DEOTAL BRUSH AND DEETOAL BRUSH HEAD PAR EAST
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush head with a bristle carrier, over which a section of bristles is placed which includes a variety of filaments, of which, at least one filament is provides a beveled termination with direction to its free end, as well as a toothbrush with the toothbrush head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has already been proposed to produce toothbrushes with bristles, whose filaments have a smaller diameter at their free end than at their base. This usually bevelled termination, or bevel-shaped tip, is designed to make it easier for the filaments to penetrate into the interdental spaces and clean them better. However, the bisected termination of these filaments results in a reduced force while undergoing a flexion, which prevents or prevents plenetration. The geometrical moment of inertia of the filters is reduced, so that the filaments are excessively soft in the direction of the interdental space and can no longer penetrate it. JP 11-075939 describes an array of bristles REF. 186786 for toothbrushes, in which such elements are provided with a beveled finish pointing to their tip, but this arrangement of bristles can not ensure a truly improved penetration into the interdental spaces. Additionally, US 2005/0172436 proposes to improve the group of bristles consisting of a variety of filaments with an angled tip, in which the individual filaments have a gradual length. However, this does not really simplify the penetration into the interdental spaces, as long as the individual filaments are not provided with a tip or a sufficient bevelled end on their free ends.
Brief Description of the Invention The present invention is based on the objective of developing an improved toothbrush head, starting from the initially mentioned type, which enables the elimination of the disadvantages of the state of the art and represents an additional favorable development of this. In particular, the invention is shaped to achieve improved penetration of the filaments within the interdental spaces. In accordance with the invention, this objective is achieved with a toothbrush head in accordance with Claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention form the objectives of the dependent claims. The invention proposes to facilitate the beveled termination at the tip of at least one filament, with a different constitution to a rotationally symmetrical shape, so that the filament retains a greater force while being subjected to flexion in one direction. According to the invention, the beveled termination is made in the form of a uniform planar recess, so that the beveled region of the filament has a greater force, when subjected to bending, with respect to a first lateral axis than with resp to a second lateral axis, which extends perpendicular to the first lateral axis. In the region of the uniform planar recess, the cross section of the filament has a longitudinal axis or long main axis, as well as a shorter longitudinal axis or short major axis, respectively, so that the filament has different geometric moments of inertia with respect to both axes mentioned above in the rebate region. The uniform plane recess at the tip of the filament simplifies the penetration into the interdental spaces, where the greatest geometric moment of inertia of the side (or sides) wider (s)
(not conical) prevents the filament from bending. Accordingly, the uniform planar recess or beveled termination of the filament is limited to one side or two opposite sides of the end of the filament. In this context, the uniform plane germ refers to a geometric shape of the filament (as described above), rather than the manufacturing method. According to a further favorable development of the invention, the free end of the filament is recessed in the form of a wedge. In this case, the recess can only be made with an inclined surface extending at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the filament.
Alternatively, the wedge-shaped recess can be made with two opposite inclined surfaces which are inclined in relation to one another, by means of an acute angle, so that the free end of the filament has a contour in the shape of "roof of two water". In accordance with a further development of the invention, at least one inclined surface forming the wedge recess of the filament may be made flat. Alternatively, the inclined surface may have a curvature that is made with a single axis, preferably. According to a favorable embodiment of the invention, at least the single inclined surface has a convex curvature, in which the axis of curvature can extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the filament. Alternatively or additionally, the inclined surface may also have a convex curvature on an axis that lies on a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the filament. According to a further development of the invention, at least one inclined surface can also have a concave curvature, in which the axis of curvature can extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the filament and / or be on a plane containing the Longitudinal axis of the filament, as described above. On the end of the filament, the uniform plane recess is favorably characterized as having a roundness at its edge. Despite the simple penetration into the interdental spaces, this makes it possible to gently clean the teeth and prevent gum injuries. The recess may be rounded on the side face, particularly at the end of the filament and / or in the direction of the side flanks. According to a favorable embodiment of the invention, the free end of the filament can be characterized by an obtuse tip or a residual surface which is transformed on the inclined surface of the recess by means of the aforementioned roundness. The thickness of the obtuse tip that remains after recessing can, in principle, have different dimensions, depending on the required or desired acuity, or the specific application. According to the favorable embodiment of the invention, the obtuse tip described above can have a thickness of about 1/5 to 2/5 of the filament of the diameter, the inclination of the aforesaid inclined surfaces, relative to one another or relative to the longitudinal axis of the filament, in principle, they can also be chosen differently. In a further development of the invention, a favorable compromise between a strongly strong design, which allows penetration into the interdental spaces, and a sufficient residual force, is achieved in the fact that the recess has an inclination angle of less of 40 °, preferably less than 30 °. According to a favorable embodiment of the invention, the recess can be made with an inclination angle in the range of between 15 ° and 25 °. At least the filament can, in principle, have different transverse shapes in its region without recess. According to a favorable embodiment of the invention, the filament has a circular cross section in the non-recessed region. To prevent excessive weakening of the entire row while still performing a sufficient beveled termination that simplifies penetration into the interdental spaces, a further development of the invention proposes that the recess extends over 1/8 to 1 / 4 about the free length of the filament, preferably 3/8 of the free length of the filament. It is favorable that, at least one filament, be placed on the bristle carrier with a special alignment, namely that the uniform planar recess can easily penetrate into the interdental spaces and the filament has a greater force while undergoing bending during cleaning movements in interdental spaces, that is, in a direction parallel to the axis of the tooth. At least one filament can be placed on the bristle carrier, in particular, so that the longer transverse main axis of the recess extends parallel to the interdental spaces, when the head of the bristle is properly oriented with relationship to a row of teeth, namely that the longitudinal axis of the bristle carrier or the longitudinal axis of the tooth cavity is positioned essentially tangentially to the dental arch. In this case, the filament can be aligned differently on the bristle carrier, depending on the design of the toothbrush or the toothbrush head, respectively. If the head of the toothbrush is part of a manual toothbrush, the filament is favorably aligned at a node such that the aforementioned longer transverse main axis of the recess extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. If the recessing is carried out with two inclined surfaces that are inclined in relation to each other, as described above, the ridge formed in this way extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dental center, between the two inclined surfaces. Alternatively, the toothbrush head can also be designed for an electric toothbrush. In this case, the recessed filaments can be placed and aligned differently, depending on the axis of movement acquired. In accordance with a favorable embodiment of the invention, the head of the toothbrush with its bristle carrier can be rotatably driven around a driving axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. In this case, at least one filament with the uniform planar recess is aligned similarly to the aforementioned manual toothbrush. The longer transverse main axis extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. Alternatively, the toothbrush head can also be characterized by a bristle carrier that can be rotatably driven, about a lateral axis that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. In this case, at least one filament with the uniform planar recess is placed in a favorable manner in the area of the bristle arrangement which is located at the position of the rotational center of the bristle carrier, about the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush approximately , in which the aforementioned sector can be extended over different angles which, however, favorably have a magnitude less than 45 °, particularly less than 30 °. If the head of the toothbrush is properly positioned, so that the bristle holder is aligned tangentially over the dental arch, the filaments placed in these two sectors, or angular sectors, perform a movement that extends at least in the direction of the interdental spaces in the form of grooves, approximately. In this case, it is favorable to align the filament so that the longer transverse main axis of its recess extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. The arrangement of bristles of the toothbrush head can, in principle, conventionally consist of several groups of filaments or groups of bristles, in which other cleaning elements, such as cleaning bands, plastic cleaners or elastomeric cleaners, can also be used. provided, if required. At least one row, of at least one group of bristles, is made as described above. The bristle arrangement includes, in a favorable manner, at least one group of bristles, in which the majority of the filaments are made in the manner described above. The filaments within a group of bristles preferably have an approximately identical alignment, that is, the longest transversal major axis of the recess extends in the same direction in all the filaments of the groups of bristles. Several methods can be considered, in principle, to perform the recessing of at least one filament. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, particularly the recess, of at least one inclined surface and / or the roundness that limits this inclined surface, it occurs when the finished bristle carrier is trimmed, adjusted with the bristle arrangement.
Brief Description of the Figures These characteristics, as well as other features of the invention, are not only described in the claims, but also in the following description of the preferred embodiments and the corresponding figures, in which the characteristics can define the objective of the invention individually or in the form of subsequent combinations, notwithstanding their combination in the claims. The figures show: Figure 1 shows a side view of a wedge-shaped recessed filament of a toothbrush, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the filament, according to Figure 1, with a rotation of 90 ° with respect to Figure 1, and shows a top view of an inclined surface of the recess; Figure 3 shows a side view of a filament with a wedge-shaped recess, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a side view of the filament, according to Figure 3, with a rotation of 90 ° with respect to Figure 3, and shows a top view of an inclined surface of the recess; Figure 5 shows a side view of a filament with a wedge-shaped recess, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a side view of the filament, according to Figure 5, with a rotation of 90 ° with respect to Figure 5, and shows a top view of an inclined surface of the recess; Figure 7 shows a side view of a filament with a wedge-shaped recess, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 shows a side view of the filament, in accordance with Figure 7, with a rotation of 90 ° with respect to Figure 7, and shows a top view of an inclined surface of the recess; Figure 9 shows a cross section through a filament, according to one of the favorable embodiments of the invention, which is recessed on both sides, in which the inclined surfaces of the recess have a convex curvature; Figure 10 shows a cross section through a filament, in accordance with a favorable embodiment of the invention, which is recessed on both sides, in which the inclined surfaces of the recess have a concave curvature; Figure 11 shows a top view of a manual toothbrush with a toothbrush head, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 shows a top view of an electric toothbrush with a toothbrush head, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, which can be rotatably driven oscillatory about a longitudinal axis of the toothbrush; and Figure 13 shows a top view of an electric toothbrush with a toothbrush head, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, of which the bristle section can be rotatably driven about a lateral axis.
Detailed Description of the Invention Figures 1 and 2 show a filament or a toothbrush filament 1 that is inserted into a bristle holder 2 of a toothbrush head, which is not shown in detail in Figures 1 and 2. On its base, the filament 1 has a basically cylindrical shape which is recessed on two sides towards the free end 3 of the filament 1. In the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, the recess 4 on the free end 3 of the filament 1 consists of two opposite inclined surfaces 5 and 6 which are inclined relative to each other with an acute angle, and are made flat in the embodiment shown. The two inclined surfaces 5 and 6 of the embodiment shown include a wedge angle 7 of about 20 ° to 25 °, in which the two inclined surfaces 5 and 6 are positioned so that they result in a straight edge on the extr Free 3. The recess 4 is made obtuse at its tip, in the mode shown. The inclined surfaces 5 and 6 do not converge completely in a mathematical line at their free ends 3, but instead they are
The inclined surface 5 once again has a magnitude of about 25 °, in the compliance mode of Figure 3, so that the recess 4 also has a total wedge angle 7 of about 25 °, in this case. The inclined surface 5 is also made flat in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, so that the elliptical shape of the inclined surface 5, shown in Figure 4, results in the connection with the essentially cylindrical shape of the filament 1. The edge of the inclined surface 5 on the side face is also favorably rounded, in the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4. The inclined surface 5 is also transformed into a surface 8 of the obtuse tip, by means of the roundness 12, in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this case, the positioning of the inclined surface 5 is also chosen so that the recess 4 extends over a total length 10 having an approximate magnitude of 3/8 of the total length 11 of the filament 1 and of the thickness 9 of the surface 8 of the obtuse tip has an approximate magnitude of 1/4 of the total thickness of the filament 1. The mode shown in Figures 5 and 6 corresponds to FIG. responds in an essential manner to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the inclined surfaces 5 and 6 are not made flat in this case, but have a concave curvature around an axis that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the filament. According to Figure 5, the wedge angle 7, between the inclined surfaces 5 and 6, is decreased in the direction of the free end 3 of the filament 1, in this case. However, it is also favorably below 40 °, preferably between 15 ° and 35 °. Furthermore, the embodiment in accordance with Figures 7 and 8 also essentially corresponds to the two-sided recess, shown in the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, but in this case the inclined surfaces 5 and 6 have a curvature convex, namely on an axis of curvature extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the filament, so that the wedge angle 7, between the inclined surfaces 5 and 6, is gradually decreased in the direction of the free end 3 of the filament . Favorably, this is also between 15 ° and 35 °, in this case. The inclined surfaces 5 and 6 may alternatively or additionally have a concave or concave curvature on an axis of curvature extending over a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the filament. Figure 9 shows such a convex curvature, while Figure 10 shows the corresponding concave curvature of the surfaces 5 and 6. The recess 4 and the roundness 12 can be produced by lowering the filaments of the ternary bristle carrier 2, adjusted with the bristle arrangement. . A common aspect of filament 1, shown in the
Figures 1 to 10, is the design with essential wedge shape of the recess 4, in which the filaments 1 have different geometric moments of inertia with respect to the axes that extend at a right angle perpendicular to each other in the region of the 4. The force of the filament 1, while undergoing bending, is greater in the direction 13 of the longer transverse main axis (see Figures 2, 4, 6, and 8) than in the direction of the shortest transverse main axis of the recess 4. In other words, this means that the filament 1 is more rigid when it is bent parallel to the inclined surfaces 5 and 6 of the recess and is less rigid if it is bent perpendicular to the inclined surfaces 5 and 6. filaments 1 are aligned in a favorable manner, so that the direction 13 of the longer transverse main axis extends parallel to the interdental spaces in the form of a slit, when the toothbrush is colored. appropriately over the dental arch. In accordance with Figure 11, the filaments 1 can be combined into groups of bristles 14 and collectively form a section of bristles 15, located on the bristle carrier 12 of a toothbrush head 17. If the dental brush head 17 is part of a manual dental epillo, as shown in Figure 11, the filaments 1 are aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, with its longer transverse main axis extended in the direction of the toothbrush. This is applied in a similar way if the head 17 of the toothbrush is designed for an electric toothbrush, in which the bristle carrier 2 can be operated in a rotationally oscillating manner around a driving shaft 18 extending in parallel fashion to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, as shown in Figure 12. The rotationally oscillatory movement about the driving axis 18 is symbolized by an arrow 19. In this case, the filaments 1 are aligned in the direction 13, extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush and, thus, perpendicular to the axis of operation 18, with its longer transverse main axis. In the electric toothbrush shown in Fig. 13, the bristle carrier 2 is essentially made with a disc shape or, for example, an oval shape, and can be rotatably driven oscillating about the axis of operation 18. In this case , the driving shaft 18 is located approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. It is favorable that only the files 1, or some groups of bristles 20 and 21, which are inserted in the angular sectors, or sectors 22 and 23, of the bristle section 15, have an approximately cylindrical shape or, for example, , oval, the angular sectors are on the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush and are placed symmetrically on it, in position of the rotational center of the bristle carrier 2. Sectors 22 and 23 mentioned above can cover different angular ranges, for example , respectively around 30 ° in the modality shown. The groups of bristles 20 and 21 at the edge of the bristle section 15, in sectors 22 and 23, I perform a movement that extends approximately parallel to the interdental spaces in the form of a slit. The longer transverse main axes of the filaments 1, which extend in the direction of the arrow 13, are also favorably aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, when the bristle carrier 2 is placed in its rotational inside position . Further favorable development refers to sectors 24 and 25, placed in opposite manner, which optionally form the bristle section 15, and are located specifically adjacent to sectors 22 and 23. In sectors 24 and 25, the filaments 1 are placed in groups of bristles 26 and 27, so that the longer transverse main axis of the recess 4 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, in the direction of the arrow 13. This means that the recess 4 of all the filaments 1, in the bristle section 15, are aligned parallel to one another. When the bristle carrier 15 performs the rotationally oscillating movement, according to arrow 19, the direction of movement of the filaments 1, of the groups of bristles 26 and 27, in sectors 24 and 25, extends approximately perpendicularly to the shorter transverse main shaft of the recess 4. This means that the filaments 1 of the bristle groups 26 and 27 only generate a small resistance to bending in the region of the recess 4. In this way, the filaments 1 can be easily bent in IDS sectors 24 and 25, in which these can come in contact with the gums while brushing the teeth. This prevents gum injuries. Another advantage of the parallel alignment of the recess 4 of all the filaments 1 of a section of bristles 15can be seen in the simplification of manufacturing, for example, if the recess 4 is performed simultaneously in all the filaments 1. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the cited invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.