toothbrush

Abstract

To provide a toothbrush in which a replaceable brush part hardly comes off in brushing while maintaining the thinness of a head part of the toothbrush.SOLUTION: A brush part 4 includes a base plate 5, a bristle part 6 provided on the surface of the base plate 5, and engaging parts 7 formed on the base plate 5. The engaging parts 7 are formed in both end parts of the base plate 5 in the width direction of the toothbrush. A head part 1 of a toothbrush body 3 is provided with engaged parts 8 that are engaged with the engaging parts 7 formed in the brush part 4 at positions corresponding to the engaging parts 7 respectively. The brush part 4 can be attached to the toothbrush body 3 when the engaging parts 7 are engaged with the engaged parts 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a toothbrush. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 describes a toothbrush with a detachable brush head attached to the end of the handle. With this toothbrush, if the bristles become deformed or soiled, the toothbrush's functionality can be restored by replacing the brush head. Furthermore, the handle can be reused without being discarded, which contributes to reducing waste. Furthermore, since only the brush head needs to be stored for replacement, this contributes to reducing storage space.

[0003] In this toothbrush, a protrusion is provided at the center of the back surface of the brush head, and the brush head is attached to the handle by fitting this protrusion onto the tip of the handle.

[0004] However, with this type of structure, there is a risk that the force acting on the toothbrush when brushing (particularly from the side of the toothbrush) may cause the brush head to tip over and become detached from the handle. To avoid this, it is possible to increase the attachment strength by making the protrusions larger, but this would increase the thickness of the brush head and the tip of the handle, which may degrade the feel and functionality of the toothbrush.

[0005] Patent Document 2 below describes a toothbrush in which the brush head is attached to the end of the handle by multiple protrusions formed in a row in the center of the width direction. Even with this technology, it is thought that there is a risk that the brush head may be unable to withstand the force (overturning force) acting on the toothbrush during brushing, causing it to overturn and become detached from the handle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3047839 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-296221 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The inventor conducted extensive research into a structure that would maintain the thinness of the toothbrush head while preventing the replaceable brush head from coming off during brushing, and discovered that this could be achieved by devising an attachment structure for the brush head.

[0008] The present invention has been made in light of the above findings, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush in which the replaceable brush head is less likely to come off during brushing while maintaining a thin head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention can be expressed as the inventions described in the following items.

[0010] (Item 1) A toothbrush having a toothbrush body having a head and a handle, and a brush part detachably attached to the head, The brush portion has a substrate, bristle portions provided on a surface of the substrate, and an engagement portion formed on the substrate, The engaging portions are formed at both ends of the base plate in the width direction of the toothbrush, The head of the toothbrush body is provided with engaged portions that engage with the engaging portions formed on the brush part, at positions corresponding to the engaging portions, and the brush part can be attached to the toothbrush body by engaging the engaging portions with the engaged portions. toothbrush.

[0011] (Item 2) the bristles are provided on the surface of the substrate at a predetermined distance from the periphery of the substrate, The engaging portion is provided so as to be continuous with the substrate within the range of the predetermined distance. Item 1. The toothbrush according to item 1.

[0012] (Item 3) the engaging portion has two engaging pieces provided on one side in the width direction of the toothbrush and two engaging pieces provided on the other side, The engaged portion has two engaging recesses provided on one side in the width direction of the toothbrush and two engaging recesses provided on the other side. The toothbrush according to item 1 or 2.

[0013] (Item 4) A notch into which a user's fingers can be inserted is formed between the head and the base plate at a position between the two engaging recesses provided on one side in the width direction of the toothbrush and at a position between the two engaging recesses provided on the other side. The toothbrush according to item 3.

[0014] (Item 5) A through hole is formed in the widthwise center of the head portion, penetrating the head portion in the thickness direction. The toothbrush according to item 1 or 2. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the technology of the present invention, it is possible to provide a toothbrush in which the replaceable brush part is less likely to come off during brushing, while maintaining the thinness of the head part of the toothbrush. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of a toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the toothbrush body of the toothbrush of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a brush part of the toothbrush of FIG. 1. [Figure 4]2 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 taken along the engaging portion. FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 taken along a cutout portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the main part of a toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the toothbrush body of the toothbrush of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] (First embodiment) A toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] (Configuration of the toothbrush of the first embodiment) The toothbrush of this embodiment is composed of a toothbrush body 3 having a head 1 and a handle 2, and a brush head 4 that is detachably attached to the head 1 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0019] (Brush part) The brush part 4 is composed of a substrate 5, bristle parts 6 provided on the surface of the substrate 5, and engagement parts 7 formed on the substrate 5 (see FIG. 3).

[0020] The bristles 6 are provided on the surface of the substrate 5 at a predetermined distance from the periphery (side edge) of the substrate 5 (see FIG. 4).

[0021] The engagement portions 7 are formed at both ends of the base plate 5 in the width direction of the toothbrush. The engagement portions 7 are provided so as to continue from the base plate 5 within a predetermined distance (i.e., the distance from the periphery of the base plate 5 to the installation position of the bristle portion 6) (see FIG. 4).

[0022] Specifically, the engaging portion 7 of this embodiment is composed of two engaging pieces 71 provided on one side in the width direction of the toothbrush and two engaging pieces 72 provided on the other side (see FIG. 3).

[0023] The substrate 5 of this embodiment can be made of a hard and elastically deformable material, for example, a synthetic resin such as polypropylene.

[0024] The bristles 6 of this embodiment can be made of ordinary materials such as nylon and saturated polyester resin.

[0025] (Toothbrush body) The head 1 of the toothbrush body 3 is provided with engaged portions 8 that engage with the engaging portions 7 formed on the brush head 4, at positions corresponding to the engaging portions 7. Specifically, the engaged portions 8 of this embodiment include two engaging recesses 81 provided on one side in the width direction of the toothbrush and two engaging recesses 82 provided on the other side (see FIG. 2).

[0026] In the toothbrush of this embodiment, the brush head 4 can be attached to the toothbrush body 3 by engaging the engaging portion 7 with the engaged portion 8. Specifically, the inner surface of the engaging portion 7 and the outer surface of the engaged portion 8 in this embodiment are formed with interlocking concave and convex shapes, and the brush head 4 can be engaged with the toothbrush body 3 by pushing it toward the toothbrush body 3.

[0027] At a position between the two engagement recesses 81 on one side of the toothbrush body 3 in the width direction and at a position between the two engagement recesses 82 on the other side, a notch 11 into which the user can insert their fingers is formed between the head 1 and the base 5 (see Figures 2 and 5).

[0028] The underside of the notch 11 (the underside in FIG. 5) is an inclined surface that gradually rises from the inside to the outside of the head 1 of the toothbrush body 3. This forms a gap between the notch 11 and the base plate 5 into which the user can insert the tip of their finger.

[0029] (Method of using the toothbrush of this embodiment) When using the toothbrush of this embodiment, toothpaste (toothpaste or cream) is applied to the bristle portion 6, and the teeth and gums are brushed, just as with conventional toothbrushes. In the toothbrush of this embodiment, the engaging portion 7 provided on the side of the base plate 5 of the brush head 4 engages with the engaged portion 8 provided on the head 1 of the toothbrush body 3, so that the toothbrush body 3 can continue to hold the brush head 4 against the lateral force (overturning force) acting on the toothbrush during brushing. In other words, the risk of the brush head 4 becoming detached from the toothbrush body 3 during brushing can be reduced.

[0030] Furthermore, if an attempt were made to increase the strength of the engagement portion while forming the engagement portion in the center of the substrate 5, the substrate 5 would become thick because a thickness would be necessary to attach the bristle portion 6 to the substrate 5. As a result, the feel and functionality of the toothbrush would deteriorate. In contrast, in this embodiment, the engagement portion 7 is formed on the side of the substrate 5 (specifically, in the peripheral area where the bristles 6 are not attached), so even if the strength of the engagement portion 7 is increased, the thickness of the substrate 5 can be kept relatively thin, and as a result, the feel and functionality of the toothbrush can be maintained in good condition.

[0031] When replacing the brush head 4, the user inserts the tip of their finger into the notch 11 in the head 1 and applies force to separate the brush head 4 from the head 1. This causes the engaging portion 7 to deform slightly due to its own elasticity, disengaging it from the engaged portion 8. This allows the brush head 4 to be removed from the head 1.

[0032] In this embodiment, the provision of the notch 11 has the advantage that the brush head 4 can be easily removed from the head 1 even when the strength of the engaging portion 7 is increased. Furthermore, by increasing the strength of the engaging portion 7, the risk of the brush head 4 coming off the toothbrush body 3 during brushing can be further reduced.

[0033] With the toothbrush of this embodiment, if the bristle portion 6 becomes deformed or soiled, replacing the brush head 4 can restore the toothbrush's functionality. Furthermore, the toothbrush body 3 can be reused without being discarded, which contributes to reducing waste. Another advantage is that only the brush head 4 needs to be stored for replacement, which contributes to reducing storage space.

[0034] (Second embodiment) Next, the configuration of a toothbrush according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. In the description of this second embodiment, components that are basically common to the toothbrush of the first embodiment described above are assigned the same reference numerals to simplify the description.

[0035] In the toothbrush of the second embodiment, a through hole 12 is formed in the widthwise center of the head 1, penetrating the head 1 in the thickness direction. Although the number of through holes 12 is three in this embodiment, the number is not limited to three and may be one, two, or four or more. In the illustrated example, the shape of the through hole 12 is rectangular in plan view, but it may also be circular.

[0036] The toothbrush of the second embodiment facilitates brushing while pressing the head 1 with a finger from the rear side (the upper side in FIG. 7). The inventors have found that brushing while pressing the head 1 with a finger from the rear side can improve brushing effectiveness. On the other hand, toothpaste and the like tend to adhere to the rear side of the head 1, making it easy for fingers to slip. In this embodiment, toothpaste penetrates into the through-holes 12, reducing the amount of toothpaste that gets between the fingers and the head 1. In addition, the periphery of the opening of the through-holes 12 acts as a non-slip surface for the fingers. Due to these effects, in this embodiment, when the head 1 is pressed with a finger from the rear side, the fingers are less likely to slip, making brushing easier.

[0037] Other configurations and advantages of the toothbrush of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, so further detailed description will be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 head 11 Notch 12 Through holes 2 Handle part 3 Toothbrush body 4 Brush section 5. Substrate 6 hair part 7 Engagement part 71·72 Engagement piece 8 Engaged part 81·82 Engagement recess

Claims

1. A toothbrush having a toothbrush body having a head and a handle, and a brush part detachably attached to the head, The brush portion has a substrate, bristle portions provided on a surface of the substrate, and an engagement portion formed on the substrate, The engaging portions are formed at both ends of the base plate in the width direction of the toothbrush, On the side surfaces of the head of the toothbrush body, engaged portions that engage with the engaging portions formed on the brush part are provided at positions corresponding to the engaging portions, and the brush part can be attached to the toothbrush body by engaging the engaging portions with the engaged portions, the engaging portion has two engaging pieces provided on one side in the width direction of the toothbrush and two engaging pieces provided on the other side, the engaged portion has two engaging recesses on one side surface in the width direction of the toothbrush, the engaging recesses being open to the outside, and two engaging recesses on the other side surface, the engaging recesses being open to the outside, the two engaging pieces provided on the one side surface are spaced apart from each other, and the two engaging pieces provided on the other side surface are spaced apart from each other, The two engaging recesses provided on the one side are spaced apart from each other, and the two engaging recesses provided on the other side are also spaced apart from each other, By pushing the brush part in the thickness direction of the toothbrush body, the engaging piece is housed inside the engaging recess, thereby fixing the engaging piece to the engaging recess, A notch into which a user's fingers can be inserted is formed between the head and the base plate at a position between the two engaging recesses provided on one side in the width direction of the toothbrush and at a position between the two engaging recesses provided on the other side. toothbrush.

2. the bristles are provided on the surface of the substrate at a predetermined distance from the periphery of the substrate, The engaging portion is provided so as to be continuous with the substrate within the range of the predetermined distance. The toothbrush of claim 1.

3. The inner surface of each engaging piece in the engaging portion and the outer surface of each engaging recess in the engaged portion are provided with concave and convex shapes that interlock with each other, and the engaging pieces and the engaging recesses can be engaged by pushing the brush portion in the thickness direction of the toothbrush body, and the engagement between the engaging pieces and the engaging recesses can be released by pulling the brush portion in the thickness direction of the toothbrush body, allowing the brush portion to be removed from the toothbrush body. The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A plurality of through holes are formed in the width direction central portion of the head portion, penetrating the head portion in the thickness direction, The surface on the back side of the head between the plurality of through holes forms a contact area that can be pressed by the fingertips of a user, and when the user brushes their teeth while pressing the contact area with their fingertips, the opening edges of the plurality of through holes prevent the fingertips from slipping. The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2.

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