JP2003339744A - Power driven toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an excellent tooth-brushing effect by making a brush perform a mechanical vibration by a small power consumption without applying an uncomfortable feeling by transmitting a large vibration to the hand. <P>SOLUTION: From the front side of a handle member 1 containing a built-in driving voltage-generator 12, a neck member 3 of a smaller cross sectional area containing a built-in low frequency piezoelectric vibrator 14 is extended. The vibrator 14 vibrates by a low frequency voltage which is applied by the generator 12, and provides the mechanical vibration in the rectangular direction to the longitudinal direction of the neck member 3, to a brush 8 provided at the distal end of the neck member 3. The vibration of the vibrator 14 by the low frequency voltage is small, and does not greatly shake the handle member 1. Also, by directly vibrating the neck member 3 inside, the brush 8 can be efficiently vibrated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush in which a brush is driven by power, and more particularly to a power-driven toothbrush which provides an excellent tooth brushing effect and a good feeling in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Toothbrushes are commercially available that are brushed by motive power, not by hand movement. As described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1-77433, this toothbrush has a handle in which a weight is eccentrically attached to the output shaft of a rotary electric motor, and the electric motor is driven by the eccentric weight. Radial vibration is generated over the entire circumference, and this vibration is transmitted from the handle to the brush,
It is said that even if the brush vibrates three-dimensionally and the hand does not move, the brush comes into contact with and slides over a wide range of teeth and gums, and as a result, the brushing effect is improved compared to manual brushing.

[0003]

In the power-driven toothbrush using the rotary electric motor and the eccentric weight as described above, the whole handle vibrates so much that this vibration may be transmitted to the hand and may cause discomfort. However, there are problems that it is difficult to reduce the size of the handle, the life of the rotary motor is short, and the power consumption is large.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems that a conventional power-driven toothbrush using a rotary electric motor and an eccentric weight has. It is possible to vibrate the handle without making a vibration noise. An object of the present invention is to provide a power-driven toothbrush capable of imparting mechanical vibration to the brush and consuming less power.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a handle member having a built-in drive voltage generator and a neck portion having a low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating member built therein and extending in front of the handle member. The low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body is vibrated by the low-frequency voltage applied by the driving voltage generator, and the mechanical vibration in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the neck is provided. Was given to the brush as the first means.

The low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body is a laminated body of a metal elastic plate and a thin plate-shaped piezoelectric element, and a voltage is applied to the electrodes to cause electric polarization, which causes strain in the longitudinal direction. The low-frequency vibration generated by curving in the direction gives mechanical vibrations to the neck member and the brush little by little, and the brush is consumed with a small amount of power consumption without vibrating the handle greatly or making a vibration noise. Vibrate,
Even if the hand is not moved, the brush comes into contact with and slides on the teeth and gums within a certain range, and an excellent tooth brushing effect can be obtained.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a handle member having a built-in drive voltage generator, a low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body and an ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body, and extends in front of the handle member. A low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body, which comprises a neck member and a brush provided at the tip of the neck member, vibrates due to the low-frequency voltage applied by the drive voltage generator, and is a machine in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the neck portion. The second means is that the mechanical vibration is applied to the brush, and the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body vibrates by the ultrasonic voltage applied by the drive voltage generator to generate ultrasonic energy in the flocking direction of the brush.

The ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body is a thin plate-shaped piezoelectric element, and a voltage is applied to the electrodes to cause electric polarization to generate strain in the thickness direction, and the ultrasonic vibration generated by the strain causes acceleration of ultrasonic waves. Energy propagates through the oral cavity to remove and remove dental plaque and dirt substances, and gingival massage. The second means with such a function added to the first means can further improve the tooth brushing effect. become able to.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the first means or the second means, the driving voltage generator is built in the inner case and the neck member is integrally connected to the inner case. That is, the combined body of the inner case and the neck member is elastically held at the tip of the handle member, and the inner case is internally provided in the handle member with a gap on the outer peripheral surface. The third means.

The low-frequency mechanical vibration generated by the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrator vibrates the neck member and the brush mainly without vibrating the handle member, thereby improving the efficiency and reducing the size of the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrator. It is possible to reduce power consumption and power consumption, and since vibration is hardly transmitted to the hand, it can be used without causing discomfort.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and second embodiment shown in FIGS. In form,
Similarly, the hollow handle member 1 is internally provided with a hollow inner case 2 having a void 10 on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
A hollow neck member 3 connected to the tip end of the neck member 3 extends in front of the handle member 1, and a flat protrusion 4 is integrally formed at the tip of the neck member 3. Further, the head body 6 having the flat mounting hole 7 opened at the base end and having the brush 8 formed by implanting a bunch of bristles on one surface is
Is tightly fitted to the projecting portion 4 and is detachably coupled by a detachable retaining means (not shown). As a result, by replacing the head 6 when the brush 8 is worn, the handle member 1, the inner case 2, and the neck member 3 having a mechanism described later can be repeatedly used without being discarded.

A contactless rechargeable battery 11 which is a power source and a driving voltage generator 12 are built in the inner case 2, and a push button type operation switch 13 exposed on the outer surface of the handle member 1 is provided. The drive voltage generator 12 performs a predetermined operation when pressed. Further, the neck member 3 has a low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 incorporated therein, and the protrusion 4 has an ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17 incorporated therein.

The low frequency piezoelectric vibrator 14 is an elongated elastic substrate 14 made of a highly elastic metal material such as spring steel or phosphor bronze.
A thin piezoelectric element 14B, 14C made of ceramics is laminated on one surface or both surfaces of A, in this embodiment, both surfaces in this embodiment, and both ends of the elastic substrate 14A are piezoelectric elements 14B. , 14C are not laminated. This low frequency piezoelectric vibrator 14 is a piezoelectric element 14.
By applying a voltage to the electrodes of B and 14C to cause electric polarization, the opposite longitudinal strains are alternately generated to cause the contraction of one side and the expansion of the other side alternately, and the elastic substrate 14A contracts. The vibration is performed by bending toward the piezoelectric element.

The voltage applied to the low frequency piezoelectric vibrator 14 is 1
It is about 00V and 50 to 500 Hz, preferably 10
A low frequency of 0 to 300 Hz is used, and a large vibration is caused relatively slowly by such a low frequency voltage. For example, an elastic substrate 14A having a length of about 45 mm
If one end of is fixed, 100V, 170 at its free end
A displacement of approximately 3.5 mm can be produced at Hz.
The surface of the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 is the brush 8
In the posture arranged on the plane in the same direction with respect to the flocking direction, the neck member 3 is inserted to the vicinity of the rear end with a space around it, and the tip of the elastic substrate 14A approaching the protrusion 4 is The holding member 15 is internally fixed to the neck member 3 and is fitted and fixed. A weight 16 for improving resonance characteristics of vibration is attached to a base end portion which is a free end of the elastic substrate 14A, and the weight 16 can adjust a displacement amount of the free end.

The ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17 is composed of a thin plate piezoelectric element made of ceramics, and has a brush 8 on the protruding portion 4.
It is buried in the surrounding area on a plane perpendicular to the direction of flocking. This ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17 causes a strain in the thickness direction by applying a voltage to the electrodes to electrically polarize it, and vibrates due to this strain.

The voltage applied to the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17 is an appropriate voltage of about several tens of volts and has a high frequency of about 1 to 3 MHz. By applying such a high frequency voltage, that is, an ultrasonic voltage, the ultrasonic wave is generated. The piezoelectric vibrator 17 is the brush 8
Ultrasonic vibration is applied in the direction of flocking. Then, the acceleration energy of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic vibration propagates in the oral cavity, and removes and removes plaque, removes and removes contaminants adhering to various parts of the oral cavity, and performs gingival massage. The disposition of the brush 8 and the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17 itself is not new as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-509151.

According to the present invention, it is possible to apply mechanical vibration to the brush 8 without using an electric motor, and to transfer a large vibration to the hand holding the handle member 1 to brush the teeth without causing discomfort. This is the main purpose, and this purpose can be achieved without the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17. Further, when the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17 is provided, the brushing effect can be further improved by the synergistic action of the mechanical vibration of the brush 8 and the above-described action of the ultrasonic wave.

The low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 in the two embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and 4 is displaced with the holding portion piece 15 at the tip portion as a fulcrum, and the holding portion piece 15 is displaced. Accordingly, the elastic substrate 14A repeatedly receives a force in the opposite direction, that is, a vibration, which is transmitted to the neck member 3 and the protrusion 4, and the brush which is planted in the head 6 fitted to the protrusion 4. Vibrate 8. Since the holding piece 15 is installed at a position close to the brush 8, the vibration can be transmitted to the brush 8 as it is without damping the vibration.

FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 and the brush 8 in the above-described two embodiments. And is oscillated at a right angle to perform the vibration indicated by X ₁ , and the brush 8 oscillates in the same direction as indicated by X ₂ . Due to this vibration, the tip of the brush 8 reciprocates in small steps along the surface of the tooth, and even if the hand is not moved, the tooth and even the gingiva can slide in a certain range to bring about an excellent brushing effect. Is.

The low frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 is a method of implanting the brush 8
It can be arranged on a plane inclined with respect to the direction. Figure
5 (B) is when placed on a plane with an inclination angle of 45 degrees.
It is a figure explaining the relationship with the brush 8, and is a low frequency piezoelectric vibration.
The moving body 14 is inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the brush 8 flocking direction.
And the vibration indicated by Z is performed. This vibration causes the neck
The member 3 vibrates X in a direction at right angles to the brush 8 flocking direction.
_ThreeVibration in the same direction as Y _ThreeAnd then brush 8
Is vibration X in the same direction as these_Four, Y_FourDo. brush
The tip of 8 is this vibration X_FourWiggles along the tooth surface due to
Vibration while reciprocating to Y_FourAllows the tooth surface to wiggle
In addition to providing a better tooth brushing effect
Vibration Y_FourStabs the gums for a massage effect
It can be done.

Next, a combination 5 of the inner case 2 and the neck member 3
Is elastically held at the tip of the handle member 1, and the inner case 2 is housed in the handle member 1 with a gap 10 on the outer peripheral surface, so that the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 generates low frequencies. Of the mechanical vibration of the handle 1 is reduced or prevented to eliminate the discomfort caused by the vibration transmitted to the hand, and at the same time, the vibration energy is efficiently provided to the brush 8 to bring about an excellent tooth brushing effect, and The frequency piezoelectric vibrator 14 can be downsized and the power consumption can be reduced.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner case 2 is completely embedded in the handle member 1,
The base is fixed by being fitted into a cap 18 screwed on the base end of the handle member 1. The neck member 3 extends forward through the tip wall 1A of the handle member 1, is surrounded by a rubber packing member 19 mounted on the tip wall 1A, and is elastic at the tip portion of the handle member 1. It is kept watertight.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner case 2 has its tip portion projected forward and the handle member 1 is formed.
The interior is fixed to the base end wall 1B of the handle member 1 with machine screws 20. The inner case 2 is elastically and watertightly held at the tip of the handle member 1 by being surrounded by a rubber packing member 21 attached to the inner peripheral surface of the handle member 1.

Further, in these two embodiments,
The neck member 3 has a smaller cross-sectional area than the handle member 1 and the inner case 2, and the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 is built in the neck member 3 to facilitate downsizing of the handle member 1. In addition, since the neck member 3 provided with the brush 8 at the tip is directly vibrated inside, the brush 8 can be vibrated efficiently and with a satisfactory amplitude by using the small low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the drive voltage generator 12, which comprises a control circuit 25 and a drive circuit 29. The control circuit 25 includes a clock signal generating circuit 26, a frequency dividing circuit 27 for dividing a low frequency signal and a high frequency signal from a clock signal sent from the clock signal generating circuit 26, and a stop signal when a predetermined time has elapsed based on the clock signal. And a timer circuit 28 for issuing. Further, the drive circuit 29 generates a low frequency voltage by the low frequency signal sent from the frequency dividing circuit 27 and drives the low frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 to generate the low frequency drive voltage generating circuit 3.
0, and an ultrasonic drive voltage generation circuit 31 for generating an ultrasonic voltage by the high frequency signal sent from the frequency dividing circuit 27 and driving the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body 17. The two drive voltage generating circuits 30 and 31 stop when the timer circuit 27 issues a stop signal.

As described above, according to the present embodiment in which the predetermined low-frequency signal and high-frequency signal are obtained from the clock signal sent to the timer circuit 28 by using the frequency dividing circuit 27, the entire circuit configuration is simplified. There is an advantage that is done. Incidentally, in the first means of the present invention in which ultrasonic vibration is not performed but only mechanical vibration by the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body 14 is performed, the high-frequency signal is divided by the frequency dividing circuit 27,
Needless to say, the ultrasonic drive voltage generation circuit 31 is unnecessary.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to cause the brush to make a small mechanical vibration with a small amount of power consumption without transmitting a large vibration to the hand or causing a vibrating noise to the ears, and an excellent tooth brushing effect. In addition to this, it is possible to further improve the tooth brushing effect by ultrasonic vibration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view with a part omitted showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view with a part omitted, showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG.

5A and 5B are views for explaining mechanical vibration of a brush.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a drive voltage generator.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 handle member, 2 inner case, 3 neck member, 4 protruding part,
5 combined body, 6 head body, 7 mounting hole, 8 brush, 10
Air gap, 12 drive voltage generator, 14 low frequency piezoelectric vibrating body, 17 ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body, 19, 21 packing member, 26 clock signal generating circuit, 27 frequency dividing circuit,
28 timer circuit, 30 low frequency drive voltage generation circuit, 3
1 Ultrasonic drive voltage generator,

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A handle member containing a driving voltage generator, a neck member containing a low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body and extending in front of the handle member, and a brush provided at the tip of the neck member. The low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body is vibrated by a low-frequency voltage applied by the drive voltage generator to apply mechanical vibration to the brush in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the neck portion. , A power-driven toothbrush characterized by the following. 2. A handle member having a built-in drive voltage generator, a neck member having a low frequency piezoelectric vibrating body and an ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body built therein and extending in front of the handle member, and a neck member of the neck member. A brush provided at the tip, wherein the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body vibrates by a low-frequency voltage applied by the driving voltage generator to generate mechanical vibration in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the neck member. Wherein the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body vibrates by an ultrasonic voltage applied by the driving voltage generator to generate ultrasonic energy in the bristle implantation direction of the brush. Power driven toothbrush. 3. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the drive voltage generator is built in the inner case, and the neck member is integrally connected to the inner case. An engagement body between the neck member and the neck member is elastically held at a tip end portion of the handle member, and the inner case is internally provided in the handle member with a gap on an outer peripheral surface thereof. Driving toothbrush. 4. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body is arranged on a plane in the same direction as the bristling direction of the brush. 5. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body is arranged on a plane inclined with respect to the bristle implantation direction of the brush. 6. The low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body is in the form of an elongated plate, and is incorporated in the neck member with its tip end fixed at a position close to the brush. Power-driven toothbrush. 7. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein a weight is attached to a base end portion of the low-frequency piezoelectric vibrating body. 8. The drive voltage generator comprises a clock signal generating circuit, a frequency dividing circuit for dividing a low frequency signal from the clock signal, a timer circuit for defining an operating time of the low frequency piezoelectric vibrating body, and the frequency dividing circuit. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 1 or 3, including a low-frequency drive voltage generation circuit that generates a low-frequency voltage by a low-frequency signal divided by a frequency circuit. 9. The drive voltage generator includes a clock signal generating circuit, a frequency dividing circuit for dividing a low frequency signal and a high frequency signal from the clock signal, and operating times of the low frequency piezoelectric vibrating body and the ultrasonic piezoelectric vibrating body. Setting a timer circuit, a low frequency drive voltage generating circuit for generating a low frequency voltage by the low frequency signal divided by the frequency dividing circuit, and an ultrasonic voltage by the high frequency signal divided by the frequency dividing circuit. An ultrasonic driving voltage generating circuit is included, and the ultrasonic driving voltage generating circuit is included.
The power-driven toothbrush described in 1. 10. The combined body of the inner case and the neck member comprises:
The proximal end portion of the neck member is elastically held by the distal end portion of the handle member, and the proximal end of the inner case is fixed to the proximal end portion of the handle member to be assembled to the handle member. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 3. 11. The combined body of the inner case and the neck member comprises:
The distal end of the inner case is elastically held by the distal end of the handle member, and the proximal end of the inner case is fixed to the proximal end of the handle member to be attached to the handle member. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 3. 12. The brush is provided on a head body having a mounting hole, and the neck member has a projecting portion at a tip thereof, and the mounting hole is detachably fitted into the projecting portion. The power-driven toothbrush according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the brushed head is replaceably coupled to the neck member by.