Resin floss strip

Abstract

To provide a new resinous band-shaped floss that can be easily inserted between teeth, can prevent tangling and breakage, and can effectively scrape off dirt between teeth. [Solution] A band-shaped resin floss 10 for cleaning between teeth, the band-shaped resin floss 10 comprises a plurality of interdental insertion sections 12 that can be inserted between teeth formed in the width direction, and a plurality of scraping sections 14 that are thicker than the interdental insertion sections 12 and are arranged adjacent to the interdental insertion sections 12 in the longitudinal direction, and scrape off dirt between the teeth with a back-and-forth movement after the interdental insertion sections 12 are inserted between the teeth.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral care tool for cleaning between teeth, and more particularly to a resin strip-shaped floss having an interdental insertion portion and a scraping portion of different thicknesses. [Background technology]

[0002] Dental floss has been widely used as an oral care tool for cleaning between teeth. For example, floss made of solid or hollow floss has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-100153 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional floss has problems with getting tangled or breaking between teeth during use, and it is difficult to efficiently scrape away dirt that has accumulated between teeth, resulting in problems with cleaning efficiency.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a new resin strip-shaped floss that can be easily inserted between teeth, can prevent tangling and breakage, and can effectively scrape away dirt between teeth. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of intensive research to solve the above problems, the inventor discovered that a resin strip-shaped floss having an interdental insertion section and a scraping section of different thicknesses prevents the floss from tangling or breaking, improving the user experience and effectively removing dirt between the teeth, thereby completing the present invention.

[0007] That is, the present invention is as follows. [1] A band-shaped resin floss for cleaning between teeth, a plurality of interdental insertion portions formed in the width direction and insertable between teeth; A plurality of scraping portions that are arranged adjacent to the interdental insertion portion in the longitudinal direction and are thicker than the interdental insertion portion, and scrape off dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portion is inserted between the teeth; A resin strip-shaped floss characterized by comprising: [2] The resin strip-shaped floss described in [1] above, wherein the interdental insertion portion is a portion formed by stretching the resin. [3] The resin strip-shaped floss described in [1] or [2] above, characterized in that the thickness of the interdental insertion portion is 0.01 to 0.05 mm. [4] The resin strip-shaped floss according to any one of [1] to [3] above, characterized in that the thickness of the scraping portion is 0.02 to 0.07 mm.

[0008] [5] A resin strip floss according to any one of [1] to [4] above, characterized in that the resin is at least one resin selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polystyrene, and polytetrafluoroethylene. [6] The resin strip-shaped floss according to any one of [1] to [5] above, characterized in that a cut line is formed in the scraping portion. [7] The resin strip-shaped floss according to any one of [1] to [6] above, characterized in that it has a multilayer structure in which resin films are layered. [8] A resin strip-shaped floss as described in [7] above, characterized in that it has a folded portion at the end of the width direction that is inserted between the teeth, where the resin film is folded to form a multi-layer structure. [9] A band-shaped resin floss for cleaning between teeth, stretching the strip-shaped resin in the longitudinal direction to form a plurality of interdental insertion portions at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, which can be inserted between the teeth formed in the width direction; The portion that is adjacent to the interdental insertion portion in the longitudinal direction and maintains its thickness is used as a scraping portion that scrapes off dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portion is inserted between the teeth. A resin strip-shaped floss characterized by:

[10] A method for manufacturing a strip-shaped resin floss, characterized by including an interdental insertion portion / scrapering portion integral molding process, in which a strip-shaped resin is stretched longitudinally to form multiple interdental insertion portions at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, which can be inserted between teeth formed in the width direction, and portions adjacent to the interdental insertion portions in the longitudinal direction that maintain their thickness serve as scraping portions that scrape dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portions are inserted between the teeth, and the interdental insertion portions and scraping portions are alternately formed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The resinous band-shaped floss of the present invention can be easily inserted between teeth, and can effectively scrape away dirt between the teeth while preventing tangling and breakage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram of a resin strip-shaped floss according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the resin band-shaped floss shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the resin band-shaped floss shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the resin strip-shaped floss shown in FIG. 1 is used. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention is a strip-shaped resin floss for cleaning between teeth, characterized by having a plurality of interdental insertion portions formed in the width direction that can be inserted between teeth, and a plurality of scraping portions that are thicker than the interdental insertion portions and are arranged adjacent to the interdental insertion portions in the longitudinal direction, and which scrape off dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portions are inserted between the teeth.

[0012] The resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention is easy to insert between teeth and does not require excessive force, reducing the risk of damaging the gums. It also prevents tangling or breaking during use, providing a stable feel. Furthermore, by moving the scraping part back and forth, it can efficiently scrape away dirt and plaque that has accumulated between teeth, significantly improving cleaning efficiency.

[0013] The back-and-forth movement in this invention refers to the movement of moving the floss inserted between the teeth back and forth along the interdental direction. Specifically, the user holds both ends of the floss with their fingers, inserts it between the teeth, and then moves it alternately forward and backward in the longitudinal direction to remove dirt while pressing the scraping part against the tooth surface.

[0014] [Resin material] Examples of resin materials of the present invention include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc. These resins may be used alone or in combination. The resin material of the present invention has appropriate flexibility and strength, improving the durability and usability of the floss. It also ensures safety in the oral cavity. Additives and fillers may be blended as needed to improve the durability and processability of the resin.

[0015] [Resin strip floss] The resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention is a resin floss for interdental cleaning formed in a strip extending along the longitudinal direction. The resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention has a plurality of interdental insertion portions and scraping portions, and when a scraping portion becomes soiled, that portion can be cut off and the unused portion can be used. In other words, the resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention has a plurality of interdental insertion portions and scraping portions formed continuously, allowing for efficient interdental cleaning. Furthermore, the resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention is preferably formed as an integral piece. "Formed as an integral piece" is not limited to being molded as an integral piece, but also includes being integrated by adhesion or welding.

[0016] [Interdental insertion part] The interdental insertion portion is a portion configured to be inserted between teeth, and a plurality of interdental insertion portions are provided. The thickness of the interdental insertion portion is preferably 0.001 to 0.2 mm, more preferably 0.005 to 0.1 mm, and even more preferably 0.01 to 0.05 mm. By adjusting the thickness within this range, insertion between teeth is easy while sufficient durability is ensured.

[0017] The longitudinal length of the interdental insertion part is preferably 1 to 30 mm, more preferably 3 to 20 mm, and even more preferably 5 to 10 mm. The width and length of the interdental insertion part is preferably 5 to 50 mm, more preferably 7 to 30 mm, and even more preferably 10 to 20 mm.

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the interdental insertion portion is, for example, a portion formed by stretching a resin, which simplifies the manufacturing process.

[0019] [Scraping section] The scraping portion is disposed adjacent to the interdental insertion portion in the longitudinal direction. The scraping portion is formed thicker than the interdental insertion portion and is configured to be able to scrape off dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after insertion. Furthermore, the scraping portion has appropriate rigidity due to its thickness, and can efficiently and effectively remove dirt by catching it at the part where its thickness increases from the boundary with the interdental insertion portion.

[0020] The thickness of the scraping part is thicker than the interdental insertion part, and is preferably 0.005 to 0.5 mm, more preferably 0.01 to 0.3 mm, and even more preferably 0.02 to 0.07 mm. By forming it within this range, sufficient rigidity and efficient dirt removal performance are ensured.

[0021] The longitudinal length of the scraping portion is preferably 1 to 40 mm, more preferably 5 to 25 mm, and even more preferably 10 to 15 mm. The width of the scraping portion is preferably 1 to 50 mm, more preferably 5 to 30 mm, and even more preferably 10 to 15 mm.

[0022] (Cutting line) The resin floss strip of the present invention may be cut to a predetermined length, but it is preferable that it can be cut to a predetermined length as needed during use. In this case, it is preferable that the resin floss strip of the present invention has a cut line formed on the scraping portion. This allows the user to easily cut off the soiled portion and immediately use a new portion. Examples of the cut line include dotted perforations and shallow groove-like cut lines.

[0023] The resin strip floss of the present invention may be composed of a single resin film, or may be composed of a multilayer structure in which resin films are stacked, and is preferably composed of a multilayer structure in which resin films are stacked.By being composed of a multilayer structure, strength and durability are improved, and breakage and deformation during use can be suppressed.Methods for forming a multilayer structure include a method of stacking multiple resin films, and a method of folding a single resin film to form a multilayer structure. In the case of a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of resin films are superimposed, in an embodiment in which the entire floss is integrally formed, it is sufficient that any one of the resin films is integrally formed.

[0024] When the resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention is configured to have a multilayer structure by folding a resin film, it is preferable that at least one end in the width direction has a folded portion configured to have a multilayer structure by folding the resin film. That is, it is preferable that the end on the side that is inserted between the teeth in the width direction (for example, the lower side in Figure 4) has a folded portion configured to have a multilayer structure by folding the resin film. This can prevent the floss from breaking or deforming when inserted between the teeth. It can also further reduce the risk of damaging the gums when inserted between the teeth.

[0025] Other embodiments of the resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention include, for example, a strip-shaped resin floss for interdental cleaning, in which the strip-shaped resin is stretched longitudinally to form multiple interdental insertion sections at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, which can be inserted between teeth formed in the width direction, and the sections adjacent to the interdental insertion sections in the longitudinal direction, which maintain their thickness, are used as scraping sections that scrape off dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion sections are inserted between the teeth. The resin material, the thickness of the interdental insertion portion, the thickness of the scraping portion, etc. are the same as those of the above-mentioned resin strip-shaped floss.

[0026] The strip-shaped resin of this embodiment can be used to form interdental insertion portions and scraping portions by adjusting the resin material and manufacturing process depending on the intended use. Flexibility allows for smooth insertion of the interdental insertion portion, while strength improves the durability of the scraping portion. By stretching the strip-shaped resin in the longitudinal direction, multiple interdental insertion portions and scraping portions are formed alternately in the width direction. This stretching method can be done manually or using a mechanical device.

[0027] <Method for producing resin band-shaped floss of the present invention> Next, a method for producing the resin band-shaped floss of the present invention will be described. The method for producing the resin band-shaped floss of the present invention is characterized by having an interdental insertion portion / scrapering portion molding step for forming the interdental insertion portion and scraping portion of the above-mentioned resin band-shaped floss.

[0028] The molding manner of the interdental insertion portion and the scraping portion is not particularly limited, and examples include a manner in which an interdental insertion portion is formed by stretching a strip of resin in the longitudinal direction to make it thinner, and a scraping portion that maintains its thickness, a manner in which a scraping portion is formed by stacking resin in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined interval to make it thick, and an interdental insertion portion that maintains its thickness, and a manner in which a separate interdental insertion portion and scraping portion are connected to form them.

[0029] The preferred method for manufacturing the resin strip floss of the present invention is to form an interdental insertion portion by stretching the strip of resin in the longitudinal direction to make it thinner, and a scraping portion that maintains its thickness.Specifically, for example, the strip of resin is stretched in the longitudinal direction to form a plurality of interdental insertion portions that can be inserted between the teeth formed in the width direction, at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction, and the portion that maintains its thickness adjacent to the interdental insertion portion in the longitudinal direction serves as a scraping portion that scrapes dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portion is inserted between the teeth, and an embodiment can be mentioned that includes an interdental insertion portion / scraping portion integral molding process in which the interdental insertion portion and the scraping portion are alternately formed.

[0030] By using the manufacturing method of the present invention, the interdental insertion portion can be formed thin and flexible, while the scraping portion can be formed thick and rigid. Furthermore, by molding them as a single unit, the resin strip-shaped floss exhibits high precision and stable performance.

[0031] The strip-shaped resin of the present invention can be a ready-made product or a manufactured product. When a manufactured product is used, the strip-shape molding process can include, for example, a process of melting the resin using an extruder and continuously molding it into a strip through a mold. The resin material can be the same as that described above for the resin strip-shaped floss. It can also be formed by stacking multiple resin films molded into a strip shape.

[0032] The interdental insertion portion / scrapering portion integral molding process involves stretching a strip of resin longitudinally to form multiple interdental insertion portions at predetermined longitudinal intervals that can be inserted between teeth formed in the width direction. The interdental insertion portions and scraping portions are alternately formed at portions of the interdental insertion portions that maintain their thickness longitudinally adjacent to the interdental insertion portions, serving as scraping portions that scrape dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portions are inserted between the teeth. Examples of methods for this process include stretching a portion of the strip of resin to form the interdental insertion portion and leaving the unstretched portion as the scraping portion, or stretching a portion of the strip of resin to form the interdental insertion portion and stretching the remaining portion of the resin with a force weaker than that of the interdental insertion portion to form the scraping portion. The interdental insertion portions may be formed by stretching the strip of resin manually or using a mechanical device.

[0033] The method for producing the resin strip floss of the present invention may include a finishing step as needed, which may include a cutting step for cutting the formed strip floss to a predetermined length, a step for marking a cut line, or a step for winding the strip floss onto a take-up reel.

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the resin strip-shaped floss of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0035] Here, Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a resin band-shaped floss according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the resin band-shaped floss shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the resin band-shaped floss shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the use state of the resin band-shaped floss shown in Fig. 1.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1, the resin strip-shaped floss 10 of the present invention includes an interdental insertion portion 12 that can be inserted between teeth S, and a scraping portion 14 that is disposed adjacent to the interdental insertion portion 12 in the longitudinal direction and that scrapes off dirt from the interdental space S by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portion 12 is inserted between teeth S. The interdental insertion portion 12 and the scraping portion 14 are formed in a continuous strip-like shape, so that the entire floss is continuous along the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a tear line 16 is formed in the scraping portion 14. The base end of the resin strip-shaped floss 10 is wound around a take-up reel 18.

[0037] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the interdental insertion portion 12 has a thickness of 0.01 mm, a longitudinal length of 10 mm, and a width of 10 mm. The interdental insertion portion 12 is highly flexible and can be easily inserted between the teeth S. The scraping portion 14 is thicker than the interdental insertion portion 12, having a thickness of 0.02 mm, a longitudinal length of 15 mm, and a width of 15 mm. The scraping portion 14 has appropriate rigidity, so that after being inserted between the teeth S, it can be moved back and forth to efficiently scrape off dirt.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, when in use, the user holds the resin strip-shaped floss 10 of the present invention between their fingers and inserts the interdental insertion portion 12 into the interdental space S. After insertion, the scraping portion 14 can be moved back and forth to scrape away food debris, plaque, and other debris adhering to the interdental space S. Furthermore, because the resin strip-shaped floss 10 is provided with multiple scraping portions 14, the soiled portion can be cut off along the cutting line 16, allowing the unused portion to be used continuously.

[0039] Next, an example of the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described. First, polypropylene is used as the resin material, and after melting it in an extruder, it is molded into a continuous strip of resin having a width of 15 mm in the longitudinal direction through a mold (strip molding step).

[0040] Next, a portion of the strip-shaped resin is stretched to a thickness of 0.01 mm to form the interdental insertion portion 12. Furthermore, scraping-off portions 14 are formed on both longitudinal sides of the interdental insertion portion 12 without stretching, maintaining the thickness. This results in a molded product in which the interdental insertion portions 12 and the scraping-off portions 14 are arranged alternately (interdental insertion portion / scraping-off portion integral molding process). The interdental insertion portion 12 can be molded by stretching the strip-shaped resin manually or using a mechanical device.

[0041] Next, the base end of the resin strip-shaped floss 10 is wound around the take-up reel 18. Note that it is not essential to wind the floss around the take-up reel 18, and the floss may be provided in a form adjusted to the length required for use. In the finishing process, a cut line 16 can be provided in the scraping portion 14 as needed (finishing process).

[0042] As described above, the manufacturing method of the present invention allows for accurate formation of a thin and flexible interdental insertion portion 12 and a thick scraping portion 14. Furthermore, by providing a cutting line 16, the soiled portion can be easily cut off, allowing for efficient use of the unused portion.

[0043] The resin strip-shaped floss 10 of the present invention combines the flexibility of the interdental insertion portion 12 with the rigidity of the scraping portion 14, providing excellent cleaning performance and ease of use between the teeth S. This allows for more efficient and effective interdental cleaning than conventional floss threads. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The resinous floss strip of the present invention can be used as an oral care tool and is therefore industrially useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10 Resin floss strips 12 Interdental insertion part 14 scraping section 16 Cutting lines 18 Take-up reel S Interdental

Claims

1. A band-shaped resin floss for cleaning between teeth, a plurality of interdental insertion portions formed in the width direction and insertable between teeth; A plurality of scraping portions that are arranged adjacent to the interdental insertion portion in the longitudinal direction and are thicker than the interdental insertion portion, and scrape off dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion portion is inserted between the teeth; Equipped with The longitudinal length of the interdental insertion portion is 1 to 30 mm, and the longitudinal length of the scraping portion is 1 to 40 mm, The interdental insertion portion is a portion formed by stretching a resin. A resin strip-shaped floss characterized by:

2. 2. The resin strip-shaped floss according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the interdental insertion portion is 0.01 to 0.05 mm.

3. 3. The resinous band-shaped floss according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the scraping portion is 0.02 to 0.07 mm.

4. 3. The resin strip-shaped floss according to claim 1, wherein the resin is at least one resin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polystyrene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. 3. The resin strip-shaped floss according to claim 1, wherein a cut line is formed in the scraping portion.

6. 3. The resin strip floss according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a multi-layer structure in which resin films are layered one on top of the other.

7. a strip-shaped resin is stretched in the longitudinal direction to form a plurality of interdental insertion sections at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, which can be inserted between teeth formed in the width direction, and portions that maintain a thickness adjacent to the interdental insertion sections in the longitudinal direction serve as scraping sections that scrape off dirt between the teeth by moving back and forth after the interdental insertion sections are inserted between the teeth, and the interdental insertion sections and scraping sections are alternately formed; The longitudinal length of the interdental insertion portion is 1 to 30 mm, and the longitudinal length of the scraping portion is 1 to 40 mm. A method for manufacturing a resin strip-shaped floss.

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