HK1249379B - An interdental brush with a protective tip - Google Patents

Description

Interdental brush with protective head

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to interdental cleaning devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an interdental cleaning brush having a protective head, the brush including a flexible cover, for cleaning interdental spaces without damaging gum tissue.

Background Art

Interdental cleaners are used to remove plaque, food debris, and other debris from the spaces between teeth, thereby reducing tooth decay. Interdental cleaners are brushes whose main body is made of a twisted wire structure that holds bristles that project radially from a spine. The main body of the brush is connected to one end of the cleaner's handle. The bristles are squeezed into the interdental spaces to clean between the teeth and provide a comprehensive, integrated clean of the hidden spaces in the mouth.

In conventional brushes, the wire used to hold the bristles in interdental brushes may be uncoated or coated. At the tip of the brush, the wire needs to be folded to tightly hold the filaments in the brush, thereby forming the bristles of the brush. This folding creates a sharp point. This sharp point may create an area that can cause pain or sensitivity or even damage the user in extreme cases at various angles of use because there is a high probability of hitting the gums or gum tissue. This is especially true when the gums are damaged or diseased. The end of the twisted wire brush (where the wire is folded onto itself) is also the widest part of the twisted wire, which sometimes makes it difficult to insert the brush into the tight interdental spaces. It is necessary to overcome the problem of the pointed end of the twisted wire holding the bristles in conventional cleaners and the problem of inserting the brush into a tight gap.

Furthermore, the wires from conventional interdental cleaners can cause galvanic stimulation, a painful condition that occurs when two dissimilar metals come into contact in the mouth. In the case of interdental users, galvanic stimulation primarily occurs when the user's amalgam or gold fillings come into contact with the wires from the interdental brush. Therefore, there is a need for an interdental cleaner with an insulator to prevent contact between the two metals.

The wire from the interdental cleaner can also cause damage to the post of the dental implant. Dental implants require posts that serve as a replacement for the root insert. These posts can be made of titanium, ceramic, stainless steel, or other FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved materials. Keeping these posts clean is not important, and dentists often prescribe interdental brushes to help clean around the posts. The wire in the interdental brush can scratch the post, leaving a rough surface that easily accumulates debris and bacteria.

Also, the wire from the interdental brush may cause sensitivity and pain to patients who wear bridges. A bridge consists of two or more crowns on either side of a gap (these two or more fixed teeth are called abutments) or dentures in between. The bridge is supported by natural teeth or implants. People who wear bridges need to clean underneath the gap of the bridge as well as along the gum line. The patient's gums can be very sensitive in this area and can become even more sensitive when in contact with ordinary wire from an interdental brush. In addition, interdental brushes are also recommended for orthodontic patients to clean between the teeth above the bridge wire and below the bridge wire itself. If the hard wire of a regular interdental brush is used too much, it may cause the bridge wire to pull out of the brackets.

Several interdental cleaners are known in the art. US Pat. No. 3,559,226 teaches an L-shaped interdental cleaner, i.e., one with a bristle spine perpendicular to the handle. EP 0,326,677 teaches an interdental cleaner with a twisted wire brush, wherein the wire is folded over the brush and is also the widest part of the twisted wire. Similarly, as taught in US Pat. No. 4,828,420, the wire used in an interdental brush can be uncoated or coated to hold the bristles of a conventional brush. Examples of interdental cleaners are also disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,573,020, US Pat. No. 7,806,125, US Pat. No. 2007,000,6402, and US Pat. No. 2011,004,127. US Pat. No. 6,325,626 and US Pat. No. 2009,023,5477 teach interdental brushes with a cushioning effect in the body of the brush. However, all known prior art suffer from the following problems: the wire folds over on itself, making it difficult to insert the bristles into tight interdental spaces or creating a sharp point at the tip, causing pain or sensitivity or, in extreme cases, even injury to the user due to a higher chance of hitting the gums or gum tissue. This is especially true if the gums are already damaged or diseased.

Therefore, there is a need for an interdental brush that cleans tight spaces between teeth, overcomes the problem of pointed ends of twisted wires, has an insulator to prevent galvanic irritation, does not scratch the posts of dental implants, does not cause wire pullout of bridges, and overcomes other cleaning problems associated with common orthodontic treatments without damaging dental hardware, sensitive tissue, or causing galvanic irritation.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned problems associated with conventional interdental brushes and provides a cleaner for interdental cleaning having a protective cover or insulator over the sharp points of the twisted wires, thereby eliminating the risk of pain or injury to the user and unnecessary scraping in the mouth.

Summary of the Invention

Objectives of the present invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a basic object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and disadvantages of the known art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an interdental brush having a protective head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interdental brush having a protective head including a flexible cover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interdental brush with a guard head that cleans tight spaces between teeth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interdental brush with a protective head that avoids damaging gum tissue.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a "lead-in" for simply guiding an interdental brush between the teeth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interdental brush with a protective head that protects the user from galvanic stimulation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for manufacturing an interdental brush having a guard head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a safe method for cleaning around a dental implant without causing damage to the implant post.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for cleaning under a bridge that provides gentle cleaning without increasing patient sensitivity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for cleaning around orthodontic brackets and under orthodontic bridge wires without compromising the security of the bridge wire and bracket connection.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an interdental brush with a protective head that is compact, lightweight and portable.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiment disclosed hereinafter by providing an interdental brush having a protective head including a flexible cover.

Summary of the Invention

According to an embodiment, the present invention provides an interdental brush comprising: a spine of a twisted wire; bristles protruding from the spine of the twisted wire; a protective head at the end of the twisted wire above the bristles, characterized in that the protective head comprises a resilient cover encapsulated at the end of the twisted wire, molded and attached to the end of the wire, and centered around the end of the wire; the resilient cover has a plurality of protrusions and is dome-shaped at the closed end and chamfered at the end of the bristles.

In one embodiment, the protective head centers the ends of the twisted wires with a plurality of centering ribs. In another embodiment, the protective head centers the ends of the twisted wires via a set of pins. In one embodiment, the protrusions on the flexible cover are finger-like protrusions.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes a method of manufacturing a protective head, the method comprising the steps of: manufacturing a twisted wire brush having a portion without any bristles at the tip of the brush; inserting the twisted wire brush without bristles at the tip into an injection molding mold, wherein a cover is molded over the area of the wire without bristles; and molding the cover having a plurality of protrusions onto the twisted wire brush. In another embodiment, adhesive is applied to the ends of the twisted wire to form an area for more securely engaging the cover during the injection molding process.

In another embodiment, a plurality of centering ribs are used to center the ends of the protective head twisted wires. In another embodiment, a set of pins are used to center the ends of the protective head twisted wires.

In an embodiment, a loop is created when the twisted wire is folded, thereby forming a passage hole for the material of the guard head to flow through, wherein after the material cools and hardens, a mechanical lock is formed that secures the guard head material to the wire.

The present invention provides an interdental brush in which a guard head is coupled to the brush for placement between the teeth and the interdental portion of the gums, thereby facilitating cleaning of the interdental spaces without damaging tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain objects of the present invention have been set forth above. These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with respect to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an interdental cleaner including an interdental brush and a handle.

FIG. 2 shows the brush portion of the interdental cleaner.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the guard head of the interdental brush.

FIG4 shows a side view of the guard head of the interdental brush.

FIG. 4A shows a side view of the protective head with the ends of the twisted wires folded inside the flexible cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described with respect to the preferred embodiments but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims.

FIG. 1 shows an interdental cleaner 20 having a brush portion 21 including a proximal end and a handle 22 having a distal end, both of which are attached thereto by a spine of twisted wire 23 .

Figure 2 shows an interdental brush 21 comprising a spine of twisted wire 23, bristles 24 projecting from the spine of the twisted wire, a guard head 10 at the end of the twisted wire 23. The guard head 10 is spaced a short distance 25 from the first row of bristles.

Figure 3 shows a protective head 10 of an interdental brush in one embodiment. The tip includes a flexible cap 11 for enclosing the end of the twisted wire, which is insert-molded over the end of the twisted wire and centers the end of the wire. The protective head 10 is centered around the end of the twisted wire with the aid of a plurality of centering ribs 13. Alternatively, the protective head is centered around the end of the twisted wire via a set of pins. The centering ribs or pins hold the wire in place during the injection molding process. The flexible cap includes a series of multiple protrusions 12 made of an elastomeric material formed during the injection molding process. The protrusions can have any shape. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the protrusions are finger-like protrusions. The protrusions are flexible and help improve the cleaning of the interdental spaces because they increase the surface area and help to remove plaque and other unwanted materials or bacteria from narrow gaps and interdental spaces. The flexible cap including the protective head ensures that the interdental spaces are cleaned without damaging the gum tissue. The flexible cap encapsulates the sharp points created by the twist lines in the spine, eliminating sensitivity, pain, or risk of injury to the user or unnecessary scraping and damage to gum tissue in the mouth. This protective head, including the flexible cap, ensures safe use at any cleaning and insertion angle in interdental spaces.

FIG4 shows a side view of the guard head 10 in an embodiment. The guard head, including the flexible cap, is domed at the closed end 14 and chamfered at the distal ends 16 closest to the bristles, thereby forming its shape during the injection molding process. The chamfered shape helps guide the tip of the bristles away from between the teeth when the brush is removed from between the teeth and prevents the tip from catching on any of the tooth surfaces.

FIG4A shows a side view of the protective head 10 in an embodiment in which the end of the twisted wire is folded into a loop 15. The loop serves to provide support at locations where an adhesive bond between the flexible cap and the twisted wire may not be possible. The loop comprises a cooled and hardened tip material that is locked in place, which ensures that the tip cannot be easily removed from the twisted wire.

The flexible cover comprising the protective head 10 can be made of any material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), silicone, or a mixed polymer. Preferably, the cover is made of TPE. The protrusion 12 covering the flexible cover is made of an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), silicone, or a mixed polymer, such as a combination of polypropylene and Vistamaxx ^™ .

Interdental brushes are available in a variety of sizes depending on the needs of the user. The emergence of international standards (ISO - International Organization for Standardization) for "access hole" sizes helps the user identify the brush size that best fits the space between the user's teeth. The size of the guard head depends on the size of the twist wire and the access hole size that the particular brush is targeted to accommodate. The length of the tip is targeted to be approximately 2 mm to 8 mm, which allows the tip "lead-in" length to be approximately one-third of the depth on a typical molar. The compressed width of the tip can be in the range of 0.7 mm to 1.8 mm depending on the targeted access hole. The distance 25 between the guard head and the first row of bristles can be 5 mm or less, preferably 3 mm or less.

The spine of the twisted wire 23 may or may not be coated. The spine is coated with a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane, or an adhesive coating. The adhesive coating may be any coating selected from the group consisting of cyanoacrylate, hot melt adhesive (HMA), epoxy resin, methacrylate, UV curable adhesive, thixotropic adhesive, anaerobic adhesive, or any adhesive generally known in the art that is approved for medical device products.

The spine of the twisted wire 23 has multiple rows of bristles 24 spaced apart on its body, which are radially aligned, protruding, and fixed in the twisted wire of the body. In one embodiment, the bristles taper toward the head, thereby creating an inverse conical interdental cleaner. In another embodiment, the bristles protrude at a uniform length, thereby creating a cylindrical structure.

The bristles 24 are made of a type of polyamide (e.g., nylon) or of polybutylene. The proximal end of the brush contains no filaments or bristles and terminates in a guard head 10 comprising a flexible cap 11 having a plurality of central ribs 13 and a plurality of protrusions 12, the flexible cap being domed at the closed end 14 and chamfered 16 at the ends of the bristles.

The centering ribs help hold the twisted wire in place during the formation of the protective head. A series of pins in the mold can also be used to hold the twisted wire in place during the molding process. These pins will be part of the mold cavity and will contact the twisted wire and hold it in place when the mold is closed around the wire. These pins can be used in conjunction with a centering wire or as a centering device, thereby eliminating the need for centering ribs.

An additional adhesive coating may be required on the wire to create a stronger bond between the twisted wire and the cap. The adhesive coating may be a coating selected from the group consisting of approved adhesives used in medical devices generally known in the art. The adhesive should provide a tacky or adhesive bond between the adhesive and the twisted wire and allow for an adhesive bond between the adhesive and the tip material. Certain types of cyanoacrylates are well suited for this type of application. Other materials are also applicable, but generally have less effect, including HMAs, epoxies, methacrylates, UV curing adhesives, thixotropic adhesives, anaerobic adhesives, and other possible approved adhesives for medical devices.

The brush portion 21 of the interdental cleaner 20 protrudes from one end of a handle 22, which may be permanent or removable. The handle of the interdental cleaner is made from a variety of plastic materials, including but not limited to polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomers, low-density and high-density polyethylene, and other similar materials that provide the grip required for use of the interdental cleaner. The handle can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit the needs of the user, i.e., a short handle is convenient for travel, while a long handle with a replaceable spine and bristles and a protective head is suitable for daily use.

In one embodiment of the invention, the handle is connected to a motor for automatic cleaning.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an interdental brush having a protective head. The method comprises the following steps: manufacturing a twisted wire brush having a portion at the tip of the brush devoid of bristles; then inserting the twisted wire brush devoid of bristles into an injection molding mold, wherein a cover is molded over the bristle-free wire area. A cover having a plurality of protrusions is molded onto the twisted wire brush. An adhesive coating may be applied to the wire to create an area for more secure engagement with the cover during the injection molding process. The adhesive coating may be selected from a group consisting of approved adhesives generally known in the art for use in medical devices. The adhesive should provide a tacky or adhesive bond between the adhesive and the twisted wire and allow for an adhesive bond between the adhesive and the tip material. Certain types of cyanoacrylates are well-suited for this type of application. Other materials are also suitable, but generally less effective, including HMA, HMA, epoxies, methacrylates, UV-curing adhesives, thixotropic adhesives, anaerobic adhesives, and other possible approved adhesives for use in medical devices.

In another embodiment, a loop 15 is created as the twisted wire is folded, as shown in FIG4A . This loop creates a passage hole for the tip material to flow through, and after the material cools and hardens, creates a mechanical lock that holds the tip material to the wire. The function of the loop is to facilitate locations where adhesive bonding may not be possible, and having the loop of tip material locked in place will ensure that the tip is not easily removed from the twisted wire.

The main advantages associated with the brush of the present invention are as follows:

●Compact and easy to carry.

●Safe because the brush avoids sensitivity, pain or damage to gum tissue

●Provide comprehensive cleaning of the spaces between teeth

●Lightweight and easy to clean the mouth

●Low cost and high benefit cleaner.

• Provides a "lead-in wire" to easily guide the interdental brush between teeth.

• Provide a guard element to insulate the wires and avoid galvanic stimulation to the user.

●Provide a safe and gentle material that will prevent damage to dental implant posts.

• Provides a gentle yet effective cleaning mechanism for removing debris that may become lodged beneath the bridge.

●Provides a safe method of cleaning around orthodontic brackets and under orthodontic bridge wires without compromising the connection between the bracket and the wire.

The foregoing description describes an interdental brush having a protective head. The present invention has other embodiments and can be practiced and carried out in other ways without departing from the scope of the invention. The phrases and terms used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the embodiments and the best mode of practice are provided for illustrative purposes only and not for purposes of limitation, as the invention is defined in the claims.

Claims (22)

1. A toothbrush (21) comprising: Twisted spine (23), Bristles (24), which protrude from the spine of the twisted line, Protective head (10), at the end of the twisted thread above the bristles, is characterized in that: The protective head includes a flexible cap (11) that encloses the end of the twisted wire, is molded and attached to the end of the twisted wire, and is centered around the end of the twisted wire. The flexible cap has multiple protrusions (12), and is dome-shaped at the closed end (14) and chamfered at the bristle tip (16), the bristle tip being defined by an end opposite to the closed end (14). The length of the protective head is in the range of 2mm to 8mm, and it targets an introduction line that is at least one-third of the tooth depth. The compression width of the protective head is between 0.7 mm and 1.8 mm; the distance between the protective head and the bristles is 5 mm or less; The toughness cap has a centrally located arched rib or pin that centers the protective head around the end of the twisted wire. 2. The interdental brush according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the protective head and the bristles is 3 mm or less. 3. The interdental brush according to claim 1, wherein a ring (15) is formed at the twisted fold. 4. The interdental brush of claim 1, wherein the protective head is made of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic urethane, silicone, or mixed polymers. 5. The interdental brush according to claim 1, wherein the spine of the twisted thread is covered or not covered. 6. The interdental brush of claim 5, wherein the spine of the twisted thread is covered with a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyurethane, or an adhesive coating. 7. The interdental brush of claim 6, wherein the adhesive coating is selected from the group consisting of cyanoacrylates, hot melt adhesives, epoxy resins, methacrylates, UV-curable adhesives, thixotropic adhesives, anaerobic adhesives, or any other adhesives approved for use in medical devices. 8. The interdental brush of claim 1, wherein the protruding bristles are radially aligned. 9. The interdental brush of claim 8, wherein the protruding bristles are made of polyamide or polybutene. 10. The interdental brush of claim 9, wherein the protruding bristles are made of nylon. 11. The interdental brush of claim 8, wherein the protruding bristles gradually taper towards the head to form a conical cleaner. 12. The interdental brush of claim 8, wherein the protruding bristles are uniform, thereby forming a cylindrical cleaner. 13. The interdental brush of claim 1, wherein the spine of the twisted wire is attached to the handle. 14. The interdental brush of claim 13, wherein the handle is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomer, low-density polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene. 15. The interdental brush of claim 1, wherein the protective head is coupled to the brush for placement between the teeth and the gum line, thereby promoting cleaning of the interdental spaces without damaging the tissue. 16. A method of manufacturing an interdental brush, the interdental brush comprising a protective head (10), the protective head comprising a flexible cap (11) having a plurality of protrusions (12), and the flexible cap having a centrally located arched rib or pin, the method comprising the steps of: a. Manufacture a twisted wire having a portion at the tip of the interdental brush that has no bristles; b. Insert the twisted line without bristles at the tip into an injection molding mold, wherein the tough cap is molded on the twisted line area without bristles; c. Molding the resilient cap having the protrusions and the centrally located arched ribs or pins onto the twisted line. The protective head is centered around the end of the twisted wire via the central arch rib or pin. The protective head is shaped to have a length in the range of 2 mm to 8 mm, targeting an introduction line of at least one-third of the tooth depth, having a compression width in the range of 0.7 mm to 1.8 mm, and being shaped such that the distance between the protective head and the bristles is 5 mm or less. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein an adhesive coating is applied to the twisted wire in the area without bristles. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the adhesive coating acts as a bonding surface and forms a region for more firmly bonding the tough cap during the injection molding process. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the protective head is centered around the end of the twisted wire via a set of pins. 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein a loop (15) is formed at the twisted fold. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the ring forms a passage hole for allowing material from the protective head to flow through. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the material is cooled and hardened to form a mechanical lock that secures the protective head material to the twisted wire.