EP3175753A1 - Toothbrush stand - Google Patents

Abstract

Toothbrush stand (10, 40) with a base body (14), a holder (30) and a container (32). The holder is configured to hold a handle of a toothbrush (12) and the container is configured to receive accessories (34). An opening and closing device (50) is coupled to the container and to the holder such that the container is in a first, closed state, when a toothbrush is held in the holder, and the container is in a second, opened state, if no toothbrush is held in the holder.

Description

The present invention relates to a toothbrush stand or the like for receiving a toothbrush, or the like. In particular, the invention relates to a toothbrush stand which is suitable for receiving accessories.

Toothbrushes, for example, electric toothbrushes are cleaned after use, for example, in a stand. Tooth care includes next to the toothbrush other accessories. For one thing, electric toothbrushes have so-called brush heads, which are plugged onto a brush handle. It is irrelevant whether it is so-called sonic toothbrushes or toothbrushes with rotating or long-oscillating brush head. These brush heads have to be changed at regular intervals. It is also the same brush handle can be used with different brush heads of several people. It is desirable to have the brush heads always close at hand next to the toothbrush. On the other hand, dental care also includes the cleaning of interdental spaces with interdental brushes and / or dental floss. Again, this should be understood as an accessory in the context of the present application. Any accessories should be stored protected from contamination but always be at hand.

For this and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.

The present invention provides a toothbrush stand according to the subject-matter of independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

The invention may also be applied to other similar oral hygiene devices, e.g. also for dental cleaners or mouthwashes.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Zahnbürstenständers gemäß einer Ausführungsform zeigt;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht des Zahnbürstenständers von Fig. 1 mit aufgeklappten Seitenteilen zeigt, die ausgestaltet sind, Zubehör aufzunehmen;
• Fig. 3 eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Zahnbürstenständers in einer Draufsicht mit aufgeklappten Seitenteilen zeigt;
• Fig. 4 eine Schnittansicht des Zahnbürstenständers von Fig. 3 entlang einer Schnittlinie A-A' zeigt, bei dem die Zahnbürste gerade entfernt wird;
• Fig. 5 den Zahnbürstenständer von Fig. 3 ebenfalls in einer Schnittansicht entlang der Schnittlinie A-A' zeigt, wobei die Zahnbürste in dem Zahnbürstenständer gehalten ist.

The objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent in the following description of embodiments made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a toothbrush stand according to an embodiment;
• Fig. 2 a perspective view of the toothbrush stand of Fig. 1 with unfolded side panels designed to receive accessories;
• Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a toothbrush stand in a plan view with unfolded side parts;
• Fig. 4 a sectional view of the toothbrush stand of Fig. 3 along a section line AA ', in which the toothbrush is being removed;
• Fig. 5 the toothbrush stand of Fig. 3 also in a sectional view along the section line AA ', wherein the toothbrush is held in the toothbrush stand.

Aspects and embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of the embodiments may be practiced to a lesser degree of particularity. In other instances, known structures and elements are shown in schematic form to facilitate describing one or more aspects of the embodiments. The following description is therefore not intended to be be construed restrictive. It is noted that the representation of the various elements in the figures is not necessarily to scale.

In the drawings, directional terminology may include, for example, "top," "bottom," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "front," "back," "vertical," "horizontal." with reference to the orientation of the figures described. Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the concept of the present invention.

Toothbrush stands according to the present invention may have a base body, also called a base. The main body may have a substantially cylindrical configuration. The main body may have a substantially cuboidal configuration. The main body may be substantially hollow and have a bottom plate or base and a cover plate. The bottom plate and the top cover plate may be interconnected via one or more side walls. In the case of a substantially cuboid base, the side walls may have two side parts, a front part and a rear part. The front part can be a front panel. The side walls may be convexly arched. The main body may have any other shape.

The main body can be made of plastic. In particular, the base body may be made of injection-molded plastic parts. The main body can also be made of other materials, such as metal, glass or wood. The main body can be made of any other suitable material.

A toothbrush stand according to the present invention may include a holder configured to hold a handle of a toothbrush. The holder may be formed by a recess in the upper part of the base. The holder may have a recess in the upper part of the base / of the base body and a recess in the Cover front panel of the base body. The holder may have side walls. The side walls of the bracket may extend from the recess or recesses of the base. The holder may be adapted to the shape of the toothbrush handle of the toothbrush to be held. The holder can receive the handle of the toothbrush in a form-fitting manner. The holder can be made of the same materials as the main body. The holder can also be made of a different material than the main body. The holder may be an integral part of the body. In particular, the holder can be produced together with the upper part of the base body as a casting. The holder can be placed centrally in the base body. The holder may be moved away from the center to an edge of the base body, for example to the front edge. The front wall may have a protrusion that receives the bracket in whole or in part.

A toothbrush stand according to the present invention may include a container configured to receive accessories. The accessories can be brush heads, which can be attached to the toothbrush to be held. The accessory may be dental floss used for dental care. The accessories can be interdental brushes, which are also used to care for interdental spaces. The accessory may be toothpaste or similar products. The container can be made of the same material as the main body. In particular, the container may be a plastic casting. The container can also be made of a different material.

A toothbrush stand according to the present invention may include an opening and closing device coupled to the container and to the holder such that the container is in a first, closed state when a toothbrush is held in the holder, and the container in FIG a second, open state is when no toothbrush is held in the holder. In the closed state, the accessory accommodated in the container may be located inside the toothbrush stand. It is thus protected against contamination. This is the case when the toothbrush is received in the holder, that is, when the toothbrush is not in use. In the opened state, access to the accessories in the container is possible. This is the case when the toothbrush is removed from the holder, that is, is used. Then, for example, a change of the brush attachment is necessary and access to the brush heads in the container is given.

The container may have an outer side facing away from the holder. The container may have an inner side which faces the holder and is designed for receiving the accessory. In the closed state, the outside of the container may form a side wall of the toothbrush stand. The container may be substantially cuboid and open on two sides.

The opening and closing device may include an actuator actuated by a toothbrush located in the holder. The actuator can be located in the bottom area of the holder. The actuator may be located in an upper or middle region of the holder.

In one embodiment, the accessory may remain substantially in the body and the opened condition merely provides access to the accessory. In one embodiment, the accessory in the opened state with the container can come out of the main body substantially and thus release the access to the accessories.

In embodiments of the toothbrush stand according to the invention, the container can be movably connected to the main body via an axis of rotation. The first, closed state may correspond to a first position, which may be a substantially vertical position, whereby the outside of the container makes a connection between a bottom plate and an upper side of the main body. The second state may be a second position corresponding to an unfolded position, such that the container, for example, exposes an opening upwardly between the top of the body and the opened, folded-away sidewall.

In a preferred embodiment, the container is connected via an axis of rotation movable with the main body. The container can be connected via a rotation axis movable with the bottom part of the body. The change from the first position, ie the closed position, to the second, open position can be achieved by the action of a Weight of the container. For this purpose, the center of gravity of the container is above and laterally offset from the axis of rotation, that the container unfolds to the outside, if it is not prevented. The container can be opened by about 30 ° to the outside. In the embodiment, the change from the second, ie, the open position, to the first, ie, the closed, position occurs by a weight force of the toothbrush held in the holder. The weight of the toothbrush and the weight of the container are adapted to each other so that the inserted, held toothbrush causes a closing of the container.

In a further embodiment, the closing of the container can also be effected by a folding up of the container by the user. When released, the container automatically opens again due to its own weight. But it could well give an additional locking mechanism that holds the container in the closed state.

In one embodiment, the opening and closing device may comprise at least one elastic spring, which assists the position change of the container.

In one embodiment, the opening and closing device may comprise a projection of the movably mounted container and an actuator. The actuator may be movably supported and engaged with the projection. The weight of the toothbrush in the holder can act on the actuator so that it moves down. The actuator acts on the projection of the container, with which it is engaged. As the container tilts outwardly to the second position, the projection of the side member or container pushes the actuator upwardly.

In a preferred embodiment, the toothbrush stand comprises two containers arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to one another, both of which are designed to be actuated by the actuator and both configured to receive accessories.

Fig. 1 shows a toothbrush stand 10 with a toothbrush 12 according to a first embodiment. The toothbrush stand 10 comprises a main body 14 having a bottom part 16 and a top plate 18. The main body 14 is substantially cuboid. The bottom part 16 and the top plate 18 are interconnected by a side wall. In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall is formed by two side parts 20, a front part 22 and a rear part 24. Toothbrush 12 is an electric toothbrush in the embodiment. Toothbrush 12 includes an on / off switch 26 and a brush attachment 28. The toothbrush rack 10 further includes a holder 30. The holder 30 is formed by a recess in the top plate 18 and a recess in the front plate 22. The toothbrush 12 is held in the holder 30. The holder 30 is arranged centrally with respect to the side parts 20. Relative to the front plate 22 and the rear part 24, the holder 30 is not centered. She moved to the front panel.

The terms brush head and plug on should be understood in a broad sense, that is, the brush attachment can be, for example, plugged, screwed or attached in the form of bayonet locks on the handle of the toothbrush.

Fig. 2 shows the toothbrush stand 10 of FIG. 1 with the toothbrush 12, which is removed from the holder 30.

The side panels 20 are folded out. In Fig. 2 is visible that the side parts 20 are formed by a respective outer side of containers 32. In FIG. 2 the containers 32 are in an opened state. In Fig. 1 however, the containers 32 are in a closed state and it is in the Fig. 1 not to recognize that there are 10 accessories in the body.

In Fig. 2 the containers 32 are in an open position and allow access to accessories 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the accessories 34 are brush-on brushes that can be mounted on the toothbrush 12 instead of the brush-on brush 28. The outside of the containers 32, ie the side parts 20, may enclose an angle with the vertical of about 30 ° in the open position.

In the holder 30, an actuator 36 can be seen on the ground, which is actuated by a set, held toothbrush. In Fig. 2 the actuator 36 is not actuated because the toothbrush 12 is removed from the holder 30. The operation of the actuator 36 and the interaction with the containers 32 and the toothbrush 12 will be explained in more detail below.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a toothbrush stand 40 with unfolded containers 32 according to a second embodiment. The toothbrush stand 40 is similar to the toothbrush stand 10 Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 , A front plate 42 is more curved than the front plate 22 of the toothbrush stand 10. Also, the back part 44 has a slight curvature. In the containers 32 accessories 34 is received in the form of brush heads. In Fig. 3 the toothbrush 12 is also shown in plan view. However, it is not held in the toothbrush stand 40 but is located as in FIG Fig. 2 only over, or already in the holder, but without that the weight of the toothbrush 12 can act on the actuator. Therefore, the containers 32 are in the open position. A section through the toothbrush stand 40 along a section line AA 'shows Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 4 shows the toothbrush stand 40 and the toothbrush 12 in section. An arrow 41 in Fig. 4 indicates that the toothbrush 12 is not held in the holder 30, but is being removed. The toothbrush handle of the toothbrush 12 is shown substantially as a hollow body. The toothbrush handle takes on an electric toothbrush on the functional parts such as a battery or a battery and a mechanism for moving the brush head. For better clarity, these functional parts are in the toothbrush handle in Fig. 4 not shown. The brush attachment 28 is shown as a substantially compact part. Of course, the brush attachment 28 contains parts for the electrical movement of the brush head, in Fig. 4 are not shown.

The section AA 'runs directly in front of the side parts 20, or the containers 32, so that the containers 32 are not shown in section. A bottom part 46 is cut and can recognize webs. The bottom part 46 may be a plastic part which is reinforced to increase the stability and at the same time reducing the material consumption by webs. It should be understood that this is just one possible embodiment. The bottom of the base body can also be designed as a compact plate. The bottom part 46 has feet 48, which may be made of rubber, for example, and provide a skid resistance of the toothbrush stand 40. In the containers 32 is accessory 34 in taken the form of brush heads. An upper plate 43 is also shown cut. It is made in one piece with side walls of the holder 30, which are positively formed with the toothbrush handle.

The toothbrush stand 40 includes an opening and closing device 50. The opening and closing device 50 includes projections 52, which are each a part of the containers 32. Projections 52 may be formed integrally with the containers 32. The opening and closing device 50 further comprises an actuator 54, the actuator 36 of the toothbrush stand 10 in Fig. 2 can correspond. The actuator 54 is substantially cylindrical. The actuator 54 has a projection 56 at a lower end. The projection 56 can completely surround the cylindrical part of the actuator 54. The projection 56 may consist of two parts which lie opposite each other and point in the direction of the side parts 20 and in the direction of the containers 32. The projection 56 may be substantially absent toward the front panel 22 and rear panel 44. The actuator 54 has an axial recess 58. The actuator 54 may have a substantially circular cross-section, such as in FIG Fig. 2 shown. However, the actuator 54 may also have another cross-section seen from above, for example a square, an oval or in any other arbitrary shape.

The actuator 54 is movably mounted. In the exemplary embodiment, the movably mounted actuator 54 is guided via a pin 60. The pin 60 engages in the axial recess 58 a. The pin 60 may be integral with the bottom plate 46. The pin 60 can thus be made of plastic. In other embodiments, the pin 60 may be a pin inserted into the bottom plate 46, which may be made of metal or wood, for example. The use of other materials is possible. In other embodiments, a spring, such as a coil spring, may be provided between the pin 60 and the actuator 54 to assist in upward movement of the actuator 54. The pin 60 and the recess 58 may have a same cross-section. The pin 60 and the recess 58 may have a circular cross section, a square, an oval or a cross section of any other shape.

Preferably, further springs or other mechanisms are arranged in the housing below the containers 32, which assist the movement or trigger the mechanism. In the housing also springs in the upper or middle region may be mounted, which press the container 32 laterally out of the housing and thus support the pivoting function.

The projection 52 of in Fig. 4 right container 32 and the projection 52 of in Fig. 4 left container 32 cooperate with the projection 56 of the actuator 54.

The containers 32 are rotatably supported via respective axes of rotation 62. The axle bearings for the pivot axes 62 may be provided in the front panel 42 and in the rear portion 44. The axles 62 may be formed by rod-shaped projections on the containers 32 that engage corresponding holes in the front plate 42 and in the back 44. The axes 62 may be formed by rod-shaped projections on the front plate 42 and in the rear part 44, which engage in corresponding holes in the containers 32. The rod-shaped projections may be integrally formed with the containers 32, and with the front plate 42 and the rear part 44 made of plastic protrusions. However, the axes of rotation 62 can also be realized by separate axes, for example metal axes.

The center of gravity of the containers 32 is such that the containers 32 each tilt outwardly about their respective axis of rotation 62 when no counterweight is present. As the arrow 41 indicates, the toothbrush 12 is taken straight up out of the holder 30. Therefore, the weight force of the toothbrush 12 does not act on the opening and closing device 50. More specifically, the toothbrush 12 acts in the in Fig. 4 not shown on the actuator 54 a. The toothbrush 12 therefore does not form a counterweight and the containers 32 are in their second position, ie in the open, unfolded or tilted position.

The tilting outward ends in one embodiment when the containers 32 abut a boundary. The boundary may be formed by a design of the bottom plate 46. In one embodiment, the tilting movement ends to the outside when the Actuator 54 abuts a boundary. The boundary may be formed by a design of the side walls of the holder 30.

The tilting or rotational movement of the container 32 outwardly moves the projections 52 upwards. The projections 52 press on the projection 56 of the actuator 54 and push it upwards. In Fig. 4 is the actuator in its upper position.

Fig. 5 also shows a sectional view along the section line AA 'of Fig. 3 but with the containers 32 in the first position, ie in a substantially vertical position, in which the containers 32 are closed. The accessory 34 is stored protected inside the toothbrush stand 40. The closed position in Fig. 5 is achieved by inserting the toothbrush 12 in the holder 30. The weight of the toothbrush 12 presses on the actuator 54. The actuator 54 is seated on the pin 60 on. In other embodiments, the actuator 54 does not seat on the pin 60 when the closed position is reached. The projection 56 of the actuator 54 presses on the projections 52 of the container 32. By this pressure of the projection 56 on the projections 52, the containers 32 are rotated about their respective axis of rotation 62 in the closed position and held there. The toothbrush 12 acts as a counterweight. The weight of the toothbrush 12 and the container 32 and the positions of the axes 62 are coordinated so that the weight of the container 32 with inserted and held in the holder 30 toothbrush 12 is not sufficient to the container 32 against the weight of the toothbrush to the outside to let fold. Therefore, the toothbrush 12 can securely hold the containers up in the upright position and the accessories are protected from contamination. Only when the toothbrush 12 is removed again from the holder 30, eliminates the counterforce exerted by the toothbrush 12, and the weight of the container 32 rotates the container 32 about the axes 62 in the open position. In this case, the actuator 54 is pressed by the projections 52 of the container 32 upwards.

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of alternative and / or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the basic idea of the present invention departing. The present application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

Claims (9)

Toothbrush stand (10, 40) or the like, comprising: a base body (14), a holder (30) adapted to hold a handle of a toothbrush (12), a container (32) adapted to receive accessories (34), and an opening and closing device (50) coupled to the container (32) and to the holder (30) such that the container (32) is in a first, closed state when in the holder (30) Toothbrush (12) or the like is held, and the container (32) in a second, open state, when in the holder (30) no toothbrush (12) is held. Toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to claim 1, wherein
in the first, closed condition of the container (32), the received accessory (34) is located in an interior of the toothbrush stand (10, 40) and an outside of the container (32) forms a side wall of the toothbrush stand. A toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the container (32) is movably connected to the base body (14) via a rotation axis (62) and the first state corresponds to a substantially vertical position of the container (32) and the second state corresponds to an unfolded position of the container (32). Toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to claim 3, wherein
a change from the first position to the second position is effected by a weight force of the container (32) and a change from the second position to the first position by a weight force of the toothbrush (12). A toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening and closing device (50) comprises at least one resilient spring which assists in changing the position of the container (32). Toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening and closing device (50) comprises: - A projection (52) on the container, and - An actuator (54), wherein the actuator (54) is movably mounted and with the projection (52) is engaged. Toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to claim 6, wherein
a weight force of the retained toothbrush (12) depresses the actuator (54), and wherein the projection (52) of the container pushes the actuator (54) upwards when the container (32) changes to the second state second position tilts. A toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the actuator (54) has a substantially cylindrical shape with a projection (56) at one end and an axial recess (58), and wherein the actuator (54 ) is guided over a pin (60) which engages in the axial recess (58). A toothbrush stand (10, 40) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a second container (32) disposed substantially symmetrically to the first container (32) on an opposite side of the toothbrush stand (10, 40) and also actuated by the actuator (54).

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