Interdental brush having an insertion guidance tip

Abstract

A method of providing an insertion guidance tip at a distal end of an interdental brush, use of a first set of filaments and a second set of filaments in an interdental brush, and an interdental brush comprising a first set of filaments arranged along a first longitudinal sub-length and having a first filament diameter, and a second set of filaments arranged along a second longitudinal sub-length and having a second filament diameter, wherein the second filament diameter is smaller than the first filament diameter, wherein the second longitudinal sub-length is positioned at the distal end of the interdental brush, and wherein the second sub-length has a length along the longitudinal direction being less than 15% of a longitudinal extension of the brush portion and extending along less than three twists of a core member.

1 . Method of providing an insertion guidance tip at a distal end of an interdental brush, the method comprising:
 positioning a plurality of filaments side by side along a brush portion extending along a longitudinal direction between two strands of a core member, the two strands of the core member extending alongside each other along the longitudinal direction and being formed by folding the core member,   wherein there is made use of two different set of filaments to provide a transition in perceived properties close to the distal end,   wherein the act of positioning comprises:
 positioning a first set of filaments side by side along a first longitudinal sub-length of the brush portion, the filaments of the first set of filaments having a first filament diameter, and 
 positioning a second set of filaments along a second longitudinal sub-length of the brush portion, the filaments of the second set of filaments having a second filament diameter, 
 wherein the second filament diameter is smaller than the first filament diameter, 
 wherein the second longitudinal sub-length is positioned at the distal end of the interdental brush, 
 wherein the second sub-length has a length along the longitudinal direction being less than 15% of a longitudinal extension of the brush portion, and 
 wherein the second sub-length has a length extending along less than three twists of the core member, 
 whereby the transition in perceived properties formed by the use of the two different sets of filaments is provided close to the distal end, and 
   the method further comprising:
 twisting the two strands about an axis along the longitudinal direction to form a twisted core member and to thereby fasten the filaments of the first and second set of filaments between the two strands such that the filaments of the first and second set of filaments extend radially from the twisted core member and becomes arranged side by side along a helix extending along the longitudinal direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second filament diameter is between 60-95%, preferably between 66-90%, of the first filament diameter. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the filaments of the first set of filaments and the second set of filaments are formed of the same material or of different materials having material stiffnesses such that the filaments having the second filament diameter have a reduced bending resistance compared to the filaments having the first filament diameter. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sub-length has a length extending along less than two twists of the core member. 
     
     
         5 . Interdental brush having a brush portion comprising:
 a core member being folded into two strands extending alongside each other along a longitudinal direction and being twisted about an axis extending along the longitudinal direction,   a plurality of filaments being fastened between the two strands and extending radially from the twisted core member and being arranged side by side along a helix extending along the longitudinal direction thereby forming the brush portion,   wherein there is made use of two different set of filaments to provide a transition in perceived properties close to the distal end,   
     
     
         9 . Use of
 two different sets of filaments to provide a transition in perceived properties close to a distal end of an interdental brush,   in an interdental brush   to provide an insertion guidance tip at the distal end of the interdental brush,   the two different set of filaments being:   a first set of filaments having a first filament diameter and being arranged side by side along a first longitudinal sub-length of a brush portion, and   a second set of filaments having a second filament diameter and being arranged along a second longitudinal sub-length of the brush portion, the second filament diameter being smaller than the first filament diameter, the second longitudinal sub-length being positioned at a distal end of the interdental brush,   wherein the second sub-length having a length along the longitudinal direction being less than 15% of a longitudinal extension of the brush portion and extending along less than three twists of the core member, whereby the transition in perceived properties formed by the use of the two different sets of filaments is provided close to the distal end.   
     
     
         10 . Use according to  claim 9 , wherein the second filament diameter is between 60-95%, preferably between 66-90%, of the first filament diameter. 
     
     
         11 . Use according to  claim 9 , wherein the filaments of the first set of filaments and the second set of filaments are formed of the same material or of different materials having material stiffnesses such that the filaments having the second filament diameter have a reduced bending resistance compared to the filaments having the first filament diameter. 
     
     
         12 . Use according to  claim 9 , wherein the second sub-length has a length extending along less than two twists of the core member.