WO2016074704A1

WO2016074704A1 - Device for cleaning interdental spaces

Info

Publication number: WO2016074704A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/074293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ludger SCHRÖDER; Tobias Martin
Original assignee: Engineered Md - Invested Ii Ug (Haftungsbeschränkt)
Priority date: 2014-11-11
Filing date: 2014-11-11
Publication date: 2016-05-19

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cleaning interdental spaces, comprising a housing for accommodating a dental floss dispenser, two guide arms which are designed as tong arms relative each other and delimit an interspace through which the dental floss of the dental floss dispenser can be transported, and a transport module by means of which the dental floss can be transported through a donor-side guide arm in the direction of the acceptor-side guide arm arranged opposite. Gripping means for accepting and holding in place the dental floss are arranged in the acceptor-side guide arm, said gripping means comprising an at least partly elastic tensioning part (3) which has a through-opening, which is movably arranged in the acceptor-side guide arm (22) and through which the dental floss (71) can be transported, means for temporarily varying the size of the through-opening of the tensioning part (3) being arranged.

Description

Device for cleaning interdental spaces

The invention relates to a device for cleaning interdental spaces according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

It is well known that conventional brushing of the teeth by means of a toothbrush is insufficient to remove any trapped food particles and plaque. To complement the cleaning process, the use of dental floss or even toothbrushes has been recommended. The removal of dental plaque and trapped food remains prevents caries and periodontal diseases, improves general oral hygiene and prevents the development of halitosis.

To simplify the handling of the floss, so-called "fins" were developed, which is similar to the English words "floss" for dental floss or "flossing" for dental flossing. A finser usually has a handpiece with a fork arranged thereon, over whose free ends a floss thread is guided. The floss is inserted by means of the flosser into the interdental spaces to clean the hard to reach tooth surfaces in these interdental areas by reciprocating the floss thread. There are also motorized fins known in which the floss thread between a supply spool and a take-up spool is driven in the form of a feed motion, so that the floss is moved between the free end of the finned fork, the flossing between the free ends of the finned fork always remains tense. By designing the leadership of the dental floss between different coils of the dental floss thread can be placed in a vibratory motion in the form of a longitudinal vibration. A disadvantage of the fins of the known type is that stretched between the free end of the finned dental floss, for example, due to concrements and food residues difficult or impossible in the interdental or interimplant spaces can be performed. Furthermore, there is the risk of injury to the gums when introducing the tense floss in narrowed interdental spaces, since the floss must be pressed with high pressure in the interdental spaces. In this connection, it should be noted that the narrowing between two teeth regularly occurs on the crown side, whereby the interdental space is widened on the gingival side.

From DE 20 2007 016 208 B1 a device for cleaning interdental spaces is known, which allows an introduction of the dental floss into the interdental spaces as well as a cleaning of these interdental spaces. This prior art device basically meets the task asked of it. However, it has been shown that the proposed solution in terms of the handling of the dental floss, in particular with regard to passage through the interdental space and their subsequent recording is complex.

This is where the present invention begins. The invention has for its object to provide a device for cleaning interdental spaces, which can be produced with minimal effort and in which the handling of the dental floss is improved. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

With the invention, a device for cleaning interdental spaces is created, which can be produced with minimal effort and in which the handling of the dental floss is improved. By providing a passage opening having, at least partially elastic clamping member that is movably disposed in the slave side guide arm and through which passage the floss is conveyed, means for temporarily changing the size of the passage opening of the clamping member are arranged, is a simple and immediately reliable mechanical recording and release of the floss allows. The floss is taken up by passing through the previously enlarged passage opening of the clamping part with following elastic displacement in the reduced initial state, whereby the dental floss is clamped in the clamping part.

The term "dental floss" is to be subsumed below also variations of flexible Endlosinterinterdentalreinigungshilfsmittel such as flexible Endlosinterdentalbürsten.

In a development of the invention, the means for temporarily changing the size of the passage opening of the tensioning part comprise at least one expansion body projecting into the driving path of the tensioning part, preferably wedge-shaped. This allows a simple change in the size of the passage opening.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the passage opening of the clamping part is formed by a bore into which a slot inserted into the clamping part, wherein the projecting into the driveway at least one expansion body in the direction of the clamping part is designed such that when it penetrates into the slot Magnification of the hole is effected. As a result, an enlargement of the passage opening is made possible with only a small spreading force to be applied. For this purpose, the slot virtually forms a lever, which causes an enlargement of the bore when widening.

In a further development of the invention, a slider is arranged on the housing, which is connected to the clamping part and through which the clamping part against at least one spreader is movable. This allows manual control of the clamping operation by the operator.

In an embodiment of the invention, two preferably wedge-shaped spreader body are arranged on both sides of the clamping part, such that an extending through this spreader imaginary line passes through the slot of the clamping part. As a result, an optimal effect of the applied spreading force is achieved. In a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping part has an elastically formed, cylindrical clamping body through which an eccentric bore extends parallel to the central axis thereof, into which an outwardly guided slot opens. In this case, the slot preferably merges, at its end facing the bore, into a groove in which a guide web of the slave-side guide arm engages. In this case, the guide bar is particularly preferably at at least one end in an expansion body. This allows a guided delivery of the slot of the clamping part in the direction of the expansion body. In a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping part along a guide rail is movable, which is guided by a introduced in the clamping part guide channel. As a result, a defined travel of the clamping part is achieved. Furthermore, a possible tilting of the clamping part within the slave-side guide arm is prevented.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping part is connected to at least one spring element, by which the clamping part is biased against at least one direction of travel. Preferably, on both sides of the clamping part at least one spring element is arranged, wherein the spring elements are formed such that the clamping part is in the rest position in the middle of the guide web (29). As a result, in the course of the movement of the clamping part in the direction of the expansion element for changing the size of the bore, a biasing force can be achieved by which the clamping part can be independently brought into the starting position after receiving the dental floss. Furthermore, a longitudinal oscillation of the dental floss is possible by applying only a pulsed tensile force through such a resilient arrangement of the dental floss receiving clamping part. After the action of the respective train pulse on the clamping body of this is caused by the biasing force of the spring elements in vibration, which is excited again and again by the following train pulses. By such a longitudinal oscillation of the dental floss a good cleaning effect can be achieved. Preferably, at least one spring element is formed by a helical spring. In a further embodiment of the invention, the slider is connected to a driver through which the dental floss is guided, wherein the driver is designed such that a driving of the dental floss takes place only in a sliding direction of the slider. As a result, an actuation of the clamping means is achieved with simultaneous advancement of the dental floss, whereby a controlled implementation of the dental floss is made possible by a tooth gap by the operator with subsequent tensioning of the dental floss. Other developments and refinements of the invention are specified in the remaining subclaims. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail below. FIG. 1 shows the spatial representation of a device for cleaning interdental spaces;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the device of Figure 1 before startup with detailed view of the clamping member (spreader disengaged);

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the device according to Figure 2 at first operated slide (slide above) with a detailed view of the clamping member (spreader in engagement);

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the device according to Figure 2 with two actuation of the slide (slide above) with a detailed view of the clamping member (spreader in engagement);

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the device according to Figure 4 after the operation of the slide (slide below) with a detailed view of the clamping part (spreader disengaged);

Figure 6 shows the detailed representation of the user-side guide arm of the device according to Figure 2 with clamping part arrangement (spreader disengaged); FIG. 7 shows a detailed representation of the guide arms of the attachment of the device according to FIG. 5 with the dental floss clamped in;

8 shows the illustration of different movement positions of the guide part of the device according to FIG. 7 with a dental floss and FIG. 9 shows a schematic sketch of essential functional parts of FIG

Device of Figure 1.

The chosen as an embodiment device for cleaning interdental spaces consists essentially of a handpiece 1, which is provided with a cap 2, on which two guide arms 21, 22 are arranged, which are formed like a pliers to each other. Between the guide arms 21, 22, a gap 23 is formed for receiving a row of teeth. The attachment 2 is attached to the handpiece 1 and connected by means of a releasable latching connection with the handpiece 1.

The handpiece 1 has a substantially cylindrically shaped housing 1 1, in which a receptacle 12 for a floss dispenser 7 is arranged. Furthermore, a drive shaft 13 is arranged, which is connected to a - not shown - first drive. End of the drive shaft 13, a coupling 14 for receiving a piece of tubing 45 for driving the guide member 4 is arranged. The coupling 14 is designed such that a plug connection between the coupling 14 and tube piece 45 takes place when attaching the attachment 2 to the handpiece 1. To promote the dental floss 71 of the floss dispenser 7, a conveyor module 15 is further arranged, which is shown in Figure 9 in the form of two oppositely arranged rollers, between which the dental floss 71 is guided. The conveyor module 15 is configured such that the dental floss 71 can be transported forward and backward.

Outside a slider 16 is disposed on the housing 1 1. The slider 16 is detachably connected to the belt 37 of the clamping part 3, which is guided via rollers 26 within the attachment 2. The slider 16 is provided for releasable connection with the belt 37 with a receptacle 18 into which the belt 37 of a set 2 is releasably latched. The releasable connection of the belt 37 with the receptacle 18 takes place when attaching the attachment 2 on the handpiece. 1

Furthermore, the slider 16 is connected to a drive plate 17 through which the dental floss 71 is guided. The driver 17 is designed such that a driving of the dental floss takes place only in a sliding direction. By repeatedly pushing the slider 17 as a piece-wise promotion of the dental floss 71 is made possible by a tooth gap. In addition, a switch 19 is arranged on the housing 1 1, which is connected to a - not shown - control device. The switch 19 is designed as a multi-function switch and serves both the switching on and off of the device, as well as the activation of the conveyor module 15 and the start of the cleaning process.

The attachment 2 is likewise designed as a hollow body and has at its end opposite the handpiece 1 two tongs-like mutually arranged guide arms 21, 22, between which a gap 23 is formed. In the middle, between the guide arms 21, 22 an elastic tooth support piece 24 is arranged. The dental pad 24 serves as an elastic buffer between the cap 2 and the tooth crown. Furthermore, a funnel-shaped, elastic tooth fitting piece 25 is arranged on the slave-side guide arm 22. The tooth abutment piece 25 serves to abut against a row of teeth. Above the dental abutment piece 25, a guide rail 27 is arranged in the slave-side guide arm 22, which is connected at its two ends via a stop piece 28 with the attachment 2. The guide rail 27 opposite a guide bar 29 is further formed in the slave-side guide arm, which merges at its two ends in a wedge-shaped spreader 291. The guide rail 27 and the guide web 29 serve to receive a clamping part 3, which is movable on the guide rail 27 movable within the slave side guide arm 22 of the essay. The dental appliance piece 25 opposite is still in the geberseitigen Füh- rung 21 21 introduced a bore. The bore 221 serves to remove a piece of dental floss after its use.

The clamping part 3 is formed in the embodiment as partially provided with a rubber layer plastic part. It consists essentially of a cuboid guide block 31, on which a clamping cylinder 32 is formed. On the plane of symmetry of the clamping part 3, a through hole 33 is eccentrically introduced into the clamping cylinder 32, into which a slot 34 opens, which merges into a guide groove 35 at its end opposite the through hole 33. The guide groove 35 serves to receive the guide web 29 of the user-side guide arm 22. In the guide block 31, a guide channel 36 for receiving the guide rail 27 of the slave-side guide arm 22 is introduced through which it is guided. On both sides of the guide channel 36, a spring element 38 is arranged on the guide rail 27, which in the exemplary embodiment is in each case designed as a helical spring. The spring elements 38 are dimensioned such that the clamping part 3 is located at rest in the center on the guide web 29. Externally, a belt 37 is attached to the guide block 31 of the clamping part 3, which is guided over rollers 26 through the attachment 2 and connected to the slider 16 of the handpiece 1. About the belt 37, the clamping part 3 along the guide rail 27 is movable.

If the clamping part 3 is moved via the slide 16 against an expansion body 291, then this penetrates into the guide groove 35, whereby the slot 34 and thus the subsequent thereto through hole 33 is widened. The passage bore 33, the inner diameter of which in the initial state is made somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the dental floss 71, is hereby enlarged, whereby a passage of the dental floss through the passage bore 33 is made possible. If the slide 16 is no longer actuated, then the clamping part 3 is moved back into the starting position via the restoring forces of the spring elements 38, whereby the expansion element is led out of the guide groove 35 and the slot 34 and the through hole 33 adjoining it are elastically displaced. move the table back to its original state. The dental floss 71 is thus clamped in the through hole 33 of the clamping part 3.

In the encoder-side guide arm 21, a guide member 4 is disposed rotatably oscillatable. The guide part 4 is designed as a plastic part and consists essentially of a cylindrical shaft 41, to which an enlarged diameter portion 42 connects. On the enlarged diameter portion 42, a conical projection 43 is formed eccentrically to the shaft 41, the surface of which is provided with a rubber layer. Offset to the central axis of the shaft 41, a bore 44 is introduced into the guide part 4, which opens into the tip of the eccentrically arranged conical projection 43. The shaft 41 of the guide member 4 is non-circular, preferably formed as a polygonal and is received by a piece of hose 45, which is provided at the end with a - not shown - corresponding non-round recording. The hose piece 45 is formed in the embodiment in the form of a hose-like metal mesh and is connected at its end opposite the guide part 4 with the coupling 14 of the drive shaft 13 of the handpiece 1. The coupling 14 has a - not shown - passage for the passage of the dental floss 71, which is guided through the tube piece 45 and the bore 43 of the guide member 4 penetrates. Spaced apart from the guide part 4, a recess 451 for the passage of the knife 61 of a cutting device 6 arranged in the attachment is introduced into the tube piece 45. The drive of the guide part 4 comprising the tube piece 45 connected to the drive shaft 13 as well as the drive - not shown - drive is shown symbolically in Figure 9 by a square marked "A".

Surrounding the guide part 4, a spacer 5 is arranged in the sensor-side guide arm 21. The spacer 5 is designed as a plastic part and formed on its funnel-shaped, the dental contact piece 25 facing the end elastically. The spacer 5 is formed by a second drive 51, which is shown in Figure 9 in the form of driven rollers, along the guide member 4 movable. The inner diameter of the spacer 5 is here formed slightly larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 42 of the guide member 4th

Above the conveyor module 15, a cable tension sensor 8 is arranged in the handpiece 1. The cable tension sensor 8 consists essentially of a cylindrical hollow body 81, in which a spring 82 is arranged, which is connected at the end to a stop body 83. The stopper body 83 is provided with a U-shaped contour, whereby a trough 84 for receiving the dental floss 71 is formed. The cable tension sensor 8 is connected to the control unit (not shown) of the conveyor module 15 and the drive (not shown) of the drive shaft 13 and can be moved against the dental floss 71 via a piston (not shown). In this case, the - not shown - control is set up so that falls below a defined minimum tension of the dental floss no vibration of the conveyor module.

The device according to the invention is introduced with its attachment 2 into the mouth of the user such that one row of teeth engages in the intermediate space 23 of the attachment 2. In this case, the article rests with its tooth support piece 24 on the crown of a tooth. The guide part 4 is then positioned resting on the gum with its conical projection 43 between two teeth. By operating the slider 16, the dental floss 71 is guided in sections through the interdental space via the drive plate 17, wherein the clamping part 3 is moved along the guide rail 27 in the direction of an expansion body 291, whereby the through hole 33 is enlarged in the manner described above. The floss 71 is conveyed through the through hole 33 of the clamping part 3 and - after completion of the operation of the slider 16 - clamped in the manner previously described by reducing the opening width of the through hole 33 in the clamping part 3. Subsequently, the spacer 5 is moved in the direction of the tooth contact piece 25, whereby the teeth adjacent to the tooth space to be cleaned are "clamped" between the tooth contact piece 25 and the spacer 5. the. As a result, the guide member 4 is simultaneously moved out with its conical shoulder 43 from the interdental space.

By a reverse operation of the conveyor module 15, the dental floss 71 is then tensioned, such that the clamping part 3 is slightly moved in the direction of the guide part 4, but no spreader reaches the guide groove 35 of the clamping part 3. Subsequently, the cable tension sensor 8 is moved with its stop body 83 orthogonally a defined distance to the tensioned dental floss 71. In this case, the stopper body is pressed against the spring 82, depending on the tension of the dental floss 71. The tension of the dental floss 71 is determined via the path traveled by the stop body in this case. If a sufficient tension of the dental floss 71 is present, the controls of the drive of the drive shaft 13 and of the conveyor module 15 are released. The guide part 4 is now oscillated in an oscillating manner by the drive shaft 14 via the tube piece 45, whereby in each case only a proportionate rotation of approximately 200 degrees before changing the direction of rotation. In this way, the dental floss 71 describes at the point of passage from the conical projection 43 of the guide part 4 oscillating a partial arc. The movement sequence of the dental floss 71 is shown in different positions in FIG. At the same time, the dental floss is set in a reciprocating motion via the delivery module 15, thereby assisting the cleaning of the teeth. After completion of the cleaning process, the spacer 5 is moved back relative to the guide member 4, after which the device can be removed while passing the floss 71 - if possible - from the tooth gap. However, the dental floss can also be separated via the cutting device 6, whereby the knife 61 cuts through the recess 451 of the tube section 45. The separated end of the floss can now be removed through the bore 221 arranged in the slave-side guide arm 22.

Claims

claims

A device for cleaning interdental spaces, comprising a housing for receiving a dental floss dispenser, two tongs formed to each other guide arms defining a gap through which the dental floss of the floss dispenser is transportable and a conveyor module, by means of which the floss arranged by a sensor-side guide arm in the direction of the opposite Hand side guide arm is conveyed, wherein in the user side guide arm gripping means for receiving and fixing the dental floss are arranged, characterized in that the gripping means comprise a passage opening exhibiting, at least partially elastic clamping part (3) arranged in the slave side guide arm (22) movable is and through which the dental floss (71) is conveyed, wherein means for temporarily changing the size of the passage opening of the clamping part (3) are arranged.

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for temporarily changing the size of the passage opening of the clamping part (3) at least one in the travel of the clamping part (3) projecting, preferably wedge-shaped expansion body (291).

Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the passage opening of the clamping part (3) by a bore (33) is formed, into which a in the clamping part (3) inserted slot (34) opens, wherein the projecting into the track at least one spreader (291) is designed in the direction of the clamping part (3) such that its penetration into the slot (34) causes an enlargement of the bore.

Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that on the housing (1 1) a slide (16) is arranged, which is connected to the clamping part (3) and through which the clamping part (3) against at least one spreader (291) is movable ,

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that two preferably wedge-shaped expansion body (291) are arranged on both sides of the clamping part (3), such that an imaginary line extending through this expansion body (291) through the slot (34 ) of the clamping part (3).

6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the clamping part (3) has an elastically formed, cylindrical clamping body (32) through which parallel to the central axis of an eccentric bore tion (33) runs, in the outwardly guided slot (34) opens.

7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the slot (34) merges at its bore (33) radially opposite end into a guide groove (35) into which a guide web (29) of the slave-side guide arm (22) intervenes.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide web (29) merges at least one end into an expansion body (291).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping part (3) along a guide rail (27) is movable, which is guided by a in the clamping part (3) introduced guide channel (36).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping part (3) with at least one spring element (38) is connected, by which the clamping part (3) is prestressed against at least one traversing direction.

1 1. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that on both sides of the clamping part (3) at least one spring element (28) is arranged, wherein the spring elements (38) are formed such that the clamping part is in the rest position in the middle of the guide web (29).

12. The apparatus of claim 10 or 1 1, characterized in that at least one spring element (38) is formed by a coil spring.

13. Device according to one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the slide (16) is connected to a driver (17) through which the dental floss (71) is guided, wherein the driver (17) is designed such that a driving of the dental floss (17) only in a sliding direction of the slider (16).