TWI481391B - Refill head for an oral care implement handle - Google Patents

Description

Replacement head for oral health appliances [Related application cross-reference]

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/506,996 filed on July 12, 2011. The content of the case as a whole is also considered as a reference for this case.

The present invention relates generally to replacement heads for oral health appliances, and more particularly to coupling structures associated with replacement heads.

Electric toothbrushes having replaceable heads are well known in the art, and such replaceable heads are generally referred to as fillable heads. Such electric toothbrushes typically include a grip and a replacement head that is detachably coupled to the grip. Replaceable heads are desirable in electric toothbrushes because grips with expensive motion-inducing circuitry and components are expensive to manufacture and have long cleaning elements such as bristles that are much longer than the brush head. Average life expectancy. When bristles or other cleaning elements wear out, consumers should not be willing to pay large sums to purchase such electric toothbrushes if they must be discarded. Thus, it is now standard to have a grip and a replacement head that can be removed from the grip in the industry, so that for the same grip, the worn replacement head can be replaced as needed.

Existing replacement heads have some drawbacks, including manufacturing complexity, the ability to improperly set the head to the grip, and There is not enough coupling to change the head to the grip. As such, there is a need to develop a replacement head with an improved coupling structure.

The present invention is directed to a replacement head and an oral health care implement comprising a replacement head, wherein the replacement head comprises a tubular sleeve having a chamber. First and second upper cam surfaces are provided in a distal end of the chamber to form a lateral shoulder within the chamber. The first and second upper cam surfaces are separated by first and second axial slots, and the first and second cam hubs of the grip of the grip of the oral care implement are passed through the first and second axial slots .

In one embodiment, the present invention may be a toothbrush comprising: a grip comprising: a clamping portion; a plunger extending from the clamping portion, the plunger extending along an axis; and first and second a cam hub extending radially from an outer surface of the plunger, the first and second cam hubs being disposed on a distal end of the plunger and circumferentially spaced apart; and a replacement head detachably Coupled to the grip, the replacement head comprises: a brush head comprising a plurality of tooth cleaning elements; a tubular sleeve coupled to the brush head, the tubular sleeve having a chamber, the plunger being disposed in the chamber; and the first And a second upper cam surface forming a lateral shoulder in the chamber, the first cam hub surface contacting the first upper cam surface and the second cam hub surface contacting the second upper cam surface to axially retain the plunger in the chamber The first and second upper cam surfaces are circumferentially separated from each other by the first and second axial slots, and the first and second axial cards are when the replacement head is in a rotational direction. The slot is configured such that the first cam hub is axially slidable through the first axial slot and the second cam hub is axially slidable through the second axial slot, the first cam hub being axially aligned in the direction of rotation An axial slot and the second cam hub is axially aligned with the second axial slot.

In another embodiment, the present invention may be a replacement head of an oral health care appliance comprising: a brush head; a tubular sleeve coupled to the brush head, the tubular sleeve having a chamber, the chamber housing a plunger of a grip of the oral health appliance; and first and second upper cam surfaces forming a lateral shoulder in the chamber, the first and second axial cams, the first and second upper cams The surfaces are separated from one another on the circumference.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It is to be understood that the preferred embodiments of the invention are intended to

The description of the preferred embodiments described below is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention and its application or use.

The statements of the illustrative embodiments in accordance with the principles of the invention are described with reference to the drawings, which are considered a part of the entire description. In this regard, the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is intended to be construed as a Related terms such as "below", "above", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "in" "down", "upward", "downward", "top", "bottom" and its derivatives (for example, "horizontal", "downward", "upward", etc.) should be interpreted as discussing with that time The figures are related to the orientations described or displayed. These related terms are for convenience only and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a particular direction, unless explicitly indicated by itself. Terms, for example, "attached", "Affixed," "connected," "coupled," "interconnected," and the like refer to a relationship in which a structure is directly or indirectly attached by a structure interposed therebetween. Attached or fixed to each other, and the two are movable or fixed attachments or relationships, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Further, the features and advantages of the present invention are described with reference to the illustrative embodiments described herein. The present invention is intended to be limited to the preferred embodiments, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrative embodiments. The discussion herein describes and describes some possible combinations of non-limiting features that may exist individually or Other combinations of features present scope of the invention defined by the appended patent items defined range.

1 and 6, a power toothbrush 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The electric toothbrush 1000 generally includes a replacement head 100 and a grip 200. As described in more detail below, the replacement head 100 and the grip 200 are designed such that the replacement head 100 is recoupally coupled and decoupled to the grip 200. In FIG. 1, the electric toothbrush 1000 is illustrated in a state in which the replacement head 100 is not coupled to the grip 200 but axially aligned with the grip 200, and thus such coupling can be accomplished. In FIG. 6, the electric toothbrush 1000 is illustrated in a state in which the replacement head 100 is detachably coupled to the grip 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Although the invention is illustrated herein as an electric toothbrush 1000, it should be understood that the inventive concepts described herein can be applied to a manual toothbrush or other manual or electric oral health appliance that uses a replacement head that is a manual or electric oral health appliance. Unrestricted includes tongue cleaners, water picks, interdental devices, tooth polishers, and specially designed shankware with tooth engaging elements.

Referring now to Figures 1, 3, 4A and 4B, the grip 200 will be described in greater detail. The grip 200 generally includes a grip portion 210 (only a small portion of which is illustrated) and a plunger 220. The plunger 220 extends from the clamping portion 210 along the longitudinal axis A-A.

The grip portion 210 of the grip 200 is an elongated structure that allows the user to hold and operate the electric toothbrush 1000 by its use. The grip portion 210 can take many different shapes, shapes, and configurations, and the like cannot limit the invention. Included within the clamping portion 210 is a power source, an electric motor and electronic circuitry, and components that require a desired movement within the replacement head 100.

The gripping portion 210 also includes a user interface that controls various operations of the electric toothbrush 1000, the user interface including, without limitation, closing and opening, changing motor speed or other included functions. Basically, the grip portion 210 forms a waterproof outer casing of the above-described electronic circuit and mechanical parts that require moisture prevention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the motion of the brush head 110 to be transferred to the replacement head 100 is a vibrating motion. In order to generate this vibration The grip 200 includes a vibrating element that is coupled to a drive shaft 221 in the form of an eccentric 222 in the illustrated embodiment. A proximal end portion (not shown) of the drive shaft 221 is operatively coupled to an electric motor (not shown) such that the electric motor can rotate the drive shaft 221. A distal end portion 223 of the drive shaft 221 is secured by an annular bearing 224 disposed within the plunger 220. When the drive shaft 221 is rotated, due to the eccentric center of gravity of the eccentric wheel 222, the eccentric wheel 222 generates vibration transmitted to the plunger 220 and to the displacement head 100 (described in detail below). Although the eccentric 222 is illustrated as a portion of the drive shaft 221, a portion of the drive shaft 221 has been radially offset from the longitudinal axis A-A, and the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the eccentric 222 can be an offset disc or other offset weight, as is well known in the art. As shown in FIG. 1, the plunger 220 forms a waterproof housing having an interior chamber 225 in which the drive shaft 221 and the eccentric 222 are covered. Additional details of a suitable vibration-generating grip and related structure that can be incorporated into the electric toothbrush 1000 of the present invention can be found in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0269275, inventor: Shimoyama et al., publication date: October 28, 2010 (US Patent Application Serial No. 12/377,355, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The plunger 220 includes a proximal end portion 226 and a distal end portion 228. The proximal portion 226 is the base of the plunger 220 adjacent the grip 210 of the grip 200. The distal end portion 228 forms the free end of the plunger 220. The distal end portion 228 of the plunger 220 further includes a plug portion 231 and a shoulder portion 232. The plug portion 231 extends axially from the shoulder 232.

The plunger 220 further includes a first cam hub 229 and a second cam hub 230 extending radially outward from the outer surface 227 of the plunger 220. The first and second cam hubs 229, 230 are disposed on the plunger 220 in a circumferentially spaced manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 are approximately 180 apart. Of course, other separation angles can be used as needed. Moreover, in another embodiment, more or less than two cam hubs 229, 230 can be included on the plunger 220.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 are located on the plug portion 231 of the distal end portion 228 of the plunger 220 and extend a radial distance that is less than the shoulder 232. As such, it can be seen from FIG. 4A that the free ends 329, 330 of the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 are located within the perimeter 332 of the shoulder 232. In other embodiments, the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 can be located elsewhere on the plunger 220 if desired. Stated another way, the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 do not extend radially beyond an outer surface 227 of the shoulder 232.

In the illustrated embodiment, both the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 are cylindrical pin-like elements and have approximately equal diameters. However, in other embodiments, the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 can have other cross-sectional shapes, including polygonal, elliptical or irregular shapes. As such, the term "diameter" as used herein is not strictly limited to a circular geometry.

Referring now to Figures 2, 5A and 5B, the structure of the replacement head 100 will be described in more detail. The replacement head 100 generally includes a brush head 110, a tubular sleeve 120, and an annular cam collar 150. tube The sleeve 120, the head 110 and the cam collar 150 may be made of a hard material such as a moldable hard plastic. Suitable hard plastics include polymers and copolymers of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, vinyl compounds, and polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate. Of course, the invention is not limited thereto and other materials may be used to form the tubular sleeve 120 and the brush head 110 of the replacement head 100.

The tubular sleeve 120 extends from a proximal end 121 to a distal end 182 along a longitudinal axis B-B. The brush head 110 is coupled to the distal end 182 of the tubular sleeve 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the tubular sleeve 120 and the brush head 110 of the replacement head 100 are integrally formed as a unitary structure using molding, milling, machining, or other suitable process. However, in other embodiments, the brush head 110 and tubular sleeve 120 of the replacement head 100 can be formed as separate components that are operable at any later stage of the process by any suitable conventional technique. Ground connection, the prior art without limitation includes thermal or ultrasonic welding, tight fit assembly, coupling sleeve, screwing, adhesive or fastener.

As is conventional, the brush head 110 includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements 180 (generally shown) extending from its surface. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements 180 provide cleaning and/or polishing of the oral surface and/or interdental space. The tooth cleaning element 180 can be particularly suitable for brushing teeth, or can be particularly suitable for polishing teeth in addition to cleaning teeth or polishing teeth instead of cleaning teeth. As used herein, the term "teeth cleaning element" is used in a generic sense to mean that it can be used to clean, polish or brush teeth and/or soft oral tissues (such as tongue, cheeks and gums) by relative surface contact. Any structure.) Typical examples of "teeth cleaning elements" include, without limitation, combinations of bristles, silk bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, spiral bristles, bristle rubber, elastic cam hubs, flexible polymeric cam hubs, and the like, and/or contain these The structure of the material or combination. Suitable elastic materials include any biocompatible elastomeric material suitable for use in oral hygiene devices. In order to provide optimum comfort and cleaning benefits, the elastic material of the tooth or soft tissue engaging element has a hardness range of A8 to A25 Shore hardness. A suitable elastomeric material is styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS Corporation. However, SEBS materials or other materials from other manufacturers within and outside the specified hardness range may also be used.

The tooth cleaning element 180 of the present invention can be coupled to the replacement head 100 in any conventional manner. For example, staples/anchors, in-mold tufting (IMT) or anchorless tufting (AFT) can be used to mount the cleaning elements/tooth engaging elements. In the AFT, a flat plate or film can be secured to the brush head, for example by ultrasonic welding. The bristles extend through the plate or film. The free end of the bristles on one side of the plate or film performs a cleaning function. The ends of the bristles on the other end of the plate or film are fixedly positioned together by heat welding. Any suitable form of cleaning element can be used in the broad practice of the invention. Alternatively, the bristles may be mounted to the tufts or tufts by extending through suitable recesses in the tufts such that the bases of the bristles are mounted within or below the tufts.

The tubular sleeve 120 includes an inner surface 181 that defines an inner chamber 122 that is along the longitudinal axis B-B extension. The inner chamber 122 is sized and shaped to receive the plunger 220 of the grip 200 such that the displacement head 100 can be detachably coupled to the grip 200 as described below. The tubular sleeve 120 further includes an opening 123 at the proximal end 121 that provides a passage into the chamber 122 such that the plunger 220 can be axially translated into and out of the chamber 122 via the opening 123.

The chamber 122 includes a proximal axial section 124, an intermediate axial section 125, and a distal axial section 126. The proximal axial section 124 extends from the opening 123 to a first shoulder 127 formed in the inner surface 181. The proximal axial section 124 has a tapered cross-sectional area along its length that moves from the opening 123 to the first annular shoulder 127. The intermediate axial section 125 extends from the first shoulder 127 to a second shoulder 128 formed in the inner surface 181. The intermediate axial section 125 has a slightly tapered cross-sectional area along its length from the first shoulder 127 to the second shoulder 128. The distal axial section 126 extends from the second annular shoulder 128 to the one end wall 129. Even at the smallest cross-sectional area of the intermediate axial section 125, the distal axial section 126 has a reduced cross-sectional area than the intermediate axial section 125.

As described above, the replacement head 100 further includes a cam collar 150. A cam collar 150 is disposed within the chamber 122 and coupled to the tubular sleeve 120. In more detail, the cam collar 150 is disposed within the intermediate axial section 125 of the inner chamber 122 (near the distal end portion 127). The cam collar 150 is coupled to the tubular sleeve 120 so as not to rotate relative to the tubular sleeve 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the axial position of the cam collar 150 within the chamber 122 of the tubular sleeve 120 is obtained by a combination of contact with the second annular shoulder 128 and the annular retaining flange 130, the annular retaining flange 130 from inside The surface 181 protrudes radially inward. As such, the second annular shoulder 128 prevents the cam collar 150 from moving axially relative to the tubular sleeve 120 in a first axial direction, while the annular retaining flange 130 prevents the cam collar 150 from being in a second axial direction (and the first The axial direction is reversed relative to the axial movement of the tubular sleeve 120. The rotational movement between the cam collar 150 and the tubular sleeve 120 is blocked by an interlocking tab 153 of the cam collar 150 that extends into a second annular shoulder 128 formed on the inner surface 181 of the tubular sleeve 120. The inner axial extension slot 131.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cam collar 150 includes an annular outer wall 154, a first inner step 155, and a second inner step 156. The first inner step 155 includes a first upper cam surface 157 and the second inner step 156 includes a second upper cam surface 158. The first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158 form a lateral shoulder in the chamber 122. When the electric toothbrush 1000 is properly assembled and the replacement head 100 is detachably coupled to the grip 200, the first cam hub 229 of the plunger 220 is in surface contact with the first upper cam surface 157 and the second cam hub 230 is The upper cam surface 158 is in surface contact (as shown in Figure 6) while the plunger 220 is axially retained within the chamber 122 to maintain a separable coupling.

The first and second steps 155, 156 and thus the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158 are circumferentially separated from one another by the first and second axial slots 151, 152. The first upper cam surface 157 includes a first recess 159 that is nested in the first recess 159 when the replacement head 100 is detachably coupled to the grip 200. Similarly, the second upper cam surface 158 includes a second recess 160 when replaced When the head 100 is detachably coupled to the grip 200, the second cam hub 230 is nested in its second recess 160.

The first upper cam surface 157 also includes a first slope portion 161 and a first stop portion 162. The first ramp portion 161 extends from the first axial slot 151 to the first recess 159 and is configured to ride the first cam hub 229 from the first axial slot 151 along the first upper cam surface 157 (ride ) to the first recess 159. On the other hand, the first stop portion 162 is located between the first recess 159 and the second axial slot 152 and is arranged to prevent the first cam hub 229 from being rotated from the first recess 159 to the axial alignment. Axial card slot 152. Similarly, the second upper cam surface 158 includes a second slope portion 163 and a second stop portion 164. The second ramp portion 163 extends from the second axial slot 152 to the second recess 160 and is configured to ride the second cam hub 230 along the second upper cam surface 158 from the second axial slot 152 to the first Two recesses 160. Conversely, the second stop 164 is located between the second recess 160 and the first axial slot 151 and is configured to prevent the second cam hub 230 from being rotated from the second recess 160 to the axially aligned first axis To the card slot 151.

The first and second axial slots 151, 152 are configured to axially slide the first cam hub 229 axially through the first axial slot 151 and the second cam hub 230 when the replacement head 100 is in a rotational direction The second axial slot 152 is axially slid, and the first cam hub 229 is axially aligned with the first axial slot 151 and the second cam hub 230 is axially aligned with the second axial slot. 152. Thus, in order for the plunger 220 of the grip 200 to be inserted into the chamber 122 of the replacement head 100, the replacement head 100 must It is necessary to be placed in a rotational direction in which the first cam hub 229 is axially aligned with the first axial slot 151 and the second cam hub 230 is axially aligned with the second axial slot 152. Once the direction of this rotation is reached, the plunger 220 is inserted into the chamber 122 until the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 individually pass through the first and second axial slots 151, 152. Once the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 have passed the first and second axial slots 151, 152, the replacement head 100 is rotated relative to the grip 200 (clockwise 90 degrees) and thus the first and second projections The hubs 229, 230 ride along the first and second ramp portions 161, 162 of the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158 until they are individually stacked in the first and second recesses 159, 160. The vertical side walls (without component symbols) and the cam surface area portions 161 and 163 of the first and second axial slots 151, 152 prevent the replacement head 100 from rotating counterclockwise and thereby maintaining the replacement head 100 against the grip 200 Orientation. When the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 ride on the first and second sloped portions 161, 163, the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 form a relationship with the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158 Tight fit. The first and second cam hubs 229, 230 then fall into the first and second recesses 159, 160 to between the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 and the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158. A more relaxed state. The first and second recesses 159, 160 hold the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 in contact with the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158. This fit can be further enhanced by the addition of a resilient pad that provides an axial force that further forces the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 into the first and second recesses 159, 160 (not shown). First The first and second stops 162, 164 prevent excessive rotation.

When a user wants to remove the replacement head 100 from the grip 200, the user rotates the displacement head 100 relative to the grip 200 in the opposite rotational direction (ie, 90 degrees counterclockwise) until the first and second convex The hubs 229, 230 are forced away from the first and second recesses 159, 160 and slide the first and second ramp portions 161, 163 of the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158. The rotation continues until the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 are individually returned to axially align the first and second axial slots 151, 152. At this point, the plunger 220 can be axially retracted from the chamber 122 of the replacement head 100.

Again, as described above, when the displacement head 100 is detachably coupled to the grip 200, the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158 are located in the intermediate axial section 125 of the chamber 122. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, only the outer surface of the shoulder portion 232 of the distal end portion 228 of the plunger 220 is in close contact with the inner surface 181 of the tubular sleeve 120. As such, the vibration generated by the eccentric wheel 222 in the plunger 220 is more efficiently transmitted to the brush head 210 of the replacement head 100. It is advantageous to reduce the vibration below the distal end portion 228 so that the vibration is not transmitted to the grip 200.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second cam hubs 229, 230 are integrally molded to the plunger 220. Still further, in the illustrated embodiment, although the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158 are located on the cam collar 150, the first and second upper cam surfaces 157, 158 can be integrally formed with the tubular sleeve 120.

As used throughout the specification, the scope is used as a brief The expression is expressed, and any value within each and any range within the recited range can be selected as the limit value of the range. In addition, the entire disclosures of the above-referenced patents are hereby incorporated by reference. In the event of a conflict between the definitions of the present disclosure and the cited references, this disclosure is primarily directed.

While the foregoing is a description of the embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that In particular, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art <Desc/Clms Page number>> </RTI> that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, ratios, dimensions, and other elements, materials, and components without departing from the spirit or essential characteristic. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications of the structures, arrangements, ratios, dimensions, materials and parts of the invention can be made. These modifications are particularly suited to the particular circumstances and needs of the operation without departing from the principles of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive

1000‧‧‧ electric toothbrush

100‧‧‧ Replacement head

110‧‧‧ brush head

120‧‧‧Tube casing

121‧‧‧ proximal end

122‧‧‧(inside) chamber

123‧‧‧ openings

124‧‧‧ proximal axial section

125‧‧‧ intermediate axial section

126‧‧‧ distal axial section

127‧‧‧First shoulder/first circular shoulder

128‧‧‧Second shoulder/second ring shoulder

129‧‧‧End wall

130‧‧‧Ring fixed flange

131‧‧‧Axial extension slot

150‧‧‧ cam collar

151‧‧‧First axial card slot

152‧‧‧Second axial card slot

153‧‧‧Interlocking tongue

154‧‧‧ annular outer wall

155‧‧‧first (internal) order

156‧‧‧second (internal) order

157‧‧‧First upper cam surface

158‧‧‧Second upper cam surface

159‧‧‧First recess

160‧‧‧second recess

161‧‧‧First bevel

162‧‧‧First stop

163‧‧‧Second inclined face

164‧‧‧second stop

180‧‧‧Dental cleaning elements

181‧‧‧ inner surface

182‧‧‧ far end

200‧‧‧ grip

210‧‧‧Clamping Department

220‧‧‧Plunger

221‧‧‧ drive shaft

222‧‧‧eccentric wheel

223‧‧‧ distal end

224‧‧‧ ring bearing

225‧‧‧Internal chamber

226‧‧‧ Near end

227‧‧‧ outer surface

228‧‧‧ distal end

229‧‧‧First cam hub

230‧‧‧second cam hub

231‧‧‧ plug part

232‧‧‧ shoulder

329‧‧‧Free end

330‧‧‧Free end

Around 332‧‧

The invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a replacement head and toothbrush grip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, aligned for detachable coupling Wherein the replacement head is shown in cross section and the grip is partially cut off; FIG. 2 is a replacement head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a front view of the toothbrush grip of FIG. 1; FIG. 4A is a top view of the toothbrush handle of FIG. 1; FIG. 4B is a right side view of a distal end of the plunger of the toothbrush handle of FIG. Figure 5A is a top plan view of the cam collar of the replacement head of Figure 1, wherein the camshaft ring is removed from the tubular sleeve of the replacement head; Figure 5B is a longitudinal section of the cam collar of Figure 5A; and Figure 6 A front view of the replacement head and toothbrush handle of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the replacement head and the toothbrush grip are separately coupled together.

1000‧‧‧ electric toothbrush

100‧‧‧ Replacement head

110‧‧‧ brush head

120‧‧‧Tube casing

121‧‧‧ proximal end

122‧‧‧ inner chamber

123‧‧‧ openings

150‧‧‧ cam collar

180‧‧‧Dental cleaning elements

182‧‧‧ far end

200‧‧‧ grip

210‧‧‧Clamping Department

220‧‧‧Plunger

221‧‧‧ drive wheel

222‧‧‧eccentric wheel

223‧‧‧ distal end

224‧‧‧ ring bearing

225‧‧‧Internal chamber

227‧‧‧ outer surface

229‧‧‧First cam hub

230‧‧‧second cam hub

231‧‧‧ plug part

232‧‧‧ shoulder

Claims (22)

A toothbrush comprising: a grip comprising: a clamping portion; a plunger extending from the clamping portion, the plunger extending along an axis; and first and second cam hubs from the plunger An outer surface extending radially, the first and second cam hubs being disposed on a distal end of the plunger and circumferentially spaced apart; and a replacement head detachably coupled to the grip The replacement head includes: a brush head including a plurality of tooth cleaning elements; a tubular sleeve coupled to the brush head, the tubular sleeve having a chamber, the plunger being disposed in the chamber; And a second upper cam surface forming a lateral shoulder within the chamber, the first cam hub surface contacting the first upper cam surface and the second cam hub surface contacting the second upper cam surface to axially retain the Inserting the rod in the chamber, the first and second upper cam surfaces are circumferentially separated from each other by the first and second axial slots, the first being when the replacement head is in a rotational direction And a second axial slot is provided to cause the first cam hub to axially slide through the first To the second slot and the cam hub are axially slide through the second An axial slot, in the direction of rotation, the first cam hub is axially aligned with the first axial slot and the second cam hub is axially aligned with the second axial slot; and a cam collar, Disposed within the chamber, and the cam collar includes the first and second upper cam surfaces. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the first upper cam surface comprises a first recess, the first cam hub is stacked in the first recess, and wherein the second upper cam surface comprises a second recess in which the second cam hub is stacked. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the first upper cam surface comprises a first slope portion and a first stop portion, the first slope portion extending from the first axial slot to the first a recess and is disposed such that the first cam hub is rotated between the first axial slot and the first recess, the first stop being located in the first recess and the second axial direction Between the slots and configured to prevent the first cam hub from being pivoted away from the first recess to axially align the second axial slot, and wherein the second upper cam surface includes a second ramp and a a second stopping portion extending from the second axial slot to the second recess and configured to rotate the second cam hub to the second axial slot and the second Between the recesses, the second stop is located between the second recess and the first axial slot and is configured to prevent the second camshaft from being axially aligned from the second recess The first axial card slot. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second cam hubs are the same size and shape. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the cam collar is axially retained in a chamber of the tubular sleeve by a fixing flange from an inner surface of the tubular sleeve Protruding and the cam collar is rotationally retained by a slot of the cam collar that extends into the slot on the inner surface of the tubular sleeve. The toothbrush of claim 5, wherein the slot extends into a lateral shoulder formed in an inner surface of the tubular sleeve. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cam collar comprises an outer annular wall and first and second steps, and the first and second steps are from the outer annular wall The inner surface projects radially inwardly, and the first and second upper cam surfaces are located on the first and second steps, respectively. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second upper cam surfaces are integrally formed with the tubular sleeve. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the free ends of the first and second cam hubs are located around the shoulder of a distal end portion of the plunger. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a proximal end portion of the chamber of the tubular sleeve is tapered. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distal end portion of the plunger includes a plug portion and a shoulder portion, the plug portion extending from the shoulder portion and including the first and the first Two cam hubs, and wherein the first and second cam hubs do not extend radially beyond an outer surface of the shoulder. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the grip comprises a power source and a vibrating element operatively coupled to the power source. The toothbrush of claim 12, wherein the vibrating element is located within the plunger. A toothbrush according to claim 13 wherein only the outer surface of the shoulder of the plunger is in intimate surface contact with an inner surface of the tubular sleeve. A replacement head of an oral health care appliance comprising: a brush head, a tubular sleeve coupled to the brush head, the tubular sleeve having a chamber containing a grip of the oral health care appliance a lance; the first and second upper cam surfaces forming a lateral shoulder in the chamber, the first and second upper cam surfaces being circumferentially separated from each other by the first and second axial slots; And a cam collar disposed within the chamber, and the cam collar includes the first and second upper cam surfaces. A displacement head according to claim 15 wherein the first upper cam surface comprises a first recess and the second upper cam surface comprises a second recess. The replacement head according to claim 16, wherein the first upper cam surface comprises a first inclined surface portion and a first stopping portion, the first inclined surface portion extending from the first axial clamping slot to a first recess, the first stop portion being located between the first recess and the second axial slot, and wherein the second upper cam surface includes a second slope portion and a second stop portion The second inclined surface extends from the second axial slot to the second recess, and the second stop is located between the second recess and the first axial slot. The replacement head according to claim 15 of the patent application, wherein the The camshaft ring is axially retained within the chamber of the tubular sleeve by a fixed flange that projects from an inner surface of the tubular sleeve and the cam collar is supported by the cam collar The interlocking tab extends into the slot on the inner surface of the tubular sleeve and is rotationally retained. The replacement head of claim 18, wherein the slot extends into a lateral shoulder formed in an inner surface of the tubular sleeve. The replacement head according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the cam collar comprises an outer annular wall and first and second steps, the first and second steps from the outer annular wall An inner surface projects radially inwardly, and the first and second upper cam surfaces are located on the first and second steps, respectively. The replacement head according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the cam collar and the tubular sleeve are non-unitary. The replacement head according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the first and second upper cam surfaces are integrally formed with the tubular sleeve.