JP6082038B2 - Cleaning tool - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning tool.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cleaning tool for cleaning a minute gap between keys on a keyboard is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning tool including a shaft portion and a fiber lump (cleaning portion) attached to the tip portion of the shaft portion. The cleaning unit is formed by compressing a predetermined amount of fibers.

JP 2001-087211 A

  In the cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, cleaning is performed in a minute gap formed between objects to be cleaned (between keyboard keys, etc.) adjacent to each other due to fuzz on the surface of the cleaning portion made of fiber. It may be difficult to insert the part. Specifically, when the cleaning unit repeatedly collides with the object to be cleaned during the cleaning of the minute gap, the surface of the cleaning unit becomes fluffy, which makes it difficult to insert the cleaning unit into the minute gap. There is.

  On the other hand, an elastomer is known as a material that can be used for forming a cleaning portion for cleaning a minute gap without causing the problem of fuzz. The cleaning part formed of this elastomer does not cause fuzz and effectively removes dirt in the minute gaps by friction generated between the cleaning part and the object to be cleaned.

  However, even when the cleaning portion is formed of an elastomer, the improvement of the insertion property of the cleaning portion into the minute gap is insufficient. Specifically, if the tip of the cleaning unit comes into contact with the object to be cleaned when the cleaning unit is inserted into a minute gap, the depth of the cleaning unit can be further increased by inserting the cleaning unit toward the back of the gap. An operation for changing the insertion direction (the posture of the shaft portion) with respect to the gap of the cleaning portion is required so that the insertion into the space is allowed. Since this operation is required every time the tip of the cleaning unit comes into contact with the object to be cleaned, it is very difficult to insert the cleaning unit to the back of the gap. This problem is particularly noticeable when the adjustment range of the posture of the shaft portion is limited, such as operation of the shaft portion in a narrow space.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning tool capable of easily inserting a cleaning unit to the back of a minute gap.

  As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a cleaning tool for cleaning a minute gap formed between adjacent objects to be cleaned, which extends in a specific direction and is inserted into the gap. A shaft portion having an insert end portion formed at one end in the specific direction and a base end portion formed at the other end in the specific direction, and a hardness of the shaft portion. A cleaning portion that is made of an elastomer having a low hardness, covers the portion including the insertion end portion and has a dimension equal to or smaller than the axial dimension of the shaft portion, and is capable of cleaning the gap. The shaft portion has a shape that can be bent and deformed so as to allow the insertion end portion to be displaced with respect to the base end portion in an axis orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axis direction of the shaft portion. The cleaning part covers the outer peripheral surface of the shaft part And a guide part that projects outward in the axial direction from the insertion end part and guides insertion of the cleaning part main body into the gap, and the guide part includes the guide part. Provided is a cleaning tool in which a protruding dimension from an insertion end is equal to or greater than a thickness of the cleaning unit main body and has a shape that can be elastically deformed so as to be displaced in the axis orthogonal direction with respect to the insertion end. .

  In the present invention, when the cleaning unit is inserted into a minute gap formed between adjacent objects to be cleaned, the guide unit located at the tip in the insertion direction of the cleaning unit contacts the object to be cleaned, and then the cleaning unit With the insertion along the insertion direction, the guide portion is elastically deformed so as to be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the axis toward the back of the gap with respect to the insertion end portion, and the shaft portion is the shaft portion. Is bent and deformed so as to be displaced in the same direction as the displacement direction of the guide portion with respect to the base end portion of the shaft portion. Therefore, this cleaning tool inserts the shaft portion in the posture as it is after the guide portion contacts the object to be cleaned, so that the cleaning portion is moved to the back of the gap while being accompanied by elastic deformation of the guide portion and bending deformation of the shaft portion. Inserted. That is, in this cleaning tool, when the cleaning unit is inserted into the gap, the cleaning unit body is guided to be inserted into the gap by the guide unit having a relatively low hardness, and further cleaning unit is inserted after the guide. In the interior, the gap or the object to be cleaned is effectively cleaned by the cleaning unit body that covers the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion having relatively high hardness. Therefore, with this cleaning tool, it becomes easy to clean minute gaps such as between keys on the keyboard or between teeth.

  In this case, it is preferable that the protruding dimension of the guide part is set to be not less than 3 times and not more than 10 times the thickness of the cleaning part main body.

  If it does in this way, insertion of the cleaning part to a minute crevice becomes still easier. Specifically, by setting the protruding dimension of the guide part (the axial dimension) to be three times or more the thickness of the cleaning part body, the amount of displacement of the guide part when the guide part is elastically deformed is sufficient. Therefore, the guide portion is effectively guided toward the back of the gap as the shaft portion is inserted after the guide portion contacts the object to be cleaned. On the other hand, by setting the projecting dimension of the guide part to be 10 times or less the thickness of the cleaning part main body, the strength of the guide part decreases due to the projecting dimension of the guide part becoming too long, that is, And the fall of the insertability to the clearance gap between guide parts is suppressed.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the protruding dimension of the guide portion is set to be not less than 0.6 times and not more than 4 times the dimension of the insertion end portion in the direction perpendicular to the axis. More preferably, the following is set.

  In this way, the cleaning part can be more easily inserted into the minute gap. Specifically, when the protruding dimension of the guide part is set to 0.6 or more times the dimension of the insertion end part in the direction perpendicular to the axis, the guide part with respect to the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the insertion end part is elastically deformed. Since the ratio of the amount of displacement of the guide part is sufficiently large, the guide part is effectively guided toward the back of the gap as the shaft part is inserted after the guide part contacts the object to be cleaned. On the other hand, by setting the projecting dimension of the guide part to be four times or less the dimension of the insertion end part in the axis-perpendicular direction, the guide part has a relatively long projecting dimension. A decrease, that is, a decrease in insertability into the gap of the guide portion is suppressed.

  In the present invention, the protruding dimension of the guide portion is set to 0.10 mm to 1.2 mm, the axial dimension of the shaft portion is set to 10 mm or more, and the cleaning tool In the state in which the portion spaced 10 mm from the distal end of the guide portion toward the base end portion is fixed, the guide portion is 5 in the axial direction with elastic deformation of the guide portion and bending deformation of the shaft portion. The shore hardness of the elastomer is such that the pressing force required to press the guide portion from the insertion end portion side toward the base end portion side until the displacement of 0.0 mm is 1.0 N or more and 8.0 N or less. Is preferably set.

  By setting the Shore hardness of the elastomer so that the pressing force is 1.0 N or more and 8.0 N or less, cleaning is performed when the shaft portion is further inserted from the state where the guide portion is in contact with the object to be cleaned. The part is further easily inserted into the gap. Specifically, the pressing force includes a force necessary to elastically deform the guide portion made of the elastomer in addition to a force necessary to bend and deform the shaft portion. By setting the Shore hardness of the elastomer so as to be 0 N or more, the strength of the guide portion is sufficiently ensured, whereby the shaft portion is further inserted from the state where the guide portion is in contact with the object to be cleaned. Sometimes the guide part is effectively elastically deformed toward the back of the gap. On the other hand, when the Shore hardness of the elastomer is set so that the pressing force is 8.0 N or less, the guide portion when the shaft portion is further inserted from the state where the guide portion is in contact with the object to be cleaned. The deformation failure (the guide property to the back of the clearance of the cleaning unit main body by the guide unit is impaired) is suppressed.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the cleaning unit further includes a minute protrusion provided at a tip of the guide unit and having an outer shape smaller than the outer shape of the guide unit.

  In this way, when the microprotrusion contacts the object to be cleaned, the microprotrusion guides the displacement direction of the guide portion so that the guide portion is elastically deformed toward the back of the gap. Insertion into the gap is further facilitated.

  In the present invention, the cleaning unit further includes a brush bristle group including a plurality of brush bristles each having a shape protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning unit main body in the direction perpendicular to the axis. The bristles have first curved brush hairs that have a shape that gradually curves from the base end side toward the insertion end side toward the outside from the cleaning unit main body in the direction orthogonal to the axis, and the axis orthogonal It is preferable that the second curved brush bristles have a shape that gradually curves from the insertion end side toward the base end side in the direction from the cleaning unit main body toward the outside.

  If it does in this way, the said clearance gap or a to-be-cleaned object can be effectively cleaned both at the time of insertion to the clearance gap of a cleaning part, and the time of extraction from the said clearance gap. Specifically, the bristle group includes first curved brush hairs having a shape that gradually curves from the proximal end side toward the insertion end side as it goes outward from the cleaning unit body, and outward from the cleaning unit body. And the second curved brush bristles having a shape that gradually curves from the insertion end side toward the base end side as it goes toward the first end. The second curved brush bristles effectively clean the gap or the object to be cleaned during the extraction.

  Further, the brush bristle group includes the first curved brush bristle and the second curved brush bristle, so that cleaning is performed as compared with the case where the brush bristle group includes only one of the first curved brush bristle and the second curved brush bristle. The insertion resistance felt by the operator when inserting the part into the gap and the pulling resistance felt by the operator when pulling the cleaning part out of the gap become substantially uniform. For this reason, the cleaning operation by the operator becomes easy.

  The first curved bristle and the second curved bristle are designed such that brush bristle having a shape extending linearly outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning unit main body in the direction perpendicular to the axis is formed. Brush hair molded by a mold, and gradually from the base end side to the insertion end side or from the insertion end side to the base end as it goes outward from the cleaning unit body after releasing from the mold Including those that have a shape that curves toward the part side.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the insertion end portion and the guide portion are each formed in a hemispherical shape that curves so as to protrude outward in the axial direction, and the radius of the guide portion is It is preferably set to 1.1 times to 8 times the radius of the insertion end, more preferably set to 1.1 times to 4 times, and more preferably 1.2 times to 2 times. More preferably, it is set as follows.

  In this way, as compared with the case where the guide part is formed in a substantially triangular pyramid shape or a truncated cone shape, the guide part guides the cleaning part body to the gap when the cleaning part is inserted into the gap. Increases effectiveness.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning tool capable of easily inserting a cleaning unit to the back of a minute gap.

It is a front view of the cleaning tool of one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the II-II line | wire shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the outline of a press tester. It is a figure which shows the outline of the insertion initial stage of the cleaning part to the clearance gap between mutually adjacent to-be-cleaned objects. It is a figure which shows the outline of the insertion middle stage of the cleaning part to the clearance gap between mutually adjacent to-be-cleaned objects. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of a cleaning part.

  A cleaning tool 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The cleaning tool 1 is for cleaning minute gaps (such as gaps between keys on the keyboard or gaps between back teeth) formed between objects to be cleaned T (see FIGS. 4 and 5) adjacent to each other. . As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment includes a base 10 and a cleaning part 20 made of an elastomer having a hardness lower than the hardness of the base 10. The base 10 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. The base 10 is preferably formed of polypropylene from the viewpoint that moderate elasticity is obtained in the base 10 and insertion into the gap is enhanced, but ABS, polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyacetal Or a synthetic resin such as As the elastomer, a styrene elastomer is preferably used. However, silicon, an olefin elastomer, a polyester elastomer, or the like may be used as the elastomer.

  The base portion 10 includes a shaft portion 12 having a shape extending linearly along a specific direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 1), and a grip portion 14.

  The shaft portion 12 has a shape that can be inserted into the minute gap S (see FIG. 4). The shaft portion 12 has an insertion end portion 12a formed at one end in the specific direction and a base end portion 12b formed at the other end in the specific direction. The shaft portion 12 has a shape that can be bent and deformed so that the insertion end portion 12a is displaced in an axis orthogonal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft portion 12 with the base end portion 12b as a fulcrum. In the present embodiment, the shaft portion 12 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. Specifically, the shaft portion 12 has a shape that gradually and slightly decreases the outer diameter of the shaft portion 12 from the base end portion 12b toward the insertion end portion 12a. The insertion end 12a is formed in a hemispherical shape that curves so as to protrude outward in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the axial dimension of the shaft portion 12 is set to 29 mm, and the diameter of the base end portion 12b is set to 1.2 mm. Further, the radius of the insertion end 12a is set to 0.27 mm.

  The grip part 14 is a part gripped by a person. The grip portion 14 is connected to the base end portion 12 b of the shaft portion 12. In the present embodiment, the grip portion 14 is formed in a columnar shape having an outer diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 12. However, the shape of the gripping part 14 is not limited to this.

  The cleaning part 20 has a shape that includes the insertion end part 12a and covers a part of the shaft part 12 that has a dimension equal to or smaller than the dimension of the shaft part 12 in the axial direction and can clean the gap S. Specifically, the cleaning portion 20 has a shape that covers a portion of the shaft portion 12 that continuously extends from the insertion end portion 12a along the direction from the insertion end portion 12a to the base end portion 12b. In the present embodiment, the axial dimension of the cleaning unit 20 is set to 15.4 mm. The cleaning unit 20 includes a cleaning unit main body 22 and a guide unit 24.

  The cleaning part main body 22 has a shape that covers the outer peripheral surface of the shaft part 12 including the insertion end part 12a. The cleaning unit main body 22 has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning unit main body 22 includes a first covering portion 22 a that covers the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 12 other than the insertion end portion 12 a and a first covering portion that covers the outer peripheral surface of the insertion end portion 12 a. 2 covering portion 22b. The thickness (dimension in the left-right direction in FIG. 2) t1 of the first covering portion 22a is set to 0.10 mm. The second covering portion 22b has a shape that gradually increases in thickness as it is spaced outward from the first covering portion 22a in the axial direction.

  The guide portion 24 has a shape that protrudes outward in the axial direction from the insertion end portion 12 a and guides the insertion of the cleaning portion main body 22 into the gap S. The guide portion 24 has a shape that can be elastically deformed in the direction perpendicular to the axis with respect to the insertion end portion 12a. As shown in FIG. 2, the protruding dimension t2 of the guide portion 24 from the insertion end portion 12a is set larger than the thickness t1 of the first covering portion 22a. The protrusion dimension t2 is preferably set to be not less than 3 times and not more than 10 times the thickness t1 of the first covering portion 22a. More preferably, the protruding dimension t2 is set to be not less than 3 times and not more than 5 times the thickness t1 of the first covering portion 22a. Furthermore, it is preferable that the protruding dimension t2 is set to be not less than 0.6 times and not more than 4 times the diameter d of the insertion end portion 12a (1.1 times to not more than 8 times the radius of the insertion end portion 12a). In the present embodiment, the protrusion dimension t2 is set to four times the thickness t1 of the first covering portion 22a, that is, 0.40 mm. This value is about 1.5 times the radius of the insertion end 12a.

  A cross section of the guide portion 24 at a portion in contact with the insertion end portion 12a at a plane orthogonal to the axial direction is formed in a circular shape having the same radius as the radius of the tip portion of the second covering portion 22b. In the present embodiment, the guide portion 24 is formed in a hemispherical shape that curves so as to protrude outward in the axial direction. That is, the protrusion dimension t2 is set to a value equal to the radius of the guide portion 24.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a minute protrusion 25 is connected to the tip of the guide portion 24. The minute protrusion 25 has a shape that protrudes outward in the axial direction from the tip of the guide portion 24. In this embodiment, the microprotrusion 25 is formed in a conical shape. Specifically, the outer diameter of the connection portion between the minute protrusion 25 and the guide portion 24 is set smaller than the outer diameter of the connection portion between the guide portion 24 and the second covering portion 22b (the radius of the guide portion 24). The dimension in the axial direction of the minute protrusion 25 is set smaller than the protrusion dimension t2 of the guide portion 24. Note that the minute protrusions 25 may be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, in a state in which a portion of the cleaning tool 1 that is 10 mm away from the distal end of the guide portion 24 toward the base end side is fixed, the guide is accompanied by elastic deformation of the guide portion 24 and bending deformation of the shaft portion 12. The pressing force required to press the guide portion 24 from the insertion end portion 12a side toward the base end portion 12b side until the portion 24 is displaced by 5.0 mm in the axial direction is 1.0 N or more and 8.0 N or less. As such, the Shore hardness of the elastomer is set. More preferably, the shore hardness of the elastomer is set so that the pressing force is 3.0 N or more and 7.0 N or less, and more preferably, the pressing force is 4.0 N or more and 7.0 N or less. Is done. As said elastomer, what has A0-A50 Shore hardness can be used, and what has A40 Shore hardness is used in this embodiment.

  The pressing force is measured by a pressing tester 30 shown in FIG. The press testing machine 30 includes a fixing base 32 that can fix the cleaning tool 1 and a pressing portion 34 that can press the cleaning tool 1 fixed to the fixing base 32. The pressing portion 34 is disposed vertically above the fixed base 32 and is configured to be able to press the cleaning tool 1 fixed to the fixed base 32 vertically downward.

  Next, a method for measuring the pressing force using the pressing tester 30 will be described.

  First, the cleaning tool 1 is fixed to the fixed base 32 in a posture in which the direction from the gripping part 14 toward the guide part 24 is vertically upward. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the entire part of the cleaning tool 1 that is separated by 10 mm or more from the distal end of the guide portion 24 toward the base end portion 12 b side is fixed by a fixing base 32.

  Next, the cleaning tool 1 is pressed vertically downward by the pressing portion 34. Specifically, the pressing part 34 is displaced 5.0 mm vertically downward toward the fixed base 32 from a state in which the lower surface of the pressing part 34 is in contact with the guide part 24. As the pressing portion 34 is pressed, the guide portion 24 is displaced by 5.0 mm in the axial direction while accompanying elastic deformation of the guide portion 24 and bending deformation of the shaft portion 12. Then, the pressing force when the pressing portion 34 is displaced by 5.0 mm is measured.

  The usage method of this cleaning tool 1 demonstrated above is demonstrated referring FIG.4 and FIG.5. 4 and 5, a cross section near the tip of the cleaning tool 1 is shown.

  First, the cleaning tool 1 is inserted toward the gap S between the objects to be cleaned T with the guide portion 24 positioned at the tip of the cleaning portion 20 as the head. And after the guide part 24 contacts the to-be-cleaned object T, the axial part 12 is inserted along the said insertion direction as it is. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, as the shaft portion 12 is inserted along the insertion direction, the guide portion 24 is displaced in the direction perpendicular to the axis toward the back of the gap S with respect to the insertion end portion 12a. Thus, the shaft portion 12 is bent and deformed such that the insertion end portion 12a is displaced in the same direction as the displacement direction of the guide portion 24 with respect to the base end portion 12b. For this reason, the cleaning part 20 is inserted to the back of the clearance gap S by further inserting the axial part 12 in the said attitude | position along the said insertion direction.

  Thus, in the present cleaning tool 1, when the cleaning unit 20 is inserted into the gap S, the cleaning unit body 22 is guided to be inserted into the gap S by the guide unit 24 having a relatively low hardness, and the guide During the subsequent insertion of the further cleaning portion 20, the gap S or the object to be cleaned T is effectively cleaned by the cleaning portion main body 22 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 12 having relatively high hardness.

  As described above, the cleaning tool 1 inserts the shaft portion 12 in the posture as it is after the guide portion 24 comes into contact with the object to be cleaned T, thereby performing elastic deformation of the guide portion 24 and bending deformation of the shaft portion 12. Accordingly, the cleaning unit 20 is inserted to the back of the gap S. For this reason, in this cleaning tool 1, when the front-end | tip of the cleaning part 20 contacts the to-be-cleaned object T, operation which adjusts the insertion direction to the clearance gap S of the cleaning part 20, ie, the longitudinal direction of the cleaning part 20, is the said. An operation for adjusting the posture of the shaft portion 12 so as to coincide with the extending direction of the gap S is not required. This is particularly effective when the cleaning unit 20 is inserted into the gap S between the back teeth adjacent to each other, that is, when the object to be cleaned T is a back tooth. Specifically, since the back teeth are located in a relatively narrow space in the oral cavity, the shaft portion 12 is set so that the longitudinal direction of the cleaning portion 20 matches the extending direction of the gap S in this space. The operation of adjusting the posture is limited by the lips. Therefore, the cleaning tool 1 is particularly effective for cleaning the gap S between the back teeth.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion dimension t2 of the guide portion 24 is set to four times the thickness t1 of the first covering portion 22a, so that the cleaning portion 20 can be more easily inserted into the gap S. . Specifically, by setting the protrusion dimension t2 of the guide portion 24 to be three times or more the thickness t1 of the first covering portion 22a, the amount of displacement of the guide portion 24 when the guide portion 24 is elastically deformed is sufficient. Therefore, the guide portion 24 is effectively guided toward the back of the gap S as the shaft portion 12 is inserted after the guide portion 24 contacts the object T to be cleaned. On the other hand, when the protrusion dimension t2 of the guide part 24 is set to 10 times or less of the thickness t1 of the first covering part 22a, the guide dimension 24 is caused by the protrusion dimension t2 being relatively long. A decrease in strength of the portion 24, that is, a decrease in insertability of the guide portion 24 into the gap S is suppressed.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the protrusion dimension t2 is set in the range of 0.6 to 4 times the diameter d of the insertion end portion 12a, so that the cleaning portion 20 is further inserted into the gap S. It becomes easy. Specifically, by setting the protrusion dimension t2 of the guide portion 24 to be 0.6 times or more the diameter d of the insertion end portion 12a, the guide portion 24 with respect to the diameter d of the insertion end portion 12a is elastically deformed. Since the ratio of the displacement amount of the guide part 24 is ensured sufficiently large, the guide part 24 is effective toward the back of the gap S with the insertion of the shaft part 12 after the guide part 24 contacts the object T to be cleaned. Be guided to. On the other hand, when the protrusion dimension t2 of the guide part 24 is set to be not more than four times the diameter d of the insertion end part 12a, the guide part 24 is caused by the protrusion dimension t2 of the guide part 24 becoming too long. Is reduced, that is, a drop in insertability of the guide portion 24 into the gap S is suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the elastic force of the guide portion 24 and the deflection of the shaft portion 12 are fixed in a state where the pressing force (a portion of the cleaning tool 1 that is 10 mm away from the distal end of the guide portion 24 toward the base end portion 12b is fixed). The force required to press the guide portion 24 from the insertion end portion 12a side to the base end portion 12b side until the guide portion 24 is displaced by 5.0 mm in the axial direction while being deformed is 1.0 N. As the elastomer, one having an A40 Shore hardness is used so as to be 8.0 N or less. For this reason, when the shaft part 12 is further inserted from the state in which the guide part 24 is in contact with the object to be cleaned T, the cleaning part 20 is more easily inserted into the gap S. Specifically, the pressing force includes a force necessary to elastically deform the guide portion 24 made of the elastomer in addition to a force necessary to bend and deform the shaft portion 12. By setting the Shore hardness of the elastomer so as to be equal to or greater than 1.0 N, the strength of the guide portion 24 is sufficiently ensured, whereby the guide portion 24 is further rotated from the state in contact with the object T to be cleaned. When the portion 12 is inserted, the guide portion 24 is effectively elastically deformed toward the back of the gap S. On the other hand, when the Shore hardness of the elastomer is set so that the pressing force is 8.0 N or less, when the shaft portion 12 is further inserted from the state in which the guide portion 24 is in contact with the object to be cleaned T. Deformation failure of the guide portion 24 (in which the guideability of the cleaning portion main body 22 to the back of the clearance S by the guide portion 24 is impaired) is suppressed.

  Further, the minute protrusion 25 provided at the tip of the guide portion 24 improves the insertion property of the cleaning portion 20 into the gap S. Specifically, when the minute projection 25 comes into contact with the object T to be cleaned, the minute projection 25 guides the displacement direction of the guide portion 24 so that the guide portion 24 is elastically deformed toward the back of the gap S. Further, it becomes easier to insert the cleaning unit 20 into the gap S.

  In addition, it should be thought that the said embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  The shape of the insertion end 12a is not limited to the example of the above embodiment, that is, a hemispherical shape. The insertion end 12a may be formed in a columnar shape, a truncated cone shape, or a polygonal column shape. Moreover, parts other than the insertion end part 12a in the shaft part 12 may be formed in a polygonal column shape.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning unit 20 may have a group of brush hairs including a plurality of brush hairs 27. Each brush hair 27 is integrally formed of the same material as the cleaning unit main body 22, protrudes outward in the axis-perpendicular direction from the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning unit main body 22, and is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning unit main body 22. It is preferable to have a shape that gradually reduces the outer shape of the bristles 27 as it goes on. Further, the brush bristles 27 fall when the bristles 27 come into contact with the object to be cleaned T when being inserted into the gap S. At this time, it is preferable that the fallen brush hair 27 hardly overlaps with the adjacent brush hair 27 or does not overlap at all from the viewpoint of enhancing the insertion property into the gap S. Further, the brush bristle group may include first curved brush bristles 27a and second curved brush bristles 27b. The first curved bristle 27a has a shape that gradually curves from the base end part 12b side toward the insertion end part 12a side toward the outside from the cleaning part main body 22 in the axis orthogonal direction. The second curved brush bristles 27b have a shape that gradually curves from the insertion end portion 12a side toward the base end portion 12b side toward the outside from the cleaning portion main body 22 in the axis orthogonal direction. If it does in this way, the said clearance gap S thru | or the to-be-cleaned object T can be effectively cleaned both when the cleaning part 20 is inserted in the said clearance gap S, and at the time of extraction from the said clearance gap S. Specifically, since the bristle group includes both the first curved brush bristles 27a and the second curved brush bristles 27b, the first curved brush bristles 27a effectively use the gap S or the object to be cleaned T during the insertion. On the other hand, the second curved brush bristles 27b effectively clean the gap S or the object to be cleaned T during the extraction.

  Furthermore, since the bristle group includes both the first curved brush bristle 27a and the second curved brush bristle 27b, the brush bristle group includes only one of the first curved brush bristle 27a and the second curved brush bristle 27b. Compared to the case, the insertion resistance felt by the operator when the cleaning unit 20 is inserted into the gap S and the pulling resistance felt by the operator when the cleaning unit 20 is pulled out from the gap S are substantially uniform. For this reason, the cleaning operation by the operator becomes easy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning tool 10 Base part 12 Shaft part 12a Insertion end part 12b Base end part 20 Cleaning part 22 Cleaning part main body 24 Guide part 25 Microprotrusion 27a First curved brush bristle 27b Second curved brush bristle S Gap T Object to be cleaned

Claims (7)

A cleaning tool for cleaning a minute gap formed between objects to be cleaned adjacent to each other,
It has a shape that extends in a specific direction and can be inserted into the gap, and has an insertion end formed at one end in the specific direction and a base end formed at the other end in the specific direction. The shaft,
A gripping part connected to the base end part of the shaft part and capable of being gripped by a finger;
It is made of an elastomer having a hardness lower than the hardness of the shaft part, covers the part including the insertion end part and having a dimension less than or equal to the axial dimension of the shaft part and can clean the gap. A cleaning section,
The shaft portion can be bent and deformed so as to allow the insertion end portion to be displaced in an axis orthogonal direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft portion with respect to the base end portion.
The grip portion is formed integrally with the shaft portion,
The cleaning unit includes a cleaning unit body that covers an outer peripheral surface of the shaft unit, and a guide unit that projects outward in the axial direction from the insertion end and guides insertion of the cleaning unit body into the gap. And having
The guide portion can be elastically deformed such that a protruding dimension of the guide portion from the insertion end portion is equal to or greater than a thickness of the cleaning portion main body, and the guide portion is displaced in the axis orthogonal direction with respect to the insertion end portion. And
The insertion end portion is formed in a hemispherical shape that curves so as to protrude outward in the axial direction,
The protruding dimension of the guide portion is set to 0.1 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less,
The axial dimension of the shaft portion is set to 10 mm or more,
In a state in which a portion of the cleaning tool that is 10 mm away from the distal end of the guide portion toward the base end portion is fixed, the guide portion is supported by the guide portion with elastic deformation of the guide portion and bending deformation of the shaft portion. The elastomer so that the pressing force required to press the guide portion from the insertion end portion side toward the base end portion side until it is displaced by 5.0 mm in the direction is 1.0 N or more and 8.0 N or less. Shore hardness is set ,
The said cleaning part is a cleaning tool further provided with the microprotrusion provided in the front-end | tip of the said guide part, and having an external shape smaller than the external shape of the said guide part .   A cleaning tool for cleaning a minute gap formed between objects to be cleaned adjacent to each other,
  It has a shape that extends in a specific direction and can be inserted into the gap, and has an insertion end formed at one end in the specific direction and a base end formed at the other end in the specific direction. The shaft,
  A gripping part connected to the base end part of the shaft part and capable of being gripped by a finger;
  It is made of an elastomer having a hardness lower than the hardness of the shaft part, covers the part including the insertion end part and having a dimension less than or equal to the axial dimension of the shaft part and can clean the gap. A cleaning section,
  The shaft portion can be bent and deformed so as to allow the insertion end portion to be displaced in an axis orthogonal direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft portion with respect to the base end portion.
  The grip portion is formed integrally with the shaft portion,
  The cleaning unit includes a cleaning unit body that covers an outer peripheral surface of the shaft unit, and a guide unit that projects outward in the axial direction from the insertion end and guides insertion of the cleaning unit body into the gap. And having
  The guide portion can be elastically deformed such that a protruding dimension of the guide portion from the insertion end portion is equal to or greater than a thickness of the cleaning portion main body, and the guide portion is displaced in the axis orthogonal direction with respect to the insertion end portion. And
  The insertion end portion is formed in a hemispherical shape that curves so as to protrude outward in the axial direction,
  The protruding dimension of the guide portion is set to 0.1 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less,
  The axial dimension of the shaft portion is set to 10 mm or more,
  In a state in which a portion of the cleaning tool that is 10 mm away from the distal end of the guide portion toward the base end portion is fixed, the guide portion is supported by the guide portion with elastic deformation of the guide portion and bending deformation of the shaft portion. The elastomer so that the pressing force required to press the guide portion from the insertion end portion side toward the base end portion side until it is displaced by 5.0 mm in the direction is 1.0 N or more and 8.0 N or less. Shore hardness is set,
  The cleaning unit further includes a bristle group composed of a plurality of brush hairs each having a shape protruding outward in the axis-orthogonal direction from the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning unit main body,
  The brush bristle group has a first curved brush bristle that has a shape that gradually curves from the base end side toward the insertion end side as it goes outward from the cleaning unit main body in the direction perpendicular to the axis; A cleaning tool, comprising: second curved brush bristles having a shape that gradually curves from the insertion end side toward the base end side as it goes outward from the cleaning unit main body in the direction perpendicular to the axis. In the cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The said shaft part is the cleaning tool currently formed with the synthetic resin different from the said elastomer. The cleaning tool according to claim 3 ,
The cleaning tool, wherein the synthetic resin is at least one selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polyacetal. The cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The protrusion of the said guide part is a cleaning tool set to 3 times or more and 10 times or less of the thickness of the said cleaning part main body. In the cleaning tool in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5 ,
The protruding dimension of the guide part is a cleaning tool set to be not less than 0.6 times and not more than 4 times the dimension of the insertion end part in the direction perpendicular to the axis. The cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
The guide portion is formed in a hemispherical shape that curves so as to protrude outward in the axial direction,
The cleaning tool, wherein a radius of the guide portion is set to be 1.1 times or more and 8 times or less of a radius of the insertion end portion.

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