Y-shaped interdental cleaner

Abstract

To provide a Y-shaped interdental cleaning tool which enables a user to easily adjust a tensile force of a cleaning thread while gripping.SOLUTION: A Y-shaped interdental cleaning tool includes a grip part long in a prescribed direction and a pair of arms that extend in the long direction at intervals from each other. It is provided with: a cleaning thread bridged across the pair of arms; a force reception part receiving a pressing force of a user; and a force transmission part which transmits the pressing force received by the force reception part to the pair of arm parts, and changes the tensile force of the cleaning thread in accordance with the pressing force. The grip part covers the force transmission part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an interdental cleaner, and more particularly to an interdental cleaner formed in a Y-shape. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently popular dental flossers are extremely convenient because they fix dental floss to a holder made of resin or other material at a constant tension and can be held in one hand.

[0003] Among them, a dental floss holder capable of adjusting the tension of dental floss is known (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-197162 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The dental floss holder described in Patent Document 1, as shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), is configured so that the tension of the floss increases or decreases depending on the gripping force, so if gripping force is applied by mistake during operation, the adjusted tension of the floss may change unintentionally. For this reason, it is difficult to adjust the tension while gripping.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a Y-shaped interdental cleaner that allows a user to easily adjust the tension of the cleaning string while holding it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The Y-shaped interdental cleaner of the present invention is a Y-shaped interdental cleaner comprising a long grip portion in a predetermined direction and a pair of arm portions extending from the tip of the grip portion at a distance in the longitudinal direction, and comprising a cleaning thread hung over the pair of arm portions, a force receiving portion which receives a pressing force from a user, and a force transmission portion which transmits the pressing force received by the force receiving portion to the pair of arm portions and changes the tension of the cleaning thread in accordance with the pressing force, and the grip portion covers the force transmission portion.

[0008] According to this configuration, the Y-shaped interdental cleaner can change the tension of the cleaning thread suspended between a pair of arms extending at a distance in the longitudinal direction by the force transmitting unit in response to the pressing force received by the force receiving unit. In addition, by covering the force transmitting unit, which changes the tension of the cleaning thread by the pressing force, with the gripping unit, the gripping unit receives the user's gripping force, reducing the risk of the gripping force being applied to the force transmitting unit. As a result, in order to operate the Y-shaped interdental cleaner, the pressing force can be applied to the force receiving unit independently of the user's gripping force, making it easy for the user to adjust the tension of the cleaning thread while gripping it.

[0009] Furthermore, an arm support portion is provided on the rear end side of the pair of arm portions to variably support the distance between the tip ends of the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion includes a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion arranged opposite each other with a distance between them, the force transmission portion includes a first transmission portion and a second transmission portion arranged opposite each other with a distance between them, the first transmission portion is extended so as to connect the rear end of one of the pair of arm portions and the first receiving portion, and the second transmission portion is extended at a distance between the first transmission portion and the first receiving portion so as to connect the rear end of the other of the pair of arm portions and the second receiving portion, and when the first and second receiving portions are pressed to narrow the distance between them, the pressing force is transmitted to the rear ends of the pair of arm portions by the first and second transmission portions, causing the pair of arm portions to open around the arm support portion and increasing the tension of the cleaning thread.

[0010] According to this configuration, the first transmission part is connected to the first receiving part, and the second transmission part is connected to the second receiving part from the rear end of each of the pair of arms. By providing these intervals, a space is secured for the first transmission part and the second transmission part to move in response to the pressing force. The arm support part provided on the rear end side of the pair of arms serves as a fulcrum for converting the movement of the first transmission part and the second transmission part into the movement direction in which the pair of arms open.

[0011] It is also preferable that the arm support portion has a generally rod-like shape connecting the rear ends of the pair of arm portions, and that the pair of arm portions open by bending in response to the pressing forces transmitted by the first and second transmission portions.

[0012] According to this configuration, the arm support part having an approximately rod-like shape connects the rear ends of the pair of arm parts, so that when a pressing force is transmitted from the first transmission part and the second transmission part, the arm support part bends and the pressing force is converted into a movement direction in which the pair of arm parts open.

[0013] In addition, it is preferable that the arm support portion is arranged so that the rear ends of the pair of arm portions face each other with a gap therebetween, and that the gap is narrowed in response to the pressing forces transmitted by the first and second transmission portions, and the rear ends of the pair of arm portions abut against each other and bend, thereby opening the pair of arm portions.

[0014] According to this configuration, when a pressing force is transmitted from the first transmission part and the second transmission part to the arm support part, which is provided with a gap between the rear ends of a pair of arm parts, the arm support parts abut against each other and bend as a fulcrum, converting the pressing force into an opening movement direction.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable that a transmission side slit corresponding to the distance between the first and second transmission parts is formed on a first side wall of the portion of the gripping portion covering the force transmission part, the first side wall being perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first and second transmission parts.

[0016] According to this configuration, the grip part has a transmission-side slit that is not necessary for the user to grip the grip part, which corresponds to the gap between the first and second transmission parts. Therefore, when the first and second transmission parts are molded first and then material is injected into the mold so as to cover the first and second transmission parts and the grip part is molded as a single piece, it is possible to insert an insert into the gap between the first and second transmission parts so that the gap is not filled, and to remove the insert from the transmission-side slit. Therefore, by providing the transmission-side slit in the grip part, it is possible to mold the first and second transmission parts and the grip part that covers the first and second transmission parts as a single piece.

[0017] It is also preferable that the first and second receiving portions each have an approximately plate-like shape, the gripping portion covers the side surfaces of the first and second receiving portions in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second receiving portions face each other, and a gripping side slit corresponding to the distance between the first and second receiving portions is formed in a second side wall of the portion of the gripping portion covering the side surfaces of the first and second receiving portions.

[0018] With this configuration, the gripping portion covers the side surface perpendicular to the direction in which the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion face each other, thereby reducing the risk of unintentionally pressing the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion when gripping it.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferable that the gripping side slit includes a first slit formed in the second side wall on one side perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first and second receiving portions, and a second slit formed in the second side wall on the other side perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first and second receiving portions, and the gripping portion includes a first rib spanning the first slit and a second rib spanning the second slit, and the first rib and the second rib are spanned at different positions in the extension direction of the force transmission portion.

[0020] According to this configuration, when the first and second slits are provided in the gripping portion, the gripping portion is divided by the first and second slits, and the strength of the gripping portion is reduced. Therefore, by providing the first and second ribs, the strength of the gripping portion can be improved. Furthermore, when the first and second ribs are provided at the same position in the extension direction of the force transmission portion, a space is generated in the gap between the first and second transmission portions, which is blocked on both sides by the first and second ribs, and the above-mentioned insert cannot be placed in this portion. Therefore, by bridging the first rib and the second rib at different positions in the extension direction of the force transmission portion, the position of the insert inserted from the first rib side and the position of the insert inserted from the second rib side can be shifted. As a result, the inserts inserted from both sides can form the gap between the first and second transmission portions as a continuous space.

[0021] It is also preferable that the device further includes a first extension portion extending from the first receiving portion to the opposite side to the first transmission portion, and a second extension portion extending from the second receiving portion to the opposite side to the second transmission portion, and that the ends of the first and second extension portions opposite the first and second receiving portions are connected to each other with a gap between them.

[0022] According to this configuration, the first extension portion and the second extension portion are connected at the end opposite to where the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion are located, so that the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion are supported on both sides of each of them, thereby increasing the resilience of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion when they are subjected to a pressing force.

[0023] It is also preferable that the force receiving portion has a generally plate-like shape, and the grip portion covers a side surface of the force receiving portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pressing force.

[0024] With this configuration, the gripping portion covers the side of the force receiving portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the received pressure, thereby reducing the risk of unintentionally pressing the force receiving portion when gripping it.

[0025] It is also preferable that the force receiving portion and the force transmitting portion are made of a first resin, the gripping portion is made of a second resin, and the first resin and the second resin have properties that make them difficult to adhere to each other.

[0026] According to this configuration, the force receiving portion and the force transmitting portion made of the first resin and the gripping portion made of the second resin are molded integrally in a mold. Since the first resin and the second resin have properties that make them difficult to adhere to each other, the force receiving portion and the force transmitting portion are separated from the gripping portion when they are molded, and therefore the gripping portion can cover the force receiving portion and the force transmitting portion while maintaining the mobility of the force receiving portion and the force transmitting portion.

[0027] The manufacturing method of the Y-shaped interdental cleaner of the present invention is a manufacturing method of the above-mentioned Y-shaped interdental cleaner, and includes the steps of: (1) molding the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmission portion by providing the first resin into a first mold having cavities corresponding to the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmission portion; (2) arranging the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmission portion in a second mold having a cavity corresponding to the Y-shaped interdental cleaner; and (3) after step (2), molding the grip portion by supplying the second resin into the second mold.

[0028] According to this manufacturing method, a pair of arms, a force receiving portion, and a force transmitting portion molded from a first resin are placed in a cavity corresponding to the Y-shaped interdental cleaner, and the gripping portion is molded so that they are covered by a second resin.

[0029] Furthermore, a manufacturing method for a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the present invention is a manufacturing method for the above-mentioned Y-shaped interdental cleaner, and includes the steps of: (1) molding the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion by providing a first resin into a first mold having cavities corresponding to the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion; (2) arranging the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion in a second mold having a cavity corresponding to the Y-shaped interdental cleaner; (2a) inserting a piece corresponding to the transmission side slit into the space between the first and second transmitting portions into the second mold; and (3a) after step (2a), molding the gripping portion by supplying a second resin into the second mold, and it is preferable that the first resin and the second resin have properties that make them difficult to adhere to each other.

[0030] According to this manufacturing method, when the gripping portion of the second resin is molded so as to cover the pair of arms, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion molded from the first resin, the gripping portion is molded with the insert inserted at a necessary interval for the pair of arms, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion to be variable. By removing the insert after molding, a space is created between the first transmitting portion and the second transmitting portion, and a transmission-side slit is formed. Effect of the Invention

[0031] A Y-shaped interdental cleaner configured in this manner allows a user to easily adjust the tension of the cleaning thread by applying pressure while gripping the Y-shaped interdental cleaner. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]1 is a schematic diagram showing that the tension of the cleaning string 3 increases when the force receiving portion 12 of the Y-shaped interdental cleaning tool A is pressed. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 3A to 3C are schematic diagrams showing the first half of the process of a manufacturing method for a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing the latter half of the process of the manufacturing method for the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing another method for manufacturing the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing steps of another manufacturing method for the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted. In each drawing, XYZ orthogonal coordinate axes are appropriately shown to clarify the directional relationship.

[0034] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The Y-shaped interdental cleaner A shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is composed of a primary member 1 including a pair of arms 10, a force receiving portion 12, a force transmitting portion 14, a first extension portion 161, and a second extension portion 162, a gripping portion 2 which is a secondary member, and a cleaning thread 3.

[0035] The pair of arms 10 extend in the +X direction to a substantially middle position with a gap between them, and extend obliquely in the -Z direction from the substantially middle position to the tip. The cleaning thread 3 is hung between the tip sides of the pair of arms 10, and an arm support part 101 having a substantially rod-like shape that connects the rear ends and supports the tip side gap variably is provided at the rear end sides.

[0036] The force receiving unit 12 includes a first receiving unit 121 and a second receiving unit 122 that are arranged facing each other in the Y-axis direction with a gap between them, and the first receiving unit 121 and the second receiving unit 122 receive a pressing force from the user.

[0037] Moreover, first receiving portion 121 and second receiving portion 122 have a substantially plate-like shape. However, this is not a limitation as long as the shape can easily receive a pressing force from a user.

[0038] Like the force receiving section 12, the force transmitting section 14 includes a first transmitting section 141 and a second transmitting section 142 that are disposed facing each other in the Y-axis direction with a gap between them.

[0039] The first transmission unit 141 extends in the X-axis direction so as to connect a rear end of one of the pair of arm units 10 to the first receiving unit 121. The second transmission unit 142 extends in the X-axis direction so as to connect a rear end of the other of the pair of arm units 10 to the second receiving unit 122. At this time, the first transmission unit 141 and the second transmission unit 142 are respectively extended with a gap between them.

[0040] The first extension portion 161 extends from the first reception portion 121 to the opposite side not facing the first transmission portion 141, i.e., in the -X direction. The second extension portion 162 extends from the second reception portion 122 to the opposite side not facing the second transmission portion 142, i.e., in the -X direction. An end portion on the -X direction side of the first extension portion 161 and an end portion on the -X direction side of the second extension portion 162 are connected by a connecting portion 163 with a gap between them.

[0041] By connecting the ends of the first extension portion 161 and the second extension portion 162 to each other, the first receiving portion 121 and the second receiving portion 122 are supported from both sides, the first transmission portion 141 and the second transmission portion 142 side and the first extension portion 161 and the second extension portion 162 side, respectively, thereby increasing the repulsive force against pressure.

[0042] The force receiving portion 12, the force transmitting portion 14, the first extension portion 161 and the second extension portion 162 form a gap in the primary member 1 from the arm support portion 101 to the connecting portion 163 in the Y-axis direction.

[0043] 4 is a schematic diagram showing that the tension of the cleaning thread increases when the force receiving portion of the Y-shaped interdental cleaner is pressed. As shown in FIG. 4(a), when the first receiving portion 121 and the second receiving portion 122 of the primary member 1 receive a pressing force from the user, the gap between the first transmitting portion 141 and the second transmitting portion 142 connected thereto is narrowed in response to the pressing force.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4(b), when the gap is narrowed, the arm support portion 101 on the pair of arm portions 10 becomes a fulcrum, and the arm support portion 101 bends in response to the pressing force transmitted from the first transmission portion 141 and the second transmission portion 142, moving in a direction that increases the tension of the cleaning thread 3, i.e., in a direction in which the tips of the pair of arm portions 10 open away from each other.

[0045] The arm support part 101 has a generally rod-like shape connecting the rear ends of the pair of arm parts 10 as a fulcrum for increasing the tension of the stretched cleaning thread 3, but is not limited to this.

[0046] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the rear ends of a pair of arms 10 are not connected to each other but are opposed to each other with a gap S therebetween, and when a pressing force is applied, the gap S narrows and the rear ends of the pair of arms 10 come into contact with each other to form a fulcrum, so long as the fulcrum configuration can increase the tension of the cleaning thread 3 stretched across the pair of arms 10 by the pressing force.

[0047] The gripping portion 2 is elongated in the X-axis direction, and covers the first transmitting portion 141 and the second transmitting portion 142, the first receiving portion 121 and the second receiving portion 122, and the first extending portion 161 and the second extending portion 162. The first receiving portion 121 and the second receiving portion 122 are covered by the gripping portion 2 so as to expose the surfaces to be pressed.

[0048] The gripping unit 2 has a first side wall 201 as a portion on both sides that covers the force transmitting unit 14 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction in which the first transmitting unit 141 and the second transmitting unit 142 face each other, and a second side wall 202 as a portion on both sides that covers the force receiving unit 12 in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction in which the first receiving unit 121 and the second receiving unit 122 face each other, and in the X-axis direction. The first side wall 201 and the second side wall 202 are provided contiguous to each other.

[0049] The first side wall 201 has a transmission-side slit 24 formed therein, which corresponds to the gap between the first transmission part 141 and the second transmission part 142. The second side wall 202 has a gripping-side slit 22 formed therein, which corresponds to the gap between the first reception part 121 and the second reception part 122. The transmission-side slit 24 and the gripping-side slit 22 are formed to be continuous with each other, like the first side wall 201 and the second side wall 202.

[0050] The gripping side slit 22 is in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction in which the first receiving portion 121 and the second receiving portion 122 face each other, and of the double-sided portion covering the force receiving portion 12 in the X-axis direction, one side is a first slit 221 and the other side is a second slit 222.

[0051] A first rib 223 is provided in the first slit 221 at a different position in the X-axis direction, and a second rib 224 is provided in the second slit 222 at a different position in the X-axis direction and at a position that does not overlap with the first rib 223 when viewed from the Z-axis direction. By providing the first rib 223 and the second rib 224 so as not to overlap, it becomes possible to insert and remove an insert for maintaining the gap formed in the primary member 1 during molding, and therefore molding can be performed integrally.

[0052] In this embodiment, a first extension portion 161 and a second extension portion 162 extending from and connecting with the first receiving portion 121 and the second receiving portion 122, respectively, are provided on the primary member 1, and are covered by the gripping portion 2 which corresponds to the secondary member. However, this is not necessarily the case as long as a repulsive force against pressure and stable gripping can be provided, for example, by covering the extension portions with the gripping portion without connecting them with each other.

[0053] Next, the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing the manufacturing method of the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are schematic diagrams showing the steps of the manufacturing method of the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In step S11, as shown in FIG. 7(a), a first resin is injected and filled into a first mold 90 having a cavity shaped to correspond to the pair of arm portions 10, the force receiving portion 12, the force transmission portion 14, the first extension portion 161, and the second extension portion 162, and to provide a gap from the arm support portion 101 to the connecting portion 163, thereby molding the primary member 1.

[0055] At this time, the cleaning thread 3 may be hung across the tip ends of the pair of arm portions 10 after the molding of the primary member 1 is completed, or may be positioned so as to be hung across a position corresponding to the tip ends of the pair of arm portions 10 before the primary member 1 is molded, and molding may be performed thereafter.

[0056] In step S12, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the first mold 90 is opened and the primary member 1 is removed.

[0057] In step S13, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the insert piece 91 is inserted into the above-mentioned space so as to avoid the first rib 223 and the second rib 224.

[0058] In step S14, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the primary member 1 is placed in a second mold 92 having a cavity corresponding to the shape of the primary member 1 with the insert 91 inserted therein and to the gripping portion 2, and then the gripping portion 2 is formed by injecting and filling a second resin.

[0059] In this embodiment, the primary member 1 is placed in the second mold 92 after the insert piece 91 is first inserted into the above-mentioned interval; however, the primary member 1 may be placed such that the insert piece 91 is first placed in the second mold 92 and then inserted into the above-mentioned interval, and the order of the implementation of the insert piece 91 and the second mold 92 is not limited.

[0060] In step S15, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the second mold 92 is opened, and the Y-shaped interdental cleaner A is removed with the insert 91 still inserted.

[0061] In step S16, as shown in FIG. 8(c), the insert 91 is removed from the Y-shaped interdental cleaner A.

[0062] Also, other manufacturing methods will be described, other than the above manufacturing method using the insert 91 in the second mold 92, in which a protrusion 91a corresponding to the insert 91 is provided in the second mold 92. Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing another manufacturing method for the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of another manufacturing method for the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] In step S1, as shown in FIG. 10(a), a first resin is injected and filled into a first mold 90 having a cavity shaped to correspond to the pair of arm portions 10, the force receiving portion 12, the force transmitting portion 14, the first extension portion 161, and the second extension portion 162, and to provide a gap from the arm support portion 101 to the connecting portion 163, thereby forming the primary member 1.

[0064] At this time, similarly to the manufacturing method described above, the cleaning thread 3 may be hung across the tip ends of the pair of arm portions 10 after the molding of the primary member 1 is completed, or may be positioned so as to be hung across a position corresponding to the tip ends of the pair of arm portions 10 before the primary member 1 is molded, and molding may be performed thereafter.

[0065] In step S2, as shown in FIG. 10(b), the primary member 1 is placed in a second mold 92 having a cavity corresponding to the shape of the primary member 1 and the gripping portion 2, which maintains the distance from the arm support portion 101 to the connecting portion 163 while avoiding the first rib 223 and the second rib 224.

[0066] Specifically, a protrusion 91a corresponding to the insert 91 is formed in the second mold 92, and the primary member 1 is positioned in the second mold 92 so that this protrusion 91a fits into the gap from the arm support portion 101 to the connecting portion 163 while avoiding the first rib 223 and the second rib 224, and thus the gap is not filled in the next injection filling described later, and the molding can be performed as a single unit.

[0067] In step S3, as shown in FIG. 10(c), a second resin is injected and filled into a second mold 92 to form a gripping portion 2 including a transmission side slit 24 and a gripping side slit 22 for extracting the convex portion 91a.

[0068] The Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to the present invention has mobility even though the primary member 1 is covered by the gripping part 2. However, when the Y-shaped interdental cleaner is manufactured by the above-mentioned manufacturing methods, there is usually a risk that the primary member 1 and the gripping part 2, which is the secondary member, will come into close contact with each other during molding.

[0069] In order to achieve mobility of the primary member 1 while being covered by the gripping portion 2, the present invention utilizes insert molding or two-color molding techniques to form the primary member 1 and the gripping portion 2 using a first resin and a second resin that have properties that make them difficult to adhere to each other.

[0070] The property of being difficult to adhere to each other refers to the property that the first resin and the second resin are easily separated from each other without being mixed together. For example, if the first resin is a crystallized resin made of polyacetal (POM), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), etc., and the second resin is either the same crystallized resin or a non-crystallized resin made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc., the two resins are difficult to adhere to each other. In this case, the adhesion is low and the resins are easily separated from each other.

[0071] In addition, since polypropylene, among crystallized resins, tends to adhere to each other, when the first resin is polypropylene, the second resin is made of a crystallized resin or a non-crystallized resin other than polypropylene to prevent adhesion.

[0072] By forming the primary member 1 and the gripping portion 2 from hard resin that has properties that make them difficult to adhere to each other, even if the Y-shaped interdental cleaner of the present invention is molded as a single unit, the primary member 1 and the gripping portion 2 are formed in a separate state.

[0073] For this reason, since the gripping portion 2 separates when covering the primary member 1, the first transmission portion 141 and the second transmission portion 142, the first receiving portion 121 and the second receiving portion 122, and the first extension portion 161 and the second extension portion 162, which correspond to the primary member, are not in close contact with the gripping portion 2, which corresponds to the secondary member, during molding, but are movably arranged within the gripping portion 2.

[0074] This maintains the necessary distance to convert the pressing force in the direction of the opening movement of the pair of arms 10, and the primary member 1 and gripping portion 2 are formed in a separated state, resulting in a Y-shaped interdental cleaner in which the gripping portion 2 covers the primary member 1 while maintaining its mobility, as shown in Figure 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] AY-shaped interdental cleaner 1 Primary Part 10 Pair of arms 101 Arm support 12 Power Reception Section 121 First Reception Department 122 Second Reception Department 14 Force transmission section 141 First Transmission Department 142 Second Transmission Section 161 First extension 162 Second extension 163 Connecting part 2 Grip part 201 First side wall 202 Second side wall 22 Gripping side slit 221 First Slit 222 Second Slit 223 First Rib 224 Second Rib 24 Transmission side slit 3 Cleaning thread 90 The First Mold 91 Insert 91a Convex 92 Second Mold S gap

Claims

1. A Y-shaped interdental cleaner including a grip portion that is long in a predetermined direction and a pair of arms that extend from a tip of the grip portion to a side in the long direction with a space therebetween, A cleaning thread hung over the pair of arms; A force receiving unit that receives a pressing force from a user; a force transmission unit that transmits the pressing force received by the force receiving unit to the pair of arm units and changes the tension of the cleaning thread in response to the pressing force, The grip portion is a Y-shaped interdental cleaner that covers the force transmission portion.

2. an arm support portion that variably supports the distance between the tip ends of the pair of arms is provided on the rear end sides of the pair of arms, The force receiving portion includes a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion that are disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween, The force transmission unit includes a first transmission unit and a second transmission unit that are disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween, The first transmission portion is extended so as to connect a rear end of one of the pair of arm portions and the first reception portion, The second transmission portion is provided at an interval between the first transmission portion and the second reception portion so as to connect a rear end of the other arm portion of the pair of arms and the second reception portion, 2. The Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to claim 1, wherein when the first and second receiving portions are pressed so as to narrow the gap between them, the pressing force is transmitted to the rear ends of the pair of arm portions by the first and second transmission portions, causing the pair of arm portions to open with the arm support portion as a fulcrum, and increasing the tension of the cleaning thread.

3. The Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the arm support portion has a generally rod-like shape connecting the rear ends of the pair of arm portions, and the pair of arm portions open by bending in response to the pressing forces transmitted by the first and second transmission portions.

4. 3. The Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the arm support portion is arranged so that the rear ends of the pair of arm portions face each other with a gap therebetween, and the gap narrows in response to the pressing force transmitted by the first and second transmission portions, causing the rear ends of the pair of arm portions to abut against each other and bend, thereby opening the pair of arm portions.

5. A Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a transmission side slit corresponding to the distance between the first and second transmission parts is formed on a first side wall of the portion of the gripping portion covering the force transmission part in a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first and second transmission parts.

6. The first and second receiving portions each have a substantially plate-like shape, The gripping portion covers side surfaces of the first and second receiving portions in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first and second receiving portions face each other, A Y-shaped interdental cleaner as described in claim 5, wherein a second side wall of the grip portion that covers the side surfaces of the first and second receiving portions has a grip side slit formed therein corresponding to the gap between the first and second receiving portions.

7. The gripping side slit is A first slit is formed in the second side wall on one side perpendicular to a direction in which the first and second receiving portions face each other; a second slit formed in the second side wall on the other side perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first and second receiving portions, The gripping portion is A first rib extending across the first slit; A second rib extending across the second slit, The Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to claim 6 , wherein the first rib and the second rib are bridged at different positions in a direction in which the force transmission portion extends.

8. A first extension portion extending from the first reception portion to an opposite side to the first transmission portion; A second extension portion extending from the second receiving portion to an opposite side to the second transmitting portion, A Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the ends of the first and second extension portions opposite the first and second receiving portions are connected to each other with a gap therebetween.

9. The force receiving portion has a substantially plate-like shape, The Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the gripping portion covers a side surface of the force receiving portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the pressing force.

10. the force receiving portion and the force transmitting portion are made of a first resin, The gripping portion is made of a second resin, The Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first resin and the second resin have properties that make them difficult to adhere to each other.

11. A method for manufacturing the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to claim 10, comprising the steps of: (1) providing the first resin into a first mold having cavities corresponding to the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion to mold the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion; (2) placing the pair of arms, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion in a second mold having a cavity corresponding to the Y-shaped interdental cleaner; (3) After the step (2), a method for manufacturing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner includes a step of molding the grip portion by supplying the second resin into the second mold.

12. A method for producing the Y-shaped interdental cleaner according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first resin into a first mold having cavities corresponding to the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion to mold the pair of arm portions, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion; (2) placing the pair of arms, the force receiving portion, and the force transmitting portion in a second mold having a cavity corresponding to the Y-shaped interdental cleaner; (2a) inserting, into a second mold, a piece corresponding to the transmission-side slit into a space between the first and second transmission parts; (3a) after the step (2a), supplying a second resin into the second mold to mold the grip portion; A method for manufacturing a Y-shaped interdental cleaner, wherein the first resin and the second resin have properties that make them difficult to adhere to each other.

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