Interdental cleaning swab and interdental cleaning tool having the same

Abstract

To provide a swab for interdental cleaning whose cotton body can enter an interdental part and can sufficiently collect dirt, and an interdental cleaner having the swab for interdental cleaning.SOLUTION: Provided are a swab for interdental cleaning 11 including a shaft body 12 and a cotton body 14 being an aggregate of a plurality of microfibers 13 held in the shaft body 12, and an interdental cleaner 15 including the swab for interdental cleaning 11. The shaft body 12 includes a twofold wire 17 sandwiching the microfibers 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning swab and an interdental cleaning tool having the same, and more particularly to an interdental cleaning swab having a cotton body that is an aggregate of microfibers, and an interdental cleaning tool having the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are cotton swabs formed by wrapping and adhering fibers around the tip of a paper shaft. The cotton body obtained by wrapping the fibers is formed into a teardrop shape, a rugby ball shape, a sphere shape, or the like (Patent Document 1).

[0003] In such conventional cotton swabs, the cotton body from the tip to the vicinity of the tip can absorb liquids, semi-solids, mixtures of liquids and solids, powders, etc. Therefore, when using conventional cotton swabs, a user can hold the shaft with their fingers and apply the cotton body to parts of the body such as the ears, nose, or mouth to clean dirt adhering to these parts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-35457 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional cotton swabs are composed of fibers wound around the shaft from tip to near the tip, allowing them to clean dirt within the area where the cotton can come into direct contact. However, because the shaft is made of paper shaped like a rod, a certain diameter must be ensured to ensure the shaft has a certain strength. Therefore, if the diameter of a conventional cotton swab is too large, it will not be able to clean small areas of the body. For example, to clean the inside of the gaps between teeth and between the teeth and gums, the diameter of the cotton wound around the paper shaft is too large. Furthermore, even if the tip of the cotton is placed against the opening between the teeth, the area of ​​this tip is so large that the fibers cannot penetrate between the teeth. For these reasons, it is difficult to thoroughly clean between teeth with conventional cotton swabs.

[0006] Furthermore, since the cotton body is provided from the tip of the shaft to the vicinity of the tip, the amount of bristles contained in this area of ​​the cotton body is limited. For example, in order for the cotton body to clean dirt such as semi-solids like plaque or a mixture of liquids and solids like food debris, it is necessary to capture the dirt scraped out by the cotton body between the teeth without it remaining between the teeth. On the other hand, if the amount of bristles on the cotton body is small, it will not be able to capture enough dirt.

[0007] Furthermore, in conventional cotton swabs, the cotton body is made of fibers wound around a shaft, so if the adhesion of each fiber to the shaft is weak, there is a risk that the cotton body will come off the shaft.

[0008] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an interdental cleaning swab and an interdental cleaning tool in which the cotton body can penetrate between the teeth and can sufficiently capture dirt. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] (1) The present invention provides an interdental cleaning swab having a shaft and a cotton body that is an assembly of multiple microfibers held by the shaft, wherein the shaft has a folded wire that sandwiches each of the microfibers, and an interdental cleaning tool that has the interdental cleaning swab. Also, there may be provided an interdental cleaning swab having a shaft body and a cotton body that is an assembly of a plurality of microfibers held by the shaft body, wherein the cotton body contains the microfibers that are bent in various directions, each of the plurality of microfibers having a thickness of 0.5 decitex or more and less than 2.0 decitex, and the shaft body has a folded wire that sandwiches each of the microfibers.

[0010] That is, the interdental cleaning swab of the present invention is configured such that the microfibers contained in the cotton body are held by the wire, so the shaft can be formed with a small diameter. This in turn allows the diameter of the interdental cleaning swab to be reduced accordingly. This allows the cotton body to penetrate between the teeth, making it easier to clean the inside of the spaces between the teeth using the interdental cleaning swab and interdental cleaning tool of the present invention.

[0011] Furthermore, since multiple microfibers are sandwiched and held by the wire, a larger number of microfibers can be sandwiched by extending the range of microfibers held in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. This allows a large amount of cotton to be held, and dirt can be sufficiently captured by the interdental cleaning swab and interdental cleaning tool of the present invention.

[0012] Furthermore, since the cotton body with a large amount of bristles can get into between the teeth, by moving the shaft back and forth in its longitudinal direction, dirt between the teeth can be efficiently cleaned.

[0013] Furthermore, because each microfiber is sandwiched between the folded wire, there is little risk of the cotton body coming off the shaft body.

[0014] (2) The cotton body may be formed in a rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft body, and the shaft body may be disposed inside the cotton body as viewed in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] That is, because the cotton body is formed in a rod shape, it can be made small in diameter while still holding a large number of microfibers. This allows the cotton body to easily enter between teeth. In addition, because the shaft body is placed inside the cotton body, the cotton body can surround the shaft body from all sides, allowing the entire inside of the space between the teeth to be cleaned.

[0016] (3) Each of the microfibers may be sandwiched between the folded wires at a substantially central position in the fiber length direction.

[0017] In other words, because the microfiber is clamped at approximately the center, it is less likely that the microfiber will come loose from the folded wire and become detached from the interdental cleaning swab. Also, because both ends of the microfiber in the cotton body are positioned approximately equidistant from the shaft, these ends can be placed against the inside of the interdental spaces to efficiently clean between the teeth.

[0018] (4) The wire may be made of metal, and at least a portion of the shaft may have a multiple helix structure in which the folded wire is twisted together.

[0019] That is, because the folded wire is twisted to form a multiple helix structure, the microfibers can be sandwiched so that they face in any direction when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. As a result, each microfiber can be positioned in all directions when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. In addition, the tips of all the microfibers can clean the entire inside of the interdental spaces evenly.

[0020] In addition, because the shaft is made of twisted metal wire, the multiple helical structure can be formed with a small diameter, which makes it easier for the cotton pad to penetrate between the teeth. Moreover, because the metal wire does not return to its original shape after being twisted, it is possible to reduce the shedding of microfibers.

[0021] Although a metal wire is used, the cotton surrounding the wire makes it difficult for the wire covered by the cotton to directly touch areas inside the oral cavity, which reduces the risk of the wire irritating the user with galvanic current and also reduces the risk of it injuring areas inside the oral cavity.

[0022] (5) The microfibers may be cut to a uniform shape, and the cotton body may be formed into a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0023] That is, by forming the cotton body into a roughly cylindrical shape, it can be easily moved back and forth along its center line, which allows the cotton body to efficiently clean the inside of the spaces between teeth. Also, since the cotton body is formed into a roughly cylindrical shape by cutting and aligning each microfiber, it can be easily processed.

[0024] (6) Alternatively, the microfibers may be cut to a uniform shape, and the cotton body may be formed into a substantially truncated cone shape.

[0025] That is, by forming the cotton body into a roughly truncated cone shape, the diameter of the cotton body varies depending on the position along the center line of the roughly truncated cone. Therefore, the strength of friction between the inside of the interdental space and the cotton body varies depending on how deeply the interdental cleaning swab is inserted. This allows the user to adjust the amount of force applied to the inside of the interdental space by the cotton body. In addition, the cotton body is formed into a roughly truncated cone shape by cutting and aligning each microfiber, making it easy to process.

[0026] (7) Alternatively, the microfibers may be cut to length, and a portion of the cotton body in the longitudinal direction may be formed with a larger diameter at one end of the shaft than at the other end of the shaft relative to the center line of the shaft.

[0027] That is, there are portions where the diameter of the cotton body varies depending on the position along the centerline of the shaft. Therefore, in such portions, the strength of friction between the inside of the interdental spaces and the cotton body varies depending on how deeply the interdental cleaning swab is inserted. Furthermore, the resistance received from the interdental spaces when inserted into or removed from the spaces varies depending on the shape of the cotton body. This allows the user to adjust the amount of force the cotton body applies to the inside of the spaces between the teeth. Furthermore, the manufacturer can adjust the amount of resistance generated when inserting or removing the swab. Furthermore, the cotton body is easily processed because it is shaped by cutting and aligning each microfiber.

[0028] (8) A gripping portion having a shaft thicker than the folded wire may be provided at one end of the shaft body.

[0029] That is, the user can easily operate the interdental cleaning tool by gripping the thick handle with their fingers, and can also finely adjust the force of the cotton body on the inside of the spaces between the teeth. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] Thus, the present invention provides an interdental cleaning swab and an interdental cleaning tool in which the cotton body can penetrate between the teeth, efficiently clean the dirt between the teeth, and sufficiently capture the dirt. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1(a) is a front view of an interdental cleaning swab according to a first embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a right side view of the interdental cleaning swab of FIG. 1(a), and (c) is a right side view of an interdental cleaning tool having these interdental cleaning swabs. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the interdental cleaning swab taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 1(b). [Figure 3]1(a) is a right side view of the interdental cleaning swab of FIG. 1(b) before the folded wire is twisted together, and FIG. 1(b) is a right side view of the same folded wire after the folded wire is twisted together. [Figure 4] 1(b) is a photograph of the interdental cleaning swab observed from the side. [Figure 5] 1(a) and 1(b) are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the interdental cleaning swab in FIG. 1(b) with the microfibers fluttering backward and forward, respectively. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the interdental cleaning swab taken along the line DD shown in FIG. 1(a). [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a right side view of an interdental cleaning tool having an interdental cleaning swab according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a right side view of an interdental cleaning tool having an interdental cleaning swab according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of an interdental cleaning swab according to the present invention and an interdental cleaning tool having the interdental cleaning swab according to this first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), reference numeral 11 denotes the interdental cleaning swab. The interdental cleaning swab 11 has a shaft 12 and a cotton mass 14, which is an assembly of multiple microfibers 13 held by the shaft 12. In FIG. 1(c), reference numeral 15 denotes the interdental cleaning tool. The interdental cleaning tool 15 has the interdental cleaning swab 11 and a grip 16. In FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c), the arrow F indicates the front of the interdental cleaning swab 11 and the interdental cleaning tool 15, and the arrow B indicates the rear of these. FIG. 1(a) shows a front view of the interdental cleaning swab 11, and FIGS. 1(b) and 1(c) show right side views of the interdental cleaning swab 11 and the interdental cleaning tool 15, respectively. The cotton body 14 is rod-shaped and formed into a roughly cylindrical shape with a center line extending in the front-to-rear direction. The front portion of the shaft 12 extends inside the cotton body 14 along the center line of the cotton body 14, and the rear portion protrudes rearward from the cotton body 14. The plan, bottom, and left side (not shown) of the interdental cleaning swab 11 and interdental cleaning tool 15 are each represented generally in the same manner as these right side views.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the interdental cleaning swab 11 taken along the line AA in Fig. 1(b). In Fig. 2, the direction of arrow U indicates the upper side of the interdental cleaning swab 11, and the direction of arrow D indicates the lower side of the interdental cleaning swab 11. The direction of arrow L indicates the left side of the interdental cleaning swab 11, and the direction of arrow R indicates the right side of the interdental cleaning swab 11.

[0034] The shaft 12 has a folded wire that sandwiches each microfiber 13. Of this folded wire 17, the portion on one end side of the folded portion is called the first wire portion 17a, and the portion on the other end side of the folded portion is called the second wire portion 17b. For example, in FIG. 2, the cross section shown on the left side is the cross section of the first wire portion 17a, and the cross section shown on the right side is the cross section of the second wire portion 17b. Each microfiber 13 is sandwiched between the first wire portion 17a and the second wire portion 17b. The folded wire 17 is made of a material such as austenitic stainless steel, martensitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, Co-Co alloy, tungsten, or titanium alloy, which is used for spring materials, etc.

[0035] Furthermore, at least a portion of the shaft 12 forms a multiple helix structure in which the folded wire 17 is twisted together. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the right side of the folded wire 17. In the interdental cleaning swab 11, each microfiber 13 (not shown) is sandwiched between the first wire portion 17a and the second wire portion 17b. In the example of Figure 3(a), the folded wire 17 is folded in half at the folded portion 17c, and then, before being twisted together, the first wire portion 17a is placed on the upper side and the second wire portion 17b is placed on the lower side. The microfibers 13 are then sandwiched between these portions from the left and right. Then, as shown in Figure 3(b), the folded wire 17 is twisted together by rotating it multiple times around the center line C1. As a result, the folded wire 17 forms a multiple helix structure. This center line C1 corresponds to the center line of the entire shaft 12.

[0036] Although FIG. 3(b) shows the folded wire 17 twisted over its entire length, the folded wire 17 may be twisted only at its front end, for example.

[0037] For example, split and split type microfibers that are split and split after composite spinning can be used as the microfibers 13. Furthermore, among the split and split type microfibers, by using peeled split type microfibers having a cross section in which polyester polymer and nylon polymer are bonded together in a radial or parallel pattern, it is possible to sandwich a polyester microfiber and a nylon microfiber together between the folded wires 17. By employing such peeled split type microfibers, the microfibers 13 used can have a thickness of 0.5 decitex or more and less than 2.0 decitex.

[0038] Each microfiber 13 is sandwiched at approximately the center in the fiber length direction by the folded wire 17. After being sandwiched by the folded wire 17, the cotton body 14 is trimmed to have an approximately cylindrical shape whose center line coincides with the center line C1 of the shaft body 12.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a photograph showing a side view of the interdental cleaning swab 11 with the microfibers 13 cut to an even length.

[0040] The cotton body 14 is a rod-shaped assembly of microfibers 13 held in place by a folded wire 17 that is twisted together to form a multiple helix structure. The microfibers 13 are made of synthetic resin and are extremely thin, allowing them to bend flexibly. When the front end of the cotton body 14 is placed between the teeth and then moved forward to pass between the teeth, the cotton body 14 bends backward, allowing it to flap backward as shown in the longitudinal cross section of Figure 5(a). As a result, the diameter of the cotton body 14 decreases as the microfibers 13 bend, allowing it to move more easily between the teeth than before flap. Furthermore, the cotton body 14 absorbs saliva from the oral cavity, causing the microfibers 13 to adhere to each other, further reducing its diameter. These features allow the user to easily move the cotton body 14 back and forth between the teeth, enabling efficient interdental cleaning.

[0041] Furthermore, when the user moves the cotton body 14 backward, each microfiber 13 bends forward, allowing the cotton body 14 to flap forward as shown in the longitudinal section of Figure 5(b). This reduces the diameter of the cotton body 14, similar to when moving it forward, allowing it to move inside the spaces between the teeth. As a result, the user can easily move the cotton body 14 back and forth and pull it out from between the teeth. The same effect can be achieved by absorbing saliva from the oral cavity.

[0042] The center line C2 shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b) represents the center line of the cotton body 14. The center line C2 of the cotton body 14 coincides with the center line C1 of the shaft body. The imaginary lines in the figures represent the cotton body 14 in a state before each microfiber 13 is bent backward or forward. The solid lines represent the state after the cotton body 14 has bent backward or forward and its diameter has become smaller.

[0043] The inventors prototyped several types of interdental cleaning swabs 11 and found that the diameter of each of the thinnest wire portions 17a, 17b, which had sufficient strength, was 0.2 mm, and that the diameter of the shaft 12 when using these wire portions 17a, 17b to form a multiple helix structure was 0.4 mm. Then, the microfibers 13 were sandwiched between the shaft 12, and the cotton mass 14 before flapping was approximately cylindrical, with its center line C2 coinciding with the center line C1 of the shaft 12, and the microfibers 13 were trimmed and shaped to a diameter of 2.0 mm. As a result, the inventors found that the diameter of the microfibers 13 when bent and flapping back and forth was 0.6 mm. The length of each microfiber 13 after trimming was 2 mm to 4 mm.

[0044] In contrast, the gap between a person's teeth is known to be approximately 0.6 mm to 1.8 mm. In accordance with this gap size, the "Voluntary Standards for Interdental Brushes," enacted by the All Japan Brush Industrial Cooperative Association on August 1, 1999, stipulates that the minimum standard size interdental brush must have a minimum hole diameter of less than 0.8 mm, and that the maximum standard size interdental brush must have a minimum hole diameter of 1.8 mm or more. Therefore, even if the gap between teeth is 0.6 mm, the interdental cleaning swab 11 with the cotton body 14 folded down can easily clean the inside of the gap.

[0045] The inventors also discovered that when a shaft 12 with a diameter of 0.6 mm is used and the microfibers 13 are trimmed and shaped so that the diameter of the cotton mass 14 is 3.0 mm, the diameter of the cotton mass 14 when it is fluttering back and forth is 1.8 mm. Therefore, even if the gap between teeth is 1.8 mm, the microfibers 13 of the interdental cleaning swab 11 with the fluttering cotton mass 14 can simply scrub the inside of the gap between the teeth to clean. Therefore, it is preferable that the diameter of the cotton mass 14 before fluttering is 2.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less. When the diameter of the cotton mass 14 is 3.0 mm, the length of each microfiber 13 after trimming is 3 mm to 6 mm.

[0046] Next, the soft microfibers 13 are bent in various directions in the cotton body 14. Therefore, for example, one microfiber 13 bends in the vertical or horizontal direction and comes into contact with and intersects with another adjacent microfiber 13.

[0047] 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the interdental cleaning swab 11 taken along the line DD in FIG. 1(a). Here, too, the soft microfibers 13 are bent in various directions in the cotton body 14. Therefore, as shown in this figure, each microfiber 13 bends in the front-to-back or up-to-down direction and comes into contact with and intersects with the adjacent microfibers 13.

[0048] As described above, some of the microfibers 13 come into contact with each other and cross each other, thereby becoming entangled, and the cotton body 14 can easily capture dirt between the teeth between these entangled microfibers 13.

[0049] Furthermore, since the cotton body 14 is formed by cutting each microfiber 13 into a generally cylindrical shape, the exposed tips 13a of some of the microfibers 13 are exposed on the surface of the cotton body 14, as shown in Figures 2 and 6. Therefore, the exposed tips 13a of the cotton body 14 come into contact with the inner surface of the spaces between the teeth, allowing the cotton body 14 to efficiently scrape dirt adhering to the inner surface of the spaces between the teeth. As a result, the interdental cleaning swab 11 captures and entangles the dirt scraped from the inner surface of the spaces between the teeth and the dirt floating between the teeth between the microfibers 13. The user can then remove the interdental cleaning swab 11 and the dirt collected thereon from between the teeth.

[0050] Furthermore, because each microfiber 13 is held in place by the twisted folded wire 17 within the cotton body 14, the microfibers 13 will not move from their implanted positions even if external force is applied during use. As a result, the cotton body 14 always covers the shaft body 12, and the folded wire 17 is unlikely to come into direct contact with parts of the oral cavity.

[0051] The inventors also produced prototype interdental cleaning swabs 11 under various conditions, including the number of microfibers 13 contained in the cotton body 14. Specifically, the number of microfibers 13 sandwiched in the multiple helical structure per unit length in the front-to-rear direction of the shaft 12 was changed. The inventors also prepared interdental cleaning swabs 11 in which the length of the cotton body 14 in the front-to-rear direction was 8 mm to 20 mm. It was discovered that when 100,000 or more microfibers 13 are sandwiched per 1 mm length of the shaft 12, the microfibers 13 cannot be fully contained between the first wire portion 17a and the second wire portion 17b unless they are arranged in two or more rows in the diameter direction of the shaft 12. If more than 100,000 microfibers 13 per mm are forcibly sandwiched, the folded wire 17 will not properly form a multiple helical structure, and the shaft 12 will not form a straight line.

[0052] On the other hand, it was found that when fewer than 250 microfibers 13 are sandwiched per 1 mm of length, the density of the microfibers 13 in the cotton body 14 is low, and the softness felt in the oral cavity when the density is high is not achieved. It was also found that the entanglement effect obtained by capturing dirt between the teeth cannot be exerted. Furthermore, it was found that the sandwiched microfibers 13 are sparse in the linear direction of the twisted folded wire 17, and each microfiber 13 is less susceptible to frictional force from adjacent microfibers 13, and therefore easily come off from the folded wire 17. For these reasons, it is preferable to sandwich the number of microfibers 13 in the range of 250 or more and less than 100,000 per 1 mm of length of the shaft 12.

[0053] As described above, the interdental cleaning swab 11 is configured so that the microfibers 13 contained in the cotton body 14 are held by the folded wire 17, allowing the shaft 12 to be formed with a small diameter. This in turn allows the diameter of the interdental cleaning swab 11 to be reduced accordingly. This allows the cotton body 14 to enter between the teeth, making it easier to clean the inside of the spaces between the teeth with the interdental cleaning swab 11 and the interdental cleaning tool 15 that has this interdental cleaning swab 11.

[0054] Furthermore, since multiple microfibers 13 are sandwiched and held by the folded wire 17, it is possible to hold a larger number of microfibers 13 by extending the range in which the microfibers 13 are held in the front-to-back direction. This allows the cotton body 14 with a large amount of bristles to be held, and dirt can be sufficiently captured by the interdental cleaning swab 11 and the interdental cleaning tool 15.

[0055] Moreover, since the cotton body 14 with a large amount of bristles can get into between the teeth, by reciprocating the shaft body 12 in the front-rear direction, dirt between the teeth can be efficiently cleaned.

[0056] Furthermore, since each microfiber 13 is sandwiched between the folded wire 17, there is little risk that the cotton body 14 will come off the shaft body 12.

[0057] In addition, because the cotton body 14 is formed in a rod shape, it can be formed with a small diameter while holding a large number of microfibers 13. This allows the cotton body 14 to easily enter between teeth. Furthermore, because the folded wire 17 sandwiches each microfiber 13 midway from one exposed tip 13a to the other exposed tip 13a, the shaft body 12 is positioned inside the cotton body 14 when viewed from the front to back. This allows the cotton body 14 to surround the shaft body 12 from its entire circumference, allowing it to clean the entire inside of the space between the teeth where it is inserted.

[0058] Furthermore, because each microfiber 13 is pinched, particularly at approximately the center position, from one exposed tip 13a to the other exposed tip 13a, the microfibers 13 are less likely to slip out of the folded wire 17 and become detached from the interdental cleaning swab 11. Furthermore, because the exposed tips 13a of the microfibers 13 of the cotton body 14 are positioned approximately equidistant from the shaft 12, each exposed tip 13a forms a curved surface on the surface of the cotton body 14, which can be applied to the inside of the spaces between teeth to efficiently clean the spaces between the teeth.

[0059] Furthermore, because the folded wire 17 is twisted to form a multiple helix structure, the microfibers 13 can be sandwiched so as to face in any direction when viewed from the front-to-back direction of the interdental cleaning swab 11. As a result, each microfiber 13 can be positioned in all directions when viewed from the front-to-back direction. Each exposed tip 13a can then thoroughly clean the entire inside of the interdental spaces.

[0060] Furthermore, because the shaft 12 is formed by twisting together the folded metal wire 17, the multiple helical structure can be formed with a small diameter, which allows the cotton body 14 to more easily fit between the teeth. Moreover, because the folded metal wire 17 does not return to its original shape after being twisted together, it is possible to reduce the shedding of the microfibers 13.

[0061] Furthermore, even though a metal folded wire 17 is used, the folded wire 17 is surrounded by the cotton body 14, so the part of the wire covered by the cotton body 14 is unlikely to come into direct contact with parts of the oral cavity. This reduces the risk that the folded wire 17 will stimulate the user with a galvanic current, and also reduces the risk of injuring parts of the oral cavity.

[0062] Furthermore, since the cotton body 14 is formed in a roughly cylindrical shape, it can be easily moved back and forth in the front and back directions. This allows the cotton body 14 to efficiently clean the inside of the spaces between the teeth. Moreover, since the cotton body 14 is formed into a roughly cylindrical shape by cutting and aligning the individual microfibers 13, it can be easily processed.

[0063] The interdental cleaning swab 11 according to the first embodiment described above can be combined with a gripping portion 16 to form an interdental cleaning tool 15. That is, as shown in FIG. 1(c), the interdental cleaning tool 15 includes the interdental cleaning swab 11 at the tip end of the shaft 12, and the gripping portion 16, which is thicker than the folded wire 17, at the rear end of the shaft 12. The gripping portion 16 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP) or saturated polyester (PET). The folded wire 17 and the gripping portion 16 are fixed together by insert molding the rear end of the folded wire 17 when the gripping portion 16 is molded by injection molding, for example.

[0064] With this configuration, the user can easily operate the interdental cleaning tool 15 by gripping the thick-shafted gripping portion 16 with their fingers. Also, the force of the cotton body 14 applied to the inside of the interdental spaces can be finely adjusted.

[0065] [Second embodiment] A second embodiment of the interdental cleaning swab 21 of the present invention and an interdental cleaning tool 25 having the interdental cleaning swab 21 according to this second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 7. The interdental cleaning swab 21 has a shaft 22 and a cotton mass 24 which is an assembly of multiple microfibers 23 held by the shaft 22. The interdental cleaning tool 25 has the interdental cleaning swab 21 and a gripping portion 26. The cotton mass 24 is rod-shaped and formed in a substantially truncated cone shape with a center line C2 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0066] The shaft body 22 has a folded wire 27 that sandwiches each microfiber 23. After each microfiber 23 is sandwiched by the folded wire 27, the cotton body 24 is trimmed to have a generally truncated cone shape in which the center line C2 of the cotton body 24 coincides with the center line of the shaft body 22. The cotton body 24 is formed into a generally truncated cone shape in which the diameter of the rear bottom surface 24b is larger than the diameter of the front bottom surface 24a.

[0067] The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0068] Due to the above-described configuration, the cotton body 24 is formed into a roughly truncated cone shape, and the diameter of the cotton body 24 varies depending on the position in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the strength of friction between the inside of the interdental space and the cotton body changes depending on how deeply the interdental cleaning swab 21 and interdental cleaning tool 25 of the present invention are inserted. This allows the user to adjust the amount of force applied to the inside of the interdental space by the cotton body 24. Furthermore, the cotton body 24 is formed into a roughly truncated cone shape by cutting and aligning the individual microfibers 23, making it easy to process.

[0069] [Third embodiment] A third embodiment of the interdental cleaning swab 31 of the present invention and an interdental cleaning tool 35 including the interdental cleaning swab 31 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8 . The interdental cleaning swab 31 includes a shaft 32 and a cotton mass 34, which is an aggregate of multiple microfibers 33 held by the shaft 32. The interdental cleaning tool 35 includes the interdental cleaning swab 31 and a grip 36. The cotton mass 34 is rod-shaped and includes, from a front end face 34a to a rear end face 34b, a front truncated conical portion 38a, a cylindrical portion 39, and a rear truncated conical portion 38b, each of which is substantially truncated conically. The front truncated conical portion 38a, the cylindrical portion 39, and the rear truncated conical portion 38b all share a common centerline C2 in the front-to-rear direction and are held by the common shaft 32. In addition, imaginary bottom surfaces 34c, 34d where the front and rear truncated cone-shaped portions 38a, 38b contact the cylindrical portion 39 are the same size as the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 39. As a result, the front truncated cone-shaped portion 38a, the cylindrical portion 39 and the rear truncated cone-shaped portion 38b are continuous in the front-rear direction and integrally constitute the cotton body 34.

[0070] Here, each of the truncated cone-shaped portions 38a, 38b, which are a part of the cotton body 34 in the front-rear direction, is formed so that the imaginary bottom surfaces 34c, 34d have a larger diameter than the front and rear end surfaces 34a, 34b. In the front truncated cone-shaped portion 38a, the front end surface 34a is located more forward, and the imaginary bottom surface 34c is located more rearward. In the rear truncated cone-shaped portion 38b, the imaginary bottom surface 34d is located more forward, and the rear end surface 34b is located more rearward.

[0071] The shaft body 32 has a folded wire 37 that sandwiches each microfiber 33. After each microfiber 33 is sandwiched by the folded wire 37, the cotton body 34 is trimmed to have an approximately truncated cone shape or an approximately cylindrical shape with its center line C2 coinciding with the center line of the shaft body 32.

[0072] The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0073] Due to the above-described configuration, there are portions where the diameter of the cotton body 34 varies depending on the position in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, in these portions, the strength of friction between the inside of the interdental spaces and the cotton body 34 changes depending on how deeply the interdental cleaning swab 31 and interdental cleaning tool 35 are inserted. Furthermore, the resistance received from the interdental spaces when inserted into or removed from the spaces varies depending on the shape of the cotton body 34. This allows the user to adjust the amount of force the cotton body 34 applies to the inside of the spaces. Furthermore, the manufacturer can adjust the amount of resistance generated when inserting or removing the cotton body 34. Furthermore, the cotton body 34 is easily processed because it is formed into this shape by aligning and trimming each microfiber 33.

[0074] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0075] For example, in the example of FIG. 3(b), the folded wire is twisted so that each wire portion advances backward while twisting counterclockwise when viewed from the front, but it may be twisted in the opposite direction.

[0076] Although the cotton body has been shown as having a cylindrical shape, a truncated cone shape, or a shape that combines these shapes, the corners of these solids may be rounded, for example, the bottom of a cylinder may be bulged out like a hemisphere. Alternatively, in the case of a shape that combines a truncated cone portion and a cylindrical portion, the boundary between the truncated cone portion and the cylindrical portion does not have to be clear, for example, the boundary may have a rounded shape.

[0077] The substantially truncated cone shape shown in the second embodiment may be reversed, with the rear bottom surface having a smaller diameter than the front bottom surface, or the three-dimensional object shown in the third embodiment may have only one truncated cone portion on either the front or rear side. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in an interdental cleaning swab or an interdental cleaning tool having the same, for cleaning between a user's teeth. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 11,21,31 Interdental cleaning swabs 12, 22, 32 shaft 13,23,33 Microfiber 13a Expressing tip 14,24,34 cotton body 15,25,35 Interdental cleaning tools 16,26,36 Gripping part 17, 27, 37 Bifold wire (bifold wire) 17a First wire section 17b Second wire section 38a Front truncated cone 38b Posterior truncated cone 39 Cylindrical part

Claims

1. A cotton swab for interdental cleaning having a shaft body and a cotton body which is an assembly of a plurality of microfibers held by the shaft body, The cotton body contains the microfibers bent in various directions, Each of the plurality of microfibers has a thickness of 0.5 decitex or more and less than 2.0 decitex, The shaft has a bifurcated wire that sandwiches each of the microfibers. A cotton swab for cleaning between teeth.

2. The cotton body is formed in a rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft body, The shaft body is disposed on the inner side of the cotton body when viewed in the longitudinal direction. The interdental cleaning swab according to claim 1 .

3. Each microfiber is sandwiched between the folded wires at a substantially central position in the fiber length direction. The interdental cleaning swab according to claim 2 .

4. the wire is made of metal; At least a portion of the shaft forms a multiple helix structure in which the folded wire is twisted together. The interdental cleaning swab according to claim 3 .

5. The microfibers are cut and aligned, and the cotton body is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. The interdental cleaning swab according to claim 4.

6. The microfibers are cut to a uniform shape, and the cotton body is formed into a substantially truncated cone shape. The interdental cleaning swab according to claim 4.

7. The microfibers are cut to a uniform size, and a portion of the cotton body in the longitudinal direction is formed so that one end of the shaft body has a larger diameter than the other end of the shaft body with respect to the center line of the shaft body. The interdental cleaning swab according to claim 4.

8. 8. A cotton swab for interdental cleaning according to claim 1, further comprising a gripping portion formed at one end of the shaft body and having a shaft thickness greater than that of the folded wire. An interdental cleaning tool characterized by:

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