JPH09351A - Electronic ion toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A simple assembling work is possible, and a waterproof structure is ensured to ensure the continuity of the external electrodes, preventing the assembly members, especially the tail plug part from coming off. To provide an electronic ion toothbrush that can be manufactured at low cost. [Structure] A small current flows into the mouth via a head portion 1 on which brush bristles 3 are implanted, a grip portion 11 connected to the head portion 1, and external electrodes 2 and 12 installed on both the head portion 1 and the grip portion 11. In the electronic ion toothbrush including the battery unit 32 for supplying the electric power, the holding unit 11 is fixed to the main body case 21, the inner block 31 having the tail plug 31b housed in the main body case, and fixed to the main body case 21. And an outer electrode 12 formed of a conductive plate, the conductive plate having a bent portion 15 at a rear end thereof, and the bent portion engages with the inner block 31 to electrically connect the plate. An electron-ion toothbrush that conducts electricity and prevents the inner block 31 from coming off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of an electronic ion toothbrush which produces a current ion effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an electronic ion toothbrush is inserted into the mouth through a head portion in which brush bristles are implanted, a grip portion connected to the head portion, and external electrodes provided on both the head portion and the grip portion. It is configured with a battery unit that supplies a minute current, and in recent years, it has been recognized that the effect of removing plaque deposits can be removed, but at the same time, it is possible to reduce the price by technological innovation. , Has been widely used.

In this type of electronic ion toothbrush, it is extremely important that sufficient electrical conduction be achieved in order to improve the effect of removing deposits such as plaque. Therefore, conventionally, in general, the external electrode of the gripping portion is generally used. The contactable area of is taken large.

[0004]

In this respect, in the conventional electronic ion toothbrush, the resin cap-shaped gripping portion is plated with conductive resin. Since the battery portion is installed inside the grip portion, the resin plating is also applied to the inside so that the resin plating on the outside is conducted. The resin plating has a high cost. Therefore, since the resin plating is applied to a wide area inside and outside as described above, there is a disadvantage that the high cost is reflected in the price of the product.

In addition, the cap-shaped gripping portion is often prevented only from coming off by frictional resistance utilizing packing, and since the toothbrush is reciprocally moved during use, the seal portion is easily damaged. The liquid often invaded into the interior, causing problems.

Therefore, the present invention improves the electronic ion toothbrush of this kind to allow a simple assembling work, and at the same time, to ensure the conduction of the external electrodes while ensuring a waterproof structure, and particularly the assembling member, especially the tail. Prevents the stopper from coming off,
Nevertheless, it proposes an electronic ion toothbrush that can be manufactured at low cost.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a head portion in which brush bristles are planted, a grip portion connected to the head portion, and the head portion and the grip portion are installed. In an electronic ion toothbrush including a battery unit that supplies a minute current to the mouth via the external electrode, the gripping unit includes a main body case, and an internal block having a tail plug, which is housed in the main body case. An outer electrode made of a conductive plate fixed to the main body case, the conductive plate having a bent portion formed at a rear end thereof, and the bent portion. Is an electron ion toothbrush having a structure for engaging with the inner block to electrically connect the plate and preventing the inner block from coming off.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the internal block is provided with a slit for inserting the bent portion of the conductive plate near the tail plug. There, the slit faces a conductive shaft that is electrically connected to the battery part, the conductive plate divides the bent portion into two pieces, and the divided two pieces are inserted into the slits of the internal block. The electronic ion toothbrush has a structure in which the plate is electrically conducted by sandwiching the conductive shaft, and the plate is engaged with the rear portion of the main body case to prevent the internal block from coming off.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a toothbrush having a waterproof structure can be obtained by enabling a simple assembling work, and further, a simple work of mounting the external electrode made of a conductive plate on the main body case. Thus, the bent portion formed at the rear end portion of the external electrode engages with the inner block to electrically connect the plate and prevent the inner block from coming off. You can do it at the same time. Furthermore, since an inexpensive metal plate can be used for the external electrode, even if the conductive plate is made relatively large and large, the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional case.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

The electron ion toothbrush of the present embodiment is, as shown in the overall view in FIGS. 1 and 2, roughly, a head portion 1 on which brush bristles 3 are planted, and a grip portion connected to the head portion 1. 11, an external electrode 2, 12 installed on both the head portion 1 and the grip portion 11, and a battery portion for supplying a minute current to the mouth via the external electrodes 2 and 12 on both sides. It is an ion toothbrush. Then, like the well-known electronic ion toothbrush, when the grip portion 11 is gripped and the head portion 1 is put in the mouth, the number 1 is passed through the body fluid of the user.
A current of 00 μA flows into the mouth during brushing. This current ion effect exerts a cleaning effect such as removal of plaque.

Further, in this embodiment, the gripping portion 11
Is a body case 21 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), an inner block 31 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) with a tail plug 31b housed in the body case 21, and fixed to the body case 21. And an external electrode 12 formed of a conductive plate.

Each section will be described below.

The head portion 1 has brush hairs 3 on one surface side of the tip.
Are planted and the external electrodes 2 are installed on the same surface of the rear part of the brush bristles 3. The external electrode 2 is connected to a conductive shaft 37, which will be described later, of the internal block 31 so that electrical conduction is achieved.

Further, inside the head portion 1, there are provided a fitting portion 4 into which the tip portion 22 of the main body case 21 is inserted, and a communication hole 5 communicating from the fitting portion 4 in the tip direction. . A coil spring 6 is inserted into the communication hole 5 so as to be electrically connected to the external electrode 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body case 21 is provided with an electrode mounting portion 23 for mounting the above-mentioned external electrode 12 on the front side. The electrode mounting portion 23
Are formed to be approximately equal to the external shape on the front side of the external electrode 12 having a relatively large area, and an insertion groove 23a for inserting the tip of the external electrode 12 is provided on the tip side. Furthermore, on the rear end side of the electrode mounting portion 23,
Rear end wall portion 23b for locking the rear end portion of the external electrode 12
Is provided. Between these rear end wall portions 23b,
A concave portion 23c for inserting a bent portion 15 of the external electrode 12 which will be described later is formed.

A cavity 24 for inserting the internal block 31 is formed inside the body case 21. Incidentally, 25 is a circuit board 33 of the internal block 31.
Is a groove for mounting the distal end portion thereof, and 26 is a hole for inserting the conductive shaft 37.

As described above, since the tip portion 22 of the body case 21 is inserted into the fitting portion 4 of the head portion 1,
In order to ensure the coupled state, a bulged portion 22a is formed on the outer side of the tip portion 22 to prevent the bulging portion 22a from coming off. Further, in order to enhance the waterproof function, a waterproof seal is provided between the fitting portion 4 and the tip portion 22.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner block 31 basically mounts the battery section 32 and the circuit board 33, and is mounted in the main body case 21.
In this embodiment, the battery unit 32 is provided inside the block body 31a.
Is provided in conduction with a conduction plate 34, and further on the tip side,
A sounding body 35a and a light emitting body 35b which emit a melody sound and blink an LED at the time of use are installed.

Power is supplied from the battery section 32 to the external electrodes 2 and 12 via terminals 36 and 36 provided at the front and rear ends of the circuit board 33 via the conductive shafts 37 and 37. . Each of the terminals 36 is formed by bending a metal plate and has one end fixed to the circuit board 33 and the other end fixed to the conductive shaft 3.
The end of 7 is pressed and urged so that electrical continuity is ensured. The conductive shaft 37 arranged at the rear end of the inner block 31 is press-fitted inside from the tail plug 31b.

Further, the inner block 31 is provided with the above-mentioned tail plug 31b, and when the block main body 31a is mounted in the cavity portion 24 of the main body case 21, the tail plug 31b is attached.
The b is in close contact with the rear edge of the main body case 21 so that the liquid does not enter the inside. Reference numeral 38 is an O-ring for waterproofing the main body case 21 and the inner block 31.

Further, in the vicinity of the tail plug 31b, there is provided a slit 39 for inserting the bent portion 15 of the conductive plate forming the external electrode 12 described later. This slit 39 is
It is provided so as to face a conductive shaft 37 that is electrically connected to the battery portion 32.

The external electrode 2 installed in the head portion 1 fixedly holds a coil spring 6 inserted in the communication hole 5, and the coil spring 6 is a hole 26 for inserting the conductive shaft of the main body case 21. Is connected to the front end of the conductive shaft 37 disposed at, and the rear end of the conductive shaft 37 is connected to the terminal 36. The coil spring 6 ensures electrical connection between the external electrode 2 and the conductive shaft 37.

The external electrode 12 is formed of a metal conductive plate and is fixed to the electrode mounting portion 23 of the main body case 21 as described above. The plate body 13 of the external electrode 12 is provided with a bent hook-shaped portion 14 at its tip. The hook portion 14 is inserted into the insertion groove 23a of the main body case 21 and locked.

Further, a bent portion 15 formed by bending is provided at the rear end portion. The bent portion 15 engages with the inner block 31 to electrically connect the plate and to prevent the inner block 31 from coming off. In the present embodiment, the bent portion 15 is as follows. It is configured.

That is, the bent portion 15 is divided into two pieces by forming a notch vertical groove 15b in the center, and the divided two pieces (the divided pieces 15a and 15a) are inserted into the slits 39 of the inner block 31. To do. A notched arc-shaped groove 15c is formed at an appropriate position of the notched vertical groove 15b, and when the bent portion 15 is inserted into the slit 39, the notched arc-shaped groove 15c holds the conductive shaft 37. As a result, electrical conduction of the plate is achieved. In addition, the plate body 13
As described above, since the rear end portion is locked to the rear end wall portion 23b of the body case 21, the bent portion 15 prevents the inner block 31 from coming off.

In the present embodiment constructed as described above, the procedure for assembling each part will be described below.

The battery section 32 and the circuit board 33 are mounted on the inner block 31, and the conductive shaft 37 is press-fitted into the inside from the tail plug 31b. The tip of the conductive shaft 37 is connected to the terminal 36 at the rear of the circuit board.
, And electrical conduction is achieved.

The inner block 31 is attached to the main body case 2
Press into 1. At this time, the tip of the circuit board 33 is fitted into the groove 25 for mounting the board. The main body case 21 and the inner block 31 are waterproof at the rear portions thereof by the sliding contact at the rear portions and the O-ring 38.

Further, the case tip portion 22 of the main body case 21
The conductive shaft 37 is press-fitted into the hole 26 formed in the. The rear end of the conductive shaft 37 comes into contact with the terminal 36 on the front part of the circuit board to establish electrical conduction.

The coil spring 6 is fixedly held by inserting the coil spring 6 into the communication hole 5 of the head portion 1 and press-fitting the substantially U-shaped external electrode 2. An O-ring 3 such as a rubber packing is provided in the recess of the case tip 22 of the main body case 21.
8 is attached, and the head portion 1 is attached to the case front end portion 22. The O-ring 38 prevents the liquid from flowing into the inside and prevents the head portion 1 from coming off. By this mounting, the external electrode 2 is electrically connected to the conductive shaft 37 via the coil spring 6.

Next, the external electrode 12 is attached to the main body case 21.
It is attached to the electrode mounting portion 23 of. In the plate body 13 of the external electrode 12, the hook-shaped portion 14 at the tip is inserted into the insertion groove 23a of the body case 21 and locked, and the bent portion 15 is further formed.
It is inserted into the recess 23 c of the main body case 21 and the slit 39 of the inner block 31. The bent portion 15 has a notched arc-shaped groove 1
The conductive shaft 37 is sandwiched by 5c, so that electrical conduction of the plate is achieved. And the plate body 13
Has its rear end locked to the rear end wall 23b of the main body case 21. As a result, the bent portion 15 prevents the inner block 31 from coming off.

When the grip 11 is gripped, the external electrode 1
Since 2 has a comparatively large area, the user's hand can hold the external electrode 12 with the plate body 1 regardless of how they are gripped.
When the head portion 1 is further put in the mouth, the other external electrode 2 conducts in the mouth, and a current of several 100 μA flows through the body fluid of the user into the mouth while brushing teeth. Then, the sounding / light-emitting body 35 emits a melody sound and blinks the LED to inform that the electrical continuity is achieved and the toothbrush is functioning normally. Due to this current ion effect, a cleaning effect such as removal of dental plaque is exhibited.

As described above, the electron ion toothbrush according to the present embodiment has the head portion on which the brush bristles are planted, the grip portion connected to the head portion, and the external electrodes provided on both the head portion and the grip portion. In an electronic ion toothbrush provided with a battery unit for supplying a minute current to the mouth via the grip, the gripping unit includes a main body case, an internal block with a tail plug housed in the main body case, and the main body case. Since it is configured to include the fixed external electrodes made of a conductive plate, a simple assembly operation is possible, and a toothbrush considering a waterproof structure is obtained. In addition, the bending part formed at the rear end of the external electrode is engaged with the internal block by a simple operation of mounting the external electrode made of a conductive plate on the main body case, and the electric Conduction is achieved, and furthermore, the separation of the internal block can be prevented instantly. Furthermore, since an inexpensive metal plate is used as the external electrode, even if the conductive plate is made to have a relatively large area and the size is increased, the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional case.

[0035]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, a simple assembling operation is possible and a toothbrush considering a waterproof structure is obtained.

Further, the bent portion formed at the rear end portion of the external electrode is engaged with the internal block by a simple work of mounting the external electrode made of a conductive plate on the main body case, and The electrical continuity is achieved.

In addition, it is possible to prevent the inner block from coming off at the same time as assembling.

Further, since an inexpensive metal plate can be used as the external electrode, the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional case even if the conductive plate is enlarged to have a relatively large area.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform a simple assembling work, to ensure the conduction of the external electrodes while ensuring the waterproof structure, and to prevent the assembly member, especially the tail plug portion from coming off. It is possible to obtain an electron ion toothbrush which is designed and can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an electron ion toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a front view and (b) is a right side view.

2A and 2B are views showing an electron ion toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a partially cutaway front view and FIG. 2B is a partially broken right side view.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a main body case according to an embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is a front view, (b) is a right side view, and (c) is a bottom view.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a main body case according to the embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is a partially broken front view and (b) is a partially broken right side view.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an internal block according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right side view, and (c) is a bottom view.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal block according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a partially cutaway front view, and (b) is a partially cutaway right side view.

7A and 7B are diagrams showing a conduction plate as an external electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7A is a front view, FIG. 7B is a right side view,
(C) is a bottom view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head part 2 External electrode 3 Brush bristles 4 Fitting part 5 Communication hole 6 Coil spring 11 Grip part 12 External electrode 13 Plate body 14 Hook-shaped part 15 Bent part 15a Divided piece 15b Notched vertical groove 15c Notched arc-shaped groove 21 Main body Case 22 Front end 22a Swelling 23 Electrode mounting 23a Insertion groove 23b Rear end wall 23c Recess 24 Cavity 25 Board mounting groove 26 Conductive shaft insertion hole 31 Inner block 31a Block body 31b Tail plug 32 Battery Part 33 Circuit board 34 Conductive plate 35a Sounding body 35b Light emitting body 36 Terminal 37 Conductive shaft 38 O-ring 39 Slit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kiminori Atsumi 2607-1 Fudoinno, Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture Sangi Central Research Institute

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A battery unit for supplying a minute current to the mouth via a head unit with brushed bristles, a grip unit connected to the head unit, and external electrodes provided on both the head unit and the grip unit. In the electronic ion toothbrush including, the gripping portion includes a main body case, an internal block having a tail plug that is housed in the main body case, and an external electrode that is fixed to the main body case and includes a conductive plate. , The conductive plate has a bent portion formed by bending at a rear end thereof, and the bent portion engages with the inner block to electrically connect the plate. And an electronic ion toothbrush for preventing the internal block from coming off. 2. The inner block includes a slit for inserting a bent portion of the conductive plate near the tail plug, the slit facing a conductive shaft conducting to the battery unit. Then, the conductive plate divides the bent portion into two pieces, and inserts the divided two pieces into the slits of the internal block to sandwich the conductive shaft, whereby electrical conduction of the plate is achieved. , Engaging with the rear part of the main body case,
The electron ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the detachment of the inner block is prevented.