JP2646426B2 - electric toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush used as an oral hygiene tool, and more particularly to an electric toothbrush capable of efficiently cleaning gums and interdental parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electric toothbrush in which the power of an electric motor is transmitted to a bristle bundle at the tip of a brush to reciprocate or rotate the bristle bundle is generally known. Most of them move the hair bundle by moving the entire brush tip,
When the tip of the brush is inserted into the oral cavity, a hard portion other than the bristle bundle may collide with the teeth and gums, possibly damaging the oral cavity.

[0003] Further, in the conventional electric toothbrush, since the bristle bundle moves only one time, it is not possible to efficiently clean the gums and interdental parts, and the electric toothbrush is gripped in spite of using the electric toothbrush. There is a problem in that it is necessary to move a hand to add an auxiliary movement to the hair bundle.

[0004] In some cases, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-269
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 023, there has been proposed an electric toothbrush in which the bristle bundle is reciprocated in the protruding direction while reciprocating or reversing the brush tip.

[0005]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the conventional electric toothbrush disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3 (1993), since the bristle bundle reciprocates or reverses and simultaneously reciprocates in the protruding direction, the gums are more efficient than the conventional electric toothbrush. Has the advantage that it can clean the teeth and interdental areas, but because all the hair bundles operate exactly the same, the gums and interdental areas cannot be cleaned at the same time, which is always a satisfactory result. There is a problem that can not be obtained.

In addition, as with the conventional electric toothbrush, not only the bristle bundle but also the entire brush tip moves, so that when the back teeth and the inside of the teeth are cleaned, the vibrating brush tip touches the gums and teeth. There is a problem of collision and giving the user discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is possible to vibrate only a bristle bundle without vibrating a brush holder, and to simplify the structure and reduce the size of the bristle bundle portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric toothbrush that can be used for children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric toothbrush capable of efficiently cleaning the gums and interdental portions and sufficiently cleaning even when teeth are not aligned properly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electric toothbrush that allows a user to adjust the movement of the bristle bundle with his or her own teeth.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a handle body containing an electric motor; a brush mounting portion detachably mounted at a tip of the handle body and having an opening at an upper surface side at the tip. A drive shaft rotatably disposed within the brush holder and having a base end connected to the electric motor when the brush holder is mounted on the handle body; and a mounting block and a mounting block. A plurality of brush bodies having a bristle bundle implanted on an upper surface thereof and operable independently of each other in an axial direction in the brush mounting portion; and elongate cams provided in the mounting block, respectively. And a crankshaft provided at the tip of the drive shaft and continuously penetrating the cam hole.

The present invention is also characterized in that the directions of the long axes of the cam holes are substantially the same.

The present invention is also characterized in that the long axis of each cam hole is oriented in the vertical direction.

The present invention is also characterized in that the long axis of each cam hole is oriented in the lateral direction.

The present invention is also characterized in that the direction of the long axis of the adjacent cam hole is shifted by approximately 90 degrees.

The present invention is also characterized in that the direction of the long axis of each cam is vertical and horizontal.

The present invention is further characterized in that the direction of the long axis of each cam hole can be changed.

[0017]

In the present invention, by attaching the brush holder to the tip of the handle body, the drive shaft is connected to the electric motor, and the drive shaft is driven to rotate. A crankshaft is provided at the tip of the drive shaft, and the crankshaft continuously penetrates an elongated cam hole provided in a mounting block of each of the plurality of brush bodies. For this reason, the rotation of the crankshaft causes each brush body to move in the direction corresponding to the direction of the long axis of the cam hole, and the brush bundle performs cleaning.

In the present invention, the direction of the long axis of each cam hole is substantially the same. Therefore, it is possible to make the operation of each hair bundle substantially the same. At this time, the bristle bundle can be operated in the horizontal direction by orienting the long axis of each cam hole in the vertical direction, and the bristle bundle can be operated by orienting the long axis of each cam hole in the horizontal direction. It is possible to operate vertically. That is, it is possible to change the operation of each bristle bundle only by changing the direction of the long axis of each cam hole.

In the present invention, the directions of the long axes of the adjacent cam holes are shifted by about 90 degrees. For this reason, it becomes possible to operate the adjacent brush main body by two significantly different operations. At this time, by setting the direction of the long axis of each cam hole to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the horizontal operation and the vertical operation can be obtained simultaneously as the operation of the hair bundle, and the gum portion can be efficiently connected to the gum portion. It is possible to clean the interdental portion at the same time.

In the present invention, the direction of the long axis of each cam hole can be changed. Therefore, the user can adjust the movement of the hair bundle in accordance with his / her teeth.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show an electric toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
And a handle body 4 containing a power source 3 such as a dry battery, and a brush holder 5 detachably attached to the handle body 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the handle main body 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a slide switch 6 for controlling power supply to the electric motor 2 by sliding it back and forth is provided on the upper surface thereof. A cap 7 for replacing the power source 3 is provided at the base end of the handle body 4. At the tip of the handle body 4, a frusto-conical cylindrical connecting tube 8 whose diameter gradually decreases toward the front end is integrally provided, and the brush holder 5 is mounted on the connecting tube 8. In this state, it is connected to the handle body 4. At this time, the engaging projection 9 provided on the connecting cylinder 8 is snap-engaged with the engaging hole 10 provided on the brush holder 5, whereby the handle body 4 and the brush holder 5 are positioned in a state of being positioned around the axis. And are connected stably.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the brush holder 5 has a cylindrical shape having a predetermined length, and has a container-like brush mounting portion 11 which is open on the upper surface side at an end thereof. And a drive shaft 12 is rotatably disposed inside the brush holder 5. As shown in FIG. 1, when the brush holder 5 is mounted on the handle main body 4, the base end of the drive shaft 12 is connected to the electric motor 2 via a connecting member 13 fixed to the output shaft 2a of the electric motor 2.
, And is rotatably driven by the electric motor 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, five brush bodies 14 are arranged in the brush mounting portion 11 in parallel in the axial direction.
The crankshaft 15 formed at the tip of the drive shaft 12 reciprocates vertically in independent directions.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, each of the brush bodies 14 has a plate-like mounting block 16 disposed in the brush mounting section 11,
Each of the mounting blocks 16 has a laterally long axis having a major axis in the horizontal direction. Each of the cam holes 18 is formed of a hole, and the crankshaft 15 is continuously arranged in each of the cam holes 18.

In this crankshaft 15, as shown in FIG. 1, the crankpin portions corresponding to the respective cam holes 18 are displaced by 180 degrees around the axis, and the amount of deviation of each crankpin portion from the axial center is changed. Are formed in the same shape. Therefore, by the rotation of the crankshaft 15, as shown in FIG.
When the brush bodies 14 in the third, fifth, and fifth rows move upward, the brush bodies 14 in the second and fourth rows descend, and conversely, the brush bodies in the second and fourth rows When the brush 14 moves upward, the brush bodies 1 in the first, third and fifth rows
4 descends.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 19 denotes a drain hole provided at the bottom of the brush mounting part 11, and reference numeral 20 denotes
It is a drain hole provided in the middle part of the brush holder 5 in the longitudinal direction.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the brush holder 5 is attached to the distal end of the handle main body 4, as shown in FIG. 1, the base end of the drive shaft 12 disposed in the brush holder 5 is connected to the coupling tool. 13 is connected to the electric motor 2. In this state, when the slide switch 6 is turned on to start the electric motor 2, the torque of the electric motor 2 is transmitted to the crankshaft 15 via the drive shaft 12, and the crankshaft 15 is driven to rotate.

By the way, the cam hole 18 of each brush body 14
Is constituted by a long hole having a long axis in the lateral direction, as shown in FIGS. For this reason, each brush body 14
Is reciprocated in the short axis direction of the cam hole 18, that is, in the vertical direction, by the rotation of the crankshaft 15. In addition, since the crankpin portions corresponding to the brush bodies 14 are shifted by 180 degrees around the axis, the adjacent brush bodies 14 move up and down at mutually opposite timings.

Since each brush body 14 is directly driven by the crack shaft 15 rotating in the brush mounting portion 11, only the bristle bundle 17 is vibrated without vibrating the brush holder 5. be able to. For this reason, when cleaning the back teeth and the inside of the teeth, even if the brush attachment part 11 comes into contact with the gums and the teeth, there is no possibility of giving the user discomfort or damaging the oral cavity.

Further, the driving unit includes the crack shaft 15.
And the simple structure of only the cam hole 18, the brush mounting portion 11 can be miniaturized and used for children. In addition, the movement of each brush body 14 is the same in the vertical movement, but the adjacent brush bodies 14 move up and down at mutually opposite timings. Irregularities such as the gap can be completely cleaned in a shorter time.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a cam hole 28 is provided instead of the cam hole 18 in the first embodiment.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cam hole 28 is constituted by a vertically long hole having a long axis in the vertical direction. As a result, the brush body 14 is reciprocated in the short axis direction of the cam hole 28, that is, in the lateral direction, and the adjacent brush bodies 14 are reciprocated at opposite timings as shown in FIG. The other points are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the operation is the same.

According to the present embodiment, each brush body 14 is reciprocated in the lateral direction, and this movement is the same as that when the hand is moved up and down when cleaning the teeth with human power. Therefore, it is possible to completely clean the interdental part, the boundary part between the tooth and the gum part, and the like.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a cam hole 38 is provided instead of the cam hole 18 in the first embodiment.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the cam hole 38 is formed by a long oblique right hole having a long axis in a diagonal direction of 45 degrees to the right.
The cam hole 3 is formed by rotating the crack shaft 15.
The brush body 14 is reciprocally driven in the short-axis direction of FIG. 8, that is, in the direction of the double arrow A shown in FIG. In other respects, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the operation is the same.

According to this embodiment, since each brush body 14 is reciprocated in the diagonally left direction, the bristle bundle 1
When cleaning the teeth using the corners of No. 7, a great cleaning effect is obtained.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a cam hole 48 is provided instead of the cam hole 18 in the first embodiment.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the cam hole 48 is formed by a left oblique long hole having a long axis in, for example, a 45 ° left oblique direction. The rotation of the shaft 15 reciprocates in the short axis direction of the cam hole 48, that is, the direction of the double-headed arrow B shown in FIG. 10, and the adjacent brush bodies 14 are reciprocated at mutually opposite timings. Has become. In other respects, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the operation is the same.

According to the present embodiment, although the direction is shifted by 90 degrees from the third embodiment, each brush body 14
Are reciprocally driven in an oblique direction, the same effects as in the third embodiment can be expected.

In each of the above embodiments, the cam hole 1
Although the case where the directions of the long axes of 8, 28, 38, and 48 are the same for all five brush bodies 14 has been described, for example, the brush body 14 having the cam holes 18 and the brush body 14 having the cam holes 28 The brush body 14 having the cam holes 38 and the brush body 14 having the cam holes 48 are alternately arranged in the brush mounting portion 11.
For example, the brush bodies 14 having different reciprocating directions may be used in combination, such as being alternately arranged in the brush mounting portion 11. Thus, the teeth and gums can be cleaned from more various directions, and even when the alignment of teeth is poor, cleaning can be sufficiently performed. Therefore, if a plurality of types of brush holders 5 in which the brush bodies 14 having different reciprocating directions are assembled are prepared in advance, the user can use the brush holder 5 that matches his or her teeth.
Can be easily obtained.

FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which a brush body 54 is used in place of the brush body 14 in the first embodiment.

That is, the brush main body 54 is arranged as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a mounting block 56 which is formed in the brush mounting portion 11 in a plate shape, and a bristle bundle which is planted in a row on the upper surface of the mounting block 56 and protrudes from the brush mounting portion 11 to the upper surface side. 57, and a disk-shaped rotary block 60 rotatably mounted inside the mounting block 56. The lower end of the rotary block 60 has a notch 61 provided in the mounting block 56. Exposed to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 11, a cam hole 58 composed of a long hole having a long axis in a predetermined direction is provided at the center of the rotary block 60. Is provided with a positioning projection 62. Then, by rotating the rotating block 60, the protrusion 62 is formed into any of the concave portions 63, 64, 65, 66, 67.
The rotation block 60 can be fixed in a state where the direction of the long axis of the cam hole 58 is oriented in a certain direction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, on the inner peripheral surface of the hole for mounting the rotary block 60 of the mounting block 56,
Two recesses 63, 64 for horizontal orientation, a recess 65 for leftward 45 ° orientation, a recess 66 for vertical orientation, and a recess 67 for rightward 45 ° orientation are provided at 45 ° intervals in the circumferential direction. By engaging the protrusion 62 with the recess 65 as shown in FIG. 11, for example, the rotary block 60 can be fixed in a state where the long axis of the cam hole 58 is directed obliquely to the left at 45 degrees. Has become.

On the outer periphery of the rotary block 60,
As shown in FIG. 11, a large number of operation holes 68 are provided at narrow intervals in the circumferential direction. For example, the tip of an awl-shaped tool is inserted into an arbitrary operation hole 68 through the drain hole 19 and the notch 61. Thus, the rotating block 60 can be operated from the outside of the brush mounting section 11.
In other respects, the configuration is the same as in the above embodiments, and the operation is the same.

According to the present embodiment, the direction of the long axis of the cam hole 58 can be changed by rotating the rotating block 60. The movement of the can be easily adjusted.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the brush bodies 14 and 54 reciprocate in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, the direction of 45 degrees to the right and the direction of 45 degrees to the left has been described. By simply changing the direction of the long axis, the brush bodies 14 and 15 can be reciprocated in other directions. Further, the amplitude of the reciprocating motion at that time can be easily adjusted by changing the amount of eccentricity of the crankpin portion of the crack shaft 15.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, a long hole-like cam hole is provided in the mounting block of each brush body, and a crack shaft is continuously disposed through each cam hole. Therefore, each brush body reciprocates in the direction corresponding to the direction of the long axis of the cam hole due to the rotation of the crack shaft, and only the bristle bundle can be vibrated without vibrating the brush holder. In addition, since the structure of the driving unit is simple, the shape of the hair bundle can be reduced in size and can be used for children.

In the present invention, since the direction of the long axis of each cam hole is substantially the same, the operation of each hair bundle can be made substantially the same. At this time, the bristle bundle can be operated in the horizontal direction by directing the long axis of each cam hole in the vertical direction, and the bristle bundle can be moved in the vertical direction by directing the long axis of each cam hole in the horizontal direction. Can be operated. That is, by simply changing the direction of the long axis of each cam hole, the operation of each bristle bundle can be changed without changing other mechanisms at all.

In the present invention, since the directions of the long axes of the adjacent cam holes are displaced by approximately 90 degrees, the adjacent brush main bodies can be operated by two significantly different operations.
At this time, by setting the direction of the long axis of each cam hole to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the horizontal operation and the vertical operation can be obtained simultaneously as the operation of the hair bundle, and the gum portion can be efficiently connected to the gum portion. The space between the teeth can be cleaned at the same time, and a sufficient massage effect can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the direction of the long axis of each cam hole can be changed, so that the user can easily obtain the optimum movement of the hair bundle in accordance with his / her teeth. It is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of brush holders having different movements of the brush body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a main part of an electric toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the entire configuration of the electric toothbrush of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the movement of the brush main body of FIGS. 6 and 7 as viewed from the bristle bundle side.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric toothbrush 2 Electric motor 3 Power supply 4 Handle main body 5 Brush holder 11 Brush mounting part 12 Drive shaft 13 Connecting tool 14, 54 Brush main body 15 Cracunc shaft 16, 56 Mounting block 17, 57 Hair bundle 18, 28, 38, 48 , 58 Cam hole 19, 20 Drain hole 60 Rotating block 61 Notch 62 Projection 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 Recess 68 Operation hole

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A handle body having a built-in electric motor; a brush holder removably mounted on the tip of the handle body and having a brush mounting portion which is open at the tip on the upper surface side; A drive shaft having a base end connected to the electric motor when the brush holder is mounted on the handle body; a mounting block; and a bristle bundle planted on an upper surface of the mounting block. A plurality of brush bodies arranged in the brush mounting portion in the axial direction so as to be able to operate independently of each other; an elongated cam hole provided in each of the mounting blocks; provided at a tip end of the drive shaft; An electric toothbrush comprising: a crankshaft continuously penetrating each cam hole. 2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said cam holes have substantially the same major axis. 3. The electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein each cam hole has a longitudinal axis oriented in a vertical direction. 4. The electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein each cam hole has a major axis oriented in a lateral direction. 5. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent cam holes are displaced by about 90 degrees in the direction of the long axis. 6. The electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein a direction of a long axis of each cam hole is a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. 7. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the long axis of each cam hole is changeable.