DEVICE FOR CLEANING A SET OF TEETH AND CLEANING MEMBER FOR USE THEREIN

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a set of teeth, comprising a handle, a drive arranged on or in the handle and a cleaning member connected movably to the handle and drivably to the drive.

A protection against overloading can here be arranged between the cleaning member and the drive. The overload protection can comprise a slipping coupling, for instance a magnetic coupling.

In addition or instead, the drive can comprise an electric motor and a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable battery can be connected to a USB connection on the handle.

The invention further relates to a cleaning member which is evidently intended for application in such a device.

Claims

1. Device for cleaning a set of teeth, comprising a handle, a drive arranged on or in the handle and a cleaning member connected movably to the handle and drivably to the drive, characterized in that a protection against overloading is arranged between the cleaning member and the drive.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the overload protection comprises a slipping coupling.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the slipping coupling is a magnetic coupling.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the slipping coupling comprises a magnet connected drivably to the drive and a follower of magnetizable material connected to the cleaning member.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the magnet is a permanent magnet.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the magnet comprises neodymium.

7. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning member is mounted rotatably in the handle and the drive comprises a rotatable drive shaft.

8. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the magnet is connected to the drive shaft.

9. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the handle is divisible at the position of the magnetic coupling.

10. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning member comprises a conical brush.

11. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning member is connected releasable to the handle.

12. Device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the cleaning member comprises a flossing thread and a pulley around which the flossing thread is wound is received in or on the handle.

13. Device as claimed in claim 7 characterized in that the pulley is connected to the drive shaft.

14. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the drive shaft is rotatable in two directions.

15. Device as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that the pulley is manufactured at least partially from a magnetizable material and functions as a follower.

16. Device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the cleaning member and the follower are detachable as a whole.

17. Device as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims or as claimed in the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the drive comprises an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.

18. Device as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the rechargeable battery is connected to a USB connection on the handle.

19. Device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the USB connection is a mini USB connection.

20. Cleaning member, evidently intended for application in a device as claimed in claim 1.

Description

[0028] The invention is now elucidated on the basis of an embodiment, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding components have the same reference numerals, and in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a teeth-cleaning device according to the invention,

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view on enlarged scale as according to arrow II in FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view with exploded parts of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the housing of the handle has been omitted for the sake of clarity,

[0032] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through a part of an alternative embodiment of the device, and

[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal section through yet another embodiment of the device.

[0034] A device 1 for cleaning a set of teeth comprises a handle 2, here taking the form of a substantially cylindrical body with a rounded top 10. Cylindrical body 2 forms a housing 3 in which a drive 4 is received. In the shown example this drive 4 comprises an electric motor 5 which is powered by a battery 6 and which has an output drive shaft 7. A switch 11 is provided for switching drive 4 on and off. Drive 4 can here be operational in two directions, and switch 11 can thus be controlled, from the shown neutral position in which drive 4 is not operational, in two directions indicated with arrows. The two operative positions 11A, 11B of switch 11 are shown in broken lines.

[0035] A cleaning member 8, in the shown example in the form of a conical (interdental) brush 9, is connected movably to handle 2. In the shown example cleaning member 8 is mounted rotatably in handle 2. Cleaning member 8 extends substantially in line with a longitudinal axis L of handle 2, and is rotatable about this longitudinal axis L.

[0036] Cleaning member 8 is connected drivably to drive 4. Cleaning member 8 can thus be set into rotation by switching on drive 4, and then be inserted into interdental spaces between the teeth so as to clean them and thus prevent the formation of dental plaque.

[0037] In order to prevent the risk of injury or damage when interdental brush 9 of cleaning member 8 unexpectedly experiences a lot of resistance and as it were “jams”, a protection against overloading is arranged between cleaning member 8 and drive 4. In the shown example this overload protection comprises a slipping coupling 12.

[0038] Although there are different ways of embodying a slipping coupling, in the shown example a magnetic coupling has been opted for. In the shown example this magnetic slipping coupling 12 comprises a magnet 13 which is connected drivably to drive 4 and a follower 14 of magnetizable material which is connected to cleaning member 8. In the shown embodiment magnet 13 is annular and is arranged on a shaft part 15, for instance of plastic, which is provided on its end lying opposite magnet 13 with screw thread 16. This screw thread forms a connection to a bushing 17 with internal screw thread which is fastened onto drive shaft 7. Magnet 13 is fixed relative to shaft 15 by means of a screw 18.

[0039] In the shown example magnet 13 is a permanent magnet, for instance a neodymium magnet. As stated, follower 14 is manufactured from a magnetizable material, for instance iron.

[0040] Follower 14 here takes the form of a pulley with an upper and lower disc, and a groove 19 formed therebetween, and a central infeed opening for a thread, which debouches in groove 19. The pulley is mounted rotatably in a space 20 in an upper part 10 of handle 2. From this space 20, a channel 21 extends to the outer end of handle 2. Wound in the groove 19 of the pulley is an outer end of a flossing thread 22, the other end of which is guided through channel 21 and is attached to the conical (interdental) brush 9 of cleaning member 8. By winding the flossing thread 22 tightly onto the pulley the interdental brush 9 is pulled against the outer end of handle 2, whereby cleaning member 8 is firmly attached.

[0041] When drive 4 is switched on, drive shaft 7 and the shaft part 15 attached thereto rotate, and thereby thus also magnet 13. Follower 14 co-rotates with magnet 13, and this rotation is transmitted via shaft part 15 to interdental brush 9. When this interdental brush 9 experiences an unexpectedly great resistance, follower 14 will lag relative to rotating magnet 13, and thus begin to slip. This prevents overloading.

[0042] Handgrip 2 is divided at the position of slipping coupling 12. Co-acting coupling means arc formed in an upper surface 23 of the cylindrical part of handle 2 and in a lower surface 24 of upper part 10. In the shown example these coupling means can take the form of pins 25 which protrude from lower surface 24 and which can be received in openings 26 in upper surface 23. Owing to these co-acting pins 25 and openings 26, upper part 10 is connected non-rotatably to the cylindrical part of handle 2. In addition, the two parts are drawn together by the magnetic force between magnet 13 and follower 14. A user can pull upper part 10 off the cylindrical part and for instance exchange it for another upper part with a different type of cleaning member.

[0043] In addition, a user can exchange cleaning member 8 by reversing the rotation direction of drive 4 using switch 11. Flossing thread 22 is then unwound from the pulley again, after which cleaning member 8 can be detached from the handle. In order to mount a new cleaning member the flossing thread 22 connected thereto once again has to be guided through channel 21 and to the pulley, and carried via the infeed opening into groove 19. By operating switch 11 the drive 4 can then be started and flossing thread 22 can be wound around the pulley.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of upper part 10, wherein a cylindrical neodymium magnet 13 is received in this upper part, which has the form of a truncated cone. Just as in the first embodiment, this magnet co-acts with a follower 14 of magnetizable material, once again in the form of a pulley. In this example the (interdental) brush 9 is pulled substantially directly against pulley 14 via a short piece of flossing thread 22. In this embodiment the drive shaft and the extension piece placed thereon can be made wholly of metal or plastic, as long as it ends close to upper surface 23 in a part of magnetizable material. Two magnetic connections, to follower 14 on the one hand and drive shaft 7 and its extension piece 15 on the other, are thus formed on either side of magnet 13.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment which is suitable to be connected to the handle of a conventional electric toothbrush. Device 1 is here for this purpose in effect limited to the upper part 10, in which a recess 28 is arranged on the underside. Into this recess 28 can be inserted the output shaft of a conventional electric toothbrush, which then moves the magnet 13 along with it. The magnet in turn moves along with it the follower/pulley 14, to which interdental brush 9 is attached by means of the flossing thread 22 wound around the pulley.

[0046] In contrast to conventional electric toothbrushes, which are generally provided with a battery which can be charged via either a direct connection to the mains electricity or an inductive connection to a base which is connected to the mains electricity, in the device according to the invention a power supply by means of a USB connection 27 is provided for. This can be a conventional USB connection, as shown, but also a mini USB connection. This has the advantage that the device can be powered by equipment which is generally already available for the purpose of powering for instance mobile phones, tablets and the like. The base 29 can hereby moreover take a very simple form, because no electrical components need be incorporated therein. Because device 1 will usually be used in wet spaces, the USB connection can be scaled watertightly by a rubber cap 30.

[0047] Although the invention has been elucidated above on the basis of a number of examples, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto and can be varied in many ways. The slipping coupling could thus be embodied other than with magnets, for instance by a mechanical connection on the basis of friction and elasticity. The manner in which the attachment of the cleaning member to the handle is realized can also be adapted, and the principle of power supply via a USB connection is not limited to the type of teeth-cleaning device described here but can be applied in all manner of electrical appliances, particularly travel appliances.

[0048] The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.