GB2516856A

GB2516856A - Interdental cleaning device with changeable head

Info

Publication number: GB2516856A
Application number: GB1313791.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Morris
Original assignee: Wisdom Toothbrushes Ltd
Current assignee: Wisdom Toothbrushes Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-01
Filing date: 2013-08-01
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Also published as: GB201313791D0

Abstract

An interdental cleaning device handle 1 has an elongate handle portion and first and second sockets with bayonet mounts 25,35 for receiving radial pins 56 of a plug portion of an interdental cleaning head 50. The first and second sockets are provided on opposite sides of a head end of the handle and share a common socket bore, with the first socket making an oblique angle with the handle and the second socket making an acute angle with the handle. A third socket with bayonet mount may be located at a tail end of the handle. The interdental cleaning head 50 may comprise a brush with a spiral wound wire with radial nylon brush fibres. .

Description

Interdental cleaning device with changeable head In the field of dental hygiene, it is known to provide devices intended specifically for cleaning spaces between the teeth. One such suitable device is an interdental cleaning device, also sometimes known as an interproximal cleaning device. The interdental cleaning device may comprise a brush.

Interdental cleaning devices often comprise a head comprising a twisted wire with fine brush fibres extending radially from the twisted wire. The head may further comprise a rigid plug portion from which the twisted wire extends. The rigid plug portion may itself be connected to a handle to be manipulated by the user. Such an arrangement is by contrast with a conventional toothbrush which comprises a plurality of substantially mutually parallel brush elements extending from a substantially planar surface of a toothbrush head.

It is also known to provide such an interdental cleaning device as described wherein the head is detachable from the handle portion. This enables the same handle to be used for different heads such as those with different thicknesses of brush or wire or brushes having different resilience properties. It also enables heads to be disposed of and replaced without having to replace the handle.

For such interdental cleaning devices with removable heads, various techniques have been disclosed for attaching the heads to the handles. One such example is that illustrated in WO 86/02532. In this example the rigid plug portion of the head comprises radial lugs. The rigid plug portion is connected to the handle by means of a hinged feature which, when opened, allows the head to be released and when closed causes the head to be fastened to the handle by virtue of the radial lugs being retained by the hinged portion.

Other examples of fixing techniques for attaching heads to handles in the prior art include push-fit fixings.

There exists a need for an improved means of attaching a head to a handle. Such means must be simple for the user to operate but difficult for the head to become accidentally detached from the handle in use.

Against this background there is provided an interdental cleaning device handle for use with a head comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins, the interdental cleaning device handle comprising an elongate handle portion having a first socket for receipt of the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element, the first socket comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head.

Preferably, the plug portion comprises at least two radial pins. Where two radial pins are provided, these may be opposed to one another.

In this way, a user may insert a plug portion of the interdental cleaning element into a bayonet mount of the handle and rotate it around the axis of the plug portion. By this rotation, the head becomes attached to the handle. In order to release the head from the handle the user must reverse this process. While this is simple for the user to undertake, it is also the case that such rotational movement is unlikely to result accidentally from conventional cleaning or brushing of the teeth. Thus it is unlikely that the head will become detached from the handle unless when specifically intended.

Preferably, a longitudinal axis of the first socket either: makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes an acute angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes a right angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or is parallel with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.

In this way, a specific orientation of head with respect to handle may be achieved.

The interdental cleaning device handle may further comprise a second socket for receipt of the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element, the second socket comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head, wherein a longitudinal axis of the second socket either: makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes an acute angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes a right angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or is parallel with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.

In this way, a user may choose from two orientations of head with respect to handle by choosing in which socket to insert the head.

The interdental cleaning device handle may further comprise a third socket for receipt of the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element, the third socket comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head, wherein a longitudinal axis of the third socket either: makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes an acute angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes a right angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or is parallel with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.

In this way, a user has several options of orientation of head with respect to handle by choosing in which socket to insert the head.

It may be that the first socket makes an oblique angle with the elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; the second socket makes an acute angle with the elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; and the third socket is parallel to the elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.

In this way, a user has all three options of orientation of head with respect to handle.

The first and second sockets may be provided on opposite sides of a head end of the handle. Further, the first and second sockets may share a common socket bore.

In this way, manufacturing complexity may be reduced.

The third socket may be located at a tail end of the handle, the tail end being opposite to the head end.

In a further aspect, there is provided an interdental cleaning device comprising an interdental cleaning device handle as described and a head comprising an interdental element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins.

In a still further aspect, there is provided an interdental cleaning device kit comprising an interdental cleaning device as described and a plurality of heads each comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins.

The interdental cleaning element may comprise a brush element.

The interdental cleaning element may comprise a spiral wound wire and radial nylon brush fibres.

The interdental cleaning element may comprise one or more cleaning elements of thermoplastic elastomer.

A specific embodiment is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment, viewed from a first side; Figure 2 shows the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment, viewed from a second side; Figure 3 shows the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment, viewed from the front; Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment; Figure 5 shows a brush head for use with the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment; Figure 6 shows a plug portion of the brush head of Figure 5, viewed from the side; Figure 7 shows the plug portion of the brush head, viewed from above; Figure 8 shows the plug portion of the brush head, viewed from below; Figure 9 shows the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment and including a brush head in a first socket; Figure 10 shows the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment and including a brush head in a second socket; Figure 11 shows the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment and including a brush head in a third socket; Figure 12 shows the interdental toothbrush handle of the embodiment and including a brush head in the third socket; Figure 13 shows an interdental brush element of the brush head; Figure 14 shows a brush head in a first position with respect to a mounting portion, where the pins of the brush head are free to move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the brush head; Figure 15 shows the brush head in a second position with respect to a mounting portion, where the brush head is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the brush head such that the pins begin to be received into a bayonet mounting of the mounting portion; and Figure 16 shows the brush head in a third position with respect to a mounting portion, where the brush head is further rotated about a longitudinal axis of the brush head such that the pins are engaged into the bayonet mounting of the mounting portion, thus preventing movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the brush head.

The cleaning device of the specific embodiment illustrated herein comprises an interdental toothbrush. As will be immediately apparent to the skilled person, however, other cleaning devices tall within the scope of the appended claims and the disclosure is not to be limited to cleaning devices comprising brushes or consisting of only brushes.

Figure 1 shows an interdental toothbrush handle 1 in accordance with the specific embodiment. The interdental toothbrush handle 1 comprises an elongate handle portion 10 intended to be gripped by a user, a neck 11 having a reduced cross-section by comparison with the elongate handle portion 10, and a mounting portion 12. The neck 11 is at one end of the elongate handle portion 10 and the neck 11 joins the elongate handle portion 10 to the mounting portion 12.

The handle portion 10 is of a cross sectional shape intended to be comfortable for gripping by the user. The neck 11 is of reduced cross-section to avoid discomfort when placed in a user's mouth. The interdental toothbrush handle 1 may be of moulded plastic. The interdental toothbrush handle 1 may be of polyolefin plastic and/or may be of a combination of materials such as polypropylened and thermoplastic elastomer. The surface of the interdental toothbrush handle 1 is smooth and comprises no angular changes in profile.

The mounting portion 12 is substantially cylindrical, with an axis of the cylinder intersecting a longitudinal axis of the elongate handle portion 10. The mounting portion 12 comprises a first socket 20 having an opening at one end of the mounting portion 12 and a second socket 30 at an opposite end of the mounting portion 12. A third socket 40 is located at an end of the elongate handle portion 10 opposite to the end comprising the mounting portion 12.

Each of the first, second and third sockets 20, 30, 40 comprises a bayonet mount 25, 35, for receipt of a brush head 50.

Given that the axis of the cylindrical mounting portion 12 intersects the axis of the elongate handle portion 10, the first socket 20 has an axis which is at an oblique angle to the axis of the elongate handle portion 10. Conversely, the second socket 30 has an elongate axis which is acute to the elongate handle portion 10. The third socket 40 has an elongate axis in line with the elongate axis of the elongate handle portion 10.

Each socket 20, 30, 40 comprises a cylindrical bore 22 with a lateral slot 21 (also present on the second and third sockets 30, 40 but not visible in the figures) that extends beyond the circumference of the cylindrical bore 22. At an inner part of the cylindrical bore 22 is located a pair of circumferential slots 23, 24 which have a greater diameter than that of the cylindrical bore 22. Each circumferential slot 23, 24 begins at one side of the lateral slot 21 and extends approximately one quarter of the circumference of the bore 22. The circumferential slots 23, 24 may extend through to an external surface of the interdental toothbrush handle 1. At the end of each circumferential slots 23, 24 is located a small protrusion 26, 27 which gives rise to a restriction in the width of the circumferential slots 23, 24.

The cylindrical bore 22 of the first socket 20 and may be a continuation of the cylindrical bore 32 of the second socket 30. In other words, the first and second sockets 20, 30 may share a common bore 22, 32, wherein one socket is accessible from one side and the other socket is accessible from an opposite side.

The nature of the sockets 20, 30, 40 will be further explained below with reference to their inter-engagement with a brush head 50.

An example of a brush head 50 suitable for use with the interdental toothbrush handle 1 is shown in Figure 5. The brush head 50 is elongate along an axis of elongation. The brush head 50 comprises an interdental brush element 52 and a plug portion 55, both elongate and aligned with the axis of elongation. The plug portion 55 may be of polyolefin plastic and/or may be of a combination of materials such as polypropylenod and thermoplastic elastomer. The interdental brush element 52 includes an elongate twisted wire 53 from which extend brush fibres 54 in a radial direction with respect to the elongate twisted wire 53. The elongate twisted wire 53 grips the brush fibres 54 in radial spiral configuration.

The tensile strength of wire used for the elongate twisted wire 53 can vary from 320 N/mm2 to 1100 N/mm2. The diameter of the brush fibres 54 can vary from 0.05 mm to 0.28 mm depending upon the texture required. The brush fibres 54 may be manufactured from a natural material such as pig bristle or from synthetic thermoplastic materials such as nylons or polyesters. Other elements, instead of or in addition to brush fibres 54, may extend from the elongate twisted wire 53.

The plug portion 55 comprises a cylinder 57, a frustoconical portion 58 and a flange 60 located between the cylinder 57 and the frustoconical portion 58. The cylinder 57, frustoconical portion 58 and twisted wire 53 all extend along the axis of elongation of the brush head 50. The flange 60 is orthogonal to the axis of elongation.

The cylinder 57 comprises two radial pins 56. The two radial pins 56 are mutually opposite.

The twisted wire 53 is received into an aperture of the frustoconical portion 58 in such a manner as to prevent removal of the twisted wire 53 from the frustoconical portion 58. The frustoconical portion 58 comprises axial ridges 59 which provide assistance to the user for gripping and rotating the brush head 50 around the elongate axis.

In use, the user may insert a brush head 50 into one of the first, second and third sockets 20, 30, 40. Given the relative alignments of the sockets 20, 30, 40 with respect to the elongate handle portion 10, a brush head 50 in the first socket 20 sits at an oblique angle with respect to the elongate handle portion 10, a brush head 50 in the second socket 30 sits at an acute angle with respect to the elongate handle portion 10 and a brush head 50 in the third socket 40 sits in continuation of the elongate handle portion 10. These three respective positions are illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11, respectively.

The process of insertion of a brush head 50 into a socket 20, 30, 40 is illustrated in Figures 14 to 16. A user inserts the cylinder 57 of the plug portion 55 of the brush head 10 into the cylindrical bore 22 of the socket 20 such that the pins 56 align with the lateral slot 21 of the socket 20 which extends beyond the diameter of the cylindrical bore 22. The lateral slot 21 is perhaps best shown in Figure 3 with respect to the second socket 20. (While such slots are present in the second and third sockets, these are not visible in the illustrated views.) The brush head 50 is inserted axially into the socket 20 until the flange 60 of the brush head abuts an external surface surrounding the socket 20, as shown in Figure 14. Once the flange 60 abuts the external surface surrounding the socket 20, this prevents further inward axial movement of the brush head 50 towards the socket 20.

Next, with reference to Figure 15, a user rotates the brush head 50 with respect to the axis of the cylindrical bore of the socket 20, 30, 40. The axial ridges 59 on the frustoconical portion 58 may assist the user in gripping the brush head 50 for the rotation. In this way, the pins 56 rotate into circumferential slots 23, 24 of the bayonet mount, 25 (also 35, 45).

The circumferential slots are perhaps best shown with respect to the first slot 20, in Figure 4 (cross sectional view).

The circumferential slots 23, 24 extend round two mutually opposite quarters of the circumference of the sockets 20, 30, 40. After rotation of approximately 900 (i.e. one quarter rotation) the pins 56 reach the ends of the circumferential slots 23, 24 (as shown in Figure 16) such that the brush head 50 cannot be rotated further. That is to say, each pin reaches the end of its quarter circumferential slot 23, 24. In order to reach this position, each pin 56 must overcome a bias resulting from the protrusion 26, 27 towards the end of the circumferential slot 23, 24. Once in this position, axial movement, either inwardly or outwardly, of the brush head 50 with respect to the socket 20 is largely prevented.

The small protrusions 26, 27 also give rise to a bias which is necessary to overcome in order to rotate the brush head 50 in the opposite direction for removal of the brush head 50 from the socket 20, 30, 40. This reduces the likelihood of accidental rotation of the brush head 50 with respect to the socket 20, 30, 40.

By providing three alternative sockets 20, 30, 40, each of which having a different angle with respect to the elongate axis of the handle 10, the user may choose in which socket to locate the brush head 50 for having the brush head 50 at the most preferable angle with respect to the handle 1 for brushing a particular first interdental space comfortably and conveniently. The user may easily remove the brush head 50 from the chosen socket 20 30 and relocate it in one of the other sockets better suited to brushing of a particular second interdental space. A brush head 50 may be inserted and removed from the interdental toothbrush handle 1 multiple times.

Removal of the brush head 50 from the socket 20, 30, 40 is achieved by reversing the steps necessary to insert the brush head 50 into the socket 20, 30, 40. To do this, the user must overcome the small bias resulting from the small protrusions 26, 27. In this way the pins 56 are rotated to align with the slot 21 of the socket 20 the brush head 50 can be removed in an axial direction from the axis of the socket 20.

While the disclosure has been described specifically with respect to one single embodiment, various alternatives are contemplated which still fall within the scope of the appended claims. The skilled person will recognise that many aspects of the specific embodiment are not essential to the invention including, but not limited to, the location and angles of the sockets and the nature of the interdental brush element which may not necessarily comprise a twisted wire and radial brush fibres.

In addition, while the interdental toothbrush handle 1 has been described as being suitable for use with a brush head 50 having a specific shape, the interdental toothbrush handle 1 may also be configured for use with a brush head 50 having an alternative shape. For example, the brush head 50 need not comprise a frustoconical portion 58 or a flange 60. It is necessary only that the brush head 50 is configured for receipt into the socket 20, 30, 40.

Indeed, an interdental cleaning device according to the disclosure need not have any brush elements. It is necessary only that the head comprises a cleaning element. Cleaning elements may take alternative forms and may be of alternative materials such as (but not limited to) rubber, thermoplastic elastomers (IPE) or polypropylene (PP).

Furthermore, the interdental brush element 52 with which the interdental toothbrush handle 1 is used may take a variety of different forms. While the plug portion 55 must be suitable for receipt by one of the sockets in the interdental toothbrush handle 1, the interdental brush element 52 is not limited to that illustrated herein. In particular, the interdental brush element 52 may be of a different geometrical shape, may be of a different brush construction and may be of a different size and scale to that illustrated herein.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An interdental cleaning device handle for use with a head comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins, the interdental cleaning device handle comprising an elongate handle portion and a first socket for receipt of the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element; the first socket comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head.
2. The interdental cleaning device handle of claim 1 wherein a longitudinal axis of the first socket either: makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes an acute angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes a right angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or is parallel with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.
3. The interdental cleaning device handle of any preceding claim further comprising a second socket for receipt of the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element, the second socket comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head, wherein a longitudinal axis of the second socket either: makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes an acute angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes a right angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or is parallel with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.
4. The interdental cleaning device handle of claim 3 further comprising a third socket for receipt of the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element, the third socket comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head, wherein a longitudinal axis of the third socket either: makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes an acute angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes a right angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or is parallel with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.
5. The interdental cleaning device handle of claim 4 wherein the first socket makes an oblique angle with the elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; the second socket makes an acute angle with the elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; and the third socket is parallel to the elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.
6. The interdental cleaning device handle of any of claims 3 to 5 wherein the first and second sockets are provided on opposite sides of a head end of the handle.
7. The interdental cleaning device handle of claim 6 wherein the first and second sockets share a common socket bore.
8. The interdental cleaning device handle of any of claims 4 to 7 wherein the third socket is located at a tail end of the handle, the tail end being opposite to the head end.
9. An interdental cleaning device comprising an interdental cleaning device handle of any preceding claim and a head comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins.
10. An interdental cleaning device kit comprising an interdental cleaning device handle of any of claims 1 to 8 and a plurality of heads each comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins.
11. The interdental cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the interdental cleaning element comprises a brush element.
12. The interdental cleaning device of claim 11 wherein the brush element comprises a spiral wound wire and radial nylon brush fibres.
13. The interdental cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the interdental cleaning element comprises one or more cleaning elements of thermoplastic elastomer.
14. An interdental cleaning device handle as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows:-CLAIMS: 1. An interdental cleaning device handle for use with a head comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins, the interdental cleaning device handle comprising an elongate handle portion, a first socket and a second socket, each of the first and second sockets configured to receive the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element; the first and second sockets each comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head, wherein a longitudinal axis of the first socket makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle and wherein a longitudinal axis of the second socket makes an acute angle with the elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; wherein the first and second sockets are provided on opposite sides of a head end cf 15 of the handle and wherein the first and second sockets share a common socket bore.04 2. The interdental cleaning device handle of claim 1 further comprising a third socket 0 for receipt of the plug portion of the interdental cleaning element, the third socket comprising a bayonet mount for receiving the one or more radial pins of the head, wherein r-20 a longitudinal axis of the third socket either: makes an oblique angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes an acute angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or makes a right angle with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle; or is parallel with an elongate axis of the interdental cleaning device handle.3. The interdental cleaning device handle of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the third socket is located at a tail end of the handle, the tail end being opposite to the head end.4. An interdental cleaning device comprising an interdental cleaning device handle of any preceding claim and a head comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins.5. An interdental cleaning device kit comprising an interdental cleaning device handle of any of claims 1 to 4 and a plurality of heads each comprising an interdental cleaning element and a plug portion having one or more radial pins.6. The interdental cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the interdental cleaning element comprises a brush element.7. The interdental cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the brush element comprises a spiral wound wire and radial nylon brush fibres.8. The interdental cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the interdental cleaning element comprises one or more cleaning elements of thermoplastic elastomer.9. An interdental cleaning device handle as hereinbefore described with reference to cf 15 the accompanying drawings. (4 r