Abstract:
An oral care instrument, which can maintain a sufficient support strength of a long neck, leaves little residue of a medicant after using, has a low contamination risk from nozzle tip, allows smooth spouting of a medical solution from the beginning, prevents excessive supply of gelatinous or creamy oral-care composition in the case of flowing the composition in a supply channel inside the same, and contributes to the maintenance of the durability of a manufacturing mold. In the aforesaid oral care instrument, which comprises a handle ( 2 ), a head ( 3 ) and a neck ( 4 ), a channel ( 11 ) for supplying oral-care composition running within the neck ( 4 ) to a nozzle ( 10 ) of the head ( 3 ) via the handle ( 2 ), is formed; and the head ( 3 ) is connected in a detachable manner to the neck ( 4 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an oral care instrument for applying an oral composition in an oral cavity by discharging the oral composition from a nozzle portion at a distal end of the oral care instrument. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As an oral care instrument of this type, there is conventionally proposed an oral care instrument which includes washing solution supply means, and a long washing solution discharge tube attached to the washing solution supply means (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-167088). In this oral care instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-167088, an elastic nozzle is provided at a distal end of the washing solution discharge tube, and the washing solution supply means is composed of a washing solution container having a pumping function. In addition, every time a pressing portion (button) provided on the washing solution container is pressed, the washing solution is ejected from a discharge orifice opened to a projecting end of the elastic nozzle provided at the distal end of the washing solution discharge tube through a discharge flow path in the washing solution discharge tube. Further, there is also proposed another oral care instrument which also includes washing solution supply means, and a washing solution discharge tube attached to the washing solution supply means (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-132099). The oral care instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-132099 further includes a cleaning member, and a washing solution ejecting portion. The cleaning member is provided at a distal end of the washing solution discharge tube so as to be projected in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the washing solution discharge tube. The washing solution ejecting portion has a washing solution discharge orifice which communicates with a discharge flow path of the washing solution discharge tube, is opened to the external side with respect to a position in the vicinity of the base of the cleaning member, and ejects washing solution toward the projection of the cleaning member from the middle portion to the distal end thereof. 
     According to the oral care instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-167088, the washing solution can be accurately ejected toward an interdental portion with less washing solution scattered, and food debris can be surely removed from the interdental portion with the washing solution for washing. According to the oral care instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-132099, after dental plaque which cannot be removed with water flow only is removed with the cleaning member, the washing solution can be effectively supplied to deep portions through the cleaning member. This makes it possible to effectively sterilize and suppress inflammation of a tissue by supplying drug solution containing an antimicrobial agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, or the like to embrasures, gingival marginal portions, periodontal pockets, or the like. 
     However, in these conventional oral care instruments, components from the washing solution discharge tube to the nozzle portion ejecting the washing solution are integrally formed. Further, since the washing solution discharge tube is required to have strength enough to support forces received from the elastic nozzle or the cleaning member when used by a user, the washing solution discharge tube is required to have a certain size in diameter. Moreover, if the thickness of the washing solution discharge tube is decreased in consideration of the material cost, an internal space thereof is made larger to some extent. If the internal space is made larger as described above, there arise a problem that the drug solution is hard to be ejected at the start of use, and a problem that the amount of remaining drug after use is large and the risk of being contaminated from the distal end of the nozzle is increased. On the other hand, if the internal space is made too small, durability of a produced mold is made worse, and the following problem is caused. The problem is that when the gel or cream oral composition flows through the internal space of the washing solution discharge tube as a supply path, the oral composition transmitted to the supply path does not stop immediately even when the transmitting operation is stopped and thus an excess amount of the oral composition are ejected and wasted. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-137088 
         Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-132099 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide an oral care instrument in which a long neck portion keeps a sufficient supporting strength, the amount of remaining drug after use is small, the risk of being contaminated from the distal end of the nozzle is decreased, and the drug solution is easily ejected at the start of use. At the same time, in the oral care instrument, the excess amount of the gel or cream oral composition are prevented from being ejected when the oral composition is flown through the internal supply path, while the durability of the produced mold can be maintained. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an oral care instrument for applying a gel or cream oral composition in an oral cavity by discharging the oral composition from a nozzle portion at a distal end of the instrument, including: a handle body gripped when used; a head body having the nozzle portion for discharging the oral composition at the distal end of the instrument; and a neck body which is formed between the handle body and the head body and by which the head body can be inserted to deep portions in the oral cavity, wherein a supply path for supplying the oral composition from the handle body to the nozzle portion of the head body through an inner side of the neck body is provided, and the head body is detachably coupled to the neck body (first aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that a plurality of ribs which are projected in the direction of a center axis and are extended long in the axial direction are provided on an inner circumferential wall of the neck body, and a cylindrical tube member which has an inner diameter of 1 to 2 mm and constitutes the supply path of the oral composition is inserted and attached to the neck body in such a manner that an outer circumferential face of the tube member is supported by the plurality of ribs (second aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that an application member formed of a bundle of filaments is provided at the nozzle portion of the head body (third aspect of the invention). 
     Specifically, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that the application member is formed of only one bundle of filaments (fourth aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that a base on which a plurality of filaments constituting the bundle are integrally fused with each other at base ends of the filaments and which is swelled outward is provided on the application member, a communicating hole communicating with an opening of the nozzle portion is provided on the base, and a ring stopper member for the application member which is attached from the distal end side of the application member to the exterior of the application member so as to be locked to the swelled portion of the base is attached together with the application member to the circumference of the nozzle portion of the head body (fifth aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that a brush body for cleaning interdental spaces is provided at a distal end of the head body instead of the application member, and the nozzle portion is opened toward a brush portion of the brush body (sixth aspect of the invention). 
     When the brush body for cleaning interdental spaces is provided in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that the head body is formed into a bent shape (seventh aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is also possible that an interdental brush member having the brush body and a brush supporting portion for supporting the brush body is provided, the interdental brush member being a separate member from the head body, and an attachment portion for externally holding the brush supporting portion is provided at the distal end of the head body (eighth aspect of the invention). 
     When the interdental brush member which is a separate member from the head body is provided, it is preferable that a locking portion swelled outward is formed at a base portion of the brush supporting portion, and a ring stopper member is provided so as to be externally fitted to the brush supporting member and internally fitted and fixed to the attachment portion, so that an end portion of the stopper member can be engaged with the locking portion (ninth aspect of the invention). 
     Further, when the interdental brush member which is a separate member from the head body is provided, it is possible that a communication path communicating with a supply path of the head body is formed on the brush supporting portion, and a nozzle portion is formed at an end portion of the communication path (tenth aspect of the invention). 
     Furthermore, when the brush body is integrally provided in the head body, it is preferable that the head body is formed into a bent shape, a base side supply path and a distal end side supply path of the head body are formed at an angle to each other, the distal end side supply path of the head body is formed by a through hole passing through a distal end side portion of the head body, a lid member for occluding an opening at a base end of the through hole is fixed to a base of the distal end side portion of the head body (eleventh aspect of the invention). 
     Moreover, it is preferable that the oral care instrument includes a cap detachably attached to each of a position at which the nozzle portion at the distal end side of the head body is covered and a position at which a distal end of the neck body is covered in a state where the head body is detached (twelfth aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that the head body is formed into a substantially dog-leg shape, a plurality of projections are provided on the outer circumferential face of the distal end of the neck body with intervals in the circumferential direction, convex portions which is engaged with concave grooves formed between the projections are provided at corresponding positions to the distal end of the neck body on the inner circumferential wall of the head body, and when the distal end of the neck body is inserted and coupled to the head body, the convex portions are engaged with the projections, resulting in as a stopper of the rotation (thirteenth aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that one or both of side ends on the projections at the distal end side of the neck body in the axial direction and side ends on the convex portions at the base end side of the head body in the axial direction are formed in a V tapered shape, the side ends on the projections and the side ends on the convex portions being opposed to each other in the axial direction when coupled (fourteenth aspect of the invention). 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, it is preferable that a container containing the oral composition and a screw type transmission mechanism for pushing the oral composition out to a supply path are provided inside of the handle body (fifteenth aspect of the invention). 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the oral care instrument according to the present invention configured as described above, the supply path for supplying the oral composition from the handle body to the nozzle portion of the head body through the inner side of the neck body is provided and the head body is detachably coupled to the neck body. This makes it possible to wash and dry the nozzle portion at the distal end or the like by detaching the head body after used so that the good oral care instrument in terms of a hygiene viewpoint is obtained. 
     In the oral care instrument, a plurality of ribs which are projected in the direction of a center axis, and are extended long in the axial direction are provided on the inner circumferential wall of the neck body. A cylindrical tube member which has an inner diameter of 1 to 2 mm and constitutes the supply path of the oral composition is inserted and attached to the neck body in such a manner that the outer circumferential face of the tube member is supported by the plurality of ribs. Accordingly, even if the outer diameter or thickness of the neck body is made smaller, a sufficient strength can be obtained and the insertability to details in the oral cavity can be improved. Further, the supply path can be made to have a required minimum size of a cross-sectional area by setting a size of the tube member, thereby preventing an excess amount of the oral composition from being supplied. 
     In other words, since the neck body is required to have strength enough to support forces received from the head body in use, the neck body is required to have a certain size in diameter. Further, if the thickness of the neck body is decreased in consideration of the material cost, an internal space thereof is made larger. Conventionally, it is believed that the oral composition can be flown through the internal space itself as a supply path. However, if the supply path is wide beyond necessity, there arise a problem that the drug solution is hard to be ejected at the start of use, and a problem that the amount of remaining drug after use is large and the risk of being contaminated from the distal end of the nozzle is increased. On the other hand, if the supply path is made smaller at the time of forming the supply path, the strength and durability of a produced mold is made worse, and the following problem is caused at the same time. The problem is that the oral composition pushed out to the supply path does not stop immediately even when the pushing operation is stopped and an excess amount of the oral composition are ejected and wasted, although depending on rheological characterization of the oral composition. In order to solve the problems, a plurality of ribs are projected to the inner circumferential face and a tube member is provided at an inner side of the ribs to make a supply path in the invention. With the ribs provided, even if the outer diameter and thickness of the neck body are made smaller, a sufficient strength can be obtained. At the same time, since the oral composition is supplied through the tube member at the inner side of the ribs, a cross-sectional area of the tube member can be appropriately set in accordance with the rheological characterization of the oral composition, thereby preventing an excess amount of the oral composition from being supplied. 
     Even in a case where the neck body is injection-molded by a synthetic resin, since a convex and concave configuration for forming ribs is provided on a mold forming an internal space, durability and strength of the mold can be maintained so that the neck body having small outer diameter and thickness can be formed at high accuracy. Further, an operation in which the tube member separately formed is mounted in the neck body can be easily performed without fail, and an assembling operation can be easy. That is because when the tube member is inserted to be attached, the tube member is supported and guided by the above ribs so that the tube member can be located at a center position at which an axis of the tube member matches to that of the neck portion by simply pushing the tube member, and the contact area causing a resistance when inserted is small. 
     Moreover, an application member formed of a bundle of filaments is provided at the nozzle portion of the head body. This makes it possible to apply the oral composition to or into detailed sites in the oral cavity. Therefore, the oral composition can be also applied after the contaminants are cleaned with a bundle of filaments. 
     In addition, since the application member is formed of only one bundle of filaments, the application member can be easily produced and an operation of applying the oral composition to or into detailed sites in the oral cavity when used is effectively performed. 
     Further, in the instrument, a base on which a plurality of filaments constituting the bundle are integrally fused with each other at base ends of filaments and which is swelled outward is provided on the application member, a communicating hole communicating with an opening of the nozzle portion is provided on the base, and a ring stopper member for the application member which is attached from the distal end side of the application member to the exterior of the application member so as to be locked to the swelled portion on the base is attached together with the application member to the circumference of the nozzle portion of the head body. Since the application member, formed of the bundle, is attached to the circumference of the nozzle portion while being bound by the ring stopper member for the application member, the filaments can be prevented from being fallen, and the manufacturing can be easily and effectively performed only by integrally assembling the application member stopper member and the application member to the head body. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, a brush body for cleaning interdental spaces is provided at the distal end of the head body instead of the application member and the nozzle portion is opened toward a brush portion of the brush body. This makes it possible to clean interdental spaces while applying the oral composition to the interdental spaces by cleaning the interdental spaces with the brush body after discharging the oral composition to the brush portion. In addition, it becomes also possible to apply the oral composition to interdental spaces with the brush body by discharging the oral composition to the brush portion after cleaning the interdental spaces with the brush body. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, when the brush body for cleaning interdental spaces is provided, the head body is formed into a bent shape. With this configuration, it is possible to smoothly carry out a cleaning operation especially with respect to back teeth. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, an interdental brush member having the brush body and a brush supporting portion for supporting the brush body is provided, the interdental brush member being a separate member from the head body, and an attachment portion for externally holding the brush supporting portion is provided at the distal end of the head body. Accordingly, when the brush body is damaged, a new brush body can be attached by replacing only the interdental brush member composed of the brush body and the brush supporting portion. Therefore, an economic burden of a user can be reduced in comparison with a case where the brush body needs to be replaced together with the head body and the neck body. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, when the interdental brush member which is a separate member from the head body is provided, a locking portion swelled outward is formed at the base portion of the brush supporting portion, and a ring stopper member is provided so as to be externally fitted to the brush supporting member and internally fitted and fixed to the attachment portion, so that the end portion of the stopper member can be engaged with the locking portion. In this case, although the number of parts is increased, it is preferable since the detachment of the interdental brush member from the attachment portion of the head body can be effectively prevented. In the interdental brush member, the angle of the brush portion is adjusted by bending the core member at the vicinity of the main body portion. Therefore, it is preferable that the main body portion is made of a synthetic resin material which is softer than the head body in order to prevent the core member from being fractured at the bent portion and increase the durability of the interdental brush member. However, when the main body portion is made of a soft synthetic resin material in this way, the main body portion becomes more likely to be elastically deformed, thereby resulting in that the pullout strength of the interdental brush member is decreased when the main body portion is directly fitted and fixed to the attachment portion. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the stopper member can be made of a hard synthetic resin material as with the head body, the pullout strength of the stopper member with respect to the head body can be sufficiently ensured. In addition to this, also in the main body portion, the pullout strength of the main body portion can be easily and sufficiently ensured by virtue of the engagement between the locking portion swelled outward and the base end of the stopper member. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the interdental brush member from being detached from the attachment portion of the head body. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, when the interdental brush member which is a separate member from the head body is provided, a communication path communicating with a supply path of the head body is formed on the brush supporting portion, and a nozzle portion is formed at the end portion of the communication path. This makes it possible to discharge the oral composition to the brush body. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, when the brush body is integrally provided in the head body, it is also possible that the head body is formed into a bent shape, a base side supply path and a distal end side supply path of the head body are formed at an angle to each other, the distal end side supply path of the head body is formed by a through hole passing through a distal end side portion of the head body, a lid member for occluding an opening at a base end of the through hole is fixed to a base of the distal end side portion of the head body. In this case, since the head body is formed into a bent shape, it is possible to improve the insertion operability of the brush body into interdental spaces and smoothly carry out a cleaning operation especially with respect to back teeth. Further, although the brush body needs to be replaced together with the head body, it is possible to reliably prevent the brush body from being detached from the head body since the brush body can be firmly fixed to the head body. Furthermore, since the distal end side supply path of the head body is formed by the through hole, the formability of the supply path can be sufficiently ensured. 
     Further, the oral care instrument includes a cap detachably attached to each of a position at which a nozzle portion at the distal end side of the head body is covered and a position at which a distal end of the neck body is covered in a state where the head body is detached. With the cap, desiccation of the oral composition (volatilization of water or drug) can be prevented while protecting the application portion and the like by covering the cap on the distal end of the head body when the instrument is not used. When the neck body is detached from the head body to wash, dry, or the like the head body, the same cap is attached to the neck body so that the handle body and the neck body can be stored in a state where the head body is detached while similarly preventing desiccation of the oral composition. The sealing performance (virgin performance) until a first use can be assured. When the head body is assembled again, the head body is attached by detaching the cap from the neck body and the same cap is attached to the nozzle portion of the head body. Therefore, the cap is effective and convenient component. Specifically, when the bundle of filaments is provided as the application member of the nozzle portion, the bundle is covered with the cap in a closely sealed manner so as to prevent desiccation of the bundle. In consideration of this point, as the material of the bundle of filaments, nylon resin can be used, but a PTB resin, PPT resin, or a PPT/PBT resin having low water absorbability is preferably used in order to prevent the deterioration of the physical property of filaments by water absorption. Further, it is also preferable to use filaments which have been subjected to an antimicrobial treatment from a hygiene point of view. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, the head body is formed into a substantially dog-leg shape, a plurality of projections are provided on the outer circumferential face of the distal end of the neck body with intervals in the circumferential direction, convex portions which is engaged with concave grooves formed between the projections are provided at corresponding positions to the distal end of the neck portion on the inner circumferential wall of the head body, and when the distal end of the neck body is inserted and coupled to the head body, the convex portions are engaged with the projections, resulting in as a stopper of the rotation. Therefore, even if a force is applied to the head portion when the head portion is pushed against sites in the oral cavity, or the like, the head portion does not rotate and is hold at a position with a certain angle. Therefore, the oral composition can be effectively applied to even anterior teeth or molars without fail by pushing the head portion against the sites in the oral cavity. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, one or both of side ends on the projections at the distal end side of the neck body in the axial direction and side ends on the convex portions at the base end side of the head body in the axial direction are formed in a V tapered shape, the side ends on the projections and the side ends on the convex portions being opposed to each other in the axial direction when coupled. Therefore, a problem that the projections and the convex portions cannot be fitted to each other successfully or fitted to each other insufficiently because they hit each other can be avoided so that attachment and detachment operations can be easily performed without fail. That is to say, the user can easily perform attachment and detachment operations of the head body without fail when the user detaches the head body for washing and the like, and the detachment of the head body during use because of the insufficient fitting can be prevented. 
     Further, in the oral care instrument, a container containing the oral composition and a screw type transmission mechanism for pushing the oral composition out to a supply path are provided inside the handle body. With the screw type transmission mechanism, only necessary amount of the gel or cream oral composition can be accurately ejected for use with light force for the operation thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an oral care instrument according to a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling configuration among a neck body, a head body, and a cap of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5(   a ) is a partially cutaway perspective view of the head body of the oral care instrument and  FIG. 5(   b ) is a partially cutaway perspective view of a head body of another embodiment in which a shape of a bundle is changed. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line B-B in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration in which an application member is attached to the head body in the oral care instrument in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling configuration in which the cap is attached to a distal end of the neck body in the oral care instrument in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling configuration among a neck body, a head body, an interdental brush member, and a cap of an oral care instrument in which the interdental brush member is provided instead of the application member. 
         FIG. 10  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the coupling configuration among the neck body, the head body, the interdental brush member, and the cap of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11(   a ) is a left side view,  FIG. 11(   b ) is a front view, and  FIG. 11(   c ) is a right side view of a brush supporting portion of the interdental brush member of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 11(   d ) is a cross-sectional view cut along a line D-D in  FIG. 11(   a ). 
         FIG. 12  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling configuration among the neck body, the head body, the interdental brush member, and the cap of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 9  in which the structure of the brush supporting portion is partially changed. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling configuration among a neck body, a head body, an interdental brush member, a stopper member, and a cap of an oral care instrument provided with the interdental brush member having another structure. 
         FIG. 14  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the coupling configuration among the neck body, the head body, the interdental brush member, the stopper member, and the cap of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15(   a ) is a plan view,  FIG. 15(   b ) is a left side view,  FIG. 15(   c ) is a front view, and  FIG. 15(   d ) is a right side view of a brush supporting portion of the interdental brush member of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 15(   e ) is a cross-sectional view cut along a line E-E in  FIG. 15(   b ). 
         FIG. 16(   a ) is a left side view,  FIG. 16(   b ) is a front view, and  FIG. 16(   c ) is a right side view of the stopper member of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 16(   d ) is a cross-sectional view cut along a line D-D in  FIG. 16(   a ). 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling configuration among a head body and an interdental brush member of an oral care instrument provided with the interdental brush member having yet another structure. 
         FIG. 18  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the coupling configuration among the head body and the interdental brush member of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19(   a ) is a plan view and  FIG. 19(   b ) is a front view of the interdental brush member of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 17 , and  FIG. 19(   c ) is a cross-sectional view cut along a line C-C in  FIG. 19(   a ). 
         FIG. 20  is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling configuration among a head body and a lid member of an oral care instrument provided with an interdental brush member having yet another structure. 
         FIG. 21  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the coupling configuration among the head body and the lid member of the oral care instrument in  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22(   a ) is a cross-sectional view cut along a line A-A in  FIG. 20 ,  FIG. 22(   b ) is a cross-sectional view cut along a line B-B in  FIG. 20 , and  FIG. 22(   c ) is a cross-sectional view cut along a line C-C in  FIG. 20 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an oral care instrument according to the invention, and  FIG. 2  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in which a distal end side from a handle body  2  is fractured partially.  FIGS. 1 to 8  show a representative embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, reference numeral  1  indicates the oral care instrument,  2  indicates the handle body,  3  indicates a head body, and  4  indicates a neck body. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the oral care instrument  1  is an instrument for applying a gel or cream oral composition in an oral cavity by discharging the oral composition from a nozzle portion  10  at a distal end of the oral care instrument  1 . The oral care instrument  1  includes the handle body  2  gripped by a user when used, the head body  3  having the nozzle portion  10  for discharging the oral composition to the distal end side, the neck body  4  which is attached between the handle body  2  and the head body  3 . The neck body  4  is long in the axial direction so as to insert the head body  3  to deep portions in the oral cavity. In the oral care instrument  1  according to the invention, it is characterized in that an oral composition supply path  11  is provided from the handle body  2  to the nozzle portion  10  of the head body  3  through the inner side of the neck body  4 , and the head body  3  is detachably coupled to the neck body  4 . 
     In the embodiment described below, a cap  7  is provided at a distal end of the head body  3  so as to occlude the nozzle portion  10 , and the same cap  7  can be attached to a distal end of the neck body  4  when the head body  3  is detached from the neck body  4  as shown in  FIG. 8 . However, the cap  7  may be omitted or a cap dedicated only to the head body  3  or different caps dedicated to each of the head body  3  and the neck body  4  may be provided. 
     A container  23  containing the oral composition, and a screw type transmission mechanism  24  for pushing the oral composition out to the supply path  11  are provided inside the handle body  2 . The screw type transmission mechanism  24  of the embodiment has a configuration same as a liquid pressurizing mechanism disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-330814. To be more specific, the screw type transmission mechanism  24  has a mechanism as follows. A piston body  29  fixed to a distal end of a threaded bar  28  pushes the oral composition in the container  23  out by moving the threaded bar  28  in the axial direction through a holding member  27 . Here, a rotational operation member  26  rotatable with respect to a main body  25  is provided at a base end of the handle body  2 , and the holding member  27  is coupled to the rotational operation member  26  so as to integrally rotate with the rotational operation member  26 . A ratchet is formed at an engagement portion of the holding member  27  and the rotational operation member  26  so that the holding member  27  is integrally rotated in only one direction with the rotational operation member  26 . The threaded bar  28  is threaded to an internal thread formed in a hollow at a center portion of the holding member  27 . When the rotational operation member  26  rotates in a predetermined direction, the piston body  29  proceeds together with the threaded bar  28  in the direction of the distal end so as to push the oral composition contained in the container  23 . With the screw type transmission mechanism  24 , when a user rotates the rotational operation member  26  in a predetermined amount in use, the piston body  29  moves in accordance with the rotational amount of the rotational operation member  26 . Therefore, when a small amount of the oral composition is desired to be ejected for use, an accurate amount of the oral composition can be pushed out. In addition, the oral composition can be prevented from dripping off from the nozzle or an application member. Further, every time the rotational operation member  26  is operated to rotate by a certain angle, a clicking sound is generated from the ratchet. Therefore, a desired amount of the oral composition can be discharged by counting the number of the clicking sounds. 
     The transmission mechanism of the oral composition is not limited to the embodiment. The pumping mechanisms as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2008-132099, Hei 3-261469 and Hei 9-2854477, mechanisms composed of a container having an elasticity as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,961,489, 3,199,510 and 3,391,696, or screw type transmission mechanisms as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. Hei 11-28120, 2001-57908 and 2000-300349, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication Nos. Hei 8-858, Hei 7-44148 and Hei 5-72224, and Japanese Utility Model No. 3121384 may be used as the transmission mechanism. Further, a device having an electrical, or mechanical automatic driving pumping mechanism, a mechanism configured by connecting a separate container containing the oral composition as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 7-59801, or a mechanism having a tank attached to a main body as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-117254 may be also used. 
     Various compositions can be employed as the oral composition as long as the composition is a gel or cream oral care composition. For example, drug solutions containing an antimicrobial agent or an anti-inflammatory agent which is effective for the increase of blood flow or prevention and treatment of periodontitis, prophylactic and therapeutic agents for dental caries, prophylactic and therapeutic agents for hyperesthesia, prophylactic and therapeutic agents for stomatitis, an oral moisturizer, a denture stabilizing agent, a whitening component for a teeth whitening agent a sealant, a fluoride varnish, an oral anesthetic agent, and the like can be employed. Water-soluble gel compositions are more suitable in consideration of a dischargeability and applicability. 
     The neck portion  4  having a tapered cylindrical shape is provided with a fitting portion  4   a  at a distal end of the neck body  4  and a fitting portion  4   b  at a base end thereof. The fitting portion  4   a  is provided for detachably attaching the head body  3 , and the fitting portion  4   b  is provided for coupling the neck body  4  to an upper end of the handle body  2 . The supply path  11  for supplying the oral composition in the neck body  4  can be formed directly at the inner circumferential wall of the neck body  4 . However, in the embodiment, a tube member  5  which is a separate member is provided at the interior of the neck body  4  so that the internal space of the tube member  5  serves as the supply path  11 . The tube member  5  is configured to have an inner diameter of 1 to 2 mm, more preferably 1.3 to 1.7 mm, still more preferably approximately 1.6 mm. A distal end  5   a  of the tube member  5  is inserted to an attachment hole  42  formed at the distal end side of the neck body  4  in a closely contact manner, and a base end  5   b  thereof is inserted to an attachment hole  21  formed at the upper end side of the handle body  2  also in a closely contact manner. 
     The attachment hole  42  at the deep side (distal end side) is a through hole communicating with an introduction path  43  introducing the oral composition to the nozzle portion  10  of the head body  3  through a step portion  42   a  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The distal end  5   a  of the tube member  5  hits the step portion  42   a . In the same manner, the attachment hole  21  at the deep side (base end side) communicates with a transmission path  22  extending from a pumping mechanism of the handle body  2  through a step portion  21   a , and the base end  5   b  of the tube member  5  hits at the step portion  21   a . As described above, both of the step portions restrict the movement of the tube member  5  in the axial direction. The oral composition supplied from the transmission path  22  of the handle body  2  travels in the internal space of the tube member  5  as the supply path  11  to the distal end side, then travels to the head body  3  through the introduction path  43  and is discharged from the nozzle portion  10  into an application member  6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a plurality of ribs  41  which are projected in the direction of a center axis and are extended long in the axial direction are provided at an inner circumferential wall  40  of the neck body  4 . The ribs  41  provided at the same positions in the axial direction have a same projection height. A hypothetical inner diameter obtained by connecting the end faces of the projections of the ribs  41  in a circumferential direction (a diameter of a hypothetical circle which is surrounded by the end faces of the projections of the ribs  41  and is in contact with the end faces of the projections) is set to be gradually smaller toward the distal end side in the axial direction. Further, the ends of the ribs  41  at the distal end side of the neck body  4  are formed to be continuous with the attachment hole  42  such that the inner diameter is substantially identical to the inner circumferential face of the attachment hole  42 . Accordingly, when the tube member  5  is assembled inside the neck body  4  by inserting the tube member  5  from the base end side of the neck body  4 , the distal end  5   a  of the tube member  5  is guided into the attachment hole  42  without a hindrance in a state where an outer circumferential face  50  of the tube member  5  is supported by the end faces of the ribs  41 . Therefore, the assembling operation can be easily performed without fail. Further, the strength of the neck body  4  can be increased by providing the plurality of ribs  41  so that the thickness of the neck body  4  can be reduced in comparison with that without the ribs, and the external shape of the neck body  4  can be made slimmer. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the head body  3  is detachably coupled to the neck body  4 . The nozzle portion  10  for discharging the oral composition is provided at the distal end of the head body  3 . The application member  6  formed of a bundle  60  of filaments is provided at the nozzle portion  10 . The oral composition discharged from the nozzle portion  10  is supplied into the bundle  60  so that the oral composition is effectively applied to a site in the oral cavity through the bundle  60 . In the embodiment, the head body  3  includes a straight attachment portion  31  which is to be attached to the distal end of the neck body  4  and a cylindrical attachment portion  32  which is bent at the distal end side thereof in a predetermined direction with respect to the attachment portion  31 . Accordingly, the head body  3  is formed into a bent shape as a whole. In the head body  3  shown in  FIG. 4 , the bending angle of the head body  3  is set at 110°. In this regard, it is desirable that the bending angle of the head body  3  is set in the range of 80° to 130° and preferably in the range of 85° to 120° in consideration of workability in the oral composition applying operation by the application member  6 . Further, as described later, even in a case where a brush body  81  for cleaning interdental spaces is provided with respect to the head body  3  instead of the application member  6 , it is desirable that the bending angle of the head body  3  is set in the same range as that in the case where the application member  6  is provided. However, the head body  3  may have a straight shape or other shapes except the substantially dog-leg shape as described above. A fitting sealing configuration for fitting the head body  3  to the distal end of the neck body  4  in a tightly sealed manner is as follows. That is, as shown in  FIG. 4 , circular projections  46 ,  47  and circular projections  37 ,  38  which are engaged with each other, in a closely attached manner, are provided. Here, the circular projections  46 ,  47  are provided on the outer circumferential face at two positions of the distal end of the neck body  4  in the axial direction. The circular projections  37 ,  38  are provided at positions corresponding to the circular projections  46 ,  47 , respectively, on the inner circumferential wall of the fitting hole  31   a  of the head body  3  to which the distal end of the neck body  4  is fitted. 
     If the head body  3  has the substantially dog-leg shape, there is a possibility that the head body  3  rotates about the axis of the neck body  4  when a large force is applied to the head body  3 , thereby resulting in that the application member  6  is moved away from the site to which the oral composition should be applied. Then, a mechanism for stopping the rotation is provided at a coupling portion of the head body  3  and the neck body  4  in the embodiment. To be specific, a plurality of projections  44  are provided on the outer circumferential face of the fitting portion  4   a  of the neck body  4  with intervals in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, convex portions  33  are provided on the attachment portion  31  of the head body  3  at corresponding positions to concave grooves  45  on the inner circumferential wall of the fitting hole  31   a  to which the fitting portion  4   a  is inserted. Each convex portion  33  is engaged with the concave groove  45  formed between the projections  44 ,  44  so as to be opened in the distal end direction. With this configuration, when the fitting portion  4   a  at the distal end of the neck body  4  is coupled to the fitting hole  31   a  of the head body  3  by inserting the fitting portion  4   a , the convex portions  33  are engaged with the projections  44 , resulting in as a stopper of the rotation. 
     In the embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , two convex portions  33 ,  33  are provided at the corresponding positions on the inner circumferential wall of the fitting hole  31   a , and a plurality of projections  44  are provided on the outer circumferential face of the fitting portion  4   a  so that a plurality of pairs of the concave grooves  45 ,  45  are formed in the rotational direction. Here, the two convex portions  33 ,  33  are horizontally opposed to each other and each pair of the concave grooves  45 ,  45  is horizontally opposed to each other. And the convex portions  33 ,  33  are fitted to the concave grooves  45 ,  45 , respectively. Therefore, the application member  6  of the head body  3  can be directed to a plurality of directions by selecting a pair of the concave grooves  45 ,  45  with which the convex portions  33 ,  33  are engaged. With this configuration, in particular, when a pressing button of a pumping mechanism is provided on the handle body  2 , a user can attach the head body  3  to the neck body  4  by selecting a positional relationship between the pressing button and a projecting direction of the application member  6  among a plurality of directions in a user-friendly manner. To be more specific, the user can appropriately select the positional relationship between the pressing button and the projecting direction of the application member  6  to a convenient direction for use in accordance with hand dominance and a location of a site to be applied in the oral cavity. 
     The forms such as the number of the concave grooves  45  and convex portions  33  as a stopper of the rotation are not limited to the embodiment. For example, if only one convex portion  33  and a plurality of concave groove  45  are provided, the angle of the head body  3  with respect to the neck body  4  can be changed in the same manner, which is a preferable embodiment. In addition, although the angle of the head body  3  with respect to the neck body  4  cannot be changed, a configuration with one convex portion  33  and one concave groove  45  can be also used as a stopper of the rotation. In a preferable embodiment, three or more of both the convex portions  33  and the concave grooves  45  are provided. Moreover, the number of the convex portions  33  is the same as that of the concave grooves  45  in a preferable embodiment. Thus, if three or more of the convex portions  33  and the concave grooves  45  are provided under a condition where the number of the convex portions  33  is same as that of the concave grooves  45 , the convex portions  33  and the concave grooves  45  can be prevented from being damaged even when a user mistakenly twists the head body  3  and the neck body  4 . 
     The width of the concave grooves  45  are set to be substantially the same as that of the convex portions  33  so as not to be unstable in the rotational direction when coupled. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , one or both of side ends  44   a  and side ends  33   a , which are opposed to each other in the axial direction when coupled, are formed in a V tapered shape in order that the convex portions  33  can be engaged with the concave grooves  45  without a hindrance. Here, the side ends  44   a  are positioned on the projections  44  at the distal end side of the neck body in the axial direction. The side ends  33   a  are positioned on the convex portions  33  at the base end side of the head body in the axial direction. This can prevent a problem that the convex portions  33  and the concave grooves  45  cannot be engaged with each other successfully or are engaged with each other insufficiently because they hit each other. Further, the user can easily perform attachment and detachment operations without fail, and the head body  3  can be prevented from being detached from the neck body  4  during use. 
     Although one or both of the side ends  44   a  and the side ends  33   a  are formed in a V tapered shape in the embodiment, the shape may be a trapezoidal shape or a knife-like shape having a slope at one side. When both of the side ends  44   a  and the side ends  33   a  are formed in a trapezoidal shape or a knife-like shape, the side ends  44   a  should have sloping surfaces at opposite sides to those of the side ends  33   a  along the rotational direction such that the sloping surfaces are in contact with each other. A trapezoidal shape, a circular arch shape, or a shape obtained by forming an upper side of the trapezoid into a circular arch in combination of the trapezoidal shape and the circular arch may be employed. When the stopper configuration for rotation is omitted, a simple engagement configuration of a ring circular projection and a circular groove along the circumferential direction may be employed. Even in a case where the head body  3  has a straight shape, the head body  3  has a similar directionality depending on shapes of an application member at the distal end of the head body  3 . Therefore, it is preferable that a similar stopper for rotation is provided in order to maintain a better application performance. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5(   a ), the application member  6  is one tuft brush having only one bundle  60  of filaments and the distal end thereof has a conical shape. The application member  6  can clean contaminants in the oral cavity, and remove dental plaques from periodontal pockets, embrasures between interdentiums and alveolar ridges, or gingival marginal portions, while supplying the oral composition thereinto. In this regard, it is also possible to employ a bundle  60 A of an application member  6 A shown in  FIG. 5(   b ). The bundle  60 A is formed into a cylindrical shape by bundling a plurality of filaments and configured so as to clean tooth surfaces and smoothly apply the oral composition to tooth surfaces with a distal end face thereof. Further, the shape of the bundle and the configuration of the distal end of the application member can be appropriately designed according to a site to which the oral composition is applied. The application member  6  may be that of a toothbrush type having a plurality of bundles, or may be formed with various configurations other than the bundle. For example, the application member  6  may be formed with a bar-shaped elastomer or silicone rubber provided in a projection manner, an interproximal brush made of wires and filaments provided in a projection manner, a tongue brush, a sponge-like cleaning body, fabrics such as felt, cotton, gauze, and non-woven fabric, or others. The application member  6  may be formed with a simple bar nozzle provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the bundle  60  as the application member  6  is attached together with an application member stopper member  30  to the attachment hole  34  formed on an attachment portion  32  of the head body  3 , and fixed by fitting the application member stopper member  30  to the attachment hole  34 . Here, a distal end of the attachment hole  34  is opened. To be more specific, a plurality of filaments constituting the bundle  60  are integrally fused with each other at the base ends thereof, a base  61  having a swelled portion  61   a  swelled outward is provided, a communicating hole  62  communicating with an opening of the nozzle portion  10  is provided on the base  61 . With this configuration, the ring stopper member for the application member  30  is attached, fitted and fixed to the attachment hole  34  together with the bundle  60  in a state where the ring stopper member for the application member  30  is attached from the distal end side of the bundle  60  to the exterior of the bundle  60  so as to be locked to the swelled portion  61   a  on the base  61 . The distal end of the bundle  60  is trimmed into a tapered shape in a state where the application member  6  is fixed to the head body  3  in this manner. The trimming treatment can also be carried out before the application member  6  is attached to the head body  3 . In this regard, it is also possible to use the bundle  60  without being trimmed into a tapered shape as the bundle  60 A of the application member  6 A shown in  FIG. 5(   b ). 
     The nozzle portion  10  is opened on the bottom of the attachment hole  34  and the bundle  60  is fixed to the attachment hole  34 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the oral composition discharged from the nozzle portion  10  is supplied into the bundle  60  through the communicating hole  62 . With the configuration, the application member  6  formed of the bundle  60  can be easily assembled without fail so that it is advantageous in terms of automated manufacturing, and the filaments constituting the bundle  60  can be prevented from being fallen. As described above, a configuration in which the oral composition can be supplied into the application member  6  from the nozzle portion  10  is employed in the embodiment. However, another configuration is also preferable as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-132099. Specifically, in the configuration, a nozzle portion for ejecting an oral composition toward an outer circumferential face of the application member in an oblique direction is opened at an outer circumferential face of the head body in the vicinity of the base of the application member  6  so as to make the oral composition apply to the outer circumferential face of the application member. 
     The cap  7  is a cap for protection against desiccation, and the distal end of the cap  7  is occluded. To be more specific, the cap  7  occludes the application member  6  and the nozzle portion  10  of the head body  3  to prevent the deterioration of the oral composition, and the desiccation and solidification of the oral composition remaining in each part (application member, nozzle portion, supply path) and the oral composition in the container. The cap  7  has a configuration capable of being attached to each of the distal ends of the head body  3  and the neck body  4  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 . The cap  7  has a sealing configuration for occluding the cap-attached head body  3  and neck body  4  into a tightly sealed state when the cap  7  is attached to each of the distal ends of the head body  3  and the neck body  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a flange portion  35  which the opening end  7   a  of the cap  7  hits, and a circular projection  36  for locking projections  71  formed in the vicinity of the opening ends on the inner circumferential face of the cap  7  are provided on the attachment portion  32  at the distal end of the head body  3 . Further, a circular sealing projection  72  is formed on a position of the deep side (distal end side) with respect to the projections  71  on the inner circumferential face of the cap  7 . Here, the circular sealing projection  72  serves as a sealing function by firmly adhering to the outer circumferential face of the attachment portion  32  of the head body  3  when attached. Further, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a circular step portion  73  which the projections  44  of the neck body  4  hits is provided at the deep side of the inner circumferential face of the above cap  7 . In addition, a circular sealing projection  74  serving as a sealing function by firmly adhering to the outer circumferential face of the fitting portion  4   a  of the neck body  4  is formed at the opening end side with respect to the circular step portion  73 . 
     As materials of each component including the handle body  2 , the head body  3  excluding the application member  6 , the neck body  4  and the tube member  5  provided inside the neck body  4 , for example, synthetic resins such as polyolefin resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polyacetal resin, an ABS resin, a PS resin, a blended resin thereof, metals such as a glass and a stainless, or various other materials can be used. 
     Next, another embodiment of the oral care instrument in which a brush body for cleaning interdental spaces is provided at the distal end of the head body  3  instead of the application member  6  will be described. In this regard, the same members as those in the oral care instrument  1  of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed description is thus omitted. 
     (1) In an oral care instrument  1 A shown in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , an interdental brush member  80  having a brush body  81  and a brush supporting portion  82  for supporting the brush body  81  is detachably attached to the distal end of the head body  3  instead of the application member  6  and the application member stopper member  30 . 
     The brush body  81  has a well-known structure and is provided with a core member  81   a  composed of a thin metal wire and a brush portion  81   b  in which a plurality of filaments are radially implanted into the core member  81   a  along the length direction thereof. The brush body  81  is manufactured in such a manner that a thin metal wire is bent in half, filaments are orthogonally placed between the doubled part of the thin metal wire, the thin metal wire is twisted so that the filaments are radially implanted into the core member  81   a  composed of the thin metal wire, and the filaments are then cut into a desired length. The outer shape of the brush portion  81   b  may be formed into a truncated cone shape as shown in  FIG. 9 , or may also be formed into a cylindrical shape or a barrel shape in which the outer diameter of a midway part in the length direction is set to be larger than the outer diameter of both ends thereof. Further, the size of the brush portion  81   b  can be appropriately changed. In this regard, it is also possible to employ the brush portion  81   b  which is configured in such a manner that filaments made of a synthetic resin or a synthetic rubber are radially and integrally formed on a core portion made of a synthetic resin or a metal. 
     The brush supporting portion  82  includes a main body portion  82   a  having a generally columnar shape, a circular flange  82   b  formed at a distal end of the main body portion  82   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction, and a circular projection  82   c  formed at a midway part in the length direction of the main body portion  82   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction. The length of the main body portion  82   a  is set to be substantially the same as the depth of the attachment hole  34 . The outer diameter of the main body portion  82   a  is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the attachment hole  34  of the head body  3 . The outer diameter of the circular flange  82   b  is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the attachment portion  32 . The outer diameter of the circular projection  82   c  is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the main body portion  82   a . Further, a circular projection  32   a  which is projected toward the inside of the attachment hole  34  is formed at a midway part in the length direction of the attachment portion  32  of the head body  3 . In this regard, the brush body  81  can be attached to the brush supporting portion  82  in an appropriate manner. The manner includes a method in which the core member  81   a  of the brush body  81  is attached to the brush supporting portion  82  by insert molding when forming the brush supporting portion  82 , a method in which an insertion hole  82   d  for inserting the core member  81   a  is formed in advance on the brush supporting portion  82  and the core member  81   a  is inserted into and secured in the insertion hole  82   d  of the brush supporting portion  82  by heat fusion so as to be attached thereto, and the like. 
     When the interdental brush member  80  is attached to the head body  3 , the main body portion  82   a  of the brush supporting portion  82  is inserted and fitted into the inside of the attachment hole  34  of the head body  3  from a distal end side toward a deep side thereof until the circular flange  82   b  comes into contact with a distal end of the attachment portion  32 . Accordingly, the circular projection  82   c  of the main body portion  82   a  climbs over the circular projection  32   a  of the attachment portion  32  to thereby be engaged with the circular projection  32   a . In this state, the interdental brush member  80  is not easily detached by only an operating force in the pullout direction at the time of cleaning interdental spaces due to the engagement between the circular projection  82   c  and the circular projection  32   a . The interdental brush member  80  is configured such that it can be detached from the head body  3  to be replaced by a pullout operation with a force larger than the operating force at the time of cleaning interdental spaces. In this regard, it is also possible that the brush supporting portion  82  is undetachably fitted with respect to the attachment portion  32 , and the interdental brush member  80  is replaced together with the head body  3  when the brush portion  81   b  is deteriorated. 
     A communication path  83  is provided in the main body portion  82   a  at a position which is eccentric from a center of the main body portion  82   a  so as to extend from a distal end to a base end of the main body portion  82   a . A groove  84  extending to a central portion of the main body portion  82   a  is formed at a base end of the communication path  83 . The communication path  83  is configured to communicate with an introduction path  43  and a supply path  11  through the groove  84  in a state where the brush supporting portion  82  is attached to the head body  3 . A nozzle portion  83   a  which is opened toward the brush portion  81   b  is formed at a distal end of the communication path  83 . The oral composition is discharged from the nozzle portion  83   a  to the brush portion  81   b  through the supply path  11 , the introduction path  43 , the groove  84 , and the communication path  83 . Here, it is preferable that the nozzle portion  83   a  is opened above the core member  81   a  for preventing the discharged oral composition from being directly dropped. Further, it is also a preferred embodiment that a receiving portion for receiving the oral composition which has been discharged from the nozzle portion  83   a  is formed at the distal end of the main body portion  82   a  in a projecting manner below the opening of the nozzle portion  83   a.    
     In this regard, it is also a preferred embodiment that, as a brush supporting portion  82 B in an interdental brush member  80 B of an oral care instrument  1 B shown in  FIG. 12 , the projecting length of a circular flange  82 Bb from the main body portion  82   a  is set to be longer than that of the circular flange  82   b , thereby making it possible to easily perform attachment and detachment operations of the interdental brush member  80 B by pinching the circular flange  82 Bb. 
     (2) In an oral care instrument  1 C shown in  FIGS. 13 to 16 , an interdental brush member  85  having a brush body  81  and a brush supporting portion  86  for supporting the brush body  81  and a stopper member  87  for detachably fixing the interdental brush member  85  to the attachment portion  32  of the head body  3  are provided at the distal end of the head body  3  instead of the application member  6  and the application member stopper member  30 . 
     The stopper member  87  includes a cylindrical body portion  87   a , a circular flange  87   b  formed at a distal end of the body portion  87   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction, and a circular projection  87   c  formed at a midway part in the length direction of the body portion  87   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction. The outer diameter of the body portion  87   a  is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the attachment hole  34 . The length of the body portion  87   a  is set to be slightly shorter than the depth of the attachment hole  34 . The outer diameter of the circular flange  87   b  is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the attachment portion  32 . The outer diameter of the circular projection  87   c  is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body portion  87   a.    
     The brush body  81  has a well-known structure and is provided with a core member  81   a  composed of a thin metal wire and a brush portion  81   b  in which a plurality of filaments are radially implanted into the core member  81   a  along the length direction thereof as in the oral care instrument  1 A. 
     The brush supporting portion  86  includes a main body portion  86   a  having a generally columnar shape and a circular locking portion  86   b  formed on an outer circumferential face of a base end of the main body portion  86   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction. The outer diameter of the main body portion  86   a  is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the stopper member  87 . The length of the main body portion  86   a  is set to be substantially the same as the length of the stopper member  87 . The outer diameter of the locking portion  86   b  is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the attachment hole  34  of the head body  3 . A circular projection  32   a  which is projected toward the inside of the attachment hole  34  is formed at a midway part in the length direction of the attachment portion  32  of the head body  3 . In this regard, the brush body  81  can be attached to the brush supporting portion  86  in an appropriate manner. The manner includes a method in which the core member  81   a  of the brush body  81  is attached to the brush supporting portion  86  by insert molding when forming the brush supporting portion  86 , a method in which an insertion hole  86   e  for inserting the core member  81   a  is formed in advance on the brush supporting portion  86  and the core member  81   a  is inserted into and secured in the insertion hole  86   e  of the brush supporting portion  86  by heat fusion so as to be attached thereto as shown in  FIG. 15 , and the like. 
     When the interdental brush member  85  is attached to the head body  3 , the brush supporting portion  86  is attached to the attachment hole  34  of the head body  3  and the stopper member  87  is inserted and fitted between the attachment portion  32  of the head body  3  and the brush supporting portion  86  until the circular flange  87   b  comes into contact with the distal end of the attachment portion  32 . In this state, the circular projection  87   c  of the stopper member  87  climbs over the circular projection  32   a  of the attachment portion  32  to thereby be engaged with the circular projection  32   a . In addition to this, the locking portion  86   b  of the brush supporting portion  86  is placed between an engagement portion  87   d  at the base end of the body portion  87   a  and a deep end face of the attachment hole  34 . When a force in the pullout direction is applied to the interdental brush member  85 , the locking portion  86   b  of the brush supporting portion  86  comes into contact with the engagement portion  87   d  of the stopper member  87  so that the interdental brush member  85  is undroppably held in the head body  3  through the stopper member  87 . Meanwhile, when the interdental brush member  85  is replaced due to deterioration and the like of the brush portion  81   b , the stopper member  87  is first removed and the interdental brush member  85  is then detached to be replaced. In this regard, it is also possible that the brush supporting portion  86  is undetachably fixed with respect to the attachment portion  32  by the stopper member  87 , and the interdental brush member  85  is replaced together with the head body  3  when the brush portion  81   b  is deteriorated. 
     A groove  86   c  is provided on an outer circumferential face of the main body portion  86   a  so as to extend from the distal end to the base end of the main body portion  86   a . A groove  86   d  extending to a central portion of the main body portion  86   a  is provided in a concave manner at a base end of the groove  86   c . In a state where the interdental brush member  85  and the stopper member  87  are attached to the head body  3 , the groove  86   c  and the groove  86   d  form a communication path  88  which extends from the distal end to the base end of the main body portion  86   a  and communicates with the introduction path  43  and the supply path  11 . A nozzle portion  88   a  which is opened toward the brush portion  81   b  is formed at a distal end of the communication path  88 . The oral composition is discharged from the nozzle portion  88   a  to the brush portion  81   b  through the supply path  11 , the introduction path  43 , and the communication path  88 . In this regard, it is also possible that a concave-convex fitting portion or the like for positioning a fitting position of the main body portion  86   a  with respect to the attachment portion  32  in the circumferential direction is formed so that the nozzle portion  88   a  is constantly opened above the core member  81   a  for preventing the discharged oral composition from being directly dropped. Further, it is also a preferred embodiment that a receiving portion for receiving the oral composition which has been discharged from the nozzle portion  88   a  is formed at the distal end of the main body portion  86   a  in a projecting manner below the opening of the nozzle portion  88   a.    
     In the oral care instrument  1 C, the number of parts is increased in comparison with the oral care instruments  1 A and  1 B due to the provision of the stopper member  87 . However, the oral care instrument  1 C is preferable because it can effectively prevent the interdental brush member  85  from being detached from the attachment portion  32  of the head body  3 . In the interdental brush member  85 , the angle of the brush portion  81   b  is adjusted by bending the core member  81   a  at the vicinity of the main body portion  86   a . Therefore, it is preferable that the main body portion  86   a  is made of a synthetic resin material which is softer than the head body  3  in order to prevent the core member  81   a  from being fractured at the bent portion and increase the durability of the interdental brush member  85 . However, when the main body portion  86   a  is made of a soft synthetic resin material in this way, the main body portion  86   a  becomes more likely to be elastically deformed. In such a case, if there is only the engagement between both of the circular projections  82   c  and  32   a  as in the oral case instruments  1 A and  1 B, the pullout strength of the interdental brush members  80  and  80 B is decreased. On the other hand, in the oral care instrument  1 C, the stopper member  87  is locked with the head body  3  by means of the engagement between both of the circular projections  87   c  and  32   a . Here, since the stopper member  87  can be made of a hard synthetic resin material as with the head body  3 , the pullout strength of the stopper member  87  with respect to the head body  3  can be sufficiently ensured. In addition to this, also in the main body portion  86   a , the pullout strength of the main body portion  86   a  can also be sufficiently ensured because the flange-like locking portion  86   b  is locked with the engagement portion  87   d  at the base end of the stopper member  87 . Therefore, it is possible to easily increase the pullout strength of the interdental brush member  85 . 
     (3) In an oral care instrument  1 D shown in  FIGS. 17 to 19 , a head body  3 D is used instead of the head body  3 . In the head body  3 D, a cylindrical attachment portion  32 D is provided at an upper end of an attachment portion  31  in an inclined manner so that a distal end side of the attachment portion  32 D is positioned above a base end side thereof. Further, an attachment hole  34 D which is opened at a base end side thereof is formed inside the attachment portion  32 D. Furthermore, a nozzle portion  90  having a diameter smaller than that of the attachment hole  34 D is formed at the distal end side of the attachment portion  32 D. Moreover, a circular projection  32 Dc is formed at a base end of the attachment hole  34 D so as to be projected inward. In addition to this, an interdental brush member  92  having a brush body  81  and a brush supporting portion  91  for supporting the brush body  81  is provided instead of the application member  6  and the application member stopper member  87 , and the interdental brush member  92  is detachably fitted and fixed to the inside of the attachment portion  32 D of the head body  3 D by inserting the interdental brush member  92  into the attachment portion  32 D from the base end side to the distal end side thereof. 
     The brush body  81  has a well-known structure and is provided with a core member  81   a  composed of a thin metal wire and a brush portion  81   b  in which a plurality of filaments are radially implanted into the core member  81   a  along the length direction thereof as in the oral care instrument  1 A. 
     The brush supporting portion  91  includes a main body portion  91   a  having a generally columnar shape, a circular flange  91   b  formed on an outer circumferential face of a base end of the main body portion  91   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction, a circular projection  91   c  formed in the vicinity of the base end of the main body portion  91   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction, a circular sealing portion  91   d  formed at a distal end side of the vicinity of the base end of the main body portion  91   a  so as to be adjacent to the circular projection  91   c  and projected outward in the radial direction, and linear sealing portions  91   e  formed on the main body portion  91   a  from the circular sealing portion  91   d  to the distal end of the main body portion  91   a  with predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the main body portion  91   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction. The outer diameter of the main body portion  91   a  is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the attachment hole  34 . The length of the main body portion  91   a  is set to be substantially the same as the depth of the attachment hole  34 . The outer diameter of the circular flange  91   b  is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the attachment portion  32 D. The outer diameter of the circular projection  91   c  is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the main body portion  91   a . The outer diameter of the circular sealing portion  91   d  and the outer diameter of the linear sealing portion  91   e  are set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the circular projection  91   c . In this regard, the brush body  81  can be attached to the brush supporting portion  91  in an appropriate manner. The manner includes a method in which the core member  81   a  of the brush body  81  is attached to the brush supporting portion  91  by insert molding when forming the brush supporting portion  91 , a method in which an insertion hole  91   h  for inserting the core member  81   a  is formed in advance on the brush supporting portion  91  and the core member  81   a  is inserted into and secured in the insertion hole  91   h  of the brush supporting portion  91  by heat fusion so as to be attached thereto as shown in  FIG. 17 , and the like. 
     When the interdental brush member  92  is attached to the head body  3 , the brush portion  81   b  is inserted into the nozzle portion  90 , and the main body portion  91   a  of the brush supporting portion  91  is inserted and fitted into the inside of the attachment hole  34  of the head body  3  from the base end side toward the distal end side thereof until the circular flange  91   b  comes into contact with a back end of the attachment portion  32 D. In this state, the circular projection  91   c  of the main body portion  91   a  climbs over the circular projection  32 Da of the attachment portion  32 D to thereby be engaged with the circular projection  32 Da. The interdental brush member  92  is not easily detached by only an operating force in a pushing direction at the time of cleaning interdental spaces due to the engagement between the circular projection  91   c  and the circular projection  32 Da. The interdental brush member  92  is configured such that it can be detached from the head body  3  to be replaced by an operation in the pushing direction with a force larger than the operating force at the time of cleaning interdental spaces. In this regard, it is also possible that the brush supporting portion  91  is undetachably fitted with respect to the attachment portion  32 D, and the interdental brush member  92  is replaced together with the head body  3  when the brush portion  81   b  is deteriorated. 
     A groove  91   f  is formed between the adjoining linear sealing portions  91   e  at a bottom part of the main body portion  91   a  so as to extend from the distal end of the main body portion  91   a  to the vicinity of the circular sealing portion  91   d . A groove  91   g  extending to a central portion side of the main body portion  91   a  is formed at a distal end of the groove  91   f . In a state where the brush supporting portion  91  is attached to the head body  3 , a communication path  93  which communicates with the introduction path  43 , the supply path  11 , and the nozzle portion  90  is formed by the groove  91   f  and the groove  91   g . The oral composition is discharged from the nozzle portion  90  to the brush portion  81   b  through the supply path  11 , the introduction path  43 , and the communication path  93 . In this regard, it is preferable that a concave-convex fitting portion or the like for positioning the main body portion  91   a  with respect to the attachment portion  32 D in the circumferential direction is formed between the attachment portion  32 D and the main body portion  91   a  so that the groove  91   f  can be positioned at a lower side of the main body portion  91   a , although it is not shown in the drawings. Further, it is also a preferred embodiment that a receiving portion for receiving the oral composition which has been discharged from the nozzle portion  90  is formed at the distal end of the main body portion  91   a  in a projecting manner below the opening of the nozzle portion  90 . Furthermore, it is preferable that the opening diameter of the nozzle portion  90  is made to be large and a projection part  91   i  at the distal end of the main body portion  91   a  is made to be projected out of the nozzle portion  90 . This makes it possible to change the attaching angle of the brush body  81  while preventing the core member  81   a  of the brush body  81  from being fractured by bending the projection part  91   i  when used. 
     According to the oral care instrument  1 D, the detachment of the interdental brush member  92  in the pullout direction with respect to the head body  3  can be reliably prevented. Further, the oral composition can be discharged along the core member  81   a  of the brush body  81 , thereby making it possible to effectively prevent the oral composition from being dropped. 
     (4) In an oral care instrument  1 E shown in  FIGS. 20 to 22 , instead of the application member  6  and the application member stopper member  87 , a brush body  81  for cleaning interdental spaces is integrally provided in an attachment portion  32 E of a head body  3 E which is a substitute for the head body  3 . 
     The brush body  81  has a well-known structure and is provided with a core member  81   a  composed of a thin metal wire and a brush portion  81   b  in which a plurality of filaments are radially implanted into the core member  81   a  along the length direction thereof as in the oral care instrument  1 A. 
     In the head body  3 E, the columnar attachment portion  32 E is provided at an upper end of the attachment portion  31  in an inclined manner so that a distal end side of the attachment portion  32 E is positioned above a base end side thereof. The brush portion  81   b  is arranged at the distal end side of the attachment portion  32 E and a base portion of the core member  81   a  is buried in a central portion of the attachment portion  32 E so that the brush body  81  is integrally provided in the head body  3 E. A communication path  95  which passes through the attachment portion  32 E in the axial direction is formed at an upper part of the attachment portion  32 E from the distal end to the base end thereof. A nozzle portion  95   a  which is opened toward the brush portion  81   b  is formed at a distal end of the communication path  95 . A semicircular groove  96  which communicates with the communication path  95  is formed in the vicinity of the base end of the attachment portion  32 E. A circular groove  97  which is opened at a base end side thereof is formed at the base end of the attachment portion  32 E so as to continue to the groove  96 . A circular projection  32 Ea which is projected to the inside of the circular groove  97  is formed at the base end of the attachment portion  32 E. In this regard, the brush body  81  can be attached to the head body  3 E in an appropriate manner. The manner includes a method in which the core member  81   a  of the brush body  81  is attached to the head body  3 E by insert molding when forming the head body  3 E, a method in which an insertion hole  99  for inserting the core member  81   a  is formed in advance on the head body  3 E and the core member  81   a  is inserted into and secured in the insertion hole  99  of the head body  3 E by heat fusion so as to be attached thereto as shown in  FIG. 20 , and the like. 
     A lid member  98  is detachably provided at the base end of the head body  3 E. The lid member  98  is provided with a cylindrical portion  98   a  which is fitted and fixed to the inside of the circular groove  97 , a circular flange  98   b  which is formed at a base end of the lid member  98 , and a circular projection  98   c  which is formed in the vicinity of the base end of the cylindrical portion  98   a  so as to be projected outward in the radial direction. 
     In the oral care instrument  1 E, in a state where the lid member  98  is attached to the head body  3 E by fitting the cylindrical portion  98   a  of the lid member  98  into the circular groove  97 , the circular projection  98   c  of the lid member  98  climbs over the circular projection  32 Ea of the attachment portion  32 E to thereby be engaged with the circular projection  32 Ea. Accordingly, the lid member  98  is fitted and fixed to the attachment portion  32 E in a liquid-tight state by the engagement between both of the circular projections  98   c  and  32 Ea. In this state, the introduction path  43 , the supply path  11 , and the nozzle portion  95   a  are communicated with each other by the communication path  95  and the groove  96 . Accordingly, the oral composition passes from the supply path  11 , the introduction path  43 , through the groove  96  and the communication path  95  in this order so as to be discharged from the nozzle portion  95   a  to the brush portion  81   b.    
     In the oral care instrument  1 E, although the brush body  81  needs to be replaced together with the head body  3 E when the brush portion  81   b  is deteriorated, since the brush body  81  is integrally provided in the head body  3 E, the detachment of the brush body  81  from the head body  3 E can be reliably prevented. 
     Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and the invention can be applied to various forms without departing from a scope of the invention. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  Oral care instrument 
               2  Handle body 
               3  Head body 
               4  Neck body 
               4   a  Fitting portion 
               4   b  Fitting portion 
               5  Tube member 
               5   a  Distal end 
               5   b  Base end 
               6  Application member 
               7  Cap 
               7   a  Opening end 
               10  Nozzle portion 
               11  Supply path 
               21  Attachment hole 
               21   a  Step portion 
               22  Transmission path 
               23  Container 
               24  Screw type transmission mechanism 
               25  Main body 
               26  Rotational operation member 
               27  Holding member 
               28  Threaded bar 
               29  Piston body 
               30  Application member stopper member 
               31  Attachment portion 
               31   a  Fitting hole 
               32  Attachment portion 
               32   a  Circular projection 
               33  Convex portion 
               33   a  Side end 
               34  Attachment hole 
               35  Flange portion 
               36  Circular projection 
               37  Circular projection 
               38  Circular projection 
               40  Inner circumferential wall 
               41  Rib 
               42  Attachment hole 
               42   a  Step portion 
               43  Introduction path 
               44  Projection 
               44   a  Side end 
               45  Concave groove 
               46  Circular projection 
               47  Circular projection 
               50  Outer circumferential face 
               60  Bundle 
               61  Base 
               61   a  Swelled portion 
               62  Communicating hole 
               71  Projection 
               72  Sealing projection 
               74  Circular step portion 
               6 A Sealing projection 
               6 A Application member 
               60 A Bundle 
               1 A Oral care instrument 
               80  Interdental brush member 
               81  Brush body 
               81   a  Core member 
               81   b  Brush portion 
               82  Brush supporting portion 
               82   a  Main body portion 
               82   b  Circular flange 
               82   c  Circular projection 
               82   d  Insertion hole 
               83  Communication path 
               83   a  Nozzle portion 
               84  Groove 
               1 B Oral care instrument 
               80 B Interdental brush member 
               82 B Brush supporting portion 
               82 Bb Circular flange 
               1 C Oral care instrument 
               85  Interdental brush member 
               86  Brush supporting portion 
               86   a  Main body portion 
               86   b  Locking portion 
               86   c  Groove 
               86   d  Groove 
               86   e  Insertion hole 
               87  Stopper member 
               87   a  Body portion 
               87   b  Circular flange 
               87   c  Circular projection 
               87   d  Engagement portion 
               88  Communication path 
               88   a  Nozzle portion 
               1 D Oral care instrument 
               3 D Head body 
               32 D Attachment portion 
               32 Da Circular projection 
               34 D Attachment hole 
               90  Nozzle portion 
               91  Brush supporting portion 
               91   a  Main body portion 
               91   b  Circular flange 
               91   c  Circular projection 
               91   d  Circular sealing portion 
               91   e  Linear sealing portion 
               91   f  Groove 
               91   g  Groove 
               91   h  Insertion hole 
               91   i  Projection part 
               92  Interdental brush member 
               93  Communication path 
               1 E Oral care instrument 
               3 E Head body 
               32 E Attachment portion 
               32 E a Circular projection 
               95  Communication path 
               95   a  Nozzle portion 
               96  Groove 
               97  Circular groove 
               98  Lid member 
               98   a  Cylindrical portion 
               98   b  Circular flange 
               98   c  Circular projection 
               99  Insertion hole