Abstract:
An interdental cleaner with a rod-like support which has a cleaning device in an axial end region. The cleaning device includes a cover on the support made of a soft-elastic plastic, and structuring is formed on the outside of the cover having a plurality of fingers protruding with radial components from the cover, which fingers are made of the same material as the cover and are connected as one piece thereto. The structuring additionally has a bristle edging with a plurality of bristle bundles protruding with radial components from the cover and/or individual bristles which are each formed from pre-produced bristles embedded in the cover and/or in the support.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a United States National Phase application of International Application PCT/EP2013/002154 filed Jul. 20, 2013 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German patent application DE 10 2012 015 663.4 filed Aug. 9, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to an interdental cleaner with a rod-like support, which has a cleaning device in an axial end area, wherein the cleaning device comprises a cover of the support consisting of a flexible plastic and wherein a structuring, which has a plurality of fingers projecting from the cover with a radial component and which consist of the same material as the cover and are connected with this in one piece, is formed on the outer side of the cover. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A corresponding interdental cleaner is known from EP 0 932 371 B1. The interdental cleaner described there has a rod-like support consisting of a first plastic, which has a grip part at one of its ends and a cleaning device in the form of a cover of the support at its axially opposite end. The cover consists of a flexible plastic, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, and is molded on the support. The cover has a structuring on its outer side in the form of nubs or fingers extending radially outwardly. The user grips the grip part and moves the rod-like support with the end carrying the cover into an interdental space and moves the interdental cleaner to and fro, as a result of which the interdental space is cleaned and possibly adhering particles are dislodged. 
         [0004]    It has been shown that very good cleaning of the interdental spaces is possible with this interdental cleaner, but it is difficult to also remove contaminants or deposits from very narrow, fine pockets of the teeth. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The basic object of the present invention is to provide an interdental cleaner of the type mentioned, with which cleaning can also be achieved in narrow pockets and gaps in a reliable manner. 
         [0006]    This object is accomplished by an interdental cleaner according to the present invention. Provisions are made here for the structuring to also have, in addition to the fingers projecting from the cover with a radial component, a bristle border with a plurality of bristle bundles projecting from the cover with a radial component, which are formed each by prefabricated bristles embedded in the cover and/or in the support. 
         [0007]    Bristles in the sense of this application are thin prefabricated sections of a monofilament or multifilament consisting of a plastic, which have a maximum diameter of 0.25 mm. 
         [0008]    The term “axial” used in this text relates to the longitudinal axis of the rod-like support and thus also to the longitudinal axis of the cover. The term “radial” correspondingly relates to a direction extending at right angles to the axial longitudinal direction. 
         [0009]    The fingers and/or bristle bundles and/or individual bristles may extend either radially, i.e., at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the interdental cleaner, or also obliquely in relation to this, which is expressed by the phrase “with a radial component.” 
         [0010]    The cover is preferably molded on the rod-like support in the known manner and may consist of a thermoplastic plastic, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer based on SEBS or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber or of another soft plastic, for example, silicone. The cover is preferably of a sleeve-like design and has a shape following the longitudinal extension of the rod-like support. 
         [0011]    Based on the joint arrangement of fingers and bristle border on the outer side of the cover, a good cleaning effect can be achieved in a combined manner. The projecting fingers, which undergo deformation and bend when the interdental cleaner is inserted into the interdental space, are used essentially to clean the surfaces of the interdental space. Based on the small dimensions of the bristles, these can, however, also enter narrow gaps and intermediate spaces and clean these, which could not otherwise be cleaned with the fingers. 
         [0012]    The fingers are connected with the cover in one piece and consist of the same material as this. They are produced together with the formation of the cover, preferably according to an injection molding method, during the manufacture of the interdental cleaner. 
         [0013]    The bristle bundles or individual bristles extend outwardly radially or at least with a radial direction component. Provisions are made in a preferred embodiment of the present invention for the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles to pass fully through the cover and to be held on the support. The bristle bundles and/or individual bristles may either be fastened to the support, but it is also possible that the support consists of a plastic and the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles are embedded in the support in some sections and are preferably held secured against being pulled out. It can be achieved hereby, for example, that the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles are positioned at least in an injection mold and then extrusion-coated with the material of the support in desired sections, as a result of which the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles are fixed. The bristle bundles and/or individual bristles can thus be held on the support in a positive-locking manner or by connection in substance. The cover consisting of the flexible plastic can be subsequently molded, and the fingers connected with the cover in one piece can be formed at the same time. 
         [0014]    Various geometric configurations are possible for arranging the fingers and bristle border or bristle bundles and/or individual bristles. Provisions may be made in a possible embodiment of the present invention for arranging a plurality of bristle bundles and/or individual bristles preferably distributed uniformly over the circumference of the cover, forming a bristle crown. A plurality of bristle crowns arranged at axially spaced locations may be provided in the longitudinal direction of the cover. The bristle bundles and/or individual bristles of the bristle crown may be arranged at mutually spaced locations in the circumferential direction, but it is also possible to arrange the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles so close to one another that the bristle crown forms a bristle disk extending circumferentially at right angles to the axial longitudinal direction of the cover. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, it is possible that at least some of the bristle bundles are arranged offset in relation to adjacent bristle bundles in the longitudinal direction of the interdental cleaner. 
         [0016]    Provisions may be made in a possible embodiment of the present invention for a plurality of fingers to be arranged distributed over the circumference of the cover, forming a finger crown. A plurality of finger crowns are preferably arranged at mutually spaced locations in the axial direction of the cover, and provisions may be made in a possible embodiment of the present invention for the bristle crowns and finger crowns to be arranged alternatingly in the axial longitudinal direction of the cover. 
         [0017]    Moreover, provisions may be made for at least some of the fingers to be arranged offset in the longitudinal direction of the interdental cleaner in relation to adjacent fingers. 
         [0018]    The fingers, which preferably have a radially outwardly tapering, conical shape, for example, in the form of a circular cone, project from the cover with their length. Provisions are made in a preferred embodiment of the present invention for the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles to have a greater projecting length, so that at least some of the bristle bundles and/or some of the individual bristles project radially in the radial direction over the fingers by a measure M, wherein the measure M is in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm and especially preferably in the range of 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. 
         [0019]    Provisions may be made in another possible embodiment of the present invention for at least some of the fingers to project radially over the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles by a measure N, wherein the measure N is in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm, and especially preferably in the range of 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. 
         [0020]    The bristle bundles may be arranged as isolated bristle bundles, i.e., at a spaced location from adjacent bristle bundles. This also applies to individual bristles. Provisions are made in a possible embodiment of the present invention for at least some of the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles to be arranged in one or more rows of bristles extending in the longitudinal direction of the cover. The bristle bundles and/or individual bristles, which form a row of bristles, are preferably arranged so close adjacent to one another that a continuous, gapless row of bristles is formed. The rows of bristles may extend in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the cover, but provisions may also be made, as an alternative or in addition hereto, for the rows of bristles to extend helically in the longitudinal direction of the cover. 
         [0021]    The bristle bundles and/or individual bristles may be arranged independently from one another the fingers on the outer side of the cover. However, provisions may be made in a variant of the present invention, as an alternative or in addition hereto, for a bristle bundle and/or at least one individual bristle to pass through at least one of the fingers. More than half of the length of the individual bristle or of the bristles forming the bristle bundle is preferably arranged now in the interior of the fingers and projects from this with its free end from the finger preferably at the radially outer end of the finger, i.e., the fingertip. 
         [0022]    It proved to be advantageous if 1 to 4 individual bristles pass through the fingers. 
         [0023]    Provisions may be made in a possible embodiment of the present invention for the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles to be held at their radially inner end in the support and especially to be embedded in this. However, it is also possible, as an alternative, that the bristle bundle and/or individual bristle passes radially through the support and projects from this on opposite sides. In its middle area, which is arranged within the support, the bristle bundle and/or individual bristle is held in the support and is especially embedded in this. 
         [0024]    Provisions may be made in another possible embodiment of the present invention for the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles to be U-shaped or V-shaped and to be embedded with their base section in the support, so that they project radially with their free ends in the aforementioned manner. 
         [0025]    Provisions may be made in another possible embodiment of the present invention for the bristle bundles and/or the individual bristles to be L-shaped and to be embedded with one of the legs of their L shape in the support and to project from this with the other leg of the L. The leg of the L that is embedded in the support may extend now in the longitudinal direction of the interdental cleaner, i.e., in the axial direction, while the other leg of the L extends essentially at right angles thereto, i.e., radially or obliquely in relation thereto. 
         [0026]    The bristles may be held in the support in a positive-locking manner or by connection in substance. Especially good positive-locking mounting of the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles is ensured if a thickening in the form of a broadened head, which is embedded in the material of the support, is formed at an axial end of the bristle bundles and/or individual bristles. A corresponding head may be formed, for example, by upsetting the bristle bundle and/or individual bristles, optionally with prior heating in a manner known per se. 
         [0027]    The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    In the drawings: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interdental cleaner according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the front end of the interdental cleaner according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view according to III-III in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view according to IV-IV in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a view of the front end of an interdental cleaner according to a second exemplary embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is view of a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a view of the front end of an interdental cleaner according to a third exemplary embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view according to IX-IX in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view according to section X-X in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is view of a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a view of the front end of an interdental cleaner according to a fourth exemplary embodiment; 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view according to XIII-XIII in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 14  is a view of a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 15  is a view of a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view with different alternatives of fastening the bristles; 
           [0045]      FIG. 17  is a sectional view with L-shaped bristle bundles; and 
           [0046]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view with U-shaped bristle bundles. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0047]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an interdental cleaner  10 , which has a rod-like support  11  consisting of a plastic and at the rear end of which, which is the right-hand end according to  FIG. 1 , a grip section  13  is formed, by which a user can grip the interdental cleaner  10 . 
         [0048]    A cleaning device  12  is mounted on the rod-like support  11  at the front end located axially opposite the grip section  13 , the left-hand end according to  FIG. 1 . This [cleaning device] has a cover  14  of the support  11 , said cover  14  preferably consisting of a flexible plastic and having a structuring  19  on its outer side. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 2 through 4  show details of the design and of the components of the cleaning device  12  and of the structuring  19 . 
         [0050]    The cover  14  has on its outer side radially outwardly projecting, freely projecting fingers  15 , which consist of the same material as the cover  14  and is made in one piece with this, as this is shown in  FIG. 4 . The fingers  15  have a radially outwardly tapering conical shape (shown, for example, as a circular cone here). Six fingers each are arranged distributed over the circumference of the cover  14  in a plane extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis L of the support  11  in the exemplary embodiment shown, and they form a finger crown  17 . As is shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of finger crowns  17  arranged at axially spaced locations are provided in the axial longitudinal direction. A bristle crown  18  each is arranged between adjacent finger crowns  17 . Each bristle crown  18  comprises six bristle bundles  16 , which are embedded in the support  11  with their radially inner ends (see  FIG. 3 ), pass through the cover  14  and project from this radially outwardly. As is shown in  FIG. 4 , the freely projecting length of at least some of the bristle bundles is greater than the freely projecting length of the fingers  15 , so that the free ends of the bristle bundles  16  project radially outwardly over the fingers  15  by a measure M, which is in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  shows a view similar to that in  FIG. 4 , but the fingers  15  project radially over the bristle bundles  16  by a measure N here. The measure N is in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, so that the fingers  15  project radially outwardly over the bristle bundles  16 . 
         [0052]    As is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the fingers  15  and the bristle bundles  16  are oriented in the circumferential direction such that one bristle bundle  16  each is arranged in the projection between two fingers  15  and one finger  15  is arranged between two adjacent bristle bundles  16 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  shows a second exemplary embodiment, which differs from the first exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 through 4  in the arrangement and orientation of the bristle border. According to  FIG. 6 , the bristle border is formed by a plurality of rows of bristles  21 , which extend in the longitudinal direction of the cover  145  and of the rod-like support  11  and which extend in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the cover  14  and form a tight, gapless “bristle wall.” According to the exemplary embodiment shown, four straight rows of bristles are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the cover  14 , and a row of fingers  15  each is arranged between two rows of bristles located adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  shows a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 6  and differs from this in that the rows of bristles  22  extend helically in the longitudinal direction of the cover  14  and thus wind around this. A row of fingers  15  each is provided between two rows of bristles  22  located adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction in this case as well. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 8 through 10  show a third exemplary embodiment, which is a variant of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 through 4  and differs from these in that the bristle crowns  18  are formed by a plurality of individual bristles  20  here, which are arranged tightly packed such that the bristle crowns  18  are formed in the manner of a continuous bristle disk, which extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis L of the cover  14 . 
         [0056]    As is shown in  FIG. 9 , the individual bristles  20  are embedded at their radially inner ends in the material of the support  11  and pass through the cover  14  and project freely from this radially. 
         [0057]      FIG. 11  shows a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 8  and differs from this in that the bristle crowns  18  or bristle disks have a substantially larger dimension in the axial direction of the cover  14  or support  11 , i.e., they are substantially thicker and have a thickness s in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. 
         [0058]    The fingers  15 , on the one hand, and the bristle border, i.e., the bristle bundles  16  and individual bristles  20 , on the other hand, were each formed and mounted or held independently from one another in the exemplary embodiments shown hitherto. 
         [0059]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show another exemplary embodiment of the interdental cleaner according to the present invention, in which individual bristles  20  are provided, through which the fingers  15  pass. 
         [0060]    The interdental cleaner  10  has the design mentioned with the rod-like support  11  and with the cover  14 , which carries a plurality of radially outwardly projecting fingers  15  formed in one piece on its outer side. As is shown in  FIG. 13 , two individual bristles  20  pass through each finger  15 . The individual bristles  20  are embedded at their radially inner ends in the material of the support  11  and extend from there radially outwardly through the finger  15  and exit at the radially outer end thereof, i.e., at the tip of the finger  15 , and project radially from this. The individual bristles  20  and the corresponding finger  15  mutually affect one another in this manner by the individual bristles  20  imparting a higher bending resistance to the finger  15  and the finger  15  supports the individual bristles  20  over a substantial section of its axial length, so that the risk of kinking of the bristles  20  is reduced. 
         [0061]      FIG. 14  shows a variant of the embodiment according to  FIG. 13 . Two individual bristles  20  extend through the fingers  15  in the radial direction and exit from the finger at the outer tip of the finger  15  in this case as well. However, the individual bristles  20  are not held with their inner ends in the material of the support  11 , but they pass through the support  11  and a finger  15  arranged on the opposite side and exit from it [the support] at the radially outer end thereof. The individual bristles  20  are thus arranged within the support and are held in same in a middle area. 
         [0062]    The bristle bundles  16  and/or individual bristles  20  and/or fingers  15  were arranged in circumferential finger crowns in the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 15  shows now an exemplary embodiment in which the fingers are arranged each offset in the axial direction or the longitudinal direction of the interdental cleaner in relation to the adjacent fingers. This applies to the bristle bundles  16  and/or individual bristles. It is achieved in this manner that when the interdental cleaner is pushed axially into an interdental space, the fingers  15  come into contact with the surface of the tooth one after another, as a result of which the resistance is reduced. This also applies to the bristle bundles  20 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 16  shows alternative possibilities for fastening a bristle bundle  16  in the material of the support  11 . A broadened head  23 , with which the bristle bundle  20  is embedded in the material of the support  11 , so that high resistance to pulling out is achieved in a positive-locking manner, is formed at the radially inner end of the bristle bundle  16  in a first embodiment shown in the top part of  FIG. 16 . 
         [0064]    According to a second embodiment shown in the center of  FIG. 1 , the bristle bundle  20  is so long that it passes completely through the material of the support  11  and projects from this on opposite sides. 
         [0065]    According to a third embodiment shown at the bottom of  FIG. 16 , the bristle bundle is bent in a V-shaped pattern and embedded with the base section of the V shape in the material of the support  11 , with the legs of the V shape projecting radially. A very high level of safety against pulling out is achieved here as well. 
         [0066]      FIG. 17  shows another embodiment of the fastening of the bristle bundle  16 . The bristle bundle  16  is bent in an L-shaped pattern, and one leg of the L shape extends in the longitudinal direction of the interdental cleaner within the material of the support  11 , while the other leg of the L shape extends at right angles thereto, i.e., radially to the longitudinal direction of the interdental cleaner and projects radially. 
         [0067]    According to  FIG. 18 , the bristle bundle  16  is bent in a U-shaped pattern and has a preferably horizontal base section and two legs projecting therefrom. The bristle bundle  16  is embedded with the base section in the material of the support  11  and is held in same, while the two legs project radially. 
         [0068]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.