WO2017143382A1

WO2017143382A1 - An adaptor for oral hygiene devices

Info

Publication number: WO2017143382A1
Application number: PCT/AU2017/000048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Craig Mathew Erskine-Smith
Original assignee: Erskine Holdco Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-02-24
Filing date: 2017-02-20
Publication date: 2017-08-31

Abstract

An adaptor (16) to be attached to the shaft (12) of a power handle (10) of a motorised toothbrush. The adaptor (16) includes a body (25) providing a first cavity (26) that receives the shaft (12), and a second cavity (27) that receives the handle (19) of a dental hygiene item such as a brush (17) or floss item (18).

Description

AN ADAPTOR FOR ORAL HYGIENE DEVICES

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to dental hygiene items, and more particularly to interdental brushes, and floss items.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The vast majority of interdental brushes and floss items (usually with an integrated handle) are provided with a handle that is gripped and manipulated by a user. Interdental brushes include a handle and a brush portion, with the brush portion embedded in the handle.

[0003] Attempts have been made to power interdental brushes and floss items, so as to provide the brush or floss items with a vibration source, however the devices have met with mixed results as they are generally underpowered. Further, they do not provide the amplitude or frequency of vibration required to compensate for the flexibility and fluidity of floss and interdental brushes. Accordingly, a disadvantage of previous interdental brushes and floss items is that they are generally manually manipulated, and if powered may not be provided with enough vibration.

[0004] Also consumers may not want to purchase a separate stand alone power device (often with its own recharging base and a heavy power supply) for interdental brushes, as well as another floss items, and still further similar items or toothbrushes.

OBJECT

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] There is disclosed herein an adaptor to be mounted on a powered handle of a motorised toothbrush, the powered handle having a shaft that is to directly receive a toothbrush to drive the toothbrush, and a dental hygiene item having a handle and a portion to engage a user's teeth, the adaptor including: a first cavity to receive the shaft to fix the adaptor to the shaft so that movement of the shaft is transmitted to the adaptor; and

a second cavity to receive the dental hygiene item handle to fix the dental hygiene item to the adaptor and therefore the toothbrush handle, so that vibration of the shaft is transmitted to the dental hygiene item.

[0007] Preferably, the first cavity has a longitudinal axis, and the second cavity has a

longitudinal axis, with the axes being inclined by an acute angle.

[0008] Preferably, said angle is 10° to 30°.

[0009] Most preferably said angle is about 20°.

[0010] Preferably, said first cavity terminates with an end opening via which the shaft is inserted in said first cavity, and said second cavity has an end opening via which the dental hygiene item handle is inserted in the second cavity, with the openings facing in substantially opposite directions.

[001 1] Preferably, said adaptor has a first end portion having said first cavity with said first end portion having recesses to engage projections on the shaft to secure the adaptor to the shaft.

[0012] Preferably, the recesses extend axially relative to the axis from said first cavity, and angularly about the axis of said first cavity so that projections on said shaft are moved axially of said first cavity and then angularly to secure the shaft to the adaptor.

[0013] Preferably, the adaptor of moulded of plastics material.

[0014] Preferably, said second cavity has longitudinally extending grooves and ridges or projections that aid in securing the dental hygiene item handle to the adaptor to inhibit angular movement between the adaptor and the dental hygiene item handle.

[0015] There is further disclosed herein, in combination, the above adaptor, toothbrush handle with the shaft thereof engaged in the first cavity, and the dental hygiene item handle mounted within the second cavity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of the handle of a powered toothbrush, with an interdental brush mounted thereon by an adaptor;

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic front elevation of the handle adaptor and interdental brush of Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the toothbrush handle, adaptor and interdental brush of Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic parts exploded side elevation of the toothbrush handle, adaptor and, interdental brush of Figure 1;

[0021 ] Figure 5 is a schematic isometric parts exploded view of the toothbrush handle, adaptor and interdental brush of Figure 1 ;

[0022] Figure 6 is a schemati c front elevation of the adaptor of Figure 1 ; [0023] Figure 7 is a schematic side elevation of the adaptor of Figure 1; [0024] Figure 8 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the adaptor as shown in Figure 7; [0025] Figure 9 is a schematic bottom plan view of the adaptor as shown in Fi gure 6; [0026] Figure 10 is a schematic top elevation of the adaptor as shown in Figure 6; [0027] Figure 1 1 is a schematic bottom isometric view of the adaptor of Figure 6; [0028] Figure 12 is a further schematic bottom isometric view of the adaptor of Figure 6; [0029] Figure 13 is a first isometric view of a ring employed in the adaptor of Figure 6; [0030] Figure 14 is a further schematic isometric view of the ring of Figure 13; [0031] Figure 15 is a schematic end elevation of the ring of Figure 13; and [0032] Figure 16 is a schematic isometric view of a dental floss item.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0033] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted the powered handle 10 of a motorised toothbrush. Typically the handle 10 would include a motor that drives a vibration device so that a toothbrush attached to the handle 10 is caused to vibrate and/or oscillate.

Typically the handle 10 would also include batteries to power the motor, or would be provided with means of being connected to a power source.

[0034] The handle 10 includes a control panel 1 1, with one end of the handle 10 having a shaft 12 that engages the toothbrush. The toothbrush would be provided with a cavity, and appropriate slots, so that the toothbrush engaged the handle 12 via a "bayonet" fitting. Accordingly the shaft 12 has projecti ons 13 that were spaced angularly about the longitudinal axis 14 of the handle 10 by extending radially outward relative to the axis 14 from the external surface 15 of the shaft 12. Typically the surface 15 would be cylindrical.

[0035] Attached the shaft 12 is an adaptor 16. The adaptor 16 is intended to attach a dental hygiene item to the handle 10. The dental hygiene item 17, 18 may be an interdental brush 17 or a floss items 18 (Figure 16). Dental hygiene items, such as the brush 17 and floss items 18 would include a handle 19 providing a shaft 20 that has longitudinally extending grooves and ridges 21.

[0036] The interdental brush 17 would have a longitudinally extending brush portion 22 while the floss item 18 would have a length of dental floss 23. Accordingly, each brush or floss items 17, 18 includes a handle 19 to be gripped by a user, and a portion (brush 22, floss 23) that engages the teeth of the user.

[0037] The handle 19 of the interdental brush 17 has a longitudinal axis 24, the handle 19 of the floss item 18 also has a longitudinal axis 24. [0038] The adaptor 16 would be moulded of plastics material and would include a body 25 providing a first cavity 26 that receives the shaft 12, and a second cavity 27 that received the handle 19, including the portion 20.

[0039] The cavity 26 has a substantially central longitudinal axis 28, while the cavity 27 has a substantially central longitudinal axis 29. The axis 28 is inclined to the axis 29 by an acute angle 30. Preferably the angle 30 is between 10° and 30°, and is most preferably about 20°.

[0040] The cavity 26 extends inwardly from an end aperture 31 of the body 25 through which aperture 31 the handle 19 is inserted. The cavity 27 has an end aperture 32 in the body 25 via which the handle 19 is inserted in the cavity 27.

[0041] The aperture 31 faces in substantially the opposite direction to the aperture 32. However, most preferably the aperture 31 is in a plane that is inclined to a plane of the aperture 32 by an acute angle, such as the angle 30.

[0042] The body 25 provides a wall 33 surrounding a cavity 31. Most preferably the wall 33 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges and grooves 34 that slidably engage the ridges and grooves 21 of the handles 19 so as to securely fix each handle 19 to the adaptor 16. Preferably, there is frictional engagement between the handles 19 and the wall 33 so that vibration generated by the handle 10 is transmitted through the adaptor 16 to the dental hygiene item 17, 18. The ridges and grooves 34 at least inhibit angular movement of the adaptor 16 relative to the handle 19.

[0043] The above body 25 includes a coupling length 35 that receives and engages the shaft 12. The coupling length 35 includes a sleeve 36 terminating with a radially outwardly extending flange 37. The sleeve 36 is of a reduced diameter regarding the adjacent portion 38 of the body 25.

[0044] The length 36 has axially extending slots 39 that extend to angularly extending slots 40.

[0045] The slots 39 provide for axial movement of the projections 13, so that the projections 13 can be located adjacent the angularly extending slots 40. Thereafter, the adaptor 16 is rotated about the axis 28 relative to the handle 10, so that the projections 13 pass into the recesses 40. Preferably, the flange 37, on its inner surface, would be provided with an axially extending slot 41 and axially extending projection 42. The slot 41 and projection 42 would be provided for snap engagement with longitudinally a corresponding projection 43 on the shaft 12 so that the adaptor 16 is securely fixed to the shaft 12.

[0046] The slots 40 extend to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 36 so as terminate with an aperture.

[0047] Secured to the body 25 is a ring 44. During assembly, the ring 44 is resiliently defonned so as to pass over the flange 37 so as to snap engage past the flange 37 and so as to extend over the ends of the slots 40.

[0048] The above described preferred embodiment has a number of advantages, including enabling the handle of a powered toothbrush to be used to drive dental hygiene items beyond toothbrushes. A further advantage of the above described preferred embodiment is that the adaptor enables a variety of dental hygiene items to be attached to the toothbrush handle.

[0049] A further advantage of the above described preferred embodiment is the handle of a powered toothbrush provides substantial vibration to be applied to the dental hygiene items 17,

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An adaptor to be mounted on a powered handle of a motorised toothbrush, the powered handle having a shaft that is to directly receive a toothbrush to drive the toothbrush, and a dental hygiene item having a handle and a portion to engage a user's teeth, the adaptor including:

a first cavity to recei ve the shaft to fix the adaptor to the shaft so that movement of the shaft is transmitted to the adaptor; and

2. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the first cavity has a longitudinal axis, and the second cavity has a longitudinal axis, with the axes being inclined by an acute angle.

3. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein said angle is 10° to 30°.

4. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein said angle is about 20°.

5. The adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first cavity terminates with an end opening via which the shaft is inserted in said first cavity, and said second cavity has an end opening via which the dental hygiene item handle is inserted in the second cavity, with the openings facing in substantially opposite directions.

6. The adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said adaptor has a first end portion having said first cavity with said first end portion having recesses to engage projections on the shaft to secure the adaptor to the shaft.

7. The adaptor of claim 6, wherein the recesses extend axially relative to the axis from said first cavity, and angularly about the axis of said first cavity so that projections on said shaft are moved axially of said first cavity and then angularly to secure the shaft to the adaptor.

8. The adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adaptor of moulded of plastics material.

9. The adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said second cavity has longitudinally extending grooves and ridges or projections that aid in securing the dental hygiene item handle to the adaptor to inhibit angular movement between the adaptor and the dental hygiene item handle.

10. In combination, the adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 9, toothbrush handle with the shaft thereof engaged in the first cavity, and the dental hygiene item handle mounted within the second cavity.