INTERDENTAL CLEANING TOOL

Abstract

The interdental cleaning tool includes a base portion including a shaft portion that extends from a base end side to a top end side and gradually becomes thinner from the base end side to the top end side, a top end side cleaning portion including a top end side body covering a top end side portion of the shaft portion and top end side bristles protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the top end side body, and a base end side cleaning portion including a base end side body covering a portion of the shaft portion in the base end side than the top end side body and base end side bristles protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the base end side body. The top end side cleaning portion has a higher hardness than the base end side cleaning portion.

Claims

1. An interdental cleaning tool comprising: a base portion including a shaft portion that extends from a base end side to a top end side so as to be insertable in an interdental space and gradually becomes thinner from the base end side to the top end side; a top end side cleaning portion including a top end side body covering a top end side portion of the shaft portion, and a plurality of top end side bristles protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the top end side body; and a base end side cleaning portion including a base end side body covering a portion of the shaft portion further in the base end side than the top end side body, and a plurality of base end side bristles protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the base end side body, wherein the top end side cleaning portion has a higher hardness than the base end side cleaning portion.

2. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the top end side cleaning portion has a hue different from a hue of the base end side cleaning portion.

3. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the top end side cleaning portion is made of a composite material including elastomer and a reinforcing material.

4. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 2, wherein the top end side cleaning portion is made of a composite material including elastomer and a reinforcing material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an illustrative interdental cleaning tool.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an illustrative interdental cleaning tool 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the interdental cleaning tool 1 will be described.

[0017] In FIG. 1, a term “base end side” and a term “top end side” are given. The term “base end side” indicates a side close to fingers of a user when the interdental cleaning tool 1 is held by the user. The term “top end side” indicates the opposite side of the base end side. A structure of the interdental cleaning tool 1 will be described using these terms as reference. The terms given in FIG. 1 are used only for clarifying the description and not by means of limiting the interpretation.

[0018] The interdental cleaning tool 1 includes a base portion 10 of which base end side can be held by fingers of a user and top end side is insertable in an approximately triangular interdental space (hereinafter referred to as “triangular space”) by the user, and a cleaning portion 40 that covers a top end portion of the base portion 10. The base portion 10 provides the interdental cleaning tool 1 with a suitable hardness to prevent the interdental cleaning tool 1 from unnecessarily bending when inserted in the triangular space. The cleaning portion 40 covering the top end portion of the base portion 10 is made of a material having a lower hardness than the base portion 10, and prevents the hard base portion 10 from directly making contact with the oral tissues (that is, the teeth and the gum forming the triangular space). The cleaning portion 40 is formed to directly contact the oral tissues and scrape out the deposit from the oral tissues. The top end portion of the base portion 10 covered by the cleaning portion 40 having a suitable hardness as described above serves as a core material that prevents the cleaning portion 40 from unnecessarily bending when the interdental cleaning tool 1 is inserted in the triangular space.

[0019] The base portion 10 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polyacetal. In the embodiment, the base portion 10 is made of polypropylene.

[0020] To describe the shape of the base portion 10, a central axis CL extending from the base end side to the top end side (or in the opposite direction) and a perpendicular axis IA that is perpendicular to the central axis CL are illustrated in FIG. 1. Hereinafter in the description, the extending direction of the central axis CL is referred to as “axial direction”.

[0021] The base portion 10 includes a grip portion 30 disposed in the base end side, and a shaft portion 20 having a bar shape extending from the grip portion 30 to the top end side along the central axis CL. The grip portion 30 has a form of a thin plate having a large dimension in the extending direction of the perpendicular axis IA, and a small dimension in a virtual axis (not shown) perpendicular to both the perpendicular axis IA and the central axis CL to be held by the fingers of the user. The shaft portion 20 extending from the grip portion 30 to the top end side along the central axis CL has a form of a bar having a thickness insertable in the triangular space. The shaft portion 20 is longer than the grip portion 30 in the axial direction. An end portion at which the shaft portion 20 is connected to the grip portion 30 is hereinafter referred to as “base end portion 28a”. An end portion of the shaft portion 20 opposite to the base end portion 28a is hereinafter referred to as “insertion end portion 22a”. The shaft portion 20 gradually becomes thinner from the base end portion 28a to the insertion end portion 22a.

[0022] A predetermined section of the shaft portion 20 from the insertion end portion 22a to the base end side is covered by the cleaning portion 40. The section covered by the cleaning portion 40 is hereinafter referred to as “covered section 22”. The section of the shaft portion 20 other than the “covered section 22” is an exposed section 28 which is not covered by the cleaning portion 40. In the embodiment, the covered section 22 has approximately the same length in the axial direction as the exposed section 28.

[0023] The cleaning portion 40 covering the covered section 22 of the shaft portion 20 is formed of a top end side cleaning portion 40a covering a predetermined section of the shaft portion 20 from the insertion end portion 22a to the base end side, and a base end side cleaning portion 40b covering a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 20 further in the base end side than the top end side cleaning portion 40a. A length ratio of the top end side body 40a to the base end side cleaning portion 40b is preferably from 1:0.2 to 1.3. When the top end side body 40a is longer than the base end side body 40b, the interdental cleaning tool 1 can move back and forth by a longer length through the interdental space without receiving a large resistive three. Meanwhile, when the base end side body 40b is longer than the top end side body 40a, a length used for effectively removing the deposit from the interdental space becomes longer. In the embodiment, the top end side cleaning portion 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b each constitute approximately a half of the covered section 22 in the axial direction.

[0024] Each of the top end side cleaning portion 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b may be molded with an elastomer material such as styrene elastomer, silicone, olefinic elastomer, and polyester elastomer or a composite material of an elastomer material containing a small amount of a reinforcing material such as glass fibers and talc. The composite material preferably contains the reinforcing material by 3% by weight to 50% by weight, inclusive, more preferably 5% by weight to 35% by weight, inclusive. However, the top end side cleaning portion 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b are molded with different molding materials different in hardness (that is, elastomer material or a composite material).

[0025] The top end side cleaning portion 40a is molded with a molding material having a higher hardness than the base end side cleaning portion 40b. A hardness ratio of the molding materials molded into the top end side cleaning portion 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b (=(hardness of top end side cleaning portion 40a)/(hardness of base end side cleaning portion 40b)) is preferably from 1.1 to 3, more preferably from 1.2 to 2, further preferably from 1.3 to 1.5, and particularly preferably from 1.3 to 1.4. The top end side cleaning portion 40a is preferably molded with a molding material having a Shore hardness of A2 to A90, more preferably a molding material having a Shore hardness of A15 to A85, and particularly preferably a molding material having a Shore hardness of A20 to A80. The base end side cleaning portion 40b is preferably molded with a molding material having a Shore hardness of A1 to A50, more preferably a molding material having a Shore hardness of A10 to A45, and particularly preferably a molding material having a Shore hardness of A15 to A40. The Shore hardness of each of the top end side cleaning portion 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b may be adjusted by changing the type of elastomer or by changing the added amount and/or the type of the reinforcing material. For example, the reinforcing material may be added to the elastomer material used for molding the top end side cleaning portion 40a by a larger amount than the reinforcing material to be added to the elastomer material used for molding the base end side cleaning portion 4013 to provide the top end side cleaning portion 40a with a higher hardness than the base end side cleaning portion 40b.

[0026] The top end side cleaning portion. 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b may be different not only in hardness but also in hue. The hue of the top end side cleaning portion 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b may be determined from a view point of fine appearance of the interdental cleaning tool 1. For example, the top end side cleaning portion 40a may be molded with a pink molding material while the base end side cleaning portion 40b may be molded with a green molding material.

[0027] The top end side cleaning portion 40a includes a top end side body 42a covering the top end side portion of the shaft portion 20 (that is, a portion of the shaft portion 20 extending from the insertion end portion 22a by a length of approximately half the length of the covered section 22), and a plurality of top end side bristles 48a each having a shape of a thin projection protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface of the top end side body 42a. The top end side body 42a prevents a direct contact between the oral tissues and the hard shaft portion 20. Each of a plurality of top end side bristles 48a protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface of the top end side body 42a elastically deforms while the top end side portion of the shaft portion 20 is passing the triangular space and recovers the shape after the top end side portion has passed the triangular space. As a result, each of the top end side bristles 48a can scrape out the deposit from the oral tissues. The lengths of a plurality of top end side bristles 48a are set so that the top end side bristle 48a disposed further in the base end side has a larger protruding amount from the top end side body 42b.

[0028] The base end side cleaning portion 40b is disposed further in the base end side than the top end side body 42a from which a plurality of top end side bristles 48a protrude. The base end side cleaning portion 40b includes a base end side body 42b covering a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 20 further in the base end side than the top end side body 42a, and a plurality of base end side bristles 48b each having a shape of a thin projection protruding outward from the base end side body 42b. The base end side body 42b forms a covering layer (an elastomer layer or a composite material layer) which is continuous in the axial direction from a layer (an elastomer layer or a composite material layer) of the top end side body 42a, and prevents a direct contact between the oral tissues and the hard shaft portion 20 in the rest of the section of the covered section 22. Like the top end side bristles 48a described above, when the base end side body 42b is inserted in the triangular space, each of a plurality of base end side bristles 48b protruding outward from the base end side body 42b elastically deforms and recovers the shape to scrape out the deposit from the oral tissues. Like a plurality of top end side bristles 48a, the lengths of a plurality of base end side bristles 48b are set so that the base end side bristle 48b disposed further in the base end side has a larger protruding amount from the base end side body 42b. The base end side bristle 48b disposed at the most top end side is longer than the top end side bristle 48a disposed at the most base end side. Thus, the protruding amount of the whole brush portion including the base end side bristles 48b and the top end side bristles 48a decreases from the base end side to the top end side.

[0029] A plurality of base end side bristles 48b molded with a molding material having a hardness lower than a plurality of top end side bristles 48a as described above is more susceptible to elastic deformation than a plurality of top end side bristles 48a. Thus, each of a plurality of base end side bristles 48b can bend so as to pass through the narrow space between the outer circumferential surface of the base end side body 42b and the oral tissues. As a result, the section in the axial direction where a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is provided can easily pass through the triangular space. The shaft portion 20 is thinner in the section in the axial direction where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a is provided than the section in the axial direction where a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is provided. Thus, a relatively wide space is created between the outer circumferential surface of the top end side body 42a and the oral tissues, the outer circumferential surface of the top end side body 42a covering the section in the axial direction of the shaft portion 20 where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a is provided. Since a wide space is created between the outer circumferential surface of the top end side body 42a and the oral tissues, the section in the axial direction where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a having a relatively high hardness is provided can easily pass through the triangular space. That is, the whole section where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a and a plurality of base end side bristles 48b are provided can be used for cleaning the triangular space.

[0030] As described above, for the section where a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is provided, a relatively narrow space is created between the outer circumferential surface of the base end side body 42b and the oral tissues. Thus, when a plurality of base end side bristles 48b protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface of the base end side body 42b is deformed to bend, the base end side bristles 48b can still tightly contact the oral tissues. As a result, a plurality of base end side bristles 48b can more effectively scrape out the deposit from the oral tissues.

[0031] A plurality of top end side bristles 48a which is harder than a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is less susceptible to deformation than a plurality of base end side bristles 48b when in contact with the oral tissues. Thus, a plurality of top end side bristles 48a also tightly contacts the oral tissues, and can effectively scrape out the deposit from the oral tissues. That is, the whole section where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a and a plurality of base end side bristles 48b are provided is capable of effectively scraping out the deposit from the oral tissues.

[0032] Since the shaft portion 20 is thin in the section where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a is provided, the top end side portion of the interdental cleaning tool 1 is easily inserted in the corner of the triangular space. Thus, the section where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a is provided easily enters the corner of the triangular space. That is, the section where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a is provided is suitably used for cleaning the corner of the triangular space. Meanwhile, since the shaft portion 20 is thicker in the section where a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is provided than the section where a plurality of top end side bristles 48a is provided, the section of the interdental cleaning tool 1 where a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is provided tightly contacts the side surfaces of the teeth forming the triangular space. Thus, the section where a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is provided is suitably used for cleaning the side surfaces of the teeth.

[0033] Since the molding material used for molding a plurality of base end side bristles 48b is different from the molding material used for molding a plurality of top end side bristles 48a not only in hardness but also in hue, the difference in hardness between a plurality of top end side bristles 48a and a plurality of base end side bristles 48b can be visually recognized.

[0034] In the embodiment described above, the hue of the top end side body 42a and a plurality of top end side bristles 48a is different from the hue of the base end side body 42b and a plurality of base end side bristles 48b. However, these hues may be the same.

[0035] In the embodiment described above, the top end side body 42a and the base end side body 42b form the molding material layers which are continuous in the axial direction. However, the top end side body and the base end side body may be formed at an interval in the axial direction.

[0036] In the embodiment described above, the top end side body 42a and the base end side body 42b each cover a part of axially extending section of the shaft portion 20 (that is, the covered section 22). However, the top end side body and the base end side body may cover the entire length of the shaft portion.

[0037] In the embodiment described above, the length of the top end side body 42a in the axial direction is approximately the same as the length of the base end side body 42b in the axial direction. However, the lengths of the top end side body and the base end side body may be determined so that the length ratio along the axial direction of the top end side body to the base end side body takes a different value.

[0038] In the embodiment described above, the grip portion 30 continuing from the shaft portion 20 covered by the base end side body 42b and the top end side body 42a has a form of a thin plate. However, the grip portion may have a different form that can be held by the fingers of the user.

[0039] In the embodiment described above, the cleaning portion contributing to cleaning of the interdental space has two portions different in hardness (that is, the top end side cleaning portion 40a and the base end side cleaning portion 40b). However, the cleaning portion may have more than two portions that are different in hardness.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0040] The structure of the embodiment described above can suitably be used in a field of oral health.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0041] 1 interdental cleaning tool

[0042] 10 base portion

[0043] 20 shaft portion

[0044] 40a top end side cleaning portion

[0045] 40b base end side cleaning portion

[0046] 42a top end side body

[0047] 42b base end side body

[0048] 48a top end side bristle

[0049] 48b base end side bristle