U.S. patent application number 10/598497 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for functional toothbrush.
This patent application is currently assigned to BEST WHASUNG CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Young-Jun Kwon.
Application Number | 20080028558 10/598497 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35064509 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080028558 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kwon; Young-Jun |
February 7, 2008 |
Functional Toothbrush
Abstract
The present invention provides a functional toothbrush which
enhances both the penetration into gaps between teeth and the
efficiency of brushing tooth surfaces. The functional toothbrush
includes rows which each have needle-shaped bristles set in a
longitudinally elongate groove and which are longitudinally
arranged along an outer edge of a head part of a toothbrush body.
The functional toothbrush further includes other rows which each
have needle-shaped bristles set in a latitudinally elongate groove
and which are longitudinally arranged on a central portion of the
head part of the toothbrush body. A length of each of the
needle-shaped bristles set in the outer edge of the head part is
longer than a length of each of the needle-shaped bristles set in
the central portion of the head part by 1.5-3.5 mm. Each of the
elongate grooves has an elliptical shape.
Inventors: |
Kwon; Young-Jun;
(Gyunggi-do, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EGBERT LAW OFFICES
412 MAIN STREET, 7TH FLOOR
HOUSTON
TX
77002
US
|
Assignee: |
BEST WHASUNG CO., LTD.
Gyunggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
35064509 |
Appl. No.: |
10/598497 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 7, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR04/00799 |
371 Date: |
April 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/167.1 ;
300/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46D 1/00 20130101; A46D
1/0276 20130101; A46B 3/16 20130101; A46B 9/028 20130101; A46B 9/04
20130101; A46B 2200/1066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/167.1 ;
300/21 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2004 |
KR |
10-2004-0017571 |
Claims
1. A functional toothbrush, comprising: a toothbrush body with a
head part; a first plurality of rows, each row having needle-shaped
bristles set in a longitudinally elongate groove and longitudinally
arranged along an outer edge of said head part of said toothbrush
body; and a second plurality of rows, each row having needle-shaped
bristles set in a latitudinally elongate groove and longitudinally
arranged on a central portion of said head part of said toothbrush
body, wherein a length of each of the needle-shaped bristles set in
said outer edge of said head part is longer than a length of each
of the needle-shaped bristles set in said central portion of said
head part by 1.5-3.5 mm, each of the elongate grooves having an
elliptical shape.
2. The functional toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the
needle-shaped bristles set in each of the elongate grooves comprise
a plurality of bristles having different end points from 0.01 to
0.03 mm in thickness and different tapers from 5 to 12 mm in
length.
3. The functional toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein each of
the elongate grooves has a minor axis from 1.6 to 2.5 mm in length
and a major axis from 2.5 to 5.0 mm in length.
4. The functional toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein each of
the needle-shaped bristles is set in each of the elongate grooves
after being folded such that a height difference of 0.5-1.5 mm
exists between both ends of the folded needle-shaped bristle.
5. A method for manufacturing a toothbrush, said toothbrush having
a toothbrush body with a head part, said method comprising the
steps of: setting a first plurality of rows, each row having
needle-shaped bristles, in a longitudinally elongate groove and
longitudinally arranging each row along an outer edge of said head
part of said toothbrush body; and setting a second plurality of
rows, each row having needle-shaped bristles set in a latitudinally
elongate groove and longitudinally arranging each row on a central
portion of said head part of said toothbrush body, wherein each of
the elongate grooves formed on said head part has an elliptical
shape, the needle-shaped bristles being set such that length of
each of the needle-shaped bristles set in the elongate groove
placed on an outside part of said head part is longer than length
of each of the needle-shaped bristles set in the elongate groove
placed on an inside part of said head part by 1.5-3.5 mm.
6. The method for manufacturing the toothbrush according to claim
5, wherein the needle-shaped bristles set in each of the elongate
grooves comprise a plurality of bristles having different end
points from 0.01 to 0.03 mm in thickness and different tapers from
5 to 12 mm in length.
7. The method for manufacturing the toothbrush according to claim
5, wherein each of the elongate grooves has a minor axis from 1.6
to 2.5 mm in length and a major axis from 2.5 to 5.0 mm in
length.
8. The method for manufacturing the toothbrush according to claim
5, further comprising: folding each of the needle-shaped bristles
set in each of the elongate grooves such that a height difference
from 0.5 to 1.5 mm exists between both ends of the folded
needle-shaped bristle.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to functional
toothbrushes and, more particularly, to a functional toothbrush in
which bristles easily penetrate into gaps between teeth and the
efficiency of brushing tooth surfaces is superior.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, in conventional toothbrushes, a row of bristles
is set in each of a plurality of small circular grooves formed on a
head part of a toothbrush, as shown in FIG. 1. However, this
toothbrush is reduced in productivity and brushing efficiency, and
as well, has a poor appearance. To solve the above-mentioned
problems, recently, another toothbrush (hereinafter, referred to
simply as "first prior art"), in which a row of bristles is set in
each of a plurality of longitudinally elongated-rectangular
grooves, was proposed.
[0003] The toothbrush of the first prior art has several advantages
as follow. Because a relatively high number of bristles is set in
one elongated-rectangular groove, both the productivity and the
efficiency of brushing tooth surfaces are enhanced. Furthermore,
the toothbrush having a superior appearance makes favorable
impressions on consumers, thus being popular with the consumers.
However, the toothbrush of the first prior art cannot be
manufactured by existing equipment. In detail, a method for
manufacturing the typical toothbrushes is that a plurality of
bristles is set in each small circular groove having a diameter of
approximately 1.6 mm and, thereafter, one support pin fastens the
bristles in the small circular groove. However, the equipment used
for manufacturing the typical toothbrush cannot manufacture the
toothbrush of the first prior art having grooves larger than those
of typical toothbrushes.
[0004] In the toothbrush of the first prior art, the bristles of
each row are longitudinally arranged in each elongated-rectangular
groove. Accordingly, the efficiency of brushing tooth surfaces of a
user is superior, but difficulty in penetration into gaps between
teeth exists, thereby the health of teeth may be affected.
[0005] In a detailed description, food residue is held between
teeth or between a tooth and a gingiva, as well as adhering to a
surface of a tooth. Substantially, food residue held between teeth
is a major cause of halitosis, a decayed tooth or a damaged tooth
caused by alveolar pyorrhea.
[0006] A correct tooth brushing method is to vertically brush
teeth. By the way, in the case of vertically brushing the teeth
using the toothbrush of the first prior art in which the bristles
of each row are longitudinally arranged, the bristles cannot easily
penetrate into gaps between the teeth. If the user horizontally
brushes his/her teeth using the toothbrush of the first prior art,
but does not brush vertically, more serious problems may occur.
That is, enamel layers on the surfaces of the teeth of the user are
damaged. As a result, horizontal streaks may be undesirably formed
on the surface of the teeth, due to horizontally brushing and
grinding powers increased by the longitudinal arrangement of the
bristles.
[0007] In the meantime, a method for manufacturing the toothbrush
of the first prior art is as follows. Great numbers of
monofilaments each having a length of several thousand meters,
which correspond to the number of grooves formed on a toothbrush
body and are wound around rolls, are arranged in an injection mold.
Thereafter, the monofilaments are set in the grooves to form the
bristles similar to how a spinning machine weaves cloth and,
simultaneously, the set bristles are integrated with the toothbrush
body, while a toothbrush is manufactured through an injection
molding process. Therefore, the method for manufacturing the
toothbrush of the first prior art is problematic in that it is
impossible to form bristles below 35 mm or less in length.
[0008] Moreover, the toothbrush of the first prior art uses typical
bristles, but does not use a needle-shaped bristle of which an end
is sharp. Hence, the bristles of the toothbrush of the first prior
art cannot easily penetrate gaps between teeth or periodontal
pockets which are formed on junctions between the teeth and
gingivae.
[0009] In an effort to overcome the above-mentioned problems,
another toothbrush was proposed in Korean Patent Application No.
2001-24978 (hereinafter, referred to simply as "second prior art"),
which was filed by the inventor of the present invention. Referring
to FIG. 3, in the toothbrush of the second prior art, needle-shaped
bristles 3 are set in a plurality of longitudinally elongate
grooves 1 which are longitudinally arranged along an outer edge of
a head part 11 of a toothbrush body 10. Furthermore, needle-shaped
bristles 3 are set in a plurality of latitudinally elongate grooves
1' which are longitudinally arranged on a central portion of the
head part 11 of the toothbrush body 10. A method for manufacturing
the toothbrush of the second prior art will be described as
follows. The longitudinally elongated-rectangular grooves 1 are
formed on the outer edge of the head part 11 of the toothbrush body
10. The latitudinally elongated-rectangular grooves 1' are formed
on the central portion of the head part 11 of the toothbrush body
10. Thereafter, the needle-shaped bristles 3 are inserted into the
longitudinally and latitudinally elongated-rectangular grooves 1
and 1'. An extended support pin 2 thereafter fastens the
needle-shaped bristles 3 in each of the longitudinally and
latitudinally elongated-rectangular grooves 1 and 1'. Thereafter,
irregular end parts of the needle-shaped bristles 3 are cut off.
Ends of remaining parts of the needle-shaped bristles 3 are treated
through a grinding process.
[0010] By the second prior art, almost all problems of the first
prior art are solved. However, because the toothbrush of the second
prior art has relatively large elongated-rectangular grooves,
lengths of the needle-shaped bristles set in the
elongated-rectangular grooves are irregularly formed. Therefore,
the toothbrush of the second prior art requires a separate
after-treatment, such as cutting and grinding processes. As well,
the toothbrush of the second prior art lacks brushing efficiency
and penetration and cleaning abilities.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional toothbrush having
circular grooves;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a plan view of another conventional toothbrush
having rectangular grooves;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a further conventional toothbrush
having latitudinally and longitudinally elongate grooves in which
bristles are set;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state of a bristle
fastened in an elongate groove by a support pin;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an elongate groove formed on a
toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the toothbrush of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the toothbrush of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates that a needle-shaped bristle is set in
the toothbrush such that a height difference between both ends of a
needle-shaped bristle exists; and
[0019] FIGS. 9 through 11 are plan views of toothbrushes, according
to other embodiments of the present invention.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0020] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the second prior art, and an
object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush in which
a plurality of needle-shaped bristles that does not require a
separate after-treatment is set in a crisscross manner. Another
object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush which
has needle-shaped bristles set in a crisscross manner, thus
enhancing brushing efficiency and penetration into gaps between
teeth or periodontal pockets which are formed on junctions between
the teeth and gingivae, and ability of cleaning the surfaces of the
teeth. A further object of the present invention is to provide a
method for manufacturing the toothbrush having needle-shaped
bristles set in a crisscross manner which reduces the number of
defective products and increases productivity.
Technical Solution
[0021] In an aspect, the present invention provides a functional
toothbrush, including: rows each having needle-shaped bristles (3)
set in a longitudinally elongate groove (1) and longitudinally
arranged along an outer edge of a head part (11) of a toothbrush
body (10); and other rows each having needle-shaped bristles (3)
set in a latitudinally elongate groove (1') and longitudinally
arranged on a central portion of the head part (11) of the
toothbrush body (10). A length of each of the needle-shaped
bristles (3) set in the outer edge of the head part (11) is longer
than a length of each of the needle-shaped bristles (3) set in the
central portion of the head part (11) by 1.5-3.5 mm, and each of
the elongate grooves (1, 1') has an elliptical shape.
[0022] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method
for manufacturing a toothbrush provided with rows each having
needle-shaped bristles (3) set in a longitudinally elongate groove
(1) and longitudinally arranged along an outer edge of a head part
(11) of a toothbrush body (10), and other rows each having
needle-shaped bristles (3) set in a latitudinally elongate groove
(1') and longitudinally arranged on a central portion of the head
part (11) of the toothbrush body (10). Each of the elongate grooves
(1, 1') formed on the head part (11) has an elliptical shape, and
the needle-shaped bristles (3) are set such that a length of each
of the needle-shaped bristles (3) set in the elongate groove (1)
placed on an outside part of the head part (11) is longer than a
length of each of the needle-shaped bristles (3) set in the
elongate groove (1') placed on an inside part of the head part (11)
by 1.5-3.5 mm.
Advantageous Effects
[0023] In the toothbrush of the present invention, the great number
of needle-shaped bristles is set in each elongate groove, compared
with conventional toothbrushes, thus increasing productivity of the
toothbrush. Furthermore, the needle-shaped bristles are set in
elongate grooves formed on a head part of the toothbrush in a
crisscross manner, thus enhancing penetration and cleaning ability.
As well, because the needle-shaped bristles are set in each of the
elongate grooves such that a length difference exists between the
needle-shaped bristles set in an outer edge and a central portion
of the head part, a contact surface between the needle-shaped
bristles and teeth is increased, thus enhancing the efficiency of
brushing teeth. In addition, because the elongate grooves each have
an elliptical shape, although great numbers of needle-shaped
bristles are set in the elongate groove, the needle-shaped bristles
have relatively even lengths. Therefore, the present invention does
not require cutting and grinding processes which were executed to
manufacture the conventional toothbrushes.
Best Mode
[0024] Hereafter, a toothbrush of the present invention will be
described in detail.
[0025] Molars, cuspids and wisdom teeth, which have the probability
of becoming decayed, have rounded outer surfaces. Therefore, if
lengths of bristles set in an outer edge of a head part 11 are
longer than those of bristles set in a central portion of the head
part 11 as the present invention, the contact surface between the
bristles and the teeth, each having a rounded shape is increased.
As such, when the contact surface between the bristles and the
surface of each tooth is increased, brushing efficiency and ability
to clean the surface of the tooth are also increased.
[0026] In the case of vertically brushing the teeth, short bristles
set in the toothbrush in latitudinal directions can readily
penetrate between the teeth. Long bristles set in the toothbrush in
longitudinal directions can clean the surface of the teeth and,
simultaneously, can smoothly penetrate into periodontal pockets
which are formed in junctions between the teeth and gingivae. At
this time, it is suitable that a length difference between each
short bristle and each long bristle ranges from 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm.
If the length difference is beyond the above-mentioned range of
1.5-3.5 mm, the contact surface between the bristles and the teeth
becomes reduced.
[0027] In the present invention, the term "bristles set in a
crisscross manner" means that rows having bristles are arranged on
the toothbrush in right longitudinal and latitudinal directions
and, in addition, the rows may be arranged on the toothbrush to be
inclined relative to longitudinal and latitudinal lines of the
toothbrush within 30 degrees, that is, in zigzag patterns. In the
case that the rows are inclined within the above-mentioned angular
range, the toothbrush can achieve the purpose of the present
invention.
[0028] A needle-shaped bristle means a bristle which decreases in
diameter from the bottom to the end, thus being soft, and having
superior ability in penetration into gaps between the teeth or
between the periodontal pockets formed at junctions between the
teeth and gingivae. Thereby, recently, the needle-shaped bristles
have been popular with consumers. In methods for manufacturing the
needle-shaped bristle, there are a method of mechanically grinding
an end of a bristle and a method of immersing a bristle in acid or
alkali chemical to dissolve its end.
[0029] A thickness of an end point of each of the needle-shaped
bristles used in the present invention ranges from 0.01 mm to 0.03
mm. Preferably, various needle-shaped bristles having end points of
different thicknesses which fall within the above-mentioned range
are used. Furthermore, the length the tapered part of each of the
needle-shaped bristles used in the present invention ranges from 5
mm to 12 mm. It is also preferable that various needle-shaped
bristles having tapers of different lengths which fall within the
above-mentioned range are used. When various needle-shaped bristles
having end points of different thicknesses and tapers of different
lengths are used, appropriate penetration and superior cleaning
ability are demonstrated and, in addition, the life span of the
toothbrush is enhanced. If the thickness of the end point of each
of the needle-shaped bristles is less than the above-mentioned
thickness range, the cleaning ability is reduced. Otherwise, if the
thickness of the end point is above the above-mentioned thickness
range, the hardness of the needle-shaped bristle is increased.
Thus, the gingivae of a user may be damaged due to the
needle-shaped bristles while brushing the teeth. In addition, if
the length of the tapered part of each of the needle-shaped
bristles is under the above-mentioned length range, the hardness of
the needle-shaped bristle excessively increases. If the length of
the tapered part of each of the needle-shaped bristles is greater
than the above-mentioned length range, the cleaning ability is
reduced.
[0030] A method for manufacturing a conventional toothbrush, which
is shown in FIG. 1 and has a plurality of small circular grooves in
which a plurality of bristles is set, is very simple. That is, the
bristles are set in each of circular grooves and, thereafter, are
fastened by a support pin, as shown in FIG. 4. In the conventional
toothbrush manufactured through the above-mentioned method, each
circular groove has a diameter of about 1.6 mm. Therefore, even
though an after-treatment is not executed after the bristles are
fastened by the support pin, exposed lengths of the bristles set in
the circular groove are relatively constant. Thus, the conventional
toothbrush manufactured through the above-mentioned method can be
directly used without an additional after-treatment.
[0031] A method of setting bristles in grooves of a toothbrush of a
second prior art is the same as that of the toothbrush of FIG. 1.
However, because each groove formed on the toothbrush of a second
prior art is relatively large (a length of a minor axis ranges from
1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, a length of a major axis ranges from 3.0 mm to
4.5 mm), an extended support pin having a similar shape as that of
the groove must be used to fasten the bristles in the groove.
Therefore, in the case that a high number of bristles is fastened
in the groove by using the extended support pin, the lengths of the
exposed parts of the bristles set in the toothbrush of the second
prior art are different from each other, unlike the conventional
toothbrush having the small circular grooves. Hence, in the
toothbrush of the second prior art, after the bristles are set in
the grooves, a separate cutting process is executed to even the
uneven exposed parts of the bristles. Furthermore, when ends of the
exposed parts of the bristles are cut off, thicknesses of remaining
ends of the bristles are increased. Thus, a separate grinding
process is required to taper the bristles. As such, because the
separate processes are added, workability is reduced. In addition,
although the grinding process is executed, thicknesses of end
points of the bristles are still relatively large. As a result, the
second prior art is problematic in that the bristles of the
toothbrush are rough.
[0032] In the toothbrush of the present invention, a plurality of
elongate grooves having elliptical shapes is formed in the head
part of the toothbrush body. Thus, the present invention solves the
problems associated with the toothbrush of the second prior art.
The reason why the lengths of the bristles of the second prior art
are irregularly formed when the bristles are set in the toothbrush
is that the grooves of the second prior art are larger than the
circular grooves of the conventional toothbrush. However, a reason
more significant than the above-mentioned reason, demonstrated by a
repeated test, is that each of the grooves of the second prior art
has a rectangular shape. That is, although the elongate grooves of
the present invention each have the same size as the groove of the
second prior art, if the elongate groove has an elliptical shape or
a predetermined shape similar to an elliptical shape, the problem
of the irregular setting of the bristles is solved. The
predetermined shape similar to the elliptical shape means that a
shape is oblong but each corner is rounded, as shown in FIG. 5. The
toothbrush of the present invention provided through the
above-mentioned process is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0033] To enhance penetration of the bristles, each of the
needle-shaped bristles is set in each of the elongate grooves after
being folded such that a height difference of 0.5-1.5 mm exists
between both ends of the folded needle-shaped bristle. The
needle-shape bristles which are set such that height differences
exist between their ends have penetration ability superior to
bristles which are set such that both of their ends are
leveled.
* * * * *