WO2006012974A1

WO2006012974A1 - Electrical toothbrush

Info

Publication number: WO2006012974A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/007447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Boland; Armin Schwarz-Hartmann; Ulrich STÖRKEL; Uwe Bielfeldt
Original assignee: Braun Gmbh
Priority date: 2004-07-29
Filing date: 2005-07-09
Publication date: 2006-02-09
Also published as: CN101027011A; US20090158538A1; DE102004036812A1; EP1771123A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical toothbrush comprising a hand-held part, a brush head which is mounted in such a way that it can be displaced in relation to the hand-held part, and a drive for driving the brush head in an oscillating and/or rotating manner. The inventive electrical toothbrush is characterised in that the brush head comprises a cleaning fork, the limbs of said fork being provided with a plush or velvety piece on the inside.

Description

Electric toothbrush

The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush with a handpiece, a brush head movably mounted relative to the handpiece, and a drive for oscillating and / or circulating driving of the brush head.

In order to accelerate tooth cleaning and to make it more thorough, it has already been proposed to design the toothbrush head in such a way that several tooth surfaces can be processed simultaneously. So z. B. proposed to be attached to the brush head three approximately at 45 ° angle to each other arranged bristle fields, which can be set like a pair of tongs on the tooth to be cleaned in order to clean it from three sides at the same time. The cleaning on three surfaces at the same time of course shortens the time required for cleaning and also brings with it the advantage that individual tooth surfaces are less easily forgotten when cleaning.

However, the arrangement of several bristle fields for cleaning a plurality of tooth surfaces makes the brush head disproportionately large. In order to give the bristles a certain softness, they must have a corresponding length when using the currently customary filaments, whereby the respective cleaning head is very large. The size of such brush heads is perceived as unpleasant in the mouth, so that the brush is often no longer pushed to the rearmost molars. In addition, the tooth enclosure is limited only, whereby in particular the round canine areas as well as the occlusally and coronally differently thick incisors can not be optimally cleaned.

DE 693 24 373 T2 shows such a toothbrush, in which the brush head has a fitting adapted to the contours of a molar tooth, which surface is provided on its U-shaped inner surface with a bristle field which processes the molar from three sides ¬ tet. However, this forming the brush head fitting is very bulky and brings the above-mentioned corresponding disadvantages.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide an improved toothbrush of the type mentioned, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and reindeer ren further advantageously. Preferably, the toothbrush should cause a thorough and rapid cleaning of the teeth and be perceived as pleasant in the mouth of the user. This object is achieved by a toothbrush ge according to claim 1 ge. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent Ansprü¬ che.

According to the invention it is thus provided that the brush head has a cleaning element, spielsweise a cleaning fork, the legs are provided on the inside with a plush or velvet piece. In contrast to the prior art, no multi-sided ange¬ arranged bristle fields are provided, but a cleaning element with a thin, little auf¬ carrying plush or velvet piece occupied, whereby the toothbrush head can be made small despite multi-sided enclosure of the respective tooth. Surprisingly, the oscillating and / or circumferential drive movement of the brush head in conjunction with the plush or velvet trimming causes excellent interdental cleaning. A single tooth can be simultaneously from all three sides, i. buccal, lingual and occlusal, cleaned wer¬, whereby a more thorough and a faster cleaning can be achieved. By using the plush or velvet piece instead of bristle panels, a small-sized brush head is achieved, which is perceived as comfortable when used in the mouth.

In a further development of the invention, the velvet or plush piece consists of a piece of fabric with a pile, wherein both the piece of fabric and the pile can preferably consist of polyamide.

Even if various velvet or plush pieces can be used, it has proved to be particularly advantageous for particularly efficient tooth cleaning if the pile has a height of 2-8 mm, preferably about 3-6 mm.

The pile height can vary across the plaster element. Preferably, the pile of the plush or velvet piece may have a greater height at the free end of the legs of the cleaning fork than at a root or foot portion of the legs.

Advantageously, the plush or velvet pieces have pile threads with a thickness in the range of 0.05-0.2 mm, preferably about 0.1 mm. The thickness of the pile threads can also vary over the plaster element. For example, in the invention, thinner pile threads are provided at the free ends of the legs than at the root or foot portions of the legs. In principle, it can be provided that only the legs of the cleaning fork are each provided with a plush or velvet piece. In an alternative development of the invention, however, a transverse web which connects the legs of the cleaning fork can also be provided on the inside with a plush or velvet piece, so that an overall U-shaped plush or velvet trim is provided on the inner contour of the cleaning fork.

In order to be able to adapt the cleaning fork to different tooth contours and to brush teeth of different widths equally efficiently, the cleaning fork in a further development of the invention is designed such that the legs can spring relative to one another. The legs of the cleaning fork can even be resilient. Alternatively, they may be articulated at their Fuß¬ or root area and acted upon by a spring which biases the legs toward each other. Advantageously, however, the legs are designed to be resilient overall, whereby a better adaptation to the tooth contour is achieved. Their distance from each other is advantageously chosen so that when placed on a tooth, a slight widening of the cleaning fork takes place, so that the legs are resiliently biased against the flanks of the teeth.

In a further development of the invention, the legs of the cleaning fork can enclose an angle of 15 ° - 45 ° to each other. The free ends of the legs can be expanded bell-shaped.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning fork may comprise two legs, so be designed as a simple, U-shaped fork. Alternatively, the cleaning fork may comprise four legs extending in pairs towards opposite sides. With such a double fork, the teeth of the lower jaw and the teeth of the Ober¬ jaw can be cleaned at the same time. Optionally, the legs on one side a ge ringeren distance from each other as the legs on the other side, whereby the different width forks can be used for different tooth areas.

In order to be able to place the brush head on a row of teeth without correspondingly aligning the handpiece of the toothbrush, in a development of the invention, the brush head is rotatably mounted on a brush head carrier about a transverse axis which runs essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, wherein in particular, the brush head is not driven with respect to this transverse axis. In particular, said transverse axis extends at the toothbrush end facing away from the handpiece parallel to the direction in which the cleaning fork is placed on the teeth. It can move through the plane of symmetry extend the cleaning fork. Advantageously, the possible angle of rotation is sufficiently large so that the cleaning fork placed on the teeth can be moved from the left side of the jaw to the right side of the kie, without the cleaning fork having to be removed from the teeth.

The rotatable mounting of the brush head to the said non-driven transverse axis is advantageously designed to be inhibiting, so that the brush head is indeed rotatable as desired, but remains in the respective position without force.

The drive can be differently designed with regard to the generated drive movements of the brush head. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive has a parallel to the toothbrush longitudinal axis of the drive axis, around which the brush head is preferably driven conically circumferentially. By means of a tumbling drive movement of the brush head about the toothbrush longitudinal axis, surprisingly, particularly good cleaning results can be achieved with the velvet or plush occupied cleaning element. By means of a corresponding wobble drive, a cleaning movement in three directions can be achieved, namely at tooth height, tooth width and perpendicular to the tooth main surface or any combination of these directions, whereby contaminants are thoroughly removed.

In order to rotate the brush head circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, the brush head can rest on a brush head carrier designed as a drive rocker, which is ball-jointed at a pivot point between the brush head and an engine disposed in the handpiece and at its end facing away from the brush head having a drive connector. The design of the brush head carrier as a spatial rocker, which is moved around in a double-cone shape, achieves the advantages of a multi-axis cleaning movement with simple structural means. Advantageously, the brush head carrier is mounted non-rotatably about its longitudinal axis, so that it does not rotate about itself during the wobble movement about the toothbrush longitudinal axis. In particular, the brush head carrier can be fastened to the hinge point on an elastic bearing element, which permits an at least limited movement of the brush head carrier in the manner of a spherical joint.

Advantageously, the drive connector of the brush head carrier is detachably ausgebil¬ det, wherein advantageously the brush head carrier is releasably secured to a brush head connecting the brush head with the handpiece, so that the brush head carrier is replaceable, that can be removed and replaced in the manner of a refill from the rest of the toothbrush.

In a further development of the invention, a detachable connection can also be provided between the brush head and the brush head carrier, so that the brush head can be exchanged, ie. removed from the brush head carrier and can be replaced by a refill.

To drive the brush head carrier a drive rocker is provided in a further development of the invention, which is mounted on the hand part ball joint-like manner at a hinge point and is spatially driven by the arranged in the hand part motor. For this purpose, can sit on the motor shaft an eccentric, which is in engagement with the motor-side end of the drive rocker. With its brush head end, the drive rocker can be brought into engagement with the brush head carrier, which is likewise designed as a drive rocker, so that the conical circulation movement of the drive rocker is converted into a corresponding movement of the brush head carrier. The drive rocker has an advantageously releasable connector for releasable connection to the brush head carrier.

In a further development of the invention, the drive rocker is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis, in particular fastened on the handpiece side hinge point on an elastic bearing element be¬. As a result, a hermetic seal of the handle is possible in a simple manner, since there is no relative movement between the bearing element and the drive rocker.

As an alternative to the handpiece-side drive rocker, a drive shaft projecting from the handpiece can also be provided with an eccentrically revolving drive piece for driving the brush head carrier, which can be brought into engagement with the handpiece-side end of the brush head carrier. In this case, a radial shaft seal is provided at the passage of the drive shaft through the end face of the handpiece.

The connection between the handpiece side drive element, i. the drive rocker or the revolving drive shaft with eccentric piece, and the brush head carrier can be formed grund¬ in addition essentially free of play. As a result, the drive movement of the handpiece side drive piece is converted into a corresponding circumferential drive movement of the trained as a rocker brush head carrier.

However, it may also be desirable to convert the drive movement of the handpiece-side drive piece only partially into a corresponding drive movement of the brush head carrier. enforce. For this purpose, the connection between the handpiece-side drive rocker or the handpiece-side rotating eccentric piece and the brush head carrier in at least one direction transversely to the toothbrush longitudinal direction have an at least limited clearance. For example, the handpiece side drive rocker in an elliptical or oval sleeve, which is attached to the brush head carrier put. The brush head carrier may also have a slotted recess at its handpiece end, in which the drive rocker of the handpiece is seated. As a result, the amplitude of the drive movement of the handpiece-side drive piece is completely transferred in one direction, but only partially or not at all in the direction perpendicular thereto.

Advantageously, the drive has an adjusting device for adjusting the stroke of the brush head movement. Advantageously, the adjusting device allows the lever ratios of the handpiece-side drive rocker and / or the brush head carrier, which is also designed as a drive rocker, to be adjusted. For example, the hinge point on which the brush head carrier is mounted like a ball joint, be offset in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush. It is also conceivable to move the corresponding pivot point of the handpiece-side drive rocker. Alternatively or additionally, the point of application of the eccentric piece seated on the motor shaft on the handpiece-side drive rocker can also be changed. Due to the adjustable stroke of the tumbling motion of the brush head, the movement thereof from gentle, i. small movements, until strong, i. large Bewegun¬ gene, be set according to the preference of the user.

The brush head carrier does not necessarily have to be driven in a cone-shaped manner around the toothbrush longitudinal axis. An advantageous embodiment of the invention can also consist in that the drive has a drive axis parallel to the toothbrush longitudinal axis, around which the brush head is driven in a rotationally oscillating manner. Alternatively or additionally, the drive can have a drive axis parallel to the toothbrush longitudinal axis, along which the brush head can be driven to oscillate in a translatory manner, ie the brush head is moved back and forth. Alternatively or additionally, the drive may also have a transverse to the toothbrush longitudinal axis extending further drive axis, around which the brush head is rotationally driven to oscillate. This transverse axis may run parallel to a plane of symmetry of the cleaning element, preferably being arranged substantially at the brush head end of the handpiece. Accordingly, the brush head is pivoted oscillatingly to the right and left with the plush or velvet occupied cleaning element. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to provide a drive axis extending perpendicular to the said plane of symmetry of the cleaning element, which drives is also preferably arranged on the brush head end of the handle. Accordingly, the brush head is tilted up and down on the tooth flanks, whereby it is possible in particular to eliminate impurities located in the interdental spaces.

The velvet or plush piece can be attached to the cleaning element in different ways. Advantageously, the velvet or plush piece can be firmly bonded to the plaster element. In particular, the respective velvet or plush piece can be glued to the inner side of the cleaning fork, for example by means of a silicone adhesive, or fixed by means of heat sealing.

Alternatively or additionally, a positive fastening of the velvet or plush piece can be provided, for example, the respective velvet or plush piece can be clamped on the edge side under a clamping web of the cleaning element or of a plush carrier fastened thereto.

Optionally, the velvet or plush piece advantageously also only the edge of the free ends of the legs of the cleaning fork and optionally additionally be attached to the bottom of the crosspiece connecting the legs, so that the velvet or plush piece is only V-shaped spanned, but not everywhere flat on the inner contour of the legs of the cleaning fork rests. Only when the cleaning fork is pushed onto the tooth to be brushed, the velvet or plush tape applies a total of surface to the inner contour of the Schen¬ angle and / or to the outer contour of the tooth.

Other objects, advantages, features and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. All described and / or illustrated features alone or in any meaningful combination form the subject matter of the present invention, also independent of their summary in the claims or their backings. In the drawings show:

1 shows a schematic, perspective view of an electric toothbrush with a velvet or plush occupied cleaning fork, which is drivable by a wobble drive, 2 shows a schematic, perspective view of an alternative, U-shaped Putz¬ fork and a tooth on which the cleaning fork is placed, the Putz¬ fork is provided for the toothbrush of FIG. 1,

3 shows a schematic illustration of various embodiments of an eccentric seated on the motor shaft for the wobble drive of the toothbrush from FIG. 1, FIG.

4 shows a schematic perspective view of an electric toothbrush similar to FIG. 1, the wobble drive having a drive shaft with an eccentric piece instead of a spatially encircling drive rocker;

5 is a schematic, perspective view of an electric toothbrush according to a further embodiment of the invention, in which a bell-shaped cleaning fork is mounted rotatably about a transverse axis on a brush head carrier, which is driven in a tumbling manner;

6 shows a schematic partial view of an electric toothbrush according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in longitudinal section,

7 shows a longitudinal section along the line A-A in FIG. 6 of the electric toothbrush from FIG. 6, FIG.

8 shows a cross section through the brush shaft of the toothbrush of FIG. 6 along the line B-B in FIG. 6, FIG.

9 shows a cross section through the brush head of the toothbrush of FIG. 6 along the line C-C in FIG. 6, FIG.

10 shows the cleaning fork of the toothbrush from the preceding FIGS. 6 to 9 in a schematic representation, when it is placed on an incisor, FIG.

11 shows the cleaning fork of the toothbrush from the preceding FIGS. 6 to 9 in a schematic representation, when it is placed on a molar,

12 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of a brush head for a toothbrush according to FIG. 6, which carries a lateral additional weight, FIG. 13 is a functional view of the toothbrush mounted on a toothbrush from the preceding figures 6 to 9, which illustrates the rotation of the cleaning fork around a transverse axis,

14 shows a schematic partial view of an electric toothbrush according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in a longitudinal section, wherein the toothbrush brush has a double fork with upwardly and downwardly pointing legs,

15 shows a longitudinal section of the toothbrush of FIG. 14 along the line E-E in FIG. 14, FIG.

16 shows a cross section through the brush shaft of the toothbrush of FIG. 14 along the line F-F in FIG. 14, FIG.

17 shows a cross section through the brush shaft of the toothbrush of FIG. 14 along the line G - G in FIG. 14, FIG.

18 shows a cross section through the brush head of the toothbrush of Figures 14 and 15 along the line H-H in Fig. 14,

19 shows a schematic partial view of an electric toothbrush according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in a longitudinal section,

20 shows a schematic partial view of an electric toothbrush according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in a longitudinal section,

Fig. 21: a schematic representation of a cleaning fork, in which a plush piece is attached to the free ends of the legs and the bottom of the cleaning fork, the partial view a) the cleaning fork before putting on a tooth to be cleaned and the partial view b) the cleaning fork in the state attached to the tooth,

Fig. 22: a die for forming a plush or velvet piece for a cleaning fork of a toothbrush from the preceding figures, wherein the partial view a) the plush or velvet piece before molding and the partial view b) the plush or velvet piece after molding in the die shows, and Fig. 23: a schematic representation of a plush or velvet piece which is fastened formschlüs¬ sig on the legs of a cleaning fork.

The toothbrush shown in FIG. 1 comprises a handpiece 1 and a brush head 2, which is connected to the handpiece 1 via a brush tube 3. The brush head 2 is movably mounted on the Bürs¬ tenrohr 3 and driven by a drive 5, as will be explained in more detail.

In a housing 4 of the handle 1 there is a motor 6, the lead in the illustrated Aus¬ form of batteries 7 is supplied with energy. The batteries 7 are arranged in the handle 1 behind the motor 6 and may be formed as primary or secondary batteries. If secondary batteries are used, they can be charged inductively or via contacts by means of a charging device which is not shown in more detail.

The motor 6 comprises a substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 of the toothbrush extending motor shaft 9, on which a disc-shaped eccentric 10 sits. Said eccentric 10 is pivotally connected to a drive rocker 11 in order to drive these conically circumferentially. The drive rocker 11 passes through the end face of the housing of the handpiece 1, so that it extends on the one hand in the handpiece 1 and on the other hand in the brush tube 3. It is mounted on the end face wall 12 of the handpiece housing 4 kugelgelenk¬ like. The ball-joint-like hinge point 13 is thereby formed by a gummielasti¬ rule, plug-like sealing element 14, in which the drive rocker inserted 11 and sitting even in the passage opening 15 in the Stirnseitenwandung 12 Handteilge¬ housing 4 to the passage of the drive rocker 11 through the handle housing 4 dense.

The drive rocker 11 is non-rotatably seated in the sealing element 14, so that it does not rotate about itself when it is driven by the eccentric 10 around the toothbrush longitudinal axis in a cone-shaped circumferential manner. This considerably simplifies the sealing.

With its end facing away from the motor 6, the drive rocker 11 is pivotally connected via a coupling piece 16 with a brush head carrier 17, so that the drive movement of the drive rocker 11 is transmitted to the brush head carrier 17. The coupling piece 16 is in the illustrated embodiment, a coupling sleeve into which the front end of the Drive rocker 11 is immersed, wherein the coupling sleeve is rigidly attached to the end of the brush head carrier 17 gers.

The brush head support 17 is mounted on a sliding block 19 via a ball joint 18, which is displaceably mounted in the toothbrush longitudinal direction on the brush tube 3 and z. B. on Ras¬ th 20 in a respective desired position can be locked. As FIG. 3 shows, the sliding block 19 and the brush head carrier 17 are arranged in the interior of the hollow brush tube 3. The brush tube 3 is fastened detachably on a brush tube receptacle 22 on the end side wall 12 of the hand part 1 via a profile ring 21 inserted therein.

The brush head carrier 17 occurs at the end facing away from the handpiece 1 of the brush tube 3 from this front side and carries at its front end the brush head 2. The brush head 2 comprises in the illustrated embodiment a cleaning fork 23 which has a releasable connection 24 to the brush head carrier 17th is attached. The cleaning fork 23 is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a simple, U-shaped fork having two legs 25, which are preferably resilient, so that they can spring apart. In the illustrated embodiment, the two legs 25 are biased by a pressure spring 26 against each other. The legs 25 may optionally have a hinge point in their connection area. Conveniently, however, they are injection molded from plastic, so that the legs 25 have sufficient elasticity to be able to spring up and to. The bias of the legs 25 causes the desired engagement of the legs 25 on the outer sides of a tooth.

As FIG. 1 shows, at the free ends of the legs 25, plaster holders 27 contoured on the inside are fastened, which in turn are each provided on the inside with a plaster element 28 in the form of a plush or velvet piece 29. The cleaning element holder 27 are by releasable connection means 30, such. B. snap clips, releasably secured to the legs 25 of the cleaning fork 23. As FIG. 1 shows, the cleaning element holders 27 and the cleaning elements 28 attached thereto extend essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the brush head carrier 17. They widen in a bell shape towards one end, so that they can be pushed more easily onto the tooth. The cleaning elements 28 are preferably rotatable about a transverse axis, which extends preferably parallel to the plane of symmetry of the cleaning fork 23, relative to the brush head carrier 17, so that the cleaning fork 23 can be slid on the teeth from the left side of the jaw to the right side of the jaw, without that the handpiece would have to be turned over. The cleaning fork 23 can thus rotate about the Z-axis shown in Figure 2, perpendicular to the tooth main surface, wherein the Rotation is preferably braked or inhibiting, so that the brush head stops in the respective position without force.

As a result of the rotation of the motor shaft 9, the eccentric piece 10 rotates, so that the articulation point 31 of the drive rocker 11 on the eccentric piece 10 describes a circular path and the drive rocker 11 describes a conical or double-cone-shaped orbit. Since the drive rocker 11 in this case performs no rotation about its own axis, a hermeti¬ cal sealing of the handpiece can be achieved in a simple manner by the bearing and sealing element 14.

The opposite end of the drive rocker 11, which is in engagement with the coupling piece 16, performs a corresponding circular path movement, wherein the diameters of the circular paths are in the ratio of the lever lengths Ii and I ₂ (see FIG. The opening angle of the two resulting cones of the circulating movement is in each case Ci ₁ (cf., FIG. 1).

By immersing the drive rocker 11 in the coupling piece 16, the movement of the drive rocker 11 is transmitted to the brush head carrier 17, wherein the brush head carrier 17 advantageously also does not rotate about itself, so that here again for the Ku¬ joint 18, a rubber-elastic bearing element can be used. Depending on the geometry ratios, in particular the distance I _{3 of} the joint 18 from the point of engagement of the coupling piece 16 and the drive rocker 11, a cone angle α ₂ results for the likewise double-cone-shaped revolving movement of the brush head carrier 17 (see FIG. By an offset of the articulation point of the respective cleaning element holder 27 on the leg 25 by the angle β (see Figure 1) to the central or longitudinal axis of the brush head carrier 17, the cleaning element 28 arranged perpendicular to the brush head carrier axis performs a three-dimensional movement with respect to a standing tooth in the height direction z, in the length direction x and in the width direction y, as FIG. 2 illustrates.

By moving the sliding block 14 within the brush tube 3, the position of the engagement point 32 of the drive rocker 11 and the brush head carrier 17 within the coupling piece 16 and thus the size of the transmitted movement changes. By moving the sliding block 14, the cone angle α _{2 of} the circulating movement of the brush head carrier 17 and thus the size of the movement of the cleaning fork 23 can be adjusted. The adjustment device formed by the sliding capability of the sliding block 19 makes it possible to adapt the cleaning movement to the preferences of the user. The size of the cleaning movement can also be adjusted by the eccentricity e of the eccentric 10. Figure 3 shows various possible embodiments of the eccentric 10, which can be replaceably mounted on the motor shaft 9. It is also possible to use eccentric pieces 10, in which the articulation point 31 of the drive rocker 11 can be adjusted stably.

Furthermore, an adjustment of the size of the cleaning movement can also be achieved by adjusting the length I ₄ , ie the spacing of the cleaning fork 23 from the pivot point 18 of the brush head carrier 17. For example, the brush head carrier 17 could be pulled out or the cleaning fork 23 could be fastened relative to the latter in the longitudinal direction of the brush head carrier 17 in a displaceable manner.

By the eccentricity e (see Figure 3) of the eccentric 10 and the lever lengths I ₁ to I ₄ and the angle ß the size of the cleaning movement is set. By adjusting the eccentricity and the lever arms I ₁ to I ₄ and the angle ß, it is possible, the sizes δ _x , δ _y and δ _z with respect to the axes of movement shown in Figure 2 of z. B. 0 mm - 10 mm infinitely adjust.

By the tension of the legs 25 of the cleaning fork 23 in the direction of the tooth width y (see Figure 2), i. the resilient bias of the legs 25 towards each other, and by a flexible suspension of the cleaning elements 28 and the Putzelementehalter 27 on the legs 25, the cleaning elements 28 can always create both sides of both wide molars and narrow incisors.

FIGS. 2 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the cleaning fork 23. The cleaning fork is arranged rotated by 90 ° relative to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 so that the entire inner sides of the legs 25 can be occupied by a plush or velvet piece 29. In cross section, the cleaning fork 23 is U-shaped, widening the free ends of the legs 25 bell-shaped to the outside. The cleaning fork 23 is rotatably mounted on the brush head carrier 17 about a rotational axis 33 arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush head carrier 17. The corresponding pivot 34 is preferably formed inhibiting, so that a braking of the rotational movement of the cleaning fork 23 takes place about the axis of rotation 33. By means of the arrangement of the cleaning fork 23 shown in FIG. 5, it can be pushed onto the teeth from the left half of the jaw onto the right half of the jaw, the cleaning fork correspondingly rotating relative to the brush head carrier 17. As FIG. 2 shows, the cleaning fork is also located at the bottom of the U, ie also at the cross-connection. piece between the two thighs 25, with plush or velvet occupied. As a result, an efficient, tooth-encompassing brushing can be achieved, in which the upper sides of the teeth are also cleaned.

Figure 4 shows a slightly different from Figure 1 embodiment, which differs in terms of the drive rocker 11. Instead of a drive rocker 11, a drive shaft rotating with an eccentric is provided. In particular, the motor shaft 9 emerges from the front of the handpiece 1 and extends into the brush tube 3. At its the brush head carrier 17 end facing the motor shaft 9 comprises an eccentric 10, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a cranked hook. The Exzen¬ terstück 10 engages in the provided on the brush head carrier 17 coupling piece 16 and drives here about the brush head carrier 17 again in the form of a double cone around. For sealing the motor shaft 9 with respect to the handpiece housing 4, a radial shaft seal 35 is provided, which sits in the corresponding recess in the front side wall 12, through which the motor shaft 9 passes. Incidentally, the embodiment according to FIG. 4 corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, so that the same reference numerals are used for corresponding components and reference is made in this regard to the preceding description.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 9, the brush head 2 is not driven by a brush head carrier revolving on a double cone, but moves in an oscillating manner. From the handle 1 of the electric toothbrush protrudes a drive shaft 9 frontally. The drive shaft 9 carries out at least one of the following movements: a rotational oscillation 36 about the toothbrush longitudinal axis 8 or the drive shaft axis coinciding therewith, a rotational oscillation 37 about a pivot axis 38 running transversely to the toothbrush longitudinal axis (see FIG extending in the front end portion of the handle 1 and substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry 39 of the cleaning fork 23 (see Figure 9), a rotational oscillation 40 about a pivot axis 41 which extends transversely to the toothbrush longitudinal axis 8 and substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry 39 of the cleaning fork 23 (see Figure 7) and a translatory oscillation 42 parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 of the toothbrush.

On the drive shaft 9 sits the brush tube 3, which is fixed by locking elements, not shown, but is removable. The brush head 2 facing front part of the brush tube 3 includes a recht¬ angular channel 43, in which two arms 44 stuck, which are integrally formed on a bearing part 45. Each arm 44 carries a nose 46, which engages in each case an opening or recess 47 of the brush tube 3. As a result, the bearing part 45 can be pushed into the brush tube 3 at the end face and fastened thereto. There are four grooves 48 in the brush tube 3, through which two spring arms 49 are formed in conjunction with the two recesses 47. The free end of the spring arms 49 lies on a free end 50 of the arms 44. When the user presses on the spring arms 49 in the region of crests 51 (compare FIG. 8), the lugs 46 are disengaged. As a result, the bearing part 45 can be pulled out of the brush tube 3.

In a hole 52 of the bearing part 45, the cleaning fork 23 is rotatably mounted, which has a Lager¬ pin 53 with an axis 54, two legs 25 and the two legs 25 verbin¬ Denden transverse web 55. The bearing pin 53 has at its free end two lugs 56 and a slot 57 through which the lugs 56 can spring back inwards. For mounting, the bearing pin 53 is pressed into the hole 52 of the bearing part 45, so that the lugs 56 spring together and springs again after passing through the hole 52, so that the bearing pin 53 rotatably but axially fixed in the bearing part 45 sits.

The cleaning fork 23 may be endlessly rotatable relative to the bearing part 45. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the rotatability is limited by a rotation stop 58 (see FIG.

The legs 25 include, as Figure 9 shows, an angle v preferably between 15 ° and 45 °. They have at their free end a bell-shaped bend 59 to the outside.

The inside of the legs 25 and the crosspiece 55 connecting the legs 25 carry a velvet or plush piece 29, which can be fastened by gluing, heat sealing or other methods.

Preferably, the velvet or plush piece 29 consists of a fabric piece 60 and ei¬ nem Flor 61, both of which may consist of polyamide. In the area of the cross piece 35 and the adjoining legs 25 the threads can of the web 61 preferably has a thickness of ³ Λ _O oo to ^_5/10 oo inches and on the bell-shaped bend 59 of the leg 25 has a thickness of ² / iooo to ⁴ / _1O oo inches own. The thickness of the threads of the pile 61 may be different within a range. The height of the pile 61 may vary. Advantageously, the height H _{1 of} the pile 61 in the region of the crosspiece 55 is about 2 mm to 6 mm, while the height H _{2 of} the pile 61 on the legs 25 and the bell-shaped bend 59 can be about 4 mm to 8 mm. Heights H ₁ and H ₂ may also vary within their range.

In the illustrated embodiment, the distance 62 between the longitudinal axis of the brush tube 3 and an open surface of the pile 61 is preferably about -6 mm to +6 mm.

Figures 10 to 13 illustrate the operation of the toothbrush. The cleaning fork 23 can be placed with the cleaning elements 28 made of plush or velvet on a tooth 63 or 64. The elasticity of the legs 25 of the cleaning fork 23 and the pile 61 of the plush or velvet piece 29 resembles the different thickness of anterior teeth 63, the figure 10 shows, and molars 64, the figure 11 shows from. If the drive shaft 9 describes the rotational oscillation 36 about the longitudinal axis 8, the vestibular, occlusal and lingual tooth surfaces are simultaneously cleaned.

As FIG. 13 illustrates, the axis of rotation 33, by which the cleaning fork 23 can be rotated relative to the bearing part 45 of the brush head carrier 17, allows the toothbrush to be pulled from the left-hand side of the jaw 65 to the right-hand side with the cleaning fork attached to the teeth. To clean the entire jaw 65, the user holds the handpiece 1 and slowly pulls the cleaning fork 23 with the velvet or plush piece 29 over the teeth of the jaw 65 while the oscillating drive movement of the brush head is running. By turning the cleaning fork 23 around the rotation axis 33 All teeth are cleaned evenly.

As FIG. 12 shows, the cleaning fork 23 can be provided with an additional mass 66 spaced from the axis of rotation 33, which causes an unbalance of the cleaning fork 23. As a result, the cleaning fork 23 can execute a rotational oscillation 67 about the axis of rotation 33 when the rotary oscillation 36 acts around the toothbrush longitudinal axis 8.

FIGS. 14 to 18 show a variant of the toothbrush from the preceding FIGS. The end section of the brush tube 3 facing the brush head 2 contains an oval channel 43 with two slots 68 in which two arms 44 are attached, which are in contact with the bearing part 45 of the brush head carrier 17 are formed. A free end 50 of the arms 44 lies in the interior of the channel 43, wherein each arm 44 carries a nose 46 which engages in an opening or recess 47 of the brush tube 3. As a result, the bearing part 45 in the brush tube 3 is consolidates. If the user presses on the arms 44 in the area of crests 51, the noses 46 are disengaged, as a result of which the bearing part 45 of the brush head carrier 17 can be pulled off the brush tube 3.

In a hole 52 of the bearing part 45 a trained as a double fork cleaning fork 23 ge is superimposed having a bearing pin 53 with an axis 54, four pairs of opposite sides protruding leg 25 and each one paired legs 25 connecting cross bar 55. The assembly consisting of the bearing part 45 and the cleaning fork 23 can advantageously be produced using the two-component injection molding method, in which first the bearing part 45 is injection molded from plastic and then the plastic cleaning fork 23 designed as a double fork is sprayed onto said bearing part 45 , In this case, the bearing pin 53 of the cleaning fork 23 shrinks so much that a sufficient for the rotation of the cleaning fork 23 about the rotation axis 33 radial play arises. To generate the axial clearance, the injection mold may have a tongue in a gap 69 between the bearing part 45 and one of the transverse webs 55.

It is understood that the trained as a double fork cleaning fork 23 and the bearing member 45 could be made in other ways, in particular, the bearing part 45 and / or the cleaning fork 23 could be made in two parts.

The inside of the forks formed by the legs 25 and the transverse webs 55 are each provided with a velvet or plush piece 29 in the manner described above.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 14 to 18 makes it possible to simultaneously clean teeth of the upper jaw and teeth of the lower jaw.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 19, in the channel 43 of the brush tube 3, a latch 70 with a collar 71 is mounted so as to be displaceable parallel to the toothbrush longitudinal axis 8. The latch 70 is pressed by a spring 72 against the end face of the drive shaft 9. If the brush tube 3 is seated on the drive shaft 9, the front end of the bolt 70 lies between the free ends 50 of the arms 44, as a result of which the bearing part 45 can not be separated from the brush tube 3. This prevents the user from mistakenly releasing the bearing part 45. If the brush tube 3 is removed from the drive shaft 9, the spring 72 pushes the bolt 70 to the rear, whereby the free ends 50 of the arms 44 are released. Now, the bearing member 45 can be deducted from the brush tube 3 by the user presses on the knobs 51. In the embodiment according to FIG. 20, the arms 44 of the bearing part 45 are so long that their free ends 50 lie on both sides of the front end of the drive shaft 9 when the brush tube 3 is placed on the drive shaft 9. In this state, the bearing part 45 similar to the embodiment of Figure 14 can not be separated from the brush tube 3. If the Bürs¬ tenrohr 3, however, removed from the drive shaft 9, the free ends 50 of the arms 44 are released, whereby the bearing member 45 can be removed from the brush tube 3 by the user presses on the studs 51.

Advantageously, by suitably dimensioning the cleaning fork 23, in particular its leg 25 and transverse webs 55, it can be achieved that the bending natural frequency of the legs 25 is identical to the frequency of the rotational oscillation 36 about the toothbrush longitudinal axis 8. The legs 25 thereby lead Bending vibration 73 (see Figures 9 and 18), which improves the cleaning.

It is understood that the cross section of the channel 43 in the front end of the brush tube 3 need not be rectangular or oval; other cross sections are possible.

Advantageously, the plush or velvet piece 29 can form a depot for chemical and / or biological agents. Advantageously, the active ingredients may be enclosed in microcapsules which break up in use. The threads of the fabric piece 60 and / or the pile 61 can be made of silver-doped plastic or a small amount of silver to achieve an antibacterial effect.

The plush or velvet pieces 29 can in principle be attached to the cleaning fork 23 in various ways. According to one embodiment of the invention, the respective plush or velvet piece 29 can be cut out of a velvet or plush web with a hot stamp or a laser beam. In both methods, the heat causes fusion of the cut threads, which prevents fraying. The fabric of the velvet or plush can also be soaked with a suitable agent and then cold aus¬ punched or cut, z. B. with the help of a water jet. The fraying is prevented by the soaking.

In principle, the respective velvet or plush piece 29 can be glued or welded onto the inside of the legs 25 of the cleaning fork 23. Through a flat connection It is achieved that the respective velvet or plush piece 29 corresponds exactly to the predetermined contour of the leg 25 of the cleaning fork 23.

FIG. 21, on the other hand, shows an embodiment in which the velvet or plush piece 29 is attached to the inner sides of the cleaning fork 23 or its legs 25 only at certain points or lines. As FIG. 21 (a) in particular shows, a piece of velvet or plush can be fastened on the one hand to the free ends of the legs 25 and on the other hand to the base of the transverse web 55 connecting the legs 25. If the cleaning fork 23 is pushed onto a tooth to be brushed, the velvet or plush piece 29 applies elastically to the tooth contour, as shown in FIG. 21 (b).

FIG. 22 shows a method by means of which a cleaning fork 23 can be manufactured expediently. First, a velvet or plush piece 29 is connected to a still flat Putzgabel¬ blank, for example glued or welded. The Putzgabelrohling is then placed in a still flat state and with it attached velvet or plush piece on a die 74, in the cavity 75, which ent speaks the desired contour of the cleaning fork, the Putzgabelrohling then by applying vacuum via a vacuum channel 76th is involved. For this purpose, the blank may possibly be heated accordingly.

FIG. 23 shows an alternative attachment of the velvet or plush piece 29 to the respective leg 25 of the cleaning fork 23 or to the still undeformed blank for this purpose. A positive connection is achieved in that the velvet or plush piece 29 is pushed onto a mandrel 77, so that the mandrel passes through the material of the plush piece or the piece of velvet. With a plunger 78 of the mandrel 77 is then deformed, so that a mushroom-shaped or rivet-shaped head is formed, which holds the plush or velvet piece 29 on the mandrel and preferably clamped.

Claims

claims

1. Electric toothbrush with a handpiece (1), a brush head (2) movably mounted relative to the handpiece (1) and a drive (5) for oscillating and / or rotating the brush head (2), characterized in that Bürs¬ tenkopf (2) has a cleaning element, which is seen ver¬ with a plush or velvet piece (29), for example, a cleaning fork (23) whose legs (25) on the inside with ei¬ nem plush or velvet piece (29) are

2. Toothbrush according to the preceding claim, wherein the velvet or plush piece (29) each have a piece of fabric (60) and a pile (61), preferably in each case of polyamide.

3. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pile height (H ₁ , H ₂ ) is 2 mm to 8 mm, preferably 3 mm to 6 mm.

4. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plush or velvet piece (29) pile threads having a thickness in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, preferably about 0.1 mm.

5. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at the free end of the legs (25) of the cleaning fork (23) pile threads with a greater length (H ₂ ) and / or a smaller thickness than at a root portion of the legs (25) are provided.

6. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein also a leg (25) of the cleaning fork (23) connecting the transverse web (55) with a plush or velvet piece (29) is provided.

7. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the legs (25) of the cleaning fork (23) are resilient.

8. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the legs (25) of the cleaning fork (23) enclose an angle of 15 ° to 45 ° to each other and / or ih¬ ren free ends have a bell-shaped widening portion (59).

9. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush head (2) on a brush holder (17) about a transverse axis (33) which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (8) of the toothbrush, rotatably mounted, preferably freely rotatable drive is.

10. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning fork (23) has a substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis (8) of the toothbrush extending symmetry axis.

11. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (5) has a toothbrush longitudinal axis (8) parallel to the drive axis about which the brush head (2) is preferably driven conically circumferentially.

12. Toothbrush according to the preceding claim, wherein the brush head (2) on a formed as a drive rocker brush head carrier (17) sitting at a Gelenk¬ point (18) between the brush head (2) and in the handpiece (1) arranged Mo¬ Tor (6) is mounted ball-joint-like and at its the brush head (2) facing away from a drive connector (16).

13. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (5) has an adjusting device (19, 10) for adjusting the stroke of the movement of the brush head (2).

14. Toothbrush according to the two preceding claims, wherein the hinge point (18) of the brush head carrier (17) is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush.

15. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush head carrier

(17) is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis, in particular at the hinge point

(18) is attached to an elastic bearing element.

16. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for driving the brush head carrier (17) a drive rocker (11) is provided which is mounted on the hand part (1) ball joint-like manner at a hinge point (13) and preferably by an eccentric (10) spatially encircling is drivable.

17. Toothbrush according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive rocker (11) rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis, in particular at the hinge point (13) on an elastic bearing element (14) is attached.

18. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein between the An¬ drive rocker (11) and the brush head carrier (17) vorgese¬ hen a connecting piece (16) transversely to the toothbrush longitudinal axis (8) drive movements of Antriebs¬ rocker (11) backlash on the brush head carrier (17) transmits.

19. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein between the An¬ drive rocker (11) and the brush head carrier (17) vorgese¬ hen a connecting piece (16) in at least one direction transverse to the toothbrush longitudinal direction zu¬ least limited clearance of the drive rocker (11) relative to the Bürstenkopfträ¬ ger (17) provides.

20. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for driving the brush head carrier (17) has a drive shaft (9) with an eccentrically rotating An¬ drive piece (10) is provided.

21. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (5) has a toothbrush longitudinal axis (8) parallel to the drive axis about which the brush head (2) is rotatably driven in an oscillating manner.

22. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (5) has a toothbrush longitudinal axis (8) parallel to the drive axis along which the Bürs¬ tenkopf (2) is translationally driven in an oscillating manner.

23. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive (5) has a transversely to the toothbrush longitudinal axis (8) extending drive axle (38, 41) about which the brush head (2) is rotatably driven in an oscillating manner.

24. Toothbrush according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive axle (41) paral¬ lel to a plane of symmetry (39) of the cleaning fork (23), preferably from the brush head (2) to the handle (1) is spaced apart.

25. Toothbrush according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive shaft (38) senk¬ right to a plane of symmetry (39) of the cleaning fork (23), preferably from the brush head (2) to the handle (1) is spaced apart.

26. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning fork (23) in pairs to opposite sides extending leg (25).

27. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the velvet or plush piece (29) is glued to the cleaning fork (23) or fixed by heat sealing.

28. Toothbrush according to claim 27, wherein the velvet or plush piece (29) is glued to the Putzga¬ bel (23) by means of a silicone adhesive.

29. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush head (2) from the handpiece (1) is detachable, wherein preferably the drive (5) has a separation point between the brush head carrier (17) and a motor-side drive piece (11, 10) ,

30. Toothbrush according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush head (2) on a brush tube (3) is mounted, which is releasably fastened to the hand part (1) of the toothbrush be¬.