JP5728645B2 - Conductive toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conductive toothbrush that performs brushing while passing a weak current in the oral cavity.

  A conductive toothbrush brushes teeth while passing a weak current through the oral cavity, making it easier to remove plaque from the tooth surface or between teeth, improving the brushing effect of brushing, and improving the metabolism of tissues in the oral cavity. It is intended to improve blood circulation.

  In such a conductive toothbrush, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a current-carrying plate for supplying a weak current is disposed in the brush handle.

Japanese Patent No. 4375482

  In the conductive toothbrush disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, if the toothbrush body is dropped, the brush handle may be damaged. At this time, the brush handle is often damaged at the portion where the strength is inferior, and for example, it is damaged near the fitting portion between the brush portion and the brush handle. Then, there is a problem in that the energization plate is exposed at the tip of the brush handle.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive toothbrush that can prevent the current-carrying plate from being exposed when the brush handle is damaged.

  A conductive toothbrush according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with a housing provided with a brush handle, a brush portion provided with conductivity at a tip end portion of the brush handle, and provided with the brush handle, and the brush from the housing. A conductive plate for supplying a weak current to the portion, a synthetic resin having conductivity, a conductive member for electrically connecting the brush portion and the conductive plate, and formed on the brush handle, in the brush handle A low-strength portion having the lowest mechanical strength, and the distal end of the energizing plate is disposed closer to the base end side of the brush handle than the low-strength portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electroconductive toothbrush which can prevent exposure of an electricity supply board at the time of failure | damage of a brush handle can be provided.

It is sectional drawing which shows 1st embodiment. It is a front view which shows the brush handle and brush part of 1st embodiment. It is a partially broken sectional view which shows the brush handle and brush part of 1st embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the brush handle and brush part of 1st embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the brush handle and brush part of 2nd embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the brush handle and brush part of 3rd embodiment.

  (An example of the form which a conductive toothbrush can take)
  [1] A conductive toothbrush according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with a housing provided with a brush handle, a brush portion provided with conductivity at a tip portion of the brush handle, and provided with the brush handle, the housing. An electrically conductive plate that supplies a weak current to the brush portion, a conductive synthetic resin, a conductive member that electrically connects the brush portion and the electrically conductive plate, and formed on the brush handle, The brush handle includes a low-strength portion having the lowest mechanical strength, and the distal end of the energizing plate is disposed closer to the base end side of the brush handle than the low-strength portion.
  [2] In one embodiment of the conductive toothbrush, a contact piece is formed at the tip of the energization plate, and the conductive member contacts the contact piece.
  [3] One embodiment of the conductive toothbrush further includes a head part formed at a tip of the brush handle and covering the conductive member, the brush part being attached to the head part, and a part of the conductive member being It is exposed from the head part and contacts the brush part.
  [4] In one embodiment of the conductive toothbrush, at least one of the head portion and the conductive member is formed of a low elastic modulus material.
  [5] In one embodiment of the conductive toothbrush, the brush portion is formed of a low elastic modulus material.
  [6] In one embodiment of the conductive toothbrush, the conductive member is insert-molded into the brush handle.
  [7] One form of the conductive toothbrush is conductive, further comprising a brush portion integrally formed with the tip of the brush handle, the tip of the energization plate is electrically connected to the brush portion, Covered by the brush portion.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The conductive toothbrush shown in FIG. 1 has a base end portion of a brush handle 2 attached to the tip end portion of a bottomed cylindrical housing 1, and a brush portion 3 attached to the tip end of the brush handle 2.
The housing 1 accommodates a circuit board 6 on which a linear oscillator 5 that operates based on power supplied from the battery 4 and a drive control circuit that controls the operation of the linear oscillator 5 are mounted. Further, the drive shaft 7 is supported by the linear oscillator 5 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

  An operation switch 8 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 1 on the distal end side. Then, the operation of the linear oscillator 5 is controlled by the operation of the operation switch 8, and the drive shaft 7 slightly vibrates at high speed in the axial direction based on the operation of the linear oscillator 5.

  The drive shaft 7 is made of a conductive metal and is electrically connected to, for example, the positive terminal of the battery 4. Further, an electrode portion 9 exposed on the outer peripheral surface is attached to one side of the housing 1 from the base end portion to the tip end portion of the housing 1, and the electrode portion 9 is electrically connected to, for example, the negative terminal of the battery 4. It is connected to the.

  A mounting shaft 10 is attached to the tip of the drive shaft 7, and the tip of the mounting shaft 10 projects from the tip of the housing 1. The mounting shaft 10 is formed of a conductive material, like the drive shaft 7, and slightly vibrates integrally with the drive shaft 7, and the tip is formed in a D-shaped cross section.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a mounting hole 11 for fitting and fixing a mounting shaft 10 protruding from the housing 1 is formed at the base end of the brush handle 2, and the mounting shaft 11 is formed in the mounting hole 11. When 10 is fitted, the brush handle 2 is held in a relatively unrotatable manner with respect to the housing 1. The vibration of the drive shaft 7 is transmitted to the brush handle 2 via the mounting shaft 10. A predetermined gap is secured between the housing 1 and the brush handle 2 so that the housing 1 does not interfere with the vibration of the brush handle 2.

  In the brush handle 2, an energizing plate housing portion 12 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the brush handle 2, and the energizing plate housing portion 12 communicates with the mounting hole 11. The energization plate housing portion 12 is opened to one side of the brush handle 2, and the energization plate 13 is inserted from the opening portion and held in the energization plate housing portion 12. The energization plate 13 is formed of a metal plate having conductivity and elasticity.

  A base end portion of the energization plate 13 extends to the inside of the mounting hole 11. When the mounting shaft 10 is fitted into the mounting hole 11, the bent portion 14 formed at the base end of the current-carrying plate 13 comes into elastic contact with the distal end portion of the mounting shaft 10, and the mounting shaft 10 And the current-carrying plate 13 are electrically connected.

  A lid 15 covering the energization plate housing portion 12 is attached to the opening of the energization plate housing portion 12. On the back surface of the lid 15, a plurality of ribs 16 that are in contact with the energization plate 13 are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the vicinity of the tip end portion of the brush handle 2, a through hole 17 for exposing the tip end portion of the energizing plate 13 is formed on the opposite side of the opening side of the energizing plate housing portion 12. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plate-like head portion 18 for attaching the brush portion 3 is formed at the tip portion of the brush handle 2. The head portion 18 has a constricted portion 19 formed at the base end portion thereof.

  A mounting hole 20 is formed at the base end portion of the head portion 18, and a conductive member 21 made of, for example, low elastic modulus conductive silicon rubber is fitted into the mounting hole 20. The base end edge of the conductive member 21 is located on the base end side of the brush handle 2 from the constricted portion 19.

  A contact piece 22 bent at a right angle is formed at the distal end of the current-carrying plate 13 so that the base end edge of the conductive member 21 fitted in the mounting hole 20 is pressed by the contact piece 22. Yes. Accordingly, the energization plate 13 and the conductive member 21 are electrically connected.

  The brush portion 3 is fitted to the head portion 18. The brush part 3 is made of, for example, low elastic modulus conductive silicon rubber, and brush hairs 24 a and 24 b having different diameters are formed on both front and back surfaces of the brush base 23. Then, when the head portion 18 is fitted into the fitting hole 25 opened at the base end portion of the brush base 23, the brush portion 3 is attached to the tip end portion of the brush handle 2.

  The conductive member 21 is fitted so as to be slightly exposed from the opening of the mounting hole 20, and when the head portion 18 is fitted into the fitting hole 25 of the brush portion 3, the conductive member 21 and the fitting hole are fitted. The required frictional force is generated between the inner side surfaces of 25. As a result, the conductive member 21 and the brush portion 3 are electrically connected.

Next, the operation of the conductive toothbrush configured as described above will be described.
When the linear oscillator 5 is operated by operating the operation switch 8, the drive shaft 7 slightly vibrates at high speed in the axial direction, and the minute vibration is transmitted to the brush handle 2 via the mounting shaft 10. And the brush part 3 vibrates with vibration of the brush handle 2, and it becomes possible to brush a tooth with the brush hair 24a with a thin diameter, or to massage a gum. Further, when the brush hair 24a is applied to teeth or gums, the brush hair 24b having a large diameter comes into contact with the inner surface of the oral cavity, so that intraoral massage is possible.

  During such use of the conductive toothbrush, a closed loop in which a weak current flows is formed between the conductive toothbrush and the human body. That is, a weak current is generated in a closed loop from the positive side terminal of the battery 4 → the drive shaft 7 → the mounting shaft 10 → the current supply plate 13 → the conductive member 21 → the brush part 3 → the human body → the electrode part 9 → the negative side terminal of the battery 4. Flowing. Further, a weak current flows from the energization plate 13 to the inner surface of the oral cavity through the saliva in the through hole 17. Then, the plaque can be easily removed and the massage effect is improved.

  When the conductive toothbrush as described above is accidentally dropped and the brush handle 2 is damaged, the constricted portion 19 of the head portion 18 is easily broken. However, in this embodiment, even if the head portion 18 of the brush handle 2 is bent at the constricted portion 19, the tip portion of the energizing plate 13 is not exposed from the brush handle 2.

  Moreover, since the electricity supply plate 13 and the brush part 3 are electrically connected through the conductive member 21 fitted in the brush part 3, the structure of the brush pattern 2 is not complicated, and the brush pattern 2 And the assembly of the brush part 3 can be performed easily.

With the conductive toothbrush configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When a tooth is brushed, by passing a weak current in the oral cavity, the plaque removal effect can be improved and the oral massage effect can be improved.
(2) The front end of the energizing plate 13 is located closer to the base end side of the brush handle 2 than the constricted portion 19 of the head portion 18 of the brush handle 2. Accordingly, even when the brush handle 2 is broken at the weakest portion in terms of mechanical strength, that is, at the constricted portion 19, it is possible to prevent the energization plate 13 from being exposed from the brush handle 2. (3) Since the current-carrying plate 13 and the brush part 3 are electrically connected via the conductive member 21 attached to the brush part 3, the configuration of the brush handle 2 is not complicated.
(4) Since the brush part 3 is made of conductive silicon rubber having a low elastic modulus, the brush part 3 and the brush handle 2 can be easily assembled by fitting the head part 18 into the fitting hole 25 of the brush part 3. Can be done.
(5) Since the conductive member 21 and the brush part 3 are made of conductive silicon rubber having a low elastic modulus, a sufficient contact pressure is ensured even by slight vibrations of the brush handle 2 and the brush part 3 and is electrically stable. Can be connected .

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the conductive member is attached to the brush handle in a configuration different from that of the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
A conductive member 32 is insert-molded in the mounting hole 31 provided in the head portion 18 of the brush handle 2. The conductive member 32 is formed of, for example, a conductive PP resin, and the distal end portion of the current plate 13 is press-fitted into the conductive member 32 when the conductive member 32 is insert-molded. Moreover, the front-end | tip of the electricity supply board 13 is located in the base end side of the brush handle 2 rather than the constriction part 19 of the head part 18 similarly to 1st embodiment.

  The conductive member 32 is insert-molded so as to be exposed on the surface of the head portion 18, and the current-carrying plate 13 and the brush portion 3 are electrically connected by fitting the head portion 18 to the brush portion 3. It has become.

In the conductive toothbrush configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.
(1) Since the conductive member 32 is insert-molded in the head portion 18, the number of parts of the brush handle 2 can be reduced. In addition, since the number of parts can be reduced, it is possible to suppress product variations caused by component variations .

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the brush part is integrally formed at the tip of the brush handle. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 6, a brush part 35 is integrally formed at the tip of the brush handle 2. That is, the energizing plate 13 is accommodated in the brush handle 2 and the lid 15 is attached. At this time, the tip of the energization plate 13 is exposed in the recess 36 at the tip of the brush handle 2 but does not protrude from the tip of the brush handle 2.

Next, the brush portion 35 is integrally formed with the conductive elastomer at the distal end portion of the brush handle 2, and the distal end of the energizing plate 13 is covered with the proximal end portion of the brush portion 35 and is electrically connected.
In the conductive toothbrush configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.
(1) By integrally forming a brush portion that covers the distal end portion of the energizing plate 13 at the distal end portion of the brush handle 2, even if the brush handle 2 is damaged, it is possible to prevent the energizing plate 13 from being exposed.

(Modification)
You may implement the said embodiment in the following aspects.
In the first embodiment, at least one of the conductive member 21 and the brush part 3 may be a conductive material having a low elastic modulus.
-In 1st-3rd embodiment, you may provide brush hair of one type of diameter only in one side in a brush part.
-In 1st-3rd embodiment, a brush part is good also as a brush part only for toothbrushing.
In the first to third embodiments, the housing, the brush handle, and the brush part may be integrated.
-In 1st-3rd embodiment, an electricity supply board may be extended in a housing from a brush handle, and you may make it receive electric power supply in a housing.
(Additional note regarding means for solving the problem)
[Supplementary Note 1]: A housing provided with a brush handle, a brush portion provided at the tip of the brush handle and having conductivity, and provided at the brush handle, and a weak current is supplied from the housing to the brush portion. A conductive toothbrush comprising a current carrying plate, wherein the front end of the current carrying plate is positioned closer to the base end side of the brush handle than the low strength portion where the mechanical strength of the brush handle is most inferior. Sex toothbrush.
[Appendix 2]: The conductive toothbrush according to appendix 1, in which a tip of the energization plate and the brush portion are electrically connected by a conductive member.
[Supplementary Note 3]: The conductive toothbrush according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the conductive member is formed of a synthetic resin having conductivity.
[Appendix 4]: The conductive member is attached to the head portion of the brush handle, one end of the conductive member is brought into contact with the energizing plate, the head portion is attached to the brush portion, and the energizing plate The conductive toothbrush according to supplementary note 2 or supplementary note 3, wherein the brush portion is electrically connected via the conductive member.
[Supplementary Note 5]: The conductive toothbrush according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein at least one of the head portion and the conductive member is formed of a low elastic modulus material.
[Appendix 6]: The conductive toothbrush according to appendix 4 or appendix 5, in which the brush portion is formed of a low elastic modulus material.
[Appendix 7]: The conductive toothbrush according to any one of appendices 2 to 6, wherein the conductive member is insert-molded into the brush handle.
[Appendix 8]: The conductivity according to appendix 1, in which a brush portion is integrally formed with a conductive material at the tip of the brush handle, and the tip of the energization plate is covered with the brush portion and electrically connected. toothbrush.

  1: Housing
  2: Brush pattern
  3: Brush part
  4: Battery
  5: Linear oscillator
  6: Circuit board
  7: Drive shaft
  8: Operation switch
  9: Electrode part
  10: Shaft for mounting
  11: Mounting hole
  12: Energizing plate housing
  13: Current carrying plate
  14: bent portion
  15: Lid
  16: Rib
  17: Through hole
  18: Head part
  19: Constriction part (low-strength part)
  20: Mounting hole
  21: Conductive member
  22: Contact piece
  23: Brush base
  24a: Brush hair
  24b: Brush hair
  25: fitting hole
  31: Mounting hole
  32: Conductive member
  35: Brush part
  36: recess

Claims (7)

A housing with a brush handle;
A brush portion provided at the tip of the brush handle and having conductivity;
An energization plate provided on the brush handle and supplying a weak current from the housing to the brush portion ;
A conductive member formed of a synthetic resin having conductivity, and electrically connecting the brush portion and the energization plate;
A low-strength portion that is formed in the brush handle and has the lowest mechanical strength in the brush handle;
With
The front end of the energizing plate is disposed closer to the base end side of the brush handle than the low-strength portion.
Conductive toothbrush.   A contact piece is formed at the tip of the energization plate, and the conductive member contacts the contact piece.
  The conductive toothbrush according to claim 1.   A head portion formed at the tip of the brush handle and covering the conductive member;
  The brush part is attached to the head part,
  Part of the conductive member is exposed from the head part and contacts the brush part.
  The conductive toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2.   At least one of the head portion and the conductive member is formed of a low elastic modulus material.
  The conductive toothbrush according to claim 3.   The brush part is formed of a low elastic modulus material.
  The conductive toothbrush according to claim 3 or 4.   The conductive member is insert-molded into the brush handle
  The electroconductive toothbrush as described in any one of Claims 1-5.   It further has a conductivity, and further comprises a brush part integrally formed with the tip of the brush handle,
  The tip of the energization plate is electrically connected to the brush part and covered with the brush part
  The conductive toothbrush according to claim 1.

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