JP2004057534A - Ultrasonic toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable removal of a head body of a toothbrush without using tools, or the like, and also to enable stable fitting without loosing or rattling, wherein the head body with the brush at the end of the handle is replaceably fixed. <P>SOLUTION: Bristle area of a brush 12 of a head element 10 is provided at a protruding piece 2 at the end of a handle 1 and at the end of the head element 10 attached therein, and a pressing means 21 comprising a press-fixing projection 25 of the protruding piece 2 is provided on a confronting surface of the protruding piece 2 and the head element 10 in the opposite side to the brush 12, which enable the highly efficient transfer of energy given out from untrasonic waves of a piezoelectric vibrator 5 from the brush 12 to the buccal cavity. Also, a stopping means 22 from which engaging projections 26 and 27 are oppositely protruded by extending in the transverse direction of the protruding piece 2 and at the base end of the head element 10 is provided, which facilitates stable installation by cooperating with the pressing means 21 at the end as well as attachment and detachment of the head element 10 with a small force without using tools. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic toothbrush in which a brush can be replaced by a head having a brush being detachably attached to a tip of a handle. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic toothbrush which can be attached in a state where ultrasonic vibrations of a vibrator can be efficiently transmitted to a brush, and in which the head can be attached and detached by hand, and particularly detachable without using tools.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the brush is worn, replacing only the brush portion with a new one without discarding the entire toothbrush is advantageous in terms of waste reduction, resource saving, economy, and the like. In particular, in a power-driven toothbrush that applies ultrasonic vibration or mechanical vibration to a brush, the brush part is replaceable because the ultrasonic transmitter and electric motor and their control circuits and transmission mechanism are built into the handle. The benefits of doing so are huge.
[0003]
On the other hand, in the case where the brush portion is replaceable, especially in the case of an ultrasonic toothbrush, it is necessary to prevent the energy transmission efficiency from being reduced due to the gap between the head attachment portions. A head body mounting structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-509151.
[0004]
The ultrasonic toothbrush disclosed in the above publication has a protrusion 101 having a flat bottom surface 103 and a tapered upper surface 104 at the tip of a handle 101 as shown in FIG. Is formed on the head 107 provided on one surface to form a cavity 109 having a flat bottom surface 110 and a tapered upper surface 111, and is engaged with a groove 106 provided at a base end of the upper surface 104 of the protruding piece 102. The tongue 112 is provided at the entrance end of the cavity 109 on the upper surface 111. A piezoelectric vibrator 113 is embedded in the protruding piece 102, and the piezoelectric vibrator 113 performs ultrasonic vibration by a voltage applied by an ultrasonic transmitter built in the handle 101.
[0005]
When the protruding piece 102 is fitted into the cavity 109, the head body 107 is fitted while the cavity 109 is expanded by making the upper surface 104 of the protruding piece 102 larger in taper angle than the upper surface 111 of the cavity 109. The bottom surface 110 on the wall side on which the brush 108 is provided is in close contact with the bottom surface 103 of the protruding piece 102 and the two tapered upper surfaces 104 and 111 are in close contact with each other, and the tongue 112 is engaged with the groove 106. 8 (B).
[0006]
The fact that the two bottom surfaces 103 and 110 and the two upper surfaces 104 and 111 are in close contact with each other has the effect of increasing the transmission efficiency of ultrasonic energy generated by ultrasonic vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator 113 into the oral cavity, The engagement between the groove 106 and the tongue 112 serves to prevent the head 107 from loosening and rattling, and furthermore, to prevent the head 107 from coming off the protruding piece 102.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the head 107 thus attached is pulled out from the protruding piece 102 and removed, the head 107 cannot be pulled out by hand and can be pulled out using a specially prepared special tool or the tip of the handle 101. An easy-to-access tool such as a screwdriver having a wedge function must be inserted into a gap 114 between the brush 107 and the base end of the wall provided with the brush 108 to push the head 107 in the pulling-out direction and remove the tongue 112 from the groove 106. For this reason, the removal of the head 107 is not only troublesome, but when using tools around us, there is a danger of damaging the fingers of the hand holding the handle 101 or the head 107, or depending on the direction of the force applied to the tool. There is a concern that the protrusion 102 may be broken.
[0008]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, when the present invention replaces a brush part with a new one, it is necessary to use tools to remove the brush part that is firmly attached so as not to cause looseness and rattling. The brush portion is stably and firmly attached without loosening or rattling of the brush portion, particularly in a state where the portion where the piezoelectric vibrator is buried is in close contact with the brush flocking region without any gap. It is an object of the present invention to be able to be detached by direct force of a hand without using.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A head having an open hollow at the base end and having a brush on one surface is detachably attached by fitting the hollow to a protruding piece provided at the tip of the handle and embedding the piezoelectric vibrator Accordingly, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem of having an ultrasonic toothbrush having a replaceable brush portion, the present invention extends the head to a tubular portion without a brush at the base end side of the flocked area of the brush. And a brush in the front end area of one surface, a protruding piece having a piezoelectric vibrator buried in a tip portion facing the brush flocking area, and facing a wall on which the brush of the head is planted. It is provided on either the inner surface of the back wall or the outer surface facing the back wall of the protruding piece, and presses the inner surface portion of the brush flocked wall of the brush flocked wall and the outer surface portion of the protruding piece facing the same to each other. The first means is provided with a pressing means comprising a projection acting to cause the protrusion and a retaining means provided opposite to each base end of the head body and the protruding piece and engaging with each other to function as a retaining means. did.
[0010]
When the hollow body is fitted to the protruding piece and the head is attached, the pressing means on the tip side makes the brush flocking area inner surface part of the head and the outer surface of the piezoelectric vibrator embedded part of the protruding piece adhere to each other, The pressing means and the retaining means on the base end side can be attached in a stable state without loosening or rattling. At the time of removal, the handle and the head are pulled in a direction in which the handle and the head are separated from each other, whereby the engagement of the retaining means is released, and the handle and the head can be easily removed by direct force of the hand without using tools.
[0011]
Further, the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned one having the pressing means and the retaining means, further includes the inner surface of the two side walls and the protruding piece facing each other between the brush flocked wall of the head and the edge of the back wall. A second anti-sway means provided in at least one distal region of the outer surface facing the surface and comprising a projection pressed against the facing surface to prevent lateral movement of the head. Means.
[0012]
The anti-lateral shake means cooperates with the pressing means to more stably and firmly attach the head body, and particularly when applied to an ultrasonic toothbrush combined with mechanical vibration by a rotating electric motor, looseness caused by mechanical vibration is reduced. The rattling is reliably prevented.
[0013]
Further, the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned one provided with the pressing means and the retaining means, further comprises auxiliary retaining means which are provided opposite to the front end regions of the back wall and the protruding piece and engage with each other to function as retaining means. That is, the third means was provided.
[0014]
The auxiliary retaining means cooperates with the retaining means on the base end side to stably hold the head on the protruding piece, and does not make removal by hand force difficult.
[0015]
Still further, the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above-mentioned one provided with the pressing means and the retaining means, the fourth means is provided with the anti-vibration means in the second means and the auxiliary retaining means in the third means. did.
[0016]
According to the fourth means, an ultrasonic toothbrush having all of the above-mentioned respective features of the first, second, and third means is provided.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment in which a toothbrush performs toothbrushing by using or selectively using ultrasonic vibration by a piezoelectric vibrator and mechanical vibration by a rotary electric motor. FIG. The handle 1 of the toothbrush is a hollow molded article of a hard synthetic resin and includes a base handle 1A and a tip handle 1B, which are separably connected by fitting. The power source can be obtained from a commercial power source of a general household. In the present embodiment, a rechargeable battery 3 is used. An electronic control circuit board 4 for transmitting ultrasonic waves and controlling a motor drive current and a rotary motor 6 are held together with a battery 3 in a holder 8 made of a hard synthetic resin and housed in the handle 1.
[0018]
The tip handle 1B has an elongated hollow rectangular rod-shaped protruding piece 2 integrally formed at the tip thereof, and a piezoelectric vibrator 5 composed of a thin and thin plate-shaped piezoelectric element is embedded at the tip of the protruding piece 2. . A weight acting as an eccentric load 7 is attached to the output shaft of the rotary motor 6.
[0019]
On the other hand, a head 10 having an elongated rectangular rod shape having a hollow portion 11 opened at a base end and having a brush 12 having a large number of bristle bundles implanted at a distal end portion of one wall is formed as a hollow portion 11. It is attached to the tip of the handle 1 by being detachably fitted to the protruding piece 2.
[0020]
The head body 10 is formed by a brush flocking wall 10A provided with a brush 12 and a back wall 10B opposed thereto, two side walls 10C facing each other between these edges, and a tip wall 10D closing a tip surface, and The brush 12 has such a length that the base end is outside the oral cavity when the brush 12 is inserted into the deepest part of the oral cavity, that is, the position where the back teeth are polished. Further, the tubular portion extending to the base end side of the brush flocked region and having no brush 12 is thin.
[0021]
The protruding piece 2 is formed by a first wall 2A, a second wall 2B, and two third walls 2C facing the brush flocked wall 10A, the back wall 10B, and the two side walls 10C of the head 10, and the hollow portion 11 is completely fitted. When mounted, the base end surface of the head 10 has a length substantially in contact with a step 1C that transitions from the tip handle 1B to the projecting piece 2.
[0022]
Further, the two third walls 2C of the protruding piece 2 and the two side walls 10C of the head 10 extend in parallel from the distal end toward the proximal end, respectively, and expand so that the interval between them gradually increases at the proximal end. Have been. Further, the first wall 2A and the second wall 2B of the protruding piece 2 and the brush flocked wall 10A and the back wall 10B of the head 10 extend from the distal end to the proximal end while slightly increasing the distance from each other. The end portions are widened so that the interval between them is suddenly increased. Then, when the hollow portion 11 is fitted to the protruding piece 2, the head body 10 has a very slight distance from the distal end to the proximal end between the protruding piece 2 on the inner surface side of the back wall 10B and the two side walls 10C. Although it has a gap, it is designed to be attached to the handle 1 at the base end with a gap larger than the entire inner circumference. The brush flocking wall 10A is in close contact with the first wall 2A at least in the brush flocking region.
[0023]
When a voltage is applied to the electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator 5 buried at the tip of the protruding piece 2, distortion occurs in the thickness direction due to electric polarization, and ultrasonic acceleration energy generated by the ultrasonic vibration due to the distortion causes acceleration energy in the oral cavity. It is widely known to propagate and remove plaque and dirt substances and perform gingival massage. The energy transmission efficiency depends on the presence or absence of a gap between the piezoelectric vibrator 5, the first wall 2A, and the brush flocked wall 10A. Affected.
[0024]
When the rotary motor 6 is operated, the rotary motor 6 vibrates due to the eccentric load 7, and the vibration is transmitted from the holder 8 to the handle 1, the head 10, and causes them to perform three-dimensional mechanical vibration. It is also widely known that plaque removal and gingival massage are performed by the brush 12 without moving the hand, and the transmission efficiency of mechanical vibration depends on whether there is looseness or rattling between the protruding piece 2 and the head 10. Affected.
[0025]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a trapezoidal projection 25 is formed at the tip of the inner surface 10b of the back wall 10B facing the second wall 2B so as to protrude from the back wall 10B. In addition, rib-like extending laterally is provided at the base end of each of the outer surfaces 2a and 2b of the first wall 2A and the second wall 2B and each of the inner surfaces 10a and 10b of the brush flocking wall 10A and the back wall 10B. The engagement projections 26 and 27 are formed to protrude from the respective walls. Further, rib-like projections 28 extending in the front-rear direction are formed at the respective front ends of the outer surfaces 2c facing the side walls 10C of the two third walls 2C so as to protrude from the third wall 2C.
[0026]
The projection 25 is inclined so that the width gradually increases from the base end to the tip, and becomes higher. When the head body 10 is attached to the protruding piece 2, the protrusion 25 is located at the tip of the second wall 2B and the back wall 10B. It acts to push and widen the gap and thus press the inner surface 10a of the brush flocking wall 10A in the brush flocking region against the outer surface 2a of the first wall 2A. That is, the trapezoidal projection 25 in the present embodiment constitutes the pressing means 21 of the present invention, and has an advantage of increasing the transmission efficiency of the energy generated by the piezoelectric vibrator 5.
[0027]
When the head 10 is attached to the projecting piece 2, the engaging projection 26 of the projecting piece 2 and the engaging projection 27 of the head 10 are engaged with each other, and these prevent the head 10 from coming off. Work like that. That is, the engagement projections 26 and 27 of the undercut structure in the present embodiment constitute the retaining means 22 of the present invention, and the pressing body 21 on the distal end side and the retaining means 22 on the proximal end form the head body 10. Looseness and rattling are prevented. In the present embodiment, the gap between the projecting piece 2 and the head 10 is slightly larger at the base end than at the tip side, and the base end face projects when the head 10 is attached and detached. The shape is designed so as not to collide with the engagement protrusion 26 of the piece 2.
[0028]
Further, when the head 10 is attached to the protruding piece 2, the projection 28 is pressed against the inner surface 10c of the two side walls 10C to prevent the head body 10 from moving in the lateral direction due to the gap between the third wall 2C and the side wall 10C. Work to do. That is, the projection 28 in the present embodiment constitutes the anti-vibration means 23 of the present invention, and cooperates with the pressing means 21 to more stably and firmly protrude the tip portion of the head 10 on which the brush 12 is provided. By fixing to the piece 2, the energy transmission efficiency of the ultrasonic vibration and the prevention of loosening and rattling can be further improved.
[0029]
According to the present embodiment in which the shapes of the walls 2A, 2B, 2C of the projecting piece 2 and the walls 10A, 10B, 10C of the head body 10 and the gap relationship between them are as described above, the projecting piece 2 is hollow. When the fitting is started without fitting or resistance when the portion 11 is fitted, the protrusion 28 comes into contact with the inner surface 10c of the region where the two side walls 10C are parallel to each other. Has a slight resistance since it is a rib extending in the front-rear direction. When the projection 25 comes into contact with the inner surface 10b of the back wall 10B at the end of the fitting process, the resistance gradually increases, and the mounting is completed when the engagement projections 26, 27 that provide the maximum resistance have passed over each other. The gap between the projecting piece 2 and the head body 10 at the base end portion is large, and each wall on the base end side from the brush flocked region of the head body 10 is thin, so that the engagement protrusion 26 is formed. , 27 are not so large, and there is no fear that they will be worn even if they are repeatedly disengaged. When the head body 10 is detached, the base end of the head body 10 is formed in a thin cylindrical shape and easily deformed, so that the head body 10 can be easily extracted only by first pulling. In addition, since the projection 25 of the pressing means 21 is provided on the head body 10 which is a consumable product, the projection 25 may be repeatedly worn and removed and worn.
[0030]
As described above, the ultrasonic toothbrush according to the present embodiment, in which the head body 10 can be attached and detached without using tools only by applying a small force at the end of attachment and at the beginning of detachment, is not limited to adults, Since the child can be attached and detached, it is not limited to the one that is replaced when the brush 12 is worn out, but the family 10 in which the head 10 is individualized and the handle 1 is attached and detached each time each person uses the handle 1 as a common piece. Particularly suitable are those of the type. In addition, since the head 10 has a length such that the proximal end is outside the oral cavity, the distal end of the handle 1 does not enter the oral cavity, thus preventing infection between families. The effect in can be expected.
[0031]
5 and 6 are views showing different embodiments of the present invention, in which a trapezoidal projection 29 protrudes from the second wall 2B at the tip of the outer surface 2b of the second wall 2B of the projecting piece 2. Is formed. The protrusion 29 is inclined so that the width gradually increases from the distal end to the proximal end, and becomes higher. When the head 10 is attached to the protruding piece 2, the distal end of the second wall 2B and the back wall 10B is formed. The inner surface 10a in the brush flocked area of the brush flocked wall 10A is pressed against the outer surface 2a of the first wall 2A to press and compress the gap. That is, the trapezoidal projection 29 in the present embodiment constitutes the pressing means 21 of the present invention.
[0032]
At the highest part of the projection 29, a rib-like engagement projection 30 extending in the lateral direction is projected, and an engagement groove 31 that opens to the inner surface 10b and extends in the lateral direction is provided at the tip of the back wall 10B. I have. When the head body 10 is attached to the protruding piece 2, the engagement protrusion 30 and the engagement groove 31 engage with each other by the engagement protrusion 30 being fitted into the engagement groove 31, and the head body 10 comes out. The engagement projections 30 and the engagement grooves 31 of the undercut structure in the present embodiment constitute the auxiliary retaining means 24 of the present invention.
[0033]
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is also provided with a stopper means 22 composed of engaging projections 26 and 27 and a lateral run-out preventing means 23 composed of a projection 28 similar to those of the previous embodiment. The retaining means 24 cooperates with the retaining means 22 to stably hold the head 10 on the projecting piece 2. Since the two retaining means 22 and 24 have an undercut structure composed of a combination of protrusions and grooves extending in the lateral direction, they can be engaged and disengaged without requiring a particularly large force.
[0034]
The auxiliary retaining means 24 may be composed of the same two engaging projections as the retaining means 22, but in this embodiment, the engaging projection 30 is provided on the projection 29 which is the pressing means 21. In the embodiment, the engaging groove 31 shown in FIG. 5 or the engaging groove holes 32 and 33 as shown in FIGS. It is preferable to combine them. In particular, the U-shaped engagement slot 33 shown in FIG. 7B has an advantage that the back wall 10B is deformed to facilitate the engagement of the engagement projection 30.
[0035]
Further, the projections 25 and 29 constituting the pressing means 21 are not limited to the trapezoidal shape, but may be a single or a plurality of parallel ribs extending in the front-rear direction.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the head having the brush can be easily attached and detached by hand without using tools, particularly easily detachable, and can be stably formed without loosening or rattling. In addition, the power-driven toothbrush has a high energy transmission efficiency of vibration and can provide an excellent tooth brushing effect without causing loosening or rattling due to vibration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional partial view of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of FIG. 2;
4A is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial plan views showing still another embodiment of the present invention.
8A is an exploded vertical cross-sectional partial view of a conventional example, and FIG. 8B is a vertical cross-sectional partial view of an assembled state.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 handle, 2 projecting pieces, 2a, 2b, 2c outer surface, 10 heads, 10A brush flocking wall, 10B back wall, 10C side wall, 10a, 10b, 10c inner surface, 11 hollow portion, 12 brush, 21 pressing means, 22 means for retaining, 23 sideways preventing means, 24 auxiliary retaining means,

Claims (12)

A head having an open hollow portion at the base end and having a brush on one surface is detachably attached by fitting the hollow portion to a protruding piece provided at the tip of the handle and embedding a piezoelectric vibrator. In the ultrasonic toothbrush which made the brush part replaceable by being done,
The head extends a tubular portion without a brush at the base end side of the brush flocking region, and has the brush in the distal region on one surface, and the protruding piece is the brush flocking. It is assumed that the piezoelectric vibrator is buried in a tip portion facing the region,
And an inner surface portion of the brush flocked wall provided on one of an inner surface of a back wall facing the wall on which the brush of the head is planted and an outer surface of the protruding piece facing the back wall, in a brush flocked region of the brush flocked wall And a pressing means comprising a projection that works to press the outer surface portion of the protruding piece facing this and the other against each other,
A retaining means which is provided opposite to each base end of the head and the projecting piece, and which engages with each other and serves as a retaining;
An ultrasonic toothbrush comprising: In addition to the pressing means and the retaining means in the ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 1,
The brush head of the skull is provided on at least one of the inner surfaces of the two side walls facing each other between the edges of the back wall and the outer surface of the protruding piece facing the inner surface. Anti-sway means comprising a projection which is pressed to prevent lateral movement of the head,
An ultrasonic toothbrush comprising: In addition to the pressing means and the retaining means in the ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 1,
Auxiliary retaining means, which is provided to face each of the tip side regions of the back wall and the protruding piece and engages with each other to function as a retaining,
An ultrasonic toothbrush comprising: In addition to the pressing means and the retaining means in the ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 1,
The brush head of the skull is provided on at least one of the inner surfaces of the two side walls facing each other between the edges of the back wall and the outer surface of the protruding piece facing the inner surface. Anti-sway means comprising a projection which is pressed to prevent lateral movement of the head,
Auxiliary retaining means, which is provided to face each of the distal end regions of the back wall and the protruding piece and engages with each other to function as a retaining,
An ultrasonic toothbrush comprising: The head has a narrow gap from the distal end to the proximal end between the protruding piece and the inner surface side of the back wall and the two side walls, and a larger gap is provided on the entire inner circumference at the proximal end. 5. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic toothbrush is provided and attached to the projecting piece. The pressing means is a trapezoidal projection formed by raising the inner surface of the back wall facing the projecting piece, and the trapezoidal projection gradually increases in width and height from the base end toward the tip end. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, which is inclined. The pressing means is a trapezoidal projection formed by projecting on the outer surface of the protruding piece facing the back wall, and the trapezoidal projection gradually increases in width and height from the distal end to the proximal end. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, which is inclined. The rib-shaped engaging projection formed so as to protrude toward the outer surface of the base end portion of the projecting piece and the inner surface of the base end portion of the head body. 4. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to 4. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the lateral shake preventing means comprises a rib-shaped projection formed on both outer surfaces of the projecting piece and extending in the front-rear direction. A laterally extending rib-shaped engaging projection formed on the outer surface of the projecting piece facing the back wall of the projecting piece, and a laterally extending engaging groove or groove formed on the back wall. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 3 or 4, comprising: The projection of the pressing means is trapezoidal and is formed on an outer surface facing the back wall of the projecting piece, and the engaging projection of the auxiliary retaining means is provided on the trapezoidal projection. 10. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to 10. The ultrasonic toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the tubular portion of the head is thin and has a gap around the entire inner periphery of the base end when fitted on the protruding piece.

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