DE1199734B - Massage toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

Massage toothbrush Massage toothbrushes driven by electric motors Have brush parts and in addition to teeth cleaning for massaging the gums are already widely used today.

In a known embodiment, the brush part receives a fast, partly longitudinally, partly laterally guided movement, which the bristles on the teeth or moved past the gums. Around all parts of the gums and teeth edit, such a brush must be guided by hand to the individual points. However, this has the disadvantage that correct handling of the brush is not guaranteed is, especially since to properly massage the gums, a movement from this to the gums Teeth is required.

There are already toothbrushes driven by an electric motor Brush parts known in which the latter on the one hand a reciprocating or circular motion roughly in the plane of the working surface of the brush and on the other hand perform a lifting back and forth movement in quick succession. Here However, it only finds a knocking movement that is uncontrolled depending on the rest of the movement instead, which does not allow proper massaging.

In other known toothbrushes, the brush part leads to a and reciprocating oscillating or pendulum rotary motion around the longitudinal axis of the brush as well an additional reciprocating axial movement, the oscillating movement is generated either mechanically or by an alternating electrical field. Both Movements are controlled in such a way as a function of one another that at each oscillating movement of the brush member this at the same time an axial back and forth movement executes. This allows an approximately elliptical movement of the bristle ends can be achieved in the plane of the brush working surface, the brush part in alternating increasing or decreasing oblique position in the longitudinal direction over one or the other Row of teeth brushes.

In another known embodiment of a brush with an electric motor Moving brush part, this is supported by a brush handle in the form of a housing rotating shaft in longitudinal and transverse vibrations caused by the brush handle outside the center of gravity by means of an elastic ring in a tubular shape Handle is suspended. An inevitable drive of the brush part takes place here does not take place. The elastic ring has sufficient rigidity and occurs resonance, whereby the longitudinal vibration amplified and out of phase, so the curve described by the brush part becomes a series of eights corresponding to the longitudinal and transverse vibrations lies roughly in the plane of the brush working surface. Even such a movement does not allow the most favorable massage effect.

In contrast, the invention relates to a massage brush which enables a particularly effective massage effect in that a massage tapping movement with a stroking movement of the brush part controlled as a function of this in Direction from the gums to the crowns of the teeth, both for the top and the top for the lower row of teeth, is united with one another.

The invention consists in providing means for controlling both of these Movements are provided in such a dependency that the bristle ends of the brush parts with a reciprocating, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the brush directional movement in the working surface of the brush part two reciprocating Carry out lifting movements, whereby the two movements are superimposed so that the The ends of the bristles are approximately 8-shaped in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the brush Describe the curve path.

In particular, the brush part of the toothbrush is here by one in the longitudinal direction of the same axis for executing a pendulum torsional oscillation pivotally mounted and drivable via the control means so that it is in the end positions of the pendulum torsional oscillation, one inclined upwards with respect to its central position takes a directed position and in such a position each up to the area the central position swings back, while at the same time it swings back in each case from a pressing movement to a lifting movement and then pivoted into the opposite inclination during the lifting movement will.

The invention has the advantage that with a single Brush part in the same operation alternately the gums of the upper and the lower row of teeth as well as this row of teeth itself is brushed correctly, alternating each row of teeth from the gums against the crowns of the teeth Brush part is painted over.

Such a brushing movement is on the one hand for the massage of the gums particularly desirable and beneficial, and on the other hand, it can also cause leftover food be removed with the utmost security. The lift-off movement also ensures that during the opposite movement an undesirable brushing of the relevant row of teeth or the same associated gums is avoided. The backward inclination of the brush part to the direction of stroke prevents at the same time excessive stress on the gums. Through the gradual Raising the brush part up to a middle position of the brush or up to to remove the same is further the removal of the food residues between the Advantageously supported teeth.

In a particularly expedient embodiment of the subject matter of the invention receives the rotatable mounting of the brush part around one to the work surface of the Brush parallel or approximately parallel axis serving bearings by additional drive means one the lifting movement of the brush part with twice the frequency of the pendulum torsional oscillation generating reciprocating motion. To generate the pendulum oscillations expediently a crank drive, a cam or eccentric to generate the lifting movement used.

A simple and spatially particularly advantageous arrangement results when the shank of the brush is at its bearing end as fork-shaped or eyelet-shaped Bearing head is formed which has a bearing sleeve connected to it by a longitudinal bolt encompasses, and that on the one hand the bearing head with lateral control means for generating the pendulum torsional vibrations provided around the longitudinal bolt and on the other hand the bearing sleeve at the same time as one controlled by an eccentric, cam or the like around a transverse axis pivotable, fork-shaped lever arranged e.g. directly next to the bearing head is formed or connected to such.

The bearing sleeve, the bearing head, the lever and the control shaft are preferred with eccentric and gear pair with crank arranged close together in one plane, wherein the transverse axis for the lever crosses the bearing head immediately next to it.

The handle housing is preferably parallel for easy handling flat to the working surface of the brush.

As a power source for the drive electric motor, which is useful in Transverse direction of the housing, e.g. B. behind a cross shaft controlling the brush part, is arranged, one or more in the preferably flat housing can be longitudinally or transverse batteries can be provided. But the electric motor can also use a cable from a third-party power grid or another power source with electricity are supplied.

To operate the electric drive, there is a on the support point the index finger arranged pressure switch is provided.

Since the brush part does not revolve, but only reciprocating The entire gear unit can perform pendulum oscillations - without special seals between rotating parts - all in one Housing completely watertight to the outside The pressure switch used for actuation can be housed via a membrane made of flexible material that is inserted into the housing in a watertight manner or through the housing wall, which is correspondingly weakly dimensioned at this point is formed. Also, since the brush part can not be a circumferential one, but only one oscillating pivoting movement to the housing executes, the brush part at the point of passage be sealed against the housing by a flexible seal.

The brush can therefore easily be rinsed under water. without the risk of water penetrating the interior of the gear unit and the Causes gear parts to rust.

The drawing shows exemplary embodiments of massage toothbrushes shown according to the invention.

1 shows a schematic representation of the mode of operation a driven toothbrush in an axial view with control of the transverse vibrations by an eccentric, FIG. 2 shows the same illustration with control of the transverse vibrations by an arched triangle, F i g. 3 is a perspective, schematic illustration the arrangement according to FIG. 1, F i g. 4 is a perspective schematic illustration for another type of drive for the brush, FIG. 5 is a section along line 5-5 6 for a structural embodiment with a drive according to FIG. 4, F i g. 6 shows an axial section perpendicular thereto through the same embodiment in section along line 6-6 of FIG. 7, Fig. 7 shows a section along line 7-7 of the Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 is an end view of the embodiment from the left to FIG. 5.

According to the scheme of Fig. 1 and 3 or 2 is the actual toothbrush 10, which consists of the handle 11 and the brush part 12, is connected to a lever arm 13. It is about a transverse axis 14 which is approximately parallel to the work surface A, i.e. H. parallel to the surface of the gums and teeth, by means of a joint with a further lever 15 connected, which at one end in a pivot bearing 16 on Handle housing is mounted and at its other fork-shaped end 17 by a Eccentric 18 is controlled.

The lever 13 is by means of a joint 19 to a handlebar in the manner of a Connecting rod 20 connected, which by means of a crank pin21 to a crank disk 22 is hinged. The crank disk 22 is also designed as a gear 23, which is in engagement with a gear 24 which is on the axis 25 of the eccentric 18 is arranged and half the diameter or half the number of teeth of the gear 23, so that it rotates at twice the speed as the gear 23. The gears 23 and 24 are stored in the handle housing, the faster gear being expedient 24 is driven via the shaft 25 by an electric motor. The gear 24 runs here in the direction of the arrow z1, the gear 23 in the direction of the arrow z2.

The function of the device described is as follows: In the in F i g. 1 is the position that can be pivoted in the direction of arrow x Lever 15 in its central position, while the pivotable in the direction of arrow y Lever 13 or the brush 10 fixedly connected to it in its upper one in FIG. 1 End position is. The free end of the brush part 12 here assumes position a. If the gears 23 and 24 are driven and in this case the gear 24 leads a Quarter turn in the direction of the arrow Z1, the lever 15 reaches its left end position, while the gear 23 with the crank disk 22 and the crank pin 21 an eighth of a turn in the position 21 b in the direction of arrow z2 by 450. The free bristle ends on the brush part 12 are then located approximately at point b of the bristle raceway B.

After another quarter turn of the gear 24, in which the Eccentric 18 occupies its lower position, the lever 15 again passes through its shown central position, in which the gear 23 with the crank 21 to another Has rotated eighth of a turn so that the crank pin 21 is at point 21 c. The free bristle ends of the brush part 12 here have point c on their Career B reached. With a further quarter turn of the gear 24 resp. of the eccentric 18 in the direction of the arrow z1, the bristle ends each reach the points d, e, f, g, h, i, where the point i coincides with the starting point a again. The bristle ends thus lead an approximately figure-eight or lemniscate-shaped movement by moving the brush or the set of bristles when moving from points a to c or from e to g is pressed against the work surface while it is roughly between the points c and e on the one hand and g and i on the other hand from the work surface A. lifted off.

The teeth of the upper dental arch are here from top to bottom, d. H. from the gums to the crowns of the teeth, the teeth in the lower jaw from below above, d. H. also brushed from the gums to the crowns of the teeth. The bristles are when placed on the upper gum at an angle upwards, when placed on the lower gums directed obliquely downwards. While brushing against the middle position to stroke them in an inclined position over the gums and gradually straighten up perpendicular to the work surface until it is lifted from the teeth in this position will. The one from the pendulum rotary movement in the direction of arrow y and from the transverse oscillating movement The oscillating movement of the brush part combined in the direction of the arrow x is expedient in quick succession of the individual vibrations, by z. B. the brush part ten to twenty transverse oscillations per second in the direction of the arrow x and five to ten Performs pendulum torsional vibrations in the direction of the arrow y.

To accelerate the pressing and lifting of the brush part To reach 12 from the work surface, instead of an eccentric 18, a corresponding designed cam, e.g. B. in the form of an arc triangle arranged on the shaft 25 26 (according to FIG. 2) may be provided. The career of the free bristle ends takes in in this case, for example, the form Bt. (If necessary, differently shaped cams can also be used can be used.) In the scheme shown in Fig. 4 for a different drive of the brush, the brush 10 with the brush part 12 has a lever arm 27 and is in a bearing sleeve 28 one around a transverse axis 29 pivotable lever 30 mounted. The lever 30 has an arm 31 which terminates in a fork 32. Reaches into this fork an eccentric 34 fixedly arranged on the shaft 33. The shaft 33 drives Toothed wheel 35, in turn with a toothed wheel 36 of double the number of teeth is engaged that with each revolution of the gear 35, z. B. in the direction of the arrow z1, the gear 36 half a turn, z. B. in the direction of the arrow z2. That Gear 36 carries a crank pin 37 which is inserted into a bearing sleeve 28 approximately parallel slot curve 38 engages at the end of the lever arm 27 of the brush 10.

The shaft 33 is driven by an electric motor 39 via a gear train 40, 41 driven at a suitable speed.

By driving the shaft 33 is on the one hand on the eccentric 34 of Lever 30 is driven to pivot back and forth about the transverse swing axis 29, which is a Transverse oscillation, d. H. alternating pressing and lifting of the brush part 12 from the work surface in the direction of arrow x. At the same time with half Frequency by means of the crank mechanism 37, 38 and by means of the lever arm 27 the brush 10 pivoted about its longitudinal axis in the direction of the arrow y, so that the brush part 12 is a Performs a pendulum swinging movement in the direction of arrow y and thus brushing and massaging of the gums and teeth worried.

In the practical embodiment of the toothbrush (Fig. 5 to 8) is the handle housing 42 through a partition 43 into a front chamber 44 and divided into a rear chamber 45. The whole housing is made flat by it, like a conventional toothbrush handle, perpendicular to the working surface A of the brush has a smaller dimension than parallel to the work surface. In the rear chamber 45 are z. B. the batteries 46 for feeding the electric motor 39 are housed. Preferably they are e.g. B. three batteries 46, parallel in the longitudinal direction of the brush arranged side by side. In the front chamber 44 is initially in front of the Partition 43 of the electric motor 39, which is arranged in the transverse direction. The front one Part of the chamber 44 encloses the gear for driving or controlling the brush part. On an axis 33 a firmly inserted into the side walls of the housing 42, FIG Row one behind the other the gear driven by the electric motor 39 via the gear 40 41, the eccentric 34, a sleeve 47 and the gear 35 are rotatably mounted. The parts 41, 34, 47 and 35 are firmly connected to one another or can be wholly or partially consist of one piece. With the gear 35 is the gear 36 in engagement, the is rotatably mounted on a pin 48 fixedly arranged in the housing 42 and the Crank pin 37 carries.

Below the longitudinal axis of the brush and crossing it in the transverse direction, is the axis 29 for the transverse vibrations of the brush part in the two side walls of the housing 42 firmly inserted. The lever 30 is pivotably mounted on it, the controlled by the eccentric 34 by means of the lever arm 31 and its fork-shaped end 32 and which also carries the bearing sleeve 28 for supporting the brush 10.

The handle 11 of the brush 10 is constructed in several parts. He instructs Bearing piece 49, which is designed as an eyelet-shaped part 50 at its rear end and the bearing sleeve 28 encloses. An Indian Longitudinal central axis the brush arranged bearing pin 51 connects the eyelet-shaped part 50 of the bearing piece 49 with the bearing sleeve 28, so that the brush around the axis of the bearing pin 51 and so that it can rotate around its own longitudinal axis. The eyelet-shaped part 50 of the bearing piece also serves as a lever arm27, which the slotted curve 38 of the crank mechanism 37, 38 carries.

An elastic membrane-like seal 52, which only the pendulum torsional vibrations y or the pendulum transverse vibrations x has to absorb, the bearing piece 49 seals against the front end 53 of the housing 42 from. To cover the seal, the a cover 54 can be pushed on at the front end of the housing. On the cone-shaped The end 55 of the bearing piece 49 is the actual shaft 56 of the brush 10 by means of a conical bore 57 pushed on and clamped. This hollow shaft 56 is advantageously made of a transparent plastic in a manner known per se, in which the bristles are anchored.

To operate the electric motor39 is a suitable place in the area of the index finger inserted into the housing 42 a push button 58, which has a waterproof Membrane 59 resilient contacts 60 can close. The housing 42 is preferably made made of plastic, the wall thickness of the same at the contact point of the index finger or the pressure switch located inside the housing, if necessary, also swath can be held that it acts as a membrane itself and by a pressure of the Fingers flexes the housing wall resiliently like a membrane and actuates the pressure switch.

Claims (15)

Claims: 1. Massage toothbrush with motorized, in particular brush part driven by an electric motor, on the one hand a reciprocating Movement roughly in one direction of the working surface of the brush and on the other hand one alternately lifted off this work surface and guided back against it again. and outgoing movement (lifting movement) executes, d a -characterized in that Means (20 to 22; 15, 18 or 36 to 38; 31 to 34) for controlling these two Movements (y, x) are provided in such a dependency that the Bristle ends of the brush part (12) with a reciprocating, transverse to the longitudinal axis the brush directional movement (y) in the working surface (X) of the brush part two Perform reciprocating lifting movements (x), whereby both movements superimpose so that the bristle ends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the brush Describe an approximately 8-shaped curved path (a to g) on the plane. 2. Massage toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush part (12) of the toothbrush around a longitudinal direction of the toothbrush Axis for executing a pendulum torsional oscillation (y) mounted so that it can swing and over the control means can be driven so that the brush part (12) is in the end positions (a, e) the pendulum torsional oscillation (y) each with reference to its central position (g) occupies obliquely outward position and in such a Position up to swings back into the area of the central position, while at the same time during this Swinging back from a pressing into a lifting movement and then into the opposite inclined position during the lifting movement is pivoted. 3. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that that the rotatable mounting of the brush part (12) around a to the work surface (A) the brush parallel or approximately parallel axis by positive drive means (18, 26, 15; 34, 31, 30) one the lifting movement (x) of the brush part (12) with double Frequency of the pendulum torsional oscillation (y) producing reciprocating movement (y) receives. 4. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that that the brush part (12) for generating the pendulum torsional vibration (y) by a Crank mechanism (21, 22) and for generating the reciprocating lifting movement (x) is controlled by a cam or eccentric (18, 26). 5. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that to control the lifting movement (x) of the brush part (12) a cam (26), z. B. in the manner of an arched triangle, it is provided that with relatively long-lasting Pressing movement of the brush part a rapid approach of the same to the work surface (A) and rapid removal from the work surface takes place. 6. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the drive means for deriving the pendulum torsional vibration (y) on the one hand and the lifting movement (x) on the other hand a crank (21, 37), an eccentric or Include cams (18, 26, 34) with mutually parallel axes of rotation and this through a pair of gears (22, 24; 36, 35) with a ratio of 1: 2 in drive connection stand. 7. massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that that the shaft (11) of the brush (10) at its bearing end as a fork-shaped or eyelet-shaped Bearing head (50) is formed, which is connected to it by a longitudinal bolt (51) Bearing sleeve (28) engages around, and that on the one hand the bearing head (50) with lateral control means (38) to generate the pendulum torsional vibrations (y) provided around the longitudinal bolt and on the other hand, the bearing sleeve (28) at the same time as one of an eccentric (34), cams Od. The like. Controlled, pivotable about a transverse axis (29) z. B. right next to the bearing head (50) arranged fork-shaped lift (30) formed or with a such is connected. 8. massage toothbrush according to claim 7, characterized in that Bearing sleeve (28), bearing head (50), lever (30), control shaft (33 a) with eccentric (34) and a pair of gears (35, 36) with a crank (37) arranged close to one another in one plane are and the transverse axis (29) for the lever (30) the bearing head (50) immediately next to this crosses. 9. massage toothbrush according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that that the control means for the pendulum rotation (y) of the brush part (12) by one on a transmission gear (36) arranged in a longitudinal slot (38) is formed on the bearing head (50) of the brush engaging crank pin (37). 10. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that that the drive motor (39) housed within the handle housing (42) in the transverse direction so that it is behind the transverse control shaft (33 a) to control the rear and accompanying lifting movement (x) of the brush part (12) is arranged and with this control shaft (33 a) in drive connection by a gear transmission (40, 41), which is preferably on that of the gear ratio (35, 36) for generating of the pendulum torsional vibrations (y) opposite end of said control shaft (33a) is provided. 11. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that that the handle housing (42) parallel to the working surface (A) of the brush is flat is. 12. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that that as a power source for the drive electric motor (39) several in the flat handle housing (42) longitudinal or transverse batteries (46) are provided. 13. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 12, characterized in that that in the handle housing (42) of the toothbrush bearing and control device of the brush part, Drive motor (39) and batteries (46) in a row in a known manner are housed. 14. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 13, characterized by a pressure switch arranged approximately at the point where the index finger is supported (60), for its actuation a waterproof membrane inserted into the housing flexible material is provided or by the correspondingly weak at this point dimensioned housing wall is formed. 15. Massage toothbrush according to claims 1 to 14, characterized in that that the housing is watertight at the passage of the brush part through a flexible seal is completed. Considered publications: German utility model no. 1,790,818; Swiss patents Nos. 358 408, 336 356; British patent specification No. 899 618.