CA1176011A - Device for care of the teeth - Google Patents
Device for care of the teethInfo
- Publication number
- CA1176011A CA1176011A CA000401776A CA401776A CA1176011A CA 1176011 A CA1176011 A CA 1176011A CA 000401776 A CA000401776 A CA 000401776A CA 401776 A CA401776 A CA 401776A CA 1176011 A CA1176011 A CA 1176011A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- toothbrush
- fluid
- mouth
- container
- user
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B11/00—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water
- A46B11/06—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water connected to supply pipe or to other external supply means
- A46B11/063—Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water connected to supply pipe or to other external supply means by means of a supply pipe
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
- A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
- A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
Landscapes
- Brushes (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
The device for care of the teeth consists of a stationary unit (10), which is connected by a flexible tube (12) to a toothbrush(15). A fluid is forced through the flexible tube (12) into the feed duct (14) which has outlet openings communicating with the set of bristles (16). The flexible tube (12) is connected to a metering pump (18) which, by way of switching valves (21, 22 and 23), is connected to a container (30) for tooth-cleaning fluid, A container (28) for swilling fluid, and a container (29) for water for the mouth. The switching valves (21, 22 and 23) can be opened in succession in accordance with a preset pro-gramme, so that the fluids concerned are supplied to the toothbrush (15) in a predetermined time sequence and over predetermined periods.
(Figure 1)
The device for care of the teeth consists of a stationary unit (10), which is connected by a flexible tube (12) to a toothbrush(15). A fluid is forced through the flexible tube (12) into the feed duct (14) which has outlet openings communicating with the set of bristles (16). The flexible tube (12) is connected to a metering pump (18) which, by way of switching valves (21, 22 and 23), is connected to a container (30) for tooth-cleaning fluid, A container (28) for swilling fluid, and a container (29) for water for the mouth. The switching valves (21, 22 and 23) can be opened in succession in accordance with a preset pro-gramme, so that the fluids concerned are supplied to the toothbrush (15) in a predetermined time sequence and over predetermined periods.
(Figure 1)
Description
~ Sa)~L
Device for care of the teeth ~ ~ , , The invention concerns a device for care of the teeth and comprising a toothbrush, which has a feed duct for a fluid.
Toothbrushes are known wherein the stem is designed as a container for receiving a cle~ning fluid. A feed duct leads out of the stem to openings, which are arranged either at the zone~ of the bottoms of the bristles or between the bristles. The container has a metering slide, whiCh i5 manually operated and upon each operation pushes a predetermined quantitv of tooth-cleaning fluid out of the container and into the feed duct. In thi~
way, the tooth-cleanin~ fluid pas~es directly to the bristles and from there on to the teeth during the tooth-brushing proces~. A disadvantage is that the slide can be actuated only before commencement of t~e cleaning of the teeth or during pauses in cleaning. Swilling out of the mouth, i.e. flushing of ~he cle~ning fluid from the teeth i~ carried out in the usuAl way With tap water which is taken from t~e water tap in a beaker. A
check on the period during which cleaning of the teeth ~d~
iV~ l
Device for care of the teeth ~ ~ , , The invention concerns a device for care of the teeth and comprising a toothbrush, which has a feed duct for a fluid.
Toothbrushes are known wherein the stem is designed as a container for receiving a cle~ning fluid. A feed duct leads out of the stem to openings, which are arranged either at the zone~ of the bottoms of the bristles or between the bristles. The container has a metering slide, whiCh i5 manually operated and upon each operation pushes a predetermined quantitv of tooth-cleaning fluid out of the container and into the feed duct. In thi~
way, the tooth-cleanin~ fluid pas~es directly to the bristles and from there on to the teeth during the tooth-brushing proces~. A disadvantage is that the slide can be actuated only before commencement of t~e cleaning of the teeth or during pauses in cleaning. Swilling out of the mouth, i.e. flushing of ~he cle~ning fluid from the teeth i~ carried out in the usuAl way With tap water which is taken from t~e water tap in a beaker. A
check on the period during which cleaning of the teeth ~d~
iV~ l
- 2 -cnrried out i.s not possibLe with tbe known toothbrush.
The main cause of caries and mar~inal gingivitis is the for~ation of dental plaque~ This soft adhering coating on the teeth results f~om the accumulation of bacteria in remnants of food, which build up preferentially at the edges of the teeth. Effective elimination of this plaque or the reduction of its build-up rate are important objectives in oral ~ygiene, i.e. in t~e cleaning of the teeth. It is known that cleaning of the teeth must be carried out over certain minimum periods in order to effect complete removal of pLaque. T~e required tooth-brus~ing time can be indi-cated directly by means of a watch or clock, or indirectly by a change in the colour of the toothpaste. It is also known to provide a toothbrush with a temperature-measuring device which reacts when the toothbrus~t after a suitably lengthy period of use, reaches a certain temperature because of the heat of the body (DE-OS 29 18 806).
The known devices for care of the teeth suffer f~m the disadvantage that they are either awkward to use or are not sufficiently effective in obliSing the user to persist in the tooth-cleaning process over the prescribed period.
T~e object of the pre~ent invention i9 to provide a device for care of the teeth, the use of which device does not involve difficult ~andling operations and which automatically ensures that t~e prescribed period for brushing of the teeth is maintained.
:~7~iV3.~L
. -- 3 According to tlle invention, this ob ject is ac~ie~ed in that the feed duct of the toothbrush is connected, by way of a flexible tubel to a metering pump which is connected to the outlet from at least one container for fluid, and in that the metering pump is controlled by a time-switch device or a device whic~ counts t~e number of metering strokes.
The effect of the invention is that the tooth-cleaning fluid or another fluid is caused to be passed automatically to the teeth by way of the bri~tles during the brushing operation, and this supply of fluid continues for as long as is necessary for effective removal of plaque. After having switched on the toot~brush, the user needs to proceed with the bru~shing of his teeth only for as long as fluid i~ supplied to the toothbrush. Otker manipula-tionq are not necessary. The use of tke metering pump results in fluid being passed to the teeth in t~e required quantity per unit of time, qo that dl~in~ brushing the fluid is continuously renewed.
In one advantaseous embodiment of the invention, the metering device is connected to several containers through a switching val~ve in each case~ and there is provided a control means which opens the ~witchin~ valves in succession in accordance with a pre~et progr~mme. T~e metering device is thu~ succes~iYely connected to -the individual container~
so t~at following the actua' tooth-cle~ning operation, cwilling with ~ater or some other fluid can take place.
T~ereafter, water for the mouth can be supplied from a further container to the toothbrush in order to enable iO3.il ~, t~e prevcntive meacllre of di~infecting and freshening the teeth and oral cavity to be carried out. A device of this kind for care of the teet~ hac a programming circuit which enables ~he individual ~ases of t~e programme to be carried out either in dependence upon time or upon the number of metering strokes. If required, a number of different programmes can be provided, each one of whiCh can be selected by means of a setting unit. The indivi-dual progr~mmes differ from each ot~er as regards the length of t~e individual steps in the treatment or as regards the length of time during which the various con-tainers are connected to the metering pump. The tooth-brush requires to be used only for as long a~s the metering pump is operating, i.e. for as long AS one or other fluid emerges at the toothbrush. Thus, this not only ensure~
that the cleaning operation is carried out for a sufficient lengt~ of time, but also that the swilling or treatment with water for the mouth is of adequate dura,Ction. During the tooth-brushing procedure, the user does not need to carry out any switch-over actions; all he has to do is to move the toothbrush in the normal manner. Nor is it is necessary to remove the toot~brus~ from the teet~.
A .~eparately adjustable time-switch device or coun-ting device is pre~erably provided for each container, the switching valve for the ne~t counter being opened after said device has completed itY cycle. Wit~ such an arranse-ment, the periods for the individual phases in the treatment V~.l .
of tl~e teetl~ c.~n he cet separnte]y, ~o t~.at tl,e user cnn set the programme for care of teet~ to ~uit hiS individunl needs.
In a fu~ther ndvantaseous embodiment of tl1e invention, a selector switch is provided w~ereby the s~:itching val~es for the containers can be switched in individually. T~us, for example, the swilling process or the treatment of the mouth wit~ water can be carried out separately without a tootk-cleaning operation having been previously performed.
Such use of the app~ratus for the care of the teeth corres-ponds to the use of the kno~n mouth sprays which only carry out s-~illing or treatment of the mouth wit~ water and which can be completely replaced by use of the device for the care of the teeth in accordance with t~e inYention.
The device in accordance with the in~ention is parti-cularly suitable for use in combination with an electric toothbrus~ wherein each one of several brush parts, that are pro~ided for different persons, can be connected to an oscillatory dri~e. The brush parts simply require to be provided with a feed duct having appropriate outlet openings and with a coupling for connectinS the flexible tube leading from the metering pump.
Particular adYantage accrl-es from the use of a presure Y~nsor, which switches in the metering pump only ~hen the bristles of the toothbrus~ are subjected to a cer*ain contact pressure. This contact pressure can be ascertained by, for e~ample, determinirlg t~e bending moment of the ~tem of the toothbrush. The use of a pressure sensor of this kind for actuating the metering pump results in the fluid beins su~plied only w~eo t~le toot~brush is in use. Tl.is, on t~e one ~And, offcrs the advanta6e that unnecessary wastage of the fluid passed through into the toothbrush is avoided and, on the other ~a~d, that tke tooth-cleaning time is taken AS being only that period of operation of the metering pump in which the contact pressure in question is applied to t~e bristles. The tooth-cleaning process can be interrupted at ~ill, without the period of effective cleaning of the teeth being s--ortened thereby.
An example of the form of construction of the device of the invention will now be de~scribed in greater detail by reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates diagram~atically a device for care of the teeth that consists of ~ ~tationary unit and an electric toothbru~h connected to this unit by a flexible tube, Figure 2 3hows the time cycle of the varlous opera-tions for care of t~e teeth, in the case of a first programme, and Figure 3 shows the time cycle for the various opera-tions in the care of the teeth, in the case of ~ second progr~mme.
Referring to Figure 1, a stationary unit 10 for care of the teeth is provided, and this can be mounted on a wall, for e~ample. The unit 10 comprises a hose coupling li, to w~ich a fleYible hose 12 can be connected, the other end of t~e hose being connected by way of a further coupling 120 to t~e r~pLaceal-1e brictle part 13 of ~n electric toothhr 15. T~e bri~tle r~rt 13 ha.~ ~ feed duct~ w~ich extend.s longitudin~lly t~roug~ the bristle part 13 and at several point.C communicatec wit~ a ~et Or bristles i6 by way of branc~ ducts. The fluid introduced throug~ the feed duct 14 is thus ejected as a spray between the bristles of the set 16 and parallel witll the bristles. The feed duct 14 is connected to the ~ose coupling 120 T~e electric tooth-brush 15 also comprises a gri~ 17, which contains an elec-tric oscillating drive whereby t~e bristle part 13 is caused to e~ecute rotarv oscillatory movements about its longitudinal axis. In t~e known manner, t~e grip 17 may contain a battery or, by way of a low-voltage lead (not illustrated~, it may be connected to a part w~ich leads to the mains and is preferably housed in the stationary unit 10.
The unit 10 contains a metering pump 18, t~e outlet 19 of which is connected to the hose coupling 1, while its inle.t 20 is connected to three different switching valves 21, 22 and 23. The piston 24 of the metering pump 18 is driven by a drive unit 25 by way of a connecting-rod drive 26. When t~e spindle 27 of the connecting-rod drive 26 makes one revolution, the piston 24 executes a cycle con-~isting of t~e forward stroke and the rearward .stroke~
D~ring the rearward stroke, fluid is admitted to t~e meter-ing pump 18, and during t~e forward .qtroke, t~is fluid is forced t~rough the outl~t 19 ~nd t~e ~ose 12 into t~e toot~-brush 15. Provided at the inlet 20 is a non-return valve (not illu-ctrated) w~ich 9 during t~e forward stroke of the V~l ~iston ~4, prevents fl~id from being forced back into that of tbe switching valves 21, 22 or 23 that is open. In a similar manner, a non-return valve (not illustrated),which is opened only in the discharge direction, is arranged at the outlet 1~.
Secured to t~e unit 10 are t~ree different containers 28, 29 and 30, the outlet of each of which is closed by one of the switching valves 21, 22 and 23. The container 28 contains swilling water, the ccntainer 29 water for the mouth, and t~e container 30 a tooth-cleaning fluid. A
control means 31 actuates the switching ~alves 21, 22 and 23 so that ~t most one of these val~es is opened each time.
Furt~ermore, the control means 31 comprises a time-switch device, which keeps the driYe means 2~ for the ~etering pump lo in operation for a predetermined time after the implement has been ~witched on. An indicating means 32 displays that time that has elapsed during a toot~-cleaning operation, or that time during which the tooth-cleaning operation has to be continued. In the present case, the indicating means 32 i-s an elongate field, which is pro-gressively filled by a colour-marking strip 33, the length of Which incre~ses from left to right.
The positions programme I, programme II, Zp. (bruQhing) Mw. (water for the mouth) and 5p. (swilling~ can he set at a programming switch 34. W~en t~e prograrnming ~witch 34 is at the position Zp., only the switching valve 23 is opened, so that only the operation of brus~ing t~e teeth is carried out. In the ~osi tion Mw . of t~e ~rogramming switck, ollly the switc~lins v~lve 22 is opened, and the switching valves 21 and 23 are cLosed. In this position, treatment of the mouth wit~ water is c~rried out. In the position Sp. of t~e progr~mming sl~itc~ 34, only the switching valve 21 is opened, so that swilling fluid is supplied to the toothbrush.
In addition, two different programmes I and IIl the cycle~
of which will ~e e~plained below, can be set at the selector switc~ 34.
The unit 10 for the care of the teeth al~so comprises t~ree setting devices 35, 36 and 37, each of which i.s intended to operAte one of t~e switching v~lveq 21, 22 and 23 respoctively. In the present case, t~e setting device syste~ 35, 36 and 37 are tkumb w~eels, whereby t~e dura-tion of the treatment wit~ the particular fluid can be set for each of the programmes r and II. An on-off ~witch 38 i~ also providedO
Figures 2 and 3 skow examples of the programmes I
and II t~at can be set by means of t~e programms switch 34.
In the case of programme I, the process of brushing, during wkich the switching valve 23 is opened, is carrie~
out over A peri.od of two minutes. T-~is is followed by a short interval of three seconds, in which all of t~e switcking valves 2l, 22 and 23 are closed. Then follws the process of cwilling, during w~ich only t~e switching valve 21 is opened for a period of 20 seconds. After an interv~l of tl~ree c~c~ndc~ in ~ ic~ all of t~e Cwitchins vnlves 21, 2~ and 23 are closed, treatment of t~e mouth ~ith ~ater takes p~ace for ten seconds, during which only the switc~ing valve 22 is opened. T~e total time of two minutes and 36 seconds correcponds to the value "lOO %"
s~own on the indicating means 32.
Programme I represents t~e normal. Person~ WhO
wish to brush their teet~ or freshen the oral cavity more frequently each day require a tooth-brus~ing operation of shorter duration. In programme II, t~e tooth-brushing operation lasts for one minute, whereas the periods of duration of t~e intervals and those for swilling and treatment of t~e mouth with water are e~actly t~e same as ~or programme I. By adjusting the qetting devices 35, 36 and 37, the duration of eack proceqs can be indi-vidually set, so that programmes I and II can be set up by eacb individual user.
The main cause of caries and mar~inal gingivitis is the for~ation of dental plaque~ This soft adhering coating on the teeth results f~om the accumulation of bacteria in remnants of food, which build up preferentially at the edges of the teeth. Effective elimination of this plaque or the reduction of its build-up rate are important objectives in oral ~ygiene, i.e. in t~e cleaning of the teeth. It is known that cleaning of the teeth must be carried out over certain minimum periods in order to effect complete removal of pLaque. T~e required tooth-brus~ing time can be indi-cated directly by means of a watch or clock, or indirectly by a change in the colour of the toothpaste. It is also known to provide a toothbrush with a temperature-measuring device which reacts when the toothbrus~t after a suitably lengthy period of use, reaches a certain temperature because of the heat of the body (DE-OS 29 18 806).
The known devices for care of the teeth suffer f~m the disadvantage that they are either awkward to use or are not sufficiently effective in obliSing the user to persist in the tooth-cleaning process over the prescribed period.
T~e object of the pre~ent invention i9 to provide a device for care of the teeth, the use of which device does not involve difficult ~andling operations and which automatically ensures that t~e prescribed period for brushing of the teeth is maintained.
:~7~iV3.~L
. -- 3 According to tlle invention, this ob ject is ac~ie~ed in that the feed duct of the toothbrush is connected, by way of a flexible tubel to a metering pump which is connected to the outlet from at least one container for fluid, and in that the metering pump is controlled by a time-switch device or a device whic~ counts t~e number of metering strokes.
The effect of the invention is that the tooth-cleaning fluid or another fluid is caused to be passed automatically to the teeth by way of the bri~tles during the brushing operation, and this supply of fluid continues for as long as is necessary for effective removal of plaque. After having switched on the toot~brush, the user needs to proceed with the bru~shing of his teeth only for as long as fluid i~ supplied to the toothbrush. Otker manipula-tionq are not necessary. The use of tke metering pump results in fluid being passed to the teeth in t~e required quantity per unit of time, qo that dl~in~ brushing the fluid is continuously renewed.
In one advantaseous embodiment of the invention, the metering device is connected to several containers through a switching val~ve in each case~ and there is provided a control means which opens the ~witchin~ valves in succession in accordance with a pre~et progr~mme. T~e metering device is thu~ succes~iYely connected to -the individual container~
so t~at following the actua' tooth-cle~ning operation, cwilling with ~ater or some other fluid can take place.
T~ereafter, water for the mouth can be supplied from a further container to the toothbrush in order to enable iO3.il ~, t~e prevcntive meacllre of di~infecting and freshening the teeth and oral cavity to be carried out. A device of this kind for care of the teet~ hac a programming circuit which enables ~he individual ~ases of t~e programme to be carried out either in dependence upon time or upon the number of metering strokes. If required, a number of different programmes can be provided, each one of whiCh can be selected by means of a setting unit. The indivi-dual progr~mmes differ from each ot~er as regards the length of t~e individual steps in the treatment or as regards the length of time during which the various con-tainers are connected to the metering pump. The tooth-brush requires to be used only for as long a~s the metering pump is operating, i.e. for as long AS one or other fluid emerges at the toothbrush. Thus, this not only ensure~
that the cleaning operation is carried out for a sufficient lengt~ of time, but also that the swilling or treatment with water for the mouth is of adequate dura,Ction. During the tooth-brushing procedure, the user does not need to carry out any switch-over actions; all he has to do is to move the toothbrush in the normal manner. Nor is it is necessary to remove the toot~brus~ from the teet~.
A .~eparately adjustable time-switch device or coun-ting device is pre~erably provided for each container, the switching valve for the ne~t counter being opened after said device has completed itY cycle. Wit~ such an arranse-ment, the periods for the individual phases in the treatment V~.l .
of tl~e teetl~ c.~n he cet separnte]y, ~o t~.at tl,e user cnn set the programme for care of teet~ to ~uit hiS individunl needs.
In a fu~ther ndvantaseous embodiment of tl1e invention, a selector switch is provided w~ereby the s~:itching val~es for the containers can be switched in individually. T~us, for example, the swilling process or the treatment of the mouth wit~ water can be carried out separately without a tootk-cleaning operation having been previously performed.
Such use of the app~ratus for the care of the teeth corres-ponds to the use of the kno~n mouth sprays which only carry out s-~illing or treatment of the mouth wit~ water and which can be completely replaced by use of the device for the care of the teeth in accordance with t~e inYention.
The device in accordance with the in~ention is parti-cularly suitable for use in combination with an electric toothbrus~ wherein each one of several brush parts, that are pro~ided for different persons, can be connected to an oscillatory dri~e. The brush parts simply require to be provided with a feed duct having appropriate outlet openings and with a coupling for connectinS the flexible tube leading from the metering pump.
Particular adYantage accrl-es from the use of a presure Y~nsor, which switches in the metering pump only ~hen the bristles of the toothbrus~ are subjected to a cer*ain contact pressure. This contact pressure can be ascertained by, for e~ample, determinirlg t~e bending moment of the ~tem of the toothbrush. The use of a pressure sensor of this kind for actuating the metering pump results in the fluid beins su~plied only w~eo t~le toot~brush is in use. Tl.is, on t~e one ~And, offcrs the advanta6e that unnecessary wastage of the fluid passed through into the toothbrush is avoided and, on the other ~a~d, that tke tooth-cleaning time is taken AS being only that period of operation of the metering pump in which the contact pressure in question is applied to t~e bristles. The tooth-cleaning process can be interrupted at ~ill, without the period of effective cleaning of the teeth being s--ortened thereby.
An example of the form of construction of the device of the invention will now be de~scribed in greater detail by reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates diagram~atically a device for care of the teeth that consists of ~ ~tationary unit and an electric toothbru~h connected to this unit by a flexible tube, Figure 2 3hows the time cycle of the varlous opera-tions for care of t~e teeth, in the case of a first programme, and Figure 3 shows the time cycle for the various opera-tions in the care of the teeth, in the case of ~ second progr~mme.
Referring to Figure 1, a stationary unit 10 for care of the teeth is provided, and this can be mounted on a wall, for e~ample. The unit 10 comprises a hose coupling li, to w~ich a fleYible hose 12 can be connected, the other end of t~e hose being connected by way of a further coupling 120 to t~e r~pLaceal-1e brictle part 13 of ~n electric toothhr 15. T~e bri~tle r~rt 13 ha.~ ~ feed duct~ w~ich extend.s longitudin~lly t~roug~ the bristle part 13 and at several point.C communicatec wit~ a ~et Or bristles i6 by way of branc~ ducts. The fluid introduced throug~ the feed duct 14 is thus ejected as a spray between the bristles of the set 16 and parallel witll the bristles. The feed duct 14 is connected to the ~ose coupling 120 T~e electric tooth-brush 15 also comprises a gri~ 17, which contains an elec-tric oscillating drive whereby t~e bristle part 13 is caused to e~ecute rotarv oscillatory movements about its longitudinal axis. In t~e known manner, t~e grip 17 may contain a battery or, by way of a low-voltage lead (not illustrated~, it may be connected to a part w~ich leads to the mains and is preferably housed in the stationary unit 10.
The unit 10 contains a metering pump 18, t~e outlet 19 of which is connected to the hose coupling 1, while its inle.t 20 is connected to three different switching valves 21, 22 and 23. The piston 24 of the metering pump 18 is driven by a drive unit 25 by way of a connecting-rod drive 26. When t~e spindle 27 of the connecting-rod drive 26 makes one revolution, the piston 24 executes a cycle con-~isting of t~e forward stroke and the rearward .stroke~
D~ring the rearward stroke, fluid is admitted to t~e meter-ing pump 18, and during t~e forward .qtroke, t~is fluid is forced t~rough the outl~t 19 ~nd t~e ~ose 12 into t~e toot~-brush 15. Provided at the inlet 20 is a non-return valve (not illu-ctrated) w~ich 9 during t~e forward stroke of the V~l ~iston ~4, prevents fl~id from being forced back into that of tbe switching valves 21, 22 or 23 that is open. In a similar manner, a non-return valve (not illustrated),which is opened only in the discharge direction, is arranged at the outlet 1~.
Secured to t~e unit 10 are t~ree different containers 28, 29 and 30, the outlet of each of which is closed by one of the switching valves 21, 22 and 23. The container 28 contains swilling water, the ccntainer 29 water for the mouth, and t~e container 30 a tooth-cleaning fluid. A
control means 31 actuates the switching ~alves 21, 22 and 23 so that ~t most one of these val~es is opened each time.
Furt~ermore, the control means 31 comprises a time-switch device, which keeps the driYe means 2~ for the ~etering pump lo in operation for a predetermined time after the implement has been ~witched on. An indicating means 32 displays that time that has elapsed during a toot~-cleaning operation, or that time during which the tooth-cleaning operation has to be continued. In the present case, the indicating means 32 i-s an elongate field, which is pro-gressively filled by a colour-marking strip 33, the length of Which incre~ses from left to right.
The positions programme I, programme II, Zp. (bruQhing) Mw. (water for the mouth) and 5p. (swilling~ can he set at a programming switch 34. W~en t~e prograrnming ~witch 34 is at the position Zp., only the switching valve 23 is opened, so that only the operation of brus~ing t~e teeth is carried out. In the ~osi tion Mw . of t~e ~rogramming switck, ollly the switc~lins v~lve 22 is opened, and the switching valves 21 and 23 are cLosed. In this position, treatment of the mouth wit~ water is c~rried out. In the position Sp. of t~e progr~mming sl~itc~ 34, only the switching valve 21 is opened, so that swilling fluid is supplied to the toothbrush.
In addition, two different programmes I and IIl the cycle~
of which will ~e e~plained below, can be set at the selector switc~ 34.
The unit 10 for the care of the teeth al~so comprises t~ree setting devices 35, 36 and 37, each of which i.s intended to operAte one of t~e switching v~lveq 21, 22 and 23 respoctively. In the present case, t~e setting device syste~ 35, 36 and 37 are tkumb w~eels, whereby t~e dura-tion of the treatment wit~ the particular fluid can be set for each of the programmes r and II. An on-off ~witch 38 i~ also providedO
Figures 2 and 3 skow examples of the programmes I
and II t~at can be set by means of t~e programms switch 34.
In the case of programme I, the process of brushing, during wkich the switching valve 23 is opened, is carrie~
out over A peri.od of two minutes. T-~is is followed by a short interval of three seconds, in which all of t~e switcking valves 2l, 22 and 23 are closed. Then follws the process of cwilling, during w~ich only t~e switching valve 21 is opened for a period of 20 seconds. After an interv~l of tl~ree c~c~ndc~ in ~ ic~ all of t~e Cwitchins vnlves 21, 2~ and 23 are closed, treatment of t~e mouth ~ith ~ater takes p~ace for ten seconds, during which only the switc~ing valve 22 is opened. T~e total time of two minutes and 36 seconds correcponds to the value "lOO %"
s~own on the indicating means 32.
Programme I represents t~e normal. Person~ WhO
wish to brush their teet~ or freshen the oral cavity more frequently each day require a tooth-brus~ing operation of shorter duration. In programme II, t~e tooth-brushing operation lasts for one minute, whereas the periods of duration of t~e intervals and those for swilling and treatment of t~e mouth with water are e~actly t~e same as ~or programme I. By adjusting the qetting devices 35, 36 and 37, the duration of eack proceqs can be indi-vidually set, so that programmes I and II can be set up by eacb individual user.
Claims (6)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A device for treating a user's teeth and mouth in a plurality of operations, comprising:
a toothbrush to be inserted into the user's mouth, said toothbrush having a set of bristles and a conduit for directing fluid to emerge at the bristles and into the user's mouth;
a first container for containing teeth cleansing fluid;
a second container for containing rinsing fluid;
a third container for containing mouthwash fluid;
a pump for pumping fluid to the toothbrush conduit;
valve means for coupling each of the containers to the toothbrush conduit; and control means for controlling the duration of a plurality of teeth treatment operations, said control means having means for controlling the valve means to sequentially couple:
(1) the first container to the toothbrush conduit for a first predetermined time period during which the teeth cleansing fluid is ejected at the bristles into the user's mouth to facilitate brushing the teeth, (2) the second container to the toothbrush conduit for a second predetermined time period during which the rinsing fluid is ejected at the bristles into the user's mouth to facilitate rinsing the teeth and mouth, and (3) the third container to the toothbrush contuit for a third predetermined time period during which the mouth-wash fluid is ejected at the bristles into the user's mouth to facilitate treating the mouth with the mouthwash fluid, thereby allowing each operation to be completed without removing the toothbrush from the mouth between operations and thereby encouraging the performance of each operation by the user for the associated predetermined period.
a toothbrush to be inserted into the user's mouth, said toothbrush having a set of bristles and a conduit for directing fluid to emerge at the bristles and into the user's mouth;
a first container for containing teeth cleansing fluid;
a second container for containing rinsing fluid;
a third container for containing mouthwash fluid;
a pump for pumping fluid to the toothbrush conduit;
valve means for coupling each of the containers to the toothbrush conduit; and control means for controlling the duration of a plurality of teeth treatment operations, said control means having means for controlling the valve means to sequentially couple:
(1) the first container to the toothbrush conduit for a first predetermined time period during which the teeth cleansing fluid is ejected at the bristles into the user's mouth to facilitate brushing the teeth, (2) the second container to the toothbrush conduit for a second predetermined time period during which the rinsing fluid is ejected at the bristles into the user's mouth to facilitate rinsing the teeth and mouth, and (3) the third container to the toothbrush contuit for a third predetermined time period during which the mouth-wash fluid is ejected at the bristles into the user's mouth to facilitate treating the mouth with the mouthwash fluid, thereby allowing each operation to be completed without removing the toothbrush from the mouth between operations and thereby encouraging the performance of each operation by the user for the associated predetermined period.
2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a user actuable switch for selecting a particular container, the control means further having means responsive to the switch for controlling the valve means to couple the selected container to the toothbrush conduit.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the control means further has means for controlling the valve means to sequentially couple the first, second and third containers to the toothbrush conduit for a fourth predetermined time period, a fifth predetermined time period and a sixth predetermined time period, respectively, and a user actuable selector for selecting the particular sequence of predetermined periods.
4. The device of Claim 1 wherein the control means further has user actuable input means for setting at least one of the predetermined time periods wherein the user may select the duration of a time period in which a fluid from a container is ejected into the user's mouth.
5. The device of Claim 1 further comprising indicator means for indicating the amount of time that has elapsed during the teeth treatment operations.
6. The device of Claim 1 further comprising electric motor means for providing an oscillatory movement to the toothbrush, wherein the electric motor means operates independently of the flow of fluid to the toothbrush.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3119338.2 | 1981-05-15 | ||
| DE19813119338 DE3119338C2 (en) | 1981-05-15 | 1981-05-15 | Dental care device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1176011A true CA1176011A (en) | 1984-10-16 |
Family
ID=6132376
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000401776A Expired CA1176011A (en) | 1981-05-15 | 1982-04-27 | Device for care of the teeth |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5815855A (en) |
| AT (1) | AT372599B (en) |
| BE (1) | BE893191A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1176011A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3119338C2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2098468B (en) |
Families Citing this family (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT377431B (en) * | 1983-06-21 | 1985-03-25 | Colgate Palmolive Co | DEVICE FOR COMBINED THERAPEUTIC AND EXCITING TREATMENT OF GUM |
| DE3446272C1 (en) * | 1984-12-19 | 1986-02-13 | Anette Dr. Med. Dent. Weber | Procedure and toothbrush for removing germs in the oral cavity |
| DE3521648A1 (en) * | 1985-06-15 | 1986-12-18 | Werner 8201 Schechen Heimbeck | Electrical tooth brush |
| GB9024890D0 (en) * | 1990-11-15 | 1991-01-02 | Stewart Timothy N | Toothbrushes |
| DE20207905U1 (en) | 2002-05-22 | 2002-09-05 | Johnki, Bernd J., Dr.med.dent., 46325 Borken | Dental and oral care apparatus |
| AU2005329104A1 (en) * | 2005-03-09 | 2006-09-21 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Sensor responsive electric toothbrushes and methods of use |
| CA2614916C (en) * | 2005-07-12 | 2012-06-19 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Oral care implement having reservoir for dispensing active agent |
| GB0526560D0 (en) * | 2005-12-29 | 2006-02-08 | Unilever Plc | Oral treatment device |
| GB2538309B (en) | 2015-05-15 | 2017-09-20 | Dyson Technology Ltd | Cleaning appliance |
| GB2555620B (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2019-03-13 | Dyson Technology Ltd | Cleaning appliance |
| GB2559380B (en) | 2017-02-03 | 2019-09-25 | Dyson Technology Ltd | Dental treatment appliance |
| CN107088103B (en) * | 2017-06-15 | 2022-06-10 | 魏铁军 | Electric toothbrush with washing function |
| GB2575781B (en) | 2018-07-16 | 2022-02-23 | Dyson Technology Ltd | A cleaning appliance |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1217334B (en) * | 1963-09-30 | 1966-05-26 | John Lowell Richmond | Rotating toothbrush |
| DE2343421A1 (en) * | 1973-08-29 | 1975-03-13 | Wolfgang G Hoffmann | Battery operated electric toothbrush - has pressurised toothpaste cartridge in handle |
| DE2411041A1 (en) * | 1974-03-08 | 1975-09-11 | Ludwig Engelhardt | Hand powered tooth care appts - with exchangeable treatment heads and spring operated mechanical rotation |
| CH601096A5 (en) * | 1976-01-20 | 1978-06-30 | Sandhaus Sami | |
| JPS5535667A (en) * | 1978-09-05 | 1980-03-12 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Mouth washing instrument |
| DE2938463C2 (en) * | 1979-09-22 | 1982-03-11 | Aesculap-Werke Ag Vormals Jetter & Scheerer, 7200 Tuttlingen | Method for conveying a liquid by means of a peristaltic pump and control circuit for the motor of a peristaltic pump |
-
1981
- 1981-05-15 DE DE19813119338 patent/DE3119338C2/en not_active Expired
-
1982
- 1982-04-22 AT AT158382A patent/AT372599B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1982-04-27 CA CA000401776A patent/CA1176011A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-05-06 JP JP7594582A patent/JPS5815855A/en active Pending
- 1982-05-13 GB GB8213916A patent/GB2098468B/en not_active Expired
- 1982-05-14 BE BE0/208095A patent/BE893191A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5815855A (en) | 1983-01-29 |
| AT372599B (en) | 1983-10-25 |
| GB2098468B (en) | 1984-11-28 |
| ATA158382A (en) | 1983-03-15 |
| GB2098468A (en) | 1982-11-24 |
| BE893191A (en) | 1982-11-16 |
| DE3119338A1 (en) | 1982-12-09 |
| DE3119338C2 (en) | 1987-08-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |