Interdental cleaning device

In an interdental cleaning device comprising a brush and a holder, the brush being pivotably and replaceably disposed on the free end of the holder, and the holder consisting of two shells, it is provided with a view to advantageous pivotablility of the brush and defined stop positions being attained, accompanied with simple implementation in terms of plastics technology, that the brush comprises a ball of a ball and socket joint and that a socket of a ball and socket joint is formed by two socket members to be assembled and disassembled, one socket member at a time being formed on an end of a shell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to an interdental cleaning device comprising a brush 
and a holder, the brush being pivotably and replaceably disposed on the 
free end of the holder, and the holder consisting of two shells. 
2. Background Art 
A cleaning device of the generic type is known for instance from DE-U296 01 
661. 
In order for the brush to be pivotable in relation to the holder 
comparatively easily on the one hand, and having stable stop positions on 
the other hand so that the respective angle desired for the cleaning 
operation can be set between the brush and the holder, comparatively high 
demands are put on the bedding of the brush. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the object of the invention to embody an interdental cleaning device 
of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the pivot bearing 
of the brush exhibits optimal properties of use on the one hand and that 
simple implementation in terms of plastics technology is ensured on the 
other hand. 
According to the invention, this object is attained by the brush comprising 
a ball of a ball and socket joint and by the socket of the ball and socket 
joint being formed by two socket members to be assembled and disassembled, 
one socket member at a time being formed on an end of a shell. 
The design as a ball and socket joint ensures that friction and stop 
position stability can be defined and set highly accurately. However, 
problems are posed by putting into practice the spherical bearings by 
injection molding since the possibilities of implementing rear recesses 
are restricted, depending on the plastic materials selected. By appending 
the socket members to the shells, it is feasible to join the two socket 
members very tightly to each other without any restriction on the 
selection of material and the geometry of rear recesses. In this way, it 
is even possible to use transparent materials that are, however, 
comparatively brittle such as polystyrene, SAM, PEC, K resin, 
polycarbonate, or acrylic glass. 
In keeping with another embodiment of the invention, a locking mechanism is 
provided, interlocking the shells in their closed condition. In this way, 
it is possible to render the interior space between the shells optionally 
accessible and there to accommodate for instance spare brushes for 
replacement after wear or brushes having a different top for certain 
cleaning purposes. 
By advantage, the locking mechanism may comprise a slide and a lengthwise 
displaceable locking member joined to the latter on a first shell of the 
holder, and an arresting member, into which to push the locking member, on 
the second shell of the holder. 
For pivoting of the brush to be possible on the one hand and for the brush 
to be secured in a direction perpendicular to the pivoting direction and 
the stop positions to be stabilized, at least one of the socket members of 
the ball and socket joint may have a slit with locking recesses which 
surrounds the stem of the brush. 
At their ends turned away from the brush, the two shells of the holder may 
be united by a hinge, in particular an integral hinge. 
The end of the holder that is turned away from the brush may have a base so 
that it is possible to place such an interdental cleaning device in a 
toilet cabinet or the like, thus saving space. 
In order to obtain reliable upright standing, legs may be formed on the 
base in the form of knob-type elevations. 
For simplification of the opening of the two shells, at least one of them 
can be provided with a recessed grip that stands back from the inner edge. 
Details of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description 
of a preferred exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawing 
.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
An interdental cleaning device 1 seen in the drawing comprises two shells 
2, 3, on one end 4 of which a brush 5 is pivotably mounted, and the other 
end 6 of which is configured as a base 7 with legs 8, the shells 2, 3 
being connected with each other in a manner to be flexibly unfoldable by 
way of an integral hinge 9. For simplification of the unfolding operation, 
recessed grips 10, 11 are provided on each of the shells. As roughly 
outlined housings 12 permit further brushes to be housed inside the shells 
2, 3. 
For interlocking the two shells 2, 3, a slide 13 is provided, which is 
positioned for lengthwise displacement in a longitudinal recess 14 of the 
shell 2. On its underside, i.e. on the inside of the shell 2, the slide 13 
is joined to a locking member 15 which may be formed by an elastic bar of 
plastic material guided lengthwise. An arresting member 16 is mounted on 
the other shell 3, having the shape of an eyelet into which to push the 
locking member 15 for interlocking. 
As seen in particular from FIG. 2 in combination with FIG. 4, a 
hemispherical socket member 17, 18 is molded on the end 4, on the side of 
the brush, of each shell 2, 3 so that a spherical bearing recess is 
produced inside, which comprises a ball 19 of a ball and socket joint, the 
stem 20 of the brush 5 being fixed to this ball 19. A slit 21 is formed in 
the socket member 17, extending over an angle of approximately 90.degree. 
and at the ends of which recesses 22, 23 are formed, the diameter of which 
corresponds approximately to the diameter of the stem 20, whereas the 
width of the slit 21 is smaller than the diameter of the stem 20, two 
stable stop positions for the brush thus being defmed, namely in axial 
prolongation of the holder 24 formed by the shells 2, 3 on the one hand 
and perpendicular thereto on the other.