US20100299857A1 - Oral care device with a function element and method of manufacturing it - Google Patents

Oral care device with a function element and method of manufacturing it Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100299857A1
US20100299857A1 US12/849,507 US84950710A US2010299857A1 US 20100299857 A1 US20100299857 A1 US 20100299857A1 US 84950710 A US84950710 A US 84950710A US 2010299857 A1 US2010299857 A1 US 2010299857A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
head
oral care
care device
function element
elastomer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/849,507
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English (en)
Inventor
Christian Stief
Martin Haas
Jens Stoerkel
Steffi Raehse
Siegfried Hustedt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braun GmbH
Original Assignee
Braun GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Braun GmbH filed Critical Braun GmbH
Assigned to BRAUN GMBH reassignment BRAUN GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RAEHSE, STEFFI, STIEF, CHRISTIAN, HAAS, MARTIN, HUSTEDT, SIEGFRIED, STOERKEL, JENS
Publication of US20100299857A1 publication Critical patent/US20100299857A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
    • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
    • A61C17/222—Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
    • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
    • A46B15/0016—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with enhancing means
    • A46B15/0036—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with enhancing means with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
    • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
    • A46B9/025—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups the bristles or the tufts being arranged in an angled position relative to each other
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B9/00—Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
    • A46B9/02—Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
    • A46B9/04—Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
    • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
    • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C1/00—Dental machines for boring or cutting ; General features of dental machines or apparatus, e.g. hand-piece design
    • A61C1/08—Machine parts specially adapted for dentistry
    • A61C1/088—Illuminating devices or attachments

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an oral care device and to a method of manufacturing it.
  • An oral care device that has a handle and a head that has an outer surface.
  • the head is connectible to the handle.
  • the device comprises oral care elements disposed on the head and an electrically operable function element disposed on the outer surface of the head, and an elastomer element is disposed adjacent to the function element.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the head and the neck portion of an oral care device according to an embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the head of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the head of the oral care device of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the head taken along the line C-C of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the elastomer element of the oral care device of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the elastomer element of FIG. 6 ;
  • FIG. 8 is a side view of the elastomer element of FIG. 6 ;
  • FIG. 9 is a front view of the elastomer element of FIG. 6 ;
  • FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a head of an oral care device with electrically operable function element of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective top plan view of the head of an oral care device, which according to this embodiment, is part of a manual toothbrush.
  • FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of the head of the oral care device of FIG. 1 .
  • a neck portion 2 adjoins the head 1 which has a bristle zone on an upper side for cleaning the teeth.
  • the neck portion continues in a handle portion in which electric leads for operating an electric function element are installed.
  • the handle portion also accommodates an ON/OFF switch, a power supply and other electric devices necessary to operate the electric function element.
  • the outer surface 6 of the head, on which the oral care elements can be fastened may include in the front half of the head or in the front third of the distal end of the head 1 the function element 7 and the elastomer element 8 arranged around the function element. Both the function element 7 and the elastomer element 8 are constructed such that they protrude from the outer surface in the direction of the bristle ends. In an alternative embodiment, the elastomer element and the function element may be arranged on another surface which is devoid of tooth cleaning bristles 5 . This could be, for example, the rear side or the side of the head 1 . In the present case the outer surface 6 is a uniformly plane surface which includes apertures for receiving the oral care elements.
  • FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the head 1 .
  • the LED 7 is not covered by bristle ends or bristle portions, which enables an unobstructed illumination of the teeth.
  • a free region which has a diameter of 2 to about 4 mm and is devoid of bristles. This diameter range relates to the optical axis of the LED or an axis angled or offset relative to it.
  • the LED is surrounded by cleaning bristles or oral care elements essentially on all sides.
  • tooth cleaning is performed substantially by the cleaning bristles, whereby the free ends 11 of the elastomer element 8 may also perform cleaning functions, depending on the brushing technique used.
  • the elastomer element 8 may have a hardness of 50 to 80 Shore A. Even on intensive pressing of the bristles against the teeth it is thus not likely to compress the elastomer in its longitudinal dimension to an extent causing the teeth to contact the LED 7 .
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line 10 or C-C of FIG. 3 .
  • a foot region of the elastomer element 8 is arranged in direct adjacency to bristle tufts.
  • the distance between the cleaning bristles nearest the elastomer element and the wall of the elastomer element at the level of the outer surface 6 amounts to between a few tenths of a mm and about 2 mm.
  • the LED 7 may be press-fitted within a hard plastic opening of the head 1 .
  • the sections of the elastomer element 8 are only connected to the outer surface 6 and not to the mounting hole for the LED, whereby a firm and sealing press-fit is obtained between the hard plastic of the LED and the hard plastic of the head 1 .
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the elastomer element 8 .
  • FIG. 7 shows this elastomer element in a top plan view, FIG. 8 in a front view, and FIG. 9 in a side view.
  • the elastomer element 8 includes four free ends 11 , but in variations it may also have two, three or more than four ends 11 .
  • the four free ends 11 are connected to each other in the base area by a circumferential wall, with indentations 13 , 14 and 15 being provided between the ends 11 .
  • the indentations or recesses or cutouts 13 extend downwardly deeper than the LED 7 protrudes from the outer surface 6 of the head 1 .
  • the aim is to design the elastomer element 8 and its surrounding geometries to the effect that no major amounts of liquid or toothpaste or none at all can accumulate within the elastomer element 8 and/or on the LED 7 .
  • the recesses 13 may be provided on both sides of the elastomer element 8 as V-shaped notches.
  • the cutout 14 may be arranged in an about 90° offset position between the recesses 13 in the wall of the elastomer element, thereby enabling a better emission of light through this opening on the one hand and sufficient flexibility of the ends 11 of the elastomer element 8 on the other hand.
  • another cutout 15 which in this embodiment is equally U- or V-shaped and arranged on the outer wall in an about 90° offset orientation relative to and between the recesses 13 .
  • the manufacturing steps may include injection-molding of the head with molding around the function element, connecting the elastomer element with the head or injection-molding the elastomer element onto the head with a second plastic component, and tufting the head.
  • the head tufting operation may include not only the fastening of the bristle tufts to the head but also the further treatment steps on the bristle ends. These further treatment steps may include trimming the bristles to length and endrounding the bristle ends. Alternatively or optionally, additional final treatment steps can be performed on the bristle ends.
  • the electric wire 17 may be passed through a hollow space in the toothbrush neck which connects the head to the handle and the electric components contained therein.
  • the LED 7 may be pressed into the hole 20 with a press fit.
  • both the LED 7 and the head 1 are made from a hard plastic material so that a slightly smaller dimensioning of the hole 20 in the head compared to the outer diameter of the LED 7 is suitable for a press fit.
  • the LED 7 or the head 1 is formed at least partly from a soft plastic material such as TPE.
  • the head material can be optionally transparent or translucent.
  • the head may be sealingly closed from the rear with a cover 21 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ) following insertion of the LED 7 and the encapsulation 18 .
  • the LED can be fastened in the head by any other method.
  • An alternative production method involves, for example, injection-molding around the LED in the die in which the head 1 is injection-molded.
  • the LED can be welded in, fitted in, adhesive-bonded or cast in.
  • the LED (or the function element) can be installed from above (that is, from the bristle plane) or between halves of the head.
  • An elastomer element disposed directly adjacent to the function element can help ensure that the function element does not negatively affect the user when cleaning the tooth or the tongue. Furthermore, the embodiment of the invention enables the electrically operable function element to be arranged in close proximity to the teeth (or the tongue) to be cleaned while at the same time the thickness of the head carrying the oral care elements is kept suitably small. As such, the toothbrush continues to occupy a small space between the inside of the cheek and the outer surface of the tooth, so as to provide handling comfort.
  • the elastomer element may be constructed as a circumferential wall around the function element. This provides for a uniform supporting function covering the entire circumference of the function element by the wall of the elastomer element.
  • the construction of the elastomer element as a circumferential wall affords greater ease of manufacture and enables absorption of force within the elastomer element by neighboring wall sections.
  • the circumferential wall may include lateral recesses arranged on a height with the function element.
  • the provision of the recesses on a height with the function element ensures that toothpaste, instead of accumulating within the elastomer element on the function element, can be drained through the lateral recesses.
  • a closed cup-type structure of the elastomer element is therefore considered as disadvantageous.
  • At least two elastomer elements may be arranged laterally adjacent to the function element.
  • the elastomer elements can be constructed as two shells or as two elastomer elements shaped, for example, as rectangles, which on either side are arranged in direct adjacency to the function element and as such also enable a sufficient supporting effect, wherein the interruption between the two elastomer elements produces a gap through which liquid or toothpaste which might deposit on the function element is drained straight away.
  • two elastomer elements it is also possible to arrange three, four, five, six, seven or more elastomer elements around the function element. These elastomer elements are movable essentially independently of each other or are at least flexible in the end region and may share a base region adjacent to the head or in the head.
  • the function element and the elastomer element may be integrally made of one piece. Accordingly, the function element and the elastomer element are preferably formed of the same material. Alternatively, the function element and the elastomer element may be made of two materials.
  • the function element may be constructed as a light emitting source, in particular as an LED (light emitting diode), as a sensor or an actuator for, for example, a sound, a movement or a vibration.
  • the LED can be used, for example, as a supplier of energy for activating a substance in the toothpaste.
  • Other energy-emitting function elements may be used alternatively.
  • the function element is constructed as a sensor, then this can be, for example, a motion sensor which detects the 3D motion of the head by means of an inclination sensor, a speed sensor or an acceleration sensor. Also a contact force sensor may be contemplated.
  • the function element may be arranged partly in the head and partly projecting therefrom.
  • the elastomer element arranged directly adjacent to the function element thus prevents that, for example, a tooth to be cleaned can hit directly against a function element formed, for example, of a hard plastic material.
  • the elastomer element may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer and the head, in particular the areas adjoining the elastomer, of a hard plastic material as, for example, PP, POM, copolyester or PE.
  • the oral care device may be constructed as a manual or electric toothbrush and/or the function element as an LED which is arranged in protruding fashion in the cleaning region.
  • the LED or the function element may be arranged centrally or in the front half, that is, the half of the head at the end remote from the handle. This helps ensure that also the posterior molars can be illuminated well.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Brushes (AREA)
US12/849,507 2008-09-01 2010-08-03 Oral care device with a function element and method of manufacturing it Abandoned US20100299857A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08015418.0A EP2158872B1 (de) 2008-09-01 2008-09-01 Mundpflegeeinrichtung mit einem Funktionselement und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung
EP08015418.0.6 2008-09-01
PCT/IB2009/053811 WO2010023642A1 (en) 2008-09-01 2009-09-01 Oral care device with a function element and method of its manufacture

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2009/053811 Continuation-In-Part WO2010023642A1 (en) 2008-09-01 2009-09-01 Oral care device with a function element and method of its manufacture

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100299857A1 true US20100299857A1 (en) 2010-12-02

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Family Applications (1)

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US12/849,507 Abandoned US20100299857A1 (en) 2008-09-01 2010-08-03 Oral care device with a function element and method of manufacturing it

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20100299857A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2158872B1 (de)
CN (1) CN102137631A (de)
WO (1) WO2010023642A1 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140338504A1 (en) * 2013-05-15 2014-11-20 Snap-On Incorporated Process and Apparatus for Locating Light Emitting Diode in a Hand Tool Head Assembly
US20160100679A1 (en) * 2014-10-09 2016-04-14 David Hyun Jong Cho Toothbrush structure
USD846285S1 (en) 2016-11-21 2019-04-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10849416B2 (en) 2015-09-08 2020-12-01 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10952529B2 (en) * 2016-11-21 2021-03-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10987204B2 (en) * 2016-11-21 2021-04-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2014277704B2 (en) * 2010-09-30 2016-03-24 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
RU2539322C2 (ru) * 2010-09-30 2015-01-20 Колгейт-Палмолив Компани Устройство для ухода за полостью рта

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040154112A1 (en) * 2003-02-11 2004-08-12 Braun Phillip M. Toothbrushes
US20040168271A1 (en) * 2001-01-08 2004-09-02 Mcdougall Gregory Toothbrush
US20050050658A1 (en) * 2003-09-09 2005-03-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Toothbrush with severable electrical connections
US20050050659A1 (en) * 2003-09-09 2005-03-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Electric toothbrush comprising an electrically powered element
US20050229039A1 (en) * 2004-03-25 2005-10-13 International Business Machines Corporation Method for fast system recovery via degraded reboot
US20070256263A1 (en) * 2004-05-29 2007-11-08 Braun Gmbh Brush Head for Electric and/or Manual Toothbrushes

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7181799B2 (en) 1999-06-11 2007-02-27 Eegee, Llc Oral-care device and system
WO2008059435A2 (en) 2006-11-13 2008-05-22 The Procter & Gamble Company Products and methods for disclosing conditions in the oral cavity

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040168271A1 (en) * 2001-01-08 2004-09-02 Mcdougall Gregory Toothbrush
US20040154112A1 (en) * 2003-02-11 2004-08-12 Braun Phillip M. Toothbrushes
US20050050658A1 (en) * 2003-09-09 2005-03-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Toothbrush with severable electrical connections
US20050050659A1 (en) * 2003-09-09 2005-03-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Electric toothbrush comprising an electrically powered element
US20050229039A1 (en) * 2004-03-25 2005-10-13 International Business Machines Corporation Method for fast system recovery via degraded reboot
US20070256263A1 (en) * 2004-05-29 2007-11-08 Braun Gmbh Brush Head for Electric and/or Manual Toothbrushes

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140338504A1 (en) * 2013-05-15 2014-11-20 Snap-On Incorporated Process and Apparatus for Locating Light Emitting Diode in a Hand Tool Head Assembly
US9114512B2 (en) * 2013-05-15 2015-08-25 Snap-On Incorporated Process and apparatus for locating light emitting diode in a hand tool head assembly
TWI572454B (zh) * 2013-05-15 2017-03-01 史奈普昂公司 定位手工具頭部總成中發光二極體之方法及裝置
US20160100679A1 (en) * 2014-10-09 2016-04-14 David Hyun Jong Cho Toothbrush structure
US10959510B2 (en) * 2014-10-09 2021-03-30 David Hyun Jong Cho Toothbrush structure
US10849416B2 (en) 2015-09-08 2020-12-01 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
USD846285S1 (en) 2016-11-21 2019-04-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
USD893883S1 (en) 2016-11-21 2020-08-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10952529B2 (en) * 2016-11-21 2021-03-23 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement
US10987204B2 (en) * 2016-11-21 2021-04-27 Colgate-Palmolive Company Oral care implement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102137631A (zh) 2011-07-27
EP2158872B1 (de) 2016-06-22
WO2010023642A1 (en) 2010-03-04
EP2158872A1 (de) 2010-03-03

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Owner name: BRAUN GMBH, OHIO

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:STIEF, CHRISTIAN;HAAS, MARTIN;STOERKEL, JENS;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20100615 TO 20100711;REEL/FRAME:024783/0979

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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