FI106922B - Machine for keeping and washing of toothbrushes - Google Patents

Description

106922 (

TOOTHBRUSH STORAGE AND WASHING MACHINE

The invention relates to a machine for washing (disinfecting) and storing toothbrushes.

The weak bacteria that attach to the toothbrush bristles and the mouth of the tooth will strengthen and multiply by a thousand times in the warm air of the bathroom. Often the position of the toothbrushes is such that the brushes are exposed to splashes of shower and sink. Within a week, the toothbrush bristles and bristle base have turned yellow from dirt. The dirty color is due to toothpaste, grease and bacterial growth in the bristles and bleeding gums.

A dirty toothbrush acts as a culture medium for bacteria in the mouth and throat. When applied to the mouth again, the culture brush will spread the inflammation of the mouth and throat. Especially for systemically ill patients and children, it is important that the toothbrushes are clean.

A container for storing and cleaning toothbrushes is known (DE-19606136), wherein a toothbrush is pressed into a disinfection container through a comb-like hole whereby the loose particles in the brush are intended to be trapped in the comb.

. Y: This in itself is impossible because the toothbrush does not have too many particles so large that the comb would remove them. Mostly in the toothbrush: the dirt particles are microscopic and cannot be removed by combing.

[[[: It is also problematic that the combed hole is not cleaned except by using the same toothbrush in v. 'Disinfectant solution. Also, the toothbrush is not · · · rinsed in the appliance, whereby the remaining disinfectant solution causes irritation to the gums if it is strong enough to disinfect.

It is known in the art to have a toothbrush casing where sterilization is effected with a sterilizing solution inside an airtight dome (US-4,746,496). Also known as: , US-4079517, US-A: 4285151, US-A-5061106), where a toothbrush is sprayed with disinfectant or brushes by immersion in an antibacterial solution, but these devices cannot safely store the toothbrushes because the solution can 106922 2 Toothbrushes immersed in the solution do not remove dirt particles from the bristles and the bottom of the brush, and immersing the brushes in the solution used does not feel comfortable to the user.

Also known are ultraviolet radiation disinfecting toothbrush storage or hygienizing units (US-5127521, US-4,740,706, US-5,225,172), where hygienisation is accomplished only by irradiation with ultraviolet light.

However, ultraviolet light cannot remove dirt from the bottom of the brush or disinfect dense cavities in the toothbrushes, which are the actual bacterial nests of the brush head, but radiation only affects the tops of the bristles.

Various toothbrush drying or storage devices (US-3820251, US-4319596, US-4319595, US-5629527, EP-0688527) are known in the art for drying the bristle head but without removing any larger or microscopic particles from the bristle. While drying, some of the bacteria adhering to the bristles will be destroyed, but drying will not destroy the entire crop, and may also create the ideal temperature for a larger and more dangerous crop.

In addition, some devices are known for sterilizing medical instruments (FI-89555, DE-4235699, US-5571488). Instruments refer to devices used by nurses in nursing, such as knives and drill bits, and various ««: i: devices. They cannot sterilize what the average consumer uses: dental care products such as toothbrushes.

The device according to the invention eliminates these drawbacks and v: it is also possible to maintain the hygiene of dental supplies in the home and thereby improve general health.

To accomplish this, the toothbrush cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates the operation of the invention in its basic principles.

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Figure 2 illustrates the invention from the outside.

Figure 3 shows how the toothbrush pops out.

Figure 4 shows how the invention relates to a multifunctional toothbrush.

Figure 5 shows examples of attachments to the wire of the invention which belong to a multi-purpose toothbrush.

The operation of the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, is as simple as the operation of a conventional dishwasher. After use, the toothbrushes (2) rinsed in water are placed in their own compartments (19) made of transparent material. Each toothbrush has its own compartment (19) inside the toothbrush machine (1). At the bottom of the compartments (19) is a device (28) which raises the brush and opens the compartment lid (34) by rotating the contact (4a) to indicate a particular color (31) and pressing a button on the contact (4a). Depending on the time programmed on the timer), the machine (1) will start twice daily or can be manually started from the switch (3b). Programmed information is displayed on the LCD screen (29). The machine starts the washing program by pumping water (5) into the machine through a pipe (9) passing through the shaft (27) of the motor (IO) and spraying it from the holes (8) of the jet (7). The detergent is dispensed from the detergent container (6) onto the shower (7). The machine prewashes the toothbrushes (2) in its compartments (19) by circulating the washing water by rotating the washing machine, Y: drum (11). At the end of the washing program, dirty water is pumped (13) through the holes (26) in the drum (11) along the tube (12) and the brushes (2) are spun in the drum (11) to remove excess moisture.

• «t« • · · • ·

After spinning, disinfection is performed by washing the brushes (2) with bacteria and • · ♦: antimicrobial detergent (15) and water (14) or irradiating with ultraviolet light (25). After washing, the dirty water is pumped out (13) and the toothbrushes are rinsed by pumping (5) clean water (14) into the machine.

··· ··· * At the end of rinsing, the rinsing water is pumped out (13) and the toothbrushes are dried with hot air. Hot air is produced by blowing (16) the resistor (17) • I *: ...: heated air on the rotating toothbrushes (2) in the drum (11). Finally, the irons (2) are irradiated with ultraviolet light (25).

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On top of the toothbrush washing and storage machine, there are inlet openings for toothbrush and toothbrush solution filling bottles containing detergent (35), disinfectant (36) and mouthwash (37). The mouthwash (37) or water is conveyed by the pump (18) along the guide (23) to the multi-purpose toothbrush or its accessories, such as the drill (46) and the razor blade (47) in Figure 5.

The toothbrush washing and storage machine (1) according to the invention operates by plugging it into a power outlet (24). The coil (10) is used to convert the electric current to rotate the shaft (27) of the drum (11) of the machine (1). Pumps (5,13,18), fan (16) and other machine parts, control panel (3), LCD display (29), contacts {31), switches (4b) and other electronic parts (32) also receive power the network.

The rotational energy of the shaft (27) of the toothbrush washing and storage machine is changed by means of transmissions (33) so that it can be used as a power source for the multifunctional toothbrush shown in Fig. 4. When using a multi-purpose toothbrush, the machine (1) does not wash the toothbrushes inside, but the energy for rotating the drum is used to rotate the rotating parts of the multi-purpose toothbrush, and water or mouthwash is conveyed along the wire to accessory functions. With computer control, the machine runs the motor at the correct speed. The machine and the multifunctional toothbrush are connected by a conductor (23) which contains wires for mouthwash or, ':': water (20), for my motor transmission) and electricity (22). The conductor (23) may be connected to the brush head (40) of the multifunctional toothbrush, to the multifunctional end (39) by means of a connecting portion (38) and to the accessories of the multifunctional toothbrush, for example, in Figure 5.

«· ·: V; Examples of accessories that can be connected to the end (30) of the conductor (23) include a bright • «* · * lamp (50) and a mirror or magnifying glass (49). From the mouth to the tummy thermometer (45), which can be replaced with one of your ears * # ·, the body temperature reading is displayed on the toothbrush washing and storage LCD screen. By connecting the end (30) of the conductor (23) to the grinding and drilling head (46) and injecting water adjacent to the grinding or drilling head, glass or other material or holes can be engraved. When connecting the razor blade (47). j water (23) cleans the hairs remaining between blades, and •: · ·: shaving is easier and does not put too much strain on the face and neck.

The lamp, which is connected to the end (30) of the conductor (23), can be changed by means of a device comprising lenses and mirrors 106922 3, a medical examination device (48) for examining the eyes, ears and throat.

The multifunctional toothbrush (39) of the multifunctional toothbrush shown in Fig. 4 rotates the toothbrush (43) as well as the brush (44) and other attachment contacts (41, 42) of the brush end to activate the device.

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Claims (4)

1. Washing and storage machine for toothbrushes, comprising - a washing machine drum (11) in which the toothbrushes are placed, - a timer (3 a) with which the machine is programmed to start and carry out certain functions, - a clean water pump (5) with which the water is pumped in in the drum of the machine, - I - a dirty water drain pump (13) with which the water used in the washing and disinfection is pumped out of the drum, - dispensers (6,15, 35, 36, 37) in which the desired cleaning agents have been arranged - a fan (16) which dries up the toothbrushes in the drum, - a radiation source (25) which disinfects by irradiation, - electronic controllers and an engine, characterized in that the washing and storage machine (1) for toothbrushes wash, disinfect, rinse, centrifuges and dries the toothbrushes (2) in the drum of the machine by vigorously circulating the liquid (14, 15), which in each step is in the bmk of the machine drum (11), and that the toothbrushes (2) can be stored in the drum (11). 1 I * 4 «4« 4 «« · 4 «« 4 H | «« I »« · «· • 99 • · * * ♦ • · ·« ♦ ·· ♦ • · ♦ • · · ··· • · ··· ··· • · ··· ·· ♦ · «« 14 • «« t 4 4 «« • 4 4 4 t «4 · 4 4 106922 2. A toothbrush washing and storage machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each toothbrush (2) has its own compartment (19) in the machine (1) from which it can be removed by means of a contact (4a). 3. Washing and storing machine for toothbrushes according to any of the preceding claims or combinations thereof, characterized in that the machine (1) can be programmed to perform a washing program or other functions affecting the accessory devices by mediating a line (23) for the accessory device, and by that the information about the functions is displayed in the machine's computer screen (29). Washing and storing machine for toothbrushes according to any of the preceding claims or combinations thereof, characterized in that the washing and storing machine (1) is connected by a separate line (23) for the accessory devices, which line comprises mouthwash, water (20) , power transmission (21) and power lines (22), to the brush head of the multifunction stand brush (40), by means of a connector (38) to the multifunction head (39) or directly to the accessory of the multifunction device, and the accessories are driven by molding it with the washing and storage machine (10). t