US20030140442A1

US20030140442A1 - Toothbrush head

Info

Publication number: US20030140442A1
Application number: US10/341,579
Authority: US
Inventors: Yoshihiro Aoyama
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-31
Filing date: 2003-01-14
Publication date: 2003-07-31
Also published as: DE10303231A1

Abstract

Provided is a toothbrush head which enables a single toothbrush to cope with any individual user's oral condition. The toothbrush head has bristle bundles, sponge pieces or the like implanted herein as a cleaning element on the bristling surface and contains unbristling areas formed on the bristling surface. Some or all of the bristle bundles are implanted asymmetrically with respect to the major central axis or the minor central axis of the head. The head can contain as separate parts bristling areas having bristle implanted therein and unbristling areas, which are removably attached to the head.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toothbrush head which enables a single toothbrush to cope with buccal specificity of any individual user.

The difficulty and the degree of sufficiency in tooth brushing differ depending on various oral conditions including dentition, tooth form, occlusion, tongue size and muscles around the mouth which differ from person to person. Further, the tips of bristles of a toothbrush are brought into contact with the teeth in different manners between the upper row of teeth and the lower row of teeth or between the right row of teeth and the left row of teeth depending on characteristics of an individual user, for example, dextrality or sinistrality and force of the user which may differ between male and female. Thus, a toothbrush is used under different conditions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Meanwhile, conventional toothbrushes are manufactured for everybody, so that they rarely meet fully specific oral conditions of individual users'. Thus, every user cannot clean his or her teeth completely using a single toothbrush but fail to feel refreshed or satisfied unless the user uses auxiliary cleaning utensils such as interdental brush.

Under such circumstances, contrivances have been made in toothbrushes with respect to bristles to be implanted in the head in terms of implanting method, kind of bristles, density, configuration of bristle tips, etc. However, bundles of bristles are implanted symmetrically with respect to the major axis (axis in the longitudinal direction) in each toothbrush at equal intervals.

However, cleaning of teeth using an auxiliary cleaning utensil makes the tooth-brushing operation troublesome and can lead to lowering of positive attitude to tooth-brushing or reduction of tooth-brushing frequency. In spite of the contrivances made in the conventional toothbrushes in terms of the method of implanting bristles, the kind of bristles, etc., the conventional toothbrushes fail to achieve sufficient intraoral cleaning. In addition, it can happen that the bristles implanted in the head injure teeth and gums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a toothbrush head which enables a single toothbrush to cope with oral conditions of any individual user as much as possible.

In order to solve the problems described above, the gist of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush head having bristle bundles implanted in it on the bristling surface thereof, characterized in that the head contains an unbristling area defined on the bristling surface.

The toothbrush head is also characterized in that some or all of the bristle bundles are implanted asymmetrically with respect to the major central axis of the head.

The toothbrush head is also characterized in that some or all of the bristle bundles are implanted asymmetrically with respect to the minor central axis of the head.

The toothbrush head is also characterized in that it has as separate parts a bristling area having a bristle bundle implanted therein and an unbristling area, and these parts are removably attached to the head.

The toothbrush head is also characterized in that it is bent at the distal end thereof.

The toothbrush head is also characterized in that the head is attached to the neck of a toothbrush so that it pivots with respect to the neck.

The toothbrush head is also characterized in that a sponge-like cleaning element is implanted therein on the bristling surface in place of the bristle bundles.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrated by way of examples the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention together with the objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which: [0017]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a toothbrush head according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0018]
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing another exemplary toothbrush head according to the first embodiment; [0019]
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a toothbrush head according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [0020]
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another exemplary toothbrush head according to the second embodiment; [0021]
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a toothbrush head according to another embodiment of the present invention; [0022]
FIGS. [0023] 6(a) and 6(b) are plan views each showing a toothbrush head according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the toothbrush head of the present invention showing the state where teeth are cleaned therewith; FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the toothbrush head of the present invention also showing the state where teeth are brushed therewith; [0024]
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the toothbrush head of the present invention also showing the state where teeth are brushed therewith; [0025]
FIGS. [0026] 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory drawings each showing a method of implanting bristle bundles in the head;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory drawing showing another method of implanting bristle bundles in the head; [0027]
FIG. 12 is an explanatory drawing showing another method of implanting bristle bundles in the head; [0028]
FIG. 13 is a partial side view of the head having sponge pieces implanted therein on the upper surface thereof; [0029]
FIG. 14 is a partial side view of the head having bundles of sponge slivers implanted therein on the upper surface thereof; [0030]
FIG. 15 is a partial side view of the head having dense mass of fine fibers implanted therein on the upper surface thereof; [0031]
FIG. 16 is a drawing explaining a method of implanting sponge pieces in the head; and [0032]
FIG. 17 is a drawing explaining other methods of implanting bundles of sponge pieces in the head.[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The toothbrush head according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below referring to the attached drawings. [0034]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a bristling surface of a toothbrush head according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing another exemplary toothbrush head of the first embodiment. [0035]
In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the [0036] head 10 formed at the distal end of a neck 30 of a toothbrush contains a multiplicity of holes 12 defined on a bristling surface 11 (a surface of the head where bristle bundles are to be implanted), and a bristle bundle 20 is implanted in each hole 12. The holes 12 are defined on the bristling surface 11 of the head 10 so that they are arranged in the axial direction symmetrically with respect to the major central axis 15 except for the central area formed as an unbristling area 13 (an area where no bristle bundles are to be implanted).
In this embodiment, as well as, in other embodiments to be described below, while no bristles are implanted in the [0037] unbristling area 13, the unbristling area 13 is not limited to this configuration but includes those cases where the unbristling area 13 has short bristles implanted therein such that they do not interfere with actions of the bristle bundles 20. The actions of the bristle bundles 20 will be described later.
In another example of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the [0038] bristle bundles 20 are implanted in the holes 12 symmetrically with respect to the major central axis of the head 10. However, what is different from the above embodiment is the manner of forming unbristling areas 13.
In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the [0039] head 10 has holes 12 defined on the bristling surface 11 thereof asymmetrically with respect to the major central axis 15 and bristle bundles implanted therein with unbristling areas 13 being formed irregularly between the bristle bundles 20.
In another example of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the [0040] head 10 has holes 12 defined on the bristling surface 11 thereof asymmetrically with respect to the minor central axis 16 and bristle bundles 20 implanted therein with unbristling areas 13 being formed irregularly between bristle bundles 20.
The implanting method used in the first and second embodiments is to define [0041] holes 12 at predetermined positions on the bristling surface 11 of the head 10 depending on dentition and other oral conditions of an individual user, and then to implant bristle bundles 20 in these holes 12.
There is another method employable here to define [0042] holes 12 partly or entirely over the bristling surface 11 of the head 10, as shown in FIG. 5 and then to implant bristle bundles 20 selectively in predetermined holes 12.
Otherwise, [0043] bristle bundles 20 may be implanted in all of these holes 12, and a dentist and the like may pull out predetermined bundles 20 to define unbristling areas 13 on the head depending on the oral condition of an individual user.
Further, in a [0044] head 10 a shown in FIG. 6(a), the head 10 a is bent at the distal end portion horizontally rightward or leftward with respect to the major central axis 15. This head 10 a can cope more exactly with dentition and other specific tooth conditions of an individual user.
When a toothbrush is used, the [0045] head 10 a is normally inserted through the lips into the buccal cavity diagonally with respect to the plane of occlusion. More specifically, the bristles of the toothbrush are brought into contact with teeth and gums diagonally. Therefore, it is necessary to implant bristles diagonally (asymmetrically) in the head or to change the angle of at least a part of the head with respect to the neck of the toothbrush so as to compensate for the contact angle of the bristles and to bring them into contact with the surfaces of teeth and of gums at right angle.
Another [0046] head 10 b shown in FIG. 6(b) is fixed to a neck 30 of a toothbrush with a pivot 30 a so that the head 10 b can entirely be pivoted horizontally rightward or leftward with respect to the major central axis 15. This head 10 b can cope more exactly with dentition and other specific tooth conditions of an individual user.
The manner of cleaning teeth with the [0047] toothbrush head 10 having the constitution as described above will be described referring to the schematic views shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.
FIG. 7 shows a state where the rear side (distal portion) [0048] 82 a of the distal molar tooth 82 is being cleaned. Here, the fore bristle bundles 21 on the head 10 are brought into contact with the rear side 82 a to enable cleaning of it.
More specifically, since the conventional toothbrushes have no [0049] unbristling areas 13 but have bristles implanted therein entirely over the bristling surface, the bristles present in the area corresponding to the unbristling areas 13 of the present invention are brought into contact with the upper surface of the tooth 82 to urge the head 10 upward and prevent the fore bristle bundles from coming deep downward, so that the tips of the fore bristle bundles cannot reach fully the lower end of the rear side 82 a.
However, by virtue of the unbristling [0050] area 13 formed in this embodiment, the fore bristle bundles 21 on the head 10 can reach the lower end of the rear side 82 a of the tooth 82 to achieve sufficient cleaning thereof.
FIG. 8 shows the plane of occlusion of the [0051] molar teeth 80, 81 and 82, where the rear side 82 a of the distal molar tooth 82 and the gap 81 a between the tooth 82 and the tooth 81 (adjoining portions) are being cleaned. Here again, the fore bristle bundles 21 of the head 10 are brought into contact with the rear side 82 a to enable cleaning of it, while the tips of the rear bristle bundles 22 are intruding into the gap 81 a between the tooth 81 and the tooth 82 to clean it.
It can be appreciated from FIG. 8 that, by virtue of the presence of the unbristling area, the fore bristle bundles [0052] 21 and the rear bristle bundles 22 on the head 10 can clean the rear side 82 a of the tooth 82 and the gap 81 a between the teeth, respectively.
FIG. 9 shows actions of side bristle bundles [0053] 23 and 24 on the head 10, where the bristle bundles 23 and 24 are cleaning the gap (pocket) 83 a present between the tooth 83 and the tooth 84. It can be appreciated here again that, by virtue of the presence of the unbristling area 13, the tips of the side bristle bundles 23 on the head 10 can clean the gap 83 a between the tooth 83 and the tooth 84.
As described above, in the toothbrush head according to this embodiment, tips of bristles can be allowed to reach those areas which fail to be brought into contact with bristles of conventional toothbrushes depending on the way of using a toothbrush by an individual user such as lateral faces of molar teeth and gaps between them. Thus, if a dentist or the like finds a user's weak point in tooth brushing or unbrushed zones of teeth and then provides the user with a toothbrush with an optimum head having bristle bundles implanted asymmetrically, the user can overcome the difference to be caused depending on dextrality and sinistrality and weak points. [0054]
Next, methods of implanting bristle bundles will be described referring to FIGS. [0055] 10 to 12.
FIG. 10([0056] a) shows a method of securing bristle bundles 20 each having a base 20 a in holes 12 defined beforehand in the head 10. There are some conceivable manners, one is to fit the base 20 a of each bristle bundle 20 in the hole 12 and to secure it therein, and another is to bring each base 20 a into screw engagement with the hole 12.
FIG. 10([0057] b) shows three methods of securing bristle bundles 20 in the holes 12 b, 12 c and 12 d, respectively.
The [0058] left side hole 12 b in FIG. 10(b) is widening downward, while the base 20 b of the bristle bundle 20 is designed to have a configuration such that it can be engaged with the hole 12 b.
The [0059] middle hole 12 c has a cylindrical form, and the base 20 c of the bristle bundle 20 is designed to have a configuration such that it can be engaged with the hole 12 c. In this case, the base 20 c may have on the lower surface thereof a fixing plate (not shown) which is larger than the bottom of the base 20 c.
The [0060] right hole 12 d shown in FIG. 10(b) is widening upward, and the base 20 d of the bristle bundle 20 is designed to have a configuration such that it can be engaged with the hole 12 d.
The [0061] bases 20 b, 20 c and 20 d having the configurations described above are secured in the holes 12 b, 12 c and 12 d defined in the heads 10, respectively, by means of fitting or screw engagement.
Another [0062] head 10 shown in FIG. 11 has a gridiron framework 52 formed on the surface thereof, and is provided with blocks 51 each containing a hole 12, which are prepared as separate parts. These blocks 51 are each fitted in the sections of the framework 52, and then a bristle bundle 20 is secured in each hole 12. Of course, a bristle bundle 20 may be implanted beforehand in the hole 12 in each block 51.
In this case, some sections have no [0063] block 51 fitted therein to constitute unbristling areas 53.
Another [0064] head 10 shown in FIG. 12 has parallel frame members 62 on a surface of the head 10, and is provided with oblong blocks 61 which are prepared as separate parts each containing holes 12 at desired positions. Each block 61 is fitted between a pair of frame members 62, and then a bristle bundle 20 is secured in each hole 12 of the block 61. It is of course possible to implant beforehand a bristle bundle 20 in each hole 12 of the blocks 61.
Further, in this case, no [0065] block 61 may be fitted between a certain pair of frame members 62 to define an unbristling area 63. However, some blocks 61 may have both bristling areas and unbristling areas 63 depending on the number and positions of the holes 12 to be defined therein.
The [0066] heads 10 and 10 a described in the above embodiments are employable not only in ordinary toothbrushes but also in ultrasonic power toothbrushes.
FIG. 13 shows a [0067] head 10 having rectangular sponge pieces 90 implanted therein as a sponge-like cleaning element in place of bristle bundles 20.
According to this example, the surfaces of the [0068] sponge pieces 90 are brought into face contact with teeth and gums, so that they scarcely irritate and injure the teeth and gums compared with bristle bundles 20, and the area of contact increases, effectively
The sponge-like cleaning element is one directed to obtaining cleaning or massaging effects and is formed using an artificial material such as an elastic or anelastic polymeric material or a naturally occurring material and by allowing such a material to assume the form of porous sponge or by cutting finely a silicone material and the like to obtain an assembly of slivers which as a whole look like a lump. [0069]
Since such cleaning elements are soft and can be brought into contact with teeth with an appropriate pressure, they can reach every nook and corner in the mouth without applying excessive stimulation thereto. [0070]
FIG. 14 also shows another example of sponge-like cleaning element, in which the [0071] sponge piece 90 is cut at suitable intervals to form an assembly 91 of sponge slivers 901. The sponge slivers 901 can cope with any configuration or irregularity of teeth and gums more exactly to exhibit improved cleaning effect.
In a head shown in FIG. 15, fine fibers are implanted densely in the [0072] head 10 in place of bristles 20 to form dense masses 92 of fibers. According to this example, since the tips of the fine fibers constitute a surface of the dense mass 92 as if it has no gaps thereon, the surface of each dense mass 92 can be brought into face contact with teeth and gums to scarcely irritate and injure the teeth and gums compared with bristle bundles 20. The dense mass of fibers 92 may be formed by implanting ultra fine fibers thickly on the upper surface of the head 10 or by securing a rectangular material on the upper surface of the head 10 and cutting it from above to form a dense mass of fibers.
Next, FIGS. 16 and 17 show methods of [0073] securing sponge pieces 90 to the head 10, and explanations of them will be omitted, since the sponge pieces 93 and 94 are implanted in the same manner as described referring to the examples shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), except that the bristle bundles 20 are merely replaced with the sponge pieces 93 and 94, respectively.
Further, the [0074] assembly 91 of sponge slivers 901 formed by cutting a sponge piece 90 at suitable intervals as shown in FIG. 14 or the dense mass 92 of fine fibers as shown in FIG. 15 can also be secured to the head 10 likewise.
As described above, the toothbrush heads of the embodiments of the present invention consider dextrality or sinistrality and other specificity of an individual user, as well as, loss of teeth, to enable a single toothbrush to exhibit improved cleaning effect and also to prevent harmful effects that the conventional toothbrushes frequently give. [0075]
Points of cleaning teeth include gaps (pockets) between teeth, distal portions and adjoining portions. Meanwhile, auto-purification is likely to occur on the face of occlusion and axial faces. Although it is naturally possible to brush every nook and corner of teeth with a small converged brush, it takes a tremendous time and is inefficient too. [0076]
In view of these circumstances, according to the toothbrush heads of the embodiments of the present invention, toothbrushes can be used stably due to the difference in the density of bristles to be implanted and also due to the presence of unbristling areas, and thus tips of bristles can reach any portion of teeth to be cleaned, enabling a single toothbrush to cope with any individual user's specificity by selectively implanting bristles at desired positions. [0077]
If the toothbrush head of this embodiment is divided into a plurality of head segments as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,051,120, the head can be provided with three or more functional segments such as an action concentrating segment, a head stabilizing segment and a cleaning segment, and thus a single toothbrush can achieve improvement of oral condition. [0078]
Further, the unbristling area formed at the center of the head helps stabilization of the head against teeth with a small force to be applied to bristles compared with that to be applied to bristles implanted in the head entirely over a surface thereof. Thus, an excessive force if applied to the head can be dispersed to enable the action concentrating segment to be in more intimate contact with teeth. [0079]
As has been described heretofore, according to the present invention, since the positions of implanting bristle bundles, the size and number of bristle bundles, type of bristle tip, thickness of bristles, etc. can be selected or changed freely depending on an individual user's oral condition. Thus, any user can achieve cleaning within the buccal cavity using a single toothbrush having such a head. [0080]
Besides, a single type of toothbrush can be adjusted depending on an individual user, and a single type of bristle can be utilized in various manners in terms of effect, force to be applied etc. by defining areas depending on the purpose, leading to saving of materials and reduction in cost. [0081]
Further, in the case where sponge pieces or dense masses of fine fibers are implanted in the head as a cleaning element in place of bristle bundles, they can not only prevent effectively injury of teeth and gums but also exhibit massaging effects. [0082]
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Particularly, it should be understood that the invention may be embodied in the following forms. Therefore, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims. [0083]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A head of a toothbrush having bristle bundles implanted in it on a bristling surface thereof, the head comprising an unbristling area defined on the bristling surface.

2. A head of a toothbrush having bristle bundles implanted in it on a bristling surface thereof, wherein some or all of the bristle bundles are implanted asymmetrically with respect to a major central axis of the head.

3. A head of a toothbrush having bristle bundles implanted in it on a bristling surface thereof, wherein some or all of the bristle bundles are implanted asymmetrically with respect to a minor central axis of the head.

4. A head of a toothbrush comprising as separate parts a bristling area having a bristle bundle implanted therein and an unbristling area, which are removably attached to the head.

5. The head of a toothbrush according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the head is bent at a distal end thereof.

6. The head of a toothbrush according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the head is attached to a neck of the toothbrush so that it pivots with respect to the neck.

7. The head of a toothbrush according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, wherein sponge-like cleaning element is implanted therein on the bristling surface in place of the bristle bundles.