WO2007096167A1 - Dispositif d'hygiene a puissance hydraulique - Google Patents

Dispositif d'hygiene a puissance hydraulique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007096167A1
WO2007096167A1 PCT/EP2007/001543 EP2007001543W WO2007096167A1 WO 2007096167 A1 WO2007096167 A1 WO 2007096167A1 EP 2007001543 W EP2007001543 W EP 2007001543W WO 2007096167 A1 WO2007096167 A1 WO 2007096167A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hygiene
hygiene device
tool
head
fluid pressure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2007/001543
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Frank Bartels
Original Assignee
Bartels Mikrotechnik 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 Bartels Mikrotechnik Gmbh filed Critical Bartels Mikrotechnik Gmbh
Publication of WO2007096167A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007096167A1/fr

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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
    • A61C17/38—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by hydraulic motor, e.g. water 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to hygiene devices, in particular to razors and also in particular to oral hygiene devices and even more particularly to toothbrushes, in which one or more oral hygiene tool such as bristles thereon is moved, particularly vibrated, by electric power.
  • one or more oral hygiene tool such as bristles thereon is moved, particularly vibrated, by electric power.
  • Toothbrushes in which bristles are moved by electric power are well known.
  • Such toothbrushes comprise a head, bearing such bristles, for insertion into the user's mouth, a grip handle which contains an electric motor with its associated electric power supply such as a battery, and transmission means to transmit motive power from the motor to the head cause the bristles thereon to move in contact with the user's teeth.
  • Such transmission means often comprises a rotary drive shaft between the motor and the head.
  • a problem with known toothbrushes of this type is that they contain complex multi-part components such as a rotary electric motor, which adds to their cost. Another problem is that the motor of such toothbrushes can cause the grip handle to vibrate excessively in the user's hand.
  • One solution to these problems has been to vibrate the head directly by means of a piezo-electric vibrator mounted in the head itself, but this solution increases the cost of the head which is often replaceable and therefore desirably cheap. It is an object of this invention to address these problems. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.
  • a hygiene device comprising a versatile head, on which is moveably mounted one or more hygiene tool, a drive means operable by an oscillating fluid pressure to move the one or more hygiene tool, and an oscillating fluid pressure generating means in fluid communication with the drive means to generate an oscillating fluid pressure.
  • an oral hygiene device comprising a head for insertion in the user's mouth, on which is moveably mounted one or more oral hygiene tool, a drive means operable by an oscillating fluid pressure to move the one or more oral hygiene tool, and an oscillating fluid pressure generating means in fluid communication with the drive means to generate an oscillating fluid pressure.
  • the oral hygiene device is suitably a toothbrush, for example comprising a generally conventionally shaped head and a grip handle arranged along a head- handle longitudinal direction.
  • the oral hygiene tool suitably comprises generally conventional bristles, elastic members such as lamellae, strips, fingers etc. e.g. for gum massaging, or other known oral hygiene tools.
  • the head comprises a moveable support on which the one or more hygiene tool is mounted.
  • One way of moveably mounting the one or more hygiene tool and in particular one or more oral hygiene tool may comprise mounting the tool in a support which is moveably linked to the head, e.g. by means of a swivel or pivot link.
  • a support may be driven in various modes of oscillatory motion by one or more drive means, causing for example pivotal or swiveling oscillatory motion of the support.
  • a particularly suitable support comprises a flexible substrate, e.g. a pad of a resiliently flexible material, e.g. a pad of an elastic material, on which the one or more hygiene tool and in particular one or more oral hygiene tool is mounted.
  • a pad may be made of an elastomeric, e.g. thermoplastic elastomeric, material on which the one or more hygiene tool is mounted.
  • Suitable ways in which a hygiene tool such as bristles may be mounted on such a pad are known in the art, for example from EP-B-0923926, or WO-A-2004/020238.
  • the one or more hygiene tool When mounted on such a flexible pad the one or more hygiene tool may be movable by means of deformation of the pad, causing a resultant movement of the one or more hygiene tool.
  • each such flexible substrate may be moved by one or more drive means.
  • one flexible substrate may be moved by plural drive means arranged in a pattern to bear upon the opposite surface of the substrate to that on which the hygiene tool is mounted.
  • plural flexible substrates may be mounted in a pattern on the head of the hygiene device, and each such flexible substrate may be moved by a respective drive means.
  • the drive means suitably comprises a chamber which has a part which is displaceable in response to the oscillating fluid pressure, and which bears directly or indirectly upon the one or more hygiene tool or the support.
  • a part may for example comprise a part of the wall of the chamber.
  • the chamber may have a flexible wall which expands and contracts in response to the oscillating fluid pressure.
  • the chamber may incorporate a bellows structure which can expand and contract in response to the oscillating fluid pressure.
  • the chamber may for example comprise a piston and cylinder structure, in which one or both of the piston or cylinder may be a displaceable part.
  • a flexible pad comprising a flexible substrate may itself comprise a part of the wall of such a chamber.
  • the displaceable part In response to the oscillating fluid pressure the displaceable part performs a responsive oscillatory motion to drive the one or more hygiene tool in oscillatory motion.
  • Various types of oscillatory motion of one or more hygiene tool may be provided, particularly in the construction in which the one or more hygiene tool is mounted on a flexible substrate which is deformed.
  • the flexible substrate may be deformed so that its surface deforms between greater and lesser convex domed shapes.
  • the flexible substrate may be deformed so that its surface deforms so as to fold about a fold axis across or along the longitudinal axis of the device. With such folding motion the surface of the substrate from which the one or more hygiene tool extends may become convex or concave.
  • the flexible substrate may be deformed so that its surface deforms between greater and lesser convex domed shapes at independent plural places on the substrate, for example one point becoming more convex and another, e.g. adjacent place becoming less convex at the same time.
  • the flexible substrate may be deformed so that its surface tilts about a tilt axis which may be across or along the longitudinal axis of the hygiene device.
  • the oscillatory motion of the one or more hygiene tool and in particular of the one or more oral hygiene tool such as tufts of bristles is such that the end of the tool remote from the head of the device moves in a direction transverse to the direction in which the tool extends from the head.
  • the end may move in an arc.
  • the end of the tool may achieve a wiping motion across an surface to which it is applied.
  • the ends of the tools may all move simultaneously in the same direction, or the ends of the tools may move in different directions, e.g. toward each other or away from each other.
  • the drive means may drive the one or more hygiene tool and in particular one or more oral hygiene tool in various ways.
  • the one or more hygiene tool is mounted on a flexible substrate, extending from one surface thereof, the displaceable part may be located adjacent the opposite surface and bear upon the opposite surface.
  • the drive means may be mounted on the head in a pattern suitable to achieve a desired oscillatory motion of the one or more hygiene tool. If there is more than one drive means then they may all be in phase, e.g. all experiencing a relatively high or rising fluid pressure part of the oscillating fluid pressure at the same time, or may be out of phase, e.g. one or more drive means experiencing a relatively high or rising fluid pressure, whilst one or more drive means experiences a relatively lower or decreasing fluid pressure part of the oscillating fluid pressure cycle.
  • four drive means may be arranged in a quadrilateral e.g. square, diamond or rectangular pattern with one drive means at each corner, and diagonally opposite pairs of drive means may experience a high or rising fluid pressure whilst the other pair may experience a low or falling fluid pressure, or vice-versa.
  • a drive means comprising a chamber which has a flexible wall which expands and contracts in response to the oscillating fluid pressure may be made by joining together two sheets of flexible material such as a polyethylene or other plastics material in a periphery around an un-bonded central region, to thereby leave form or more chamber between them, in the same way forming conduits between the sheets of material by means of which the oscillating fluid pressure may be communicated to the one or more chamber.
  • Such technology to manufacture small flexibly walled bubbles is generally known e.g. in the field of making so called "bubble wrap".
  • Such sheets may be of a suitable size to be accommodated in the head of the hygiene device.
  • the oscillating fluid pressure generating means suitably comprises a fluid pump operated to generate the oscillating fluid pressure.
  • the pump and drive means may constitute a closed system.
  • a pump may conveniently be located in the grip handle of a toothbrush.
  • Suitable pumps are well known in the art.
  • a pump may comprise may comprise a piston pump.
  • a pump may comprise a diaphragm pump comprising a pump chamber having a flexible diaphragm wall which is moved in an oscillating manner to generate oscillating fluid pressure within the pump chamber.
  • a diaphragm pump has the advantage that there is no possibility of leakage of fluid from between a piston and cylinder. Further the diaphragm can be pre-tensioned to vary the pressure within the pump and the drive means, which can influence the oscillation behaviour of the drive means, for example influencing its resonant frequency.
  • a fluid pump may be connected to the drive means, e.g. the above-described chambers by any suitable conduit means, such as tubes extending between the fluid pump and the drive means.
  • suitable conduit means such as tubes extending between the fluid pump and the drive means.
  • conduit means is sufficiently rigidly walled that hydraulic pressure is not lost in transmission between the pump means and the drive means.
  • the pump may be driven by an electric motor of a suitable size to fit into a grip handle of the device, e.g. the grip handle of a device being a toothbrush, and configured to produce the reciprocating motion.
  • a motor may comprise a piezo-electric motor, which in a known form are available of a size small enough to be incorporated in a toothbrush grip handle.
  • Such piezo-electric operated pumps generally comprise a piezo-electric crystal which is oscillated by a oscillating electric voltage, driving a diaphragm wall of a pump chamber.
  • a preferred type of diaphragm pump comprises a pump chamber with a flexible diaphragm wall which is driven in oscillatory motion by a motor having a reciprocating armature which bears upon the diaphragm.
  • a motor having a reciprocating armature which bears upon the diaphragm.
  • One type of such motor comprises a reciprocating solenoid, e.g. an electromagnetic coil surrounding a magnetic core, in which application of an oscillating electric current to the coil causes an oscillating relative motion of the coil and core, generally the coil being mounted to remain static and the core being moveable.
  • a moveable part of such a solenoid may be drivingly connected to the membrane of a diaphragm pump.
  • the solenoid may be a simple solenoid comprising a moveable armature within a helical electromagnetic coil, moveable reciprocally back and forth along the helical axis of the coil.
  • the armature of such a solenoid may be resiliently biased relative to the coil e.g. by a spring between one or more end of the armature and the coil.
  • Such resilient biasing of the armature may facilitate sinusoidal oscillation of the armature back and forth along the helical axis of the coil, can prevent the armature from impacting an end stop position, and can bias the armature into a rest position in the absence of an electric current.
  • such a reciprocating solenoid may be double-ended so for example that each end of a moveable core may operate a fluid pump, e.g. being drivingly connected to the membrane of a membrane pump.
  • a fluid pump e.g. being drivingly connected to the membrane of a membrane pump.
  • two or more reciprocating solenoids may be used, and the moveable core of each may be drivingly connected to the membrane of a diaphragm pump.
  • Two such reciprocating solenoids may be operated with their armatures reciprocating along longitudinally parallel reciprocation directions. In such a construction each of two armatures may move reciprocally in the same direction at the same time, or may move reciprocally in opposite directions at the same time.
  • Such reciprocating solenoids have the advantage that they are generally of an elongate form facilitating their incorporation in the grip handle of a toothbrush, and also as their motion can be primarily in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush the vibration communicated to the hand of the user through the handle can be less than that experienced using the conventional rotary motors of power toothbrushes.
  • Known commercially available reciprocating solenoids may be suitable for the device of this invention, being of a size suitable to be enclosed within the size and shape of a conventional toothbrush handle.
  • front side and rear side refers to the two opposite operating ends of the armature of the solenoid.
  • the oscillating motion provided by the above-described motors may be generated in various ways apparent to those skilled in the art, for example mechanical, electrical or electronic.
  • a piezo-electric motor or a reciprocating solenoid may be oscillated electrically using suitable electronic oscillatory circuitry.
  • Such circuitry may also be used to control the waveform of the oscillatory fluid pressure.
  • the wave form may be a square waveform, a sinusoidal waveform, a saw tooth waveform, or any other type of waveform.
  • a square wave form has been found suitable.
  • the frequency of oscillation is set to correspond generally to the resonance frequency of vibration of the hygiene tool, such as bristles, especially in modes of oscillation in modes which are effective in cleaning the teeth, e.g.
  • the frequency of the oscillating motion may depend on particular requirements, size of the head, nature of the hygiene tool, etc. and at least for toothbrush bristles of generally conventional length a frequency range 25-100 Hz, e.g. 50 +/- 10 Hz may be generally be suitable.
  • a useful control parameter determining the behaviour of systems which use a reciprocating solenoid is the so called “relative duty cycle", i.e. the % ratio of the time during which the electromagnetic coil is supplied with electric power, the so called “duty cycle”, to the so called “cycle time” i.e. the sum of the "duty cycle time” plus the “off time” i.e. the time when the coil is not supplied with electric power.
  • the duty cycle is longer than the "off time” the magnetic field moving the armature is produced only briefly, which in the case of a solenoid which has a resiliently biased armature means that the bias, e.g.
  • the device of this invention is preferably provided with means to control the "relative duty cycle" as a means of controlling the oscillating movement of the hygiene tool.
  • a suitable "relative duty cycle” has been found to be in the range 25 - 60 %, for example with a rectangular waveform.
  • Such a motor may be conventionally driven by one or more battery, which may for example be replaceable or rechargeable, and which may also be enclosed within a grip handle of the device.
  • the device may be generally conventional shape, overall arrangement, and materials, e.g. in the case of a device which is a toothbrush, the device may comprise a generally conventional shaped head and grip handle, connected by an intermediate neck.
  • Figs. 1 , 2, 3 and 4 show longitudinal sections and part longitudinal sections through a device of this invention.
  • Fig. 5 shows how a drive means might be constructed.
  • Fig. 6 shows how drive means might be arranged.
  • Fig. 7 shows various oscillating motions of the oral hygiene tools.
  • Fig. 8 shows various constructions of solenoids
  • Fig. 9 shows another construction of a solenoid
  • Fig. 10 shows an overall arrangement of a toothbrush.
  • an oral hygiene device is shown overall 10 being a toothbrush, comprising a head overall 11 for insertion in the user's mouth, being of the generally conventional shape and size of a toothbrush head, and a grip handle 12, again of generally conventional shape and size, by which the device is held for use, with a neck 13 longitudinally between.
  • head 11 On head 11 are moveably mounted oral hygiene tools being generally conventional bristles grouped in tufts 14 aligned in a bristle direction "B".
  • the bristle tufts 14 are moveably mounted in the head 1 1 by means of the tufts 14 being mounted in a flexible substrate 15 being a pad of a resiliently flexible material elastic material.
  • the pad 15 is typically ca 2mm thick and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.
  • the tufts 14 are mounted in the pad 15 using a known technique as disclosed in EP-A- 0923326 or WO-A-2005/107522, i.e. setting the ends of the tufts 14 in small plastic material (e.g. polypropylene) holders (not shown), and setting these holders in the pad 15.
  • the pad 15 is resiliently flexibly deformable, and deformation of the pad causes a resultant movement of the tufts 14 set therein.
  • the head 1 1 incorporates a cavity 16 and the pad 15 is connected to the upper (as seen) rim of the cavity 16, to thereby leave a space between the surface of pad 15 opposite to that from which the tufts 14 extend and the bottom (as seen) of the cavity 16, the pad 15 thereby closing the cavity 16.
  • a pad 15 may be connected to the rim of the cavity 16, for example manufacture of the pad 15 separately from the head 1 1 and subsequently bonding the pad 15 to the rim of cavity 16, or pre-forming the head 1 1 and then forming pad.15 by injection moulding of the thermoplastic elastomer.
  • a drive means 21 which comprises a chamber 22 which has a flexible wall, for example being in the form of a small bladder or balloon like member made of a synthetic or natural elastomer, which is able to expand under the influence of increased internal fluid pressure and contract as the internal fluid pressure is reduced.
  • a chamber 22 which has a flexible wall, for example being in the form of a small bladder or balloon like member made of a synthetic or natural elastomer, which is able to expand under the influence of increased internal fluid pressure and contract as the internal fluid pressure is reduced.
  • the chamber 22 In Fig. 1 the chamber 22 is seen with a lower internal fluid pressure, and in Fig. 2 in an expanded state with an increased internal fluid pressure. It is seen in Figs. 1 and 2 that the chamber 22 bears upon the surface of the substrate 15 opposite to that from which the tufts 14 extend, and consequently as the chamber 22 expands the substrate 15 is caused thereby to deform so that its surface deforms between the greater convex domed shape of Fig.
  • the surface of the substrate 15 may be substantially flat. If the chamber 22 is provided with oscillatingly alternating higher and lower internal fluid pressure the substrate 15 correspondingly oscillates between the respectively lesser and greater domed shapes of Figs. 1 and 2.
  • the chamber 22 is supplied with fluid pressure via conduit 23 which extends between the head 1 1 and grip handle 12 of the toothbrush 10, passing through the neck 13 of the toothbrush 10.
  • conduit 23 which extends between the head 1 1 and grip handle 12 of the toothbrush 10, passing through the neck 13 of the toothbrush 10.
  • the neck 13 is shown as a hollow tubular structure it may be constructed in other ways, for example the neck 13 being of "U" shaped cross section with an open top so that the conduit 13 may be seated therein and the open top then being closed if considered necessary.
  • Fig. 5 shows a way in which the chamber 22 and conduit 13 may be constructed.
  • Part 41 of an upper sheet 42 of the flexible material such as a polyethylene, or other plastics material or elastomer is formed into an upwardly (as seen) convex shape and size corresponding to chamber 22 and conduit 23, as seen in the plan view of Fig. 5.1 and seen in the longitudinal section cut along line A-A in
  • Fig. 5.2 and the cross section cut across line B-B, suitable to fit into the cavity 16.
  • This sheet 41 is bonded e.g. by ultrasonic welding by stamping, to a lower sheet 43, a bond being formed only around the periphery 44 of the convex part 41 , and leaving the region 45 within the periphery un-bonded, to thereby form the chamber 22 between the part 41 of the sheets 42 and the lower sheet 43, at the same time forming the conduit 23 in the same way, only the part of conduit 23 adjacent to chamber 22 being shown.
  • the chamber 22 and conduit 23 may then be cut out of the sheets 41 and 43. Multiple chambers 22 and conduits 23 may be formed in this manner.
  • Fig. 3 shows a modification of the construction of Figs. 1 and 2 is shown, in which pad 15 has been formed by injecting a thermoplastic elastomer material into cavity 16 with the chamber 22 and adjacent part of the conduit 23 in-situ in cavity 16 so that the chamber 22 is thereby embedded in the thermoplastic elastomer material, and the pad 15 is thereby formed as the thickness of the elastomer material above (as seen) the chamber 22.
  • the tufts 14 may also be set in the pad 15 during such an injection process, e.g.
  • Fig. 3 facilitates the use of a neck 13 of "U" shaped cross section with an open top so that the conduit 13 may be seated therein and the open top then being closed by injection of thermoplastic elastomer into the "U" section, to thereby embed the conduit 23 in the thermoplastic elastomer.
  • Fig. 4 shows a modification of the construction of Fig. 3 in which the pad 15 is bonded to the rim of cavity 16 to thereby form, with the side walls of the cavity 16, the flexible wall of a chamber 22.
  • Fig. 6 is a plan view, looking downwards (as seen) along the bristle direction B shows a modification in which there are four drive means comprising flexible walled chambers 51 ,52,53,54. All four of these chambers 51 ,52,53,54 are analogous to that 22 described above, and are formed by a procedure analogous to that of Fig. 4, i.e. by preparing a suitably profiled upper sheet 42 and bonding this to a lower sheet 43 at the periphery 55.
  • the four chambers 51 ,52,53,54 are arranged in a rectangular pattern with two chambers, 51 ,52 and 53,54 on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L-L.
  • the chambers 52,53 are connected to conduits 56,57 by which they are supplied with pressurised fluid via the neck 13 of the toothbrush. Pairs of diagonally opposite chambers 52, 54 and 51 ,53 are connected by conduits 58 and 59 so that pressurised fluid applied to chambers 52 and 53 is communicated via conduits 58 and 59 to chambers 51 and 54.
  • increasing fluid pressure may be applied to chambers 52 and 54 to cause them to expand, whilst reducing fluid pressure may be applied to chambers 51 and 53 to cause them to contract, and vice-versa. If this application of increasing and decreasing fluid pressure is done in an oscillating manner it will cause a corresponding oscillating movement of the pad 15 as the chambers 51 ,52,53,54 bear upon the pad 15.
  • Fig. 7 which may be views either across the longitudinal axis L- L or along it, this shows how plural chambers may be used to achieve various motions of the tufts 14.
  • two chambers 61 and 62 are arranged adjacent the centre of the pad 15, on either side of a fold axis.
  • both the chambers 61 ,62 expand under the influence of increased fluid pressure and bear on the underside (as seen) of pad 15 to cause a folding motion of the pad 15 to cause a convex folded upper surface, with a corresponding tilting movement of the tufts 14, this motion reversing as the pressure is reduced, and being repeated oscillatingly as oscillating fluid pressure is applied.
  • two chambers 63 and 64 are arranged adjacent the edges of the pad 15, on either side of a fold axis.
  • both the chambers 63,64 expand under the influence of increased fluid pressure and bear on the underside (as seen) of pad 15 to cause a folding motion of the pad 15 to cause a concave folded upper surface, with a corresponding tilting movement of the tufts 14, this motion reversing as the pressure is reduced, and being repeated oscillatingly as oscillating fluid pressure is applied.
  • FIG. 7.3 two pads 15A and 15B are provided adjacent and in contact.
  • a chamber 65 is arranged adjacent an edge of the pad 15A
  • another chamber 66 is arranged adjacent the edge of the pad 15B.
  • both the chambers 65,66 expand under the influence of increased fluid pressure and bear on the underside (as seen) of pad 15, the pads 15A, 15B both tilt as shown, with a corresponding sweeping movement of the tufts 14, this motion reversing as the pressure is reduced, and being repeated oscillatingly as oscillating fluid pressure is applied.
  • the conduit 23 is supplied with pressurised fluid by pump 70.
  • This pump 70 is a diaphragm pump, and is mounted in the handle 12 of toothbrush 10.
  • Pump 70 comprises a pump cylinder 71 with its open end closed by a flexible diaphragm 72.
  • the pump 70, the conduit 23 and chamber 22 are a closed system and are completely filled with a fluid, in this case water.
  • a fluid in this case water.
  • a solenoid 80 is also mounted in the handle, the solenoid comprising an electromagnetic coil 81 surrounding a magnetic core 82 functioning as a moveable armature which is drivingly connected to the diaphragm 72.
  • the solenoid comprising an electromagnetic coil 81 surrounding a magnetic core 82 functioning as a moveable armature which is drivingly connected to the diaphragm 72.
  • a battery 83 Within handle 12 is also situated a battery 83, electronic circuitry 84 to convert the electricity output from battery 83 into an oscillating electrical waveform, and a control switch 85.
  • Within handle 12 there are also conventional connections (not shown) between the battery
  • control 85 is actuated to cause the solenoid 80 to operate, to cause the armature 82 to operate the pump 70 to cause an oscillating fluid pressure in the chamber 22.
  • FIG. 8 some alternative constructions of solenoid are shown. Fig.
  • a simple solenoid 90 comprising an electromagnetic coil 91 surrounding magnetic core 92.
  • the magnetic core 92 oscillates reciprocally between the two positions shown respectively in Fig. 8.1A and Fig. 8.1 B.
  • Fig. 8.2 shows a solenoid 100 comprising an electromagnetic coil 101 surrounding magnetic core 102.
  • the magnetic core 102 is biased by springs 103,104 so that when no electric current is applied to coil 101 the core is in the rest position as shown in Fig. 8.2A.
  • the magnetic core oscillates reciprocally between the two positions shown in Fig. 8.2B and C, returning to the position as shown in 8.2A when the electric current is switched off.
  • the springs 103,104 also encourage the magnetic core 102 to move in harmonic, e.g. sinusoidal motion when a oscillating electric current is applied to the coil 101.
  • the membrane 72 may be an elastic membrane, in which case the elasticity of the membrane 72 can also help to return the magnetic core of the solenoid to a set position, but additional springs 103,104 are more effective at this because of the mass of the core.
  • Fig. 9 shows an arrangement of a double-ended reciprocating solenoid.
  • the solenoids 200,200 each comprising an electromagnetic coil 201 ,301 surrounding a respective magnetic core 202,302.
  • the solenoids 200,300 are mounted with the cores 201 ,301 aligned to move reciprocally along the same longitudinal axis, and a spring 204 is located longitudinally between the cores 201 ,301 to bias them apart an to hold the cores 201 ,301 in the rest position seen in Fig. 9.1.
  • the coils 301 ,302 are configured such that the cores 202,302 move reciprocally in opposite directions from the rest position shown in Fig.
  • This arrangement of solenoids 200,300 can be used to drive two pumps analogous to that 70, one driven by each of the two cores 201 ,301 analogous to the way in which the pump 70 is driven by solenoid 80. Such an arrangement with two pumps can be used to provide fluid pressure to the two conduits 56,57 of Fig. 6.
  • This arrangement of solenoids 200,300 with their cores 201 ,301 moving in opposite directions has the advantage that the vibrations of the moving cores 201 ,301 in opposite directions cancel each other out so that little vibration is transmitted through the grip handle to the user's hand.
  • Fig. 10 shows schematically, in plan view looking down (as seen in Fig.1 ) the bristle direction B, the layout of a toothbrush 400 overall incorporating a double- ended solenoid 401 of the type described with reference to Fig. 8 or 9 above.
  • the solenoid 401 is mounted in the grip handle 402, which also encloses a battery power source 403 and electronic control circuitry 404 to provide an appropriate electrical current to solenoid 401.
  • the electrical connections and control switch are not shown.
  • the respective ends of the armatures 405,406 operate two respective diaphragm pumps 407,408 of the type described above, which respectively feed fluid pressure to two respective chambers 409,410 of the type described above, arranged in the head 41 1 of the toothbrush 400 via two respective conduits 412,413 arranged along the neck 414 of the toothbrush.
  • the solenoid 401 may be operated so that the two chambers 409,410 are operated so that they both expand and contract at the same time, or alternatively so that one expands whilst the other contracts.
  • Other modes of operation of such a system are of course feasible, for example that shown in Fig. 6.
  • a diaphragm pump was fabricated from a small pharmaceutical vial, utilising the elastomeric closure of the vial as the diaphragm, cutting away the opposite closed end of the vial and closing this open end with a stopper through which was threaded a thin polyethylene tube with walls which were flexible enough to bend to follow the internal contours of a toothbrush but sufficiently rigid to minimise any pressure drop along its length.
  • a chamber of the type described above was improvised from bubble wrap and connected to the other end of the tube. The so-made pump was mounted so that the armature of any one of the solenoids tabulated above bore upon the diaphragm.
  • the solenoid was then electronically controlled to operated at a square wave frequency of 50Hz within its normal operating parameters as listed in the table. It was found that operating the solenoid under these conditions the armature could apply a force of 0.6 N to the diaphragm. It can be calculated that if the oral hygiene tool is a toothbrush bristle of length ca. 10mm, and these are mounted in tufts on two side-by-side flexible pads of the type described above, a deflection of the bristle ends of 2.5 mm in direction transverse to their length, i.e.
  • a 5° tilt can be achieved by a displacement of the flexible wall of a drive means of the type described above by approximately 500 microns, and based on the properties of bristle materials a force of 55 mN would be needed to achieve this. Therefore the principle appears to be feasible.

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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)
  • Brushes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif d'hygiène comprenant une tête, sur laquelle est monté de manière mobile un ou plusieurs outils d'hygiène, un moyen d'entraînement actionné par une pression de fluide oscillante pour mobiliser ledit ou lesdits outils d'hygiène; et un moyen de génération de pression de fluide oscillante en communication fluidique avec le moyen d'entraînement pour produire une pression de fluide oscillante. Un dispositif d'hygiène préféré est un dispositif d'hygiène orale caractérisé en ce que ladite tête, sur laquelle est monté de manière mobile ledit outil d'hygiène, est adaptée à l'insertion dans la bouche de l'utilisateur et ledit outil d'hygiène est un outil d'hygiène orale. Ledit dispositif d'hygiène préféré précité est une brosse à dents, comprenant une tête et une poignée de saisie disposées le long d'une direction longitudinale tête-poignée, et l'outil d'hygiène orale comprend des poils. Un autre dispositif d'hygiène préféré est caractérisé en ce que ladite tête sur laquelle est monté de manière mobile ledit outil d'hygiène est prévue pour raser et ledit outil d'hygiène et un outil d'hygiène pour la peau et/ou pour les cheveux, où ledit dispositif d'hygiène est un rasoir, comprenant une tête et une poignée de saisie disposées perpendiculairement à et/ou le long d'une direction longitudinale tête-poignée, et ledit outil d'hygiène comprend au moins une lame.
PCT/EP2007/001543 2006-02-22 2007-02-22 Dispositif d'hygiene a puissance hydraulique WO2007096167A1 (fr)

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WO2010076696A1 (fr) * 2008-12-30 2010-07-08 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Appareil motorisé d'hygiène dentaire avec système d'actionneur produisant une course courte des poils
WO2010076702A1 (fr) * 2008-12-30 2010-07-08 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Système de soupape sous pression destiné à commander des touffes de soies
JP2017525431A (ja) * 2014-08-21 2017-09-07 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エヌ ヴェＫｏｎｉｎｋｌｉｊｋｅ Ｐｈｉｌｉｐｓ Ｎ．Ｖ． パーソナルケア機器のための共振構造体を具備するアタッチメント及び方法
CN110141387A (zh) * 2019-06-24 2019-08-20 无锡青禾小贝科技有限公司 一种马达震动力度的控制方法及装置
CN111227973A (zh) * 2019-09-03 2020-06-05 杭州木犀生活科技有限公司 一种可律动的电动牙刷
US11520408B2 (en) * 2018-11-19 2022-12-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Vehicle display apparatus

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WO2004020238A2 (fr) 2002-08-27 2004-03-11 Luk Lamellen Und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs Kg Ensemble de transmission pour véhicule
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Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US8578539B2 (en) 2008-12-30 2013-11-12 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Pressurized valve system for driving bristle tufts
WO2010076702A1 (fr) * 2008-12-30 2010-07-08 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Système de soupape sous pression destiné à commander des touffes de soies
CN102271619A (zh) * 2008-12-30 2011-12-07 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 用于驱动刷毛簇的加压阀系统
CN102271615A (zh) * 2008-12-30 2011-12-07 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 具有用于产生短刷毛行程的致动器系统的电动口腔清洁用具
JP2012513798A (ja) * 2008-12-30 2012-06-21 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ 毛房を駆動させるための加圧バルブシステム
US8572790B2 (en) 2008-12-30 2013-11-05 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Power dental cleaning appliance with actuator system for producing a short bristle stroke
WO2010076696A1 (fr) * 2008-12-30 2010-07-08 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Appareil motorisé d'hygiène dentaire avec système d'actionneur produisant une course courte des poils
JP2014193375A (ja) * 2008-12-30 2014-10-09 Koninklijke Philips Nv 毛房を駆動させるための加圧バルブシステム
JP2017525431A (ja) * 2014-08-21 2017-09-07 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エヌ ヴェＫｏｎｉｎｋｌｉｊｋｅ Ｐｈｉｌｉｐｓ Ｎ．Ｖ． パーソナルケア機器のための共振構造体を具備するアタッチメント及び方法
US10828136B2 (en) 2014-08-21 2020-11-10 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Attachment with resonant structure for personal care appliance method
US11520408B2 (en) * 2018-11-19 2022-12-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Vehicle display apparatus
CN110141387A (zh) * 2019-06-24 2019-08-20 无锡青禾小贝科技有限公司 一种马达震动力度的控制方法及装置
CN111227973A (zh) * 2019-09-03 2020-06-05 杭州木犀生活科技有限公司 一种可律动的电动牙刷

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