US20140310902A1 - Brush head for a sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush and toothbrush - Google Patents

Brush head for a sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush and toothbrush Download PDF

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Publication number
US20140310902A1
US20140310902A1 US14/359,805 US201214359805A US2014310902A1 US 20140310902 A1 US20140310902 A1 US 20140310902A1 US 201214359805 A US201214359805 A US 201214359805A US 2014310902 A1 US2014310902 A1 US 2014310902A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
row
bristle bundles
brush head
base plate
head according
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
US14/359,805
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English (en)
Inventor
Daniel Gerlach
Bülent Emekci
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.)
EMAG AG
Original Assignee
EMAG AG
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 EMAG AG filed Critical EMAG AG
Publication of US20140310902A1 publication Critical patent/US20140310902A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B7/00—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body
    • A46B7/04—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body interchangeably removable bristle carriers
    • 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
    • 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
    • A61C17/20—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices using ultrasonics
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a brush head for a sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush with a plurality of bristle bundles, which are arranged on a base body or on a base plate, wherein during operation the plurality of bristle bundles are set into oscillations by the ultrasonic generator.
  • ultrasonic toothbrushes have been known for some time, in which an ultrasonic generator integrated in the brush head sets the flexible bristles, normally grouped in bundles, into high-frequency oscillations.
  • the advantage of such ultrasonic toothbrushes in addition to the thorough cleaning, is that the teeth and gums are mechanically stressed only to a small degree. For this to occur, a special ultrasonic toothpaste is necessary. Also, the cleaning procedure must be modified in comparison with conventional electric toothbrushes to achieve an optimal cleaning effect.
  • “Bristle length” is to be understood in the following as the length of the section of the bristles protruding freely from the outer side of the base plate without taking into account a root or base section of the bristles extending into a base plate and possibly continuing on the back side toward the ultrasonic transducer.
  • “length of the bristle bundle” is to be understood as the average bristle length of the bristles of that bundle. The bristle bundles together constitute a bristle bundle arrangement.
  • the embodiment according to the invention offers the advantage that the brush head and/or its bristle bundle arrangement, due to the reduced height of the inner bristle bundle row(s), can easily pass over a wire arch and over the brackets of a permanently installed brace.
  • the shorter inner bristle bundles clean the wire arch and the areas on the brackets. Due to the outer, longer bristle bundle easily reaching the tooth surface, cleaning all around the bracket base is achieved.
  • the ultrasonic toothbrush head and/or the bristle bundle arrangement is designed to be altogether mirror symmetrical to a middle or longitudinal section plane containing a middle longitudinal axis of the base plate. It is therefore sufficient to view only one of the two halves of the ultrasonic toothbrush head, respectively.
  • the rows of the bristle bundles are numbered one, two, three, etc. starting from the middle longitudinal axis or from the middle plane containing this axis.
  • the bristle bundles of the first row stand perpendicular on the base plate.
  • the free ends of the bristles of the bristle bundles belonging to the first row are in a common plane, or essentially in a common plane, oriented parallel to the base plate.
  • the bristle bundles of the second row are inclined inwardly, i.e. toward the middle plane, namely with the advantage for example that the inclined, longer bristles of the second rows flanking or lining the inner row(s) with the shorter bristles reach into the corners directly around the bracket base and into the area beneath the wire arch and clean the tooth surface located there as a result of the direct contact when the brush head is passed over the wire arch and the brackets of a brace permanently installed on the teeth.
  • the angle of inclination of the bristle bundles of the second row relative to the base plate or a reference plane oriented perpendicular to the bristle bundles of the first row(s) is in the range between 65° and 85°, preferably in the range between 70° and 75°, especially preferably about 73°.
  • a third row of bristle bundles which stand perpendicular to the base plate or to the reference plane or likewise are arranged on the base plate inclined inwardly toward the middle plane, namely preferably at the same angle of inclination as the bristle bundles of the second row.
  • the bristle bundles of the third row have the same or essentially same height above the base plate as the bristle bundles of the second row, so that the ends of the bristle bundles of the second and third row irrespective of any “micro-structuring” or length differentiation within the single bristle bundles lie within a common plane oriented parallel to the base plate or to the reference plane.
  • the free bristle ends of the angled, i.e. inclined bristle bundles are cut so that they lie in a common plane oriented parallel to the base plate, so that the aforementioned “micro-structuring” is not present.
  • each of the rows comprises six to eight, preferably seven bristle bundles. It can also be advantageous if the outer rows for example have one or two more or fewer bristle bundles than the inner rows.
  • the distance between two bristle bundles of one row, i.e. viewed in longitudinal direction, is in the range of 2.5 mm to 4.0 mm and preferably about 3.5 mm.
  • the distance between the adjacent rows i.e. viewed in crosswise direction, is in the range of 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm and preferably is 2.5 mm.
  • the bristle bundles of the first, inner row(s) preferably have a length in the range of 3 mm to 5 mm, preferably 4 mm, which in the case of perpendicular orientation corresponds to their height above the base plate.
  • the bristle bundles of the second, i.e. middle or outer tow(s), preferably have a length in the range of 6 mm to 10 mm, especially preferably 7 mm to 9 mm, which in the case of perpendicular orientation corresponds to their height above the base plate, and which in the case of inclined orientation corresponds to a correspondingly reduced height (length x sinus of the angle of inclination).
  • a 7 mm long bristle bundle at an angle of inclination of 73° would have a height of about 6.7 mm.
  • the ratio of the length of the short, inner bristle bundle to the length of the longer, middle or outer bristle bundle is accordingly preferably in the range of 0.3 to 0.8 and especially preferably about 0.5 to 0.6.
  • the bristle bundles of the third, i.e. outer row, are adapted in the above manner to the bristle bundles of the second row with respect to their length.
  • the aforementioned lengths are selected so that on the one hand the shorter inner bristle bundles reliably reach closely enough to the brace elements and on the other hand that intermeshing of the bristles of the longer bristle bundles is avoided, with good transmission of the ultrasound.
  • the result of intermeshing of the bristles would be that the action of the bristles on the brace elements or the tooth would no longer be straight; instead, the ultrasound would radiate at undefined angles, which is undesirable.
  • the bristles of the brush head and/or the base plate can be made of plastic, for example.
  • a piezo element can be used that can generate oscillations at a frequency interval from, for example, from 30 Hz up to at least 30 KHz.
  • the bristles are preferably designed and attached to the ultrasonic generator so that their free ends are deflected axially and/or laterally by the ultrasonic generator.
  • the brush head can be attached or formed onto a brush head support in the conventional manner.
  • the brush head support can be designed for example as a plug-in element for a handle element, which in the known manner accommodates rechargeable batteries and suchlike for supplying the operating voltage for the ultrasonic generator as well as suitable control elements such as buttons or switches, as well as any other electronic components. Accordingly, an electric and mechanical coupling can be provided between the brush head support and the handle element.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show a brush head according to the invention in different perspective views
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show the brush head of FIGS. 1 and 2 in schematic side and front view
  • FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation in top view of the top side and/or the bristles of the brush head of FIGS. 1 and 2 ;
  • FIG. 6 shows, in an enlarged cross sectional view, the base body of the brush head of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the area of a bristle bundle.
  • the brush head 2 of an ultrasonic toothbrush 1 depicted in the drawings in a preferred embodiment comprises a base body 4 with a predominantly rectangular solid form manufactured from a plastic and having rounded corner and edge regions.
  • the base body 4 On one side, which in the depiction in the drawings is the top side of the base body 4 , the base body 4 is designed with a predominantly rectangular, elongated base plate 6 that is flat on its top side and has rounded corners.
  • the brush head 2 continues in its lengthwise direction or middle longitudinal axis L in a brush head support or handle element 7 molded or connected to the brush head.
  • the top side of the base plate 6 lies in a reference plane EB.
  • a regular grid or array of essentially circular receiving openings 8 in which one bristle bundle 10 consisting of a plurality of bendable and flexible bristles 12 , for example plastic bristles, is respectively accommodated and anchored.
  • a flat ultrasonic generator 14 In the interior of the base body 4 , on the back side or bottom side of the base plate 6 is a flat ultrasonic generator 14 , only schematically suggested in the drawings, which can also be referred to as an electro-mechanical ultrasonic transducer and which during operation excites the bristles 12 of the bristle bundles 10 to oscillations with oscillation frequencies above 300 Hz and up to 1.6 million oscillations per minute or 30 KHz and more.
  • a ferro-electric ultrasonic transducer or a piezo actuator can be used as the ultrasonic generator 14 , for example.
  • the technical details are known to persons skilled in the art and require no further explanation here.
  • the brush head 2 with respect to its bristles consisting of the bristle bundles 10 , is adapted specifically to cleaning requirements for a permanently installed brace, especially of the multi-band or multi-bracket type.
  • the brush head 2 is symmetrical in design to a middle or longitudinal section plane M containing the middle longitudinal axis L of the base plate 6 .
  • the bristles and/or the bristle bundle field consists of a plurality of rows R 1 -R 3 , i.e. six in the depicted embodiment, of bristle bundles 10 extending essentially parallel to the lengthwise direction L.
  • the distance b 2.5 mm between two adjacent rows R 1 -R 3 in a crosswise direction Q, i.e. in an axis direction perpendicular or essentially perpendicular to the middle axis M, is likewise the same for all rows R 1 -R 3 .
  • the bristle bundles 10 additionally align row-by-row in crosswise direction Q, so that altogether a regular rectangular grid of six times seven bristle bundles 10 is implemented.
  • the first, i.e. inner, row R 1 when viewed from the middle plane M in crosswise direction Q comprises perpendicular to the base plate 6 and/or the reference plane EB upright bristle bundles 10 with a length or height of about 4 mm.
  • the free bristle ends of the bristles 12 are expediently rounded, to prevent injury to the sensitive gums.
  • the second, outwardly successive row R 2 on the other hand comprises bristles 12 and/or bristle bundles 10 inclined inwardly toward the middle plane M and having a length of about 7 mm.
  • the bristles 12 and/or bristle bundles 10 on their free ends are at a smaller distance from the middle plane M than in the area of the base plate 6 .
  • the corresponding angle of inclination a between the longitudinal extension of the bristles 12 and/or bristle bundles 10 and the reference plane BE oriented perpendicularly to the middle axis to the top side of the bristle body 4 or base plate 6 is about 73°.
  • the angled bristles of the second row R 2 can be cut so that their free ends lie in a common plane.
  • a third row R 3 of bristle bundles 10 which and/or whose bristles 12 stand perpendicular or essentially perpendicular on the base plate 6 and/or the reference plane EB.
  • the bristle length is preferably selected so that the free ends of the bristles 12 of the third row R 3 and the free ends of the correspondingly cut bristles 12 of the second row R 2 lie in a common plane.
  • the bristle length of the bristles 12 of the bristle bundles 10 of the third row is then somewhat less than 7 mm.
  • the bristle bundles 10 of the third row R 3 likewise are inclined inward relative to the base plate 6 or the reference plane EB at the angle ⁇ , for example at the angle of 73°, so that the bristles 12 and/or bristle bundles 10 on their free ends then likewise are at a smaller distance from the middle plane M than in the area of the base plate 6 .
  • the three rows R 1 -R 3 are provided on both sides of the middle plane M, so that the bristle field is implemented altogether with six times seven bristle bundles 10 .
  • bristle bundles 10 can be provided for each row R 1 -R 3 in the direction of the middle longitudinal axis L.
  • four or five bristle bundles 10 for each row R 1 -R 3 may be sufficient, for example.
  • an especially wide brush head 2 with a fourth or fifth row of bristle bundles 10 .
  • some of the rows, especially the outer rows are not oriented exactly parallel to the middle longitudinal axis L or middle plane M, but instead are slightly angled. For special purposes an asymmetrical design can also be considered.
  • the brush head 2 according to the invention which for example is provided removably on a handle element 16 , is used in principle in the same manner as known brush heads of ultrasonic toothbrushes, namely as follows:
  • the brush head 2 according to the invention passes over the wire arch and the brackets of the permanently installed brace.
  • the outer, longer and possible also angled bristle bundles 10 achieve cleaning under the wire arch and around the bracket base.
  • the shorter inner bristle bundles 10 clean the wire arch and the surfaces on the brackets.
  • the brush head 2 according to the invention therefore ensures altogether optimal cleaning of the hygiene-critical bracket region.

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Brushes (AREA)
US14/359,805 2011-11-21 2012-11-20 Brush head for a sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush and toothbrush Abandoned US20140310902A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102011055564.1 2011-11-21
DE102011055564.1A DE102011055564B4 (de) 2011-11-21 2011-11-21 Bürstenkopf für eine Schall- oder Ultraschallzahnbürste und Zahnbürste
PCT/DE2012/100352 WO2013075704A1 (de) 2011-11-21 2012-11-20 Bürstenkopf für eine schall- oder ultraschallzahnbürste und zahnbürste

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20140310902A1 true US20140310902A1 (en) 2014-10-23

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/359,805 Abandoned US20140310902A1 (en) 2011-11-21 2012-11-20 Brush head for a sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush and toothbrush

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US20140310902A1 (ko)
EP (1) EP2782477B1 (ko)
JP (1) JP2014533528A (ko)
KR (2) KR102212617B1 (ko)
AU (1) AU2012342951B2 (ko)
CA (1) CA2856097A1 (ko)
DE (1) DE102011055564B4 (ko)
RU (1) RU2014122271A (ko)
WO (1) WO2013075704A1 (ko)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110432643A (zh) * 2014-12-23 2019-11-12 高露洁-棕榄公司 口腔护理器具
US10582762B2 (en) 2015-08-18 2020-03-10 Jovica Vukosavljevic Interchangeable brush head with ultrasound action
USD951651S1 (en) * 2019-08-09 2022-05-17 Jacques Veronneau Toothbrush head
USD953040S1 (en) * 2019-08-09 2022-05-31 Servidence Inc. Toothbrush head

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102343907B1 (ko) * 2017-03-31 2021-12-29 주식회사 엘지생활건강 칫솔

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US20020138926A1 (en) * 2001-04-02 2002-10-03 Braun Gmbh Electric toothbrush head
US20030163881A1 (en) * 2002-03-02 2003-09-04 Braun Gmbh Toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020138926A1 (en) * 2001-04-02 2002-10-03 Braun Gmbh Electric toothbrush head
US20030163881A1 (en) * 2002-03-02 2003-09-04 Braun Gmbh Toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110432643A (zh) * 2014-12-23 2019-11-12 高露洁-棕榄公司 口腔护理器具
US10582762B2 (en) 2015-08-18 2020-03-10 Jovica Vukosavljevic Interchangeable brush head with ultrasound action
USD951651S1 (en) * 2019-08-09 2022-05-17 Jacques Veronneau Toothbrush head
USD953040S1 (en) * 2019-08-09 2022-05-31 Servidence Inc. Toothbrush head

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2782477A1 (de) 2014-10-01
RU2014122271A (ru) 2015-12-10
DE102011055564B4 (de) 2015-10-29
KR102212617B1 (ko) 2021-02-05
KR20140096093A (ko) 2014-08-04
WO2013075704A1 (de) 2013-05-30
CA2856097A1 (en) 2013-05-30
EP2782477B1 (de) 2020-05-06
DE102011055564A1 (de) 2013-05-23
KR20190137958A (ko) 2019-12-11
AU2012342951B2 (en) 2016-06-09
JP2014533528A (ja) 2014-12-15
AU2012342951A1 (en) 2014-06-19

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