US3181188A - Electric hand appliances, particularly toothbrushes - Google Patents

Electric hand appliances, particularly toothbrushes Download PDF

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Publication number
US3181188A
US3181188A US275646A US27564663A US3181188A US 3181188 A US3181188 A US 3181188A US 275646 A US275646 A US 275646A US 27564663 A US27564663 A US 27564663A US 3181188 A US3181188 A US 3181188A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
casing
pin
fitting
slider
aperture
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US275646A
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English (en)
Inventor
Moret Michel
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.)
AESUP Ets
Original Assignee
AESUP Ets
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 AESUP Ets filed Critical AESUP Ets
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3181188A publication Critical patent/US3181188A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • A61C17/32—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating
    • A61C17/34—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor
    • A61C17/3409—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor characterized by the movement of the brush body
    • A61C17/3418—Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/04—Cases; Covers
    • H01H13/08—Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H15/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
    • H01H15/02—Details
    • H01H15/06—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H15/10—Operating parts
    • H01H15/102—Operating parts comprising cam devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K33/00—Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K5/00—Casings; Enclosures; Supports
    • H02K5/04—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
    • H02K5/10—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/14—Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans
    • H02K7/145—Hand-held machine tool
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K11/00—Structural association of dynamo-electric machines with electric components or with devices for shielding, monitoring or protection

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrically-operated hand appliances forcorporal care, and especially to electrically operated toothbrushes.
  • the invention is particularly directed to the provision of an electrically safe appliance of this character incorporating an electric switch therein.
  • toothbrushes including a casing forming a handle, a shaft extending through one end of the casing for carrying a toothbrush head, and electrical means mounted within the casing for oscillating the shaft.
  • a casing forming a handle
  • shaft extending through one end of the casing for carrying a toothbrush head
  • electrical means mounted within the casing for oscillating the shaft.
  • One particular type is disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,917,758, issued December 22, 1959 to Held et al.
  • the shaft is rotationally oscillated so as to impart a corresponding motion to a toothbrush head attached thereto and brush the teeth in the lengthwise direction thereof.
  • Other types are known in which a longitudinal oscillation is imparted to the shaft.
  • the appliance can be used for other types of corporal care, such as massage, beauty treatment, etc.
  • an electric switch therein is convenient so that the device can be turned 0E without unplugging the cord from the electric outlet. Further, since it may be desired to start and stop the device during its use, as in applying dentifrice to the brush head, it is desirable for the switch actuating mechanism to be arranged for convenient action by the fingers with the device held in the hand in normal operating position.
  • the present invention is an improvement on that or" the aforesaid application, and avoids the use of an elastic coveringagainst which a pin is pressed, thereby avoiding the possibility of eventual wear or deterioration of the elastic covering which would impair watertightness.
  • the present invention provides a switch structure which is normally watertight, but which is so designed that if, through wear during use, deterioration with time, or errors in assembly, etc. watertightness is impaired, the amount of leakage current which can flow is so small as not to endanger the user.
  • certain switch elements are assembled and cooperate with one another with clearances that are sufliciently small so that the resistance of a liquid path between the elements will be sufficient to prevent any current flow which would be dangerous to the user.
  • the switch contacts are mounted in a chamber of a fitting of insulating material which is completely closed except for a small aperture Whose length is large compared to its diameter.
  • a pin of insulating material fits into the aperture with a very small clearance, and the head of the pin is actuated by a slider to open and close the switch contacts.
  • Sealing means are provided between the pin and surrounding walls near the head thereof, so as to normally prevent water, toothpaste and the like from entering the switch contact chamber.
  • FIGS. .2 and 3 are longitudinal views of the handle, taken at right angles to each other, with the upper portion of the casing cut away;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the portion of the casing containing the switch mechanism, in a plane at right angles to that of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-section taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-section taken along line 6d of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along arcuate line 77 of FIG. 5.
  • a casing .10 forms a handle, and shaftend 11' holding a brush head projects from the front end thereof.
  • the brush head is detachable from the handle and comprises a stem 12 with bristles 13 mounted thereon, with a coupling 14 enabling the brush stem to be. conveniently attached and removed.
  • the casing is preferably made of an insulating material such as a plastic, and resilient areas, i.e. buttons 15, 15', are provided for actuating the internal switch mechanism. Alternating current from an external power source is supplied through an insulated, multiple-conductor electric cord 16 extending through a reinforcement 17 in the end cap 10 of the casing, all secured together in watertight relationship.
  • the electrical means shown for oscillating shaft 11 may be a motor of the type shown in the aforesaid Patent 2,917,758.
  • the stator of the motor includes a pair of longitudinally extending pole pieces 21, 21 with a coil (not shown) to which A.-C. current is supplied from line 16 for producing magnetic flux in the gap between the ends of the pole pieces.
  • a rotor 22 mounted on shaft 11 is located between the front ends of pole pieces 21,21.
  • Shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in bearing plate 23* and an axial hole in fitting 24. of insulating material.
  • the bearing plate 23 is attached to the pole pieces 21, 21' and an annular surface 25 of fitting 24 is likewise attached to the pole pieces.
  • the rotor 22 includes a permanent magnet which interacts withthe alternating magnetic flux between adjacent portions of pole pieces 21, 21' to produce rotational oscillation.
  • Springs 26, 26 are each secured at one end to the shaft 11, and the other ends are fixed in fitting 24 so as to provide spring biasing which returns the shaft 11 to its mean position of equilibrium after each oscillation imparted to it in one direction or the other.
  • a flaring sleeve 31 of resilient, water-impermeable material is provided.
  • the front end 32 thereof encircles an enlarged section 18 of shaft end ll'inwatertightrela tionship, and the rear end is pressed against the inside of casing 10 by an annular section 27 of fitting 24.
  • the shaft end 11 is a molded section of plastic material fitting over and attached to shaft 11 by a steelpin 19.
  • Waterproofing sleeves of this type are described in Patent No. 3,060,474,.issued October 10, 1962,to Woog, and in copending application Serial No. 221,258, filed September 4, 1962,by Robert Simmen.
  • the flexibility of the sleeve allows rotational oscillation of the shaft without impairing the watertight connections with shaft and casing. This, together with the watertight casing rearward of the sleeve, normally prevents entry of water, etc. to the motor compartment.
  • a slider 41 is mounted inthe fitting 24 and arranged to be pushed in either direction by buttons 15, 15'.
  • the slider is arranged to actuate a pin 42 of insulating material which fits into an aperture 43 in therfitting 24 and engages a flexible contact blade 44 to move it toward a corresponding fixed contact.
  • the slider 41 may be of insulating material and has a cutout 45 which fits around a rounded post section 46 of the fitting 24. As shown, the cutout 45 is ofgenerally trapezoidal form. In moving frornone position to the other, the slider pivots around post section 46.
  • a raised section 48 of portion of the fitting 24 so as to provide additional guidance along the arcuate path.
  • the slider is recessed along a por tion of its lower face at 49 and this face is provided with two laterally-extending grooves 51 and 52 of diiferent depths. These grooves are shaped to accommodate the head 42' of pin42. Withthe slider 41 inthe position shown in FIG. 7, the head of the pin is in the deeper groove corresponding to the open switch position. With the slider moved to the right as seen in FIG. 7, by pressing button 15 (FIG. 5), the shallower groove 52rwill engage the head, corresponding to the closed switch position.
  • the switch contact arrangement is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
  • An annular insulating support 53 fits into an annular recess in fitting 24 around a neck portion 54 of the fitting.
  • the flexible contact blade 44 is fixedly attached to support 53 at 55, an insulating stub 53' on support 53 assisting in initial orientation of the blade.
  • a fixed contact 56 is also mounted on support 53 beneath the free end of the flexible blade, as seen in FIG. 6.
  • the flexible blade 44 extends around the neck portion 54 of the fitting 24, and pin 42 engages it in the region indicated at 57. Downward movement of the pin 42, as seen in FIG. 4, presses the end of the flexible blade 44 against the fixed contact 56 to close the switch.
  • the support 53 is sealed in the fitting by a plug 58 of insulating plastic material.
  • the switch contacts are in a chamber of insulating fitting 24 which is completely sealed except for the aperture 43 in which the pin 42 is mounted.
  • the pin 42 is 'made fluid-tight with the fitting 24 by means of a resilient washer 59 which is force-fitted around the upper portion of the pin, just below the head 42', and also force-fitted against the wall 61 of a hole 62 in the fitting 24 leading to the smaller diameter aperture 43.
  • the lower end 61' of the hole 61 is tapered to restrict downward movement of washer 59.
  • the pin 42 is provided with a tapered section 42".
  • the washer 59 bends "but maintains a fluid-tight seal.
  • the head 42' of the pin advantageously forms a close fit in the upper end of hole 61.
  • the switch contact members 44 and .56 are connected in series with the motor coil and the cord 16; To this end, lead 63 (FIG. 3) is placed in a slot in pole piece 21 and connected to the flexible blade 44. Another lead (not shown) lies in a similar slot in the other pole piece 21 and is connected to the fixed contact 56.
  • the pin 42 and aperture 43 are of sufiiciently small diameter compared to the length of the aperture, and the clearance therebetween is suificiently small, so that the small cross-section and length of the tube of liquid capable of forming in' the clearance space provides a high resistance sulficient to limit the current to a safe value.
  • the resistance under such circumstances may be determined by the application of Ohms law, according to the formula:
  • R is the resistance
  • l is the length of the path along aperture 43
  • s is the cross-sectional. area of the clearance between'pin 42 and aperture 43, and its the specific resistivity of any liquid encountered in'use.
  • the diameter-of the pin' was about 1 millimeter
  • the diameter of the aperture was just 5 to 5.5 milliampe'res at 200 volts and about 3 to 4.5 milli- V arnperes at 100 volts.
  • An electrically-operated hand appliance for corporal care which comprises 7 (a) an elongated casing forming a handle,
  • An electrically-operated hand appliance for corporal care which comprises (a) an elongated casing forming ahandle,
  • An electrically-operated toothbrush which comprises (a) an elonagted casing forming a handle,
  • said pin being movable longitudinally by theiin-.
  • said pin having an outwardly tapered section engaging the'center of said resilient washer on the pin head side thereof and the wall section of the aperture having an inwardly tapered section engagwith claim 6 in which the length and diameter of thesmall cross-section portion of said aperture andthe clear-' ance. of the portion of, the insulating pin therein are predetermined to yield a high resistance in the presence of liquid that may leak therein'to during use and limit any leakage current to alow value.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • 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)
US275646A 1962-04-27 1963-04-25 Electric hand appliances, particularly toothbrushes Expired - Lifetime US3181188A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH508762A CH376881A (fr) 1962-04-27 1962-04-27 Appareil pour soins corporels

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3181188A true US3181188A (en) 1965-05-04

Family

ID=4287715

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US275646A Expired - Lifetime US3181188A (en) 1962-04-27 1963-04-25 Electric hand appliances, particularly toothbrushes

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3181188A (de)
AT (1) AT241683B (de)
CH (1) CH376881A (de)
FR (1) FR1350341A (de)
GB (1) GB1023529A (de)
NL (2) NL122350C (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2795225A1 (fr) * 1999-06-18 2000-12-22 Valeo Securite Habitacle Dispositif pour maintenir de facon stable une piece mobile
EP1659376A3 (de) * 2004-11-22 2006-05-31 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Rotierendes elektrisches Bauteil
CN105105862A (zh) * 2015-09-15 2015-12-02 深圳市同洁科技有限公司 一种防水电动牙刷
CN113911754A (zh) * 2021-10-18 2022-01-11 安徽信息工程学院 一种机械自动化码垛机械手
US20220094252A1 (en) * 2019-01-18 2022-03-24 Hyosung Heavy Industries Corporation Actuator

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2442164A (en) * 1942-09-18 1948-05-25 Oilgear Co Power-operated means and control mechanism therefor
US2532000A (en) * 1950-11-28 Cam operated switch contact
US2677730A (en) * 1950-12-27 1954-05-04 Telephonics Corp Thumb switch
US3112416A (en) * 1960-12-02 1963-11-26 Aesup Ets Hand motor with totally enclosed starting contacts

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2532000A (en) * 1950-11-28 Cam operated switch contact
US2442164A (en) * 1942-09-18 1948-05-25 Oilgear Co Power-operated means and control mechanism therefor
US2677730A (en) * 1950-12-27 1954-05-04 Telephonics Corp Thumb switch
US3112416A (en) * 1960-12-02 1963-11-26 Aesup Ets Hand motor with totally enclosed starting contacts

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2795225A1 (fr) * 1999-06-18 2000-12-22 Valeo Securite Habitacle Dispositif pour maintenir de facon stable une piece mobile
EP1659376A3 (de) * 2004-11-22 2006-05-31 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Rotierendes elektrisches Bauteil
CN105105862A (zh) * 2015-09-15 2015-12-02 深圳市同洁科技有限公司 一种防水电动牙刷
CN105105862B (zh) * 2015-09-15 2017-01-04 深圳市同洁科技有限公司 一种防水电动牙刷
US20220094252A1 (en) * 2019-01-18 2022-03-24 Hyosung Heavy Industries Corporation Actuator
US11973390B2 (en) * 2019-01-18 2024-04-30 Hyosung Heavy Industries Corporation Actuator having driving pin with rectilinear movement and an elastic member outside of housing
CN113911754A (zh) * 2021-10-18 2022-01-11 安徽信息工程学院 一种机械自动化码垛机械手
CN113911754B (zh) * 2021-10-18 2023-07-21 安徽信息工程学院 一种机械自动化码垛机械手

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH376881A (fr) 1964-04-30
FR1350341A (fr) 1964-01-24
GB1023529A (en) 1966-03-23
AT241683B (de) 1965-08-10
NL290108A (de)
NL122350C (de)

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