CN109890322A - The electric toothbrush of bristle with random motion - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric toothbrush includes top shell (130) the multirow brushing cluster (125) outstanding from the perforation of hollow toothbrush head.The end of each bristle is maintained to be formed cluster (125) in bucket (420), and the bristle ends relative to the end in bucket are free (herein, the teeth of opposite end contact toothbrush user).End in the bucket of brushing cluster (125) is trapped in the inner space in head (415), but is attached to any other brush component or structure with being not fixed.This on-fixed attachment features can make brushing cluster (125) to have multiple freedom of motion (DoF) relative to the perforation in top shell, and can rotate, move axially and tilt.

Description

The electric toothbrush of bristle with random motion

Background technique

Traditional electric toothbrush has tooth cleaning components (such as bristle (bristle)), is fixedly attached to head And extend from head, so that these elements follow specified path relative to the movement on head.Tooth and gum congenitally have multiple Miscellaneous profile.Since tooth cleaning components are specified path, and fixedly it is attached relative to toothbrush head, therefore, cleaning of teeth The orientation of element and not flexible thus traditional electric toothbrush cannot provide optimal cleaning to tooth and gum.Therefore, traditional Electric toothbrush is difficult contact and is located at the region at a distance of the longer-distance tooth in head (including between interdental tooth (interproximal) space).

Summary of the invention

Electric toothbrush includes the perforation top shell multirow brushing cluster outstanding (bristle tuft) from hollow toothbrush head.Respectively The end of a bristle is maintained in bucket (bucket, bucket) to form cluster, and the brush end opposite with the end in bucket is certainly By ground (the wherein freely teeth contact of opposite end and toothbrush user).The end in bucket of brushing cluster is captured (capture) in the inner space on head, but any other brush component or structure are attached to being not fixed.This is non-solid Determining attachment structure can make brushing cluster have multiple freedom of motion (DoF) relative to the perforation in top shell, and can rotate, Axial movement and inclination.

The side surface of the outer bottom surface of bucket is configured to engage (interface) with the bucket groove interface in movable panel, When being driven by driving mechanism, movable panel is tilted and is rotated around fixed pivot axi.The tip circle circumferential edges of bucket are (that is, " side of bucket (rim) " it) is configured to be engaged with the inner surface of top shell to limit the retainer of the axial dipole field of brushing cluster.In other words, bucket is straight Diameter is more than the diameter of the perforation in top shell.

Movable panel is by tiltable and is rotatably installed in the inside bottom case of hollow toothbrush head.Movable panel inclination And rotated on the pivotal point upwardly extended from bottom case, to surround its center or be engaged in its center with the plate interface.It is removable One end of plate includes drive shaft receiving portion, which is configured to move with driving mechanism and engage.Driven member can To include groove, the groove be configured to accommodate drive rod free end top, the drive rod by user can be switched motor around Its longitudinal axis is rotatably driven.A part bending of free end, so that the top of bar is deviated relative to its longitudinal axis.Cause This, when driving the bar, circular path is run through on the top of bar in the plane for being orthogonal to longitudinal axis.

When the motor is running, as driven member follows the circular path on bar top, movable panel is tilted relative to stud (that is, shake) simultaneously rotates.The brushing cluster of groove in plate being dimensioned to enable in bucket relative to plate slideably from By moving.The quantity and arrangement of the groove of plate are matched with top shell perforation.During motor running, the inclination and rotation of plate are so that recessed It is not aligned obliquely and obliquely slot and the center loop of perforation.Therefore, when operating electric toothbrush, the free end of brushing cluster It tilts in different directions and the outer surface relative to upper casing moves up and down.

Inner space in movable panel and toothbrush head is constructed such that the brushing cluster in bucket has for transporting with plate The space of dynamic mutually independent movement.Bristle in bucket moves freely in the interior space, and the size of the inner space is more than removable The total drift of movable plate.Since the bristle in bucket is not fixedly attached to movable panel, bristle motion is electronic in operation Plate can be at least partially independently of when toothbrush.This part is independent to cause one or more of brushing cluster during toothbrush operation Random motion.

In an illustrative embodiments, movable panel is driven using suitable and relatively high frequency, so that the panel vibration (vibratory) it moves.Movable panel is collided when operate in this way with bucket, adds bucket to give along the direction that power is implemented The strength of speed.The inclination and rotary motion of movable panel make the plane of plate be not always parallel to bucket bottom plane.Therefore, Contact point between movable panel and bucket can change.This variation by itself or with the combinations of other factors (for example, due to Bristle motion caused by interacting with the tooth of user) random motion of the bristle during toothbrush operates can be caused all Phase.

By providing there is the electric toothbrush of the brushing cluster driven with random motion to realize significant advantage.Particularly, Some embodiments improve the cleaning of tooth and gum, and improve the region for being located at the tooth with toothbrush head a distance away (including space between interdental tooth) approaching and contact with.Disclosing from the following distance of some embodiments will be further understood that this In disclosed these and supplementary features and advantage.

There is provided this part summary of the invention is to introduce following specific embodiments in a simple form and can further retouch The some concepts stated.This part summary of the invention is not intended to the key feature or main feature for determining stated theme, also not purport It is being used to help determine the range of theme claimed.Moreover, the theme stated is not limited to solve the disclosure times The imperfect embodiment of any disadvantage described in a part or institute.By reading following specific embodiments and relevant drawings It looks back, these and various other features will be apparent.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 illustrates the explanation of the electric toothbrush of the bristle in accordance with the principles of the present invention with random motion with partial cross Property example；

Fig. 2A, Fig. 2 B, Fig. 2 C and Fig. 2 D show sequentially the drive shaft that rotation is turned around；

Fig. 3 shows the perforative path of remote offset end institute by drive shaft；

Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are shown in section view the illustrative electric toothbrush of the A-A interception along Fig. 1；

Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Figure 10 are shown in section view the illustrative electric toothbrush of the B-B interception along Fig. 1；And

Figure 11 A, Figure 11 B, Figure 11 C and Figure 11 D show the movable panel with the groove for the brushing cluster in struggling against, when can When the coupled driving assembly of movable plate drives, the brushing cluster in the bucket is for various orientations (including the group for tilting and rotating It closes).

The present invention can use the arrangement of various assemblies and component, and the setting using various programs and program.Attached drawing Be merely to illustrate preferred embodiment, these attached drawings be not in proportion, and be not interpreted limitation the present invention.

Specific embodiment

With reference to attached drawing, in Fig. 1, the handle 105 of the proximal end of electric toothbrush 100 of the invention including toothbrush, toothbrush it is remote The head 110 at end, the neck 115 extended between handle and head, the rotatable drive shaft 120 for extending to from handle head, And multiple brushing clusters (typically being indicated by appended drawing reference 125) that the perforation in the shell 130 on head extends, wherein often A cluster includes multiple bristles.Handle is for providing compartment, and to keep electric motor 135, electric motor 135 is from such as battery 140 Power source with 145 accommodates electric power.In a typical implementation, battery is configured to be filled by battery charger (not shown) Electricity, the battery charger can be couple to the domestic power supply circuit of such as wall plug.In alternative embodiment, it can make With the internal electric source power supply unit (not shown) directly to engage each other with domestic power supply power supply unit, with supplement or substituting battery.In Fig. 1 Two batteries are shown, but less or more battery can be used, and toothbrush can be adapted to not chargeable or one Secondary property battery.

Motor 135 can be configured to operate with fixed speed or multiple and different speed, these speed can be made by toothbrush User is for example selected by switch (not shown).Drive shaft 120 has longitudinal axis 150, is typically parallel to toothbrush 100 Longitudinal axis, in this illustrative example, handle 105 and neck 115 share common longitudinal axis.Head 110 has vertical To axis 155, in some embodiments, longitudinal axis 155 can also share the common axis.Drive shaft can by handle, Supporting element or bearing (not shown) in neck and/or head support.

Brushing cluster 125 is arranged to be extended by the circular perforations in head 110, however, other perforation shapes can also be with It is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.Brushing cluster (as shown in this illustrated examples) is arranged to six one group Two row brushing clusters.However, this is merely illustrative, the brushing cluster of other line numbers can also be used, and these rows can be friendship It is wrong, noninterlace or arranged in a manner of said combination.

Fig. 2A, Fig. 2 B, Fig. 2 C and Fig. 2 D show sequentially by motor 135 (motor, power source and drive shaft herein altogether With " driving assembly " is known as, indicated by appended drawing reference 210) driving when revolve the drive shaft 120 that turns around.The proximal end of drive shaft couples In motor, and distal end has the Offset portion 205 of the longitudinal axis 150 relative to drive shaft.Therefore, as shown in figure 3, drive shaft Distal end be orthogonal to longitudinal axis 150 through one when being driven as motor plane in circular path 305 (note: shown in Fig. 3 The direction of rotation of drive shaft be random).

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is shown in section view the illustrative electric toothbrush 100 that A-A is intercepted along Fig. 1.The head 110 of toothbrush Including have perforation 410 top shell 405 and opposite imperforated bottom case 406 (note: in order to be easy to describe, such as "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "up" and "down" etc. are mainly used for confirming in illustrated examples depicted and described herein Relative orientation).Top shell and bottom case surround an inner space 415 being located in head.In this illustrative example, top shell and Bottom case, which is configured to have, limits respective plane-parallel flat surfaces, however, other constructions can be selected to meet spy Determine the demand of toothbrush embodiment.

Brushing cluster 125 flocks together and is fixedly attached to respective bucket (bucket) 420, these buckets circumferentially surround The proximal end of cluster and the bottom surface with rigidity.Brushing cluster extends from the opening upwards relative to bottom surface of bucket, so that they Perforation of the distal end in top shell 405.The distal end of brushing cluster is deciduous teeth and gum cleaning element in the present invention.

Bucket 420 is fluidly located in the respective bucket pockets 425 in movable panel 430, and movable panel 430 can incline Tiltedly and it is movably coupled to pivot 435, which extends up to the inside on head 110 from the inner surface of bottom case 406 Space 415.Pivot is engaged with 440 interface of pivot receiving portion corresponding in movable panel.Pivot receiving portion may include groove (such as Be illustratively shown in attached drawing), however, enable movable panel relative to trunnion axis tilt or shake and rotate through-hole or other Be suitable for the engagement of pivot interface is also that can be used.For example, pivot and receiving interface may include cup-and-ball joint, multi-axial cord Other traditional mechanisms of hinge and permission with multiple freedom degrees relative to its relative motion.

As shown in figure 5, the brushing cluster in bucket is trapped in the inner space 415 of toothbrush head 110, but not other It is fixedly attached to any other structure or component (Fig. 1) of movable panel 430 or electric toothbrush 100.Although the outer bottom of bucket 420 Surface and side surface are configured to engage with 425 interface of bucket pockets in movable panel, but struggle against tip circle circumferential edges (that is, " side " of bucket) it is configured to the retainer engaged with the inner surface of top shell 405, to limit the axial dipole field of brushing cluster.Therefore, it struggles against Diameter be more than top shell 405 in perforation diameter.It is suitble to be designed and sized to make bucket can in addition, groove is configured to provide The gap (including inclination, sliding and rotation) is moved freely relative to groove.In the illustrative embodiments shown in, the bottom table of bucket The top surface of face and opposite groove is all flat.In an alternative embodiment, such as feature of wedge shape and other shapes can To be used on opposite surface, as bucket is engaged with groove interface, to give reinforcement to bucket during electric toothbrush operates Rotation.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shows operation electric toothbrush, and in response to rotating from the drive shaft of driving assembly 210 (Fig. 2), can The illustrative movement of brushing cluster 125 when movable plate 430 is tilted and rotated relative to pivot 435.With drive shaft each circle (not Show), movable panel is tilted to the left (Fig. 6) and is tilted to the right (Fig. 7).Movable panel is inclined also as each drive shaft circulation head and the tail Tiltedly, it and rotates and reversely rotates.It shows in remaining attached drawings and describes additional movement in appended text.Inner space 415 It is configured to the peak excursion greater than movable panel.In other words, in movable panel (being in its peak excursion) and table in top shell 405 There are a Z sizes (as shown) between face carries out additional upward fortune to allow to struggle against 420 except the range that movable plate provides It is dynamic, as shown in Figure 7.Therefore, the brushing cluster in bucket can be partially independently of movable panel mobile, this can cause toothbrush to operate the phase Between random brushing cluster movement.

When operating electric toothbrush, bucket 420 is collided with movable panel, this causes brushing cluster 125 relative in top shell 405 Perforation 410 is slidably moved.As shown, the movement may include the axial movement of the longitudinal axis along brushing cluster.In addition, can The inclination of movable plate causes the central axis of cylindric bucket pockets 425 and cylindric perforation to be obliquely aligned.This can Brushing cluster is caused to extend relative to top shell with tilted alignment.

As described above, bucket has freedom of motion in the range of the inner space of toothbrush head 110 415.Although with can The collision of movable plate can the brushing cluster of Xiang Douzhong give upward power, but toothbrush itself does not provide any mechanism to provide and make outward The restoring force of the reversing of motion.However, the contact between the distal end of brushing cluster and the tooth of user and gum is intended to push down on Dynamic brushing cluster, so that bucket 420 is re-engaged with movable panel.It, can be pre- when user is brushed teeth with electric toothbrush of the invention The period that phase projects upwards and is re-engaged downwards is acyclic and irregular.

For example, the brushing cluster provided can be re-engaged in any set point in its motion range.For example, at one In example, bucket can be re-engaged with tilting down with movable panel.In other examples, movable panel can be to moving up Dynamic, rotation or reverse movement.Therefore, brushing cluster has the random mass motion containing multiple freedom degrees.In some embodiments In, the randomness of collision can increase with the increase of the rotation speed of drive shaft.For example, ought operate at a relatively high speed When toothbrush, movable panel shows as vibration motion and collides with bucket, to give strength.Due to movable panel plane not always It is parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of bucket, the contact point between movable panel and bucket will change, and therefore, this can further increase bristle The randomness of cluster movement.

Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Figure 10 are shown in section view the illustrative electric toothbrush 100 that B-B is intercepted along Fig. 1.In this explanation Property example in, movable panel 430 is disposed with long and short axis, and wherein long axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of drive shaft 205.It can The drive shaft receiving portion 805 of movable plate is centrally located on the proximal end of movable panel along long axis.In alternative embodiment, Drive shaft receiving portion can be from the off-centring of movable panel.Joint element 810 (such as guiding element, bearing or pin) is located at drive shaft The far-end of 205 offset.Joint element is engaged with the drive shaft receiving portion interface of movable panel, so that the end of plate is run through (traverse) circular path 305 (Fig. 3), and the center of plate tilts and rotates around fixed pivot 435.

Fig. 8 shows drive shaft 205, and be oriented to its Offset portion and the un-offset portion of the drive shaft are limited jointly and be parallel to The plane of top shell 405 and bottom case 406.Fig. 9 shows the drive shaft shown in Fig. 8 being rotated by 90 ° from drive axle position.Figure 10 is shown Drive shaft shown in Fig. 9 from drive axle position rotation 180 degree.As drive shaft rotates during toothbrush operation, movable panel 430 head and the tail tilt, as shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10.It should be understood that drive shaft rotation leads to the periodic motion of movable panel, from And make Fig. 6 and it is shown in Fig. 7 be tilted to the left and be tilted to the right Fig. 9 and it is shown in Fig. 10 turn forward and tilt backwards it is upper folded Add.Other than inclination, the period rotation of movable panel around the pivot 435 and reverse rotation motion are also with during toothbrush operation Drive shaft rotates and occurs.

Figure 11 A, Figure 11 B, Figure 11 C and Figure 11 D show the motion range of movable panel 430.In these attached drawings, in order to clear Chu, the relationship between the longitudinal axis 1105 and fixed center pivotal point and the longitudinal axis of drive shaft 150 for illustrating movable panel When, movable panel 430 is indicated in simplified form.The orientation having the same in each attached drawing of axis 150, sequentially explanation can Position of the movable plate at four basic points of the circular path 305 of the drive shaft section along offset.Figure 11 A and Figure 11 D show respectively The maximum head end inclination of movable panel and maximum tail end inclination out.Figure 11 B and Figure 11 C, which are shown respectively, not to be tilted (that is, being parallel to Top shell and bottom case) and carry out around pivotal point the movable panel of maximum rotation and reverse rotation.It should be understood that movable panel Side opposite side (side to side) inclination occur when the Offset portion of drive shaft rotates between basic point.

The embodiment is described with the certain words and phrase that attempt to describe certain movements.Movement can be constant It is also possible to vibration.Steady motion another example is simple rotations, wherein element is angularly displaced from a single direction It (for example, the bristle for only rotating clockwise or rotating clockwise tapered envelope) or translates in a single direction.Vibration is that have Any cycle movement of repetitive cycling.Vibration motion can have one or more frequencies and amplitude.It is substantially linear Vibration motion referred to herein as moves back and forth.Reciprocating motion can occur in a plurality of directions, such as substantial horizontal, substantially (that is, promotion or pulsating motion) and their combination vertically.Substantially the vibration motion substantially rotated referred to herein as vibrates Or it moves pivotally.

Due to may be complicated (that is, including the element of other kinds of movement) on most of motion essences, it removes Belong to except the basic or main motion, unless otherwise indicated (for example, only reciprocal), otherwise above-mentioned term herein Using may include other movements.So for example, also may include other vibrations or constant fortune depicted here as reciprocal movement It is dynamic, even if main motion is substantially reciprocal.

The present invention is described by reference to specific embodiment.The technical staff in electric toothbrush technology field will read and manage It modifies and modification on the basis of solution this specification.For example, although it have been described that certain elements are to include curved in axis It is bent and other cams have been described to be includes the bead of the suitable shape fixed to axis, but cam be not limited to proposed by Form.In fact, bending can substitute bead (bead) and bead can substitute bending.It is showing with a bias or curved It may include multiple eccentric, offsets or curved shape in the case where the cam or cam part of curved shape.Each increased bias, Offset or curved shape can all increase related bristle bucket vibration, pulse, pivot, rotate, wave, swinging, reciprocal or translation frequency Rate.In addition, they can have the amplitude of variation, to provide the brush of variation in the case where including multiple eccentric or offset Tuft mobile range.This is intended to include all such modifications and modification, as long as they fall into appended claims or its equivalent In the range of.

Subject matter described above only provides by way of illustration, and is not necessarily to be construed as limiting.It can be to described herein Theme carry out various modifications and modification, without following shown or described example embodiment and application, and does not depart from institute True spirit and scope of the present invention described in attached claim.

Claims (20)

1. electric toothbrush, comprising:

Handle has neck；

The shell of perforation of the inner space surrounded in head and opposite imperforated is installed to the neck and is had on head Shell；

Multiple removable brushing clusters have by the outwardly extending distal end of perforation in the shell and are fixedly attached to multiple buckets The distal end of each bucket, the bucket are trapped in the inner space；

Movable panel is arranged in the inner space, and the inner space includes for fluidly accommodating the recessed of the bucket Slot, the plate revolvably and can be obliquely arranged on pivot, and the pivot extends to institute from the inner surface of imperforated shell It states in inner space；And

Driving assembly can be operatively coupled to the movable panel, wherein operation of the driving component in the electric toothbrush Period is relative to the trunnion axis tilt and rotates the movable panel,

Wherein, the inner space and the groove are constructed such that the brushing cluster in the bucket can be in the inner space It is mobile,

Wherein, each bucket includes the side that can be engaged with the shell of the perforation, to stop the movement that bucket exceeds the inner space.

2. electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the driving component includes: motor, is connected to power source；With And rotatable drive shaft, have proximally and distally, the proximal end is connected to the motor, and the distal end has relative to described The Offset portion of the longitudinal axis of drive shaft.

3. electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the movable panel includes drive shaft receiving portion, the driving Axis receiving portion is configured to accommodate the Offset portion of the distal end of the drive shaft.

4. electric toothbrush according to claim 3, wherein during the operation of the electric toothbrush, the drive shaft The Offset portion of distal end is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft through circular path in a plane, the plane.

5. electric toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein during the operation of the electric toothbrush, the movable panel Drive shaft receiving portion run through the circular path since the state of the engagement of the Offset portion of the distal end with the drive shaft.

6. electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein the movable panel has long axis and short axis, and institute The drive shaft receiving portion for stating movable panel is placed in the middle along the long axis of the movable panel.

7. electric toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein the pivot connects with the pivot receiving hole in the movable panel It closes, the pivot receiving hole is located at the infall between the long axis and minor axis of the movable panel.

8. electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the inclination and rotation of the movable panel during toothbrush operation It is not aligned obliquely and obliquely with leading to the center of the groove in the movable panel and the center loop of the perforation.

9. electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the brushing cluster in the bucket is relative in the movable panel Groove can be slidably moved into, and mobile independently of the movement of the movable panel, and wherein, operate the phase in electric toothbrush Between, the movable panel and the bucket collide, to give random motion to the brushing cluster.

10. electric toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein the brushing cluster in the bucket is relative in the movable panel Groove revolvably move.

11. electric toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein the groove in the bucket and the movable panel is cylindric , the size of the diameter of the bucket and the groove separately designs to provide the gap between the bucket and the groove, so that The cylinder and the respective axis of the groove have the parallel alignment of circulation and non-flat during the operation of the electric toothbrush Row alignment.

12. electric toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein the circulation alignment is acyclic.

13. electric toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein it is random for recycling alignment.

14. electric toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein during the operation of the electric toothbrush, the bottom table of the bucket The plane in face randomly has and the coplanar aligned of the planar alignment on the surface of the groove in the movable panel and non-co-planar right Standard, the plane on the surface of the groove are opposite with the bottom surface of the bucket.

15. electric toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein during the operation of the electric toothbrush, the bottom table of the bucket Contact point between face and each surface of the groove in the movable panel with the movable panel and bucket collision and Variation, wherein each surface of the groove is opposite with the bottom surface of the bucket.

16. electric toothbrush according to claim 15, wherein the variation is random.

17. electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the wherein energy in the inner space of the bristle in the bucket Mobile size be more than the movable panel peak excursion, the dimension orthogonal in the head longitudinal axis and along described The direction of perforation.

18. electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the drive shaft leads to the vibration of the movable panel Dynamic movement, so that above-mentioned plate and the bucket collide, to give random motion to the brushing cluster.

19. electric toothbrush according to claim 18, wherein the random motion includes the axial fortune of the brushing cluster One or more of dynamic, rotary motion or lateral movement.

20. electric toothbrush according to claim 1 further includes that can be operably coupled to the power source of motor, or can grasp It is connected to the power supply unit of the motor with making.