EP1538947A1 - Toothbrush with leaf spring for ensuring correct pressure - Google Patents
Toothbrush with leaf spring for ensuring correct pressureInfo
- Publication number
- EP1538947A1 EP1538947A1 EP03771505A EP03771505A EP1538947A1 EP 1538947 A1 EP1538947 A1 EP 1538947A1 EP 03771505 A EP03771505 A EP 03771505A EP 03771505 A EP03771505 A EP 03771505A EP 1538947 A1 EP1538947 A1 EP 1538947A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- toothbrush
- handle
- spring device
- disclosed
- neck
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
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
- A46B15/0004—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with a controlling means
- A46B15/0012—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with a controlling means with a pressure controlling device
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
- A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
- A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
- A46B5/0062—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body being flexible or resilient during use
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
- A46B5/002—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions
- A46B5/0054—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body
- A46B5/0062—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware having articulations, joints or flexible portions designed to allow relative positioning of the head to body being flexible or resilient during use
- A46B5/007—Inserts made of different material, e.g. springs, plates
-
- 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
- Toothbrush with leaf spring for ensuring correct pressure Toothbrush with leaf spring for ensuring correct pressure.
- the present invention relates to a toothbrush that is designed to suddenly cause a reduction of the brush contact pressure of the brush head on a tooth and/or gum surface when the toothbrush user applies excessive brushing force.
- toothbrushes with a flexible neck, where the bristled head and the neck of the toothbrush are flexed backwards in relation to the handle according to the brushing pressure.
- a disadvantage of such toothbrushes is that it is not easy for the user to know when he or she is brushing too hard. See for instance EP371293 and FR2053885.
- EP371293 and EP281017 describe toothbrushes with spring devices in the neck.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush that makes the user aware of when he or she is brushing too hard and at the same time prevents excessively hard brushing.
- the toothbrush should basically not be significantly larger than today's standard toothbrushes.
- a toothbrush that is designed to cause flexing of the brush head when the brush contact pressure exceeds a specified brush contact pressure on a tooth and/or gum surface when the ** ⁇ - ibrush user applies excessive brushing force to the toothbrush, and wherein the fi ⁇ g is effected by a spring device, wherein the toothbrush is made of a first rigid plastic material, and wherein the toothbrush is characterised in that the spring device is located in the toothbrush handle; and - that the spring device consists of at least one metal spring leaf having a curved cross-section. The spring device causes a sudden reduction of the brush contact pressure of the brush head on a tooth and/or gum surface.
- the spring device consists of two or more spring leaf lamellas.
- the curve of the spring leaf or leaves means that it/they are subjected to tensile and compressive forces when the brush is loaded. When the maximum moment that the curvature of the spring leaf or leaves is/are capable of withstanding is exceeded, it or they will yield to the forces and collapse so that the curvature is straightened out. When the brush is relieved of pressure, the spring stiffness will cause the spring leaf or leaves returri to a curved shape and the brush return to its original shape.
- Figure 1 is a view of one embodiment of the toothbrush according to the invention
- Figure 2 shows the toothbrush from Figure 1 which has just been subjected to excessive brushing force
- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the brush in Figure 1 taken along the line A- A;
- Figure 4a shows an "open" part of a second embodiment of the toothbrush according to the invention:
- Figure 4b shows an enlarged section of Figure 4a;
- Figure 5 shows an embodiment with an extended outermost lamella
- Figure 6a shows a two-piece embodiment of the toothbrush according to the invention
- Figure 6b shows another embodiment of a two-piece toothbrush according to the invention
- Figure 7 is a graph showing the relation between force of deflection and deflec ⁇ 'on for a toothbrush according to the invention
- Figure 8a shows an unloaded curved spring leaf
- Figure 8b shows a curved spring leaf that has been subjected to an excessive load.
- Figure 1 shows one possible embodiment of a toothbrush 1 according to the invention having a head 2, a neck 3 and a handle 4. Bristles 7 are arranged on the head 2.
- the spring device 5 is located in the handle 4 close to the neck 3.
- the handle 4 and the neck 3 are made of a rigid first plastic material, whilst the spring device 5 is encased by an elastically yielding second plastic material 6.
- the spring device consists of two parallel spring leaf lamellas 5', 5".
- the spring device in this case is encased by the elastic second plastic material 6.
- the spring device may consist of several parallel spring leaves depending on the magnitude of the brush contact pressure that is to cause the toothbrush head 2 and neck 3 to flex suddenly relative to the handle 4.
- Figure 2 shows the toothbrush from Figure 1 after it has just been used with excessive brushing force.
- the force on the brush has released the spring device 5, so that the head 2 and neck 3 have been moved backwards, whereby the brush pressure is reduced, in that angle between the handle and the neck suddenly becomes larger.
- the spring device 5 will then ensure that the head and neck are moved back to the original position as shown in Figure 1 when the user ceases to exert excessive pressure.
- the sudden change in the form of the toothbrush will be noticeable to the user as the angle of action for the user's hand relative to the surface he or she wishes to brush will be wrong.
- the spring device 5 is located in the handle 4 close to the area between the neck 3 and the handle 4. During use the toothbrush user will often place a thumb in this area. The location of the spring device 5 in the handle means that the buckle the toothbrush is given when the user brushes too hard will be outside the user's mouth. Furthermore, if the spring device 5 is encased in an elastic second plastic material, this material will not have to be introduced into the mouth, which is agreeable for the user.
- Figures 4a and 4b illustrate possible ways of fastening one or more spring leaf plates 5 to each other and to the handle 4 and to the intermediate section leading to the neck 3 on the toothbrush 1.
- the neck 3 is connected to the spring device 5 via notches 11 in the spring device 5.
- the handle 4 is fastened to the spring device in that the rigid first plastic material is passed through a hole 10 in the spring device 5.
- the spring device can of course be fastened in the same way, either via a hole or notches in the plate, to both the handle 4 and the neck 3.
- the spring device can also be secured in other ways than those shown here,
- the second plastic material is transparent and an outermost one of the lamellas is provided with markings and/or decoration, not shown in the drawings.
- the outermost lamella 5'" can extend past the other lamella or lamellas towards the free end of the handle, as shown in Fig. 5.
- the handle is split into a short separate end portion 4' to which the neck 3 is fastened and the rest of the handle 4".
- the spring device 5 has a portion that projects from the short end portion adapted for releasable engagement with a suitably arranged portion on the remaining part of the handle 4".
- a connecting collar 14 of the second plastic material there may be provided, as shown, a connecting collar 14 of the second plastic material. The collar may be located on the separate end 4' and/or on the remaining part of the handle 4".
- Figure 6b shows a second embodiment of a two-piece toothbrush.
- the spring device 5 is arranged in the rest of the handle 4" and this handle part is adapted for releasable engagement vith the short end portion 4' and the neck 3.
- Figure 7 is a graph showing the relation between deflection and force of deflection for a toothbrush according to the invention.
- the graph shows clearly how an excessive force triggers a sudden reduction in the force of deflection continues.
- deflection in this context means the flexing of the toothbrush head 2 and neck 3 relative to the handle 4 when a compressive force is applied to the bristles 7.
- Figures 8a and 8b show how a curved spring leaf in unloaded state (Figure 8a) when subjected to an excessive load (Figure 8b) is given a "break" so that the curve is straightened out. When the load is reduced, the spring leaf will return to its original form ( Figure 8a).
- the toothbrush according to the invention could be made in the form of either a manual toothbrush or an electromechanically operated toothbrush.
Landscapes
- Brushes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NO20023574A NO20023574D0 (en) | 2002-07-26 | 2002-07-26 | Toothbrush |
NO20023574 | 2002-07-26 | ||
NO20032637A NO322158B1 (en) | 2002-07-26 | 2003-06-11 | Toothbrush |
NO20032637 | 2003-06-11 | ||
PCT/NO2003/000242 WO2004010822A1 (en) | 2002-07-26 | 2003-07-08 | Toothbrush with leaf spring for ensuring correct pressure |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1538947A1 true EP1538947A1 (en) | 2005-06-15 |
Family
ID=27615821
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03771505A Withdrawn EP1538947A1 (en) | 2002-07-26 | 2003-07-08 | Toothbrush with leaf spring for ensuring correct pressure |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1538947A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1684606A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2003256168A1 (en) |
NO (1) | NO322158B1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL373136A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004010822A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102006026165B4 (en) * | 2006-06-06 | 2014-10-23 | Frauke Denniger | toothbrush |
EP2361528A1 (en) | 2010-02-26 | 2011-08-31 | Trisa Holding AG | Oral hygiene device, in particular toothbrush, and method for its production |
CN102949001A (en) * | 2011-08-26 | 2013-03-06 | 丁松俊 | Toothbrush capable of automatically controlling tooth brushing pressure |
JPWO2015137487A1 (en) * | 2014-03-14 | 2017-04-06 | ライオン株式会社 | Toothbrush handle body, toothbrush, and method for manufacturing toothbrush handle body |
KR20170140248A (en) * | 2015-04-02 | 2017-12-20 | 테-쿵 리 | Constant load brush |
CN110269388B (en) * | 2016-08-30 | 2022-03-08 | 北京易得道科技有限公司 | Toothbrush system scoring monitoring method |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3612108A1 (en) * | 1986-04-10 | 1987-10-15 | Rainer Dr Seib | Toothbrush with an elastic connecting element between the brush head and handle |
ATE80982T1 (en) * | 1987-02-27 | 1992-10-15 | Blendax Werke Schneider Co | TOOTHBRUSH. |
DE3840136C1 (en) * | 1988-11-29 | 1990-05-17 | Blendax Gmbh, 6500 Mainz, De | |
US5315732A (en) * | 1993-05-20 | 1994-05-31 | Huefner Norman F | Toothbrush having adjustable brushing pressure |
DE9310112U1 (en) * | 1993-07-07 | 1994-06-09 | Hoffmann, Kay, Dr., 53639 Königswinter | toothbrush |
BE1007374A3 (en) * | 1993-07-30 | 1995-05-30 | Philips Electronics Nv | Toothbrush. |
DE19533144C2 (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1999-09-16 | Coronet Werke Gmbh | toothbrush |
US5694658A (en) * | 1996-03-04 | 1997-12-09 | Natural Sparkle Im/Ex Co. Ltd. | Flexible toothbrush |
DE19752553A1 (en) * | 1997-11-27 | 1999-06-02 | Achim Dr Med Garnjost | Toothbrush with controlled pressure |
-
2003
- 2003-06-11 NO NO20032637A patent/NO322158B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2003-07-08 AU AU2003256168A patent/AU2003256168A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-07-08 CN CN 03817737 patent/CN1684606A/en active Pending
- 2003-07-08 WO PCT/NO2003/000242 patent/WO2004010822A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-07-08 EP EP03771505A patent/EP1538947A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2003-07-08 PL PL03373136A patent/PL373136A1/en unknown
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2004010822A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
PL373136A1 (en) | 2005-08-22 |
AU2003256168A1 (en) | 2004-02-16 |
NO322158B1 (en) | 2006-08-21 |
WO2004010822A1 (en) | 2004-02-05 |
NO20032637D0 (en) | 2003-06-11 |
CN1684606A (en) | 2005-10-19 |
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