EP0324120B1 - Electronic toothbrush - Google Patents

Electronic toothbrush Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0324120B1
EP0324120B1 EP19880120821 EP88120821A EP0324120B1 EP 0324120 B1 EP0324120 B1 EP 0324120B1 EP 19880120821 EP19880120821 EP 19880120821 EP 88120821 A EP88120821 A EP 88120821A EP 0324120 B1 EP0324120 B1 EP 0324120B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
piezo
electric element
electrode
handle
electric
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP19880120821
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0324120A1 (en
Inventor
Hideo Suyama
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Navitas Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Navitas Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Navitas Co Ltd filed Critical Navitas Co Ltd
Publication of EP0324120A1 publication Critical patent/EP0324120A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0324120B1 publication Critical patent/EP0324120B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
    • A46B15/0016—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with enhancing means
    • A46B15/0022—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with enhancing means with an electrical means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electronic toothbrush according to the pre-characterizing part of claim 1.
  • a tooth decay is a disease that hard inorganic teeth are decayed by an acid produced by bacteria in a mouth.
  • Dental plague that is composed of propagating bacteria, depositing protein and inorganic compound in saliva, overspreads and builts up on a tooth-surface.
  • Tartar is produced by calcification of the plague the main ingredient of which is calcium phosphate.
  • Pyorrhea alvealaris is an inflammation of gums caused by plague left on a root of tooth and under a gum line.
  • a conventional electronic toothbrush using a dry battery or solar battery generates electrons that decompose plague and neutralize latic acid by means of a reducing process around teeth. This reducing process is caused of the electrons that flow through conductive saliva and water with positive and negative ions, for example, kalium, sodium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chlorine, phosphoric acid, etc.
  • positive and negative ions for example, kalium, sodium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chlorine, phosphoric acid, etc.
  • the conventional electronic toothbrush is generally high in price because of using a complicated waterproof structure and an expensive battery.
  • FR-A-15 83 683 discloses an electronic toothbrush of the type defined in the pre-characterizing part of claim 1.
  • the electric element is in the form of electrodes made of different metals of the electromotive series, e.g. electrodes of magnesium and tin, to obtain a voltage of 1,08 volt.
  • the electrodes are formed on both sides of said piezo-electric element located in the center portion of the handle, and the electrode on one side is exposed in close vicinity to the brushing portion and the electrode on the other side is exposed on the gripped portion of the handle.
  • positive and negative charges are generated on both sides of the piezo-electric element as a result of bending and vibration of the handle.
  • an electronic toothbrush comprising: a piezo-electric element with piezo-electric characteristic mounted in a handle between a gripped portion and a brushing portion of said electronic toothbrush; an exposed electrode in close vicinity to said brushing portion and an opposite exposed electrode on said gripped portion of said handle formed on both sides of said piezo-electric element, respectively.
  • a piezo-electric element 4 with piezo-electric characteristic is operatively mounted in a handle 3 of a toothbrush between a gripped portion 1 and a brushing portion 2 of the handle 3.
  • a diode 9 with rectifying action is used to electrically connect an electrode 7 and an electrode 8 formed on both sides of the piezo-electric element 4.
  • the electrode 7 is exposed in close vicinity to the brushing portion 2 on the brush 5 side of the handle 3, and the electrode 8 is exposed on the opposite side.
  • the brush 5 is laid on the surface 6 of the brushing portion 2.
  • FIG.2 illustrates the principle of generating the output voltage in the piezo-electric element 10.
  • the piezo-electric element 10 for example a polyvinylidene fluoride film, consists of countless dipoles that allow the element to create electric charges resulting from expansion and contraction applied to the element. If both electrodes 11 and 12 are electrically connected, the electric current flows from the electrode with negative charges to the electrode with positive charges.
  • FIGs.3 and 4 illustrate the characteristic curves of the output voltage generated from the piezo-electric element, as shown in FIG.2, mounted on a piece of plastic plate as a cantilever at the time of tapping without and with the diode 9, respectively.
  • the ordinate axis denotes the voltage V by 2 volt per one scale and the abscissas axis the time t by 20 msec pre one scale, respectively.
  • the output voltage is lower and the output voltage of opposite polarity is generated at the time of resilience of the plastic plate with the piezo-electric element.
  • FIG.4 with the diode 9, the output voltage is higher and nealy rectified without opposite polarity.
  • the present invention utilizes the phenomenon mentioned above.
  • the handle 3 of the toothbrush shown in FIG.1 When the handle 3 of the toothbrush shown in FIG.1 is bent, the output voltage is generated according to expansion and contraction of the piezo-electric element 4.
  • the output voltage results in between the brush 5 side electrode 7 exposed in close vicinity to the brushing portion 2 and the other electrode 8 exposed on the gripped portion 1 of the handle 3.
  • the external force is always applied to the brush 5 when toothbrushing, and therefore the handle 3 of the toothbrush is bent almost always toward the surface 6 with the brush 5.
  • the piezo-electric element 4 is polarized so that the negative charges are generated on the electrode 7 due to the expansion and the contraction corresponding to the bending of the handle 3.
  • the diode used in the present invention is low priced due to the small size and has water-resisting quality compared with a dry battery.
  • the piezo-electric element a polyvinylidene fluoride film, for example, is low priced and water-resistant.
  • FIGs.5-10 The other embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGs.5-10.
  • the bending motion of the plastic handle 3 between the gripped portion 1 and the brushing portion 2 is mentioned above in FIG.1.
  • the negative charges corresponding to the bending of the handle 3 must be generated on the electrode 7.
  • FIG.6 Another piezo-electric bimorph in FIG.6, the laminate of a piezo-electric element 17 and a metal sheet 16, can be used in the present invention.
  • the piezo-electric element 17, a polyvinyliden fluoride film is relatively flexible, but the metal sheet 16 is rigid and has not flexibility of expansion and contraction.
  • the piezo-electric element 17 of the bimorph in FIG.6 is located on the brush side of the handle of the toothbrush, the piezo-electric element 17 is mainly expanded. In the contrary case, the piezo-electric element 17 is mostly contracted when toothbrusing.
  • the piezo-electric elements of the bimorphs shown in FIGs.5 and 6 are necessary to be polarized so that the negative charges are generated on the electrodes near the brushing portion.
  • the other embodiments shown in FIGs.7 and 8 which can achieve effectively the object of the present invention use the single layer piezo-electric elements 4, not bimorphs.
  • These single layer elements 4 that are mounted in the location shifted from the center line X-X of the handle 3 are consequently contracted and expanded as shown in FIGs.7 and 8, respectively, when bending of the handle 3.
  • the polarizing directions of the piezo-electric elements 4 are perpendicular to the elements 4, and opposite directions, in FIGs.7 and 8, respectively.
  • the object of the present invention is achieved according to locating the piezo-electric elements 4 which are expanded and contracted due to the bending of the handle 3. It is a matter of course that the diodes 9 with rectifying action are electrically connected with both opposite electrodes to gain effectively the higher output voltage.
  • the only electrode 7 formed on one side of the piezo-electric element 4 is exposed in close vicinity to the surface 6 of the brushing portion, and the only electrode 8 is exposed on the gripped portion 1, respectively.
  • the part of the piezo-electric element 4 with electrodes on both sides is sealed hermetically in the plastic of the handle, hence the short circuit between electrodes 7 and 8 is not caused when toothbrushing.
  • FIG.10 A metal plate 19 is connected directly and operatively with the electrode 8 exposed on the gripped portion 1 of the handle 3 and fastened around the gripped portion 1. Furthermore, the diode 9 mounted in the gripped portion 1 is electrically connected between the electrode 7 and the metal plate 19. When toothbrushing, a hand touches almost always the metal plate 19, and therefore the object of the present invention is effectively achieved.
EP19880120821 1988-01-05 1988-12-13 Electronic toothbrush Expired - Lifetime EP0324120B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP519/88 1988-01-05
JP63000519A JPH01178256A (ja) 1988-01-05 1988-01-05 電子歯ブラシ

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0324120A1 EP0324120A1 (en) 1989-07-19
EP0324120B1 true EP0324120B1 (en) 1992-08-12

Family

ID=11476018

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880120821 Expired - Lifetime EP0324120B1 (en) 1988-01-05 1988-12-13 Electronic toothbrush

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0324120B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH01178256A (ja)
DE (1) DE3873727T2 (ja)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103494435A (zh) * 2008-06-25 2014-01-08 高露洁-棕榄公司 能进行机械能量收获的口腔护理用具
US9028536B2 (en) 2006-08-02 2015-05-12 Cynosure, Inc. Picosecond laser apparatus and methods for its operation and use

Families Citing this family (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2592791B2 (ja) * 1989-01-31 1997-03-19 株式会社サンギ 電子歯ブラシ
EP0435329A3 (en) * 1989-12-29 1991-09-11 Staar Development Company -S.A. Tooth brush system
US5165131A (en) * 1989-12-29 1992-11-24 Staar Development Co., S.A. Teeth cleaning apparatus
FR2751185A1 (fr) * 1996-07-19 1998-01-23 Poirot Frederic Brosse a dents comportant des moyens de signalisation
ES2191786T3 (es) * 1996-09-10 2003-09-16 Grigory Borisovich Altshuler Cepillo de dientes.
GB2317555B (en) * 1996-09-27 2000-12-27 Chiaphua Ind Ltd Toothbrushes
US6517532B1 (en) 1997-05-15 2003-02-11 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Light energy delivery head
US6273884B1 (en) 1997-05-15 2001-08-14 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for dermatology treatment
AU3450799A (en) 1998-03-12 1999-09-27 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. System for electromagnetic radiation of the skin
US6735802B1 (en) * 2000-05-09 2004-05-18 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Brushhead replacement indicator system for power toothbrushes
US7354448B2 (en) 2001-11-29 2008-04-08 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Dental phototherapy methods and compositions
KR20050026404A (ko) 2002-06-19 2005-03-15 팔로마 메디칼 테크놀로지스, 인코포레이티드 깊이로 조직을 광열 치료하기 위한 방법 및 장치
EP2522294A2 (en) 2002-10-23 2012-11-14 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Phototreatment device for use with coolants and topical substances
US7856985B2 (en) 2005-04-22 2010-12-28 Cynosure, Inc. Method of treatment body tissue using a non-uniform laser beam
CA2622560A1 (en) 2005-09-15 2007-03-29 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Skin optical characterization device
US9919168B2 (en) 2009-07-23 2018-03-20 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Method for improvement of cellulite appearance
KR102183581B1 (ko) 2012-04-18 2020-11-27 싸이노슈어, 엘엘씨 피코초 레이저 장치 및 그를 사용한 표적 조직의 치료 방법
EP2973894A2 (en) 2013-03-15 2016-01-20 Cynosure, Inc. Picosecond optical radiation systems and methods of use
CN104983185A (zh) * 2015-06-19 2015-10-21 夏瑾梅 一种新型的口腔护理用负压吸引牙刷
CA3092248A1 (en) 2018-02-26 2019-08-29 Mirko Mirkov Q-switched cavity dumped sub-nanosecond laser

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3520297A (en) * 1967-01-31 1970-07-14 Chemway Corp Iontophoretic toothbrush
US3478741A (en) * 1967-03-30 1969-11-18 Ion Co The Toothbrush for producing electrical potentials
CH661645A5 (de) * 1985-04-20 1987-08-14 Gerfried Bauer Zahnbuerste.

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9028536B2 (en) 2006-08-02 2015-05-12 Cynosure, Inc. Picosecond laser apparatus and methods for its operation and use
CN103494435A (zh) * 2008-06-25 2014-01-08 高露洁-棕榄公司 能进行机械能量收获的口腔护理用具

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0324120A1 (en) 1989-07-19
DE3873727T2 (de) 1993-04-15
JPH01178256A (ja) 1989-07-14
DE3873727D1 (de) 1992-09-17

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