JP2003153923A - Motor-driven toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a motor-driven toothbrush convenient to use for efficient brushing. SOLUTION: The motor-driven toothbrush comprises a body part 1 shaped for easy gripping by one hand while accommodating a motor 3 and a battery driving the motor 3, and a rod-shaped bed 2 removably attachable to an end of the body part 1 and having the bristles of the toothbrush at its end. A circular or ring-shaped inner brush 22 and a ring-shaped outer brush 23 are concentrically arranged on the head 2. The inner brush 22 is rotated by a first gear 21g leading to the rotating shaft 3a of the motor and by a second gear 22g engaging the first gear 21g. The outer brush 23 is rotated by a third gear 23g engaging the first gear 21g at a position different from the engagement position of the first gear for the second gear 22g. Two of the gears are positioned so that the two brushes arranged concentrically on the inside and outside rotate in opposite directions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electric toothbrushes have been put to practical use and are widely used. The structure is roughly classified into one in which a round brush portion is rotated by a motor to polish it in a circumferential shape, and one in which a brush portion is reciprocated by a motor or an electromagnet to linearly polish.

[0003]

The former type of rotating brush part, which has a simple structure, has an advantage of being able to provide a product at a relatively low cost and has been put into practical use. However, since the rotation direction of the brush part that is ring-shaped is limited to one direction, the action force acts in the tangential direction of the rotation circle of the brush on the tooth surface against which the brush tip is applied, and the brush part May move in a direction against the wishes of the user. Therefore, brush your teeth smoothly,
The toothbrushing effect by the electric toothbrush, which cannot be performed accurately and should be efficient, cannot be expected.

Further, in order to brush the teeth, it seems that reciprocating motion of the toothbrush is effective for brushing the teeth as is commonly done in daily life. Therefore, there are some which rotate the brush part to reverse the rotation direction at a constant time interval, and some effect can be expected, but in order to realize a structure that reverses the rotation direction at a constant time interval. This increases the cost of parts and is a cause of pushing up product prices. The present invention makes the electric toothbrush in such a situation a rotating brush type having a simple structure, but the brush portion does not move in a direction contrary to the user's intention, and the toothbrushing effect is sufficiently obtained. It is an object of the present invention to obtain the product and provide it to the user at low cost.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems are solved by arranging an inner circular or ring-shaped brush and an outer ring-shaped brush in a concentric manner. It is solved by rotating in the opposite direction.

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems can be attached to and detached from a main body portion which houses a motor, a power source portion for driving the motor and the like, and which can be easily grasped by one hand, and an end portion of the main body portion. A rod-shaped head having a toothbrush bristle at the tip, and a circular or ring-shaped inner brush and a ring-shaped outer brush are concentrically arranged on the head, and the rotation shaft of the motor At a position different from the meshing position of the first gear by rotating the inner or outer brush with the first gear connected to the second gear and the second gear meshing with the first gear. To solve the problem by rotating the outer or inner brush with a third gear that meshes with each other, and arranging the two gears so that the two concentrically arranged inner and outer brushes rotate in opposite directions. You can

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems can be solved by using the bevel gear, the crown gear, or the pin gear in the gear group in the solution means of the preceding paragraph. Further, in the solution means up to the preceding paragraph, the inner brush and the outer brush are provided with a step difference in the length of the bristles of the brush, or the inner brush and the outer brush are provided with a difference in rotational speed from each other. It is possible to solve the problem by providing either or both. Further, the power source unit can be solved by using a DC power source such as a dry battery or a rechargeable battery, or an AC power source such as a commercial power source.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The electric toothbrush of the present invention has two brushes arranged concentrically, and these brushes rotate in opposite directions to brush the teeth. Therefore, the inner brush has a disc shape or a ring shape, and the outer brush has a ring shape.

The two concentrically arranged brushes are driven by one motor. As a driving mechanism, a bevel gear, a pin gear, or a crown gear is attached to the motor shaft as a first gear to form a gear on the drive source side, and two shafts arranged orthogonal to the shaft of the gear are coaxial. The gears of the types corresponding to the above-mentioned gears are attached to these shafts as the second and third gears, respectively, and are meshed with each other at positions separated by 180 degrees on the first gear on the drive source side. By doing so, the second gear and the third gear can obtain rotations in mutually opposite directions, and are concentric with the tips of the shafts driven by the second gear and the third gear, respectively. By attaching the two brushes to each other, they rotate in the opposite directions, and it is possible to realize the electric toothbrush which solves the above problem. Further, the inner brush and the outer brush may be provided with a step difference in the length of the bristles of the brush, and the inner brush and the outer brush may be provided with a difference in rotational speed from each other. Good. Alternatively, both may be provided. Further, as a power source for driving the motor, a DC power source such as a dry battery or a rechargeable battery may be used, or a commercial AC power source for home use may be used.

[0010]

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of an embodiment of the electric toothbrush of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a toothbrush, which is a main body having a shape and dimensions that can be easily gripped by a hand, and is formed of a resin in a tubular shape, in which a motor 3 and a battery (not shown) are housed. ing. The upper end of the main body 1 is formed in a slightly smaller diameter to form a tapered taper, the tip is opened, and a head described later is attached to this portion. A partition wall 1a is formed in the vicinity of the boundary, a shaft 3a of the motor 3 projects from the partition wall 1a, and a joint member 3j for coupling with a drive shaft described later is attached to the tip of the shaft 3a. Shaft 3 on partition wall 1a
The rubber packing 4 is used for waterproofing the gap where a penetrates.
Is fitted.

Reference numeral 2 is the head described above. It can be attached to and detached from the tip of the main body 1. As can be seen from the exploded view of FIG. 1, each element of the head 2 is housed in a case-shaped interior formed by mutually assembling head cases 2a and 2b, which are the housing of the head 2. The contents are drive shaft 2
1, inner brush 22, outer brush 23, inner brush drive member 24, gear shaft 25, and cover 26.

The details of each of the above elements will be described with reference to the side sectional view of FIG.

At least the shaft 21a of the drive shaft 21 is made of metal, and a joint member 21j for connecting to the joint member 3j at the tip of the shaft 3a of the motor 3 is attached to one end of the shaft 21a. A bevel gear 21g is fixed to the other end of the shaft 21a as a first gear.

The inner brush 22 is generally ring-shaped,
The ring-shaped front surface is provided with the bristles 22b that become the bristles of the toothbrush. The outer diameter part has two steps, and the front part is the large diameter part 22c,
The rear portion is formed as a small diameter portion 22d. Further, the inner diameter portion also has two steps, and the front portion is formed as a small diameter portion 22e and the rear portion is formed as a large diameter portion 22f. The small-diameter portion 22e has a hexagonal or polygonal cross section, and is adapted to be fitted while regulating the rotation of a claw shaft of an inner brush driving member described later.

The outer brush 23 is also generally ring-shaped,
The ring-shaped front surface is provided with the bristles 23b to be the bristles of the toothbrush. The rear surface of the outer diameter portion is an inclined surface, and a gear 23g that is a second gear corresponding to the bevel gear 21g at the end of the shaft 21a is formed here. The ring-shaped inner diameter portion 23d is rotatably fitted to the small diameter portion 22d of the inner brush 22.

The inner brush drive member 24 has a disk-shaped front surface as a bevel gear, and a gear 24g, which is a third gear, corresponding to the bevel gear 21g at the end of the shaft 21a is formed therein. . Therefore, the gear 23g of the outer brush 23 described above
Means that the gears 21g mesh with each other so as to obtain a driving force from a position 180 degrees apart from each other. A shaft 24f extends from the front portion of the inner brush drive member 24, and the shaft 24f is rotatably fitted to the large diameter portion 22f of the inner diameter of the inner brush 22. The shaft 24f extends further forward to form a pawl shaft 24e. The claw shaft 24e has a polygonal shape such as a hexagonal cross section, and the small diameter portion 22e of the inner diameter of the inner brush 22 described above is fitted therein and rotated together. The tip of the claw shaft 24e is split in two and each claw 24h is provided at each tip. Further, a shaft hole 24k is formed in the back surface of the inner brush driving member 24 with a predetermined depth.

The gear shaft 25 has a shape in which a shaft 25k is projected from a disk-shaped flange 25m, and a shaft hole 24k on the back surface of the inner brush drive member 24 is fitted into the shaft 25k so as to be rotatable.

The cover 26 is a cover for pressing down the gear shaft 25 inserted in the head case 2a, is formed in a disc shape, and is provided with a pair of claws 26n protruding.

The upper portion of the head case 2a in order to accommodate the elements described above, to form inflated to barrel shape as shown in FIG. 1, a gear case 2a _1. Gear case 2a ₁
The front part of the has a large opening to expose the brush portion. Although the rear is closed, the back, the hole 2a _k capable of inserting the shaft 25k of the gear shaft 25, to form a locking hole 2a _n for locking the pair of claw 26n of the cover 26. Further, a bearing 2a ₂ is formed in each of the upper and lower portions in a portion below the head case 2a for accommodating the drive shaft 21, and the bearing 2a ₂ is also symmetrically formed at a corresponding position of the head case 2b. (Not shown), and both are used as a bearing. Further, claws 2a ₃ and 2b ₃ are formed at the lower ends of the head cases 2a and 2b, respectively, and the heads 2 are fixed by being engaged with the engaging holes in the upper portion of the main body 1 not shown.

Furthermore, a locking recess 2a ₄ is formed inside the middle edge of the head case 2a, and a plurality of claws 2b ₄ are formed at the middle edge of the head case 2b so as to extend in the middle of the head case 2a (not shown). The head case 2 is configured by being engaged with the engaging recesses 2a ₄ on the inner side of the rim, respectively.

The head 2 composed of such elements is assembled as follows. Description will be made with reference to the partially assembled sectional view of FIG.

The gear shaft 25 is fitted in the hole 2a _k of the gear case 2a _1.
The shaft 25k is inserted, the cover 26 is fixed by the pair of claws 26n, and the gear shaft 25 is fixed. The shaft hole 24k of the inner brush drive member 24 is fitted to the shaft 25k. Fit the drive shaft 21 in this state the bearing 2a ₂ of the head case 2a, the gear 21g of the front end, engages with the gear 24g of the inner brush drive member 24. The head case 2b is put on the head case 2a. The claws 2b ₄ of the head case 2b are inserted and locked in the locking recesses 2a ₄ inside the middle edge of the head case 2a, and the head case 2a is assembled. The movement of the drive shaft 21 in the thrust direction is restricted by the bearing in the head case.

Only the inner brush drive member 24 is exposed from the gear case 2a ₁ . Inner brush 2
2 has a small diameter portion 22d having an outer diameter of 2 and an inner diameter portion 23 of the outer brush 23
The inner brush 22 and the outer brush 23 are concentrically combined by fitting d. This is fitted into the shaft 24f of the inner brush drive member 24. Shaft 24 of inner brush drive member 24
The large-diameter portion 22f having the inner diameter of the inner brush 22 is fitted to f.
The gear 23g of the outer brush 23 is replaced with the gear 2 at the tip of the drive shaft 21.
Engage to 1g. Shaft 24 of inner brush drive member 24
A claw 24h further forward of f engages and fixes the front surface of the inner brush 22. As described above, the outer circumference of the claw shaft 24e from the shaft 24f of the inner brush drive member 24 to the claw 24h has a polygonal cross section such as a hexagon, and the inner brush 2
Since the cross section of the small-diameter portion 22e having the inner diameter of 2 also has the same shape, both of them rotate together by fitting, and the inner brush 22 is rotationally driven by the inner brush driving member 24.

In the electric toothbrush of the present invention assembled in this way, the motor 3 is driven and rotated by a power source such as a dry battery (not shown) by turning on a power switch (not shown), and the joint members 3j and 21j. Through gear 2
Rotate 1 g. The rotation of the gear 21g is caused by the outer brush 2
3g of the gear 3g and the gear 24 of the inner brush drive member 24
The outer brush 23 is rotated about the small diameter portion 22d of the outer diameter of the inner brush 22 as a shaft, and the bristles 23 of the brush are transferred to the outer brush 23.
Rotate b.

Further, the gear 24 of the inner brush driving member 24
The rotation transmitted to g causes the inner brush drive member 24 to rotate about the shaft 25k of the gear shaft 25, and as described above, the outer periphery of the portion from the shaft 24f of the inner brush drive member 24 to the claw 24h is hexagonal. Since the cross-section of the inner brush 22 has a polygonal cross section, and the cross-section of the small-diameter portion 22e of the inner diameter of the inner brush 22 has the same shape, both of them rotate together by fitting, so that the inner brush drive member 24 drives the inner brush 22 to rotate. , Rotate the bristles 23b of the brush.

With such a structure, the inner brush 22
Then, the outer brush 23 rotates in opposite directions to brush the teeth.

To replace the brushes by exhaustion, both the brushes can be easily removed by pressing the front claw 24h of the shaft 24f of the inner brush drive member 24 to release the engagement with the front surface of the inner brush 22. .

Since the front face of the gear case 2a _{1 of the} head 2 is open, water will infiltrate it when brushing teeth, but the main body 1
The rubber packing 4 prevents the intrusion and prevents the internal electric parts from being damaged.

Since the head 2 is detachable from the main body 1, it is easy to clean and replace it.

In the above embodiment, the first gear and the other gears are bevel gears, but known pin gears or crown gears may be used. Also, the inner brush 22
And the outer brush 23 may be provided with a step difference in the length of the bristles of the brush, and the inner brush 22 and the outer brush 23 may be provided with a difference in rotational speed. Alternatively, both may be provided. Further, in the above embodiments, only the battery is described as the driving power source of the motor, but a DC power source such as a dry battery or a rechargeable battery may be used, or a commercial AC power source for home use may be used.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the two brushes are concentrically arranged, and these brushes rotate in the opposite directions to brush the teeth. The disadvantage that the brush moves in the tangential direction of the rotating circle against the intention of the user, which occurs in the rotating object, does not occur, and it is easy to use and a great effect that the tooth can be brushed efficiently can be obtained.

The two concentrically arranged brushes are driven by one motor, and the driving mechanism is as follows.
A bevel gear, a pin gear, or a crown gear is attached as a first gear to the motor shaft to form a gear on the drive source side, and two shafts orthogonal to the shaft of this gear are coaxial, and the above-mentioned gear is attached to these shafts. The gears of the type corresponding to are mounted as the second and third gears, respectively, and are provided on the first gear on the drive source side.
Since they are engaged with each other at positions separated by 0 degree, a mechanism for rotating two brushes in opposite directions can be obtained with a simple structure, and the brush portions can be easily attached and detached.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of an embodiment of an electric toothbrush of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of the electric toothbrush of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an assembled sectional view of a main part of an embodiment of the electric toothbrush of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 main body 2 head 2a head case 2a ₁ gear case 21 drive shaft 21g first gear 22 inner brush 23 outer brush 23g second or third gear 24 inner brush drive member 24g third or second gear 25 gear shaft 26 Cover 3 Motor 4 Rubber packing

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electric toothbrush characterized in that an inner circular or ring-shaped brush and an outer ring-shaped brush are concentrically arranged and the two brushes are rotated in opposite directions. 2. A main body that accommodates a motor, a power source for driving the motor, etc., and is easy to hold with one hand, a rod-shaped detachable end of the main body, and a toothbrush bristle at the end. And a head having a circular or ring-shaped inner brush and a ring-shaped outer brush concentrically arranged on the head, and a first gear connected to a rotation shaft of the motor, A second gear that meshes with the first gear rotates an inner or outer brush, and a third gear that meshes with the first gear at a position different from the meshing position of the second gear has an outer side or An electric toothbrush, characterized in that the inner toothbrush is rotated, and the two gears are arranged so that the two innermost and outermost concentric brushes rotate in opposite directions. 3. The gear group comprises any one of a bevel gear, a crown gear, and a pin gear.
The electric toothbrush described in. 4. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the inner brush and the outer brush are provided with a step difference in the length of the bristles of the brush. 5. The inner brush and the outer brush are provided with different rotational speeds from each other.
The electric toothbrush according to 3, 4. 6. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a DC power source such as a dry battery or a rechargeable battery, or an AC power source such as a commercial power source is used for the power source section.