JP2008237276A - Gum massaging equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide gum massaging equipment which permits gums to be effectively massaged with both hands remaining freely usable. <P>SOLUTION: The gum massaging equipment has a mouthpiece portion 4 mounted so as to cover either the upper dentition or the lower dentition and a vibrating portion 5 vibrating the mouthpiece portion 4, and incorporates the vibrating portion 5 in the mouthpiece portion 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gingival massage device that prevents or ameliorates symptoms such as periodontal disease by applying vibration to the gingiva to promote blood circulation of the gingiva.

Periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis are diseases caused by periodontal disease bacteria contained in dental plaque (plaque) adhering to the tooth surface, and support the gums around the teeth and the roots of the teeth. A disease in which the alveolar bone is inflamed and destroyed.
To prevent and treat periodontal disease, thoroughly brush your teeth and thoroughly remove dental plaque containing periodontal disease bacteria that cause periodontal disease, and massage your gums to promote gingival circulation. It is said that it is effective to strengthen the resistance to periodontal disease.
Therefore, as a gingival massage device for applying vibration to the gingiva to promote blood circulation of the gingiva, for example, a vibration made of a U-shaped curved plate having a size that can be inserted into the oral cavity and along the curves of the upper and lower dentitions. A body and a main body part incorporating a vibration motor are proposed, and the main body part and the vibration body are integrally connected by a connecting means to transmit vibration generated in the main body part to the vibration body. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
However, this gingival massage device holds the main body part in the hand, inserts the vibration body into the oral cavity, and drives the vibration motor in a state where the vibration body is bitten by the upper and lower teeth. Because the gingiva massage is performed by transmitting vibration to the body, it is necessary to always hold the body part with fingers during the gingival massage. This is a significant limitation.
JP 2004-129914 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a gingival massage device that can effectively perform gingival massage in a state where both hands can be used freely. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a mouthpiece portion that is mounted so as to cover either the upper or lower dentition, and a vibration portion that vibrates the mouthpiece portion. The part is built in the mouthpiece part.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the vibration section includes a vibration electric motor and a vibration transmission body attached integrally to the vibration electric motor.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the vibration transmitting body is arranged at least in a meshing portion of the upper and lower tooth rows.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the second or third aspect, the vibration electric motor is a brushless DC motor in which an eccentric load is added to the output shaft.

  The gingival massaging apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a mouthpiece portion that is mounted so as to cover one of the upper and lower dentitions, and a vibration portion that vibrates the mouthpiece portion. Since it is built in the piece part, it is not necessary to keep holding the gingival massage device with fingers other than when attaching to and detaching from the dentition, and gingival massage can be performed effectively in a very relaxed state. Also, using both hands freely, other work can be performed in parallel, and the massage time can be used effectively.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the vibration part is composed of the vibration electric motor and the vibration transmission body integrally attached to the vibration electric motor, the vibration by the vibration electric motor is transmitted through the vibration transmission body. Can be transmitted efficiently.

  In the invention according to claim 3, since the vibration transmitting body is disposed at least in the meshing portion of the upper and lower dentitions, by engaging the upper and lower dentitions with the mouthpiece portion mounted on the dentition, Both upper and lower gums can be massaged simultaneously.

  Since the vibration electric motor is a brushless DC motor in which an eccentric load is applied to the output shaft, the vibration electric motor can be downsized and can be easily incorporated in the mouthpiece portion.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gingival massage device according to the present invention will be described in detail.
The gingival massage apparatus 1 of this embodiment is comprised from the massage device 2 and the remote controller 3, as shown in FIG.

The massage device 2 includes a mouthpiece portion 4 attached to the upper dentition and a vibrating portion 5 that vibrates the mouthpiece portion 4.
The mouthpiece portion 4 is integrally formed using silicone rubber, and is formed in a substantially U shape in plan view. The mouthpiece portion 4 includes a groove portion 41 into which a tooth row is fitted. It is in a form that does not fall off.
The vibration unit 5 includes a vibration motor 51 and a diaphragm 52.
The vibration motor 51 is a flat brushless DC motor (model LBV10B-002, manufactured by Nidec Copal), and has operating characteristics of a rated voltage of 3 V and a rated rotational speed of 11000 rpm.
The diaphragm 52 is made of a stainless steel thin plate and is formed in substantially the same shape as the groove portion 41 of the mouthpiece portion 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vibration motor 51 is attached to the central portion of the vibration plate 52 and is integrally provided with the vibration plate 52, and the vibration motor 51 is formed in the groove portion 41 of the mouthpiece portion 4. The diaphragm 52 is embedded in the mouthpiece portion 4 in a state where the diaphragm 52 is disposed along the length direction of the groove portion 41 of the mouthpiece portion 4.
As a method of embedding the vibration motor 51 and the diaphragm 52 in the mouthpiece portion 4, for example, insert molding can be mentioned.

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller 3 includes a casing 10, an operation panel 11 provided on the outer surface of the casing 10, a battery 12 and a control board 13 provided in the casing 10.
The casing 10 is formed in a size that can be stored in a pocket of clothes or the like, and has a space in which the battery 12 and the control board 13 can be stored.
The operation panel 11 includes a power switch 14, a strength switch 15, a mode switch 16 for selecting a vibration mode, and an operation switch 17. The strength switch 15, the mode switch 16, and the operation switch 17 are: An input unit 18 described later in detail is configured.
The strength switch 15 switches vibration strength. The mode switch 16 switches between two types of vibration modes, a continuous mode and an intermittent mode. The operation switch 17 switches the start / stop of vibration.

The massage device 2 and the remote controller 3 are electrically connected by cables 6 and 8. The cable 6 is connected to the vibration motor 51 of the massager 2. An end portion of the cable 6 extends from the mouthpiece portion 4 to the outside, and a male detachable plug 7 is attached to a tip portion thereof.
The cable 8 is connected to the control board 13 in the remote controller 3. An end portion of the cable 8 is drawn out from the casing 10 of the remote controller 3, and a female detachable plug 9 is attached to a tip portion thereof.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the gingival massage device 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the gingival massage device 1 includes a battery 12, a power switch 14, an input unit 18, a mode setting circuit 19, a normally closed contact 20, a control unit 21, and a vibration motor 51. Has been.

The input unit 18 includes a massage intensity setting unit, a massage mode setting unit, and a start / stop setting unit. In the massage intensity setting unit, an input value corresponding to the operation of the strength switch 15 on the operation panel 11 is set. In the massage mode setting unit, an input value corresponding to the operation of the mode switch 16 on the operation panel 11 is set. In the start / stop setting unit, an input value corresponding to the operation of the operation switch 17 on the operation panel 11 is set.
The control unit 21 includes a speed control unit and a switch circuit, and controls the power supplied from the battery 12 according to the input values set by the massage intensity setting unit and the start / stop setting unit of the input unit 18. To do. Thereby, the drive of the vibration motor 51 is controlled.
The vibration motor 51 includes a rotor, a stator, a rotor position detector, and an electronic commutator, and a weight is attached to the output shaft of the rotor as an eccentric load.

Next, operation | movement of the gingival massage apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
First, when the power switch 14 is turned on and the massage intensity and massage mode are set by the input unit 18, massage mode setting data is sent from the input unit 18 to the mode setting circuit 19, and the massage intensity setting data is input to the input unit. 18 to the control unit 21.
The control unit 21 controls the excitation current value according to the input signal sent from the massage intensity setting unit. Further, the mode setting circuit 19 opens and closes the normally closed contact 20 when the intermittent mode is set in the massage mode setting unit of the input unit 18.
When the operation start is set by the input unit 18, the operation start setting data is sent from the input unit 18 to the control unit 21, and the operation switch is turned on by the control unit 21.
When the normally closed contact 20 is closed, an excitation current having a value set by the control unit 21 is supplied from the battery 12 via the power switch 14 and the normally closed contact 20 to the vibration motor 51. Is driven at a rotational speed corresponding to the excitation current from the control unit 21.
When the massage mode and the massage intensity are changed by the input unit 18 after the vibration motor 51 starts to vibrate, new input values are sent to the mode setting circuit 19 and the control unit 21, and the set massage intensity and massage mode are set. Switch to When the operation stop is set by the input unit 18, the operation switch is turned off in the control unit 21, and the supply of the excitation current to the vibration motor 51 is stopped.

  As described above in detail, in the gingival massage device 1 of the present embodiment, since the vibrating part 5 is built in the mouthpiece part 4, the massager 2 is held by fingers other than when being attached to and detached from the dentition. There is no need to continue. Therefore, gingival massage can be effectively performed in a very relaxed state. Also, other tasks such as watching TV and reading can be performed in parallel. Further, since the remote controller 3 is large enough to be stored in the pocket of clothes, it can be stored in the pocket except when it is operated, and does not interfere with the work.

Further, by integrating the vibration motor 51 and the diaphragm 52, the vibration of the vibration motor 51 can be effectively transmitted to the mouthpiece part 4 through the diaphragm 52.
Further, since the diaphragm 52 is arranged along the portion that becomes the meshing surface of the upper and lower teeth when the mouthpiece portion 4 is mounted on the dentition, the meshing of the teeth is achieved by meshing the upper and lower teeth. Vibration can be transmitted uniformly and efficiently to the entire upper and lower gingiva via the portion.
In addition, since the massage device 2 and the remote controller 3 can be attached and detached with the connection plugs 7 and 9, by separating them, it is convenient for carrying and storing, and also wipes off dirt adhering to the massage device 2. It is easy to wash with water and is hygienic.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the mouthpiece part 4 may be formed in a shape that can be mounted on the lower jaw dentition.
The form of the vibration motor 51 is not limited to a flat type, and may be a cylindrical type or other shapes.
Furthermore, the vibration electric motor used in the present invention is not limited to a brushless DC motor, and may be a motor having another structure as long as it is small and does not require maintenance.
Moreover, the vibration part according to the present invention is not limited to the vibration electric motor, as long as the mouthpiece part 4 can be vibrated. For example, a piezoelectric element may be used.
The diaphragm 52 is an example of a vibration transmitting body that transmits the vibration of the vibration motor 51, and is not limited to a plate material, and may be a thin steel wire. The material of the diaphragm 52 only needs to be elastic enough to transmit vibration, and may be a brass plate, a hard aluminum plate, or the like in addition to stainless steel, or a plate made of synthetic resin. Good.
Further, the driving power source of the vibration motor 51 is not limited to the battery 12, and a commercial AC power source and an AC adapter may be used.

It is a perspective view of the gingival massage apparatus 1 concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the gingival massage apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gingival massage device 4 Mouthpiece part 5 Vibration part 51 Vibration motor (vibration electric motor)
52 Diaphragm (vibration transmission body)

Claims (4)

  A mouthpiece part that is mounted so as to cover either the upper or lower dentition and a vibration part that vibrates the mouthpiece part. The vibration part is built in the mouthpiece part. Gingival massage device.   2. The gingival massage device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration section includes a vibration electric motor and a vibration transmission body attached integrally to the vibration electric motor.   The gingival massage device according to claim 2, wherein the vibration transmitting body is disposed at least in a meshing portion of the upper and lower dentitions.   4. The gingival massage device according to claim 2, wherein the vibration electric motor is a brushless DC motor in which an eccentric load is applied to the output shaft.

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