JPH04352956A - Oral cavity cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an oral cavity cleaing device which is easily portable and handled and capable of freely and surely removing and clearing away food caught between teeth or sordes adhering to a tooth without hurting the gum. CONSTITUTION:An oral cavity cleaning device in the title comprises a battery 11 stored in a portable container 1, motor-driven compressors 7, 8, an air tank 9 for accumulating air compressed by the motor-driven compressors 7, 8, and a nozzle 26 communicating with an output pipeline 23 of the air tank 9, the forward end portion of which is projected outside the container 1.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an oral cavity cleaning device, and more particularly to an interdental cleaning device for cleaning between teeth.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, toothpicks and floss have generally been used to remove and clean food particles, plaque, etc. that have adhered between the teeth after meals.

0003

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, although toothpicks are convenient, they may damage the gums and cannot always remove food particles sufficiently. Although floss is effective for cleaning between teeth, it requires a certain degree of skill to operate, making it unsuitable for use in public and, like toothpicks, potentially damaging the gums. Furthermore, both have hygiene issues.

[0004] In view of the above, the present invention is easy to carry and handle, and can safely and reliably remove and clean food stuck between the teeth or food (dental plaque) adhering to the teeth without damaging the gums. The purpose is to provide an oral cleaning device that is easy to use.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the oral cavity cleaning device of the present invention houses an air pressure source having a pressure accumulation mechanism and its driving power source in a small, hand-held container, and also uses air pressure The container is characterized by being equipped with a nozzle that guides the compressed air generated at the source to the outside of the container.

[0006]

[Operation] The air pressure source compresses air and accumulates pressure. The nozzle, which has one end connected to the air pressure generation source and the other end that projects out of the container, blows out compressed air generated and stored in the air pressure generation source and sprays it between the teeth, etc., to avoid getting stuck between the teeth. Removes food particles and plaque attached to teeth.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the embodiment. 1 is a container (handle body) formed in a shape suitable for gripping, and is divided by a partition wall 2 into an upper chamber 3 and a lower chamber 4, with a number on the bottom. A lid 6 is attached via a cap 5 so as to be openable and closable.

[0008] The upper chamber 2 houses a motor 7, a compressor 8, and an air tank 9. The lower chamber 3 is divided into two rooms by a partition plate 10 integrated with the partition wall 2; A battery (power source) 11 is housed in one compartment, and a capsule 12 containing a chemical solution such as a cleaning liquid is housed in the other compartment. One pole (positive pole) of the battery 11 is connected via a lead wire 13 to a pole plate 14 fixed to the partition wall 2 which is connected to the motor 7, and the other pole (negative pole) is connected to the U fixed to the lid 6. The electrode plate 15 is electrically connected to a conductive plate 17 disposed along the inner wall of the container 1 via a coil spring 16 connected thereto. . The upper part of the conductive plate 17 constitutes a movable contact plate 17', and a fixed contact plate 1 fixed to the inner wall of the container 1 faces this contact plate 17'.
8 form a switch SW, and only when a button 19 that is connected to the movable contact plate 17' and projects outside the container 1 through the side wall of the container 1 is pressed, both contact plates are connected and the motor 7 is activated. energized. Note that 20 is a lead wire that connects the motor 7 and the fixed contacts.

21 is a conduit (capillary tube) formed in the container 1;
22 is a thin tube such as a syringe needle fixed to the partition wall 2 so as to communicate with the conduit 21; 23 is an output pipe of the air tank 9; one end extends to an opening 24 formed in the side wall of the container 1; A pipe line 21 is connected to the output pipe 23 via a connecting pipe 25.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of section A in FIG.
has an L-shaped thin tube 23' with one end extending in the axial direction and the other end extending outside the tube, and the pipe line 21 is communicated with this thin tube 23' via a connecting tube 25. .

Reference numeral 26 denotes a nozzle made of resin or the like that is detachably attached to the output piping 23. The outer periphery of the attachment end to the output piping 23 is tapered to ensure airtight connection between the output piping 23 and the nozzle 26. In order to ensure this, the opening 24 is formed into a tapered shape that slides against the tapered portion on the outer periphery of the nozzle. Note that it is preferable that the nozzle 26 be lightweight and flexible.

FIG. 3 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of FIG. 1, and its operation will be explained in connection with FIG. When the button 19 is pressed, the movable contact plate 17' comes into contact with the fixed contact plate 18, and the switch S
W is turned on, and the motor 7 receives power from the battery 11 and rotates. The air compressed by the compressor 8 is stored in an air tank 9
The compressed air is filtered through a filter 27 to remove dust and fine solid matter, and then passed through a pressure control valve 28.
The water is brought to a predetermined pressure and ejected vigorously from the nozzle 26 at a high speed.

[0013] Therefore, when the container 1 is held in hand and the tip of the nozzle 26 is brought close to the interdental space or teeth, the compressed air ejected from the container 1 removes food residue or dental plaque stuck between the teeth. In addition, in order to eject a mixed fluid of compressed air and cleaning liquid (chemical liquid) from the nozzle 26, the capsule 12 containing the cleaning liquid is inserted into the lower chamber of the container 1, and the thin tube 22 is inserted into the capsule 1.
2 and inserted into the capsule 12, the manual valve 29 shown in FIG. 3 is opened.

The other end of the thin tube 22 immersed in the cleaning liquid is connected to the conduit 2.
2. Since it communicates with the thin tube 22' in the output piping 23 through the communication pipe 25, the mixed fluid of compressed air and cleaning liquid is sucked up by the suction action of the compressed air moving at high speed inside the output piping 23. It is ejected from the nozzle 26. By spraying the mixed fluid between the teeth in this way, the cleaning effect will be greater than when only compressed air is applied.

In FIG. 3, the manual valve 29 is operated to switch between blowing out compressed air and blowing out a mixed fluid of compressed air and cleaning fluid, but even if the valve is opened by attaching the capsule 12, good.

FIG. 3 is an air circuit diagram when compressed air is continuously ejected from the nozzle 26, but depending on the food stuck between the teeth, it may be more effective to eject compressed air intermittently from the nozzle. Figure 4 is an air circuit diagram when compressed air is intermittently ejected from a nozzle by operating a manual valve.
FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of FIG. 4, where 30 is a pressure switch;
31 is a solenoid valve, 32 is a manual valve, and parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals.

Press the button 19 (see FIG. 1) and switch SW.
When the pressure in the air tank 9 is turned ON, the pressure switch 30 is turned OFF, so the motor 7 and the solenoid valve 31 are not energized, but the pressure in the air tank 9 is lower than the predetermined value. In this case, the pressure switch 30 is turned on, so the motor 7 rotates and the solenoid valve 31 is opened, and the air compressed by the compressor 8 flows into the air tank 9.
When the pressure in the air tank 9 reaches the set pressure, the pressure switch 30 is opened, and the power from the battery 11 to the motor 8 and solenoid valve 31 is cut off, and they are no longer energized.

When the manual valve 32 is operated and opened, the compressed air stored in the air tank 9 passes through the filter 27 and is ejected from the nozzle 26. When the manual valve 32 is closed, the compressed air is ejected from the nozzle 26. will be cut off. Therefore, compressed air can be intermittently jetted from the nozzle 26 by opening and closing the manual valve 32.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the main part of another embodiment in which the tip of the output pipe 23 of the air tank 9 is rotatable so that the nozzle can be stored in the side of the container.
23-2 is a spherical frame formed at the tip of the output pipe 23;
is a rotary body rotatably held within a frame body 23-1 and formed with a communication hole communicating with the output pipe 23 in the diametrical direction, and a nozzle 26 is attached to this rotary body 23-2 as shown in the figure. ing.

At the position of the rotating body 23-2 shown by the solid line in the figure, the communication hole formed in the rotating body communicates with the output pipe, and the compressed air from the air tank 9 is ejected from the nozzle 26. When the rotating body 23-2 is rotated 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow to the position shown by the dotted line, the nozzle 26 is attached to the rotating body 23-2, that is, the tip of the output piping 23, and the notch (recess) 1 of the container 1 is inserted. -1.

In this case, a switch is provided that opens and closes with the rotation of the rotating body 23-2, and this switch turns off the power supply to the motor.
If it is set to N-OFF, it is advantageous in terms of handling.

Note that 1-2 in the figure is a space formed in the container 1 to accommodate a spare nozzle. FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the nozzle attached to the tip of the output pipe 23, in which the tip is bent into a U-shape as shown in the figure.
This nozzle allows compressed air to be sprayed from behind the teeth. In the embodiment, the nozzle can be detachably attached to the tip of the output piping, but the tip of the output piping may be made into a narrow constricted nozzle.

However, if the nozzle is made removable as in the embodiment, it becomes possible to clean the nozzle, and it also becomes possible to replace and dispose of the nozzle, which makes it hygienic and also makes it possible to prepare nozzles with different diameters. If you do so, you can adjust the compressed air pressure from that nozzle by replacing it. Further, if a means for varying the size of the through hole is provided at the tip of the output pipe of the air tank, the pressure of the compressed air jetted from the nozzle can be adjusted.

Further, in the embodiment, a battery was used as a power source, but if a storage battery is used, it becomes rechargeable and is advantageous in terms of handling.

[0025]

[Effects] The interdental cleaner of the present invention houses an air pressure source and its driving power source in a small, hand-held container.
Easy to carry. In addition, since cleaning is performed using compressed air generated by an air pressure source and ejected from a nozzle, it is possible to safely and reliably remove and clean food debris stuck between the teeth and plaque attached to the teeth without damaging the gums, and it is also hygienic. be.

Further, if a mixed fluid of compressed air and a chemical liquid such as a cleaning liquid can be ejected as in the embodiment, the cleaning effect can be further improved. Furthermore, if the compressed air is intermittently ejected as in the embodiment, the gums can be massaged, which is effective in preventing or treating gum diseases such as alveolar cavitation.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of section A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an air circuit diagram of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the configuration of main parts of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the nozzle.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Container (handle)
SW Switch 2 Bulkhead
21 Pipeline 3 Upper chamber
22 Thin tube (syringe needle) 4 Lower chamber
23 Output piping 6 Lid

23' thin tube 7 motor
25 Connecting pipe 8 Compressor (
Compressor) 26 Nozzle 9
air tank
27 Filter 11 Battery (power supply)
28 Pressure control valve 12 Capsule
29, 32 Manual valve 17' movable contact plate
30 Pressure switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A power source, an electric compressor driven by the power source, and an air tank for accumulating air compressed by the electric compressor are housed in a portable container, and at least An oral cavity cleaning device, characterized in that it is equipped with a nozzle whose tip protrudes outside the container.