Interdental Cleaning Tools

Abstract

To provide an interdental cleaning tool that achieves both easy insertion between teeth and improvement in cleaning effects.SOLUTION: The interdental cleaning tool comprises: a base material part having a base portion and a shaft portion that extends from the base portion; and a soft part covering at least a part of the shaft portion. At least a part of the shaft portion has, in a cross-portion of the shaft portion perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft portion, a first external dimension X1 defined in a first direction D1, and a second external dimension X2 that is defined in a second direction D3 perpendicular to the first direction D1 and is smaller than the first external dimension X1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an interdental cleaner. [Background technology]

[0002] Interdental cleaners for cleaning between teeth have been known. For example, the interdental cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a base material made of synthetic resin and a soft material made of elastomer. The base material includes a flat handle portion as a handle and a thin and long core base material portion extending from the tip of the handle portion. The soft material includes a covering portion that covers at least a part of the core base material portion and a plurality of protrusions that protrude from the surface of the covering portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 176297 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The core substrate of an interdental cleaner is usually formed in a generally conical (tapered) shape that tapers toward the tip, and is designed to be able to clean a certain range of interdental spaces from relatively narrow to relatively wide. However, in areas where the core substrate is thick to clean wide interdental spaces, the strength increases due to the thickness, and the ability to conform to the interdental spaces is low, so there is a problem that it is easy to break when trying to insert it forcibly. This problem is particularly noticeable when the diameter (including the elastomer part), which is generally called the L size, is 1.5 mm or more. However, to clean relatively wide interdental spaces, there is a need to press firmly with a strong shaft to clean firmly, and this is not a problem that can be solved by making the core substrate thinner.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an interdental cleaning tool that is easy to insert between teeth and has an improved cleaning effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The interdental cleaning tool according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a substrate portion having a base portion and a stem portion extending from the base portion; A soft portion covering at least a portion of the shaft portion, At least a portion of the shaft portion has, in a cross section of the shaft portion perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft portion, a first outer dimension defined in a first direction and a second outer dimension defined in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and smaller than the first outer dimension.

[0007] According to this aspect, in at least a part of the cross section of the shaft, a first outer dimension is defined in a first direction, and a second outer dimension smaller than the first outer dimension is defined in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. As a result, the shaft is more easily bent in the second direction with the smaller second outer dimension, while being less easily bent in the first direction with the first outer dimension. In other words, the strength of the shaft is improved along the first direction. Therefore, when inserting between teeth, the interdental cleaner is used so as to bend in the second direction in which it is easier to bend, thereby making it easier to insert. On the other hand, by using the interdental cleaner to press against the teeth along the first direction in which it is less likely to bend, the soft part can be pressed more firmly against the side of the teeth, thereby improving the cleaning effect. Therefore, this interdental cleaner can achieve both ease of insertion between teeth and improved cleaning effect.

[0008] In the above embodiment, the first outer dimension is preferably defined in a direction parallel to a plane extending along the base. The ratio of the first outer dimension to the second outer dimension (second outer dimension / first outer dimension) is preferably 0.20 to 0.98. The second outer dimension is preferably 1.0 mm or more. Furthermore, the length of the soft portion defined in the axial direction of the shaft is preferably 15 mm or more. In addition, the ratio of the first outer dimension to the second outer dimension (second outer dimension / first outer dimension) gradually decreases from the tip of the shaft to the base. decrease You can do that. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an interdental cleaning tool that is both easy to insert between teeth and has an improved cleaning effect. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a schematic structure of an interdental cleaning tool according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a side view showing a schematic structure of an interdental cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an end view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an end view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an end view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, an interdental cleaner 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a base member 10 and a soft member 20 that covers at least a part of the base member 10. The interdental cleaner 1 is individually separated from a connecting body 40 formed by connecting, for example, ten interdental cleaners 1 in parallel in the short side direction (first direction) D1 of the interdental cleaner 1 by a pair of connecting members 30, 30 formed on the base member 10.

[0012] The substrate 10 includes a base 11 that is held by a user, and a shaft 12 that extends from the tip of the base 11 in a longitudinal direction D2 perpendicular to the lateral direction D1 of the interdental cleaner 1 and is inserted between the teeth of the user. In this specification, the side from the base 11 toward the shaft 12 is referred to as the tip side, and the side from the shaft 12 toward the base 11 is referred to as the base side.

[0013] The base 11 is formed, for example, in the shape of a flat, expanding plate. In this embodiment, it is formed, for example, in the shape of a flat rectangular prism, but it may be formed in any other shape as long as it can be held by a user.

[0014] The shaft portion 12 extends in the longitudinal direction D2 from a tip, which is one end of the base portion 11. The shaft portion 12 includes a transition portion 13 that extends continuously from the base portion 11 in a flat plate shape, and a tip portion 14 that extends in a thin shaft shape from the tip of the transition portion 13 to the tip of the shaft portion 12. The transition portion 13 is formed in a tapered shape in which the width defined in the short direction D1 decreases toward the tip of the shaft portion 12.

[0015] The substrate 10 is molded from, for example, a synthetic resin material. Examples of the synthetic resin material that can be used include polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyacetal, polyamide, etc. Furthermore, a fiber material such as glass fiber may be added to the synthetic resin material at a ratio of, for example, about 1 to 30% by weight.

[0016] The soft portion 20 includes a covering portion 21 that covers at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the tip portion 14 of the shaft portion 12, and a plurality of protrusions 22 that protrude from the covering portion 21. The protrusions 22 are formed, for example, in a conical shape, and are arranged in a spiral shape around the axis of the tip portion 14 of the shaft portion 12 from the base end to the tip of the covering portion 21. The height of the protrusions 22 from the outer circumferential surface of the covering portion 21 decreases from the base end to the tip of the covering portion 21.

[0017] The soft portion 20 is formed from a resin material having a hardness lower than that of the synthetic resin material of the base portion 10. An elastomer can be used as the resin material, and the elastomer may be a styrene-based elastomer, a silicone, an olefin-based elastomer, a polyester-based elastomer, or the like. The hardness of the elastomer is preferably 10 to 50, more preferably 10 to 40, in terms of durometer hardness type A (JISK6253). In this embodiment, the durometer hardness type A is 35.

[0018] In the interdental cleaner 1 of this embodiment, the length L1 of the substrate 10 defined in the longitudinal direction D2 is set to, for example, 45 mm to 55 mm. The width W1 of the base 11 defined in the lateral direction D1 is set to, for example, 3 mm to 10 mm. Moreover, the thickness T1 of the base 11 defined in the thickness direction (second direction) D3 perpendicular to the lateral direction D1 and the longitudinal direction D2 is set to, for example, 0.5 mm to 10 mm.

[0019] The length of the covering portion 21 from its base end to its tip end as defined in the longitudinal direction D2 is set to, for example, 10 mm to 25 mm. The covering portion 21 is formed with a uniform thickness at the same position in the longitudinal direction D2, and the thickness is set to, for example, 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm. The height of the protrusion 22 from the outer peripheral surface of the covering portion 21 is set to, for example, 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm. The above-mentioned problem of the present invention is more likely to occur as the covering portion 21 is longer, and the effect of the present application is more effectively exhibited, so that the length of the covering portion 21 as defined in the longitudinal direction D2 is preferably 15 mm or more, more preferably 16 mm or more, and particularly preferably 18 mm or more.

[0020] The distal end portion 14 includes a distal end region 14a extending from the distal end toward the proximal end, and a proximal end region 14b extending from the distal end region 14a to the transition portion 13. At least a part of the distal end region 14a is covered by the covering portion 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the cross section of the distal end region 14a perpendicular to the axis of the shaft portion 12 is set to be substantially circular. The distal end region 14a is formed in a tapered shape whose diameter decreases from the proximal end toward the distal end, and its diameter (i.e., the first outer dimension X1 defined in the short direction D1 or the second outer dimension X2 defined in the thickness direction D3) is set to, for example, 0.6 mm to 3.0 mm. In this embodiment, the length of the distal end region 14a from the distal end to the proximal end of the soft portion 20 is set to 15 mm, while the length of the proximal end region 14b is set to 5 mm.

[0021] On the other hand, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in the cross section of the base end region 14b, a first outer dimension X1 defined in the short side direction D1 is set to be larger than a second outer dimension X2 defined in a thickness direction D3 perpendicular to the short side direction D1. In the base end region 14b, the second outer dimension X2 is preferably set to 1.0 mm or more, and more preferably set to 1.1 mm or more. The ratio (X2 / X1) of the first outer dimension X1 to the second outer dimension X2 is set to 0.20 to 0.98, and more preferably 0.30 to 0.97. This ratio (X2 / X1) gradually decreases from the tip to the base of the base end region 14b. decrease It should be noted that the relatively longer of the first outer dimension X1 and the second outer dimension X2 is X1, and the outer dimension in the short direction D1 is not necessarily X1. 3 For example, the tip region 14b side in the cross section of FIG. 5 is almost elliptical, whereas the transition region 14b side is almost elliptical. 3 On the side, it has a nearly rectangular shape.

[0022] According to the interdental cleaner 1 as described above, since the second outer dimension X2 is smaller than the first outer dimension X1 in the base end region 14b of the shaft 12, the shaft 12 is more easily bent in the thickness direction D3 along the second outer dimension X2, while the shaft 12 is less easily bent in the short direction D1 along the first outer dimension X1. In other words, the strength of the shaft 12 is improved along the short direction D1 compared to the longitudinal direction D2. Therefore, by using the interdental cleaner 1 so that it bends in the thickness direction D3 in which it is more easily bent when inserted between teeth, ease of insertion can be achieved.

[0023] On the other hand, by pressing the interdental cleaner 1 against the teeth along the short side direction D1, which is less likely to bend, the covering portion 21 and the protruding portion 22 can be pressed more firmly against the side surface of the teeth, improving the cleaning effect. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both ease of insertion between the teeth and improved cleaning effect.

[0024] Furthermore, because the cross section of tip region 14a on the tip side of shaft portion 12 relative to base region 14b is set to be substantially circular, tip region 14a can bend in any direction intersecting the axis of shaft portion 12. Therefore, in addition to the ease of bending base region 14b in thickness direction D3 described above, the degree of freedom of bending of shaft portion 12 when interdental cleaner 1 is inserted between teeth can be further improved.

[0025] Next, a manufacturing method of the interdental cleaner 1 will be described below. First, a molten synthetic resin material is filled into the filling space of a first mold that resembles the outer shape of the base part 10 to mold the base part 10. The base part 10 is then removed from the first mold. The molded base part 10 is then placed in the filling space of a second mold that resembles the outer shape of the soft part 20. The filling space is filled with molten elastomer to mold the soft part 20. In this way, the interdental cleaner 1 is molded. The interdental cleaner 1 is then removed from the second mold.

[0026] In the interdental cleaner 1 as described above, the covering portion 21 and the protruding portion 22 may cover not only the tip region 14a of the shaft portion 12 but also the base region 14b. The first outer dimension X1 and the second outer dimension X2 may be set not only to the base region 14b but also to a part or all of the tip region 14a. Furthermore, the first outer dimension X1 may be set in the thickness direction D3, and the second outer dimension X2, which is smaller than the first outer dimension X1, may be set in the short direction D1.

[0027] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The elements of the embodiments, as well as their arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, etc., are not limited to those shown as examples and can be changed as appropriate. In addition, configurations shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1: interdental cleaning tool, 10: base material, 11: base, 12: shaft, 20: soft part, D1: short side direction (first direction), D3: thickness direction (second direction), X1: first outer dimension, X2: second outer dimension

Claims

1. A base member having a base and a shaft extending straight from the base; a soft portion that covers at least a portion of a tip region of the shaft portion that extends from the tip to the base end with a soft member; The shaft portion includes a tip portion including the tip region and a base end region extending from the tip region toward the base end, and a transition portion extending continuously from the base portion in a flat plate shape and tapering in such a way that the width of the flat plate surface decreases toward the tip portion, the tip region has a perfect circular shape in a cross section of the shaft portion perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft portion, an interdental cleaning tool in which the base end region is rectangular in a cross section of the shaft portion perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft portion, has a first outer dimension defined in a first direction and a second outer dimension defined in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and smaller than the first outer dimension, and is formed so that the shape of the tip region approaches the shape of the transition portion as it moves from the tip region side to the transition portion side.

2. The interdental cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the first outer dimension is defined in a direction parallel to a plane extending along the base.

3. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a ratio of the first outer dimension to the second outer dimension (second outer dimension / first outer dimension) is 0.20 to 0.

98.

4. The interdental cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the second outer dimension is 1.0 mm or more.

5. The interdental cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the soft portion defined in the axial direction of the shaft portion is 15 mm or more.

6. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1 , wherein in the base end region, the ratio of the first outer dimension to the second outer dimension (second outer dimension / first outer dimension) gradually decreases from the tip region side toward the transition portion side.

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