DE20309295U1 - Tooth cleaning device, made all in a piece in any suitable shape with cleaning surface applied by method of electrostatic flocking - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) is designed as thin shaft with a handle (2) of a suitable shape formed at one end and an area (3) covered by a flocked-on material (4) to be used for cleaning the teeth. There are several versions possible like one with a pointed tip for cleaning the dental gaps or one with two differently shaped ends for a dual purpose. The structure of the flocked-on material (4) can be smooth or coarse as required.

Description

Dental sticks and dental care articles containing at least one dental stick

The invention relates to a dental care stick with a handle area for holding the dental care stick and at least one dental care area provided at the end for dental care.

Dental care sticks that are used for both dental care and tooth cleaning have been known for a long time. DE 196 43 241 A1 already discloses a dental care stick that has the same or different dental care areas at each end. Among other things, the use of a care stick that has a toothpick at one end and a brush head at the other end is described and shown. The brush head is covered with a large number of bristles that are attached to a brush body. The brush body is a wire to which the bristles are clamped. Since the end of the wire has relatively sharp edges and there is a risk of injury to the user when using the brush head, a drop-shaped polymer coating is applied to the free end of the wire, which surrounds the end of the wire and rounds it off.

The disadvantage of the well-known dental care stick is that the manufacture of the brush head is comparatively complex. After the well-known brush head has been manufactured, the polymer coating must be applied. The fastening end of the brush head must then be inserted into the handle body and secured there. The complex manufacture results in comparatively high costs.

The object of the present invention is to provide a dental care stick of the type mentioned at the beginning which can be produced simply and inexpensively.

The above-described object is essentially achieved according to the invention in that the dental care area is flocked and/or foamed at least in the area of its outer end. Both the flocking and the application or

Foaming is a very simple and cost-effective method of applying a textile surface to the dental care area as a base. It has been found that the flakes or foam applied are very suitable for dental care and cleaning and that plaque can be removed very easily.

Both flocking and foaming are known processes that can be used without any problems in this case. The flocks or flocking material can be made of polyamide, viscose,

&iacgr;&ogr; acrylic, polyester or cotton fibers, whereby adhesive is applied to the dental care area as a carrier material before flocking. Foam plastics, i.e. foams made from polymers such as polystyrene, styrene copolymers, PVC, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyurethanes (PUR), polyisocyanurates, polycarbodiimides, polymethacrylimides, polyamides, ABS, phenol and urea resins, are used in the foaming process. The foam structure is created as a result of chemical reactions, for example by adding blowing agents that decompose at certain temperatures during processing to form gases or by adding volatile solvents during polymerization. The foam plastics have foam stabilizers that prevent the foam from collapsing before hardening.

In principle, it is possible to flock the dental care area mechanically. However, electrostatic flocking is preferred as this produces a very dense layer of upward-standing flocks, which fulfil a kind of brushing function with their velvety surface.

The dental care area is therefore preferably designed as a brush, the brush having a brush handle which is formed in one piece with the handle area and which has a smaller diameter than the handle area. This design results in several advantages. Due to the one-piece design of the brush handle with the handle area, it is no longer necessary, in contrast to the prior art, to manufacture the brush separately and subsequently connect it to the handle area. Since the handle area is thicker than the brush handle, it is easy to grip. The rather thin

The brush handle, on the other hand, can be easily inserted into gaps between teeth and can also be easily bent if an elastic material is used.

It has been shown that the brush handle should have a length of between 0.5 cm and 2 cm, and the brush handle should be flocked or foamed at least substantially over its entire length. The flocks applied to the brush handle or the foam layer applied should have a length or thickness of between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, in particular about 2 mm, although it would in principle also be possible to provide even longer flocks or an even thicker foam layer.

In addition to designing the dental care area as a brush, it is also possible to design the dental care area as a tapered toothpick that is made in one piece with the handle area. The flocking of the toothpick results in a dual function. On the one hand, the toothpick has the well-known toothpick function, such as removing food residue or similar from gaps between teeth. The flocking or foaming also results in an additional cleaning function, as the plaque is brushed or rubbed off via the flakes or the applied foam layer.

It has been shown that the toothpick should be flocked or foamed over a length of 5 mm to 20 mm starting from its outer end, whereby the flakes applied to the toothpick should have a length or the applied foam layer a thickness of between 0.2 mm and 1 mm. The toothpick itself should have a length of between 1 cm and 4 cm.

To improve care and oral hygiene, it is particularly useful to apply a dental care product to the flocked area of the dental care area. This can be any therapeutic dental care product and/or a product containing mint. The application of the dental care product can easily be integrated into the manufacturing process, for example by soaking the flocked or foamed dental care sticks in a subsequent manufacturing step.

The dental stick itself should preferably be made of an elastic plastic or wood.

In a particularly simple design of the dental care stick according to the invention, a toothpick is provided at one end and a brush at the other end, with the handle area, the toothpick and the brush being formed as one piece. In the one-piece design, i.e. with brush and toothpick, the flakes or the foam layer on the brush should be longer or thicker than on the toothpick. This appears to be necessary above all in order not to impair the brushing function of the brush if the flakes are too short or the foam layer is too thin, and on the other hand in order not to restrict the toothpick function of the toothpick if the flakes are too long or the foam layer is too thick.

Instead of the previously described one-piece design, it is also possible in principle to provide a multi-part design. Accordingly, a dental care article with at least one dental care stick with a handle area for holding the dental care stick and at least one dental care area provided at the end for dental care is proposed, whereby the dental care stick can in particular be one of the aforementioned type. The dental care article also has a receiving tube for the dental care stick, whereby the dental care stick with its dental care area can be inserted into the receiving tube when not in use and is held therein with a friction fit when inserted, while the dental care stick with its handle area can also be inserted into the receiving tube when in use and is also held therein with a friction fit when inserted.

This design ultimately results in a reusable dental care article, in which the dental care stick can be inserted into the receiving tube and stored after the dental care area has been cleaned accordingly. To use the dental care stick, it is pulled out of the receiving tube and used either as such or in conjunction with the receiving tube, with the receiving tube then taking on a handle function. In this context, it is understood that the receiving tube is of such a length that the dental care area of the dental care stick can be

care stick is completely absorbed into the receiving tube when not in use, so that the outer end of the dental care area does not protrude beyond the receiving tube.

Since the receiving tube is open at both ends, it is perfectly possible for the dental care article to have two dental care sticks. Although it is basically possible to provide two identical dental care sticks in one receiving tube, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the dental care article has a first dental care stick with a toothpick and a second dental care stick with a brush. This ultimately provides a kind of set with two different types of dental care sticks, resulting in an expanded area of application.

To make handling easier, the grip areas of the first and second dental care sticks are designed differently. The different design can be realized visually, for example through a different color design and/or through a different shape. This has the advantage that the user can distinguish the dental care sticks from one another when not in use based on their different grip areas.

To hold the dental care stick in the receiving tube with friction, a spherical section with a diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the receiving tube is provided at the outer end of the handle area. The spherical shape of the section ensures that the handle area can be easily inserted into the receiving tube while at the same time being held securely. In order to be able to easily distinguish the handle areas of the different dental care sticks, a further spherical section is provided at the outer end of the handle area of just one dental care stick. This further spherical section can have a diameter that is the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the immediately adjacent spherical section. This means that the further spherical section not only serves to distinguish them, but also has a stop function when the handle area is inserted into the receiving tube.

To ensure that the dental stick is held in place with friction when in use, it is advisable to design it in the same way as at the outer end of the handle area, i.e. again with a spherical section whose dimensions correspond to the spherical section at the end of the handle area. In this context, too - but for both dental sticks - another spherical section can be provided, which in this case no longer serves to distinguish them but only as a stop and to improve the frictional hold when in use.

In the following, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of an inventive

appropriate dental care stick,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of an inventive

appropriate dental care stick,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a third embodiment of an inventive

appropriate dental care stick,

Fig. 4 a top view of a dental care article with different

Dental sticks,

Fig. 5 a top view of a dental care article with dental sticks

from Fig. 4 in non-use condition and

Fig. 6 a top view of a dental care article with dental sticks

from Fig. 4 in use condition.

Dental care sticks 1 are shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In the present case, dental care is understood to mean both care as such and cleaning. The individual dental care sticks 1 each have a handle area 2 for holding the dental care stick 1 and at least one dental care area 3 provided at the end for dental care or cleaning.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the dental care area 3 is flocked at least in the area of its outer end. A flocked area 4 with flakes 5 or flock is therefore provided. The flakes 5 are applied electrostatically in the present case, with the result that they protrude from the carrier surface at approximately a right angle.

It should be noted that instead of the design described below with flocked dental care areas, a foamed dental care area to which a foam layer is applied can be provided in the same way. The following statements therefore also apply in the same way with regard to the dimensions for foamed dental care areas, even if this is not discussed in detail here.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the dental care area 3 is designed as a brush. The brush has a brush handle 6, which serves as a carrier for the flakes 5. The brush handle 6 is formed in one piece with the handle area 2 and has a smaller diameter than the handle area 2. In the present case, the diameter of the brush handle 6 is more than half smaller than the diameter of the handle area 2. The brush handle 6 has a length of between 0.5 cm and 2 cm, and is flocked over its entire length. The flakes 5 applied to the brush handle 6 have a length that can basically be between 0.5 mm and 4 mm. In the present case, the length of the flakes 5 is approximately 1 mm.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the dental care stick 1 has a tapered toothpick as the dental care area 3, which is formed in one piece with the handle area 2. The toothpick is flocked from its outer end over a length of 5 mm to 20 mm. The flocks 5 on the toothpick have a length of between 0.2 mm and 1 mm. The toothpick itself also has a length of between 1 cm and 4 cm.

It is not shown that a dental care product is applied to the flocked area 4 of the brush. A dental care product can also be applied to the flocked area 4 of the toothpick, but this does not necessarily have to be the case. Furthermore, it should also be noted that the term "dental care product"

The term "product" is to be understood in the broadest sense, i.e. it includes all products that can be used for tooth and gum care and reconstruction as well as for oral hygiene.

The dental care sticks 1 shown in Fig. 1 and 2 and also the dental care stick 1 shown in Fig. 3 can be made of either plastic or wood.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, at one end of the

γ dental care stick 1 has a toothpick at one end and a brush at the other end. The flakes 5 on the brush are longer than on the toothpick. The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is a combination of the two dental care sticks from Figs. 1 and 2, with the handle area 3, the toothpick and the brush being formed in one piece.

In Figs. 4 to 6, a dental care article 7 is shown with a plurality of dental care sticks 1 and a receiving tube 8. Each of the dental care sticks 1 has a handle area 2 and a dental care area 3. The receiving tube 8 and the dental care sticks 1 are designed in such a way that each of the dental care sticks 1 with the respective dental care area 3 can be inserted into the receiving tube 8 in the non-use state, which is shown in Fig. 5, and is held therein in a frictionally locked manner when inserted, while the dental care sticks 1 with their

respective grip area in the use state, which is shown in Fig. 6, can be inserted into the receiving tube 8 and are held therein by friction.

As can be seen in particular from Fig. 6, the dental care article 7 has two different dental care sticks 1, namely a first dental care stick 1 with a brush and a second dental care stick 1 with a toothpick. From Fig. 4 it can be seen that the dental care article 7 can have a wide variety of types of dental care sticks 1 with a brush and with a toothpick. For example, the receiving tube 8 shown in Fig. 4a can be assigned a dental care stick 1 with a brush, the brush having a wire 9 with bristles 10 clamped to it, as shown in Fig. 4b. Instead,

However, a dental care stick 1 can also be used which has a flocked area 4 and is otherwise designed at least essentially like the dental care stick according to Fig. 1. Such a dental care stick is shown in Fig. 4c.

In Fig. 4d, a dental care stick 1 is shown which has a toothpick, but the toothpick is not flocked, i.e. is provided with a smooth surface. The dental care stick 1 shown in Fig. 4e corresponds to the one shown in Fig. 4d, but has a flocked area 4, as was previously described for Fig. 2.

As can be seen in particular from a comparison of the individual dental care sticks 1 in Fig. 4, the handle areas 2 of the first and second dental care sticks are designed differently. In the present case, the handle areas 2 have a different external shape, which will be discussed in more detail below. A spherical section 11 is provided at the outer end of each handle area 2. The spherical section 11 has an external diameter which is slightly larger than the internal diameter of the receiving tube 8, so that the handle area 2 can be easily inserted into the receiving tube 8 via the spherical section 11 and is held therein by friction. Furthermore, in the case of the dental care sticks 1 with a brush, a further spherical section 12 is provided directly next to the spherical section 11. Such a further spherical section 12 is not provided in the dental care sticks 1 having a toothpick. The diameter of the further spherical section 12 is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the spherical section 11. Furthermore, it is understood that it is basically also possible to provide the further spherical section 12 on the dental care stick 1 with the toothpick and accordingly not on the dental care stick with brush.

Furthermore, in all dental care sticks 1 in the embodiment according to Figs. 4 to 6, a first spherical section 13 is provided at the transition from the handle area 2 to the dental care area 3, which corresponds in shape and size to the spherical section 11. Furthermore, a further spherical section 14 is provided, which corresponds in shape and size to the further spherical section 13.

Claims (22)

1. Dental care stick ( 1 ) with a handle area ( 2 ) for holding the dental care stick ( 1 ) and at least one dental care area ( 3 ) provided at the end for dental care, characterized in that the dental care area ( 3 ) is flocked and/or foamed at least in the area of its outer end. 2. Dental care stick according to claim 1, characterized in that the dental care area ( 3 ) is electrostatically flocked. 3. Dental care stick according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dental care area ( 3 ) is designed as a brush. 4. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brush has a brush handle ( 6 ) which is formed integrally with the handle region ( 2 ) and which has a smaller diameter than the handle region ( 2 ). 5. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brush handle ( 6 ) has a length between 0.5 cm and 2 cm. 6. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brush handle ( 6 ) is flocked and/or foamed at least substantially over its entire length. 7. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flakes ( 5 ) applied to the brush handle ( 6 ) have a length or the applied foam layer has a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, in particular of about 2 mm. 8. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dental care area ( 3 ) is designed as a tapered toothpick which is formed integrally with the handle area ( 2 ). 9. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toothpick is flocked or foamed starting from its outer end over a length of 5 mm to 20 mm. 10. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flakes ( 5 ) applied to the toothpick have a length or the applied foam layer has a thickness between 0.2 mm and 1 mm. 11. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toothpick has a length between 1 cm and 4 cm. 12. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dental care agent is applied to the flocked or foamed area ( 4 ) of the dental care area ( 3 ). 13. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dental care stick ( 1 ) consists of plastic or wood. 14. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a toothpick is provided at one end and a brush at the other end and that the handle area ( 2 ), the toothpick and the brush are formed in one piece. 15. Dental care stick according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flakes ( 5 ) on the brush are longer or the foam layer on the brush is thicker than on the toothpick. 16. Dental care article ( 7 ) with at least one dental care stick ( 1 ) with a handle area ( 2 ) for holding the dental care stick ( 1 ) and at least one dental care area ( 3 ) provided at the end for dental care, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, and with a receiving tube ( 8 ) for the dental care stick ( 1 ), wherein the dental care stick ( 1 ) with its dental care area ( 3 ) can be inserted into the receiving tube ( 8 ) when not in use and is held therein with a friction fit when inserted, and wherein the dental care stick ( 1 ) with its handle area ( 2 ) can be inserted into the receiving tube ( 8 ) when in use and is held therein with a friction fit when inserted. 17. Dental care article according to claim 16, characterized in that a first dental care stick ( 1 ) is provided with a brush and a second dental care stick ( 1 ) is provided with a toothpick. 18. Dental care article according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the gripping areas ( 2 ) of the first and second dental care sticks ( 1 ) are designed differently. 19. Dental care article according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that a spherical section ( 11 ) with a diameter which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the receiving tube ( 8 ) is provided at the outer end of the handle region ( 2 ). 20. Dental care article according to claim 19, characterized in that a further spherical section ( 12 ) is provided at the outer end of the handle region ( 2 ) of only one dental care stick ( 1 ). 21. Dental care article according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that at the transition from the handle area ( 2 ) to the dental care area ( 3 ) at least one spherical section ( 13 ) with a diameter which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the receiving tube ( 8 ) is provided. 22. Dental care article according to claim 21, characterized in that between the spherical portion ( 13 ) and the handle region ( 2 ) there is provided a further spherical portion ( 14 ) with a diameter which is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the spherical portion ( 13 ).