EP3510889A1 - Interdental brush - Google Patents

Abstract

Interdental brush (1) with a handle part (2) and a carrier (3) which is formed from two strands (4) twisted together, filaments (9, 11) being twisted into the strands. The carrier (3) has a cylindrical working area (8) with a defined therapeutic width. An insertion area (10) is provided distally in front of the working area (8), in which the filaments (11) have a smaller therapeutic width than in the working area (8).

Description

The invention relates to interdental brushes having a handle portion and a carrier connected to the handle portion, the carrier having a working area and an insertion area located distally of the work area, wherein filaments are fixed in the working area to the carrier having a defined one therapeutic width.

Such therapeutic brushes have a work area in which the brushes or filaments have substantially consistent therapeutic widths.

When using the interdental brush, choosing the right size for the cleaning effect is crucial. It is important that when a change of direction of the movement of a introduced in a tooth space brush the filaments fold.

The therapeutic width of a brush now indicates, for example, the width of a tooth gap, in which such a folding takes place. The therapeutic range can be described as when a filament is introduced into a tube whose inner diameter is in the therapeutic width, a change of direction of the brush causes a folding over of the bent filaments or of the bent filament.

Most simply, a uniform therapeutic width is achieved by a cylindrical brush shape.

In such cylindrical interdental brushes, however, there is basically the problem that, when the brush is inserted into the interdental space, there is a risk of buckling in the course of the wire section still to be exposed.

From the DE 10 2016 005 332 A diagnostic brush is already known in which a bristle-free insertion area facilitates insertion into a tooth space and thus the risk of buckling is reduced. However, this brush is intended for diagnostic purposes and therefore has a conical contour which is unsuitable for therapeutic purposes.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an interdental brush for cleaning purposes, which is easier Applicable.

This object is achieved by an interdental brush with the features of the main claim.

In the interdental brush according to the invention filaments are attached to the support in the insertion, the therapeutic width is smaller than the therapeutic width of the filaments in the work area. Filaments with a smaller therapeutic width are easier to insert into a tooth space. Due to the lower resistance during insertion is also the risk that the wearer during Insertion kinks, less.

As already mentioned above, the therapeutic width is a property that also depends on the width of the opening for which the brush is intended. Therefore, the therapeutic range can also be changed by different parameters.

The filaments in the lead-in area can be thinner and / or shorter, for example, than the filaments in the working area.

The filaments may also be less dense, so be arranged at a greater distance from each other.

Another possibility is that the filaments are less stiff. This can be realized for example by the choice of another material.

Overall, the parameters mentioned can be changed alternatively or in any combination with each other. For example, it is conceivable that the filaments in the insertion region are shorter and thinner compared to the filaments in the working region, or the same length and of a less rigid material.

It is particularly advantageous if the working area has a cylindrical outer contour. In this way, a good cleaning effect can be achieved. Furthermore, it is easy and intuitive for a user to see for which size of a tooth space the brush is provided, that is, for which therapeutic width.

It is particularly advantageous if the therapeutic width of the insertion region is gradual or continuous from the Insertion of the wearer towards the work area increases, in particular to the therapeutic width of the work area. This causes increasing insertion resistance and prevents an abrupt transition to the work area. A kinking of the carrier is thus prevented.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insertion region has a conical outer contour, wherein the filament length increases from the distal end to the working region. The advantage here is that the filaments of the lead-in area and the working area can be the same, wherein the lead-in area can be produced by subsequent cutting or grinding. In this way, a particularly simple and inexpensive production is possible.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insertion region has a cylindrical outer contour. The smaller therapeutic width of the filaments in the insertion region can be achieved as above by varying various parameters. In particular, the filaments can be made thinner and / or consist of a softer material.

It is also possible in this embodiment that the therapeutic width is increasingly formed from the insertion end to the working area. For this example, filaments with increasing thickness can be used.

It is particularly advantageous if the insertion region and the working region each have a cylindrical outer contour and that the cylinder dimensions of the insertion region and of the working region coincide. In this way, the entire brush has a uniform diameter, which for a user, the selection of a suitable brush size is much easier.

It is particularly advantageous if the filaments are of different thicknesses in the two regions, that is to say they have different cross sections. As a result, the brush is simple and inexpensive to produce.

The carrier of the interdental brushes may consist of a suitable material. It is particularly advantageous if the carrier is made of a metal or plastic.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the carrier is formed from two strands twisted together. As a result, a particularly simple production by screwing the filaments into the strands is possible.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the working area is at least three times, preferably more than three times, as long as the insertion area. As a result, the brush has a sufficiently large work area for a good cleaning effect and ease of use.

The invention also includes a use of an interdental brush according to the invention for cleaning a tooth space. For this purpose, the interdental brush is introduced with its insertion area in the interdental space and then pushed on until the work area in the interdental space can be moved back and forth.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to some advantageous embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Interdentalbürste mit durchgehender zylinderförmiger Außenkontur und einem Einführbereich mit dünneren Filamenten,

Fig. 2

eine erfindungsgemäße Interdentalbürste mit zylinderförmiger Außenkontur und einem Einführbereich mit kürzeren Filamenten,

Fig. 3

eine erfindungsgemäße Interdentalbürste mit zylinderförmigem Arbeitsbereich und einem Einführbereich mit kegelförmiger Außenkontur,

Fig. 4

eine erfindungsgemäße Interdentalbürste mit zylinderförmiger Außenkontur und einem Einführbereich mit Filamenten aus einem anderen Material und

Fig. 5

eine erfindungsgemäße Interdentalbürste mit zylinderförmiger Außenkontur und einem Einführbereich mit dünneren Filamenten.

It shows:

Fig. 1

an inventive interdental brush with a continuous cylindrical outer contour and an insertion area with thinner filaments,

Fig. 2

an inventive interdental brush with a cylindrical outer contour and an insertion region with shorter filaments,

Fig. 3

an inventive interdental brush with a cylindrical working area and an insertion area with a conical outer contour,

Fig. 4

an inventive interdental brush with a cylindrical outer contour and an insertion area with filaments of a different material and

Fig. 5

an inventive interdental brush with a cylindrical outer contour and an insertion with thinner filaments.

The Fig. 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of an inventive interdental brush 1. The brush 1 has a handle 2, which allows handling of the brush 1. The design of the handle 2 plays no role for the invention, which is why the handle 2 is shown here only in the approach.

The brush 1 has a carrier 3, which is twisted from two strands 4. The carrier 3 is made in the example of a metal wire. However, it is also possible that the strands 4 of the carrier 3 are made of plastic.

The two strands 4 are integrally connected to each other at the insertion end 5 and thus form a rounded insertion tip 6, which avoids injury of the gums during insertion into a tooth space. In the example, the first loop 7 at the insertion end 5 of the carrier 3 is also bristle-free. This bristle-free loop 7 facilitates insertion into a tooth space in addition, since the loop 7 can initially be placed without resistance in the interdental space. When pushing on the brush 1 can then no longer slip out of the interdental space and is safely inserted into this.

The brush 1 has a working area 8, which has a cylindrical outer contour. The filaments 9, which are screwed in between the two strands 4 therefore all have the same length.

Furthermore, the brush 1 has an insertion region 10 for easier insertion. In the example shown, the insertion region 10 comprises the first five filaments 11 from the insertion end 5. The insertion region may also have fewer or more filaments 11. However, it is expedient if the insertion region 10 is made short in relation to the working region 8. In the example shown, the working area 8 is approximately three times as long as the insertion area 10. In principle, it can be advantageous if the working area 8 is at least three times as long as the insertion area 10.

According to the invention, these filaments 11 have a smaller therapeutic width than the filaments 9 in the subsequent working region 8. In this exemplary embodiment, the filaments 11 have the same length in the insertion region 10 as the filaments 9 in the working region 8. The brush 1 accordingly has a continuous, uniform cylindrical outer contour. In order to achieve the lower therapeutic width, the filaments 11 in the insertion region 10 are made thinner here than the filaments 9 of the working region 8.

In practice, the use of the brush 1 is essentially as follows. First, the selection of the tooth space suitable for the brush 1. Based on the cylindrical shape of the working area 8, the selection of suitable for a tooth space brush size is simple and intuitive to carry out. The matching brush 1 is then applied with the bristle-free loop 7 to the interdental space, which can be powerless. The brush 1 is then pushed in the direction of the interdental space. Due to the smaller therapeutic width of the filaments 11 of the insertion region 10, the brush 1 can be very easily inserted into the interdental space. Due to the bristle-free loop 7, the brush 1 is already in the correct insertion position, so that the insertion direction is predetermined and the brush 1 simply follows this insertion direction. A kinking of the carrier 3 or slipping out of the brush 1 from the interdental space is prevented. The brush 1 is then pushed further until the working area 8 has penetrated into the interdental space and the brush 1 can be moved back and forth there.

The Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an interdental brush 1 according to the invention. In this example, the filaments 11 have the same thickness in the insertion region 10 as in the working region 8. To achieve the lower therapeutic width, however, the filaments 11 are made shorter. However, all filaments 11 of the insertion region 10 have the same length, so that the insertion region 10 also has a cylindrical outer contour, but with smaller diameter than the working area 8. The insertion region 10 here also includes the first five filaments 11 from the insertion end 5.

In the Fig. 3 a further embodiment of an interdental brush 1 according to the invention is shown, whose insertion region 10 likewise comprises the first five filaments 11 from the insertion end 5. However, the length of the filaments 11 increases starting from the insertion end 5 increasingly, resulting in the insertion region 10, a conical outer contour.

The execution of Fig. 4 corresponds essentially to the execution of Fig. 1 , To achieve the smaller therapeutic width in the insertion region 10, however, the filaments 11 are not made thinner here, but instead consist of a different material, which is to be clarified by the hatching. The material preferably has a lower stiffness or is softer and more flexible.

The in the Fig. 5 The embodiment shown also essentially corresponds to the execution of Fig. 1 , Here, however, the density of the filaments 11 is reduced in order to achieve the smaller therapeutic width in the insertion region 10. Opposite the Fig. 1 here every second filament 11 is missing, so that in total only three filaments 11 are present in the insertion region 10.

As already mentioned, the embodiments shown are merely examples which are intended to illustrate the invention. Of course, there are other ways to change the therapeutic range, in particular to reduce. So it is quite possible to combine individual measures shown. So could for example, the filaments of Fig. 2 or 3 additionally be thinner and / or made of a different material. Also, the insertion area may also include more or less than five filaments, if necessary. The invention is therefore in no way limited to the embodiments shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Interdental brush

2

handle

3

carrier

4

strands

5

introductory

6

insertion

7

loop

8th

Workspace

9

Filaments in the work area

10

insertion

11

Filaments in the insertion area

Claims (9)

Interdental brush (1) with a handle part (2) and with a support (3) connected to the handle part (2), wherein the support (3) has a working area (8) and an insertion area located distally in front of the working area (8) (10), wherein in the work area (8) on the support (3) filaments (9) are fixed, which have a defined therapeutic width, characterized in that in the insertion region (10) on the support (3) filaments ( 11) are attached, whose therapeutic width is smaller than the therapeutic width of the filaments (9) in the working area (8). Interdental brush (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the insertion region (10) the filaments (11) are thinner and / or shorter and / or less dense and / or less rigid. Interdental brush (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the working area (8) has a cylindrical outer contour. Interdental brush (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the insertion region (10) has a conical outer contour, wherein the diameter of an insertion end (5) of the support to the work area (8) increases, or has a cylindrical outer contour. Interdental brush (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the insertion region (10) and the working region (8) each have a cylindrical Have outer contour and that the cylinder dimensions of the insertion (10) and the working area (8) match. Interdental brush (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the filaments (9, 11) have different thicknesses in the two regions, in particular the filaments (11) of the insertion region (10) are thinner than the filaments (9) of the working region ( 8th) . Interdental brush (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the carrier has at its distal insertion end (5) a bristle-free loop (7). Interdental brush (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carrier (3) is made of a metal or plastic and / or that the carrier (3) consists of two strands (4) twisted together. Use of an interdental brush (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for cleaning a interdental space, wherein the interdental brush (1) is introduced with its insertion region (10) in the interdental space and then pushed until the working area (8) back and forth in the interdental space can be moved.

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