JPH1156879A - Motor-driven toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cancel corrosion, fault and adverse sanitary state caused by the drops of water residual on a brush after use by providing the motor-driven toothbrush, which is equipped with a brush handle part having a brush part and a handle part, with a supporting means for supporting the toothbrush in the state of turning the brush part downward. SOLUTION: A motor-driven toothbrush 1 is provided with a brush handle part 3 having a brush part 2 and a handle part 4 bonded to that part 3, the terminal part of the handle part 4 is supported by a fixed stand 20, for example, and the brush part 2 is hung downward. A head part 22 of the stand 20 has a circular projecting part 22a and a loop-shaped groove 22b formed around it. The handle part 4 of the toothbrush 1 has a loop-shaped circular groove 4a for fitting the projecting part 22a and a loop-shaped projecting part 4b to be fitted into the loop-shaped groove 22b. Further, a primary coil 25 for charging is embedded in the projecting part 22a of the head part 22, and a secondary coil 7 for charging is embedded in the projecting part 4b of the handle part 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush constructed so that a brush portion is placed downward when not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 12, a conventional electric (rechargeable or battery type) toothbrush 80 includes a brush handle 82 having a brush portion 81 provided with a brush 84 and a switch portion 8.
5 and a handle portion 83 joined to the brush handle portion 82 by a joining portion 86. The toothbrush 80 includes the brush unit 8
1 is set upward with the handle portion 83 facing downward, and is set upright on a stand 90 with a power cord 93. If the toothbrush 80 is rechargeable, the stand 9
0 is provided with a charging section 91, and charging is performed while the toothbrush 80 is standing on the stand 90.

[0003]

When the toothbrush 80 is set up on the stand 90 as described above, when the used toothbrush 80 is set up, water droplets remaining on the brush portion 81 are removed by the brush handle portion 82 and the handle portion 83. , Water may enter inside from the junction 86, the switch 85, and the battery lid 92 of the stand 90,
As a result, there is a problem that internal corrosion and failure occur. In addition, there is a problem that the waterdrops that have flowed down cause stains on the brush handle portion 82 and the handle portion 83, and that the hygienic condition cannot be maintained satisfactorily.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric toothbrush which solves corrosion, failure, and poor hygiene due to water droplets remaining on a brush after use. Aim.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an electric toothbrush of the present invention comprises a brush handle having a brush provided with a brush and a handle joined to the brush handle. And a supporting means for supporting the toothbrush with the brush part facing downward.

In this toothbrush, since the brush portion is placed downward by the support means, water droplets remaining on the used brush portion fall from the brush portion and do not flow along the brush handle portion or the handle portion. Therefore, water droplets do not penetrate into the toothbrush such as the joint between the brush portion and the handle portion, the switch portion provided on the handle portion, or the stand (charging stand) such as the battery lid portion. In addition to preventing breakdown, the surface of the toothbrush can be kept hygienic.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments. The electric toothbrush of the present invention is classified into a rechargeable type and a battery type, and is further classified into a type using a stationary type stand and a type using a wall-mount type stand depending on the form of supporting the toothbrush.

FIG. 1A shows a case where a stationary stand is used as a rechargeable electric toothbrush. This figure 1
In (a), the electric toothbrush 1 includes the brush handle 3 having the brush 2 as described above, and the handle 4 joined to the brush handle 3. The toothbrush 1 is configured such that the end of the handle portion 4 is supported by a stationary stand 20, and the brush portion 2 is suspended downward. The stand 20 has a shape as illustrated,
A pair of legs 21, a head 22, and a power cord 23 are provided.

In the case of FIG. 1A, the charging structure is as shown in FIG. 1B. That is, the stand 20
Head portion 22 has a circular convex portion 22a and an annular groove 22b formed around the convex portion 22a, while the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1 has a circular groove into which the convex portion 22a can be fitted. 4a and an annular projection 4b that can be fitted into the annular groove 22b. A primary charging coil 25 is embedded in the convex portion 22 a of the head portion 22, and a secondary charging coil 7 is provided in the convex portion 4 b of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1.
Is buried. Therefore, if the handle portion 4 is attached to the head portion 22, the primary coil 25 and the secondary coil 7 face each other, and the battery (not shown) provided in the handle portion 4 is charged by the electromagnetic induction action.

FIG. 2 shows a case where a wall-mounted stand is used for a rechargeable electric toothbrush. Here, the wall-mounted stand 30 has a form in which only the head portion 22 of the stand 20 in FIG. 1A is fixed to the wall, and the electric toothbrush 1 is supported by the stand 30 in the opposite manner. The stand 30 shown here is fixed to a wall by screwing a screw through a screw 32 into a wall into a screw insertion hole 31 opened at an appropriate position, and the toothbrush 1 is attached to the stand 30 fixed to the wall with the brush part 2 down. Can be

Next, various modes of the support means in each of the stationary type and the wall type type stand will be described. FIG. 3 is a main part view showing an example of the support means in the case of the stationary stand 20 of FIG. FIG. 3 (a)
Indicates a bayonet-type support means, in which two grooves 27 having a shape as shown in the figure are formed at an angular interval of 180 degrees on the peripheral surface of the annular groove 22b of the head portion 22, and fitted into the groove 27. A protrusion 10 is provided on a peripheral surface of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1. Therefore, the protrusion 10 is
7, the handle 10 is turned and the projection 10 is
7, the toothbrush 1 is attached to the head 22 of the stand 20. In this embodiment, the groove 27 corresponds to the stand-side support, and the protrusion 10 corresponds to the toothbrush-side support.

FIG. 3B shows a ball latch type supporting means, in which three balls 28 are rotatably provided on the peripheral surface of the annular groove 22b of the head portion 22 at an angular interval of 120 degrees. Circumferential groove 11 into which ball 28 can fit
Are formed on the peripheral surface of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1.
Therefore, when the ball 28 is fitted into the circumferential groove 11, the toothbrush 1 is attached to the head portion 22 of the stand 20. In this embodiment, the ball 28 corresponds to a stand-side support, and the circumferential groove 11 corresponds to a toothbrush-side support.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the support means is constituted only by the stand-side support members. The stand 20 of FIG. 4A is almost the same in appearance as that of FIG. 1A, but the position of the head portion 22 'is low, and the head portion 22' is a through hole into which the toothbrush 1 is inserted. 29 (see FIG. 4B). The through hole 29 has a shape that supports the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1. Therefore, when the toothbrush 1 is inserted into the through hole 29 with the brush part 2 facing downward, the toothbrush 1 is set on the stand 20. Further, here, the end face of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1 has a round shape 8, so that the brush portion 2 falls down even if the brush portion 2 is set up, so that such a placement is impossible.

The charging structure in this case is as shown in FIG. That is, the charging primary coil 25 is embedded in the peripheral surface of the through hole 29 of the head portion 22 ′, the charging secondary coil 7 is embedded in the peripheral surface of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1, and the toothbrush 1 is set on the stand 20. In this state, the primary coil 25 and the secondary coil 7 face each other, and the toothbrush 1 is charged.

4, the brush handle 3 may be detached from the handle 4 and only the handle 4 may be set on the stand 20 as shown in FIG. In this case, dust can be prevented from adhering to the joint between the brush handle 3 and the handle 4. Although the above embodiment is a case of a rechargeable electric toothbrush, FIGS. 6 to 9 show aspects of a battery type electric toothbrush. The wall-mounted stand 4 of FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a hook type, which comprises a base 41 and a hook 42 protruding from the base 41. The stand 40 is fixed to the wall by fixing the base 41 to the wall with an adhesive or the like. The handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1 has a hole 13a through which the hook 42 passes.
Is provided. Therefore, the toothbrush 1 is supported downward by hooking the engagement piece 13 on the hook 42. In this embodiment, the hook 42 corresponds to the stand-side support, and the engaging piece 13 corresponds to the toothbrush-side support.

In FIG. 6B, the stationary stand 2
A magnet 43 (stand-side support) is attached to the lower side of the head portion 22 of the toothbrush 1. Is provided. Therefore, if the magnetic material 14 is attracted to the magnet 43, the toothbrush 1 can be set on the stand 20 in the opposite manner.

In FIG. 6C, the stationary stand 2
An opening groove 44 (stand-side support member) is formed in the head portion 22 of the toothbrush 0, and a protruding piece 15 (toothbrush-side support member) that can be fitted and slid into the opening groove 44 is an end face of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1. It is provided in. Therefore, if the protrusion 15 is fitted into the opening groove 44 and slid, the toothbrush 1 can be set upside down on the stand 20.

In FIG. 7, a wall-mounted stand 45 is fixed to a wall with an adhesive or the like, and has a curved concave portion 46 corresponding to the shape of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1. Side support) is attached. On the other hand, the handle 4 of the toothbrush 1 is provided with a magnetic body 16 (toothbrush-side support). Therefore, the magnetic material 16
Is attracted to the magnet 47 so that the toothbrush 1 can be set upside down on the stand 45. The end surface of the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1 has a round shape 8, so that the brush portion 2 cannot be set up with the brush portion 2 facing upward as described above.

In FIG. 8, a wall-mounted stand 48 is fixed to a wall with screws or the like, and has a clip 49 (stand-side support). Clip the handle part 4 of the toothbrush 1 to the clip 4
9, the toothbrush 1 can be set upside down on the stand 48. In FIG. 9, the upper and lower support pieces 50, 5
1 (stand-side support) is fixed to the wall with an adhesive or the like, and the toothbrush 1 is supported by the two support pieces 50 and 51. The support piece 50 has a through-hole having a diameter through which the handle part 4 can be inserted.
Has a through-hole having a diameter that allows the passage of a through hole. Therefore, if the toothbrush 1 is passed through the through hole of the support piece 50 with the brush part 2 facing downward, and the brush part 2 and the brush handle 3 are passed through the through hole of the support piece 51, the toothbrush 1 is set upside down.

As for the charging structure, the AC 100 V induction type is shown in FIG. 1 (b) and FIG. 4 (b), but it may be a form as shown in FIG. FIG. 10A shows a case of AC100V which is not an induction type. A charging stand 60 is, for example, a stand 20 as shown in FIG. 1 and has a plug insertion port (outlet) 61. In contrast,
A plug 17 is provided on the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1 by a slide knob 18 so as to be able to advance and retreat. Therefore, if the plug 17 is inserted into the outlet 61, the toothbrush 1 can be set upside down on the charging stand 60 and charging can be performed. Here, the outlet 61 corresponds to the stand-side support, and the plug 17 corresponds to the toothbrush-side support.

FIG. 10B shows a DC type (for example, DC2.
4V), and similarly, the stand 20 shown in FIG.
The charging stand 62 has a protruding electrode portion 63, and the corresponding electrode portion 19 into which the electrode portion 63 fits is provided on the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1. Therefore, if the two electrode portions 19 and 63 are fitted together, the toothbrush 1 can be set on the charging stand 62 in the opposite manner, and charging can be performed.
Here, the electrode part 63 is used as the stand-side support,
Reference numeral 9 corresponds to the toothbrush-side support.

A shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 4B
The C100V induction charging structure will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. However, in FIG. 11, the charging stand 64 is shown as being left stationary for convenience of description.
As shown in FIG. 1 (b) and FIG. 4 (b), an appropriate change may be made so that charging can be performed with the toothbrush 1 turned upside down. In FIG. 11, a charging stand 64 corresponding to the head portion 22 of the stand 20 has a columnar convex portion 65.
A charging primary coil 25 is embedded in the inside. On the other hand, a charging secondary coil 7 is embedded in the handle portion 4 of the toothbrush 1. Therefore, when the toothbrush 1 is set on the charging stand 64, the battery built in the toothbrush 1 is charged by the electromagnetic induction between the primary coil 25 and the secondary coil 7.

In any of the above embodiments, the toothbrush 1 is set on a stationary or wall-mounted stand with the brush part 2 facing downward, so that water droplets remaining on the brush part 2 after use fall off the brush part 2. And brush handle 3
And does not flow along the handle 4. Therefore, water droplets do not penetrate into the joint between the brush handle 3 and the handle portion 4, the inside of the toothbrush 1 such as the switch portion 6 provided on the handle portion 4, or the inside of the stand also serving as a charging stand. In addition to preventing malfunctions and breakdowns, the surface of the toothbrush 1 can be kept hygienic.

Each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 can correspond to both a stationary type and a wall-mounted type.
For example, FIG. 6 (a) has been described as a wall-mounted stand. However, if a hook 42 is provided on the stationary stand, it can be applied to a stationary stand. FIG. 6 (b) does not show a stationary stand, but if something like the head section 22 is fixed to a wall, it becomes a wall-mounted stand.
(C) can be similarly changed to a wall-mounted stand. Similarly, any of FIGS. 7 to 9 can be changed to a stationary stand. Further, in FIGS. 10A and 10B, if the charging stands 60 and 62 are fixed to a wall, respectively, the stand can be changed to a wall-mounted stand. Thus, in each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applicable to both the stationary type and the wall-mounted type stand.

[0025]

As described above, according to the electric toothbrush of the present invention, the brush portion is placed downward by the support means, so that water droplets remaining on the used brush portion fall from the brush portion, The following effects (1) to (3) can be obtained by not flowing along the brush handle and the handle. (1) Water droplets do not penetrate into the joint between the brush and the handle, the inside of the toothbrush such as the switch provided in the handle, and the inside of the stand (charging stand) such as the battery lid. (2) Corrosion and failure of the inside due to intrusion of water droplets from the above-described parts can be prevented. (3) The surface of the toothbrush (brush handle and handle) is prevented from being stained, and good hygiene can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a rechargeable electric toothbrush is set on a stationary stand, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view of a main part showing a charging structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a rechargeable electric toothbrush is set on a wall-mounted stand.

FIG. 3A is a main part view showing an example of a structure in which a toothbrush is set upside down on a stand, and FIG. 3B is a main part view showing another example.
It is.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a perspective view showing another example of a state in which a rechargeable electric toothbrush is set on a stationary stand, and a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a charging structure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing still another example in which a rechargeable electric toothbrush is set on a stationary stand.

6A and 6B are a main part view showing an example of a mode in which a battery-operated electric toothbrush is set upside down on a stand, a main part view showing another example, and a main part view showing still another example. (C).

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment in which a battery-type electric toothbrush is set upside down on a stand.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another example of a mode in which a battery-type electric toothbrush is set upside down on a stand.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing still another example of a mode in which a battery-powered electric toothbrush is set upside down on a stand.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a main part perspective view showing an example of a charging structure of an AC 100V type electric toothbrush and a main part perspective view showing an example of a charging structure of a DC type electric toothbrush.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an example of a charging structure of an AC 100V induction type electric toothbrush.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a state in which a rechargeable electric toothbrush according to a conventional example is set on a stationary stand.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric toothbrush 2 Brush part 3 Brush handle part 4 Handle part 6 Switch part 10, 11, 13 Toothbrush side support 14, 15, 16 Toothbrush side support 17, 19 Toothbrush side support 20 Standing type stand 30 Wall stand 27, 28, 29 Stand-side supports 42, 43, 44 Stand-side supports 47, 49, 50 Stand-side supports 51, 61, 63 Stand-side supports

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electric toothbrush having a brush handle having a brush provided with a brush, and a handle joined to the brush handle, wherein the toothbrush is supported with the brush facing downward. An electric toothbrush comprising supporting means. 2. The support means comprises a stand-side support provided on a stationary or wall-mounted stand, and a toothbrush-side support provided on the toothbrush and engaged with the stand-side support. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said support means is a stand-side support provided on a stationary or wall-mounted stand.