Patent Publication Number: US-2009230756-A1

Title: Interdental cleaning tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to interdental cleaning tools for insertion between adjacent teeth. 
     Interdental cleaning tools and brushes are well known and are believed to help remove plaque and prevent gum recession. Interdental tools are typically formed by twisting a U-shaped strand of wire about a plurality of bristles to retain the bristles therein. The ends of the bristles extend through the wire, thus creating an interdental brush. 
     The process of producing these types of interdental brushes requires achieving the correct positioning of the bristles in the wire and, typically, attaching the wire to a handle. Thus, the process is time consuming and costly. Further, the wire material may be harsh and uncomfortable when rubbed against the user&#39;s gums. The wire may also flex or bend during use, which may prevent the brush from entering the desired space between the teeth. Additionally, the twisted wire may not sufficiently retain the bristles, such that the bristles may be pulled out during use or handling of the brush. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention provide an interdental tool having filament strands or extensions molded or embedded into the body of the tool. 
     According to one embodiment, the interdental tool includes a one piece, unitary body having a handle portion and a pick portion. A plurality of filament strands is molded into the pick portion of the tool, with at least a portion of the filament strands protruding or extending from the pick portion. 
     Optionally, a middle portion of the filament strands is molded into the pick portion, with the end portions of the filament strands protruding or extending from the pick portion from opposite sides of the pick portion. 
     The pick portion may optionally be tapered in a direction extending away from the handle portion, and may protrude outwardly from the handle portion along a longitudinal axis of the handle portion. 
     According to another embodiment, a method is provided for producing a series of interdental tools in a mold having at least two product cavities aligned side by side, each of the product cavities defining a handle portion and a pick portion. The method generally includes the steps of (a) placing a plurality of filament strands in the mold and positioning the filament strands across the pick portions of the product cavities; (b) forming at least two tool bodies in the mold; and (c) cutting the filament strands between the pick portions. 
     Thus, the present invention provides an interdental tool formed from a molded material that is extremely soft and soothing on teeth and gums. The tool is soft and flexible enough to comfortably clean the vulnerable space between the teeth and gums, yet strong enough to avoid breaking and the loss of bristles or filament strands during use. The interdental tool may be produced in an efficient and cost effective manner, especially as compared with conventional interdental brushes, for instance, by simultaneously molding a plurality of the tools with the filament strands in the mold. Further, the tool may be manufactured and subsequently purchased by consumers in a series or group of tools connected at the handle, such that a user may detach or break off a tool as needed, while the unused tools remain conveniently attached to one another. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the current embodiment and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interdental tool in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the interdental tool. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the interdental tool. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the interdental tool. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the interdental tool. 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a series of interdental tools. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a portion of a mold used to form a series of interdental tools. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the mold portion. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT 
     I. Overview  
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention is directed to an interdental tool that is generally designated  10 . In one embodiment, interdental tool  10  includes an elongated body  12  having a handle portion  14  at one end and a pick portion  16  at the other end. A plurality of filament strands  18  is molded directly into pick portion  16 . 
     II. Structure  
     In the illustrated embodiment, body  12  is formed in a mold. For example, body  12  may be injection molded using a conventional injection molding apparatus having a cavity that is configured to provide a tool body having a handle portion and a pick portion. Body  12  may be formed from any moldable material, such as plastic, which may be injected into the mold to form body  12 . 
     The handle portion  14  of body  12  may be formed in any configuration adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating tool  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, handle  14  is elongated and generally flattened, which provides top and bottom surfaces  24 ,  26  adapted to be gripped between a user&#39;s thumb and forefinger. Optionally, and as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , handle portion  14  includes a plurality of grips  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the grips  22  are molded integrally with the body  12 . Alternatively, they may be formed from rubber or any other material that provides an anti-slip gripping surface. Thus, grips  22  may provide a user additional control over the tool  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the top and bottom surfaces  24 ,  26  of handle portion  14  are recessed to accommodate grips  22 . In an alternative embodiment, a pair of arms may extend from a portion of the handle to support a strand of dental floss in tension, to form a combination dental floss device and interdental tool. 
     Optionally, body  12  may include a neck portion  15  between handle portion  14  and pick portion  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, neck portion  15  is narrower than the flattened handle portion  14 , yet wider than the tapered pick portion  16 . Thus, neck portion  15  provides a transition from the handle portion to the pick portion. Neck portion  15  may provide additional support to tool  10  and may prevent breakage of pick portion  16 . 
     In one embodiment, pick portion  16  is formed as a narrow extension or appendage from handle portion  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, pick portion  16  extends outwardly from an end of neck portion  15 , along a longitudinal axis of handle portion  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , pick portion  16  is generally oval-shaped in cross-section and tapers in a manner to progressively decrease in diameter as it extends outwardly from handle portion  14 . Pick portion  16  tapers to an end  17 , which is adapted to guide tool  10  into the desired position between two adjacent teeth. 
     Filament strands  18  are formed as slender, flexible appendages that are retained in tool  10  by being molded or otherwise embedded into the pick portion. For example, filament strands may be placed directly into the mold that forms tool  10 . In an embodiment in which tool  10  is formed by injection molding, filament strands  18  may be placed in the mold before the desired material is injected into the mold. After the material is injected, and as the material solidifies to form tool  10 , the material solidifies around or about filament strands  18 . Thus, filament strands  18  are securely retained in pick portion  16 , and will not likely fall out during use or handling of the tool. 
     At least a portion of the filament strands  18  extend or protrude from pick portion  16  to form a brush or bristle adapted to contact and clean and/or massage the interdental area. To achieve the desired placement of the bristles, filament strands  18  may be selectively positioned in pick portion  16 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a middle portion  19  of the filament strands  18  is molded into pick portion  16 , with the two end portions  20  of filament strands  18  extending through and beyond opposite sides of the pick portion (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In such a configuration, when pick portion  16  is inserted between two adjacent teeth, the the filament strands contact the adjacent teeth simultaneously. In the illustrated embodiment, filament strands  18  are arranged generally perpendicular to the pick portion  16 , in a common plane through pick portion  16 , such that end portions  20  form generally straight lines of bristles along opposite sides of pick portion  16  (see  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ). Alternatively, or additionally, the filament strands  18  may be arranged diagonally across pick portion  16 , such that end portions  20  extend at an angle from pick portion  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, one of the filament strands  18  is positioned near the end of pick portion  16  opposite handle portion  14  to contact the teeth and gums as soon as pick portion  16  is inserted between the teeth. Optionally, the filament strands may also be arranged to extend from the top or end of the pick portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the filament strands  18  of the illustrated embodiment are generally equal in length and are cut along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of tool  10 . Alternatively, the filament strands may be cut at an angle to follow the contour of tapered pick portion  16 , such that the length of all of the end portions  20  extending from pick portion  16  is generally equal, or they may be cut to have other varying lengths. In the illustrated embodiment, the tool  10  includes seven filament strands  18  that are approximately evenly spaced apart along the longitudial length of the pick portion  16 . In other embodiments, the spacing between strands  18  may vary. 
     Filament strands  18  may be formed from any suitable material adapted to gently clean the interdental area and/or massage and stimulate gums to promote blood circulation and healthy gum tissue. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the filament strands  18  are formed from a soft multifilament yarn, such as multifilament polyethylene yarn, having a plurality of soft filament fibers twisted together. The multifilament yarn creates the generally circular cross sections of filament strands  18  shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, filament strands  18  may be formed as monofilament polyethylene tape, which may create elongated or generally rectangular filament strand cross sections. Other suitable materials for filament strands  18  include materials typically used for dental floss, such as nylon, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In an embodiment in which filament strands  18  are formed from polyethylene, the filament strands may have a denure of approximately 800. To ensure the softness of the filament strands, the filament strands may be formed from a material having a denure in the range of approximately 200-1350. 
     III. Method  
     According to another aspect, a method is provided for producing a series of interdental tools, such as series  8  of interdental tools  10  (see  FIG. 6 ). As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in one embodiment, the interdental tools  10  are produced in a mold having at least two product cavities  30  adapted to receive material to form the bodies of the tools. In the illustrated embodiment, the mold is formed from two mold halves, with one mold half  28  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  and a corresponding mold half (not shown) formed as a mirror image thereof. Each of the product cavities  30  defines a handle portion  32  and a pick portion  34 , which may correspond to handle portion  14  and pick portion  16  of interdental tool  10  described above. The product cavities  30  are aligned side by side, such that the respective pick portions  34  and handle portions  32  of the product cavities  30  are adjacent to one another. 
     The method may include placing a plurality of elongated filament strands  18  in the mold, across the pick portions  34  of the product cavities  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the filament strands  18  are placed on mold half  28 , such that the filament strands are positioned between the mold halves when the mold is closed. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each of the filament strands is of a sufficient length to reach across the pick portions  34  of the entire series of product cavities  30 ; however, multiple precut pieces of the filament strands may otherwise be used. The filament strands  18  may be retained in the desired position across pick portions  34  in any conventional manner during the introduction of material into the mold. For example, the filament strands  18  may be retained between the inner surfaces of the mold halves when the mold is closed. 
     Tool bodies are then formed in product cavities of the mold, for example, by conventional injection molding techniques. A desired material, such as polypropylene or any other plastic suitable for injection molding, is typically injected at high pressure into the mold. In the illustrated embodiment, the material is injected into the mold through a gate  36  and then directed into individual product cavities  30  through a plurality of cavity gates  37 . The material then solidifies or hardens in the product cavities to form the tool bodies. The material in the pick portions  34  of product cavities  30  solidifies about the filament strands  18 , such that the filament strands are securely retained or embedded in the pick portions of each of the tool bodies. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the tool bodies  10  is molded integrally as a single, unitary piece. 
     Before or after the tool bodies are removed from the mold, the filament strands are cut between the pick portions, such that the tools may be separated from one another. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the filament strands  18  have been cut along lines A, which are generally equidistant from each of the adjacent pick portions  16 . However, the filament strands may alternatively be cut at an angle to taper the filament strands about the pick portions of the tools. 
     Optionally, at least one connector may be formed between the tool bodies in the mold. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , a connector  38  is included between each of the handle portions  14  to retain the series  8  of tool bodies  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, to form connector  38 , the mold includes a channel  40  between the handle portions  32  of each of the product cavities  30 . Alternatively, other types of connectors may be used, or the cavities may be completely separate such that a series of unconnected, individual interdetal tools  10  are formed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the series  8  of tools  10  has been removed from the mold with connectors  38  intact. Connectors  38  are adapted to be strong enough to retain the handle portions  14  together through the packaging process and through handling by a consumer, yet weak enough that one of the tools  10  may be easily detached from the remaining tools by breaking or snapping connector  38 . Once one of the tools  10  is detached from the series  8 , the unused tools remain conveniently connected together. 
     The above description is that of the current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.