Toothbrush

Abstract

The utility model relates to a toothbrush, which is characterized in that the toothbrush comprises a brush head part and a handle body positioned at the rear end of the brush head part, a plurality of bristle planting holes planted with bristle bundles are arranged on a bristle planting surface of the brush head part, and mixed bristles formed by randomly dispersing conical bristles and branched bristles are planted in at least more than one bristle planting hole of the bristle planting surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a toothbrush. Background Technology

[0002] To control plaque and maintain oral health, brushing your teeth daily is the most important method. To achieve better cleaning results, manufacturers continuously develop and improve toothbrush technology, including the overall structure of the toothbrush, the shape and layout of the bristle holes, and the use of various bristles. Among these, tapered bristles with conical tips are widely used to improve cleaning performance in gaps between teeth and periodontal pockets, compared to traditional rounded bristles.

[0003] In addition, various types of front-end bifurcated bristles have been developed. These bristles, with multiple fine bristles at the tip, increase the number of bristles in contact with teeth, thus improving cleaning efficiency. Furthermore, they provide a soft touch when the bristles come into contact with teeth and gums, which is particularly beneficial for patients with periodontal diseases such as gingivitis, as the bifurcated bristles effectively reduce irritation and pain to the gums.

[0004] Building on this, people have also attempted to develop toothbrushes that employ multiple types of bristles simultaneously. Patent document 1 reports an electric toothbrush in which bristles with one end tapered and the other end forked are folded and implanted into the bristle holes of the toothbrush. This provides improved interdental cleaning performance and comfort, and also has a gum massage effect.

[0005] Patent document 2 reports a toothbrush in which the implantation holes for inserting bifurcated bristles are placed on the outer side of the brush surface and the implantation holes for inserting conical bristles are placed on the inner side of the brush surface, and the heights of the bifurcated bristles are different on the inner and outer sides, thereby providing improved cleaning performance and a comfortable contact with the gums.

[0006] [Existing Technical Documents]

[0007] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-180712

[0009] [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. WO2021 / 106870A1

[0010] [The problem that the utility model aims to solve]

[0011] However, although these existing toothbrushes incorporate both conical and bifurcated bristles, the essence is that conical bristle tufts and bifurcated bristle tufts are formed in different forms on the bristle implantation surface or the corresponding brush surface. Therefore, in these toothbrushes, the conical bristle tufts and bifurcated bristle tufts contact the teeth and gums relatively independently based on their respective characteristics, and thus it is difficult to avoid the inherent defects of the bristle type itself.

[0012] Specifically, while tapered bristles are soft and have strong cleaning power, the area of ​​the bristles that interact with the toothbrush is limited, resulting in longer brushing time. In addition, in some cases, the long and flexible tips may cause gum irritation for patients with periodontal diseases such as gingivitis.

[0013] On the other hand, while the initial feel of the bifurcated bristles upon contact with the gums is soft, the difference in flexural modulus between the bifurcated ends and the bristle body is significant. A prominent issue is that under brushing stress, bristle bending primarily occurs at the finer, bifurcated ends, rather than in the thicker bristles. In this case, because the bristles are difficult to deform as a whole, the tips struggle to reach the fine gaps between teeth. Furthermore, since it's difficult to alleviate stress by bending the bristles, and the stress concentrates on the tips, the bifurcated bristles are prone to irreversible bending over time, reducing the toothbrush's durability. Another problem is that the soft feel of the bifurcated bristles can sometimes lead users to apply excessive force when cleaning their teeth. Contrary to intuition, because the bifurcated bristles are relatively difficult to alleviate stress through the bristle body, the reaction force exerted by the bifurcated bristles on the teeth is stronger, potentially damaging the gums. Utility Model Content

[0014] In response to the problems existing in existing toothbrushes, this invention provides a new method by randomly dispersing a mixed bundle of forked and conical bristles. This ensures that the forked bristles within the bundle can bend, thus maintaining the unique soft touch of the forked bristles while improving the brushing experience and durability.

[0015] [Methods used to solve problems]

[0016] According to a first aspect of this utility model, a toothbrush is provided, characterized in that it includes a brush head 1 and a handle body 2 located at the rear end of the brush head. The bristle-planting surface of the brush head has a plurality of bristle-planting holes for planting bristle bundles, and at least one bristle-planting hole on the bristle-planting surface contains a mixture of conical bristles and bifurcated bristles randomly dispersed. For example, at least 30% or more of the bristle-planting holes on the bristle-planting surface contain a mixture of conical bristles and bifurcated bristles randomly dispersed.

[0017] In addition, in the toothbrush of one aspect of the present invention, the characteristic is that, in the bristle implantation hole where the above-mentioned mixed bristles are implanted, the proportion of the number of conical bristles relative to the total number of bristles in the bristle implantation hole is 20% to 50%, preferably 25% to 45%, and more preferably 25% to 35%.

[0018] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the characteristic feature is that, in the bristle implantation holes where the mixed bristles are implanted, the ratio of the number of bristles on the brush surface of each implantation hole to the number of bristles on the implantation surface is 1.7 to 2.5.

[0019] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the toothbrush described above, the difference between the maximum diameter of the base of the branched bristles and the maximum diameter of the base of the conical bristles in the bristle implantation hole is 0 to 2.0 mil (1 mil = 1 / 1000 inch = 0.025 mm). The maximum diameter of the base refers to the maximum diameter of the cross-sectional shape formed on the bristles using the bristle implantation surface of the toothbrush head as a cross-section. The difference between the maximum diameter of the base of the branched bristles and the maximum diameter of the base of the conical bristles is preferably 0 to 1.0 mil, more preferably 0 to 0.2 mil.

[0020] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the ratio of the length of the bifurcated bristles to the length of the conical bristles in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted is 0.98 to 1.05.

[0021] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the characteristic is that, in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted, the ratio of the length of the branched portion of the branched bristles to the length of the conical bristles is 0.05 to 0.20.

[0022] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the characteristic feature is that, in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted, the front end of the branched bristles has a conical shape, and a branched portion is formed at the front end of the conical shape. The ratio of the conical length of the branched bristles to the conical length of the conical bristles is 0.25 to 0.45.

[0023] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the characteristic is that the sides of the conical bristles are spirally processed or embossed in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted.

[0024] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the characteristic feature is that, in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted, the conical bristles are spiral conical bristles with a circular or hexagonal cross-section.

[0025] In addition, in the toothbrush of one aspect of the present invention, the characteristic is that in the bristle implantation hole where mixed bristles are implanted, the ratio of the length of the conical portion of the conical bristles to the bristle length is 60-100%, preferably 80-100%.

[0026] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the characteristic feature is that in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted, the number of branches of the branched bristles is 2 to 6, for example, the number of branches of the branched bristles is 2, 3 or 4.

[0027] In addition, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the cross-section of the branched hairs in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted is circular.

[0028] In addition, the toothbrush described in one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the toothbrush uses flat bristles.

[0029] [Effects of the utility model]

[0030] This invention provides a toothbrush with a soft touch, improved brushing experience and durability. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a front view showing a portion of the toothbrush of this utility model.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a side view showing a portion of the toothbrush of this utility model.

[0033] Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram showing a hair implantation hole with mixed hairs according to the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the working mechanism of the conical hairs and bifurcated hairs in the hair-planting state of this invention.

[0035] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the shape of a cone-shaped hair.

[0036] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the shape of a forked hair.

[0037] Figure label:

[0038] 1…Brush the head

[0039] 2…handle body

[0040] 11…hair transplanted surface

[0041] 12…hair bundles

[0042] 13… Hair implantation pores

[0043] TB…forked hair

[0044] TT…conical hair

[0045] L TT The cone length of the cone-shaped hair

[0046] L BB : Length of the bifurcation portion of the bifurcation hair

[0047] L BT The conical length of the bifurcated hair Detailed Implementation

[0048] The following is for reference Figures 1 to 6 This describes the implementation method of the toothbrush of this utility model.

[0049] Furthermore, the following embodiments represent one aspect of the present invention and do not limit the present invention; any modifications can be made within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Additionally, the descriptions in the following figures are merely illustrative representations for easy understanding of the structures; the actual structures differ from those in terms of scale, quantity, etc.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a front view showing a portion of the toothbrush according to this embodiment. Figure 2 This is a side view showing a portion of the toothbrush of this utility model. (See attached image.) Figure 1 As shown, the device includes a brush head 1 and a handle body 2 located at the rear end of the brush head. The brush head 1 can be integrally formed with the handle body or detachably connected. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, one side of the brush head 1 is a bristle-planting surface 11, and the bristle-planting surface 11 has multiple bristle-planting holes 13 with bristle bundles 12 implanted therein.

[0051] In the following description, the thickness direction of the brush head 1, which intersects the bristle surface 11 perpendicularly, is defined as the Z direction; the extension direction of the handle body 2 and the length direction of the brush head 1 are defined as the X direction; and the direction perpendicular to the X and Z directions, and the width direction of the brush head 1, are defined as the Y direction. Furthermore, in the Z direction, the side with the bristle surface is defined as the front side, and the side opposite the bristle surface is defined as the back side.

[0052] The brush head 1 and handle body 2 can be obtained, for example, by resin injection molding. The resin used in toothbrush handle bodies can be one or more selected from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polycyclohexanediol (PCT), polycyclohexanediol (PCT), polyacetal (POM), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (ABS), cellulose propionate (CP), polyaryl compounds, polycarbonate, or acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin (AS). The handle body 2 can also be partially or entirely coated with a soft resin such as an elastomer. The size of the brush head 1 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately determined considering operability in the oral cavity.

[0053] In some embodiments, the handle body may include components such as a motor; that is, the toothbrush of this invention also includes an electric toothbrush, and when it is an electric toothbrush, the brush head 1 serves as the electric toothbrush head. Furthermore, as long as it does not affect the bristle arrangement of the brush head, the brush head may also include other functional components such as sensors.

[0054] Figure 3A and Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the hair implantation hole with mixed hairs according to the present invention. (Reference) Figure 3A and 3B In the toothbrush of this invention, at least one bristle implantation hole 13 on the bristle implantation surface 11 is inoculated with a mixture of conical bristles and bifurcated bristles randomly dispersed. Figure 3A and Figure 3B In the diagram, black circles represent tip-branched hair (TB), and white circles represent tip-tapered hair (TT). Depending on the application, at least 30% of the hair implantation holes on the implantation surface can be filled with mixed hairs. This proportion can be 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, or even 100%.

[0055] In this invention, random dispersion refers to the mutual mixing of branched hairs and conical hairs to form a uniformly dispersed state. No visually distinguishable branched hair or conical hair regions are formed on the hair-planting surface; instead, a mixed hair bundle is formed in the form of mixed hairs. Specifically, for example, when planted in the hair-planting hole, more than 80% of the branched hairs in the mixed hair bundle satisfy the following requirement: on the hair-planting surface of the hair bundle, among the adjacent bristles directly adjacent to the branched hair or the secondary adjacent bristles adjacent to the adjacent bristles, there is at least one conical hair.

[0056] For the above requirements, for example, Figure 3BIn this context, for a given branched bristle TB0, the directly adjacent bristles of this branched bristle are branched bristles TB1a to TB1d and conical bristles TT1a and TT1b, wherein conical bristles TT1a and TT1b constitute conical bristles directly adjacent to the branched bristle TB0. Further, for the branched bristle TB0, conical bristle TT2a constitutes a secondary adjacent bristle adjacent to the adjacent bristle TB1a, conical bristle TT2b constitutes a secondary adjacent bristle adjacent to the adjacent bristle TB1b, and conical bristle TT2c constitutes a secondary adjacent bristle adjacent to either the adjacent bristle TB1c or TB1d.

[0057] Preferably, more than 80% of the branched hairs in the mixed hair bundles meet the following requirement: in the hair-planting surface of the hair bundle, there is at least one conical hair among the adjacent bristles directly adjacent to the branched hair.

[0058] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working mechanism of the conical hairs and bifurcated hairs in the hair-planting state of this utility model. For example... Figure 4 As shown, in a tuft or bundle of hairs containing only forked bristles, the space for the forked bristles to move is limited, and bending mainly occurs at the forked tip or in the conical portion when a conical section is present. In contrast, in the randomly dispersed planting method of the conical and forked bristles of this invention, because there are conical bristles with a conical shape that tapers towards the tip near the forked bristles, the space for the forked bristles to move around is increased, making them easier to bend in the middle or at the root of the bristle. This reduces the stress on the forked tip, making it less susceptible to excessive deformation, thus increasing the durability of the forked bristles. During brushing, the bending of the bristles reduces the force directly acting on the teeth and gums, resulting in a better brushing experience. Furthermore, the bending of the bristles allows not only the tips but also the middle of the bristles to be effectively utilized, improving cleaning power.

[0059] In other words, compared to the existing technology that only implants branched hairs to form hair tufts or bundles, in this invention, a mixture of conical hairs and branched hairs randomly dispersed is implanted in the hair implantation hole. Due to the interaction between the branched hairs and the conical hairs, the brushing experience and durability can be improved while maintaining and enhancing the soft touch and cleaning power of the branched hairs themselves.

[0060] If there are implantation holes on the implantation surface of the toothbrush of this utility model that are used for implantation other than mixed bristles, the bristle bundles implanted therein are not particularly limited. Without affecting the implementation of this utility model, bristle bundles of existing brush bristles can be implanted according to the purpose, such as commonly used rounded bristles, split bristles, conical bristles, or combinations of these common bristles.

[0061] Furthermore, in the toothbrush according to one aspect of this utility model, from the perspective of better achieving the aforementioned technical effects, in the bristle implantation hole where the mixed bristles are implanted, the proportion of conical bristles relative to the total number of bristles in the implantation hole is 20% to 50%, preferably 25% to 45%, and more preferably 25% to 35%. That is, by setting the proportion above the lower limit, the technical effects brought by the mixed conical bristles can be fully utilized; by setting the proportion below the upper limit, the problem that the split bristles would bend more in the middle part than at the tip, thus failing to obtain a good bristle tip feel, due to an excessively high proportion of conical bristles, is avoided, thus fully utilizing the high cleaning power and gentle feel brought by the split bristles. With the above proportion, the stress applied during brushing can be appropriately distributed in the middle part of the bristle tip and the bristle body, and bend appropriately in both the bristle tip and the middle part of the bristle body, thereby improving the brushing experience.

[0062] Furthermore, in one aspect of the toothbrush described above, the ratio of the number of bristles on the brush surface to the number of bristles on the implanted surface in each implanted bristle hole is 1.7 to 2.5. The number of bristles on the brush surface refers to the number of bristles at the tip of the bristle bundle, i.e., the number of bristles at the top in the Z-direction of the toothbrush. The number of bristles on the implanted surface refers to the number of bristles at the hair roots near the implanted hole. For example, in one implanted hole, if n branched bristles with a branching number of x ("x-branched bristles") and m conical bristles are implanted, the above ratio is calculated as (n*x+m) / (n+m). By appropriately controlling this ratio, the above effect can be fully achieved, avoiding a decrease in usability due to too many or too few bristles on the brush surface, and ensuring durability.

[0063] The number and density of bristles implanted in each pore can be adjusted appropriately based on the bristle material, implantation method, and intended use, and can be within a standard range to ensure brushing effectiveness.

[0064] There are no particular restrictions on the method of planting bristles. Commonly known methods can be used, such as: flat wire planting, which involves folding the bristle bundle in half and inserting a flat wire sandwiched between the two halves into the planting hole; hot melt application, which involves pressing the lower end of the bristle bundle into molten resin to form the planting part and fixing it; or internal molding method, which involves heating the lower end of the bristle bundle to form a molten block and then injecting hot melt resin into a mold to form the planting part.

[0065] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the shape of a conical bristle according to the present invention. The conical bristle in this invention can be any bristle that tapers in diameter towards the tip; conical bristles previously known in the art can be used. The manufacturing method of the conical bristle is not particularly limited; mechanical or chemical methods can be used to process the bristle tips into a conical shape.

[0066] The preferred type of tapered bristles is super-tapered bristles, also known as ST bristles, which are designed with extremely fine tips, typically finer than ordinary tapered bristles, and with a longer tapered portion. The length of the tapered portion of the bristle (L) is relative to the bristle length (the length in the Z-direction from the bristle graft surface to the tip of the tapered bristle). TT The proportion of the hair is 60-100%, preferably 80-100%. When the value is 100%, the conical hairs taper in diameter from the hair-planting surface toward the hair tip. This design provides more space for the bending or swaying of the split hairs in the middle.

[0067] For example, depending on the application, the length of the tapered section (L) TT The length can be 7 to 13 mm, preferably 8 to 12 mm. For example, in one case, the length of the tapered portion is 10 mm relative to the hair length of the 12 mm tapered hair.

[0068] The material of the conical bristles can be appropriately determined considering the manufacturing method and intended use. For example, synthetic resin materials such as 6-12 nylon or 6-10 polyamide, PET, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene terephthalate (PTT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or polybutylene naphthalate (PBN), polyolefins such as PP, or olefin-based elastomers, or styrene-based elastomers can be used. These synthetic resin materials can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Polyester resin is preferred, and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is more preferred.

[0069] The shape of the cross-section of the conical hairs is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, circular or elliptical; polygonal, such as triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, or star-shaped; or clover-shaped with three leaves, or clover-shaped with four leaves, etc. The cross-sectional shape of all conical hairs can be the same or different from each other. However, from the perspective of the neatness of the hairs and the user experience, circular or hexagonal shapes are preferred.

[0070] In one embodiment of this invention, the toothbrush features conical bristles with spiral or embossed side surfaces. These processes add bending sections to the bristles, making the tips and middle sections more flexible. This not only creates more space but also allows them to deform in coordination with the split bristles. Preferably, the spiral processing is used, where the conical bristles are spirally tapered with a diameter that gradually tapers towards the front. The bristles are twisted and spirally processed along their length, forming spiral ridges on the outer periphery, increasing cleaning power and rigidity, and periodically creating narrowing sections on the bristles. Therefore, compared to ordinary conical bristles, when randomly dispersed with split bristles to form a mixed bristle bundle, more space is provided, further improving the technical performance.

[0071] In one embodiment of the toothbrush of this utility model, the conical bristles are spiral conical bristles with a circular or hexagonal cross-section, more preferably spiral super conical bristles with a circular or hexagonal cross-section, and most preferably spiral ST bristles that are approximately circular or approximately hexagonal.

[0072] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the shape of a bifurcated hair according to the present invention. Specifically, Figure 6 The term "forked bristles" refers to conical bristles. In this invention, any forked bristle consisting of a main body and a forked portion at the front end can be used. Existing known forked bristles can be used, such as feather-like bristles formed by splitting the tips of the bristles, conical forked bristles where each branch of the forked portion narrows towards the tip, and conical forked bristles with a conical shape at the front end and a forked portion formed at the very front end of that conical shape. Conical forked bristles are preferred, and conical forked bristles with a conical shape at the front end and a forked portion formed at the very front end of that conical shape are more preferred.

[0073] The material of the bifurcated hair is not particularly limited; it can be the same as that of the conical hair or other materials commonly used for bifurcated hair in this field.

[0074] The shape of the cross-section of the main body of the branched hair is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, circular or elliptical; polygonal, such as triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, or star-shaped; or clover-shaped with three leaves, or clover-shaped with four leaves, etc. The cross-sectional shape of the main body of all the branched hairs can be the same or different from each other. However, from the perspective of the neatness of hair implantation and the achievement of technical effect, a circular shape is preferred.

[0075] While the number of branches (number of branched portions) of the bristles is not particularly limited, it is preferable, for example, to be 2 to 6, more preferably 2 to 4, and most preferably 3. In one embodiment, from the perspective of ease of implementation, in the bristle implantation hole where mixed bristles are implanted, more than 80% of the bristles are 3-branched bristles, preferably more than 90%, and more preferably 100%. By keeping the number of branches above the lower limit, a decrease in the feel of the bristle tip during use is avoided; by keeping the number of branches below the upper limit, problems such as increased load on the bristle tip and reduced durability are avoided.

[0076] The thickness of the main body of the bifurcated hair is not particularly limited. For example, when the cross-section is circular, it is preferably 5 to 12 mil (1 mil = 1 / 1000 inch = 0.025 mm), more preferably 4 to 10 mil, and even more preferably 5 to 8 mil. The thickness of all the bifurcated hairs may be the same or different, but it is preferred that they are the same.

[0077] In one embodiment of this invention, in the bristle implantation hole with mixed bristles, from the perspective of better achieving the above-mentioned technical effects, the difference between the maximum diameter of the base of the branched bristles and the maximum diameter of the base of the conical bristles is 0 to 2.0 mil (1 mil = 1 / 1000 inch). The maximum diameter of the base refers to the maximum diameter of the cross-sectional shape formed on the bristles with the bristle implantation surface of the toothbrush head as the cross-section. The above difference is preferably 0 to 1.0 mil, more preferably 0 to 0.2 mil. By setting the thickness relationship between the two to be that the conical bristles and the branched bristles are the same or the conical bristles are slightly thinner, it is possible to avoid the conical bristles being difficult to bend and thus unable to effectively coordinate their bending with the branched bristles, thereby improving the overall effect. At the same time, it helps to control the number of bristles on the production site, improves the neatness of bristle implantation, and thus improves production efficiency.

[0078] In one embodiment of this invention, in the bristle implantation hole where mixed bristles are implanted, the tip of the branched bristle has a tapered shape that tapers towards the tip of the bristle, and a branched portion is formed at the very tip of this tapered shape. The tapered length (L) of the branched bristle including the branched portion is... BT ), that is, the length from the starting point where the diameter narrows to the end of the hair, relative to the cone length of the conical hair (L). TT The ratio of the two components is 0.25 to 0.45. This configuration improves the interaction between the bifurcated hairs and the conical hairs, resulting in better technical performance.

[0079] In one embodiment of this invention, in a hair implantation hole where mixed hairs are implanted, the length (L) of the branched portion of the branched hair is... BB ), relative to the cone length of the cone-shaped hair (L) TT The ratio of the two components is 0.05 to 0.20, more preferably 0.10 to 0.20. The length of the bifurcation portion refers to the length from the boundary between the bifurcation portion and the main body portion to the tip of the bifurcation hair. With this configuration, the interaction between the bifurcation hair and the conical hair can be improved, and a better technical effect can be obtained. In addition, it avoids the bifurcation hair being too long, making it difficult to transmit force to the hair body and cause it to bend and deform. For example, in one example, the conical length (L) of the conical hair is... TT The length of the cone-shaped bifurcated hair is 10mm (L). BT The length of the bifurcation (L) is 3mm. BB The thickness is 1.0 to 1.5 mm.

[0080] In one embodiment of this invention, in the bristle implantation hole where mixed bristles are implanted, the ratio of the length of the branched bristles to the length of the conical bristles is 0.98 to 1.05. By bringing the two close together, the desired technical effect can be ensured.

[0081] [Example]

[0082] The following describes the present invention in detail with reference to embodiments. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and may be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from its spirit.

[0083] The toothbrushes described below were manufactured using a flat bristle implantation method. In the central portion of the toothbrush head with 60 implantation holes (brush head material: polypropylene, length 28 mm, width 14.5 mm, implantation hole diameter 1.5 mm), bristles were implanted according to Tables 1 and 2 in the 20 holes closest to the tip of the brush head. When using two types of bristles, they were uniformly mixed to form a randomly and evenly distributed implantation surface. For the remaining 40 implantation holes, branched bristles (length 12 mm, cross-sectional shape: circular, diameter 6 mil) were implanted. The performance of the brush head was then evaluated.

[0084] In addition, the conical hairs and spiral conical hairs used in the embodiments are all super conical hairs (ST hairs), and the bifurcated hairs are conical bifurcated hairs.

[0085] Table 1

[0086]

[0087] Table 2

[0088]

[0089] The evaluation methods for the toothbrushes of each embodiment and comparative example are as follows.

[0090] <Brushing experience review>

[0091] An 8-person professional team cleaned the oral cavity using various toothbrushes. The brushing experience (including the sensation of contact with the tooth surface, the sensation of inserting the brush between teeth, the comfort level of the gum line when the brush is pressed down (at rest), the comfort level of the gum line when brushing, and the sensation of the bristles bending during brushing) was evaluated using the following criteria. The evaluation was based on the average score of the 8-person professional team. An average score of 5.5 or higher was designated "◎ (Excellent)", an average score of 4.0 or higher but less than 5.5 was designated "○ (Good)", an average score of 2.5 or higher but less than 4.0 was designated "△ (Average)", and an average score less than 2.5 was designated "× (Poor)".

[0092] <Bristle Spread Durability Evaluation>

[0093] Each toothbrush of the above specifications was placed on a model durability testing machine to test the durability of bristle spread (bristle spread rate) caused by increased brushing frequency. The experimental method involved placing the toothbrush head on a metal corrugated plate, with the bristle tips in contact with the plate surface, parallel to the plate. The toothbrush head and the entire corrugated plate were then immersed in warm water at 35°C, and the toothbrush head was moved back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the corrugations of the plate. Under experimental conditions of applying a 300g load to the toothbrush head, a back-and-forth speed of 150 strokes / minute, and a brushing stroke of 40mm, 30,000 brushing cycles were performed, and the bristle spread rate was measured at this point. The calculation method for the spread rate of the hair grafting area is: (width of the hair grafting area after brushing - width of the hair grafting area before brushing) / width of the hair grafting area before brushing × 100. A spread rate of less than 15% is rated as "◎ (excellent)", 15% or more but less than 30% is rated as "○ (good)", 30% or more but less than 45% is rated as "△ (average)" and 45% or more is rated as "× (poor)".

[0094] Table 3

[0095] Example 1 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 3 Reference Example 1 The sensation of contact with the tooth surface 〇 △ 〇 △ The feeling of inserting between teeth 〇 〇 △ × The comfort level of the gums when pressing down on the toothbrush ◎ △ ◎ × The comfort level of the gums when brushing 〇 △ △ × The feeling of the bristles bending when brushing 〇 〇 △ × Hair spreading rate 〇 △ × ×

[0096] The results in Table 3 indicate that in Comparative Example 3, which used only bifurcated bristles, while the brushing sensation was comfortable when pressing the toothbrush against the gums, the difficulty in bending the bristles resulted in poor interdental contact. In contrast, Example 1, which used 30% uniformly distributed tapered bristles, showed a significant improvement in all aspects of brushing comfort. This result suggests that the uniform distribution of tapered bristles improves the bending performance of the bifurcated bristles, providing an excellent brushing experience. Furthermore, Example 1, which used 30% uniformly distributed tapered bristles, also demonstrated a superior brushing experience compared to Comparative Example 2, which used only tapered bristles. This is presumably because the improved bending performance of the bifurcated bristles synergistically enhances the ease of cleaning between teeth, and the bifurcated portion of the bifurcated bristles can more effectively contact the tooth surface.

[0097] Furthermore, from a durability perspective, the middle section of the toothbrush bristles in Comparative Example 2 showed significant deformation, and the tip of the bristles in Comparative Example 3 showed significant deformation, thus increasing the fraying rate of the bristle implantation in both. In contrast, no significant deformation was observed at the tip or middle section of the bristles in Example 1. This is presumably because the bending space of the middle section of the bifurcated bristles was ensured, reducing the load applied to the tip of the bristles. Furthermore, the tapered length of the bifurcated bristles was shorter, thus stabilizing the middle section of the overall bristle implantation and suppressing the load applied to the middle section of the tapered bristles at the tip.

[0098] Furthermore, the reference example using ordinary rounded bristles instead of tapered bristles in Reference Example 1 showed the worst brushing experience. This is because ordinary rounded bristles have more limited bending space compared to split bristles. Moreover, in terms of durability, since split bristles cannot bend, the load is concentrated at the bristle tip, thus increasing the bristle spread rate.

[0099] Regarding gum sensation, in Example 1, the bifurcated bristles, which provide the unique comfort of pressing the toothbrush against the gums, are combined with the tapered bristles at the front end, making them easier to bend and further enhancing the tactile comfort during brushing.

[0100] Table 4

[0101] Example 2 Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 3 The sensation of contact with the tooth surface 〇 △ 〇 The feeling of inserting between teeth ◎ ◎ △ The comfort level of the gums when pressing down on the toothbrush ◎ 〇 ◎ The comfort level of the gums when brushing ◎ 〇 △ The feeling of the bristles bending when brushing ◎ ◎ △ Hair spreading rate ◎ △ ×

[0102] As shown in Table 4, similar to Example 1 in Table 1, uniformly distributing the spiral conical bristles at the tip among the bifurcated bristles significantly improves the brushing experience. This result indicates that the uniform distribution of the spiral conical bristles enhances the bending performance of the bifurcated bristles, providing an excellent brushing experience. Furthermore, the concave-convex structure of the spiral bristles improves the bending performance of the bristle bundles, more effectively enhancing the feeling of interdental cleaning and the comfort of the brushing motion, while reducing the load applied during brushing, thus also improving durability. These results demonstrate that the toothbrush of this invention provides superior user experience, cleaning effect, and durability compared to existing toothbrushes.

[0103] Table 5

[0104]

[0105] Table 5 shows the comparison results regarding the bristle ratio in a uniformly dispersed mixture of spiral conical bristles and forked bristles. It can be seen that by comparing Examples 2 and 3, Example 2, with its preferred mixing ratio, exhibits better bristle curvature and superior interdental cleaning feel and tactile comfort. On the other hand, it can be seen that, as in Examples 4 and 5, the bristle curvature tends to become excessive as the amount of spiral conical bristles increases. Therefore, its insertion into the interdental space and the tactile comfort during brushing are reduced. Furthermore, it can be seen that the tactile comfort when pressing down the toothbrush is also reduced due to the decrease in the number of forked bristles. In addition, Examples 2 and 4 also show the best results in terms of bristle dispersion durability. The above results indicate that by adjusting the ratio of spiral conical bristles to forked bristles to achieve a preferred mixing ratio, it is possible to further combine excellent interdental cleaning feel, comfortable use, and durability.

[0106] The above description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describes suitable embodiments of the present invention. However, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to these examples. The shapes and combinations of the constituent components shown in the above examples are merely illustrative, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0107] [Potential for Industrial Applications]

[0108] This invention can be applied to toothbrushes.

Claims

1. A toothbrush characterized by, The toothbrush includes a brush head and a handle body at the rear end of the brush head, the brush head has a plurality of bristle implantation holes in which bristle tufts are implanted on the bristle implantation surface of the brush head, and in at least one bristle implantation hole of the bristle implantation surface, mixed bristles of tapered bristles and bifurcated bristles are randomly implanted.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein in at least 30% or more of the bristle implantation holes of the bristle implantation surface, mixed bristles of tapered bristles and bifurcated bristles are randomly implanted.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the proportion of the number of tapered bristles to the total number of bristles in the bristle implantation hole is 20% to 50%.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the proportion of the number of tapered bristles to the total number of bristles in the bristle implantation hole is 25% to 45%.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the proportion of the number of tapered bristles to the total number of bristles in the bristle implantation hole is 25% to 35%.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the ratio of the number of bristles on the bristle surface of each bristle implantation hole to the number of bristles on the bristle implantation surface is 1.7 to 2.

5.

7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the difference between the maximum diameter of the base of the bifurcated bristle and the maximum diameter of the base of the tapered bristle is 0 to 2.0 mil; the maximum diameter of the base refers to the maximum diameter of the cross-sectional shape formed on the bristle when the bristle implantation surface of the toothbrush head is taken as a cross section.

8. The toothbrush of claim 7, wherein, The difference between the maximum diameter of the base of the bifurcated bristle and the maximum diameter of the base of the tapered bristle is 0 to 1.0 mil.

9. The toothbrush of claim 7 wherein, The difference between the maximum diameter of the base of the bifurcated bristle and the maximum diameter of the base of the tapered bristle is 0 to 0.2 mil.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the ratio of the length of the bifurcated portion of the bifurcated bristle to the tapered length of the tapered bristle is 0.05 to 0.

20.

11. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the front end of the bifurcated bristle has a tapered shape, a bifurcated portion is formed at the most front end of the tapered shape, and the ratio of the tapered length of the bifurcated bristle to the tapered length of the tapered bristle is 0.25 to 0.

45.

12. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the side surface of the tapered bristle is spirally processed or embossed.

13. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the tapered bristle is a spiral tapered bristle with a circular or hexagonal cross section.

14. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein in the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the proportion of the length of the tapered portion of the tapered bristle to the length of the tapered bristle is 60 to 100%.

15. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the bifurcated bristle has 2 to 6 bifurcations.

16. The toothbrush of any one of claims 1-15, wherein, In the bristle implantation hole in which the mixed bristles are implanted, the cross section of the bifurcated bristle is circular.

17. The toothbrush of any one of claims 1-15, wherein, The toothbrush adopts flat wire implantation.

Images