U.S. patent application number 10/550103 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for interdental brush and method of producing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Ki Inexhaustible Supply. Invention is credited to Tokuji Okamura.
Application Number | 20060179593 10/550103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33475037 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060179593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okamura; Tokuji |
August 17, 2006 |
Interdental brush and method of producing the same
Abstract
An interdental brush comprises bristles (11), a wire (12) with
which the bristles (11) are twisted, and a handle (13) to which the
wire is attached. The handle (13) is composed of a main body (21)
and a sub-body (22). The main body (21) is provided with a
longitudinal hole (41) into which a base part of the wire (12) is
inserted, and a lateral hole (43) intersecting the longitudinal
hole (41). A coming-off preventing bent portion (51) is formed at
the base part of the wire (12) so as to be exposed to the lateral
hole (43). The sub-body (22) is provided with an engagement portion
(52) filling the lateral hole (43) so as to surround a periphery of
the bent portion (51).
Inventors: |
Okamura; Tokuji; (Osaka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WESTERMAN, HATTORI, DANIELS & ADRIAN, LLP
1250 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NW
SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Ki Inexhaustible
Supply
Izumisano City
JP
|
Family ID: |
33475037 |
Appl. No.: |
10/550103 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 17, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/07004 |
371 Date: |
September 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 ;
15/143.1; 15/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/108 20130101;
A46B 7/04 20130101; A46B 5/00 20130101; A46B 9/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/167.1 ;
015/143.1; 015/206 |
International
Class: |
A46B 3/18 20060101
A46B003/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2003 |
JP |
2003-141810 |
Claims
1. An interdental brush comprising: bristles 11; a wire 12 with
which the bristles 11 are twisted; and a handle 13 attached to the
wire, wherein the handle 13 is composed of a main body 21 and a
sub-body 22, the main body 21 is provided with a longitudinal hole
41 into which a base part of the wire 12 is inserted, and a lateral
hole 43 intersecting the longitudinal hole 41, the base part of the
wire 12 is provided with a coming-off preventing bent portion 51
formed so as to be exposed to the lateral hole 43, and the sub-body
22 is provided with an engagement portion 52 filling the lateral
hole 43 so as to surround a periphery of the bent portion 51.
2. The interdental brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part of a
surface of the main body 21 is covered with the sub-body 22, and
discrimination properties of the main body 21 and the sub-body 22
are different to each other.
3. The interdental brush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main
body 21 and the sub-body 22 are made of synthetic resin.
4. The interdental brush as claimed in claim 2, wherein a
difference in the discrimination properties results from at least
one of color, gloss and material.
5. The interdental brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main
body 21 comprises a shoulder part 31, a tail part 33 and a barrel
part 32 communicating the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 33 via
a low step, the lateral hole 43 is positioned in the barrel part
32, the sub-body 22 covers the barrel part 32, and boundaries
between surfaces of the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 32 and a
surface of the sub-body 22 adjacent thereto are flush with each
other.
6. The interdental brush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main
body 21 comprises a shoulder part 31, a tail part 33 and a barrel
part 32 communicating the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 33 via
a low step, the lateral hole 43 is positioned in the barrel part
32, the sub-body 22 covers the barrel part 32, and boundaries
between surfaces of the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 32 and a
surface of the sub-body 22 adjacent thereto are flush with each
other.
7. The interdental brush as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main
body 21 comprises a shoulder part 31, a tail part 33 and a barrel
part 32 communicating the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 33 via
a low step, the lateral hole 43 is positioned in the barrel part
32, the sub-body 22 covers the barrel part 32, and boundaries
between surfaces of the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 32 and a
surface of the sub-body 22 adjacent thereto are flush with each
other.
8. The interdental brush as claimed in claim 4, wherein the main
body 21 comprises a shoulder part 31, a tail part 33 and a barrel
part 32 communicating the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 33 via
a low step, the lateral hole 43 is positioned in the barrel part
32, the sub-body 22 covers the barrel part 32, and boundaries
between surfaces of the shoulder part 31 and the tail part 32 and a
surface of the sub-body 22 adjacent thereto are flush with each
other.
9. A method of producing an interdental brush comprising the steps
of: forming, by primary resin molding, a main body 21 of a handle
13 having a longitudinal hole 41 and a lateral hole 43 insecting
the longitudinal hole 41; inserting a base part of a wire 12, with
which bristles 11 are twisted, into the longitudinal hole 41 so as
to be exposed to the lateral hole 43; forming a coming-off
preventing bent portion 51 at the base part of the wire 12 via the
lateral hole 43; and forming, by secondary resin molding, a
sub-body 22 of the handle 13 such that a part thereof fills the
lateral hole 43 so as to surround a periphery of the bent portion
51.
10. The method of producing the interdental brush as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the step of forming the bent portion 51 is
performed by inserting a rod-shaped jig J into the lateral hole 43
and pressing a tip part of the jig J onto a to-be-bent portion of
the base part of the wire 12.
11. The method of producing the interdental brush as claimed in
claim 9, wherein the same material is used in the primary resin
molding and the secondary resin molding.
12. The method of producing the interdental brush as claimed in
claim 10, wherein the same material is used in the primary resin
molding and the secondary resin molding.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an interdental brush and a
method of producing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As an interdental brush of this type, there is known one
composed of bristles, a wire with which the bristles are twisted,
and a handle to which the wire is attached, wherein a coming-off
preventing bent portion is formed at the base part of the wire, and
mounting of the wire to the handle is realized by insert resin
molding (see, for example, Japanese Utility-model Application
Laid-open No. 62-174423).
[0003] As for insert resin molding, the structure of a molding die
is complicated and expensive, so the cost of equipment is high.
Further, a work to set a wire to a mold requires time and effort,
so it is troublesome. Accordingly, an interdental brush produced by
insert resin molding is expensive.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide cheap
interdental brushes and a producing method capable of producing
them.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An interdental brush according to the present invention
comprises: bristles; a wire with which the bristles are twisted;
and a handle attached to the wire. The handle consists of a main
body and a sub-body. The main body is provided with a longitudinal
hole into which a base part of the wire is inserted, and a lateral
hole intersecting the longitudinal hole. The base part of the wire
is provided with a coming-off preventing bent portion formed to be
exposed to the lateral hole. The sub-body is provided with an
engagement portion filling the lateral hole so as to surround the
periphery of the bent portion.
[0006] According to the interdental brush of this invention, it is
possible to produce it by simple resin molding without using insert
resin molding. Therefore, cheap interdental brushes are
provided.
[0007] Further, if a part of the surface of the main body is
covered with the sub-body, and the discrimination properties of the
main body and the sub-body are different to each other, it is
possible to add visual appeal.
[0008] Further, if the main body and the sub-body are made of
synthetic resin, fitting characteristics between resin are high,
whereby it is possible to strengthen the bonding power between the
main body and the sub-body.
[0009] Further, if a difference in discrimination properties
results from at least one of color, gloss and material, the
difference in discrimination properties can be changed easily.
[0010] Further, if the main body comprises a shoulder part, a tail
part and a barrel part communicating the shoulder part and the tail
part via a low step, the lateral hole is positioned in the barrel
part, the sub-body covers the barrel part, and the boundaries
between the surfaces of the shoulder part and the tail part and the
surface of the sub-body adjacent thereto are flush with each other,
it is possible to provide a smooth image in the handle as a whole,
which contributes to improving the merchantability.
[0011] A method of producing an interdental brush according to the
present invention comprises the steps of: forming, by primary resin
molding, a main body of a handle having a longitudinal hole and a
lateral hole intersecting the longitudinal hole; inserting a base
part of a wire, with which bristles are twisted, into the
longitudinal hole so as to be exposed to the lateral hole; forming
a coming-off preventing bent portion at the base part of the wire
via the lateral hole; and forming, by secondary resin molding, a
sub-body of the handle such that a part thereof fills the lateral
hole so as to surround the periphery of the bent portion.
[0012] According to the method of producing an interdental brush of
the present invention, it is possible to produce bristles, a wire
and an handle in different steps, which enables to produce an
interdental brush in simple steps. Therefore, the cost of producing
an interdental brush is low.
[0013] Further, if the step of forming the bent part is performed
by inserting a rod-shaped jig J into the lateral hole and pressing
the tip part of the jig J onto a to-be-bent portion of the base
part of the wire, a part of the role of the jig for forming the
bent portion is taken by the main body, and also forming of the
bent part itself is easy.
[0014] Further, if the same material is used in the primary resin
molding and the secondary resin molding, the material cost can be
saved, and also management of the producing steps can be easily
carried out. However, different materials may be used in the
primary resin molding and in the secondary resin molding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interdental brush
according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line
II-II of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line
III-III of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a twisted
wire with bristles of the interdental brush and the main body of a
handle.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a producing process drawing of the interdental
brush.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0020] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be
explained with reference to the drawings.
[0021] In the explanation below, inside and outside are assumed to
mean that, based on FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper side is the front and
the lower side is the outside. Further, left and right mean the
right side and the left side of FIG. 2, and top and bottom mean the
left side and the right side of FIG. 3, respectively.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a interdental brush is composed
of nylon bristles 11, a stainless wire 12 and a handle 13 made of
thermoplastic synthetic resin.
[0023] The bristles 11 are divided into plural bundles. The bundles
of the bristles 11 are held by bundles in between the two-folded
wire 12, which are twisted with the wire 12. Thereby, a twisted
wire with bristles 14 having a tip part with the filled bristles 11
and a base part without the bristles 11 is configured.
[0024] The handle 13 consists of a main body 21 and a sub-body 22.
The main body 21 and the sub-body 22 are formed by injection
molding of polyethylene. Note that the main body 21 and the
sub-body 22 may be made of the same material or different
materials. As an example of using different materials, the main
body 21 may be made of polyethylene, and the sub-body 22 may be
made of synthetic resin having rubber characteristics such as EPDM,
for example.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 4 in the clearest manner, the main body 21
is in a linear rod shape extending in the inside and outside
direction as a whole, and is composed of a substantially inward
conical shoulder part 31, a round rod-shaped barrel part 32, and a
cylindrical tail part 33. From the inner end of the shoulder part
31, a narrow round rod-shaped neck part 34 is protruded toward the
inner side.
[0026] At the boundary between the shoulder part 31 and the barrel
part 32, there is formed a shoulder side step 35 which is lower
than the shoulder part 31. At the boundary between the tail part 33
and the barrel part 32, there is formed a tail side step 36 which
is lower than the tail part 33. The shoulder side step 35 is
composed of dented U-shaped portions 37 opened to the tail part
viewed from the up and down direction, and two protruded reverse
U-shaped portions 38 communicating the tips of the both U-shaped
parts 37. The tail side step 36 is formed of a ring part 39
continued around the whole periphery of the main body 21.
[0027] A longitudinal hole 41 is formed from the tip of the neck
part 34 up to the inner end of the barrel part 32 through the
barrel part 32 in the inside and outside direction. The diameter of
the longitudinal hole 41 has a size enabling the twisted wire with
bristles 14 to be inserted loosely. Two lateral holes 42 and 43 are
formed, in parallel in the inside and outside direction,
intersecting the longitudinal hole 41 so as to penetrate the barrel
part 32 in the up and down direction.
[0028] At positions outside the two lateral holes 42 and 43,
rectangle ridges 44 longitudinal in the inside and outside
direction are formed on the both upper and lower side faces of the
barrel part 32, and on both of the left and right side faces of the
barrel part 32, circular protrusions 45 are formed, three for each
side, in parallel in the inside and outside direction.
[0029] In the longitudinal hole 41, the base part of the twisted
wire with bristles 14 is inserted so as to be exposed to the two
lateral holes 42 and 43. At a position facing the outside lateral
hole 43 of the base part, a V-shaped bent portion 51 is formed.
[0030] The sub-body 22 is formed so as to cover the whole surface
of the barrel part 32. A part of the sub-body 22 fills the two
lateral holes 42, and 43. In the outside lateral hole 43, the
periphery of the bent portion 51 is surrounded by the sub-body 22
which constitutes an engagement portion 52 with respect to the bent
portion 51. Further, at the shoulder side step 35 and the tail side
step 36, the steps are embedded with the sub-body 22. Thereby, the
boundaries between the surfaces of the shoulder part 31 and the
tail part 33 and the surface of the sub-body 22 adjacent thereto
are flush with each other. Further, the tip parts of the ridges 44
and the protrusions 45 are exposed to the surface of the sub-body
22.
[0031] The colors of the resin forming the main body 21 and the
sub-body 22 differs to each other. For example, if the main body 21
is blue and the sub-body 22 is white in color, the handle 13 is
colored with fresh two-tone colors.
[0032] Since the engagement portion 52 is fixed to the bent portion
51, there is no need to worry about the twisted wire with bristles
14 coming off from the handle 13 at all, even if a tensile force or
a torsion force is acted on the twisted wire with bristles 14 when
the interdental brush is used.
[0033] Next, a method of producing the interdental brush will be
explained with reference to FIG. 5. First, the main body 21 is made
by primary molding. Here, the longitudinal hole 41 and the lateral
holes 42 and 43 are formed at the same time. Next, the base part of
the twisted wire with bristles 14, which has been formed by molding
separately, is inserted into the lateral holes 42 and 43. Then, a
rod-shaped jig J is inserted into the lateral holes 42 and 43, and
the tip of the jig J presses a part to be the bent portion 51 of
the base part of the twisted wire with bristles 14 so as to deform
the part to form the bent portion 51. Finally, after the jig J is
removed from the lateral holes 42 and 43, the sub-body 22 is formed
by secondary molding. The main body 21 and the sub-body 22 are
fixed to each other, so there is no need to worry about
separation.
* * * * *