JPH03237902A - Electronic toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain stable electric connection with molded resin and to stably obtain electrons generating adjacent to brush hair by providing orifices on a resin plate on the part where the first and second molded resin, diode and the high polymer film contact with each other. CONSTITUTION:In this electronic tooth brush, diode 9 having a rectification on the orifice 7 of the resin lid 8 is inserted to contact it on the upper plane electrolyte 12 of high polymer film 4 on the orifice part 10 provided on the resin plane 5. Moreover, a molded resin plated with conducting metal to contact with the resin lid 8, allowing it to contact with the upper plane electrolyte 12 of the high polymer film 4. Then the molded resin 16 plated with conducting metal is inserted into the orifice 15 of the handle 3 near the grip portion 1 to contact with the lower plane electrolyte 13 of the high polymer film 4 and to contact with the diode 9. The diode 9 contacts with the same place of the upper plane electrolyte 12. Since the high polymer film effectively expands and shrink in accordance with the bending of the grip when using this tooth brush, high voltage, namely many electrons are generated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention Object of the Invention; (Industrial Application Field) This invention effectively decomposes dental plaque using electrons generated from a piezoelectric polymer film embedded and sealed in the handle of a toothbrush. It is related to an electronic toothbrush that removes the toothbrush.

(Prior Art) Electronic toothbrushes with built-in batteries have been known as toothbrushes that effectively decompose and remove dental plaque using generated electrons in addition to the usual brushing effect. There is also an electronic toothbrush that uses a piezoelectric element placed in the handle of the toothbrush and a diode that has a rectifying effect to effectively generate electrons.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) The former type of toothbrush has high parts costs such as batteries, so it is expensive overall. Furthermore, batteries have a limited lifespan, making their management complicated. The latter type of toothbrush has problems such as a small amount of electrons generated, and the reality is that it has not yet reached a practical level.

This invention makes the toothbrush using the conventional piezoelectric element and diode configured to output electrons more effectively, ensures sealing of the piezoelectric element and diode from water, and facilitates mass production. The purpose of this invention is to specifically solve the problems of the high cost and short life of the conventional toothbrushes with a built-in battery.

Structure of the Invention: (Means for Solving the Problems) This invention relates to an electronic toothbrush, and the above object of the invention is to embed a long and narrow resin plate in a handle to which a polymer film having a piezoelectric effect is bonded. , a first metal-plated molded resin is placed in contact with one electrode of the polymer film near the brush bristles, and a second metal-plated molded resin is brought into contact with the other electrode of the polymer film. At the same time, the first and second molded resins, the diode and the polymer film are placed in contact with the diode and disposed near the gripping portion, the polymer film and the diode are sealed in the handle, and the first and second molded resins, the diode and the polymer film are This is achieved by providing a structure in which a hole is provided in the resin plate at the portion where the two contact with each other.

Here, the basic structure of the electronic toothbrush of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

(1) A long and narrow resin plate 5 to which a polymer film 4 having a piezoelectric effect is adhered is placed in the part of the handle 3 between the gripping part 1 and the brush bristles 2, and a resin M8 is provided with holes 6.7 at the front and rear. Embed it inside the handle 3. The upper and lower surfaces of the polymer film 4 are electrodes 12 and 13, respectively.

(2) Diode 9 having a rectifying effect in the hole 7 of the resin M8
is inserted and brought into contact with the upper surface electrode 12 of the polymer film 4 in the hole 10 provided in the resin plate 5.

(3) A conductive metal-plated molded resin 14 is inserted into the hole 6 near the brush bristles 2 and adhered to the resin lid 8, and the upper surface electrode of the polymer film 4 is formed at the hole 11 of the resin plate 5. 1
2. In addition, a molded resin 16 plated with a conductive metal is inserted into the hole 15 of the handle 3 near the grasping part 1, and the lower surface electrode 13 of the polymer film 4 is inserted into the hole 10 of the resin plate 5.
and also the diode 9. The diode 9 is also in contact with the top type vi12 at the same location. As a result, the polymer film 4 and the diode 9 are sealed.

By having the structures (1) to (3) above, the above-mentioned object of the present invention is achieved.

(Function) The electronic toothbrush of the present invention selectively generates only a negative potential near the bristles of the toothbrush by rectifying the voltage generated by electric polarization during expansion and contraction of a polymer film having a piezoelectric effect. It provides the effective structure necessary to achieve this goal.

FIG. 2 explains the principle of electricity generation in the polymer film 4 having a piezoelectric effect. Polymer film 4
is polarized in the direction perpendicular to the film surface, when the polymer film 4 expands and contracts in the film surface direction, the electrodes 12 and 13 on the upper and lower surfaces
Charges of different polarity are induced in the In that case, the electrode 12
A diode 9 is connected between and 13, and the voltage 8i1
If the direction of the electrode 12 from 3 is the forward direction, the electrode 1
When a negative potential, that is, a negative charge is induced in the electrode 3, a current instantaneously flows in the direction of the electrode 12 having a positive potential, and the potential of a different polarity disappears instantaneously. This means that the negative charge induced in the electrode 13 disappears instantaneously through the diode 9. Conversely, when negative charges are induced in the electrode 12, no current flows through the electrode 13 because the diode 9 is not in the forward direction, and the negative charges do not disappear in a short time. The negative potential generated on the electrode 12 is higher than in the case without the diode 9, and although a positive potential is hardly generated, even if it is generated, it remains at a very low level. In other words, almost only negative charges are generated on the electrode 12.

This invention shows a method of making more effective use of the above principle in an actual toothbrush. This will be explained with reference to the electronic toothbrush having the basic configuration shown in FIG. When brushing teeth, force is always applied to the brush bristles 2, so the handle 3 bends so that the surface on the bristles 2 side becomes convex. When the elongated resin plate 5 embedded and sealed in the handle 3 bends in accordance with this bending direction, the polymer film 4 having a piezoelectric effect stretches, and a negative potential is induced in the special electric 8i12. When the polymer film 4 is polarized, a negative charge is induced in the molded resin 14 in contact with the electrode 12. The negative charge passes from the molded resin 14 near the brush bristles 2, through water such as saliva in the human mouth, through the teeth 5 gums and the human body, and through the molded resin 16 near the grip III from the hand to the polymer film having a piezoelectric effect. 4 reaches the positive potential electrode 13 and disappears. When the toothbrush handle 3 bends in the opposite direction due to reaction, the resin plate 5 also bends in the opposite direction, and the polymer film 4 having a piezoelectric effect contracts and generates a negative potential on the electrode 13, but when it comes into contact with the electrode 13, Current instantly flows from the molded resin 16 to the electrode 8i12 through the forward direction of the diode 9, instantly canceling out the positive potential generated at the electrode 12, and almost no positive potential appears on the molded resin 14 that is in contact with the electrode 12. . Therefore, negative charges, that is, electrons, are supplied to the vicinity of the brush bristles 2.

By the way, tooth decay is a disease in which the hard, non-sulfurous material of teeth is destroyed by bacteria that produce acid in the mouth. Certain types of bacteria in the mouth multiply and spread to the tooth surface, covering the entire tooth surface. This is dental plaque. Furthermore, proteins and inorganic salts in saliva are deposited, bacteria adhere in layers, and plaque becomes thicker. Dental plaque is the deposited and calcified material, and its main component is calcium phosphate. In addition, dental plaque is formed when dental plaque digs into the gingival margin or subgingival margin, causing inflammation in the gingiva and periodontal ligament, and refers to a situation where this inflammation worsens. In any case, removing plaque and tartar is necessary for dental health, and simple brushing is often not sufficient.

In this invention, 1! ! Due to the presence of various negative ions, electrons generated from the piezoelectric polymer film using the fluid in the mouth, which has become conductive, undergo a reduction reaction around the teeth, and this polarization action causes the teeth to It decomposes plaque and neutralizes lactic acid, which causes cavities, through a reduction reaction.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which a polymer film 4 having a piezoelectric effect is adhered to the upper surface of an elongated resin plate 5. As shown in FIG. By doing this, the thin polymer film 4 can be handled in a stable shape, and when the elongated resin plate 5 is bent, the center part does not stretch, and the upper and lower surfaces expand and contract most. The polymer film 4 adhered to the upper surface will expand and contract efficiently.

In addition, since toothbrushes are generally handled together with water, they need to be sealed against wood, and it is necessary to extract negative charges, or electrons, generated when the polymer film 4 expands and contracts only from the vicinity of the brush bristles 2. There is. For this purpose, a resin plate 5 to which a polymer film 4 is glued is embedded in the handle 3, and a resin lid 8 is inserted.
is joined to the handle 3 and buried. A metal-plated molded resin 14 is bonded around the hole 6 of the resin M8. At this time, the protrusion of the molded resin 14 pushes the polymer film 4 into the hole 11 of the resin plate 5, and the upper surface It is in contact with the electrode 12. Thereby, the molded resin 6 in the vicinity of the brush bristles 2 not only functions as an exposed electrode but also serves to seal the buried resin plate 5. In the vicinity of the grasping part 1, the diode 9 is connected to the hole 7 of the resin M8, and the diode 9 is connected to the hole lO of the resin plate 5.
With the polymer film 4 pushed in at the position of the top electrode 1
It is in contact with 2. In addition, metal-plated molded resin 1
6, the protrusion extends from the hole 15 of the handle 3 to the hole lO of the resin plate 5.
At the position, press the polymer film 4 and attach the bottom electrode 1.
It is in contact with 3. The molded resin 16 is adhered to the grip portion 1 around the holes 7 and 15. As a result, the polymer film 4 and the diode 9 are sealed inside the handle 3.

In addition, even if the protruding portion of the metal-plated molded resin 14.16 contacts the electrode 12.13 while being pushed into the polymer film 4, deviations in shape and dimension tolerance or deformation during use occur. , stable electrical contact is always maintained. The diode 9 is directed from the molded resin 16 toward the upper electrode 12, or in the forward direction. The handle 3 and the main part between the brush bristles 2 and the gripping part 1 of the resin lid 8 are relatively thin and have approximately the same thickness, so that if the handle 3 is bent during use, the buried elongated resin will be removed. The upper and lower sides of the plate 5 expand and contract oppositely to each other with the center of its thickness as a boundary, and the polymer film 4 bonded to the top surface expands and contracts efficiently, making it possible to induce a large voltage.

FIG. 3 is an external view of an embodiment of this invention, in which the brush bristles 2
A molded resin 14 is bonded to the resin lid 8 and exposed near the resin lid 8 . Is the molded resin 16 exposed to the grasping part 1?
It is divided into two parts. In order to adhere to both the upper and lower surfaces of the grasping part 1 to form a sealed structure, a metal-plated molded resin 16 is used.
It is necessary to divide it into two parts, upper and lower. The two upper and lower parts are fixed and contacted at the connecting part 17.

Next, an embodiment partially modified from the above embodiment will be described. It is also possible to use a long and narrow resin plate in which the resin plate 5 and the resin lid 8 shown in FIG. Needless to say, it will be on the side. When force is applied to the brush bristles 2 and the handle 3 is bent, the polymer film shrinks, so that the polarity of the polymer film is opposite to that of the polymer film. Of course, the hole 11 in FIG. 1 is penetrating and is shared with the hole 6, and the holes 10 and 7 are also shared.

Furthermore, a structure may be adopted in which a long and narrow resin plate integrally molded with the resin plate 5 and resin M8 shown in FIG. 1 is joined to the handle 3 from the side opposite to the brush bristles 2. In this case, as in FIG. 1, the polymer films 4 may have the same polarity. Hole IO and hole 15 are shared. Using an elongated resin plate in which the elongated resin plate 5 and resin M8 shown in FIG. 1 are integrally molded, the brush bristles 2 A molded resin plated with metal is provided near the surface of the brush bristles 2, and a diode 9 is sealed in the hole of the two brush bristles near the grip part 1, and the molded resin plated with metal 16 is exposed. The method of electrically connecting the electrodes on both sides of the molecular film is the same as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

Effects of the invention: This invention has the following effects. In other words, the protrusions of the metal-plated molded resin and the end of the diode press into the polymer film, so a stable electrical connection is always obtained due to the elasticity of the polymer film, and the other end of the diode is also elastic. A stable electrical connection with the molded resin can be obtained by applying force. As a result, electrons generated from the polymer film having a piezoelectric effect can be stably obtained from the vicinity of the brush bristles.

In addition, the metal-plated molded resin serves both the function of the exposed electrode and the sealing effect, so it requires fewer parts.
Since it can be bonded, it can be completely airtight against water. In general, the polymer film with piezoelectric effect is bonded to a long and thin resin plate, so its shape is stable, and the polymer film efficiently expands and contracts in response to the bending of the handle when using a toothbrush. A voltage, or many electrons, is generated.

Due to the above results, effective removal of dental plaque and tartar by electronic means can be achieved in addition to brushing. In addition, since electrons are always generated during brushing, there is no limit to the lifespan of a battery.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the basic structure of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining electricity generation in a polymer film having a piezoelectric effect, and FIG. 3 is an external view of an embodiment of the invention. 1... Grasping part, 2... Brush bristles, 3... Handle, 4...
...Polymer film, 5...Resin plate, 8...Resin lid, 9...Diode, 12.13...Electrode, 14.
16... Molding resin.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A long and thin resin plate to which a polymer film having a piezoelectric effect is adhered is embedded in the handle, and a first molded resin plated with metal is placed near the brush bristles in contact with one electrode of the polymer film. , bringing a metal-plated second molded resin into contact with the other electrode of the polymer film, and
disposed near the gripping portion in contact with the diode, and sealing the polymer film and the diode in the handle;
An electronic toothbrush characterized in that a hole is provided in the resin plate at a portion where the first and second molded resins, the diode and the polymer film come into contact.