WO1994005229A1 - Toothbrush driven by an electric motor by way of a gear - Google Patents

Toothbrush driven by an electric motor by way of a gear Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994005229A1
WO1994005229A1 PCT/EP1993/002334 EP9302334W WO9405229A1 WO 1994005229 A1 WO1994005229 A1 WO 1994005229A1 EP 9302334 W EP9302334 W EP 9302334W WO 9405229 A1 WO9405229 A1 WO 9405229A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
brush body
toothbrush
electric motor
gear
sensor mechanism
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP1993/002334
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Nadim Azzam
Original Assignee
Gimelli Produktions 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 Gimelli Produktions Ag filed Critical Gimelli Produktions Ag
Priority to AU49551/93A priority Critical patent/AU4955193A/en
Publication of WO1994005229A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994005229A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • A46B15/0004—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with a controlling means
    • A46B15/0012—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with a controlling means with a pressure controlling device
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • A61C17/221—Control arrangements therefor
    • 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
    • A61C17/24—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like rotating continuously
    • A61C17/26—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like rotating continuously driven by electric motor
    • 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C2204/00—Features not otherwise provided for
    • A61C2204/002—Features not otherwise provided for using batteries

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a toothbrush, which is driven by an electric motor by way of a gear, with a handle, carry ⁇ ing a brush body, and a pressure sensing mechanism, act ⁇ ing on the brush body while cleaning the teeth, and elec ⁇ tronics, connected to the sensor mechanism.
  • An electric toothbrush of this type is the subject matter of DE-U-90 17 453.4.
  • the electric toothbrush according to the aforemen ⁇ tioned DE-U-90 17 453.4 provides the toothbrush with an acoustic signal device, which is activated by the sensor mechanism by way of the electronics, when a specific pressure acts on the brush body and the brush body has pivoted around a cross joint against the force of a spring. Upon reaching a specified contact force, the electric motor of the toothbrush is supposed to be shut down, so that the teeth and gum cannot be negatively af ⁇ fected.
  • this invention is based on the problem of de ⁇ signing a toothbrush of the aforementioned kind driven by an electric motor by way of a gear in such a manner that good cleaning of the teeth and massage of the gum is also guaranteed with varying contact forces.
  • the torque of the electric motor can be raised, for example, to the degree the brush body is pushed harder against the teeth. In this manner the speed does not decrease, even when the contact force increases. It would also be conceivable to change the speed as a function of the contact force.
  • the toothbrush is adapted to the respec ⁇ tively acting contact force. For this reason, the user no longer has to generate, as according to the DE-U-90 17 453.4, with relatively great skill a very defined contact force, which is optimal precisely for the toothbrush he is using.
  • An advantageous embodiment of the invention consists of the electronics being designed to raise the motor output with increasing pressure up to a specified motor output and upon exceeding this pressure to reduce the motor out ⁇ put down to its standstill.
  • the electronics and also the control can be designed very differently. They are designed in an especially simple manner when the sensor mechanism has at least one switch, which can be operated against the force of a spring on the basis of the displacement of the brush body, in order to switch over the gear or the electric motor.
  • TUTE SHEET A continuous changing of the motor output or motor speed is readily possible, if the sensor device has an electric resistance that can be changed as a function of the dis ⁇ placement of the brush body.
  • Another advantageous embodiment of the invention consists of the electronics being designed to switch on or off a type of movement of the brush body as a function of the pressure on the brush body.
  • the illustrated toothbrush has a handle 1, in which a battery 2, an electric motor 3 and a gear 4 are disposed.
  • the gear 4 sets, for example, a connecting rod 5 into re ⁇ ciprocal motion, so that the connecting rod can set, by way of non-illustrated gearwheels bristle carrier 6 with bristle tufts 8 of a brush body 7 into rotation.
  • the gear 4, operating the connecting rod 5, in the brush body 7 can be designed in accordance with that according to EP-B-0 254 397. However, a totally different is also possible. Relevant to the invention is only that the electric motor 3 transfers a movement to the brush body 7 and/or the bristle carrier 6. The brush body 7 could also affect a vibratory movement.
  • the brush body 7 can be pivoted to the right, as seen in the drawing, around a joint 9 relative to the handle 1.
  • a spring 10 which is designed as a leg spring in this embodiment, prestresses the brush body 7 in the illustrated position. If the brush body 7 pivots to the right, it actuates a sensor mechanism 11, which is connected to the electronics 12 in order to control the electric motor 3.
  • the sensor mechanism 11 can be designed in very different ways. In the simplest case it is a micro-switch, which closes a contact following a fixed tilting movement of the brush body 7 and thus a fixed force, resulting, for example, in a doubling of the torque of the electric mo ⁇ tor 3.
  • the brush body 7 pivots increasingly, as seen in the drawing, to the right, thus compressing the spring 10.
  • the sensor mechanism gives a signal, resulting, for example, in a change in the motor output or its speed.
  • the electronics 12 can also affect the gear 4, instead of the electric motor 3. It is possible, for example, in a toothbrush, in which the brush body 7 affects a movement reciprocating in the direction of the longitudinal axis and a movement pivot ⁇ ing around its longitudinal axis, to switch one of these movements off as a function of the contact pressure of the bristle tufts 8 against the teeth.

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)

Abstract

In a toothbrush, which is driven by an electric motor (3) by way of a gear (4), a brush body (7) can be pivoted around a joint (9) relative to a handle (1). Following a specified pivoting distance, directed against the force of a spring (10), a sensor mechanism is actuated that changes by way of electronics the electric output or speed of an electric motor (3).

Description

Specification
TOOTHBRUSHDRIVENBYANELECTRICMOTOR BYWAYOFAGEAR
The invention relates to a toothbrush, which is driven by an electric motor by way of a gear, with a handle, carry¬ ing a brush body, and a pressure sensing mechanism, act¬ ing on the brush body while cleaning the teeth, and elec¬ tronics, connected to the sensor mechanism. An electric toothbrush of this type is the subject matter of DE-U-90 17 453.4.
When cleaning the teeth, it is important that the tooth¬ brush with the bristle tufts of its brush body is held with the correct pressure against the teeth. If the con¬ tact force is too low, the teeth are not adequately cleaned. If it is too high, the gum can be injured.
To ensure constant correct pressure on the teeth and the gum, the electric toothbrush according to the aforemen¬ tioned DE-U-90 17 453.4 provides the toothbrush with an acoustic signal device, which is activated by the sensor mechanism by way of the electronics, when a specific pressure acts on the brush body and the brush body has pivoted around a cross joint against the force of a spring. Upon reaching a specified contact force, the electric motor of the toothbrush is supposed to be shut down, so that the teeth and gum cannot be negatively af¬ fected.
In practice it takes effort to generate continuously the exactly correct contact force while cleaning the teeth. Therefore, this invention is based on the problem of de¬ signing a toothbrush of the aforementioned kind driven by an electric motor by way of a gear in such a manner that good cleaning of the teeth and massage of the gum is also guaranteed with varying contact forces.
This problem is solved according to the invention by de¬ signing the electronics and the sensor mechanism for con¬ trolling the gear and/or the speed and/or the torque of the electric motor.
In such an electric toothbrush the torque of the electric motor can be raised, for example, to the degree the brush body is pushed harder against the teeth. In this manner the speed does not decrease, even when the contact force increases. It would also be conceivable to change the speed as a function of the contact force. By means of the control of the electric motor or the gear, according to the invention, the toothbrush is adapted to the respec¬ tively acting contact force. For this reason, the user no longer has to generate, as according to the DE-U-90 17 453.4, with relatively great skill a very defined contact force, which is optimal precisely for the toothbrush he is using.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention consists of the electronics being designed to raise the motor output with increasing pressure up to a specified motor output and upon exceeding this pressure to reduce the motor out¬ put down to its standstill.
The electronics and also the control can be designed very differently. They are designed in an especially simple manner when the sensor mechanism has at least one switch, which can be operated against the force of a spring on the basis of the displacement of the brush body, in order to switch over the gear or the electric motor.
TUTE SHEET A continuous changing of the motor output or motor speed is readily possible, if the sensor device has an electric resistance that can be changed as a function of the dis¬ placement of the brush body.
Another advantageous embodiment of the invention consists of the electronics being designed to switch on or off a type of movement of the brush body as a function of the pressure on the brush body.
The invention allows various embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of the embodiments is depicted diagrammatically in the drawing and is described in the following.
The illustrated toothbrush has a handle 1, in which a battery 2, an electric motor 3 and a gear 4 are disposed. The gear 4 sets, for example, a connecting rod 5 into re¬ ciprocal motion, so that the connecting rod can set, by way of non-illustrated gearwheels bristle carrier 6 with bristle tufts 8 of a brush body 7 into rotation.
The gear 4, operating the connecting rod 5, in the brush body 7 can be designed in accordance with that according to EP-B-0 254 397. However, a totally different is also possible. Relevant to the invention is only that the electric motor 3 transfers a movement to the brush body 7 and/or the bristle carrier 6. The brush body 7 could also affect a vibratory movement.
In the illustrated embodiment the brush body 7 can be pivoted to the right, as seen in the drawing, around a joint 9 relative to the handle 1. A spring 10, which is designed as a leg spring in this embodiment, prestresses the brush body 7 in the illustrated position. If the brush body 7 pivots to the right, it actuates a sensor mechanism 11, which is connected to the electronics 12 in order to control the electric motor 3.
The sensor mechanism 11 can be designed in very different ways. In the simplest case it is a micro-switch, which closes a contact following a fixed tilting movement of the brush body 7 and thus a fixed force, resulting, for example, in a doubling of the torque of the electric mo¬ tor 3.
If the illustrated electric toothbrush is used and the bristle tufts 8 are pressed with increasing force against the teeth, then the brush body 7 pivots increasingly, as seen in the drawing, to the right, thus compressing the spring 10. Following a specified pivoting distance, the sensor mechanism gives a signal, resulting, for example, in a change in the motor output or its speed.
In conclusion let it be said that the electronics 12 can also affect the gear 4, instead of the electric motor 3. It is possible, for example, in a toothbrush, in which the brush body 7 affects a movement reciprocating in the direction of the longitudinal axis and a movement pivot¬ ing around its longitudinal axis, to switch one of these movements off as a function of the contact pressure of the bristle tufts 8 against the teeth.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
Figure imgf000007_0001

Claims

PATENTCLAIMS
1. Toothbrush, which is driven by an electric motor by way of a gear, with a handle, carrying a brush body, and a sensor mechanism for the pressure, acting on the brush body while cleaning the teeth, and electronics, connected to the sensor mechanism, wherein the electronics (12) and the sensor mechanism (11) are designed to control the gear (4) and/or the speed and/or the torque of the elec¬ tric motor (3).
2. Toothbrush, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elec¬ tronics (12) are designed to raise the motor output with increasing pressure up to a specified motor output and upon exceeding this pressure to reduce the motor output down to the standstill of the electric motor (3).
3. Toothbrush, as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor mechanism (11) has at least one switch, which can be operated against the force of a spring on the basis of the displacement of the brush body (7), in order to switch over the gear and/or the electric motor (3).
4. Toothbrush, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor mechanism (11) has an electric resistance that can be changed as a function of the dis¬ placement of the brush body (7).
5. Toothbrush, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronics (12) are designed to switch on or off a type of movement of the brush body (7) as a function of the pressure on the brush body (7).
T
PCT/EP1993/002334 1992-08-29 1993-08-28 Toothbrush driven by an electric motor by way of a gear WO1994005229A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU49551/93A AU4955193A (en) 1992-08-29 1993-08-28 Toothbrush driven by an electric motor by way of a gear

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4228859A DE4228859A1 (en) 1992-08-29 1992-08-29 Toothbrush powered by an electric motor via a gearbox
DEP4228859.2 1992-08-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994005229A1 true WO1994005229A1 (en) 1994-03-17

Family

ID=6466774

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP1993/002334 WO1994005229A1 (en) 1992-08-29 1993-08-28 Toothbrush driven by an electric motor by way of a gear

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4955193A (en)
DE (1) DE4228859A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1994005229A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2103678A1 (en) * 1995-03-09 1997-09-16 Holguera Borrego Francisco Rotary dental brush (toothbrush) with a rotational shaft parallel to the rows of teeth
US5784742A (en) * 1995-06-23 1998-07-28 Optiva Corporation Toothbrush with adaptive load sensor
US5815872A (en) * 1997-08-08 1998-10-06 Optiva Corporation Pressure overload indicator system for power toothbrushes
DE102005061488A1 (en) * 2005-12-22 2007-07-05 Braun Gmbh Electric toothbrush has flexible drive element in form of toothed belt or drive cable for transferring reciprocal drive motion to brush support
US8061041B2 (en) 2007-02-14 2011-11-22 The Gillette Company Safety razor

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE59707168D1 (en) * 1997-07-16 2002-06-06 Trisa Buerstenfabrik Ag Push-on part for a toothbrush powered by a motor, in particular an electric motor
GB0303872D0 (en) * 2003-02-19 2003-03-26 Gillette Co Hand held appliances
EP1905382A1 (en) 2006-09-29 2008-04-02 Trisa Holding AG Electric toothbrush and transmission for an electric toothbrush
DE102012113227B3 (en) * 2012-12-29 2014-05-22 Armin Rees Device and method for tongue cleaning
CN115316779A (en) * 2021-07-06 2022-11-11 珠海大拇指创新科技有限公司 Foldable toothbrush capable of preventing false touch

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3829922A (en) * 1973-01-08 1974-08-20 J Koblanski Electric toothbrush
DE9017453U1 (en) * 1990-12-24 1992-04-16 Elektro-Wärme-Technik Siegfried Petz, Inh. Günter Petz, 8500 Nürnberg Electric toothbrush

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3117160C2 (en) * 1981-04-30 1983-04-21 Württembergische Parfümerie - Fabrik GmbH, 7332 Eislingen Electric toothbrush
EP0221296B1 (en) * 1984-04-18 1988-05-18 Blendax GmbH Electric toothbrush
DE3414623C1 (en) * 1984-04-18 1985-10-10 Blendax-Werke R. Schneider Gmbh & Co, 6500 Mainz Toothbrush
DE3724476A1 (en) * 1987-06-22 1989-01-05 Christian Schliebs Toothbrush with measuring point dependent on the pressing-on force, and use thereof
JP2592791B2 (en) * 1989-01-31 1997-03-19 株式会社サンギ Electronic toothbrush
DE3911303C1 (en) * 1989-04-07 1990-08-23 Braun Ag, 6000 Frankfurt, De
DE3935554A1 (en) * 1989-10-25 1991-05-02 Augustin Hans Ulrich Tooth brush incorporating optical or acoustic display - controlled by electromechanical transducer measuring pressure exerted on teeth
DE4012413A1 (en) * 1990-04-19 1991-10-24 Schaiper Heinrich Electric toothbrush with pressure regulation - using sensor detecting deflection of drive motor axis relative to toothbrush housing
DE9101076U1 (en) * 1991-01-31 1992-05-27 Elektro-Wärme-Technik Siegfried Petz, Inh. Günter Petz, 90431 Nürnberg Electric toothbrush

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3829922A (en) * 1973-01-08 1974-08-20 J Koblanski Electric toothbrush
DE9017453U1 (en) * 1990-12-24 1992-04-16 Elektro-Wärme-Technik Siegfried Petz, Inh. Günter Petz, 8500 Nürnberg Electric toothbrush

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2103678A1 (en) * 1995-03-09 1997-09-16 Holguera Borrego Francisco Rotary dental brush (toothbrush) with a rotational shaft parallel to the rows of teeth
US5784742A (en) * 1995-06-23 1998-07-28 Optiva Corporation Toothbrush with adaptive load sensor
US5815872A (en) * 1997-08-08 1998-10-06 Optiva Corporation Pressure overload indicator system for power toothbrushes
DE102005061488A1 (en) * 2005-12-22 2007-07-05 Braun Gmbh Electric toothbrush has flexible drive element in form of toothed belt or drive cable for transferring reciprocal drive motion to brush support
US8061041B2 (en) 2007-02-14 2011-11-22 The Gillette Company Safety razor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4955193A (en) 1994-03-29
DE4228859A1 (en) 1994-03-03

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