EP2914204A1 - Electric toothbrush attachment mechanism - Google Patents
Electric toothbrush attachment mechanismInfo
- Publication number
- EP2914204A1 EP2914204A1 EP13851871.7A EP13851871A EP2914204A1 EP 2914204 A1 EP2914204 A1 EP 2914204A1 EP 13851871 A EP13851871 A EP 13851871A EP 2914204 A1 EP2914204 A1 EP 2914204A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- retention
- attachment
- neck
- brushing
- rib
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
- A46B5/0095—Removable or interchangeable brush heads
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
- A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
- A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
- A61C17/222—Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an attachment mechanism, and more particularly to attachment mechanism for an electric toothbrush.
- the invention provides a snap-on design with a distinct and relatively easily
- a molded ring on the male attachment member of the handle snaps into a molded undercut that is formed from the outside of the brushing attachment or through a collapsible core arrangement.
- the invention allows the attachment of the brushing attachment to the handle by pushing the brush head onto the handle in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the drive mechanism (see arrow Al in FIG. 13 A). This eliminates the need for rotation to secure the brushing attachment to the handle and provides a more definite and predictable location of the snap features.
- the invention includes a battery powered toothbrush handle male
- the brushing attachment includes at least one retention lug with a lead-in ramp or radius to provide a path for retention rib during attachment to the handle and an alignment rib that mates with the alignment channel.
- a molded feature such as a collapsible core, external cavity or slide or other mechanism for forming a distinct position and configuration of the retention rib. This may be a recess defined in the inner surface or a hole that extends through to the outside surface.
- the retention lug can also include a lead-out ramp or radius to provide a path for the retention rib during removal from the handle.
- the toothbrush that includes a brushing attachment and a handle.
- the brushing attachment includes a main body portion that includes a hollow neck and a head.
- the neck includes a skirt portion with an attachment opening and the head includes a cleaning member opening.
- the handle includes a main body portion that houses a motor, and a male attachment member extending upwardly from the main body portion that is at least partially received in the attachment opening in the brushing attachment.
- the male attachment member includes at least a first retention rib that is received in a first retention recess defined in the inner surface of the neck of the brushing attachment, and the inner surface of the neck includes a first retention lug extending outwardly therefrom that is positioned below the first retention rib.
- the male attachment member includes a second retention rib opposed to the first retention rib that is received in a second retention recess defined in the inner surface of the neck of the brushing attachment, and the inner surface of the neck includes a second retention lug extending outwardly therefrom that is positioned below the second retention rib.
- the male attachment member includes a tapered outer surface that is generally cylindrical in shape and the first and second attachment ribs extend at least partially circumferentially about the male attachment member.
- the inner surface of the neck includes at least a first stop member positioned above the first retention recess and a second stop member positioned above the second retention recess.
- the first retention lug includes an inclined bottom surface and an inclined top surface.
- the inner surface of the neck includes a longitudinally extending alignment rib that is received in a longitudinally extending alignment groove in the male attachment member.
- a method that includes providing an electric toothbrush handle that includes a main body portion that houses a motor, and a male attachment member extending upwardly from the main body portion, providing a brushing attachment that includes a main body portion that includes a hollow head and neck having a skirt with an attachment opening, inserting the male attachment member into the attachment opening, engaging a retention lug on an inner surface of the neck of the brushing attachment with a retention rib on the male attachment member, thereby causing the skirt to flex outwardly, and seating the retention rib in a retention recess defined in the inner surface of the neck and positioned above the retention lug.
- the retention lug includes an inclined surface, and the engagement of the retention rib with the inclined surface causes the skirt to flex outwardly.
- the male attachment member includes a tapered outer surface that is generally cylindrical in shape and the inner surface of the neck includes a includes at least a first stop member positioned above the retention recess.
- the inner surface of the neck includes a longitudinally extending alignment rib, and the method further comprises the step of inserting the alignment rib into a longitudinally extending alignment groove in the male attachment member.
- the brushing attachment for use with a toothbrush.
- the brushing attachment includes a main body portion that includes a hollow neck and a head.
- the neck includes a skirt portion with an attachment opening and the head includes a cleaning member opening.
- the brushing attachment also includes a first retention recess defined in an inner surface of the neck, and a first retention lug disposed on the inner surface of the neck and positioned below the first retention recess.
- the brushing attachment includes a second retention recess defined in an inner surface of the neck and a second retention lug with an inclined bottom surface disposed on the inner surface of the neck and positioned below the second retention recess.
- the inner surface of the neck preferably includes at least a first stop member positioned above the first retention recess and a second stop member positioned above the second retention recess and the inner surface of the neck includes a
- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush that includes the attachment
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the brushing attachment
- FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the brushing attachment
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the brushing attachment
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional end view taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 4;
- FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the brushing attachment
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brushing attachment taken along line 7—7 of FIG. 6;
- FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the brushing attachment
- FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the male attachment member of the handle.
- FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the male attachment member of the handle.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the handle including the male attachment member
- FIG. 12 is another perspective view of a portion of the handle including the male attachment member
- FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brushing attachment prior to being attached to the male attachment member of the handle;
- FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brushing attachment while being attached to the male attachment member of the handle.
- FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brushing attachment after being attached to the male attachment member of the handle.
- references in this specification to "one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the-disclosure.
- the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments.
- various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others.
- various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other
- FIGS. 1- 13 show an electric toothbrush 10 having a handle 12 and a brushing attachment 14.
- the electrical components of the handle 12, e.g., the motor 17, battery, etc.
- the components for transmitting motion e.g., rotational motion
- the powered toothbrush includes the handle 12 with a male attachment member 19 that receives the brushing attachment 14.
- the brushing attachment 14 includes a main body portion 16 that includes a hollow neck 18 and a head 20.
- the neck 18 includes a skirt portion 34 with an attachment opening 24 and the head 20 includes a cleaning member opening 25 through which extends a cleaning member 23 (e.g., bristles).
- a cleaning member 23 e.g., bristles
- brushing attachment 14 can include brushing surfaces other than the bristles, such as massagers, flossers or other tooth cleaning technology known in the art (these are all referred to herein generally as "cleaning members").
- the brushing attachment 14 includes gearing or other energy translation mechanism for translating the rotational energy through the ninety degree bend from an internal drive shaft or the like to the cleaning member 23.
- the handle 12 generally includes a main body portion 21 that houses the motor 17, and the male attachment member 19 extending upwardly from the main body portion 21.
- the male attachment member 19 is at least partially received in the attachment opening 24 defined in the brushing attachment 14 and extends up into the hollow neck 18.
- the male attachment member 19 includes at least one retention rib 27 extending in a circumferential direction.
- the handle 12 includes two retention ribs 27 disposed on opposite sides of the male attachment member 19. As explained more fully below, the retention ribs 27 are received in retention recesses 32 that are defined in or on the inner surface 18a of the neck 18 of the brushing attachment 14 to provide retention of the brushing mechanism.
- the male attachment member 19 includes a stop surface
- the brushing attachment 14 includes a lower stop surface 28 that interfaces with the stop surface 29 of the handle 12.
- the male attachment member 19 also preferably includes an alignment groove 31 that is defined by two longitudinally extending protrusions 31a and that receives an alignment rib 22 on the brushing attachment 14 to orient the brushing attachment 14 during attachment to the handle 12. In another embodiment the alignment rib 22 and groove 31 can be omitted.
- the male attachment member 19 also includes a central path 33 for a drive
- the male attachment member 19 preferably includes a tapered interface or outer surface 35 that interacts with a tapered inner surface 26 on the brushing attachment 14 to help align the brushing attachment 14 when the male attachment member 19 and brushing attachment 14 are attached to one another.
- the brushing attachment 14 includes retention lugs 30 and recesses 32.
- Recesses 32 can be defined in the inner surface 18a of the neck or can extend all the way through, as shown in FIG . 3.
- the lugs 30 include lead in ramps, inclined surfaces 30a (or curved surfaces) that engage the retention ribs 27 during attachment.
- the skirt portion 34 of the brushing attachment flexes outwardly (see arrows A2) when the lugs 30 ride up and over the retention ribs 27 (as a result of ramps 30a) and the retention ribs 27 are then seated in recesses 32.
- the ramps can be disposed on the retention ribs 27.
- the skirt portion 34 of the brushing attachment 14 flexes as the interfering retention rib 27 and lug 30 are engaged.
- the brushing attachment 14 can include stop members 36 that engage the retention ribs 27 and prevent any further upward movement thereof.
- the brushing attachment 14 can also include ramps 30b to facilitate removal of the brushing attachment 14 from the handle 12.
- the brushing attachment 14 can also include a ring (not shown) that covers the skirt portion 34.
- the ring can be aligned or positioned with a positioning protrusion 38 on the skirt portion 34.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Dentistry (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Brushes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201261720931P | 2012-10-31 | 2012-10-31 | |
PCT/US2013/067893 WO2014071083A1 (en) | 2012-10-31 | 2013-10-31 | Electric toothbrush attachment mechanism |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2914204A1 true EP2914204A1 (en) | 2015-09-09 |
EP2914204A4 EP2914204A4 (en) | 2016-06-29 |
Family
ID=50628068
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13851871.7A Withdrawn EP2914204A4 (en) | 2012-10-31 | 2013-10-31 | Electric toothbrush attachment mechanism |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2914204A4 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2889792C (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014071083A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA3068277C (en) * | 2017-06-27 | 2021-11-30 | Braun Gmbh | Refill for electric toothbrush |
CN110996844B (en) * | 2017-06-27 | 2023-04-28 | 博朗有限公司 | Coupling mechanism for electric toothbrush |
WO2019005605A1 (en) | 2017-06-27 | 2019-01-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Electric toothbrush |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3158884A (en) * | 1961-12-18 | 1964-12-01 | Monti-Buzzetti Oscar | Electrically operated rotary tooth brush |
US3978852A (en) * | 1975-04-07 | 1976-09-07 | Annoni Jerry D | Plaque jack toothbrush |
ES286841Y (en) * | 1985-05-20 | 1988-10-01 | Vileda Gmbh | DEVICE FOR COUPLING A HANDLE TO A CLEANING TOOL |
US5365627A (en) * | 1993-07-22 | 1994-11-22 | Les Produits Associes. Lpa-Broxo S.A. | Stem brush with automatic insertion system |
US8196246B1 (en) * | 2011-10-14 | 2012-06-12 | Zila, Inc. | Toothbrush head connection |
-
2013
- 2013-10-31 WO PCT/US2013/067893 patent/WO2014071083A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-10-31 EP EP13851871.7A patent/EP2914204A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2013-10-31 CA CA2889792A patent/CA2889792C/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2889792A1 (en) | 2014-05-08 |
CA2889792C (en) | 2017-01-17 |
EP2914204A4 (en) | 2016-06-29 |
WO2014071083A1 (en) | 2014-05-08 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20150520 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
RA4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched (corrected) |
Effective date: 20160527 |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: A61C 17/26 20060101AFI20160520BHEP |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN |
|
18W | Application withdrawn |
Effective date: 20161102 |