JP2005111034A - Sterilization device for toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized and inexpensive sterilization device for a toothbrush capable of reducing power consumption and surely executing sterilization. <P>SOLUTION: The sterilization device is provided with ultraviolet ray sources (16, 161) and reflection mirrors (61, 161) arranged to face each other with the brush parts (52, 152) of the toothbrushes (50, 150) interposed between them. The ultraviolet ray source is composed of an ultraviolet ray emitting diode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toothbrush sterilization apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for sterilizing a toothbrush with ultraviolet rays.

  To sterilize a single toothbrush, it consists of a main body case and a lid member attached to the main body case so as to be openable and closable. The main body case contains a tray for storing the toothbrush and an ultraviolet germicidal lamp that irradiates the brush part of the toothbrush with ultraviolet light And a switch for detecting that the lid member is closed. The tray has an accommodation recess that resembles the shape of a toothbrush, and the accommodation recess is provided with an opening that guides the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet germicidal lamp to the head (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this toothbrush sterilization apparatus, when the toothbrush is placed in the receiving recess of the tray and the lid member is closed, the ultraviolet germicidal lamp is turned on to sterilize the toothbrush.

A large number of toothbrushes can be sterilized at the same time, with a box-shaped main body and a front door attached to the main body so that it can be freely opened and closed. There is also provided a mold hook and an ultraviolet germicidal lamp installed in the main body (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this toothbrush sterilizer, a large number of toothbrushes hung on the rotary circular hook and the linear hook can be sterilized simultaneously by closing the front door and turning on the ultraviolet germicidal lamp.
JP-A-11-318566 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-085144

  However, all of these toothbrush sterilizers use ultraviolet germicidal lamps for sterilization, so the equipment is large and expensive, and the power consumption is large. The effect is very bad. Furthermore, they were unable to respond to the health-conscious and clean-oriented consumer needs of carrying and using at travel destinations and workplaces.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization apparatus that is small and inexpensive, consumes less power, and can reliably perform sterilization.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized by comprising an ultraviolet light source and a reflecting mirror arranged facing each other across the brush portion of the toothbrush, wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises an ultraviolet light emitting diode. A toothbrush sterilizer is provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toothbrush sterilizing apparatus according to the first aspect, the reflecting mirror is a parabolic mirror, and the ultraviolet ray source is disposed at the focal point of the parabolic mirror.

  The sterilization apparatus for a toothbrush according to the present invention described in claim 1 includes an ultraviolet ray source and a reflector that are arranged facing each other with the head of the toothbrush interposed therebetween, and the ultraviolet ray source is constituted by an ultraviolet light emitting diode. Directly irradiate one side of the head of the toothbrush with ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting diode and re-irradiate the other side with the ultraviolet light reflected by the reflecting mirror to sterilize the toothbrush even if the ultraviolet light source is the ultraviolet light emitting diode. It can be carried out reliably, can be manufactured at low cost, has low power consumption and does not require maintenance when used. For this reason, initial cost and running cost are extremely low.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toothbrush sterilization device according to the first aspect, the reflector is a parabolic mirror, and the ultraviolet light source is disposed at the focal point of the parabolic mirror. By doing so, one side of the head of the toothbrush is directly irradiated by the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting diode, and the other side is uniformly re-irradiated by the ultraviolet light reflected as a parallel light beam by the parabolic mirror. Thus, the toothbrush can be sterilized more reliably.

  Embodiments of the toothbrush sterilization apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  This toothbrush sterilization apparatus is a portable type, and includes a lower case 11 and an upper case 12 as shown in FIG. The upper case 12 is connected to the lower case 11 by a hinge 13 and can be opened and closed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower case 11 is formed in a box shape whose upper side is opened. A positioning member 14 is inserted into the lower case 11. A holding groove 15 for the toothbrush 50 is formed in the positioning member 14. The toothbrush holding groove 15 is formed in a shape that can hold the toothbrush 50 with the head 51 sideways, that is, with the brush portion 52 positioned in the horizontal direction.

  Further, an accommodation space for the ultraviolet light source 16 is formed below the toothbrush 50 of the positioning member 14. The ultraviolet light source comprises an ultraviolet light emitting diode 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the ultraviolet light emitting diode 16 is disposed on the positioning member 14 with the light emitting surface facing the brush portion 52 of the toothbrush 50. A protection plate 17 is disposed between the head 51 and the ultraviolet light emitting diode 16. The protective plate 16 is made of a material that transmits UV light well, for example, quartz glass, forms a part of the bottom surface of the toothbrush holding groove 15, and is fixed to the positioning member 14.

  The ultraviolet light emitting diode 16 is powered by a power source 18. The power source 18 is composed of, for example, a dry battery. A housing hole for the dry battery 18 is formed in the positioning member 14. As shown in FIG. 1, a power supply lid 19 that is positioned on the extension line of the dry battery 18 and closes the accommodation hole is screwed into the side surface of the lower case 11. The power source cover 19 incorporates a cathode-side piece of the dry battery 18 and the anode-side piece of the dry battery 18 at the bottom of the housing hole. These pieces and the ultraviolet light-emitting diode 16 are mounted on the circuit board 20 incorporated in the lower case 11. Has been implemented. A switch is mounted on the circuit board 20, and the switch supplies power to the ultraviolet light emitting diode 16 only when the upper case 12 is closed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a positioning member 21 is accommodated in the upper case 12. A holding groove 22 for the mirror unit 60 is formed in the positioning member 21. The mirror unit 60 includes a reflecting mirror 61 and a handle. The mirror unit holding groove 22 is configured to hold the mirror unit 60 with the reflecting mirror 61 facing the head 51 of the toothbrush 50. For this reason, when the upper case 12 is closed, the reflecting mirror 61 and the ultraviolet light emitting diode 16 face each other, and the head 51 of the toothbrush 50 is disposed between them.

  Further, the positioning member 14 of the upper case 12 is provided with an accommodation groove 23 for accommodating a part of the toothpaste cream 70, and the positioning member 21 is also provided with an accommodation groove 24 for accommodating the remainder of the toothpaste cream 70.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this toothbrush sterilizer opens the upper case 12, the toothbrush 50 in the toothbrush holding groove 15, the toothpaste cream 70 in the toothpaste cream holding groove 23, and the mirror unit 60 in the mirror unit holding groove 22. Inserted and taken to travel or work. When the upper case 12 is closed, the positions thereof are fixed, and at the same time, the switch is closed, and the ultraviolet light emitting diode 16 is supplied with power by the dry battery 18. The ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting diode 16 are transmitted through the protective plate 17 and are applied to the brush portion 52 of the toothbrush 50. The hair bundles constituting the brush portion 52 and the ultraviolet rays that have passed between the hair bundles are reflected by the reflecting mirror 61 of the mirror unit 60, re-irradiated to the brush portion 52, and the head 51 of the toothbrush 50 is sterilized. Sterilization is continued until the upper case 12 is opened, and a clean toothbrush can be used when brushing teeth on the road or at work. Then, after brushing the teeth, the toothbrush 50 is returned to its original position and the upper case 12 is closed, so that a clean toothbrush can be used for the next use.

  As described above, the toothbrush sterilization apparatus according to the present invention reflects the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray source 16 by the reflecting mirror 61 of the mirror unit 60 and re-irradiates the reflected ultraviolet rays to the brush portion 52 to sterilize the head 51 of the toothbrush 50. As a result, the toothbrush 50 can be sterilized reliably. In addition, the toothbrush 50 can be sterilized reliably even though the ultraviolet light source is the low-power ultraviolet light-emitting diode 16.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the toothbrush sterilization apparatus of this embodiment is a fixed installation type that sterilizes only the head 151 of the toothbrush 150, and includes a sterilization unit 110 and a power supply unit 118.

  The sterilization unit 110 includes an outer case 111 as shown in FIG. An inner case 112 is fitted and fixed to the outer case 111. The inner case 112 has a hollow shape with one end open, and a holding groove 115 that accommodates the head 151 of the toothbrush 150 is provided on the inner surface of the lower wall that forms the inner space. The width W of the toothbrush holding groove 115 is slightly wider than the width of the head 151 of the toothbrush 150, and the depth D is substantially equal to or slightly deeper than the thickness of the handle 153 of the toothbrush 150. When the toothbrush 150 is inserted into the toothbrush holding groove 115, the end of the head 151 hits the end 131 of the toothbrush holding groove 115, the insertion position is restricted, and only the brush part 152 protrudes from the inner surface of the lower wall.

  The ultraviolet ray source 116 and the reflecting mirror 161 are disposed on both sides of the head 151 of the toothbrush 150. The reflecting mirror 161 is a parabolic mirror, is disposed inside the accommodation hole 132 provided in the side wall of the inner case 112, and is positioned and fixed by the edge around the opening and the lid member 133. ing. The parabolic mirror 161 is made of a material that transmits UV light well, for example, quartz glass. And the reflective surface 162 is formed in the back surface of this quartz glass body.

  The ultraviolet light source 116 is composed of an ultraviolet light emitting diode, and is disposed on the inner case 112 with the light emitting surface positioned at the focal point of the parabolic mirror 161. The ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 is mounted on the conductor 120 and is electrically connected to the power supply unit 118 through the conductor 120.

  A protective plate 117 is disposed on the light emitting surface of the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 and is fitted in and fixed to a recess in the inner surface of the side wall of the inner case 112. The protective plate itself is made of a material that transmits UV light well, for example, a quartz glass plate.

  The inner case 112 is provided with a door 113. The door 113 has a size that covers the opening end of the inner space of the inner case. The upper edge is connected to the inner surface of the upper wall that forms the inner space by a hinge, and between the door 113 and the inner case 112. It is positioned vertically by a placed spring.

  The toothbrush 150 is attached to the sterilization unit 110 by being fitted into the toothbrush holding groove 115 and pushed until it hits the end 131 of the toothbrush holding groove 115. When the toothbrush 150 is pushed by the movement of the toothbrush 150 and the toothbrush 150 is mounted in a fixed position, the lower edge of the door 113 is moved over the brush portion 152 by a spring and returned to the original position, and the free edge is of the handle 153 of the toothbrush 150. The inner space is sealed by contacting the surface and the inner surface of the lower wall.

  When the toothbrush 150 is attached, the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 is turned on manually or automatically. The ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 are applied to the brush portion 152 of the toothbrush 150. For this reason, even if the ultraviolet light source is the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116, the toothbrush 150 is reliably sterilized. In this toothbrush sterilization apparatus, since the reflecting mirror 161 is a parabolic mirror as described above, the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 is emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 as indicated by an arrow L in FIG. Is applied to the brush portion 152 as a parallel reflected light beam. For this reason, the head 151 of the toothbrush 150 is uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the toothbrush 150 can be sterilized more reliably.

  And since the free edge of the door 113 is in contact with the surface of the handle 153 of the toothbrush 150 and the inner surface of the lower wall to seal the internal space, the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 hardly leaks to the outside. In addition, since the ultraviolet light source is the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 and the output is small, there is almost no influence on the user.

  Power supply to the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 is performed by a power supply unit 118. The power supply unit 118 contains a rechargeable battery (not shown) inside the case 134. Electrical connections are made by contacts on the sterilization unit 110 and the power supply unit 118. The contacts of the sterilization unit 110 are indicated by reference numeral 135 in FIG. The contact 135 is provided on the lower surface of the sterilization unit 110 and is electrically connected to the conductor 120. As shown in FIG. 4, the power supply unit 118 is provided with a contact 136 that is electrically connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the rechargeable battery. These contacts 135 and 136 come into contact when the sterilization unit 110 is mounted on the power supply unit 118, and can supply power to the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 by a rechargeable battery. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a contact point 137 electrically connected to the conductor 120 is provided on the upper surface of the sterilization unit 110, and a second sterilization unit 110 having the same configuration is placed as will be described later. Sometimes, it is electrically connected to the contact 136 of the sterilization unit so that the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 is fed from the rechargeable battery.

  Furthermore, the sterilization unit 110 and the power supply unit 118 are provided with means for positioning when placed. This positioning means includes a connection recess 138 on the bottom surface of the sterilization unit 110 shown in FIG. 6 and a connection protrusion 139 on the top surface of the power supply unit 118 shown in FIG. When these connecting recesses 138 and connecting protrusions 139 are fitted together, the units 110 and 118 are kept connected and the contacts 135 and 136 are brought into contact with each other. And the sterilization unit 110 has the connection convex part 140 on the upper surface, and when the 2nd sterilization unit 110 is mounted, while maintaining the connection with the 2nd sterilization unit 110, the contact 136 is made into 2nd sterilization unit 110. Electrical connection is made to the contact 135 of the sterilization unit 110.

  An apparatus capable of simultaneously sterilizing a couple's toothbrush 150 includes, for example, a second sterilization unit 110 indicated by a two-dot chain line, which is configured identically, as shown in FIG. The second sterilization unit 110 is placed on the upper surface of the first sterilization unit 110, and the connection protrusion 139 on the upper surface of the first sterilization unit 110 is fitted to the connection recess 137 on the lower wall of the second sterilization unit 110. it can. Further, although not shown, a third sterilization unit is prepared, the third sterilization unit is further placed on the second sterilization unit 110, and the connection recess of the third sterilization unit is formed in the second sterilization unit. By fitting the connecting convex portion, it is possible to obtain a device that can sterilize not only the parents but also the child's toothbrush 150.

  As described above, this toothbrush sterilization apparatus uses the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 as the ultraviolet light source, so that the power consumption is low, the cost is low, the apparatus can be miniaturized, and maintenance is hardly required. The initial and running costs are very low.

  Furthermore, the ultraviolet source 116 and the reflecting mirror 161 are disposed on both sides of the head 151 of the toothbrush 150, the reflecting mirror 161 is a parabolic mirror, the ultraviolet source is the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116, and the light emitting surface is a parabolic surface. At the focal point of the mirror 161, one side of the head 151 of the toothbrush 150 is directly irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116, and the other side is irradiated with ultraviolet rays reflected by the parabolic mirror 161 as parallel rays. Therefore, even if the ultraviolet light source is the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116, the toothbrush 150 can be reliably sterilized.

  Further, the reflecting mirror 161 is made of quartz glass or the like that transmits UV rays well, and the reflecting surface 162 is formed on the back surface. Even if the surface of the reflecting mirror 161 is wiped, the reflecting function is not lost. Since the light emitting surface of the ultraviolet light emitting diode 116 is covered with a protective plate 117 that transmits UV light well, such as a quartz glass plate, the ability is not lost even if the dirt is wiped off.

  Furthermore, since it can connect with the other sterilization unit 110 by the connection recessed part 137 and the connection convex part 139, even if it assembles the sterilization apparatus of a family toothbrush, it can be set as a small installation area.

  In addition, although the Example demonstrated above demonstrated the sterilization apparatus of the single toothbrush 50 and 150, it can also be comprised as an apparatus which sterilizes a several toothbrush simultaneously as needed.

The perspective view which shows the 1st Example of the sterilizer of the toothbrush of this invention. The perspective view which shows the state which open | released the lid | cover of the sterilizer of the toothbrush shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around an ultraviolet light emitting diode along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1. The perspective view which shows the 2nd Example of the sterilizer of the toothbrush of this invention. The expanded sectional view which follows the 5-5 line of FIG. The bottom view of the sterilization unit which comprises the toothbrush sterilization apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Lower case 12 ... Upper case 13 ... Hinge 14 ... Positioning member of lower case 15 ... Toothbrush holding groove 16 ... Ultraviolet source (ultraviolet light emitting diode)
17 ・ ・ ・ Protection plate 18 ・ ・ ・ Power supply (dry cell)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Circuit board 21 ... Upper case positioning member 22 ... Mirror unit holding groove 23, 24 ... Toothbrush cream accommodation groove 50 ... Toothbrush 51 ... Toothbrush head 52 ... Brush unit 60 ・ ・ ・ Mirror unit 61 ・ ・ ・ Reflective mirror 70 ・ ・ ・ Toothpaste cream 110 ・ ・ ・ Sterilization unit 111 ・ ・ ・ Outer case 112 ・ ・ ・ Inner case 113 ・ ・ ・ Door 115 ・ ・ ・ Holding toothbrush Groove 116 ... UV source (ultraviolet light emitting diode)
117 ... Protective plate 118 ... Power supply unit 120 ... Conductor 131 ... Holding groove end 132 ... Reflecting mirror receiving hole 135, 136 ... Sterilization unit contact 137 ... Power supply Unit contact point 138 sterilization unit connection recess 139 power supply unit connection projection 140 sterilization unit connection projection 150 toothbrush 151 head 152 brush unit 153 ..Handle 161 ... Reflector (parabolic mirror)
162 ・ ・ ・ Reflection surface

Claims (2)

It includes an ultraviolet ray source and a reflector that are arranged facing each other across the brush part of the toothbrush,
The toothbrush sterilization apparatus, wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises an ultraviolet light emitting diode. The toothbrush sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting mirror is a parabolic mirror, and the ultraviolet light source is disposed at a focal point of the parabolic mirror.

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