Brush head for an electric toothbrush and associated electric toothbrush
阅读说明:本技术 用于电动牙刷的刷头及相关电动牙刷 (Brush head for an electric toothbrush and associated electric toothbrush ) 是由 亚恩·卡斯塔多 于 2018-06-06 设计创作,主要内容包括:本发明涉及一种用于电动牙刷(1)的刷头(2),包括:支撑部件(4),其支撑上部和下部侧向毛刷元件(51)及横向毛刷元件(52),用于对上齿和下齿的内面、外面及咬合面进行组合刷洗;以及振荡装置,其旨在向支撑部件施加振荡运动,所述支撑部件可弹性变形,使得其可以在刷洗期间紧贴地适配抵靠上牙弓和下牙弓。根据本发明,振荡装置包括:可移动部件(7),其上安装有支撑部件;以及驱动轴,其联接至可移动部件,以便使可移动部件和支撑部件以振荡方式运动,所述可移动部件在上部侧向毛刷部件与下部侧向毛刷部件之间延伸。(The invention relates to a brush head (2) for an electric toothbrush (1), comprising: a support member (4) supporting the upper and lower lateral brush elements (51) and the lateral brush element (52) for combined brushing of the inner, outer and occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth; and oscillating means intended to apply an oscillating motion to a support member which is elastically deformable so that it can fit snugly against the upper and lower arches during brushing. According to the present invention, an oscillation device includes: a movable member (7) on which the support member is mounted; and a driving shaft coupled to the movable member so as to move the movable member and the support member in an oscillating manner, the movable member extending between the upper lateral brush member and the lower lateral brush member.)
1. A brush head (2; 200) for an electric toothbrush (1; 100), comprising:
-a support (4; 400) comprising two lateral walls (41; 410) connected by a transverse wall (42; 420), on both sides of the transverse wall (42; 420), which delimit an upper groove (43; 430) and a lower groove (44; 430), wherein the lateral walls (41; 410) and the transverse walls (42; 420) are shaped so as to support, on the one hand, inside the upper groove (43; 420), an upper lateral brush element (51; 61) and an upper transverse brush element (523; 623) opposite one another, and, on the other hand, inside the lower groove (44; 440), a lower lateral brush element (51, 61) and a lower transverse brush element (524; 624) opposite one another; and
-oscillating means (6) adapted to impart an oscillating movement to said support (4; 440);
wherein the support (4; 400) is elastically deformable to allow arcuate deformation and has a median Plane (PM) intersecting the two lateral walls (41; 410) and the transverse wall (42; 420), such that the support (4; 400) is shaped so as to support, on both sides of the median Plane (PM), an upper lateral brush element (51; 61), an upper transverse brush element (523; 623), a lower lateral brush element (51; 61) and a lower transverse brush element (524; 624);
and wherein the oscillating device (6) comprises: a movable part (7; 700) on which the support (4; 400) is mounted; and a drive shaft (8) coupled to the movable component (7; 700) to drive the movable component (7; 700) and the support (4; 400) oscillatingly according to an oscillatory motion comprising at least one reciprocating component that translates according to a direction orthogonal to the midplane (PM), wherein the movable component (7; 700) and the drive shaft extend substantially in the midplane (PM) of the support (4).
2. The brush head (2; 200) according to claim 1, wherein the support (4; 400) is elastically deformable by being at least partially made of an elastically deformable flexible material.
3. The brush head (2; 200) according to claim 2, wherein the support (4; 400) is made in one piece of an elastically deformable flexible material.
4. The brush head (2; 200) according to claim 3, wherein the support (4; 400) is made in one piece in a single piece from an elastically deformable flexible material.
5. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the lateral walls (41; 410) of the support (4) has at least one groove (416) or at least one notch (417; 418) forming a folded primer to promote the arcuate deformation.
6. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral wall (41; 410) and the transverse wall (42; 420) are made of an elastically deformable flexible material.
7. The brush head (2) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transverse wall (42) has a through aperture (421, 422) shaped so as to receive a transverse brush element (52) having an upper brush (523) forming an upper transverse brush element and an opposite lower brush (524) forming a lower transverse brush element.
8. The brush head (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper groove (43) and the lower groove (44) are rectilinear grooves delimited by substantially parallel and flat lateral walls (41).
9. The brush head (200) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper groove (430) and the lower groove (440) are curved grooves bounded by curved lateral walls (410).
10. The brush head (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the lateral wall (41) and the transverse wall (42) has a through aperture (411, 412, 413, 414, 422) shaped so as to receive a brush element (51, 52) by nesting.
11. The brush head (2) according to the preceding claim wherein each aperture (411; 412; 413; 414; 422) has an inner boundary in which at least one protruding lug or conversely at least one slot is provided, such that each brush element (51; 52) can be nested in one aperture by the fit of the lug in the slot.
12. The brush head (2) according to the preceding claim wherein each aperture (411; 412; 413; 414; 422) has on its inner boundary a rigid reinforcing frame or insert in which the protruding lugs or slots are provided.
13. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable part (7; 700) of the oscillating means (6) is a rigid part.
14. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable part (7; 700) of the oscillating means (6) extends at the level of a transverse wall (42; 420) of the support (4; 400).
15. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable part (7; 700) of the oscillating means (6) has a mounting portion (70; 720) which passes through the support (4) in a lateral wall (42) of the support, the mounting portion (70; 720) having a central portion (702; 740) which extends in the lateral wall (42; 420) and which has an upper face (703; 741) facing the upper recess (43; 430) and a lower face (704; 741) facing the lower recess (44).
16. The brush head (2; 200) according to the preceding claim, wherein the upper (703; 741) and lower (704; 742) faces of the central portion (702; 740) of the mounting portion (70; 720) of the movable part (7; 700) support brushes forming an upper lateral brush element (523; 623) and a lower lateral brush element (524; 624), respectively.
17. The brush head (2) according to any one of claims 15 and 16, wherein the mounting portion (70) of the movable part (7) is nested in two through-mounting openings (415) formed opposite each other in respective lateral walls (41) of the support (4).
18. The brush head (200) of any of claims 15 and 16, wherein the mounting portion (720) of the movable member (700) is embedded within the support (400).
19. The brush head (200) of the preceding claim, wherein the mounting portion (720) of the movable part (700) has two opposite end portions (730) embedded in the respective lateral wall (410), or each end portion (730) has:
-an upper face (731) facing the upper groove (730), the upper face (731) supporting brushes forming upper lateral brush elements (61) passing through the corresponding lateral wall (410) to open into the upper groove (430); and
-a lower face (732) facing the lower groove (440), the lower face (732) supporting a brush forming a lower lateral brush element (61) passing through a corresponding lateral wall (410) to open into the lower groove (440).
20. The brush head (200) of the preceding claim, wherein two rigid inner members (800) are embedded in the support (400), wherein each inner member (800) is rigidly coupled to a mounting portion (720) of the movable member (700) on either side of the movable member (700), wherein each inner member (800) comprises a central portion (840) embedded in the lateral wall (420) and having:
-an upper face (841) facing said upper groove (430), said upper face (841) supporting brushes forming upper transverse brush elements (623) passing through said transverse wall (420) to open into said upper groove (430); and
-an opposite lower face (842) facing the lower groove (440), the lower face (842) supporting brushes forming a lower lateral brush element (624) passing through the lateral wall (420) to open into the lower groove (440).
21. The brush head (200) of the preceding claim, wherein each inner part (800) comprises two opposite end portions (830) embedded in the respective lateral wall (410), or each end portion (830) has:
-an upper face (831) facing said upper recess (730), said upper face (831) supporting brushes forming upper lateral brush elements (61) passing through the corresponding lateral wall (410) to open into said upper recess (430); and
-a lower face (832) facing the lower groove (440), the lower face (832) supporting brushes forming lower lateral brush elements (61) passing through the corresponding lateral wall (410) to open into the lower groove (440).
22. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable part (7) has a coupling portion (71) coupled to the drive shaft (8) via a coupling element (710; 82) forming means for converting the rotation of the drive shaft (8) into a reciprocating oscillation of the movable part (7; 700) and the support (4; 400).
23. The brush head (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the coupling element comprises an oblong slit (710) formed in the coupling portion (71) and an eccentric cam (82) provided on the upper end (81) of the drive shaft (8), wherein the eccentric cam (82) engages in the oblong slit (710) so as to convert the rotation of the drive shaft (8) into a reciprocating oscillation of the movable part (7) and the support (4).
24. The brush head (2) according to any one of claims 22 and 23, wherein the coupling part (71) is fitted in a housing (9) in which two opposite guide apertures (93) are provided, and the coupling part (71) comprises two guide pins (711) which engage in the guide apertures (93).
25. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising upper (51; 61) and lower (51; 61) lateral brush elements supported by the lateral walls (41; 410) of the support (4; 400) and upper (523; 623) and lower (524; 624) lateral brush elements supported by the lateral walls (42; 420) of the support (4; 400).
26. The brush head (2; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a main sleeve (10) at least partially surrounding the drive shaft (8) and on which the movable part (7; 700) is mounted, said main sleeve (10) being intended to be removably mounted on a handle (3) housing an electric motor coupled to an output shaft adapted to be coupled with the drive shaft (8).
27. An electric toothbrush (1; 100) comprising a handle (3) housing an electric motor coupled to an output shaft and a brush head (2; 200) according to the preceding claim, wherein a drive shaft of an oscillating device (6) of the brush head (2; 200) is coupled on the one hand to the movable part (7; 700) to drive the movable part (7; 700) and the support (4; 400) oscillatingly and on the other hand to the output shaft, and wherein the oscillating device (6) is carried by a main sleeve (10) removably mounted on an upper end (30) of the handle (3).
28. A brush kit comprising at least one brush element (51, 52) adapted to nest in a through aperture (411, 412, 413, 414, 422) provided for a brush head (2) according to claim 10.
29. A brush assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the or each brush element (51; 52) comprises a base portion (510; 520) provided with a peripheral profile in which at least one slot (514) or conversely at least one protruding lug is provided.
30. A brush kit according to any one of claims 28 and 29, comprising at least one lateral brush element (52) comprising a base (520) having an upper face supporting an upper brush (523) and a lower face opposite the upper face and supporting a lower brush (524).
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a brush head for an electric toothbrush and an electric toothbrush equipped with such a brush head.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a brush head suitable for combined or simultaneous brushing of upper and lower teeth, and in particular for combined brushing of the inner, outer and occlusal surfaces of both the upper and lower teeth.
Background
In the toothbrush industry, particularly in power toothbrushes, it is conventional to use brush heads that include bristles that are excited by a rotational motion or by a vibrating or reciprocating motion.
However, with such brushes, several minutes of brushing are recommended to be complete and effective, which makes this operation too long and tedious for many people who accelerate brushing in a reduced time (too short to be effective).
To solve this problem, a toothbrush is known, in particular from document GB 1331646, which allows to brush the upper and lower teeth simultaneously, wherein the rotary support comprises two rotary discs supporting a brush element. However, such rotating brushes are inefficient for the passage of bristles between teeth.
It is also known from document FR 2849591a1 to use a toothbrush comprising a block generally shaped as a mouthguard, made of a thermoformable material so as to adapt it to the conformation of the user after exposure to a suitable temperature. The block is provided with two opposed faces, each face having an arcuate recess therein lined internally with a brush. However, such brushes are impractical to use because of the need to preheat the block to conform to the arcuate shape of the upper and lower arches, and further because the volume of the block almost completely surrounds the upper and lower arches. Furthermore, when the brush is worn, at least the entire block must be replaced, which is disadvantageous in terms of costs for the user.
Disclosure of Invention
The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks by proposing a brush head for an electric toothbrush that allows to brush both the upper and lower teeth simultaneously, while being simple in design, adaptable to many dentition morphologies, cheap to manufacture, and also having a reduced size.
Another object of the invention is to propose a brush head which allows the combined brushing of the inner, outer and occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth for a quick and effective brushing.
Another object of the invention is to propose a brush head shaped for the grip of an electric toothbrush that is ergonomic and allows complete brushing, without having to remove the brush head from the mouth to reach the molars to the right and to the left.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a brush head which allows the brush element to be replaced without having to replace all of the items.
To this end, the invention proposes a brush head for an electric toothbrush, the brush head comprising:
-a support comprising two lateral walls connected by a transverse wall, which separates an upper groove and a lower groove on both sides of the transverse wall, wherein these lateral walls and transverse wall are shaped so as to support, on the one hand, inside the upper groove, an upper lateral brush element and an upper transverse brush element opposite each other for the combined brushing of the inner face, the outer face and the occlusal face of the upper teeth, and, on the other hand, inside the lower groove, a lower lateral brush element and a lower transverse brush element arranged opposite each other; and
-oscillating means adapted to impart an oscillating movement to said support;
wherein the support is resiliently deformable to allow arcuate deformation and has a midplane intersecting the two lateral and transverse walls such that the support is shaped to support the upper lateral brush element, the upper transverse brush element, the lower lateral brush element and the lower transverse brush element on either side of the midplane;
and wherein the oscillation device comprises: a movable member on which a support is mounted; and a drive shaft coupled to the movable component to oscillatingly drive the movable component and the support in accordance with an oscillatory motion, the oscillatory motion including at least one reciprocating component that translates in a direction orthogonal to the midplane, wherein the movable component and the drive shaft extend substantially in the midplane of the support.
In the context of the present invention, the support is shaped so as to allow for arcuate deformation, that is to say, the support is adapted to elastically deform so as to assume an arcuate configuration so as to allow the support to conform to the upper and lower arches during brushing, which will be performed by placing the upper arch in the upper recess and the lower arch in the lower recess and then brushing all faces of the upper and lower teeth by sliding the support from left to right and from right to left. Thus, due to the flexible or elastically deformable nature of the support, a support may be proposed that is suitable for many dentition morphologies, as the support is adapted to deform (that is, become arched) during brushing so as to conform to the upper and lower arches.
In combination with this flexible nature of the support, the positioning of the movable component of the oscillating device and the drive shaft relative to the midplane of the support will allow the toothbrush to be ergonomically held throughout brushing, starting from the central incisors, then proceeding right until the right molars (until the brush head abuts right against the intersection of the lips), and returning left until the left molars (until the brush head abuts left against the intersection of the lips), without having to remove the support from the mouth throughout brushing, and merely sliding the support over the arch before it closes over it to form a "track" for the support, which slides somewhat like a slider.
Thus, the support may be reduced in size and all that is required is for the support to slide along the dental arch during brushing to pass from the incisors to the right molars and then to the left molars. In other words, once the support is placed in the mouth, it no longer comes out of the mouth, and the manual brushing motion will be completed as a displacement from left to right and from right to left along the track (in this context referring to the two dental arches closing on the support).
At the start of brushing, the user bites into the support by placing the upper arch in the upper recess and by placing the lower arch in the lower recess so that the mid-plane of the support substantially coincides with the user's plane of symmetry (or the plane of symmetry of the face or arch), and then the user slides the support to the right and then to the left (or vice versa) to reach the rear molars.
When in use:
the upper lateral brush element will be able to brush the outer (or vestibular) and inner (or palatal) faces of the upper teeth;
the lower lateral brush element will be able to brush the outer (or vestibular) and inner (or palatal) faces of the lower teeth; and is
The upper lateral brush element will be able to brush the occlusal (or chewing) surface of the upper teeth;
the lower lateral brush element will be able to brush the occlusal (or chewing) surface of the lower teeth.
In the context of the present application, it is clear the fact that the wall of the support is "shaped so as to support" the different aforementioned brush elements, which means that said wall supports these brush elements and/or that said wall is provided with means for supporting the brush elements, which may not be present because they are removable or removable. In other words, the protection purpose may not be limited to the wall supporting the brush elements, that is, brush heads with brush elements (for example integrated into or firmly fastened to the wall of the support) or alternatively brush heads without brush elements (which are then removable or detachable and adapted to cooperate with the wall of the support) may be proposed.
Thereafter, with the invention, the coupled movable component and the drive shaft, positioned substantially in the midplane, will allow to impart to the support an effective oscillating motion having at least one reciprocating component that translates according to a direction orthogonal to the midplane, for the combined brushing of the inner, outer and occlusal surfaces of the lower and upper teeth; this component of the oscillating motion constitutes a vibrating motion that actively promotes brushing efficiency.
In the context of the present invention, the fact that the drive shaft is coupled to the movable part to drive the movable part and the support oscillatingly with an oscillatory motion comprising at least one reciprocating component that translates according to a direction orthogonal to said midplane means that the coupling between the drive shaft and the movable part provides for, in use, converting the motion of the drive shaft into an oscillatory motion incorporating the aforementioned reciprocating component without limiting the invention to a specific coupling, in other words to a specific motion conversion between the drive shaft and the movable part.
In the context of the present invention, "the movable part and the drive shaft extend substantially in the midplane of the support", the above feature means that the movable part and the drive shaft are elongated parts extending according to respective longitudinal directions freely included in the midplane of the support at an angle of ± 10 degrees with respect to the midplane or even ± 5 degrees with respect to the midplane. In other words, the midplane substantially cuts the movable component and the drive shaft along their respective lengths.
This positioning of the movable member and the drive shaft relative to the midplane of the support will allow for an ergonomic grip of the handle of the power toothbrush. Indeed, when in position, the handle, parallel to the drive shaft or even substantially collinear with the drive shaft, will extend in a mid-plane of the support, which is substantially coplanar with the plane of symmetry of the face when brushing is started (supported at the level of the central incisors), so that the handle is held substantially like an ice cream cone or microphone, providing a particularly ergonomic and non-traumatic grip for the arms and shoulders throughout brushing; the duration of brushing is also significantly shortened by the plurality of brush elements and by the sliding brushing motion from right to left and from left to right.
According to a variant, the midplane is a plane of symmetry of the support.
Typically, the upper lateral brush element, the upper transverse brush element, the lower lateral brush element and the lower transverse brush element are disposed on either side of a midplane when the brush elements are in position on the support, which means that:
-a portion of the upper lateral brush element, the upper transverse brush element, the lower lateral brush element and the lower transverse brush element is arranged to the right of the mid-plane; and is
-another part of the upper lateral brush element, the upper transverse brush element, the lower lateral brush element and the lower transverse brush element is arranged to the left of the mid-plane.
It should also be noted that the support is elastically deformable to enable arcuate deformation on either side of the midplane, and in particular symmetric arcuate deformation with respect to the midplane.
According to one feature, the support is elastically deformable by being made at least in part of an elastically deformable flexible material.
Alternatively, the support is elastically deformable by being made in the form of a frame or skeleton adapted to be elastically deformable.
In a particular embodiment, the support is integrally made of an elastically deformable flexible material.
Advantageously, the support is made in one piece in a single piece from an elastically deformable flexible material.
According to one possibility, the elastically deformable flexible material is of the plastic, polymer or elastomer material type.
According to another possibility, the elastically deformable flexible material is a silicone elastomer, an isobutylene-isoprene elastomer, a synthetic or natural rubber, a polyacrylic elastomer.
According to another possibility, the support is made by moulding.
In particular embodiments, at least one of the lateral walls of the support has at least one groove or at least one notch forming a folded primer to promote arch deformation, which has the advantage of promoting flexibility of the support to conform to the upper and lower arches during brushing.
According to one possibility, the support has grooves or notches, which help to increase the flexibility of the support to conform to the dental arch when in place.
According to a variant, the or each groove is formed on the outer face and/or on the inner face of at least one lateral wall.
According to a variant, the or each groove extends parallel to a vertical direction orthogonal to the main (or extension) direction of the aforementioned groove; the major direction of the groove is orthogonal to the midplane.
According to one possibility, the lateral walls and the transverse walls are made of an elastically deformable flexible material.
According to another possibility, the transverse wall has a through aperture shaped to receive a transverse brush element having an upper brush forming an upper transverse brush element and an opposite lower brush forming a lower transverse brush element.
In this embodiment, the aperture forms a removable fastening means adapted to removably fasten the lateral brush element to the lateral wall, but it should be noted that other forms of removable fastening means may be considered without departing from the invention.
According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the upper and lower grooves are rectilinear grooves delimited by lateral walls that are substantially parallel and flat.
As explained previously, with such a support it is not necessary to have arcuate grooves resulting in increased size, but such an arcuate shape is still possible, particularly for baby dentitions.
Thus, according to one variant, the upper and lower grooves are curved grooves delimited by curved lateral walls.
In other words, the invention may not be limited to lateral walls that are substantially parallel and flat, but more generally comprise lateral walls that are opposite each other to define, with the transverse walls, a lower groove and an upper groove.
In a particular embodiment, at least one of the lateral wall and the transverse wall has a through aperture shaped to receive the brush element by nesting.
Thus, the brush elements can be removed and replaced individually without having to replace the support and other elements of the brush head. In this embodiment, the aperture forms a removable fastening means adapted to removably fasten the brush element to the wall(s) of the support, but it should be noted that other forms of removable fastening means are contemplated without departing from the invention.
According to a variant, the two lateral walls and the transverse wall have such a through aperture.
According to a possibility of the invention, each aperture has an inner boundary in which at least one protruding lug or conversely at least one slot is provided, so that each brush element can be nested in one aperture by the fit of the lug in the slot.
Such an aperture is suitable where each brush element comprises a base provided with an outer profile in which at least one slot or conversely at least one protruding lug is provided, such that each brush element nests in an aperture by the fit of the lug in the slot.
According to another possibility of the invention, the aperture is provided in an elastically deformable flexible wall, which allows a positive mounting of the brush element with an efficient and durable mechanical retention.
According to another possibility, each aperture has, on its inner boundary, a rigid reinforcing frame or insert in which a projecting lug or slot is provided.
Thus, the possibility of positioning a rigid frame or insert placed in the aperture (for example by overmoulding or by bi-injection moulding) and receiving the brush elements in order to reinforce their anchorage and prevent their detachment according to the flexibility of the support may be considered.
According to one possibility, the oscillating motion comprises only a reciprocating component translating according to a direction orthogonal to the midplane of the support (and therefore incidentally substantially parallel to the direction of extension of the two lower and upper grooves).
According to one feature, the movable part of the oscillating device is a rigid part.
According to a variant, the movable part of the oscillating device extends according to a direction orthogonal to the lateral walls.
According to another feature, the movable part of the oscillating device extends at the level of the transverse wall of the support, and therefore substantially at the level of the interface between the upper and lower arches in the brushing situation, which facilitates easy handling by the user.
According to another feature, the movable part of the oscillating device has a mounting portion passing through the support in a lateral wall of the support, the mounting portion having a central portion extending in the lateral wall and having an upper face facing the upper recess and a lower face facing the lower recess.
The mounting portion is thus placed at the core or at the centre of the support in order to optimize the transmission of the oscillating movement to the whole support.
According to one possibility, the upper and lower faces of the central portion of the mounting portion of the movable part support brushes forming the upper and lower lateral brush elements, respectively; such brushes extend inside the upper and lower grooves, respectively, in place.
According to one feature, the mounting portion of the movable member is nested in two mounting through openings formed opposite each other in respective lateral walls of the support.
According to a variant, the mounting portion of the movable part is embedded in the support.
In a particular embodiment, the mounting portion of the movable part has two opposite end portions embedded in the respective lateral walls, or each end portion has:
-an upper face facing the upper recess, said upper face supporting brushes forming upper lateral brush elements passing through respective lateral walls to open into the upper recess; and
-a lower face facing the lower recess, said lower face supporting brushes forming lower lateral brush elements passing through the respective lateral wall to open into the lower recess.
Advantageously, two rigid inner parts are embedded within the support, wherein each inner part is rigidly coupled to the mounting portion of the movable part on either side of the movable part, wherein each inner part comprises a central portion embedded within the transverse wall and having:
-an upper face facing the upper recess, said upper face supporting brushes forming an upper transverse brush element passing through the transverse wall to open into the upper recess; and
-an opposite lower face facing the lower recess, said lower face supporting brushes forming a lower transverse brush element passing through the transverse wall to open into the lower recess.
Such an inner part is advantageous for transmitting the oscillating movement throughout the support and thus throughout the entire brush element. Furthermore, the rigid coupling between the mounting portion of the movable member and the two inner members is shaped so as to allow an arcuate deformation of the support, so as to assume an arcuate configuration and thus conform to the dental arch. The rigidity of this coupling is intended for a proper transmission of the oscillating movement of the movable part to the two inner parts.
Still advantageously, each inner part comprises two opposite end portions embedded in the respective lateral wall, wherein each end portion has:
-an upper face facing the upper recess, said upper face supporting brushes forming upper lateral brush elements passing through the corresponding lateral wall to open into the upper recess; and
-a lower face facing the lower recess, said lower face supporting brushes forming lower lateral brush elements passing through the corresponding lateral wall to open into the lower recess.
According to another possibility, the movable part has a coupling portion coupled to the drive shaft via a coupling element forming means for converting the rotation of the drive shaft into reciprocating oscillations of the movable part and the support.
In a particular embodiment, the coupling element comprises an oblong slit formed in the coupling portion and an eccentric cam provided on the upper end of the drive shaft, wherein the eccentric cam engages into the oblong slit, thereby converting the rotation of the drive shaft into a reciprocating oscillation of the movable part and the support.
This transmission of the rotation of the drive shaft to the reciprocating oscillating movement is therefore of the cam-follower type, the follower being a coupling portion with its oblong slit.
However, and as mentioned previously, the invention may not be limited to such cam-follower couplings, but other types of couplings may be considered between the drive shaft and the movable component to convert the motion of the drive shaft (and in particular but not limited to the rotational motion of the drive shaft) into an oscillating motion of the movable component integrating a reciprocating component as described above.
In an advantageous embodiment, the coupling part is fitted in a housing in which two opposite guide apertures are provided, and the coupling part comprises two guide pins engaging in these guide apertures for guiding the movable part according to the reciprocating movement.
In a particular embodiment, the brush head further comprises a main sleeve at least partially surrounding the drive shaft and on which the movable part is mounted, the main sleeve being intended to be removably mounted on a handle housing an electric motor coupled to an output shaft adapted to be coupled with the drive shaft.
In a particular embodiment, the brush head further comprises upper and lower lateral brush elements supported by the lateral walls of the support and upper and lower transverse brush elements supported by the transverse walls of the support.
In practice, the brush elements may be permanently secured to the support, or they may be removably or detachably secured to the support, so that in this second case with removable brush elements, a support may be provided on which no brush elements are mounted.
The present invention also relates to an electric toothbrush comprising: a handle housing a motor coupled to an output shaft; and a brush head according to the invention, wherein the drive shaft of the oscillating means of the brush head is coupled on the one hand to the movable part to drive it and the support in oscillation and on the other hand to the output shaft, and wherein the oscillating means is carried by a main sleeve removably mounted on the upper end of the handle.
The invention also relates to a brush kit comprising at least one brush element adapted to nest in a through aperture provided for the aforementioned brush head.
According to one variant, the brush kit comprises several brush elements adapted to nest in a through aperture provided for the brush head.
According to one variant, the brush set comprises as many brush elements as there are through-going apertures provided for the brush heads, each brush element being adapted for a dedicated aperture.
According to one possibility, each brush element comprises a base provided with a peripheral contour in which at least one slot or, conversely, at least one protruding lug is provided, so that each brush element can be nested in one aperture by the fit of the lug in the slot.
Advantageously, the base of the brush element is rigid in order to improve mechanical retention in the aperture.
According to one possibility, the brush kit comprises at least one lateral brush element comprising a base having an upper face supporting the upper brush and a lower face opposite the upper face and supporting the lower brush.
Drawings
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of two non-limiting examples of embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first toothbrush according to the present invention equipped with a first head according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial rear perspective view of the first toothbrush of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of the first toothbrush of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of the first head of FIGS. 1-3 without the brush element;
FIG. 5 is an exploded front perspective view of the first head of FIGS. 1-3 without the brush element;
fig. 6 is a perspective view of the support of the first brush head of fig. 1-5 with a single lateral brush element located forward of its receiving aperture;
FIG. 7 is a perspective (left) rear view and a (right) side view of the lateral brush element;
figures 8 and 9 are front partial views of a user (only his mouth and hands shown) holding a first toothbrush according to the invention, introducing the support into the mouth before closing the arch on the support at the start of brushing (figure 8) and after closing the arch in the lower and upper grooves of the support respectively (figure 9);
FIGS. 10 and 11 are front partial views of a user (showing the upper body, head and full arms) holding a first toothbrush according to the present invention during brushing of incisors (FIG. 10) and during left brushing of posterior molars (FIG. 11);
FIG. 12 is a side view of a user (showing the upper body, head and intact arms) holding a first toothbrush according to the invention during brushing of incisors;
FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of a second toothbrush in accordance with this invention equipped with a brush head in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 14 is a partial side elevational view of the second toothbrush of FIG. 13;
figure 15 is a front elevational view of the second head of figures 13 and 14;
figure 16 is a top plan view of the second head of figures 13-15; and
fig. 17 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of the second head of Figs. 13-16 without the brush element.
Detailed Description
The following detailed description relates to a first
The following description relates to the first
Referring to fig. 1 to 3, a first
The
The
The support 4 has two parallel
The
The
The
Thus, according to a median plane PM parallel to the plane (Y, Z), the support 4 has a substantially "H" -shaped section, with a transversal direction Y orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction X and the vertical direction Z. In addition, this midplane PM forms a first plane of symmetry of the support 4.
The support 4 has a second symmetry about a second plane of symmetry parallel to the plane (X, Z) and to the
Finally, support 4 has a third symmetry about a third plane of symmetry parallel to plane (X, Y) and orthogonal to
The
Each
a central
a central
On the right side, the corner
The
Each
These mounting
Each
These
The
The
The
The
The
Each
Once the
Thus, once the
upper
lower
The
Each
Once the
Thus, once the
an upper brush 523 (or upper transverse brush element 523) arranged for combined brushing of the occlusal surfaces of the upper teeth; and
lower brushes 524 (or lower transverse brush elements 524) arranged for joint brushing of the occlusal surfaces of the lower teeth.
The
The oscillation device 6 includes:
a rigid
a
a
The
The mounting
two
a
Thus, the
With the elasticity or flexibility of each
In an extension of one of the
The
The
The
The
The
The
The upper half-
The two half-
The
The
With reference to fig. 8 to 12, the following description relates to the use of the
As shown in fig. 8, prior to brushing, the user opens the mouth to insert the support 4 into the mouth substantially at the center, so that the lower and upper incisors, and possibly the lower and upper canines, are placed opposite the lower and upper grooves of the support 4 according to the length L of the support 4.
As shown in fig. 9, the user then closes the mouth to place the lower and upper incisors, and possibly the lower and upper canines, within the lower and upper recesses of the support member 4. Thus, at the start of brushing (and throughout brushing), the longitudinal direction of the
As shown in fig. 10 and 12, at the start of brushing, the
Thereafter, and as shown in fig. 11, the user will travel to the right until the right molar and then back to the left until the left molar without having to remove the support 4 from the mouth during the entire brushing, and simply slide the support 4 over the closed upper and lower arches on the support 4 guided only by the user (who continues to hold the
Referring to fig. 13 to 17, the following description relates to the second
Referring to fig. 13 and 14, a second
The
The
The
Thus, the
Unlike the support 4 of the
More specifically, each
Furthermore, the
More specifically, the proximal
Thus, by considering the transversal direction Y, the longitudinal direction X and the vertical direction Z as previously described for the
Unlike the support 4 of the
Conversely, the
Still unlike the support 4 of the
The
The
Therefore, a distinction should be made between:
upper
lower
The upper
A distinction should also be made between:
an upper
a lower
Similar to the
The oscillation device includes:
a rigid movable part 700 (partially shown in fig. 17) on which the
a drive shaft (not shown) coupled to the
a
The coupling between the
The
The
The
The mounting
two
a
In other words, the mounting
The
the
the
To the extent that the
Each
the
the
This arcuate or "V" shape of the
To the extent that each
Referring to fig. 17, it should be noted that two
Each
two
a
In other words, each
Furthermore, each
Furthermore, this
Accordingly, each
Two
The
the
the
To the extent that the
Each
the
the
This arcuate or "V" shape of the
To the extent that each
Of course, the two above examples of embodiment are not limiting and other modifications and detailed adjustments can be made to the brush head according to the invention, without however departing from the scope of the invention, for example other oscillating means or other mechanisms suitable for imparting an oscillating movement to the support can be made.
As a variant example, the
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