JPH0965931A - Electronic ion toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an electronic ion toothbrush that does not give a user a feeling of strangeness by using a non-metallic external electrode for the head portion. [Structure] A small current is applied to the mouth through a head portion 1 on which brush bristles 3 are implanted, a grip portion 11 connected to the head portion, and external electrodes 2 and 12 provided on both the head portion and the grip portion. In the electron ion toothbrush provided with the battery part 32 for supplying, the external electrode 2 provided in the head part 1
Is made of conductive rubber, and the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber is mounted in the opening 7 formed in the head portion. Further, the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber is It is configured to include a disengagement prevention unit that prevents disengagement.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a 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 electric current, and recently, the effect of removing plaque deposits, etc. has been recognized, and in combination with cost reduction due to 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 head has been generally used. The one made of metal is used.

[0004]

In the conventional electron ion toothbrushes in which a metal electrode is used for the external electrode of the head portion, the external electrode of the head portion is placed in the mouth, and therefore the metal electrode made of the metal is used. The external electrode may give the user a feeling of strangeness, and improvement thereof has been desired.

Therefore, the present invention is an improvement of this type of electron ion toothbrush to use a non-metallic external electrode for the head section so that the user does not feel uncomfortable. is there.

[0006]

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 the electronic ion toothbrush provided with a battery unit that supplies a minute current to the mouth via the external electrode, the external electrode provided in the head unit is formed of conductive rubber, and the external electrode made of the conductive rubber is The electronic ion toothbrush is configured to be attached to an opening formed in the head portion, and further, the external electrode made of conductive rubber is provided with a removal preventing unit that prevents the external electrode from being removed from the opening.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the base portion of the head portion is in contact with the contact portion on the battery portion side, and the tip portion is made of the conductive rubber. A coil spring that is in contact with the external electrode for electrical conduction is attached, and further, a groove is formed in the conductive rubber external electrode, and by engaging the groove and the tip of the coil spring, The electronic ion toothbrush is configured to electrically connect to the external electrode and prevent the external electrode from being separated from the opening.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the conductive rubber external electrode is
The rod-shaped extending portion is integrally formed, and the extending portion is inserted into the head portion, and on the one hand, the detachment of the external electrode from the opening portion is prevented, and on the other hand, the tip of the extending portion. The part is in contact with the contact part on the battery part side to electrically connect to the external electrode.

According to the present invention, since the external electrode provided on the head portion is formed of conductive rubber, that is, it is not a metal electrode, the user does not feel uncomfortable during use. Further, the conductive rubber external electrode is also provided with a detachment preventing means for preventing detachment from the opening, so that even the rubber external electrode can withstand long-term use.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples shown in the drawings.

The electron ion toothbrush of this example is, as shown in the overall view of 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 stored in the main body case 21 and the main body case 21,
The internal block 31 is provided with a tail plug 31b, and the external electrode 12 made of a conductive plate is attached and fixed to the main body case 21.

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, which will be described in detail later, is connected to the conductive shaft 37 of the internal block 31 to achieve electrical conduction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, inside the head portion 1, a fitting portion 4 into which the tip portion 22 of the main body case 21 is inserted is communicated with the fitting portion 4 in the tip direction. A communication hole 5 is provided. A coil spring 6 is inserted into the communication hole 5 so as to be electrically connected to the external electrode 2.

The coil spring 6 has its base end abutting on the contact portion (conductive shaft 37 in this example) on the battery side, and its front end abutting the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber. Electrical continuity is achieved.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an opening, which communicates with the communication hole 5, and the external electrode 2 is attached to the opening 7.

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 is formed to have substantially the same external shape as the front side of the external electrode 12 having a relatively large area. In addition, a cavity 24 for inserting the internal block 31 is formed inside the body case 21.

The internal block 31 basically mounts the battery section 32 and the circuit board 33, and is mounted in the main body case 21. Power is supplied from the battery unit 32 to the terminals 3 provided at the front and rear ends of the circuit board 33.
6 and 36 to the external electrodes 2 and 12 via the conductive shafts 37 and 37.

Each of the terminals 36 is formed by bending a metal plate, one end thereof is fixed to the circuit board 33, and the other end of the terminal 36 presses and urges the end of the conductive shaft 37 to ensure electrical conduction. It is provided to be done. The conductive shaft 37 arranged at the rear end of the inner block 31 is press-fitted inside from the tail plug 31b.

Reference numeral 38 denotes an O-ring for waterproofing the head portion 1 and the main body case 21. Similarly, 39 is an O-ring for waterproofing the main body case 21 and the inner block 31.

External electrodes 2 installed on the head section 1
As shown in FIG. 4, is provided with a slip-out preventing unit that is formed of conductive rubber and that blocks the disengagement from the opening 7. In the case of this example, the conductive rubber is formed by adding carbon powder to a synthetic resin.

That is, in the case of this example, the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber has a groove 2a formed in the lower portion thereof.
By engaging with the tip of the coil spring 6, electrical conduction is achieved with the external electrode 2, and the external electrode 2 is prevented from being detached from the opening 7. Protrusions 2b and 2b are integrally formed in the groove 2a, and when the groove 2a and the tip of the coil spring 6 are engaged,
These projections 2b, 2b are provided so as to press against the coil spring 6 and ensure electrical conduction.

On the other hand, the external electrode 12 is formed of a conductive plate made of metal, and as described above, the main body case 21.
It is fixed to the electrode mounting portion 23.

In this specific example 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.

Then, the inner block 31 is attached to the main body case 2
Press into 1. Body case 21 and internal block 31
The rear sliding contact and the O-ring 39 ensure waterproofness of both rear portions.

Furthermore, the case tip portion 22 of the main body case 21
The conductive shaft 37 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 25 formed in. The rear end of the conductive shaft 37 contacts the terminal 36 on the front part of the circuit board,
Electrical continuity is achieved.

On the other hand, by inserting the coil spring 6 into the communicating hole 5 of the head portion 1 and further press-fitting the external electrode 2 into the opening portion 7 of the head portion 1 with the groove 2a thereof downward.
The external electrode 2 is fixedly held by the coil spring 6.
An O-ring 38 such as a rubber packing is attached to the recess of the case tip 22 of the main body case 21, and the head 1 is attached to the case tip 22. The O-ring 38 prevents the liquid from flowing into the inside and prevents the head portion 1 from coming off. By this attachment, the external electrode 2 is electrically connected to the conductive shaft 37 via the coil spring 6.

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, a separately-provided sounding / light-emitting body (not shown) emits a melody sound and blinks the LED to inform that the electrical connection is established and the toothbrush is functioning normally. By this current ion effect,
A cleaning effect such as removal of plaque is exhibited.

5 and 6 show another specific example of the present invention. In the case of this example, the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber is
A portion corresponding to the coil spring is integrally formed,
The coil spring is omitted.

That is, the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber is
The rod-shaped extending portion 2c is integrally formed, and the rod-shaped extending portion 2c plays a role of the coil spring. That is, the extended portion 2c is inserted into the communication hole 5 of the head portion 1, and the end portion of the extended portion 2c abuts on the contact portion on the battery portion side (in this example, the conductive shaft 37). Electrical conduction of the electrode 2 is achieved.

The external electrode 2 of this example has the groove 2a as in the previous example.
Instead of providing no, the hook-shaped protrusions 2d are integrally formed on the left and right of the lower part of the electrode. On the other hand, the opening 7 of the head unit 1
A groove 8 that engages with the protrusion 2d is provided on the. Therefore, since the protrusion 2d of the external electrode 2 engages with the groove 8, the detachment of the external electrode 2 from the opening 7 is prevented.
In the drawing, the groove is formed in the communication hole 5 as well because it originates from the molding of the mold when forming the head portion.

In the case of this example, the external electrode 2 is attached to the head portion 1 by inserting the extension 2c into the communication hole 5 from the opening 7 of the head portion 1. .

As described above, the electronic ion toothbrush of this example is installed on both the head portion 1 on which the brush bristles 3 are implanted, the grip portion 11 connected to the head portion, and both the head portion and the grip portion. In the electron ion toothbrush including the battery unit 32 that supplies a minute current to the mouth via the external electrodes 2 and 12, the external electrode 2 provided in the head unit is
The external electrode made of conductive rubber is attached to the opening 7 formed in the head portion, and the external electrode made of conductive rubber prevents the external electrode from being separated from the opening. In the first specific example, the base portion of the head portion is in contact with the contact portion on the battery portion side and the tip portion of the head portion is the external electrode made of the conductive rubber. A coil spring 6 for contacting and electrically conducting is attached, and further, a groove 2a is formed in the outer electrode made of conductive rubber, and by engaging the groove and the tip of the coil spring, The electronic ion toothbrush is configured to electrically connect the electrodes and prevent the external electrodes from being separated from the opening. Therefore, the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber has the lower groove 2a.
By engaging with the tip of the coil spring 6, electrical connection is achieved with the external electrode 2, and separation of the external electrode from the opening is prevented. This groove 2
The projections 2b and 2b are integrally formed on a, and the groove 2a
In the engagement between the coil spring 6 and the tip of the coil spring 6, these protrusions 2b, 2b press against the coil spring 6,
It is provided so that electrical conduction can be reliably achieved.

In the second embodiment, the rod-shaped extending portion 2c is formed integrally with the external electrode 2 made of conductive rubber, and the extending portion 2c is inserted into the head portion to In this configuration, the external electrode is prevented from being separated from the opening 7, and the tip end of the extending portion abuts on the contact portion on the battery portion side to electrically connect to the external electrode 2. Therefore, the end portion of the extending portion 2c abuts on the contact portion on the battery portion side so that the external electrode 2
Of the external electrode 2, the projection 2d of the external electrode 2 is engaged with the groove 8, and the rod-shaped extending portion 2c is inserted into the communication hole 5 of the head portion 1. The separation of the two from the opening 7 is prevented. In addition, since the rod-shaped extending portion 2c is integrally formed, the coil spring can be omitted.

[0037]

The present invention is constructed as described above, and since the external electrode provided on the head portion is formed of conductive rubber, that is, because it is not a metal electrode, it gives the user a feeling of strangeness during use. There is no.

Further, since the conductive rubber external electrode is also provided with a detachment preventing means for preventing detachment from the opening, even a rubber external electrode can withstand long-term use. It has some advantages.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electron ion toothbrush according to a specific example of the present invention, in which (a) is a partially cutaway front view and (b) is a partially broken right side view.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a head portion according to an embodiment of the present invention,
(A) is a front view, (b) is a partially broken front view,
(C) is a right side view with a part cut away.

4A and 4B are views showing an external electrode made of a conductive rubber according to a specific example of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a front view, FIG. 4B is a bottom view, FIG. 4C is a rear view, and FIG. It is a vertical right view of a figure.

5A and 5B are views showing an external electrode made of a conductive rubber according to a specific example of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a bottom view, and FIG. 5C is a left side view of FIG. .

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a head portion according to a specific example of the present invention,
(A) is a front view, (b) is a partially broken front view,
(C) is a right side view with a part cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head part 2 External electrode 2a Groove 2b Protrusion 2c Rod-shaped extension part 2d Projection line 3 Brush bristles 4 Fitting part 5 Communication hole 6 Coil spring 7 Opening part 8 Groove part 11 Grip part 12 External electrode 21 Body case 22 Case tip part 23 Electrode Mounting Part 24 Cavity Part 25 Insertion Hole 31 Inner Block 31a Block Main Body 31b Tail Plug 32 Battery Part 33 Circuit Board 36 Terminal 37 Conductive Shaft 38 O-ring 39 O-ring

Claims (3)

[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 having the above, the external electrode provided on the head portion is formed of conductive rubber, and the external electrode made of conductive rubber is attached to the opening formed in the head portion, and The electron ion toothbrush, wherein the external electrode made of conductive rubber is provided with a detachment prevention unit that prevents detachment from the opening. 2. A coil spring is mounted on the head portion, the base end portion of which is in contact with a contact portion on the battery portion side, and the tip portion of which is in contact with the external electrode made of conductive rubber, for electrical conduction. Furthermore, a groove is formed on the external electrode made of conductive rubber, and the groove and the tip of the coil spring engage with each other to electrically connect to the external electrode, and the external electrode from the opening is provided. The electron ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein detachment of the external electrode is prevented. 3. A rod-shaped extension portion is integrally formed with the conductive rubber external electrode, and the extension portion is inserted into the head portion, while the external electrode from the opening portion is inserted. 2. The electron-ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the detachment of the electron-ion toothbrush is prevented, and, on the other hand, the tip of the extending portion comes into contact with the contact portion on the battery portion side to establish electrical conduction with the external electrode. .