MXPA96000440A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush comprising, generally in a sole piece, an elongated handle (10);one head (20) carrying, on the front side, a set of bristles (40);and a flexible neck (30) joining the handle (10) and the head (20) and comprising a pair of front (31) and rear (32) spaced longitudinal beams (33) and having their opposite extreme ends respectively united to the head (20) and the handle (10) through localized bending regions (34) which allow the beams to operate as parallelogram articulation arms when the head (20) is displaced in transversal direction in relation to the handle (10) and in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the handle (10) and being parallel to the longitudinal axes of the bristles (40), from an inoperative rest position to operative positions. The brush is provided with a shock absorbing means (50), acting against the neck (30) and preferably by means of an elastic element fitted to the aperture (33) between the beams, in such a manner as to be elastically deforme d when the head (20) is displaced from its inoperative position to any of its operative positions.

Description

or TOOTHBRUSH DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a toothbrush that is elastically flexible between its head and sleeve portions, to adjust the pressure of the bristles against the teeth and gum, in response to the effort applied by the user to the tooth. Among the aspects related to a good call, according to the studies carried out by dentists and manufacturers of dental brushes, one of the most important has been the optimization of the pressure applied to the bristles against the teeth and gums in such a way as to provide maximum oral hygiene, without loss of lesions to the gums or dentin or tooth enamel. As there are more easily accessible regions in the dental domes, which provide a more comfortable brushing and the effort applied to the brush can be more easily controlled, there are other more difficult access, often requiring the user to change the position of your hand, and where it is noticed that the user loses control over the effort applied to the brush. The result is that the oral hygiene provided with conventional toothbrushes leads to irregular brushing, causing gingival and buccal deterioration in some regions due to poor cleaning, as well as excessive brushing abrasion. To overcome the aforementioned problem, it has become evident that a toothbrush with some elements must be produced to absorb part of the effort applied by the user to the toothbrush. In addition to the variations in the flexibility of the bristles, the solutions generally adopted consist of applying an elastically flexible element to a region of the brush head or, more frequently, to an indirect portion between its handle and its head. Among the solutions applied to the construction of the head, one is described in document PCT / PE / 92/00645 (WO 92/27092) and comprises a toothbrush provided with a flexible head, elastically connected to a prolonged potion of the handle , which surrounds the head of the brush or with the head partially surrounding the prolonged portion, the head being able to perform an oscillatory movement with respect to the prolonged protrusion of the handle. In a second solution, described in U.S. Patent 4,633,542, a soft elastomer is applied under the bristles. In a third solution, described in United States Patent 2,631,320, the brush head is sectioned between each transverse row of bristles, the different portions thus formed being interconnected in spaced form by a longitudinal laminated spring element, incorporated by a extreme to brush handle, in such a way as to be vertically inclined. The mentioned solutions, among others applied to the head of the toothbrush, have in common two limitations that, in themselves, tend to impede the commercial feasibility of that type of brushes given its high cost, due to its complex construction, and the impossibility of obtaining an adequate cleaning of the brush after use, which therefore retains food residues cumulatively and thus promotes the proliferation of fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms. Therefore, due to the fact that they prevent the serious limitations mentioned above, many of the elastically flexible brushes incorporate their flexible orientation element in an intermediate portion between the sleeve of the brush and the head thereof. One way that proved to be effective in obtaining an elastically flexible element for the controlled articulation of Ra head of a toothbrush with its sleeve, at a cost accessible to the consumer, was the weakening of the intermediate portion between the handle and the head, that is, the neck of the brush, suppressing the material comprising the handle, as described in DE 36.40 &9 & Within this construction principle many more complex solutions have been presented: in a first solution described in PCT / PE 93/00299 (WO 93/15627), the neck is provided with numerous annular gutters, in such a way as to form a single central struts with reduced diameter urv and incorporating a plurality of flanges with an outline substantially equal to that of the handle. In this construction, the flexibility gcada of the neck is determined by the diameter and extension of the central brace that defines the neck and the maximum angle of movement of the head with respect to the handle is determined by the support of the eyelashes with each other. In a second construction, which is described in From US Pat. No. 4,520,526, the brush is provided with an elastically flexible neck obtained by removing the material from the front and back sides of the handle, in the form of corresponding cavities, to form a reduced cross-sectional area. In a third solution, likewise described in U.S. Patent 4,520,526, and also in PCT / US 92/006 &1 (WO 92/35225), part of the material of the injRrmedia portion of the brush neck is removed, to form a transverse passage throat, of longitudinal extension, limited by a front and a posterior strut, determined to the greater or lesser thickness of said struts a greater to lower resistance to bending of the head of the brush with respect to the handle, in a axial plane parallel to the axis of the bristles. Other variations have also been developed with respect to the construction of the last example, such as the described in U.S. Patent 5,146,645, in which a reduction in thickness is produced in an average region of ice. front strut, defining a tip with less mechanical resistance or resistance to localized bending, in such a way as to allow said middle region of the strut to bend, by a limit force applied by the user to the brush, until resting on the front face of the front strut , indicating to the user that he has exceeded the acceptable limit of effort for brushing. Despite solving, to a greater or lesser extent, the basic principles related to complexity and hygiene mentioned above, the previous constructions present new disadvantages, that is, when the brush is bent, and taking into account that the user always tends to maintain The brush sleeve in the same position when brushing a certain tooth, the contact angle of the bristles in relation to the tooth is modified with respect to an equal value of the angle formed between the head of the bend and the sleeve, resulting in or resulting one brushed deficient and irregular wear of the bristles. In addition, since these toothbrushes are usually molded in a single piece of oploplastic material, the constant localized flexion of one of the shoulder straps causes fatigue and weakening of the material at that point, reducing its elastic memory, thus giving rise to resulting in a growing deformation of the toothbrush, which is generally rendered useless due to the excessive deformation of his neck, although his bristles are still in good condition. However, another solution is suggested within the line of neck flexibilization, as disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,315,732, according to which the neck is defined by a pair of flexible anterior and posterior laminated struts said struts having their extension controlled by a plunger that slides between the struts and is incorporated at one end of an end shank manually slidable.

It is relatively tight, inside an axial trough in the brush body. The positioning of the plunger regulates the extension of the released straps to be bent and, therefore, the degree of neck clearance. It happens that, in addition to being a complex construction, this solution requires the user a certain practice and care to obtain an adequate regulation to his use of the brush. This construction has the positive aspect of regulating eM Arcto of neck flexibilization canceled and nevertheless, due to the impossibility of maintaining the same dihedral angle between the handle and the head when moving the latter and because of this type of construction, tends to accumulate waste. Therefore, the general object of this invention is to produce a toothbrush that is elastically flexible between its head and handle, low cost, high brushing performance, easy cleaning and great durability.

The special object of this invention is to produce a tooth screw, as described, which can maintain the working plan of the bristles at a substantial angle constant in relation to the geometrical axis of the sleeve, even low maximum contact pressure of the sleeve. the bristles It is also an object of this invention to produce a toothbrush, such as the one described above, which has a substantially constant elastic memory of its neck, during the entire life of its teeth. It is also an object of this invention to produce a wapillo of teeth, according to the previous proposal, which allows the manufacturer or the user to modify the flexibility tier of the brush neck without changing the construction of his body, head or neck. These and other objects and advantages of this invention may be obtained by producing a toothbrush comprising: an elongate handle; a head with an anterior face in which a series of bristles is incorporated; and a fxible neck, which intersperses the sleeve and the head. According to the invention, the neck is defined by a front longitudinal strut and a rear longitudinal strut, distant from each other and with their opposite ends respectively joined to the head and handle by means of localized flexing elements, whereby it can be slid the head, both transversely and in relation to the handle, in a plane that contains the axis of the handle and that is parallel to the axis fi of the bristles, from a position of inactive rest to an active position, maintaining the same dihedral angle between the geometric efes of the handle and the head, also counting said brush with a means of damping that acts on the neck, in such a way that it is elastically deformed when the head moves from its inactive position to any of its action positions, constantly forcing said elastic cushioning means to the head to its inactive position. In practical terms, the toothbrush of the invention combines the known advantages of a common toothbrush and a brush that is physically flexible, that is inexpensive and offers a constant positioning of the working plane of the bristles against the gums and the teeth, and it adapts to the pressure of the patient. In addition to not presenting any of the usual limitations of known toothbrushes, the proposed brush also presents two completely new aspects, as an element to maintain the memory and Al, which, once applied to the neck of the brush, gives place to the extension of the elastic memory of the same during the whole of the useful life of the bristles, and the regulation of the degree of flexibility of the neck, without modifying the basic characteristics of the brush, using different means of "cushioning, selected in accordance with The specific needs of the user are described below. reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 represents a rear side view in perspective, partially cut away and in parts, of the brush in question with the head in rest position; Figure 2 represents a view similar to that defined in Figure 1, with the elastic memory element in position and the head displaced rearwardly; Figures 3 and 4 represent lateral views of the toothbrush illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in the displacement moved backwards - Figures 5 and 6 illustrate views similar to those shown in Figures 3 and 4, although they have an alternative construction for the localized flexion zones of the neck. According to the figures described above, the proposed toothbrush, preferably made of plastic-plastic material, comprises an elongate handle 10 and a blade 20 having an anterior face 21, to which a series of bristles 40 is fixed. by any means available. In the illustrated configuration, the head of the brush is longitudinal and flexible, and is elastically connected, in one piece, to the handle 10 by means of a neck 30, the latter defined by an anterior longitudinal strut 31 and a rear longitudinal stringer 32 spaced apart each other, with the anterior face of the first and the posterior face of the second generally in the same plane, respectively with respect to the front and back faces of the adjacent portions of of the toothbrush. The distance of separation between the anterior longitudinal stringers 31 and posterior 32 defines a transverse space 33 that passes through the neck 30, extended longitudinally towards the latter. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, at each longitudinal end the space 33 has the shape of an opening defined by an orifice crossed by a cylindrical entity 33a in the neck 30, with a diameter greater than the height of said space 33, in such a manner that the thickness of the end portions of the anterior longitudinal stringers 31 and posterior 32 is reduced. The reduced thickness end portions of the stringers define the localized flexion zones 34 of the neck 30. The localized flexion zones 34 of the neck 30 are located at t-points inversely opposite each of the transverse end portions 33a. with respect to the common geometric axis of the head, neck and sleeve when the head is in inactive position. Depending on this arrangement, the toothbrush is deformed during the brushing pair by means of specific bending tongues defining a kind of parallelogram joint with the two shoulder straps 31, 32 of the neck 30, that is to say the head of the brush 20 It moves transversely with respect to the handle, generally towards back, in a plane that contains the geometric axis and is parallel to the geometrical axis of the bristles 40, without there being a change to? yuno in the angle formed between the geometrical axes of the head 20 and of the handle 10. In the illustrated configuration This angle is 10 degrees. In practice, this means that, regardless of the effort applied by the user to the brush, the free end of the bristles 40 will be constantly in contact with the surface to be brushed. ^ > - According to the material used to form the brush in a single piece, the classic damping element can be defined by the localized flexion zones 34, producing a plastic deformation that would act as a buffer of the excessive force exerted by the user on the brush during use and also bed elastic memory element, to cause the return of the head 20 to the inactive position once the effort applied to the mmiisma has ceased. However, bearing in mind that the solution described can lead to premature fatigue of the localized flexion zones 34 and also be insufficient to produce the desired damping and return effects, it is possible, and even advisable, that the means of damping is also and only defined by at least one elastic element 50, installed on the brush in such a way that it deforms elastically before the displacement of the head 20 towards any of its operative positions. - In the illustrated configuration, the elastic element to the shape of a single body, adjusted, in a relatively tight manner, to the space defined by the separation space 33 and its terminal extensions 33a. In this condition, before the displacement of the head 20 to the working positions, the elastic element elastically deforms, both due to a certain flexion in the joining region of its increased terminal edges with its mid section between the tie rods, as well as to the compression of this same section eff due to the approach of the two braces. When released from the axial stresses on the bristles, the elastic element 50 functions in order to return to its original format, bringing the head 20 to its inactive resting position, in which the straps 31 and 32 usually remain in condition of absence of flexion in its terminal portions of the connection with the head and the handle. The elastic element 50 has transverse dimensions with reSU ^ ec a to the longitudinal axis of the brush to be enclosed in the contour of the cross section of the neck 30 and, preferably, with its lateral edges coinciding with said contour, in such a way as to prevent the formation of projections or holes in this portion of the brush. Depending on the characteristics of the brush material, it can happen that the excessive stress distribution of the neck of the brush 30, along a line The limited transverse area that defines each flexion zone 34, leads to a premature weakening of these areas, evidenced by pronounced changes in the material of the brush in this region. To prevent possible early damage to the useful life of the toothbrush, the size and range of the flexion zones 34 can be modified, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this case, the terminal widens of the space 33 can assume the shape of elongated transverse holes 33b of the neck 30, said elongated holes causing the teeminaie portions of thickness of the front and rear straps 32 have a certain longitudinal extension. With this construction change, the yielding stresses are distributed along the localized flexion zones 34 with greater extension, resulting in head movement occurring when bending over a longer radius of the end portions of the braces. Anterior 31 and posterior 32. At the terminal ends of the straps, along said flexion zones 34, P-Ppucen milder deformations, reducing, to a lesser extent, the problem of premature fatigue of the material in these regions. As can be seen, the width of the transverse profile of the elongated holes 33b is greater than the height of the space 33, to cause the desired thickness reduction at the ends of the tie rods. Obviously, in this second configuration, the elastic element adopts the new shape of the space 33 of the neck £ 0,? selecting its material according to the same described salteria, and 3 ~. -j 3 -.c in the same way.

In another configuration, what nc -1? > illustrated herein, the localized bending pockets can be applied to the outer faces of the front and rear tie rods of the brush neck, imparting the same parallelogram-like movement of the front and rear tie rods. It should also be noted that by using a shock absorbing element of an elastic element 50 easily replaceable by the manufacturer or by the user, changes in the flexibility characteristics of the head 20 can be effected by other elasticities of amorphousness, standards that, combined with the different standards of flexibility of the bristles 40, give rise to a great variety of brushes from a single basic structure defined by handle, neck and head. Each user can select and modify the flexibility properties of his brush according to the table of characteristics that the manufacturer can p JijPB - ??: to easily pray.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. A toothbrush comprises: an elongated handle; a head having an anterior face from which a series of bristles is projected; and a flexible neck that intercommunicates the handle and the head, which is characterized by the fact that the neck is defined by a larygitudinal strap anteriac and a posterior longitudinal strap, dStantes to each other and with their opposite ends respectively attached to the head and the handle by means of the localized bending means, whereby the head can be moved transversally and with respect to the handle, along a plane containing the geometric axis of the handle, and which is parallel to the geometric axis of the handle. the bristles, from an inactive resting position to the operative positions, maintaining the same angle between the geometrical axes of the handle and the a? f and z, said brush having an elastic cushioning means acting on the neck, so of deforming when the head moves from its inactive position to any of its operative positions, said dampening means constantly pushing the head towards its position inactive

2. A brush, in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized because having generally 160 degrees the angle formed between the e is geometric of the handle and the cftIbbeeza.

3. A brush, according to claim 2, further characterized in that the geometric axis of the head, in the inactive position, coincides with the axis of the handle.

4. A brush, according to claim 1, further characterized by the fact that the elastic damping means is defined, partially onerously, by the localized flexion mean of the front and rear braces. A brush, according to claims 1 or 4, further characterized by the fact of including the damping means by at least one elastic element mounted on a space formed between the front and rear braces, in such a way that it is elastically compressed for the latter, with the displacement of the head towards the operative positions. Pf 6. A brush, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the elastic element fits the space of separation, occupying the volume thereof. A brush, according to claim 5, further characterized in that the front and rear struts are formed in one piece with the handle and the head. 6. A brush, in accordance with the claim 7, further characterized by the defined localization means being defined by respective portions of reluctant thickness of the anterior and posterior straps. A brush, according to claim fi, further characterized in that the portions of reduced thickness of the pair of front and rear struts are obtained by spreading respective terminals of the gap between the struts, each spreading defining the thickness reductions of the struts. terminal ends adjacent to the pair of front and rear tie rods. ^^ 10. A brush, in accordance with the claim 9, further characterized in that the elastic element has opposite end portions that tightly adjoin, to the respective extreme widening of the gap between the tie rods. 11. A brush, in accordance with the claim 10, further characterized in that the element is circumscribed by the contour of the transverse profile of the neck. I »12. A brush, according to claim 9, further characterized in that each widening takes the form of a transverse through hole of the neck, said orifice having a substantially cylindrical shape with a diameter greater than the height of the gap. A brush, according to claim 9, further characterized in that each widening is in the shape of a transverse through hole of the neck, lfi said hole an elongated cross section with a width toor that the height of separation J * TOOTHBRUSH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A toothbrush is disclosed which comprises, generally in one piece, an elongated handle; a head that holds, on its front face, a series of bristles; and a flexible neck that communicates the handle with the head and buys a pair of anterior and posterior longitudinal struts separated from each other by a transverse spacing space and at their opposite ends respectively joined to the head and sleeve by means of localized bending means that allow the struts to function as a parallelogram joint when the head is forced to move, in transverse direction with respect to the handle and along a plane containing the axis of the handle and parallel to the axis of the bristles , from a resting position brush is gifted against the neck and preferably constituted by an elastic element adjusted to the space between the braces, in such a way that it deforms elastically when the head moves from its inactive position to any of its working positions. DAN / crm # cpm * cgt * ieah *