ratio of the bent bending bristle 5 in the hair bundle 22 to 10% or more, it is possible to insert the hair bundle between the teeth and the gingival sulcus by mixing with the straight bristle to the tip, and the insertion direction and the interdental space. And the tip of the bristle can hit both walls of the gingival sulcus. By setting the ratio to 80% or less, it is possible to soften the brushing feeling and gingival contact with the tip bending bristle 5 while mixing straight bristle to the tip. As a bristle other than the tip bending bristle 5, a taper portion 52 having a taper portion 52 on the tip end side but not having a bending portion 54 can be used.

The bristle that constitutes the hair bundle 2 to be planted on the flocking table 21, particularly the above-described bent bending bristle 5, has a cross-sectional area on the surface 21 a of the flocking table that softens the contact with the gingiva, and obtains the elasticity of the bristles To 0.018 to 0.038 mm ² , and more preferably 0.023 to 0.031 mm ² . When the cross-section of the bristle is circular, the diameter on the surface 21a of the flocking table is preferably 150 to 220 μm, and more preferably 170 to 200 μm. It should be noted that the cross-sectional area or diameter of the bristle flocking table surface 21a is the same as that of the flocking table surface 21a when the flocking table surface 21a and the central axis of the bristles constituting the hair bundle 2 are not perpendicular to each other. The average value of the cross-sectional areas or diameters orthogonal to the axial direction of the bristle in the height range where the hair bundle 2 comes into contact is used.

  Various known methods can be used as the method of planting the hair bundle, such as (1) a method of driving the hair bundle by folding it in a flat line, or (2) heating one end of the hair bundle. A method of injecting a molten resin into a mold in which the molten mass is arranged and then injecting and forming a flocking table; (3) bristles in the flocked hole of the flocked base having a flocked hole (through hole). A state in which the hair bundle is implanted through an insertion step of inserting the bundle, a thermal processing step of heating one end portion of the hair bundle protruding from the flock hole to form a molten lump, and a covering step of covering the molten lump A method for obtaining a flocking table or toothbrush can be used.

  In the method of planting the hair bundle, the position of the bristle tip 51 constituting the hair bundle can be easily aligned. From the viewpoint of increasing the filling rate of the bristle in the flocked hole, the fused flocking [above (2) or The method (3) is also included], and the method (3) is particularly preferable. Specific examples of the method (3) include the methods described in JP-A-9-182632 and JP-A-2003-310353. In the method described in JP-A-2003-310353, one end of the hair bundle is heated with a non-contact heat source such as a laser beam to form a molten lump, and the molten lump and the peripheral edge of the flock hole opening Are fused. The molten mass is covered with a thermoplastic resin or the like that forms the back side of the flocking table.

  In a preferred embodiment of the above method (3), before forming the molten mass at one end of the hair bundle, the flocking hole (through hole) of the flocking base is on the side opposite to the one end opening on the flocking surface 21a side. A hair bundle is inserted from the opening at the other end. The inserted hair bundle is inserted into a recess for accommodating the hair bundle provided adjacent to the opening at one end, abuts against the bottom of the recess, and the length from the first surface 21a to the tip of the hair bundle Adjusted to the design value.

  In order to form a bent portion 56 (a portion closer to the distal end than the bent portion) 56 at the distal end portion of the bristle 5, for example, a bristle having a tapered portion 52 on the distal end side is used as a hair bundle by aligning the positions of the distal ends. The bundle is moved toward the front end side of the bristle, and the tip portion of the hair bundle is made to collide with the wall. The wall material to be collided is preferably a metal such as stainless steel or a hard material such as plastic, but is not limited thereto. The speed and load with which the hair bundle collides with the wall, the material of the colliding wall, and the like are appropriately selected so that the above-described bent portion is generated at a predetermined position. Moreover, although the collision with the wall of the hair bundle can be performed at room temperature, it may be performed in a high-temperature atmosphere, and is preferably performed at a humidity of 40 to 70%, more preferably at a humidity of 40 to 60%. Do. When the hair bundle is to be implanted by the above-described method of (3), when inserting the hair bundle into the follicle hole and the recessed portion for accommodating the hair bundle, the recessed portion for accommodating the hair bundle with a predetermined strength. A bent portion can also be formed by contacting the bottom of the base plate.

  As mentioned above, although the toothbrush of this invention was described about the preferable embodiment, the toothbrush of this invention is not restrict | limited to embodiment mentioned above, In the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention, it can deform | transform suitably. . For example, the height of the bristle to be planted on the flocking table 21 from the flocking table surface 21a may be substantially uniform, or a bristle having a low height may be partially provided. In the embodiment described above, the flock hole has a circular shape in plan view. However, the flock hole may be formed in an oval shape, an elliptical shape, a pentagonal shape, or the like instead of the circular shape. Moreover, the hair | bristle bundle can use the thing of various shapes which can be planted in close contact with the flock hole. The cross-sectional shape of the bristle is preferably circular, but other cross-sectional shapes such as an elliptical shape can be used instead of the circular shape or in combination with the circular shape. The toothbrush main body (the flocking base 21, the neck part 4, and the handle part 3) can be formed from synthetic resins, such as a polypropylene and an ABS resin, for example.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention further in detail, this invention is not restrict | limited at all by description of a following example.

[Example 1]
Tapered bristle made of polybutylene terephthalate (taper length L2: about 7 mm, tapered portion formed by chemical treatment) is bundled to form a hair bundle 22, and the bristle tip side of the hair bundle 22 is made of a hard material wall. I collided.
FIG. 4 shows a photomicrograph of the tip portion of the obtained bent tip bristle. FIG. 4 also shows a center line and the like for determining the bending angle θ of the bristle. Moreover, the microscope picture which image | photographed the obtained front-end | tip bending bristle with the low magnification from FIG. 4 was shown to Fig.5 (a).

The tip bending bristle shown in FIG. 4 had a length L3 from the bristle tip 51 to the bent portion 54 of 34 μm, a bent range L4 of 21 μm, and a bent angle θ of the bent portion 54 of 37.5 degrees. In each hair bundle, the bristle in which the bent portion 54 was generated was generated at a rate of 20 to 60%.
The bristles containing the bent tip bristle thus obtained were planted on a flocking table of a toothbrush by the method of fusion flocking to obtain the toothbrush of Example 1. When the flocking table in the toothbrush of Example 1 was viewed from the direction perpendicular to the surface, the bent portion 56 of the tip bending bristle faced a random direction.

[Comparative Example 1]
A range from the tip 51 of the bristle to the length of about 1.6 mm is a curled portion, and a taper bristle (see FIG. 5B) with a length from the straight portion to the tip of the curled portion is about 1.5 mm. It is the same as that of an Example except having used. The curled portion was formed by heating the tip of the bristle.
[Comparative Example 2]
Tapered bristle formed with a bent portion 54 having a length L3 from the bristle tip 51 to the bent portion 54 of about 1.2 mm, a bent range L4 of 0.6 mm, and a bent angle of about 30 degrees (see FIG. 5C). The same as Example 1 except that was used.
[Comparative Example 3]
A tapered bristle formed with a bent portion 54 having a length L3 from the bristle tip 51 to the bent portion 54 of about 1.5 mm, a bent range L4 of 1.0 mm, and a bent angle of about 50 degrees (see FIG. 5D). The same as Example 1 except that was used.
[Comparative Example 4]
Example 1 is the same as Example 1 except that a straight taper bristle with no bent part or curled part is used (see FIG. 5 (e)).

[Evaluation]
About the toothbrush of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-4, the following evaluation was performed by five test subjects, and evaluation with the largest number of people was adopted.
1. Visibility of the bent portion of the tip The toothbrush was visually observed from a position 20 cm away from the eyes, and it was evaluated whether or not the presence of a bent portion or a curled portion could be confirmed.
○: The presence of a bent portion or a curled portion cannot be confirmed.
X: It turns out that there exists a bending part or a curl part.

2. Insertability (easy to enter) of bristle into gingival crevice, scratching ability ◎: Good both insertability and scraping performance.
○: Insertability is good. The scraping property is neither good nor bad.
×: difficult to insert into the gingival crevice

3. Scratchability between bristle teeth ○: Good scratching property Δ: Slightly scratching property ×: Poor brushing between teeth Gum feel ○: Soft feel ×: I feel a little irritation

〔result〕
Table 1 shows the evaluation results of the toothbrushes of the examples and comparative examples.

  From the results shown in Table 1, the toothbrush of Example 1 has not only good insertion into the gingival crevice, but also good gingival crevice scraping, and soft evaluation of interdental scraping and gingival feel. It was. In Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the touch to the gingiva is soft, but it is difficult to insert into the gingival sulcus. The scratching ability during the evaluation was difficult. In Comparative Example 4, the gingival sulcus and insertion between the teeth were good, but the evaluation felt a little irritation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toothbrush 2 Brush part 21 Flocking table 21a Flocking table surface 22 Hair bundle which bundled bristles 23 Flocked hole 3 Handle part 4 Neck part 5 Tip bending bristle 51 Tip 52 Taper part 53 Non-taper part 54 Bending part 56 Bending part 57 of the tip part Straight part

Claims (4)

A toothbrush in which a plurality of bristle bundles of bristles are planted on a flocking table,
The bristle has a tapered portion whose cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the tip,
A bristle tip bending is included in the bristle constituting the hair bundle,
The bent end bristles is in a range in length up to 80μm from the tip, the bending angle have a bent portion within 40 degrees,
The toothbrush in which the bending angle of the bristle at the bent portion is an angle formed by a center line of a portion closer to the distal end than the bent portion and an extension line of a center line of the portion closer to the flocking table than the bent portion . The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the bent bending bristle in the bristle constituting the bristle bundle is 10 to 80% on average.   The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bristles are planted by fusion flocking. The bent end bristle toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3 diameters of the flocked base surface is 150～220Myuemu.