KR20140115312A

KR20140115312A - A dental hygiene item

Info

Publication number: KR20140115312A
Application number: KR1020147018801A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 크레이그 매튜 얼스킨-스미스
Original assignee: 어스킨 프로덕츠 피티와이 리미티드
Priority date: 2012-01-13
Filing date: 2013-01-10
Publication date: 2014-09-30
Also published as: EP2802285A4; WO2013104020A1; EP2802285A1; BR112014017041A2; CA2862812A1; BR112014017041A8; AU2013209273A1; CN104053415B; JP6415984B2; JP2015503974A; US20150289635A1; AU2013209273B2; RU2014133153A; CN104053415A

Abstract

The toothbrush 10 includes a handle 11 to which a toothbrush head 12 is attached. The handle 11 includes a hollow body 15 and opposing longitudinal ends 17,18. The attachment portion 27 of the toothbrush head 12 binds the attachment portion 28 of the handle 11 to secure it.

Description

{A DENTAL HYGIENE ITEM}

The present invention relates to dental hygiene articles, and more particularly to dental hygiene articles such as brushes including but not limited to toothbrushes, dental articles and interdental toothbrushes.

Most oral hygiene products require the use of hand-held handles. These handles can be further defined as manual, non-electrical, where the user provides muscle forces that cause a rubbing action that is transmitted to the working end of the device. Alternatively, the handle may be electrically operated and operated to generate sub-sonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations within the apparatus, or may be operated by small electric motors, drive shafts and suitable transmission devices within the apparatus Mechanized rubbing action can be provided. Through sound waves, through small mechanical-generated vibrations, through sound waves, by ultrasonic or sub-sonic vibrations or movements induced by eccentric weight on the rotating electric motor shaft, through a large machine All of the handles that provide a mechanical or fine mechanical rubbing action are referred to below as electric handles.

In order to save plastics and provide greater economics to the user, some manufacturers have developed replaceable heads for passive toothbrushes, and the entire handle is not discarded when the brush is worn. In a similar type, others have developed replaceable floss devices similar to the replaceable brush head concept, wherein a plastic fork is double molded over a portion of the floss, and these plastic devices are manually Or a handle that can be powered. While it is relatively uncommon to find a passive brush with replaceable heads, virtually all of the electric brush handles have replaceable heads because they are economically and environmentally unsustainable to discard the entire electrical device when the brush is worn.

Many manufacturers have developed extension handles for interdental toothbrushes. These brushes are divided into the following three types. 1) those with usable mini or small handles which are usually double molded, glued or welded to twisted wires themselves; 2) small plastic holding devices attached to corresponding containers in large handles; ) With a built-in mini-handle or a simple twisted wire brush without a retaining device, where such wire is fixed or attached directly into a large toothbrush-like handle specifically designed to accommodate ordinary interdental brush-twisted wire heads, The cost of molding, or the waste of the plastic handle discarded at every hour when the interdental brush is used.

Many manufacturers have produced decontamination devices with their own handles, which are permanently attached to the device head and are discarded with the device head when only the device head is worn. This is a waste of plastic handles, wastes of plastics typically derived from oil, a waste of resources with both future limited usefulness and possible future cost increases as much as possible, and should be kept in a reasonable and feasible place. Similarly, many manufacturers have produced denture brushes, which have their own unique (large) handle and are permanently attached to the device head and discarded with the device head. Similarly, many manufacturers have produced so-called single-edge brush heads, which often can consist of a series of small tufts focused on the tip to provide greater cleaning power in a particular area, I have a handle. Similarly, many manufacturers have produced squeeze removers that were attached to the handles in one piece.

Other devices used at the oral interface have significantly different requirements in terms of their orientation, fixation requirements, cross-sectional strength, and forces applied to the handle through the connector. For example, most dental appliances and interdental toothbrushes have small strength requirements, so a simple mini-handle stem would suffice, and this simple mini-handle stem would allow the device to be removed without a conventional handle- Make it available by itself.

This is convenient, as it is contrary to devices such as a toothbrush which must have a substantial handle, so it is comfortable, durable and sufficient to deliver the forces required when using such toothbrushes, single tipped toothbrushes, denture brushes or even possible decontamination devices. strong.

In addition to the foregoing, some of the devices inserted into the interior of any of the proposed brush handle connectors will provide substantial rotational force on the connectors, which must be prevented such that the product can be successfully used without a long axis or rotation failure do. An example of such a point would be a bifurcated floss device where the floss progresses in parallel without the handle but is offset. The dental force thus provides a torsional action on the handle. This force is transmitted through the connection device and must be blocked at the connection point.

While the present invention seeks resistance to such forces, it is still possible to rotate 8 degrees of freedom, so that it can be placed in any position that the operator most preferably finds.

Most of the electrical brush handles have male protrusions as attachment devices and have these protrusions and surfaces as drive shafts that will place the removable heads thereon, but they do not have a suitable brush It is a form that makes the whole device completely inapplicable for use inside. The reason for this is that these handles are designed to use only the brush head which is attached in position to smooth the overall surface non-uniformity and to form a continuous contour between the handle and the brush head. The profile created by the large ledge into which the male protrusion enters the body of the handle is closely related to the butt rather than the smooth S-shaped transition between the offset surfaces when the head is positioned on the handle. It is not entirely appropriate to rub the inside of the lips or cheeks because it is typically designed to have sharp angled edges between the offset surfaces to facilitate a smooth transition between the head and the handle, Making it more difficult to mold and manufacture a knife edge on the edge of the device. These prior art handles are not designed with smooth surfaces and contoured transition angles to facilitate their use in the mouth without the brush head (or similar external head device such as a dental floss) on top of the drive shaft / It is not designed for general use with or without a brush head. They also have additional large external irregular projections on the projection designed to create undercuts or retention features to fasten and retain the brush head with the operational snap, which, when used or rubbed in the mouth, And may cause trauma to the medial side of the cheek. Since these are not intended to be used without the brush head on the shaft to cover them, such retention features can be very irritating to their use in the mouth.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially improve at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

A handle of a dental hygiene article is disclosed herein,

And a handle having first and second longitudinal ends opposite the longitudinal axis,

Wherein the second end includes an engagement portion releasably fastened to the head secured to the second end such that movement of the handle causes the head to engage the user's teeth, internal oral surfaces or tongue Which can be operated by the user,

The second end having a length in a first longitudinal direction and a length in a second longitudinal direction, the length in the second longitudinal direction being tapered toward the end extremity, and the first length extending in the longitudinal direction Wherein the first surface has an outer surface and the second length has an outer surface extending in a longitudinal direction, the surfaces being connected by a transition surface, the transition surface being perpendicular to the first surface, And the second surface is spaced from the first surface by only about 3 mm relative to the axis at the transition surface.

Preferably, the two outer surfaces are circular in transverse section.

Preferably, the transition surface is connected to the first surface with a first radius, the transition surface is connected to the second surface with a second radius, and the first radius is larger than the second radius.

Preferably, the first radius is 9 mm to 10 mm.

Preferably, the first radius is about 9.7 mm.

Preferably, the second radius is 5 mm to 6 mm.

Preferably, the second radius is about 5.2 mm.

Also disclosed herein is a dental hygiene article,

A handle having first and second longitudinally opposite ends opposite the longitudinal axis; And

A head that engages a user's teeth, internal oral surfaces or tongue and is secured to said second end,

The handle includes a bulbous portion adjacent the first end and the rounded portion is tapered toward the first end toward the second end.

Advantageously, the handle is hollow and includes an end cap at the first end to allow items to be positioned and stored internally in the handle.

Preferably, the head is removably attached to the handle.

Advantageously, said handle has an outer surface, said head having an outer surface, said handle surface aligned with said head surface to provide smooth transition between said two surfaces.

Preferably, the handle has a length in a longitudinal direction that is longer than a length in the longitudinal direction of the head.

Also disclosed herein is a dental hygiene article,

A handle held in a user's hand and including a body having a longitudinal axis and an end in the longitudinal direction;

A head engaging teeth, internal oral surfaces or tongue attached to said end; And

The attachment portions having an annular flange surrounding the passageway and a projection extending inwardly of the passageway for engagement with the interior of the flange, The protrusions enter the passageway to engage the flange in accordance with the longitudinal relative movement between the handle and the head toward each other.

Preferably, the head includes the annular flange, and the handle includes the projection.

In a preferred form, the attachment portions include a shaft projecting inwardly of the passage, and the handle projection includes an internal projection passage through which the shaft is received when the attachment portions are fastened.

Preferably, the shaft is tapered toward the distal end.

Preferably, the head passage is tapered inwardly from the end opening of the passage.

Advantageously, the attachment portions comprise a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protruding portions, the protruding portions being fastened within the recesses to secure the handle to the head.

Advantageously, said recesses are in said projection, said projecting portions being attached to said flange and projecting inwardly with respect to said passage to engage said recesses.

Preferably, the protruding portions are fastened in the recess by elastic deformation of the flange and / or the projection.

Advantageously, said recesses extend angularly and longitudinally about said axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
1 is a schematic isometric view of a toothbrush including a handle and an attachable brush head,
Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of the toothbrush of Figure 1 with a handle and a removable toothbrush head,
Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of the ends of the handle and head as illustrated in Figure 2,
Figure 4 is a schematic partial cut isometric view of the toothbrush of Figure 1,
Figure 5 is a schematic isometric view of the end of the handle shown in Figure 2,
Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the end of Figure 5,
Fig. 7 is a schematic side sectional view of an end portion as shown in Fig. 6 cut along the line 7-7,
Figure 8 is a schematic side view of a number of variations of the toothbrush of Figure 1,
Figure 9 is a schematic side view of variants of the handle of the toothbrush of Figure 1, to which other heads are applied,
Figure 10 is a schematic side view of other heads that may be applied to the handle of Figure 1,
Figure 11 is a schematic isometric view of a variant of the handle and head of Figure 1,
Figure 12 is a schematic isometric view of the partially cut-away handle and head of Figure 1,
Figure 13 is a schematic isometric view of the floss head,
14 is a partial cut isometric view of the head of Fig. 13,
Figure 15 is a schematic isometric view of the head of Figure 13 with an end cap,
Figure 16 is a schematic isometric view of the partially exploded head and end cap of Figure 15,
Figure 17 is a schematic isometric view of the end cap of Figures 15 and 16,
Figure 18 is a schematic side view of the distal end of the handle of Figures 1-3,
Figure 19 is a schematic isometric view of another attachment to the cases shown in Figures 8-10,
20 is a schematic side view of another modification of the end portion of the handle,
Figure 21 is a schematic isometric view of the end of Figure 20,
Fig. 22 is a schematic partial enlarged isometric view of a modified example of the brush head as shown in Fig. 3,
Figure 23 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the brush head portion of Figure 22,
Fig. 24 is a schematic isometric view of an insert of the brush head portion of Fig. 22;

In Figure 1, a dental hygiene item is schematically illustrated. In this particular embodiment, the article is a toothbrush 10. The toothbrush 10 includes a handle 11 to which the toothbrush head 12 is removably attached. In this particular embodiment, the toothbrush handle 11 is provided with an electric motor 13 (via a switch) that receives current from one or more batteries 14. According to the operation of a switch (not shown), power is applied to the motor 13 to vibrate the toothbrush 10. However, it should be appreciated that the toothbrush 10 may be operated manually and does not include a vibration source such as a motor or a power storage or drive system.

The handle 11 has a hollow body 15 having a longitudinal axis 16 and opposing longitudinal ends 17,18. The body 15 is designed to be round flat and to be held in the user's hand. The body 15 has a rounded flat shape to have a bulbous portion at the end 18 and has an improved hand grip as a hollow body that is made by hand and has disposable flosses and / or interdental brushes ) For oral care supplies. Access to the interior of the body 15 is accomplished by removal of the end cap providing the end 17. The handle 11 is also hollow to reduce the cost and weight of the hard plastic and / or rubber / elastomer.

The brush head 12 includes a generally flat base 19 to which a plurality of soles 20 are secured. A stem 21 is integrally formed or attached to the base 19.

The stem 21 provides an attachment portion 27 that engages the attachment portion 28 of the handle 11 so that the head 12 is securely attached to the handle 11.

2, the attachment portion 27 includes an annular flange 29 which surrounds a passage extending inwardly in the longitudinal direction from the end opening 23. 3, the passageway 22 is surrounded by the inner surface 24 of the flange 29.

A shaft 25 extends from the mounting 26 in the longitudinal direction of the passage 22. The shaft 25 extends longitudinally toward the end opening 23. There is a space between the shaft 25 and the surface 24 so that the shaft 25 is spaced from the surface 24. The surface 24 is also provided with a plurality of projections 30.

In Fig. 3, the attachment portion 28 includes an annular projection 31 fixed to or integrally formed with the end portion 18. In Fig. 7, the protrusion 31 surrounds the passageway 32 extending longitudinally inward from the end opening 33. As shown in Fig. The passage 32 gradually narrows inward so that its smallest diameter is spaced inwardly from the opening 33. There is a small portion 34 at the entrance of the passage 32 having a cross-sectional surface area that is larger than the interior area immediately adjacent thereto from the shaft 26 so that the shaft 26 has a greater bending strength in this region do.

The outer surface 36 of the projection 31 has a plurality of recesses 37 in which projections 30 of the projection 3 of FIG. 3 are fastened. . This engagement is due to the elastic deformation of the projections 30 and the flange 29 provided for the movement of the protrusions 30 into the recesses 37.

The shaft 25 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges 38 separated by longitudinally extending slots to inhibit the annular relative movement between the handle 11 and the head 12 ). The passageway 32 of Figure 7 also has longitudinally extending ridges 35 separated by the slots. The ridges 38 and associated slots are matched to the ridges 35 and associated slots such that the shaft 25 is tightly fastened within the passage 34. If desired, the shaft 25 may also be tapered to have the smallest diameter at its end extremity to improve the friction coupling of the ridges 35, 38.

The fastening of the shaft 25 in the passage 32 and the engagement between the outer surface 36 of the projection 31 and the inner surface 24 of the flange 29 is achieved by the engagement of the handle 11 and the head 12). &Lt; / RTI >

Fig. 8 shows a number of variations of the handle 11. Fig. However, the handle 11 includes a rounded flat portion 39 located between the ends 17,18.

In Fig. 9, the handle 11 is again illustrated as having various configurations. Also in Fig. 9, the handle 11 is fastened to the other heads. For example, one head is a toothbrush, the second head is an interdental toothbrush, and the third head is a dental appliance.

In Figs. 11 and 12, modifications of the handle 11 and the head 12 are schematically shown.

In this embodiment, the shaft 25 was erased and the attachment protrusions were reversed.

In this embodiment, the attachment portion 27 has an annular flange 39 with an inner surface 40 surrounding the passage 41. The surface 40 is provided with a plurality of recesses 42 including a guide portion 43 and a base portion 44. The handle attachment portion 28 includes a projection 45 that tapers towards the distal end 46 to conform to a similar tapering on the passage 41. The outer surface 47 of the protrusion 45 has a plurality of protrusions or protruding portions 48 bounded by the guide portions 43 for fastening within the base portions 44. To this end, the attachment portion 27 and / or the attachment portion 28 are resiliently deformed. Thus, the projecting portions 48 are "snap engaged" within the base portions 44 to secure the handle 11 to the head 12.

It should be understood that the head 12 may be any one of the heads 49 of Figs. 13 and 14, as well as the heads of Figs. 8, 9 or 10. Fig.

13 and 17, a head 49 removably attached to the handle 11 is shown schematically. The head 49 is a dental appliance and comprises a base 50 from which a pair of arms 51 extend. A dental floss 52 of a predetermined length, which may be under tension, is fixed to the ends of the arms 51. In this embodiment, the annular flange 39 has an inner surface 40 provided with a plurality of protrusions or protruding portions 53. Thus, the portion 28 needs to have corresponding recesses at the locations to accommodate the protruding portions 48. In this regard, it should be understood that the protruding portions 43 may be replaced by recesses to engage the protruding portions 48 of the embodiment of Fig.

In the above-described embodiments, the protruding portions (protrusions) may be included in the handle or the head, and the recess in the other handle or head may be included. Further, by moving the head and the handle in the longitudinal direction toward each other, fastening of the portions (27, 28) is caused.

The passageway 41 may be closed by an end cap 54. The end cap 54 has a base 55 that is slightly widened and intended to be gripped by a user. The end cap 54 may be axially moved relative to the shaft 16 since the base 55 may include ridges 56 that assist in grasping.

The attachment portion 28 as described above extends from the base 55 and has a smaller diameter than the base 55.

When the head 49 is used manually, the end cap 54 is inserted into the passageway 41 so as to be frictionally held therein. When the head 49 is attached to the handle 11, the end cap 54 is removed and the attachment portion 28 of the handle 11 is fastened to the head 49, (49).

The end portion 18 includes a first longitudinally extending portion 57 connected to a portion 58 extending in a second longitudinal direction by a transition portion 59. The portion 57 includes an outer surface 60 having a circular cross-section and preferably a reduced diameter toward the transition portion 59. The second portion 58 extends from the transition portion 59 so as to be tapered away from the transition portion 59. The portions 57, 58 are also generally circular in cross-section. In the transition portion 59, the portion 57 is spaced apart from the axis by more than about 3 mm, preferably only about 2 mm, relative to the axis 16. Thus, when the sections 57, 58 are circular in cross-section and the sections 59 are circular in cross-section, the sections 57 are located at a point where they meet the transition section 59 And has a radius of only about 3 mm. More preferably, the radius difference is only about 2 mm.

The transition portion 59 has an outer surface 61 and the portion 58 has an outer surface 62. The surfaces 61, 62 are generally circular in cross-section.

The surface 61 is connected to the surface 60 so as to be perpendicular to the surface 60, but the surface 61 is connected to the surface 62 to be perpendicular thereto.

Preferably, the surface 61 has a radius 63 extending to the surface 60, but the surface 62 has a radius 64 connected to the radius 63 to be perpendicular again. The surfaces 60, 61, 62 provide a smooth transition from the surface 60 to the surface 62.

Preferably, the radius 63 is greater than the radius 64.

Preferably, the radius 63 is between 9 mm and 10 mm, and most preferably is about 9.7 mm. Preferably, the radius 64 is between 5 mm and 6 mm, more preferably about 5.2 mm. Preferably, the centers of said modifications 63, 64 are spaced from 5 mm to 6 mm along said axis 16, preferably spaced a distance of 5.65 mm on said axis 16.

In the embodiment of Figures 20 and 21, the attachment portion 28 includes a projection 31 having an end opening 33 as in the previous embodiments. However, in this embodiment, the recesses (concave portions) 37 extend angularly with respect to the axis 16. The protrusions 30 of the previous embodiments can move in the axial direction substantially along the channels 70 entering the recesses 37 by angular movement of the head 12, Causing the protrusions 30 to angularly move along the concave portions 37 with respect to the axis 16.

In Fig. 19, another head 71 is exemplified. In this embodiment, the head 71 is a " tongue scraper "and has an end 72 provided with a plurality of ridges 73 that engage and move along the surface of the user's tongue .

22, 23 and 24, the deformation of the stem 21 of the brush head 12 is schematically shown. In this embodiment, the stem 21 includes a hollow outer shell 80 that surrounds the passageway 22. The shell extends through the shell 80 and has at least two openings 81 on opposite sides of the shell 80. An insert (82) protruding into the passage (22) is located inside the shell (80). The insert 82 provides the protrusions 30 described with reference to Fig. The insert 80 includes a pair of axially extending arms 84 that are snapped into the recesses 81 to securely position the insert 80 within the shell 80. The axially- And includes a circular base 83. The projections 30 are then projected inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis 16. This configuration is helpful in the manufacture of the stem 21.

Claims

A handle of a dental hygiene article,
A handle having first and second longitudinal ends opposite the longitudinal axis;
Wherein the second end includes a fastening portion releasably fastened to the head secured to the second end such that the head is engaged by the user by manipulation of the handle to engage the user's teeth, Manipulated,
The second end having a length in a first longitudinal direction and a length in a second longitudinal direction, the length in the second longitudinal direction being tapered toward an end extremity, and the first length extending in a longitudinal direction The second surface having an outer surface and the second length having an outer surface extending in a longitudinal direction, the surfaces being connected by a transition surface, the transition surface being perpendicular to the first surface and perpendicular to the second surface, 2 surface is spaced outwardly from said first surface at only 3 mm relative to said axis at said transition surface.

The handle of claim 1, wherein the two outer surfaces are circular in cross-section.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the transition surface is connected to the first surface with a first radius, and the transition surface is connected to the second surface with a first radius. Said first radius being greater than said first radius.

4. Handle according to claim 3, characterized in that said first radius is between 9 mm and 10 mm.

5. The handle of claim 4, wherein the first radius is about 9.7 mm.

The handle as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the second radius is 5 mm to 6 mm.

7. The handle of claim 6, wherein the second radius is about 5.2 mm.

In dental hygiene articles,
A handle having first and second longitudinally opposite ends opposite the longitudinal axis; And
A head that engages the teeth of the user, the internal spherical surfaces, or the tongue and is fixed to the second end;
Wherein the handle includes a bulbous portion adjacent the first end and the rounded portion is tapered toward the second end toward the first end.

9. The handle of claim 8, wherein said handle is hollow and comprises at said first end an end cap removable to position and store articles in said handle.

10. Handle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the head is removably attached to the handle.

11. A method according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the handle has an outer surface, the head has an outer surface, and the handle surface is aligned with the head surface to provide a smooth transition between the two surfaces. Wherein the handle is formed of a metal.

12. Handle according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the handle has a length in the longitudinal direction which is greater than the length in the longitudinal direction of the head.

In dental hygiene articles,
A handle held in a user's hand and including a body having a longitudinal axis and an end in the longitudinal direction;
Teeth that are removably attached to the end, internal mouth surfaces or heads that engage the tongue; And
The attachment portions having an annular flange surrounding the passageway and a projection extending inwardly of the passageway for engagement with the interior of the flange, Wherein said protrusion enters said passageway to engage said flange in response to a longitudinal relative movement between said handle and said head facing each other.

14. The handle of claim 13, wherein the head includes the annular flange, and the handle includes the projection.

15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said attachment portions include a shaft projecting inwardly of said passage, and said handle projection includes an inner projection passage in which said shaft is received when said attachment portions are fastened The handle.

16. The handle of claim 15, wherein the shaft is tapered toward the distal end.

17. Handle according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the head passage gradually narrows inwardly from the end portion of the passage.

18. A device according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the attachment portions comprise a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protruding portions, the protruding portions being adapted to secure the handle to the head Said fastener being fastened within said recesses.

19. The handle of claim 18, wherein the recesses are within the protrusion, the protruding portions being attached to the flange and protruding inwardly with respect to the passage to fasten the recesses.

20. A handle as claimed in claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the projecting portions are fastened in the recess by elastic deformation of the flange and / or the projection.

21. Handle according to claim 18, 19 or 20, characterized in that the recesses extend angularly and longitudinally about the axis.