WO2017006060A1

WO2017006060A1 - Educational oscillatable toothbrush

Info

Publication number: WO2017006060A1
Application number: PCT/FR2016/051721
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guy PILLOT
Original assignee: Pillot Guy
Priority date: 2015-07-07
Filing date: 2016-07-07
Publication date: 2017-01-12
Also published as: EP3319478A1; FR3038500B1; FR3038500A1; EP3319478B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toothbrush (1) including a sleeve (2) comprising, successively from front to back: a front portion (21) made up of a head having, on the bottom surface thereof, bristles (3) extending downwards, an intermediate portion (22), and a rear portion (23). Said intermediate portion (22) has a transverse cross-section including: a basic triangular top cross-section that has a point directed upwards and comprises at least two angled planar surfaces (22a, 22b) overlapping each other along a top edge (22c), and a basic bottom cross-section defined by a downward-facing arch (22d) having convexity. Said transverse cross-section is remarkable in that each angled planar surface (22a, 22b) comprises an indication means capable of indicating the direction in which the sleeve (2) should be oscillated on the basis of the angular orientation thereof.

Description

OSCILLATING EDUCATIONAL TOOTHBRUSH

Technical area

The present invention relates to a toothbrush comprising a handle for educating the user by encouraging him to perform a proper brushing of his teeth.

Prior art

Commonly used toothbrushes such as, for example, those described in the patent application CN 1,084,723, are generally ill suited to the implementation of brushing techniques recommended by oral health professionals to obtain the better efficiency of brushing.

Among the various brushing methods that have been recommended, the so-called modified STILLMANN method recommends brushing the teeth according to at least the following steps:

- brushing the masticatory surface of the teeth by moving back and forth,

positioning the bristles of the brush at the level of the gingival groove at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the external surface of the teeth,

- To brush the teeth at the level of the gums by small circular movements,

- Brush the outer surface of the teeth going from the gum to the tooth by an oscillatory movement of the roller.

It is well understood that the step of brushing the external faces of the teeth is essential because it makes it possible to free out at the best of the gums deposits and bacteria found in the inter-dental spaces and under the gums, said deposits not or poorly evacuated with high risk of cavities.

To overcome this drawback, a toothbrush is already known, such as that described in patent application FR 2 786 676, comprising a handle comprising successively, from the front to the rear, an end portion or anterior head carrying, on its lower face, the bristles of the brush extending downwards, an intermediate portion and a posterior end portion, its intermediate portion having a cross-section comprising an upwardly pointed top elemental section and a curved downwardly convexly curved lower elementary section.

This type of brush facilitates the cleaning of the outer faces of the teeth by oscillating his head. For this purpose, its handle is placed in a hand of the user so that the edge of the triangular upper part comes to be placed in the inter-phalangeal space distal of the indexes, major and annular of said hand and that the lower part convex surface comes in contact with the thumb. By performing simultaneous movements in opposite directions, indexes, major and annular and thumb, the user causes oscillations of the handle, the indexes, major and annular alternately receiving the two planar faces of the upper triangular, while the thumb, always in contact with the convex surface, rolls the brush.

This type of brush is certainly effective, but it can, without any problem, be used in a conventional manner, namely without oscillation.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to provide an alternative to the known toothbrush, whose handle has a shape particularly suitable for the production of oscillations, allowing, on the one hand, to perform a proper brushing teeth and, d on the other hand, to educate the user by encouraging him to brush his teeth properly.

In this respect, the toothbrush according to the invention comprises a handle successively comprising, from front to rear, an anterior portion constituting a head carrying, on its lower face, downwardly extending bristles, an intermediate portion and a posterior portion, said intermediate portion having a cross-section comprising an upper triangular shaped section with an upwardly directed tip having at least two inclined faces intersecting along an upper edge and a lower elementary section delimited by a convexly oriented arc facing downwards. Said toothbrush is remarkable in that each of the inclined plane faces comprises indicating means able to indicate the direction in which the handle must be oscillated according to its angular orientation, said indication means being at least one hologram comprising at least one pattern and / or character able to animate visually and / or change appearance according to the inclination of the handle.

The indication means are preferably at least one dynamic image in relief comprising at least one pattern and / or character able to animate visually and / or change appearance according to the inclination of the handle.

According to a preferred embodiment, each dynamic image in relief, is of the hologram type.

Advantageously, the intermediate portion is such that its longitudinal section, situated in the vertical plane containing the ridge, comprises a lower elementary section which is delimited by a downwardly convex arc, the curvature of said arc being such that its lower point I_ does not belong to the plane P defined by the free end of each of the hairs.

In addition, the angle between said inclined plane faces is preferably 45 °.

Advantageously, the head has a convex upper face. In addition, the anterior end portion preferably comprises a neck connecting said head to the intermediate portion, said neck being narrower than said head and intermediate portion.

In addition, the edge has a curvature with convexity facing upwards.

Finally, the bristles are preferably flexible medium or flexible.

Brief description of the figures

Other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description of an alternative embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a view of the longitudinal profile of the toothbrush of Figure 1 with a cross section of the intermediate portion of the handle;

- Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section of the toothbrush of the preceding figures;

FIG. 4 is a view from above of the toothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the lateral profile of the toothbrush of FIG. 1;

- Figures 6A and 6B illustrate the toothbrush, seen in profile, during its oscillations.

Best way to realize the technical invention

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the toothbrush 1 according to the invention comprises a handle 2 consisting of three parts having distinct characteristics, namely an anterior end portion 21, an intermediate portion 22 and a posterior end portion 23 . The anterior end portion 21 constitutes the head 3 of the toothbrush 1 which carries its bristles 4, commonly called bristles, extending perpendicularly downwards from the lower surface 3a of the head 3 (see FIG. said lower surface 3a being generally flat as in the case of standard toothbrushes.

This head 3 further comprises an upper face 3b convex so as to conform to the inside of the cheek of the user to reduce the pressure exerted on it by said cheek to limit the crushing of the bristles 4 and the friction and therefore of favor the oscillating movements of the head 3 on the teeth.

Furthermore, the anterior end portion 21 also comprises a neck 5 connecting said head 3 to the intermediate portion 22. Said neck 5 is advantageously narrower than the head 3 and intermediate portion 22 of the toothbrush 1 to reach more easily molars and premolars of the user.

The intermediate portion 22 of the toothbrush 1 is the essential part of it in that its shape facilitates the oscillating movements of the toothbrush 1, as will be explained below. More particularly, the intermediate portion 22 of the toothbrush 1 preferably comprises an upper element generally of dihedral shape, consisting of two inclined faces 22a, 22b intersecting along an upper edge 22c (see Figure 2). .

In other words, this upper part has an elementary cross-section having an overall inverted V shape, that is to say having its point directed upwards.

The term "bottom" refers to the direction in which the bristles 4 of the toothbrush 1 extend and "high" in the opposite direction.

It is well understood that said inclined faces 22a, 22b are preferably flat. However, they may be non-planar and be, for example, at least partly curved, curved or crenellated, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The angle between said inclined flat faces 22a, 22b is preferably equal to 45 °, to allow brushing of the teeth at the gums by small movements by positioning, instantly and naturally when gripping the handle in the commissures inter -phalangeal of the hand, the bristles of the brush 1 at the level of the gingival groove at an angle of 45 ° relative to the outer surface of the teeth in accordance with one of the steps of STILLMANN method previously described. Said positioning is always retained regardless of the grip of the toothbrush 1: the palm or the pen, or the type of the user: male or female, left or right handed, child or adult, seeing or not, young or old.

The cross section of the intermediate portion 22 is variable along the length of the handle from a minimum value at both ends to a maximum value in the middle portion. The edge 22c of the dihedron is thus gradually connected to the anterior portion 21 and posterior 23 of the handle. The cross section of the intermediate portion 22 also includes a lower elementary portion which is delimited by a downwardly convex arc 22d. This arc defines a convex surface extending along the intermediate portion 22. The arc 22d may be an arc of a circle centered on the vertex or on the edge 22c, that is to say that its radius of curvature may be equal to the width of the inclined plane faces 22a, 22b or even the radius of curvature may be slightly different from such an arc (see Figure 2).

According to an advantageous embodiment, the intermediate and posterior end portions 22 have their entire length, on the one hand, an upper part having an elementary cross-section in the overall form of inverted V and, on the other hand, a lower elementary part delimited by a convexly curved arc facing downwards.

In addition, to allow a perfect adaptation of the handle 2 of the toothbrush 1 to the morphology of the user's hand, the edge 22c of the dihedral preferably has a curvature with convexity facing upwards (see FIG. ).

Furthermore, the longitudinal section of the intermediate portion 22, located in the vertical plane containing the edge 22c, also comprises a lower elementary section which is delimited by a bow 22e convexity facing downwards. The curvature of said arc 22e is such that its lower point I_ is situated above or below the plane P defined by the free end of each of the bristles 4 (see FIG. 3). With this configuration, when a user tries to put the toothbrush 1 according to the invention on a flat surface, the bristles 4 towards the latter, the toothbrush 1 turns to bear against one of the flat inclined faces 22a, 22b. Indeed, this configuration makes a bearing on the free end of a portion of the bristles 4 and the fully unstable point I_, since said point I_ does not belong to said plane P (see FIG. 3).

This feature prevents any bacterial contact contamination of the bristles 3 of the toothbrush 1 on a flat surface and contributes to the proper brushing of the teeth avoiding any unwanted bacterial transmission within the mouth of the user.

According to an essential characteristic of the present invention, each of the inclined plane faces 22a, 22b comprises indicating means able to indicate the direction in which the handle 2 must be oscillated in according to a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, said indication means are at least one dynamic relief image 6, advantageously of the hologram type, comprising patterns and / or characters which become animated visually and / or change in appearance according to the inclination of the handle 2 of the toothbrush 1, according to the invention, to encourage its user to perform a cleaning of the lateral faces of the teeth by oscillation of the head 3 of said brush 1.

Thus, to effect a cleaning of the lateral faces of the teeth by oscillation of the head 3 of the brush 1, the user grasps the handle 2 in his right hand, for example, in accordance with FIGS. 6A, 6B, that is to say by placing, on the one hand, the edge 22c of the intermediate portion 22 of said handle 2 in the distal interphalangeal space of its indexes, major, annular and auricular and, on the other hand, the lower part of the surface convex 22d of said intermediate portion 22 resting on his thumb.

Then, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 6A, 6B, the user can, if he so desires, perform simultaneous movements in the opposite direction of his fingers, in order to cause oscillations of the handle 2, his index, major, annular and auricular alternately receiving the two inclined plane faces 22a, 22b of the intermediate portion 22, while its thumb always in contact with the convex surface 22d, rolls the brush 1. This reciprocating movement of the handle oscillations 2 of the toothbrush 1 allows a scan of the bristles 4 of the gum to the tooth avoiding twisting of the wrist of the user, which is difficult to memorize by young users and hardly applicable in the elderly.

In order to encourage the user to perform these oscillations, the patterns and / or characters of the dynamic images in relief 6 covering the inclined plane faces 22a, 22b of the handle 2 will become animated visually and / or change their appearance to indicate to the user of the toothbrush 1 according to the invention the direction in which it must oscillate the handle 2 to perform optimal brushing teeth, said user being positioned in front of a mirror allowing him to see said inclined plane faces 22a, 22b of the handle 2.

Thus, when the handle 2 is in the position shown in FIG. 6A, the dynamic relief image 6 covering the inclined plane face 22a will be modified to reveal, for example, an arrow pointing towards the thumb, not shown on the Figures, to encourage the user to oscillate the handle 2 to bring it in the position shown in Figure 6B. Once, the handle 2 in the latter position, said arrow will change appearance to orient the index and encourage the user to oscillate the handle 2 to bring it to the position shown in Figure 6A.

Thus, by looking in the mirror dynamic images in relief 6 covering the inclined plane faces 22a, 22b of the handle 2, the user will be encouraged visually or even playfully to produce oscillations of the toothbrush 1 to perform Proper brushing of your teeth for the application of the recommended brushing techniques.

According to a complementary feature of the present invention, the posterior end portion 23 is advantageously curved upwards, so as to prevent slipping of the toothbrush 1 between the fingers, during this oscillation movement.

It is also understood that the bristles 4 of the toothbrush 1 according to the invention will preferably be medium or flexible flexibility to promote oscillations of said brush 1 and prevent gum injury by friction.

Finally, each of the inclined plane faces 22a, 22b may receive educational, playful or advertising representations, and / or at least one code with at least two dimensions of the flashcode, QR code or similar type referring, for example, to a website presenting the modified STILLMANN method.

Possibility of industrial application

It is well understood that the toothbrush 1 according to the invention is particularly applicable to brushing the teeth of a human.

Finally, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this toothbrush 1; it embraces, on the contrary, all variants of implementation and application respecting the same principle.

Claims

1 - Brush (1) with teeth comprising a handle (2) comprising successively, from front to rear, an anterior portion (21) constituting a head (3) carrying, on its lower face (3a), bristles (4) extending downwardly, an intermediate portion (22) and a posterior portion (23), said intermediate portion (22) having a cross-section comprising an upper V-shaped upper overall section having at least two faces inclined (22a, 22b) intersecting along an upper edge (22c) and a lower elemental section delimited by a downwardly convex arc (22d) characterized in that each of the inclined plane faces (22a, 22b) includes indicating means for indicating the direction in which the handle (2) is to be oscillated according to its angular orientation, said indicating means being at least one hologram (6) having at least one pattern and / or character apt to s' animate visually and / or change appearance according to the inclination of the handle (2).

2 - toothbrush (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate portion (22) is such that its longitudinal section, located in the vertical plane containing the ridge (22c), comprises a lower elementary section which is delimited by an arc (22e) with convexity facing downwards, the curvature of said arc (22e) being such that its lower point I_ does not belong to the plane P defined by the free end of each of the bristles (3). 3 - toothbrush (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle between said inclined plane faces (22a, 22b) is equal to 45 °. 4 - toothbrush (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the head (3) has a domed upper face (3b).

5 - toothbrush (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the anterior end portion (21) comprises a neck (5) connecting said head (3) to the intermediate portion (22), said neck (5) being narrower than said head (3) and intermediate portion (22).

6 - toothbrush (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the edge (22c) has a curvature convexity facing upwards.

7 - toothbrush (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bristles (4) are flexible medium or flexible.