ES2367104T3 - TOOTHBRUSH. - Google Patents

Abstract

A head (10) for an electric toothbrush that is connected to, or replaceably connected to, a handle containing an electric motor, to provide a toothbrush having a longitudinal head-handle direction, in which the head (10) has: at least a first brush part (20) carrying oral hygiene parts (21) that is steerable by the motor in rotational motion around a first axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and at least a second brush part (30) carrying oral hygiene pieces (31), characterized in that said second brush part (30) is not driven by the motor and is capable of performing a longitudinal oscillatory movement to, or a oscillatory movement limited along a direction generally perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the first axis of rotation, or a limited rotary oscillatory movement around a second axis of rotation generally parallel to the first axis of rotation.

Description

The present invention relates to toothbrushes, in particular electric toothbrushes, specifically to a brush head suitable for an electric toothbrush.

Electric toothbrushes generally comprise a handle that contains, among others, a power source and a control motor, and a head that includes one or more brush parts that carry oral hygiene parts to be controlled by the motor , generally in rotary motion around an axis of rotation transverse to the head-handle direction, and connected by means of transmission to the engine. The term "oral hygiene piece" as used herein refers to a piece that contributes to oral hygiene, for example cleaning teeth, gums or other oral tissues, and / or polishing teeth, and / or massaging the gums or other oral tissues. Often there is a neck between the handle and the head, and containing said transmission means, for example, a control shaft. Frequently the head is replaceable, being usually either replaceable or connectable to the end of the neck away from the handle, or being integrated in the neck and the neck being replaceably connectable to the handle at its far end of the head.

Often the rotary movement is oscillatory, that is, the movement implies an angular oscillatory displacement around a middle position. Sometimes the rotary movement also involves a forward and backward oscillatory movement of the brush part along the direction of the rotational axis.

Numerous constructions of electric toothbrushes are known, for example, applicants possess the Dr. BEST "E-FLEX" ™ electric toothbrush, launched in 2000, which has a brush part mounted to move with oscillatory rotation . US-A-6000083 discloses an electric toothbrush that has both rotary and static brush parts, that is, non-rotary.

From EP-A-0 990 424 (Procter & Gamble) an electric toothbrush is known which has a first brush part controlled by a motor and a second brush part that is static, that is, manufactured in a manner integral with the head and motionless in relation to the head. Also known from EP-A1132 057 (Unilever) is an electric toothbrush having segments bearing bristles flexibly attached to the head by means of a hinge of sheets of a plastic material integrated in the head.

Very frequently, oral hygiene pieces comprise numerous bristles arranged in discrete clusters or tapes on a surface of the brush part. Usually, said bristles are made of a nylon polymer, for example the well-known Tynex ™. Frequently the bristles are the only pieces of oral hygiene of a toothbrush. Toothbrushes are known that have oral hygiene pieces in the head to come into contact with the teeth and gums.

Numerous types of elastomeric oral hygiene pieces are known. Document GB-A-2 040 161 discloses elastomeric bands extending longitudinally. Documents GB-A-2 214 420 and WO-A-00/49911 both disclose a toothbrush that has a head from which small rubber pyramids start. Document GB-A214 701 discloses a toothbrush having oral hygiene parts consisting of rubber bands, in an embodiment that is theoretically described in which the bands can have bristles inserted between the rubber bands . EP-A-0 360766 discloses small rubber cylinders with rough ends. US-A-4 128 910 discloses a toothbrush that has rubber oral hygiene pieces of various pyramidal and crest shapes. US-A-4 277 862 discloses a toothbrush that has elastic parts for massaging the gums along the outer edges of the bristle pattern. US-A-4 288 883 discloses rubber cones. US-A-5 040 260 discloses a toothbrush that has a head from which small rubber cones extend. WO / A-96/15696 discloses a toothbrush head provided with bands of a flexible and elastic material, usually a non-elastomeric nylon material, and typically aligned or perpendicular to or parallel to the longitudinal direction. WO-A-96/28994 discloses elastomeric bars that extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to the Borges of the head in combination with "bars" of bristles having an elongated cross-sectional cut through the direction of the bristles, and also discloses a "shovel-shaped bar" curved rubber at the tip of the head end. WO-A-97/16995 discloses elastomeric "bristles." WO-A-98/18364 discloses teeth polishing pads with finger-like structures. WO-A-99/37181 discloses an outer ring of rubber fingers surrounding a dense set of inner bristles. WO-A-00/64307 discloses rubber bars with a generally triangular cross section. WO-A-00/76369 discloses elastomeric massage pieces with rotational symmetry through an angle of 120 ° or less, for example, cylinders. WO-A-01/21036 discloses a longitudinally extending elastomeric wall type member that occupies at least half the length of the head.

Electric toothbrushes having elastomeric oral hygiene parts are known, for example, WO-A-01/01817 discloses an electric toothbrush having a head with elastomeric fingers and arcuate lamellae mounted thereon. EP-A-0-435 329 discloses an electric toothbrush having interdental rubber tips mounted thereon. US 5732433 discloses a brush head according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electric brush that has an improved ability to clean the teeth, particularly to adapt to the teeth of a user. For example, each user is likely to have a different separation of the interdental gaps between their teeth and it is desirable that an electric brush be able to accommodate any pattern of interdental spaces. It is another object of this invention to provide an electric toothbrush having elastomeric oral cleaning parts in its head.

The present invention provides a head for an electric toothbrush that is connected to, or replaceably connected to, a handle containing an electric motor, to provide a toothbrush having a longitudinal head-handle direction, in which The head has:

at least a first brush part carrying oral hygiene pieces that is steerable by the motor in rotational motion around a first axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

and at least a second brush part carrying oral hygiene parts, which is not controlled by the motor and is capable of performing a controlled longitudinal oscillatory movement, or a limited oscillatory movement along a direction generally perpendicular to both the direction longitudinal as to the first axis of rotation, or a limited rotary oscillatory movement around a second axis of rotation generally parallel to the first axis of rotation.

In the present embodiment the oral hygiene pieces can be exclusively sows. Alternatively, in this first embodiment at least one of the first and second brush parts has oral hygiene pieces that are bristles mounted on them, and at least one of the first and second brush parts has one or more elastomeric oral hygiene parts mounted on her.

It is also disclosed that an electric toothbrush head construction that has a first and a second brush part, one of which is controlled by an electric motor and is mounted on the head to rotate, and the other is static, is that is to say, motionless in relation to the head, being at least one of the brush parts provided with elastomeric oral hygiene pieces is also novel.

Therefore, this disclosure provides a head for an electric toothbrush that is connected to, or replaceably connected to, a handle containing an electric motor, to provide a toothbrush having a longitudinal head-handle direction, characterized in that the head comprises a first and a second brush part, at least one of the first and second brush parts being steerable by a motor in rotational motion around a first axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the other being of the first and second parts of static brush, having at least one of the first and second parts of brush bristles mounted on it, having at least one of the first and second parts of brush one or more elastomeric oral hygiene pieces mounted on it .

The term "head" as used herein comprises the part of the toothbrush that carries the bristles. Generally, the head will extend integrally towards the handle like a neck. Generally, the head will include a suitable mount for a brush part that is mounted or can be mounted on the head so that it rotates, or so that it performs limited oscillatory movement (in those embodiments of this invention that include a brush part of this kind).

The term "elastomeric" as used herein includes both natural gums and synthetic elastomeric materials, preferably thermoplastic elastomeric materials. Preferably the elastomeric material has a hardness of about 10 to about 90 Shore A, more preferably 50 Shore A or less, for example, about 14 to 35 Shore A. Suitable elastomeric polymers include styrenes (for example styrene ethylene butadiene styrene, or styrene butadiene styrene), and elastomeric silicone materials can also be used. Suitable elastomeric materials include those available under the trademarks Megol and Santoprene. Manual toothbrushes (i.e. non-electric) are known with oral hygiene parts, and the elastomeric materials used for them are likely to be suitable for the elastomeric oral hygiene parts of the toothbrush heads of this invention.

Preferably there is a single first brush part and a single second brush part.

Preferably the first and second brush parts are arranged longitudinally with each other along the head-handle direction.

Preferably there is a first brush part furthest from the handle, and a second brush part adjacent to the first part and closer to the handle (on the mounted toothbrush) than the first brush part.

Preferably, a first brush part furthest from the handle is mounted or can be mounted to rotate in the head about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the head-handle direction. Said first brush part can be mounted so that it rotates in a conventional manner, and can be controlled in its rotational movement in a conventional manner by means of a motor. Said first brush part controlled by a motor is suitably circular around the first axis of rotation, and suitably the rotary movement of the first brush part is a limited oscillatory rotary movement.

The term "rotary motion" used herein includes limited oscillatory rotary motion, ie rotary motion through an angle less than 360 ° in a first direction of rotation, followed by rotational motion through the same angle as the direction of opposite rotation. Suitably the angle is less than 180 °, preferably less than 90 °.

Preferably only one of the first and second brush parts is mounted to rotate, especially a first brush part at the end of the head, away from the handle.

Preferably, the second brush part, preferably a second part longitudinally adjacent to this first brush part and closer to the handle, is capable of performing a limited oscillatory longitudinal movement.

A second brush part can be trained to perform a limited oscillatory movement by means of adjacent end stop parts respectively on the head and on the second brush part, which border when the second brush part reaches the ends of its limited oscillatory movement, to limit thus limited oscillatory motion

For example, when the second brush part performs the limited oscillatory longitudinal movement the head may comprise a rail piece along which the second brush part can move longitudinally, and the second brush part can have one or more parts, for example, a pivot or slider that can move longitudinally along one or more corresponding guides, grooves or grooves of the head, for example in the rail piece, the longitudinally opposite ends of the guide, groove or groove comprising The final stop means. In a preferred construction, the second brush part has pivots or sliders on longitudinally opposite sides that engage so that they can slide into longitudinal guides, grooves or slits respectively on opposite sides of the head. For example, the second brush part may comprise a cross-sectional seat with a substantially "C" shape through the longitudinal direction that can slide longitudinally over the head, and the ends of the "C" comprise sliders that Sliding gear into respective guides, grooves or longitudinal grooves on opposite sides of the head. Making the second brush part, or at least said pivots or sliders, elastic, for example of an elastic plastic material such as polypropylene, polystyrene, etc. And of suitable dimensions that will be apparent to those skilled in the art, said structure with section "C" can fit perfectly in the grooves and be retained in the head.

In an alternative construction, for example, the second brush part can have a longitudinal channel that can extend along a piece of longitudinal rail of the head, for example screwed longitudinally through the channel. Said rail and channel piece may have adjacent end stop parts to allow limited longitudinal relative movement of the second brush part and the head part.

Similarly, when the second chepillo part is constructed to perform a limited oscillatory movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the second brush piece and the head part may have a pivot or slider and a groove or slit, or a channel and a piece of rail similar, but generally aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with end stop means analogous to those described above.

It is also disclosed that the second static brush piece may be integrated in the head.

Preferably, both the first and the second brush part have bristles mounted thereon, which extends from a bristle surface thereof. At least one of the first and second brush parts, both of the first and the second embodiment, can (and in the case of the second embodiment is thus) have at least one elastomeric oral hygiene element on it. In a preferred construction a first brush part mounted so that it rotates and further away from the handle has bristles but no elastomeric cleaning parts mounted on it, and a second brush part closer to the handle has both bristles and elastomeric cleaning parts mounted thereon.

The bristles of the first and / or second brush parts can generally extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the surface of bristles. Alternatively, the bristles may be aligned at an angle not perpendicular to the surface of the brush part from which they extend, for example, not perpendicular in relation to the longitudinal direction, for example, leaning towards or from the handle. In a first brush part mounted to rotate the bristle clusters can be tilted as disclosed in document PCT / EP01 / 14040, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, clusters of bristles separated by wide aisles, especially in a second non-rotating brush part, can be tilted in respectively opposite directions so that observing the wide aisles gives the feeling that clusters separated by wide aisles intersect, for example, in the form of 'X'. Such an arrangement of bristles is well known, for example from, among others, documents US-A-3 085 273 and US-A-5 274 873, etc. The bristles can all be of the same length, or the clusters can have different lengths, for example alternating longitudinally adjacent clusters between two different lengths relatively longer and relatively shorter, for example as disclosed in DE-A-44 09

395

The one or more piece of elastomeric oral hygiene may be of a known type, for example as disclosed in the technique described above, for example one or more of the known small rubber cones, small rubber pyramids, rubber bands, " elastomeric bristles, teeth polishing pads, finger-type structure, elastomeric bars for example with a generally rectangular cross-section, elastomeric massage parts with rotational symmetry through an angle of 120 ° or less, cylinders, a wall-type member Elastic elastomer, small rubber cylinders are rough ends, elastomeric fingers or arcuate lamellae, interdental rubber tips, etc.

A preferred type of oral hygiene piece comprises an elastomeric band that extends in its length dimension from the brush part, particularly from a second brush part closer to the handle than a first brush part, which has a width dimension perpendicular to its length direction, and a thickness dimension perpendicular to both length and width directions, the thickness dimension being smaller than the width dimension. Typically, the length of such a band may generally be the same as or less than the length of conventional toothbrush bristles, the width may be in the range of about 0.1-0.25 of the length dimension, and the thickness dimension may be in the range of about 0.1-0.25 of the width dimension.

The width dimension of said one or more bands may be aligned perpendicular or parallel to the head-handle direction, or it may be aligned at a non-perpendicular angle, other than zero, with respect to the handle-head direction and said alignment may be so that the edge of the band closest to the handle is in or out in relation to the opposite edge. If several of these bands are present, then the bands may be aligned in a variety of angles with respect to the head-handle direction.

A preferred embodiment of said bands is that a pair of said bands are adjacent, preferably longitudinally adjacent, and said adjacent bands converge, so that their respective width dimensions form a "V" shape. In a particularly preferred embodiment, one of said adjacent bands, preferably longitudinally adjacent, is integrally formed as an integral band of "V" shaped cross section when cut through its length dimension. The vertex of such a "V" may point outwardly or preferably inwardly in relation to the head-handle length. Typically, the "V" can cover an angle of 45 ° -90 °, for example 55 ° -65 °.

The one or more elastomeric oral hygiene pieces can be located anywhere in the first and / or second brush parts, but preferably around the side edges of a head part, for example a second brush part, so that it can / can massage the gums. It is preferred that several elastomeric oral hygiene pieces are arranged along each of the side edges of a second brush part that is closer to the handle than a first brush part. It is particularly preferred that several of the aforementioned elastomeric oral hygiene pieces with a "V" section be positioned around each edge of a second brush part.

A particularly preferred form of the toothbrush head therefore comprises:

a first brush part furthest from the mounted handle or that can be mounted on the head so that it rotates around a rotation axis perpendicular to the head-handle direction, a second brush part longitudinally adjacent to the first brush part and more next to the handle, which is capable of performing a longitudinal oscillatory movement, the first and second parts of the brush having oral hygiene pieces comprising bristles mounted thereon.

Another particularly preferred form of the toothbrush head therefore comprises:

a first brush part furthest from the mounted handle or that can be mounted on the head so that it rotates around a rotation axis perpendicular to the head-handle direction, a second brush part longitudinally adjacent to this first brush part and more next to the handle, which is capable of performing a limited oscillatory longitudinal movement, the first and second brush parts having oral hygiene pieces comprising bristles mounted thereon, and the second brush part having both bristles and at least one cleaning piece elastomeric mounted on it.

the elastomeric oral hygiene piece comprising an adjacent pair of elastomeric bands whose width directions converge to define a "V" shaped transverse direction between them when cutting through the length direction, pointing the "V" vertex towards inside in relation to the longitudinal head-handle direction.

In this preferred form of the toothbrush of the invention, the numerous elastomeric bands are preferably positioned around the axis of the second brush part.

The elastomeric oral hygiene piece (s), for example said bands of elastomeric material, can extend to the edge of the brush part, and preferably slightly beyond. The elastomeric material of the oral hygiene piece (s) can continue around the edge of the brush part and down the sides of the brush part for example to provide parts for gum massage or damping against excessive impact with oral tissues, especially with oral surfaces.

It is believed that it is novel to provide an electric toothbrush head with an elastomeric oral hygiene piece of the aforementioned type comprising a pair of elastomeric bands that converge so that their respective width dimensions form a "V" shape, by example formed as an integral band of "V" shaped cross section when cutting through its length direction. Said head comprises a third embodiment of this invention.

For example, said head may comprise a head for an electric toothbrush that is connected to,

or replaceably connected to, a handle containing an electric motor, to provide a toothbrush that has a longitudinal head-handle direction, the head having at least a brush part that carries at least one piece of oral hygiene and that It is controllable by the motor in its rotary motion around a rotation axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction characterized by:

the brush part carries an oral hygiene piece comprising an elastomeric band that in its section when cutting through the axis of rotation, is lengthened along a dimension of length that is aligned with a non-perpendicular angle, other than zero , with a rotation axis radius.

Preferably, the elastomeric band extends in a direction of band length that is substantially aligned with the axis of rotation.

Preferably, the cross section of the elastomeric band is elongated in a straight line, and its section preferably has substantially parallel opposite long sides.

Preferably the length dimension of the section is aligned with an angle between 10º-80º with the radius, more preferably between 30º-60º, for example, approx. 45º with the radius.

Preferably the brush part has several elastomeric bands, preferably arranged in the circumference of a circle whose center is the axis of rotation. There may be one or more such circles, preferably concentric, each having elastomeric bands disposed around it. For example, there may be 6-20 bands of that type, for example, 10-16.

In a preferred form, pairs of elastomeric bands are arranged so that the alignment of the long dimensions of the elastomeric bands adjacent to each converge towards a "V" or inverted v shape. Preferably said pairs of elastomeric bands are arranged around a circle whose center is the axis of rotation. In such an arrangement the vertex of the "V" or the inverted v may point, preferably Radially,

or in or out d from the axis of rotation. However, the vertex of the “V” or inverted v can point around a circle whose center is the axis of rotation. In a particularly preferred construction the adjacent edges of said adjacent elastomeric bands are joined so that the pair of joined elastomeric bands forms a single piece of oral hygiene with a "V" or v inverted cross-section when cutting through the axis of rotation.

In this disclosure the angle between the members of the "V" or inverted v may typically be in the range of 30 ° -120 °, for example 60 ° -100 °. Typically the angle of the "V" or inverted v can be symmetrically bisected by a radius of the axis of rotation.

In this disclosure typically there may be 5-12 of such oral hygiene pieces with a "V" or inverted section in the head.

In the head and this disclosure the elastomeric bands can be combined in a set, whose center is the axis of rotation, with other pieces of oral hygiene such as groups of bristles. For example, it can make several elastomeric bands of which adjacent pairs are joined to comprise a single-section band in inverted "V" ov, arranged in the circumference of a circle whose center is the axis of rotation, surrounding an interior assembly comprising one or more annular or polygonal groupings. For example, there may be a

or more circumferential groupings between adjacent bands of the above-mentioned "V" section elements. For example, there may be one or more clusters of sows located in the part delimited by the "V" of said convergent pair of bands. Suitably, the circle of elastomeric bands may be the radially outermost part, from the axis of rotation, of the cleaning elements, for example to allow the elastomeric bands to come into contact with the user's gums.

The elastomeric band (s) can extend approximately the same length as the bristles of the head of a conventional toothbrush from the surface of the brush part, for example typically 8-11 mm or they may extend longer or shorter than this. The length dimension of each band, for example, of each member of the "V" of an adjacent adjacent pair, may be approximately 1-3 mm and the thickness between the long surfaces may be, for example, 0.1 -0.5 mm

An elastomeric oral hygiene piece may be made by an injection molding process in which a piece of a hard plastic material of the brush part is formed first, and then the formed plastic part is included in a mold cavity which defines the shape of the elastomeric oral hygiene piece (s) to be formed, and the elastomeric material is injected into the mold in a liquid state. Similar procedures for manufacturing toothbrushes with pieces of elastomeric material are well known.

Suitable control mechanisms for controlling the brush portion of the toothbrush heads of this invention are known, for example, in US 5,577,285, and the operating speeds, amplitudes and oscillation frequencies, for example, approximately 3000-6000 rpm that can be achieved by such control mechanisms are believed to be suitable for the head portion of the present invention.

Therefore, the invention further provides an electric toothbrush having a head part as described above.

The head of this invention can be connected, preferably replaceably, to a toothbrush handle containing an electric control motor. To this end, the head part suitably has connection means by which the head part can be connected to the handle, to thereby connect the brush part to the motor. The head part may comprise a hollow neck longitudinally between the brush part and the handle and include a control shaft by means of which the motor can control the brush part through suitable transmission means, and the end of said piece of The neck closest to the handle can itself be connected, preferably replaceably, to the handle so that it also connects the control shaft to the motor. Alternatively, the brush part can itself be connected, preferably replaceably, to the head part at its end furthest from the handle. Many alternative connection means are known, and means by which the motor can control the shaft and the shaft control the brush part.

The brush part and the bristles, if present, of the head of this invention can be made of materials that are conventional in the field of manufacturing electric toothbrushes, for example, respectively of plastic materials and nylon fibers. The plastic parts of the bristle brush part and other plastic parts of the toothbrush can be made by an injection molding process.

The toothbrush head of this invention is connected to or replaceably connected to a toothbrush handle containing an electric motor that can be conventional, controlled by replaceable, non-replaceable or rechargeable batteries, and a switch to activate the motor. . The motor may be connected to or connected to the head by means of a conventional control shaft and a transmission unit, passing along a generally longitudinal neck between the handle and the body. The head and the handle can be permanently connected integrally, and such a toothbrush can be disposable, for example, once the batteries have run out, the entire toothbrush is bandaged. Alternatively, the head can be replaceably connected to the handle of any conventional form of connection such as a bayonet connection. The replaceable connection can be between the head and said neck, or between said neck and the handle. Numerous motors, control shafts and transmission systems, batteries, switches, etc. are known. Suitable that said rotary or rotary oscillatory movement can produce from the literature and from the tooth caps available on the market, see, for example, documents US-A-5,577,285, US-A-6000083, WO- A01 / 06947, WO-A-96/3 7164, etc. The materials of the head, neck and handle of the toothbrush of this invention can be completely conventional in the field of toothbrush technology. The toothbrush parts of this invention can be manufactured and assembled using generally conventional techniques in the art of manufacturing toothbrushes, for example, using two-component injection molding to manufacture plastic parts and hygiene parts. Oral elastomeric.

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, exclusively, with reference to the accompanying drawings showing:

Fig 1 shows a side view of a head part of a toothbrush of this invention with the hidden parts shown in dotted line.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the head part of Fig. 1 looking down along the first axis of rotation, with the hidden parts shown with dotted lines. Fig. 3 shows a cross section through the head part as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the cut along the line C-C of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic general side view of an electric toothbrush.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view on line B-B through the head of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative construction of the head of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the head of Figs. 4-6. Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the electric toothbrush head of Figs. 1 to 7. Fig. 9 shows another perspective view of the head of Figs. 1 to 8

Fig. 10 shows the general scheme of an electric toothbrush.

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of a group of oral hygiene parts of the toothbrush of Fig.

10. Fig. 12 shows a plan view of an alternative group of oral hygiene parts of the toothbrush of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 shows the geometric base of Figs. 11 and 12.

In relation to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a general toothbrush head part 10 according to the invention is shown. The head part 10 is made integrally with a neck piece 11, which extends integrally at its end 12 to form an integral handle (not shown). The handle contains an electric motor powered by batteries, with a switch mounted, etc. For the user to handle the toothbrush. The head 10 and the handle (not shown) are located in a longitudinal direction (A-A). Crossing longitudinally along an internal channel 13 in the neck 11 is a control shaft 14 by which a first brush part 20 mounted on the head part 10 can be controlled by the motor (not shown) inside the handle .

The first brush part 20 is mounted at the end of the head part 10, away from the handle. The first brush part 20 is mounted to perform a limited oscillatory movement around a first axis of rotation B-B perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A-A. Many suitable forms are known in the art whereby the brush part 20 can be mounted in this way, as well as suitable transmission systems between the control shaft 14 and the carrier 20. The bristles 21 extend from the first part of brush 20 substantially parallel to axis B-B.

Mounted on the head part 10 adjacent to the first brush part 20 is a second brush part 30, at the end of the head part 10 closest to the handle. Extending from the second brush part 30 there are second bristles 31 that extend substantially parallel to the axis B-B, that is, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A --- A. The second brush part 30 is mounted to perform a limited oscillatory longitudinal movement like the following, and they are shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

The second brush part 30 is in the form of a seat having a longitudinal channel 32 that can be seated on a generally corresponding part 15 of the head part 10, which functions as a rail piece. The second brush piece 30, accordingly, generally has a "C" shaped cross section. The second brush part 30 is also provided with sliding parts 33 on its opposite longitudinal sides that fit the corresponding longitudinal grooves 16 respectively on opposite sides of the head part. The sliding parts 33 can slide longitudinally along the head part inside the grooves 16, and the limits of the longitudinal movement of the sliding parts 33 are delimited by the longitudinal ends of the sliding parts 33 that border the ends Longitudinal grooves 16.

It should be understood that there are other ways in which the brush part 30 can be mounted so that it performs limited longitudinal oscillatory movement on the head part 10.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the brush part 30 can be mounted on the head part 10 in various ways, for example the sides of the brush part 30 adjacent to the sliders 33 can be elastic and capable of deforming outwardly, from such that the sliding parts 33 can fit perfectly around the head part 15 inside the grooves 16. The pieces 10, 20, 30 can be made of elastic plastic materials usually employed in the toothbrush technique.

As seen in Fig. 1, the second bristles 31 alternate in longitudinal succession between two lengths, a longer length 31A and a shorter length 31B.

In use, the engine starts, causing the first brush part 20 to rotate with a rotary oscillatory motion. The user then applies the head part 10 of the toothbrush to the teeth, suitably using the well-known Bass technique in which the head part 10 moves oscillatory longitudinally along the line of the teeth. The friction between the second bristles 31 and the teeth causes the second brush part 30 to move longitudinally oscillatingly in the opposite direction to that of the toothbrush head movement, as shown by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, between the limits of the movement defined by the longitudinal ends of the grooves 16. It is observed that the oscillatory movement of the second brush part 30 with a maximum amplitude in the range of 0.5-1.5 mm, typically approx. 0.7 mm between the limits of longitudinal movement is suitable.

In relation to Figs. 4 to 9 an electric toothbrush 40 comprises a handle 41 containing, among others, a power source such as a battery (not shown) and a control motor (not shown), and a head 42, on which it mounts a first brush part 43, which has a disk shape so that it is controlled by the control motor in its rotary motion about an axis of rotation A-A that crosses the center of the disk shape of the brush part 43 transverse to the head-handle direction, and connected by a transmission means

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(not shown) to the engine. There is a neck 44, integral with the head 42, which extends from the handle 41 and connected to the head 42 containing inside the transmission means. The head 42 is replaceable, being integral with the neck 44, the neck 44 being replaceably connectable to the handle 41 at its end 45 away from the head 42. A set of bristle clusters 46 is mounted on the first brush portion 46, extending from a bristle surface thereof generally in a direction of the bristles parallel to the axis A-A, with its ends closest to the brush part 43 located in the first brush part 43 and its distal ends furthest from the head 42. The bristles 46 are the only oral hygiene part of the first brush part 43. The rotational movement around the axis A-A is oscillatory, that is, the movement implies an oscillatory angular displacement around a middle position.

Immediately and longitudinally adjacent to the first brush part 43 there is a second brush part 47, such that the first brush part 43 is further away from the handle 41, and the second brush part 47 is closer to the handle 41 than the first brush part 43. The second brush part 47 is substantially semi-oval or crescent shaped in its plan view, facing down in the direction of the bristles.

The second brush part 47 is mounted on the head 42 so that it is capable of performing a limited oscillatory longitudinal movement of a longitudinal amplitude of approx. 0.5 mm-1.5 mm, typically approx. 0.7 mm along the head-handle direction. The general construction of the second brush part 47 is similar to the second brush part 30 of Figs. 1-3 and the corresponding numbering of the parts is used. In Fig. 5 a cross section is shown through the brush part 30 in the line B-B of Fig. 4.

The second brush part 47 also has groups of bristles 50 mounted on its upper surface, the bristles 50 being aligned parallel to the bristles 46 of the first brush part 43. The second brush part 47 also has part for cleaning elastomeric 51 mounted about her. Each part 51 comprises a pair of elastomeric bands 51A, 51B extending in their length dimension from the second brush part 47, each with a width dimension perpendicular to its length direction, and a perpendicular thickness dimension both in the direction of length and width, the thickness dimension being smaller than the width dimension. The length of the parts 51 is shorter by approx. 0.2-1 mm than the length of the bristles 110. The pairs of bands 51A, 51B are made integrally, and their width directions converge and meet, so that their respective width dimensions form a "V" shape. , and so that each part 51 integrally has a "V" shaped cross section when cutting through its length direction, which spans an angle of approx. 60-90 °. The "V" points inwards with respect to the longitudinal head-handle direction.

The elastomeric oral hygiene pieces 51 are arranged along each of the side edges of the second brush part 47. The edges of each of the bands 51 A, 51B extend towards the edge of the second brush part. 47 and slightly beyond. The elastomeric material of the pieces 51 continues as a perimetric extension 52 around the axis of the second brush part 47, and down the sides of the second brush part 47 as projecting elastomeric ridges 53, for example to provide parts for Gum massage or a cushion against excessive impact on oral tissues.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section on the B-B line of Fig. 1 of an alternative toothbrush construction. This construction may have an appearance and general arrangement substantially identical to that shown in Figs. 4-9, but instead of being longitudinally oscillatingly mobile, the second brush part 47 is fixed, that is, it is static and unable to move relative to the first brush part 43. As shown in Fig. 6 the Second brush part 47 is made integrally with the head 42, for example, by injection molding.

In relation to Fig. 10 an electric toothbrush is shown in general plan view 100. The toothbrush 100 comprises a handle 101 by which it can be held, and which includes a control motor, batteries, controls etc. (not shown). The handle 101 is replaceably connected in a joint 102, suitably a bayonet connection, to a replaceable head portion 103. The handle assembly 101 and head part 103 is arranged along the direction A-A of the toothbrush 100. In the head part 103 there is a brush part 104 mounted to be controlled in its rotational oscillatory movement around of an axis B-B by the motor inside the handle 101. A conventional transmission mechanism, for example a control shaft extending to the side of the head part 103 connects the motor with the brush part 104.

From a surface 104 of a brush part 105 extends a set of oral hygiene pieces 106 in a direction generally perpendicular to the length A-A. it is ones, the brush part 104 performs an oscillatory rotary movement, that is, reversible, around an axis of rotation parallel to a direction of the bristles B-B and passes through the center on the floor of the assembly 106, being the amplitude of the oscillatory rotary movement of approx. 30º on both sides of a middle position.

In Fig. 10 the head part 103 is shown as comprising a neck piece 107 between the brush part 104 and the handle 101. In an alternative construction (not shown) the neck piece 107 can be integral with the handle , and the brush part 104 may be replaceable itself to the neck piece.

In relation to Fig. 11, a plan view of the assembly 106 is shown, looking down towards the upward facing surface 104 of the brush portion 105 in the direction B-B. The brush part 105 is circular and the axis of rotation B-B of Fig. 1 passes through the center of the brush part 105.

The set comprises several, showing six, there may be more or less oral hygiene pieces 111 that are seen in section with a cut through the axis of rotation. As shown in Fig. 11, each element 111 itself comprises a pair of rubber bands 112, of which the cross section of each band is extended along a long dimension 'L' that is aligned in a non-perpendicular angle, other than zero, with a radius of the axis of rotation and intersects with the band. The respective long dimensions of the adjacent bands 112 converge, and the edges of the bands 112 are joined at the edge 113 such that the pair of bonded rubber bands 112 forms the unique cross-sectional element 111 in the form of "V" ov inverted The elements 111, and consequently the bands 112, are arranged in a circle whose center is the axis of rotation B-B. in Fig. 11 the vertices of each of the "V" or inverted v-shaped sections point radially outward from the central axis of rotation B-B.

Similar elements 121 are shown in relation to Fig. 12, again each element 121 itself comprises a pair of rubber bands 122 of which their respective long dimensions converge, and the adjacent edges are joined at an edge 123 so that the pair of bonded rubber bands 122 forms a unit 121 of unitary cross-section in "V" ov inverted when cutting through the axis of rotation B-B. However, in Fig. 12 the vertices of the “V” or inverted v point inwards towards the axis of rotation B — B.

The cross section of each of the bands 112, 122 constituting the "V" section elements 111, 121 extends in a straight line, and the section has substantially parallel opposite long sides ending at short edges 114, 124.

As shown, the long dimension of the section of each band 122, 112 is aligned at an angle of approx. 45 ° with the radius that cuts with the band.

In the brush part 105 the oral hygiene pieces 111, 121 are combined in one set, centered on the axis of rotation, with groups of bristles 115, 125. The groups of bristles 115, 125, are arranged in an internal polygon of groups 115, 125 with a central grouping, and in circumference between adjacent elastomeric oral hygiene pieces 111, 121 there are groups of bristles 115, 125. The circle of elastomeric oral hygiene pieces 111, 121 is in each case the radially outermost part of oral surface hygiene parts 104.

The elastomeric oral hygiene pieces 111, 121 extend from the surface of the brush part, that is, in their length direction extending outward in the plane of Fig. 11 and 12 about 10 mm and the bristles 115 , 125 extend approximately the same length. Typically the long section dimension of each band 112, 122 is approx. 3 mm and the short dimension (thickness) of approx. 0.25 mm

In relation to Fig. 13, a plan view of the surface 104 is shown, with the radii R starting from the axis of rotation B-B. Several bands 131 of elastomeric material are shown in Fig. 13th arranged in a circle whose center is the axis of rotation, and Figs. 13B and 13C respectively show a single band 111, 121 of the arrangements of Figs. 11 and 12. Each elastomeric band 131, and each of the elastomeric bands 112, 122 constituting the elastomeric oral hygiene pieces 111, 121, is seen in section when cut through the axis of rotation and the section is extended as along a long dimension that is aligned at a non-perpendicular angle, other than zero, with a radius R that intersects the band. In each case the angle is approx. 45 °

Claims (10)

1. A head (10) for an electric toothbrush that is connected to, or replaceably connected to, a handle containing an electric motor, to provide a toothbrush having a longitudinal head-handle direction, in the that the head (10) has: at least a first brush part (20) carrying oral hygiene pieces (21) that is steerable by the motor in rotational motion around a first axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and at least a second brush part (30) carrying oral hygiene pieces (31), characterized in that said second brush part (30) is not driven by the motor and is capable of performing a longitudinal oscillatory movement to, or a oscillatory movement limited along a direction generally perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the first axis of rotation, or a limited rotary oscillatory movement around a second axis of rotation generally parallel to the first axis of rotation. 2. A head (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that there is only a first brush part (20) and only a second brush part (30).

3.

A head (10) according to claim 2 characterized in that the first and second brush parts (20,30) are arranged relatively longitudinally along the head-handle direction, the first brush part (20) being further away of the handle, and the second brush part (30) being adjacent to the first brush part (20) and closer to the handle on the mounted toothbrush than the first brush part (20).

Four.

A head (10) according to claim 3 characterized in that a first brush part (20) further away from the handle is mounted or can be mounted so that it rotates on the head (10) around a rotation axis perpendicular to the direction head-handle

5.

A head (10) according to claim 4 characterized in that the second brush part (30) longitudinally adjacent to the first brush part (20) and closer to the handle is capable of performing a limited oscillatory longitudinal movement.

6.

A head (10) according to claim 5 characterized in that the second brush part (30) is capable of performing a limited oscillatory movement by means of adjacent end stop parts (16,33) respectively on the head (10) and on the second brush part (30), which border when the second brush part (30) reaches the ends of its limited oscillatory movement, thereby limiting the limited oscillatory movement.

7.

A head (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the second brush part (30) comprises a substantially "C" sectional seat that can fit around the head (10) and be slidably retained on the head (10).

8.

A head (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that both the first and the second brush part (20,30) have oral hygiene pieces that are bristles (21,31) mounted on them, extending from of a bristle surface thereof.

9.

A head (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that:

a first brush part (20) furthest from the mounted handle or that can be mounted so that it rotates around an axis of rotation perpendicular to the head-handle direction, a second brush part (30) longitudinally adjacent to this first brush part (20) and closer to the handle, which is capable of performing a limited oscillatory longitudinal movement, having the first and second brush part (30) oral hygiene pieces comprising bristles (21,31) mounted on them. 10. A head (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the first and second brush parts (20,30) has at least one elastomeric oral hygiene piece (51) on it.