Dentistry – Method or material for testing – treating – restoring – or... – Cleaning
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-03
2004-07-27
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Method or material for testing, treating, restoring, or...
Cleaning
C132S329000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06767209
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool for insertion between adjacent teeth to effect cleaning of the interdental gap, and to a method for the manufacture thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An interdental cleaning tool for insertion between adjacent teeth to effect cleaning of the interdental gap is fabricated by arranging a plurality of cirrate members fabricated from synthetic resin along a deflected piece produced by deflection of a single strand of wire into a “U” shape in the longitudinal central portion of, grasping the deflected piece at a first end and a second end thereof and twisting the deflected piece so that the cirrate members become embedded therein, and then severing the ends of the cirrate members to produce uniform cirrate member length, the article so fabricated being attached via one end of the wire to a handle of predetermined length fabricated from synthetic resin.
Apropos, in the interdental cleaning tools available commercially, cirrate members fabricated from synthetic resin are embedded in wire, and as the wire on occasion flexes during use, and as the cirrate members are moreover embedded in this wire by means of twisting, there may occur deviation in the anchoring force of the cirrate members to the wire, namely, in the extraction force of the cirrate members. Further, where an interdental cleaning tool is constructed using wire, there is required a process wherein the wire is deflected into a “U” shape, the cirrate members are arranged along the deflected piece, and the deflected piece is twisted so that the cirrate members become embedded therein, and it is further necessary to attach the wire to a handle of predetermined length, resulting in the problem of complexity of process and high cost. Further, the use of exposed wire creates the problem of a lack of a soft sensation against the tissues of the oral cavity.
There has been proposed previously an interdental cleaning tool that does not employ wire, being fabricated in its entirety from synthetic resin; however, this has been proposed merely in conceptual terms, the particulars thereof having yet to be suggested, with such a product remaining to be commercially developed.
With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process for the manufacture of an interdental cleaning tool wherein a shaft member and projections composed of pinnulate members and/or cirrate members are integrally molded from synthetic resin, thereby affording a soft sensation against the tissues of the oral cavity and eliminating any deviation in extraction force of the pinnulate members and cirrate members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The interdental cleaning tool pertaining to a first invention is an interdental cleaning tool having one or a plurality of projections on the peripheral face of a shaft member, wherein the projections are pinnulate members and/or cirrate members, the shaft member and projections being integrally molded from synthetic resin.
According to the first invention, projections and a shaft member for insertion into gaps between adjacent teeth are integrally molded from synthetic resin, affording a soft sensation against the tissues of the oral cavity during use. Further, as the synthetic resin projections are integrally molded with shaft member, variation in projection extraction force is eliminated. Moreover, as the projections and shaft member constitute an integrally molded structure, manufacture involves a fewer number of manufacturing steps than does a corresponding product using wire, thus affording reduced cost.
Where the projection is a pinnulate member, cleaning performance by an individual projection is enhanced and projections are rendered highly durable.
According to the interdental cleaning tool pertaining to a second invention, projections are molded using a mold provided with cavities for forming projections, situated on parting faces thereof that intersect the axis of the shaft member or on parting faces thereof that are codirectional with the axis.
According to the second invention, a structure is possible wherein a plurality of projections are arranged codirectional with the circumference and axis of the shaft member, affording enhanced cleaning performance. The use of a split mold facilitates intricate machining of mold cavities.
According to the interdental cleaning tool pertaining to a third invention, projection size, namely pinnulate member thickness or cirrate member diameter, is 0.2 mm or smaller.
According to the third invention, maximum thickness for a pinnulate member or diameter for a cirrate member participating in interdental cleaning is 0.2 mm or smaller, whereby the pinnulate member or cirrate member is rendered flexible so as to give a pleasant sensation during use. Where pinnulate member maximum thickness or cirrate member diameter exceeds 0.2 mm, pinnulate members or cirrate members will lack flexibility, resulting in an unpleasant sensation during use.
According to the interdental cleaning tool pertaining to a fourth invention, projection length is 0.5 mm or greater.
According to the fourth invention, projections are 0.5 mm or greater in length, affording adequately enhanced cleaning performance. Where projections is shorter than 0.5 mm, the excessively short length of the projections, which participate in interdental cleaning, results in diminished cleaning performance.
The interdental cleaning tool pertaining to a fifth invention is provided with a plurality of projections, with pinnulate member density centered about the shaft member being at least 3 per 360° and cirrate member density in the axial direction of the shaft member being at least 8 per 1 mm of length.
According to the fifth invention, pinnulate member density centered about the shaft member is at least 3 per 360° and cirrate member density in the axial direction of the shaft member is at least 8 per 1 mm, thereby affording sufficiently good cleaning performance. Where pinnulate member density is less than 3 per 360° or cirrate member density is less than 8 per 1 mm, the resulting inadequate pinnulate member/cirrate member density will result in diminished cleaning performance.
According to the interdental cleaning tool pertaining to a sixth invention, a projection comprises a projection proper connecting to the shaft member and a branch member(s) integrally formed therewith and extending in a direction that intersects the axis of the projection proper.
According to the sixth invention, projections proper and branch members participate in interdental cleaning, increasing the number of points of contact with the tooth, thereby affording further enhanced cleaning performance.
According to the interdental cleaning tool pertaining to a seventh invention, the shaft member has a core element consisting of a material having a flexural modulus higher than the flexural modulus of the aforementioned synthetic resin, produced by insert molding or two-color molding. In the seventh invention, “core element consisting of a material having a flexural modulus higher than the flexural modulus of the aforementioned synthetic resin” will naturally include metal materials, and will include synthetic resin materials as well. Insert molding refers to a process wherein the core element is vised in a mold and a synthetic resin material then flowed into the mold; two-color molding refers to a process wherein the core element is formed first, followed by molding of other portions, including projections.
According to the seventh invention, projections which participate in interdental cleaning are endowed with good flexibility, excessive flexion of the shaft member is prevented, and shaft member strength is increased.
According to the interdental cleaning tool pertaining to an eighth invention, the material for the core element of the shaft member is synthetic resin having a flexural modulus higher than the flexural modulus of the synthetic resin used for projections.
According to the eighth invention, projection
Ito Fujio
Matsumoto Hitoshi
Tomita Yoshikazu
Tsurukawa Naoki
Armstrong Kratz Quintos Hanson & Brooks, LLP
Bumgarner Melba
Shaver Kevin
Sunstar Inc.
LandOfFree
Interdental brush and production method therefor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Interdental brush and production method therefor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interdental brush and production method therefor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3223936