JPH0479908A - Electric rolling tooth brush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To possess advantages of an electric rolling brush and also enable brushing by scrub and bath methods by providing a drive mechanism whereby rotary power of a motor is converted to reciprocating rotation and the latter is transmitted to a head portion and reciprocating/rotating the head portion at a predetermined rotational angle and speed. CONSTITUTION:When the user inserts a head portion 10 into a grabbing portion 12 and turns on a switch knob 66, power is supplied from a battery 29 to a motor 30, so that the head portion 10 reciprocates/rotates and also an intermediate cylindrical portion 28b and a support shaft 34 as conductive parts are charged in respective polarities. When a grabbing portion 12 is held by the hand and the intermediate cylindrical portion 28b is touched by the same hand and a brush bristle 14 of the head portion is inserted into the mouth, so that brushing is made, the brush bristle 14 and a communication hole 18 of the head portion are wetted with such as saliva. Consequently, an electric circuit of power supply, hand, body, teeth, brush bristle 14, saliva etc. liquid, the support shaft 34, and power supply, in this order is constituted. Sordes etc. on teeth can thus be easily removed from the teeth surfaces.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush, and more particularly to an electric rolling toothbrush whose head portion or grip portion is separable and is rotated reciprocally.

[Prior Art] According to an announcement by the World Health Organization, most people over the age of 40 suffer from periodontal disease. This may be due to the strong belief that daily tooth brushing is a boring and troublesome task, and people are not learning the correct way to brush their teeth and are not brushing all their teeth properly, or are not brushing for enough time. This is due to being present.

Currently, the most effective way to remove dental plaque, both theoretically and practically, is to
The best tooth brushing method for preventing periodontal disease is the so-called scrub method or lotus method. In this tooth brushing method, the bristles are applied perpendicularly to the tooth surface or to the boundary between the teeth, and the bristles are moved approximately reciprocatingly in short strokes of about a few millimeters. The disadvantages of this tooth brushing method are that it is difficult for the average person to carry out, it is time consuming, the hand and arm that holds the toothbrush gets tired, and there is little sense of accomplishment from brushing the teeth, so if one is not careful, The reciprocating stroke becomes large, which can cause damage to the tooth root and gums, leading to wedge-shaped defects, gingival recession, and hypersensitivity.

Therefore, in recent years, so-called electric toothbrushes that use electric motors to perform brushing work have become commercially available, and proposals have been made to enable the above-mentioned bath method and scrub method to be performed simply by placing the brush bristles on the teeth. ing. Conventional examples include JP-A-57-166108 and JP-A-5
8-69505, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-105709, Japanese Patent Publication No. 42-27372, etc.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in these conventional or commercially available electric toothbrushes, although the reciprocating stroke of the brush bristles matches the Hass method, it still does not satisfy the sense of accomplishment, and It does not meet the needs of general consumers who are amateurs about polishing methods, and since it converts the rotational power of the motor into approximately reciprocating motion in the axial direction of the head, it has a complicated structure and is expensive. However, since the head part reciprocates in the axial direction, there is a risk that the tip of the head part may collide with teeth, etc. when moving the head part in the oral cavity. Yes, it is unpleasant. This is particularly noticeable when the reciprocating speed is increased to satisfy the above sense of accomplishment.

On the other hand, there are conventional electric low-link toothbrushes that swing the bristles by reciprocating the head body around its axis (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-4
No. 0807, JP-A No. 57-69806). Compared to axially reciprocating toothbrushes, this low-link toothbrush prevents the head from colliding with teeth, etc., and the bristles move a lot, giving the user a sense of accomplishment when brushing. It has the advantage of being simple in structure, making little noise, and being energy efficient because the flange bristles can be sufficiently swung even with a minute rotation of the head. However, because the amount of movement of the brush bristles is generally large in an arc shape, it is not possible to perform the above-mentioned scrub method or bath method of tooth brushing, and it is difficult to brush the teeth at the border between teeth and gums or on uneven or microscopic areas of molar teeth. cannot be expected to have a plaque removal effect.

The present invention has been made to eliminate the drawbacks of conventional electric toothbrushes that reciprocate in the axial direction, and its purpose is to have the advantages of the electric low-link toothbrush described above,
To provide an electric low-link toothbrush which is also capable of scrubbing and lotus flushing.

[Means to solve the problem] The present invention aims to achieve such an objective.

a gripping portion having a motor; a head portion removably connected to the gripping portion and having brush bristles or flocked thereon; and a drive mechanism that converts the rotational power of the motor into reciprocating rotational motion and transmits it to the head portion. This is an electric rolling toothbrush that is configured to have a head portion that can be rotated reciprocally at a predetermined rotation angle and speed.

[Function] Originally, the most effective way to remove plaque is to apply the brush bristles to the area where plaque is present and vibrate the brush bristles without making any violent movements. The scrub method and Hass method mentioned above, in which brush bristles are applied perpendicularly to the tooth surface and reciprocated horizontally in short strokes of a few millimeters, are proposed on the premise that manual polishing is to be performed. This is because it is extremely difficult to perform vertical polishing or rolling polishing of several millimeters by hand. That is, the present invention has an electric tooth flange that does not require manual polishing, and has the effect of being able to apply vibrations of several millimeters without causing the flange bristles to vibrate, and there is no need to limit the direction of the vibration. This is what we focused on.

When the electric low-link toothbrush with the above structure is held approximately horizontally and operated, the bristles exhibit a so-called rolling behavior, which is effective for brushing the surfaces of teeth, etc., and gives the user a sense of accomplishment when brushing. I can do something to satisfy you.

If the rotation angle of the reciprocating rotation of the head section is set to a relatively small value or is selected in a switchable manner, the brush bristles exhibit a movement similar to a linear reciprocating motion with a short stroke talk. Therefore, by holding the hydrogen brush almost vertically and operating it, the brush bristles exhibit horizontal reciprocating motion with short strokes, allowing the brush bristles to reach minute areas without damaging the gums or causing the brush bristles to move wildly. It is possible to achieve brushing similar to the scrub method and the lotus method.Also, for gaps that exist above and below the interdental area, even when the flange is held approximately horizontally, the tips of the brush bristles can be This exhibits a substantially vertical reciprocating motion with a short stroke, and serves as a so-called scrub method or lotus method of brushing, and can effectively remove dental plaque in the gaps.

[Example] The present invention will be explained below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the electric low-link toothbrush of the present invention, and in particular, this embodiment is a toothbrush that also has the functions of a so-called electronic toothbrush.

First, this toothbrush is mainly composed of a head portion 10 and a gripping portion 12, and the head portion 10 is configured to be detachable from the gripping portion 12. The head portion 10 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, and has brush bristles 14 on its head.
From the base of the bristles to the vicinity of the root base of the bristles 14, the supporting shaft support (to be described later) has an insertion hole 16 as a structure.
or is formed. Reference numeral 18 denotes a communication hole as a part of a liquid path that forms a conductive path using liquid as a medium, and this communication hole 18 communicates with the head surface 19 near the root base of the bristle 14 and the inside of the insertion hole 16. It has become so. The proximal end side of the head portion IO is formed into a bifurcated shape, thereby forming a head-side locking portion 20 . The head-side locking portion 20 has a shape complementary to a grip-side locking portion to be described later, and has a pair of recesses 22 . Note that the reference numeral 26 is a slit.

On the other hand, the gripping portion 12 mainly includes an outer cylinder 28 consisting of three cylinders, a motor 30 housed in the outer cylinder 28, a battery 29 as a power source for the motor 30, and a reciprocating rotational movement of the motor 30. A power exchange/drive mechanism 32 (see FIG. 4.5) that converts into rotational motion, a support shaft 34 that is made of a conductive material and protrudes from the grip 12,
It is composed of In this embodiment, a rechargeable battery 29 is used, and a coil (secondary coil) 31 for charging the battery 29 is housed in the base end of the outer cylinder 28.
When the grip part 12 is inserted and placed on the mounting table 33, it faces the primary coil 35 in the mounting table 33.

The outer cylinder 28 is configured by connecting a base end cylinder part 28a, an intermediate cylinder part 28b, and a distal cylinder part 28c.

The intermediate cylindrical portion 28b is made of a conductive material, or
It is formed by coating the front and back surfaces of a synthetic resin cylinder with conductive metal, and functions as a conductive part that is touched by the user. The tip tube portion 28c is attached to the intermediate tube portion 28b so as to be rotatable within a certain range around the axis. 27 in Figure 4
is the 0 ring.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotational power of the motor 30 is first transferred to the pinion 36 in the power conversion/drive mechanism 32.
and is transmitted to the intermediate gear 38, which is rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 40 fixed to the support member 39. The fixed shaft 40 is attached to the distal end surface of the intermediate gear 38.
An eccentric protrusion 63 is provided to protrude eccentrically from the base. This eccentric protrusion 63 engages with the elongated hole 46 of the swinging member 44, and the swinging member 44 has a portion thereof at the distal end cylindrical portion 28c of the outer cylinder 28.
It is fitted onto a support shaft 34 that extends inward.

The support shaft 34 is rotatably supported by a support member 48 within a tip protrusion 41 that is integral with the tip cylinder portion 28 and protrudes in the tip direction at an eccentric position (see FIG. 3). 30 causes the intermediate gear 38 to rotate, and the eccentric protrusion 63 to rotate eccentrically around the fixed shaft 40. As a result, the eccentric protrusion 63 swings the swinging member 44 while slightly sliding in the elongated hole 46 of the swinging member 44, thereby causing the support shaft 34 to swing.
makes a reciprocating rotational motion at a predetermined rotation angle. Reference numeral 47 is a reinforcing portion integrally formed on the swinging member 44 so as to straddle the elongated hole 46, and the reinforcing portion 47 when receiving the swinging force from the eccentric protrusion 63 Deformation of the moving member 44 is prevented, and noise due to this deformation is prevented.

The support shaft 34 protrudes from the opening of the tip cylindrical portion 28c of the outer cylinder 28, and the protruding portion has a grip portion having a shape corresponding to the head-side locking portion 20 of the head portion 10, as shown in FIG. A side locking portion 55 is also formed. This gripping part side locking part 55 has a protrusion 56 that fits into the forked part of the head side locking part 20, and this protrusion 56 has a projection 56 that fits into the forked part of the head side locking part 20.
A convex portion 57 for matching is also integrally formed.

Note that reference numeral 59 is an O-ring interposed between the locking portion 55 and the end surface of the tip protrusion 41.

As described above, the tip tube portion 28c is rotatable relative to the intermediate tube portion 28b, and the support shaft 34 supported by the tip tube portion and the fixed shaft 40 of the intermediate gear 38 supported by the intermediate tube portion are It is offset from the center of rotation of the tip tube portion relative to the intermediate tube portion. Therefore, as the tip tube portion rotates, the distance from the center of the support shaft 34, that is, the center of swing of the swing member 44, to the fixed shaft 40 of the intermediate gear 38 and the eccentric protrusion 63 that rotates eccentrically around the fixed shaft 40 increases. fluctuate. Therefore, the fifth to seventh
As shown in FIG.
If the rotation angle of c is 0 degrees, then the pivot shaft reciprocating rotation angle is 15 degrees in this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, the tip tube part 2
When 8c is rotated by 60 degrees, the eccentric protrusion 63 is moved closer to the support shaft 3.
4, the pivot shaft reciprocating rotation angle becomes large, for example, 17 degrees. As shown in Fig. 7, the tip tube part 28c is
Similarly, if the spindle is rotated by 2 degrees, the reciprocating rotation angle of the support shaft is, for example, 2 degrees.
1 degree.

As shown in FIG. 8, the locking pieces 81 of the intermediate cylinder part 28b are connected to the circumferential locking groove 80 of the tip cylinder part 28c at several places in the circumferential direction (
4 locations) are provided and these are locked to each other to connect the two cylindrical portions. In addition, in this embodiment, in order to position the rotational position of the tip tube portion 28c at four locations with a sense of moderation, the fifth
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9, four retainers 82 are arranged in the circumferential direction on the support member 39, and the engaging protrusions 83 that elastically and moderately engage with the retaining grooves 82 are attached to the distal end cylindrical portion 28c. It is formed on the inner periphery. Further, as a rotation stopper, a projection 84 is formed on the inner periphery of the tip tube part, and a pair of protrusions 85 that come into contact with the projection 84 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction on the support member 39, so that the tip tube portion 28c can rotate. The range of movement is restricted (see Figure 4.5.7).

As for how to use the tooth flange of this embodiment, when brushing the surfaces of teeth that are easy to reach with the tips of the bristles, the rolling angle, that is, the movable cover of the tips of the brush bristles, is set to be large, for example, 21 degrees, and when brushing the surfaces of teeth that are easy to reach with the tips of the bristles, When brushing around the gum line, the rolling angle, i.e. the amount of movement of the brush bristles, should be small, for example 15 degrees, and the scrub method,
A mode similar to the bus method may be used.

In this embodiment, the head portion can be rolled at a desired angle within a range from a small angle to a large angle simply by rotating the tip tube portion. In particular, in this embodiment, the rolling angle is made variable without using, for example, switching of an electric circuit based on the operation of a switch or switching of a cam mechanism based on forward and reverse rotation of the motor, so the structure is extremely simple, and the structure is extremely simple. This has the unique effect of achieving reliability of operation and reduction of manufacturing costs.

FIG. 1O shows, in this embodiment, an electric current that performs the function of charging the battery 29 and the function of conducting electricity to the support shaft 34 and the intermediate cylindrical portion 28b in order to make the water bladder brush function as an electronic toothbrush. One embodiment of the circuit is shown.

As shown in FIG. 10, a diode D1.
By connecting D, S and capacitor C as shown in the figure, a so-called half-wave voltage doubler rectifier circuit is constructed, and its output terminal is connected to the appropriate electrode of a rechargeable battery 29.29.
It is configured to be able to charge a battery 29.29. The negative electrodes of the batteries 29 connected in series are connected to one terminal 30A of the motor 30 via a switch S, and
It is connected to the spindle 34 of the toothbrush.

The other terminal 30B of the motor 30 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 29. Further, the positive electrode of the battery 29 is connected to the intermediate cylinder portion 28b of the outer cylinder of the toothbrush. In addition, by increasing the number of switches and inserting a resistor between the motor and battery,
By turning on and off the connection of the resistor with a switch, it is also possible to change the rolling speed of the head section. Here, the rolling speed is approximately 3. OOOrpm ~ approx. 4.
The preferred speed is 500 rpm and the stroke is in the range of about 10 degrees to about 30 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 9, the connecting fitting 68 connected to the positive electrode of the battery has a substantially U-shape and extends toward the tip. It is elastically pressed against the inner surface. Since the intermediate cylindrical portion 28b is coated with a conductive metal, it is positively charged. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9, the support shaft 34 is pressed into contact with the support shaft 34 at its proximal end surface by the first connecting fitting 70 or the coil spring 72. has been done. The first connecting fitting 70 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery via a second connecting fitting 71 bent into a substantially U-shape. Note that the polarity of the support shaft 34 and the intermediate cylindrical portion 28b may be reversed to that described above, or may be variable between forward and reverse directions using a changeover switch. Further, the switch has a built-in magnet 67 inside the switch knob 66, as shown in FIG. 4, for example.
By operating the switch off, the leet switch 65 is turned to O.
N, should I configure a non-contact switch to turn it off?

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the end surface of the first connecting fitting 70 has a substantially arc-shaped or substantially umbrella-shaped shape so as to maintain constant contact even when the support shaft 34 moves as the tip tube portion 28c rotates. is formed. The end face has sufficient rigidity so as not to be easily deformed, and its central portion is biased toward the tip by the coil spring 72 to ensure electrical contact between the end face and the support shaft 34. .

Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an electric low-link tooth flange and an electronic toothbrush. That is, when the user attaches the head section 10 to the grip section 12 and turns on the switch off 66, the power is supplied from the battery 29 or the motor 3.
While the head portion 10 rotates reciprocatingly, the intermediate cylinder portion 28b and the support shaft 34, which are conductive portions, are charged with different polarities. When the user grips the hand holding portion 12, touches the intermediate tube portion 28b, and inserts the brush bristles 14 of the head portion lo into the mouth for flushing, the brush bristles 14 and the communication holes of the head portion 1o are removed by saliva or the like. 18 or so wet.

As a result, an electrical circuit is constructed: power supply → hand → body → teeth → flange bristles 14 → liquid such as saliva → support shaft 34 → power supply, and this generates a flow of electrons and effectively removes plaque from the tooth surface. It can be made easier to remove.

In the above embodiments, an example of an electric toothbrush that also serves as an electronic toothbrush has been shown, but the present invention also includes the case of an electric toothbrush that is an ordinary toothbrush that does not have the function of an electronic toothbrush.

[Effect] As explained above, according to the present invention, by reciprocating the head portion at a predetermined rotation stroke and speed, it is possible to give the user a sense of accomplishment in brushing, and also to brush all parts of the oral cavity. It is possible to effectively remove dental plaque from the toothbrush, and achieve the energy efficiency, simple structure, and noise reduction that electric low-link toothbrushes have.

In particular, by setting the rotational stroke relatively small, the brush bristles move in a manner similar to linear reciprocating motion with small strokes. Therefore, for example, if this toothbrush is held approximately vertically, the flanged bristles will move in horizontal micro-stroke reciprocating motions. This has the extremely excellent effect of achieving the so-called lotus method and suffrag method.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an embodiment of the electric tooth flange according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view with the tooth portion separated, and Fig. 3
The figure is a sectional view taken along line B-m in FIG. 1, and FIG.
7 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the same when rotated by 90 degrees, Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ of Fig. 4, and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the same as shown in Fig. 5. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 1, and is an electric circuit diagram of the same embodiment. 10...Head part 12...Gripping part 14...Brush bristles 28b...Tip tube part 28c...Intermediate tube part 30...Motor 32...Power conversion mechanism 34...Spindle 44... Swinging member 46...-Elongated hole 63... Eccentric protrusion

Claims (1)

[Claims] a gripping portion having a motor; a head portion removably connected to the gripping portion and having brush bristles implanted therein; and a drive mechanism that converts rotational power of the motor into reciprocating rotational motion and transmits the same to the head portion. An electric rolling toothbrush comprising: a head portion configured to reciprocate and rotate at a predetermined rotation angle and speed.