DENTAL TREATMENT APPLIANCE

Abstract

A dental cleaning appliance includes a handle, a fluid reservoir for storing a working fluid, and a fluid delivery system for receiving working fluid from the reservoir, and for delivering working fluid to the oral cavity of a user. The fluid reservoir includes a fluid port from which fluid is dispensed from the fluid reservoir, and through which the fluid reservoir is replenished. The fluid reservoir is moveable between a first position in which the fluid port is connected to the fluid delivery system, and a second position in which the fluid port is exposed to allow the fluid reservoir to be replenished. Magnetic forces urge the fluid reservoir towards its first position.

Claims

1. A dental cleaning appliance comprising: a handle; a fluid reservoir for storing a working fluid, the fluid reservoir comprising a fluid port through which the fluid reservoir is replenished; and a fluid delivery system for receiving working fluid from the reservoir, and for delivering working fluid to the oral cavity of a user; wherein the fluid reservoir is moveable relative to the handle between a first position in which the fluid port is connected to the fluid delivery system, and a second position in which the fluid port is exposed to allow the fluid reservoir to be replenished, wherein the fluid reservoir is magnetically attracted towards the first position.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises at least one permanent magnet.

3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the fluid port and said at least one permanent magnet are located on a common wall of the fluid reservoir.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein said wall of the fluid reservoir is planar.

5. The appliance of claim 3, wherein said wall of the fluid reservoir is annular in shape, and the fluid port and said at least one permanent magnet are angularly spaced about said wall of the fluid reservoir.

6. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the handle comprises ferromagnetic material to which said at least one permanent magnet is attracted.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the handle comprises a seat for receiving the fluid reservoir when in its first position, and wherein the ferromagnetic material is located on or adjacent the seat.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the seat is planar.

9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the seat is annular in shape.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the ferromagnetic material is in the form of a ring which extends around a longitudinal axis of the handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] Preferred features of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view, from the front, of a dental cleaning appliance, with a fluid reservoir in a first position, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view, from the rear, of the dental cleaning appliance of FIG. 1(a);

[0037] FIG. 2(a) is a right side view of the appliance of FIG. 1(a), FIG. 2(b) is a front view of the appliance of FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 2(c) is a left side view of the appliance of FIG. 1(a);

[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a fluid delivery system of the appliance;

[0039] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 2(c);

[0040] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 2(b);

[0041] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line C-C in FIG. 2(a);

[0042] FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view, from the front, of the dental appliance with the fluid reservoir moved away from the first position, and FIG. 7(b) is a perspective view, from the rear, of the dental cleaning appliance of FIG. 7(a);

[0043] FIG. 8 is a front view of the appliance of FIG. 7(a);

[0044] FIG. 9(a) is a perspective view, from the front, of the dental appliance with the fluid reservoir in second position, and FIG. 9(b) is a perspective view, from the rear, of the dental cleaning appliance of FIG. 9(a);

[0045] FIG. 10(a) is a right side view of the appliance of FIG. 9(a), FIG. 10(b) is a front view of the appliance of FIG. 9(a) and FIG. 10(c) is a left side view of the appliance of FIG. 9(a);

[0046] FIG. 11 is a sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 10(c);

[0047] FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 10(b); and

[0048] FIG. 13 is a sectional view along line C-C in FIG. 10(a).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0049] FIGS. 1(a) to 2(c) illustrate external views of an embodiment of a dental cleaning appliance 10. In this embodiment, the appliance is in the form of a handheld appliance, which is in the form of an electric toothbrush having an integrated assembly for dispensing a working fluid for improved interproximal cleaning.

[0050] The appliance 10 comprises a handle 12 and a cleaning tool 14. The handle 12 comprises an external body 16 which is preferably formed from plastics material. The body 16 comprises a grip section 18 which is gripped by a user during use of the appliance 10. The grip section 18 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape. The handle 12 comprises a user operable button 20 which is located within an aperture formed in the body 16 so as to be accessible to the user. Optionally, the handle 12 may comprise a display which is positioned so as to be visible to a user during use of the appliance.

[0051] The cleaning tool 14 comprises a stem 22 and a head 24. The stem 22 is elongate in shape, which serves to space the head 24 from the handle 12 to facilitate user operability of the appliance 10. In this embodiment, the head 24 of the cleaning tool 14 comprises a brush unit 26, which comprises a bristle carrier 28 and a plurality of bristles 30 mounted on the bristle carrier 28. However, in other embodiments the cleaning tool 14 may be provided without a brush unit 26 so that the appliance is in the form of a dedicated interproximal cleaning appliance for cleaning between the gaps in the user's teeth.

[0052] The cleaning tool 14 also comprises a fluid reservoir 32 for storing a working fluid, and a nozzle 34 for delivering working fluid to the oral cavity of the user during use of the appliance 10. The working fluid is preferably a liquid working fluid, and in this embodiment is water. As described in more detail below, the fluid reservoir 32 is mounted on an end section 36 of the handle 12 so as to extend about the end section 36 of the handle 12. In this embodiment which includes a brush unit 26, the brush unit 26 extends at least partially around the nozzle 34.

[0053] The nozzle 34 forms part of a fluid delivery system 40 for receiving working fluid from the fluid reservoir 32 and for delivering bursts of working fluid to the oral cavity of a user during use of the appliance 10. Each burst of working fluid preferably has a volume which is less than 1 ml, more preferably less than 0.5 ml. The fluid delivery system 40 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3. The tip of the nozzle 34 comprises a fluid outlet 42 through which a burst of working fluid is delivered to the oral cavity of the user. In overview, the fluid delivery system 40 comprises a fluid inlet 44 for receiving working fluid from the fluid reservoir 32. In this embodiment, the working fluid is a liquid working fluid, which is preferably water. The fluid delivery system 40 comprises a pump assembly for drawing working fluid from the fluid reservoir 32 through the fluid inlet 44, and for delivering a burst of working fluid to the nozzle 34. The pump assembly is located within the grip section 18 of the handle 12, and comprises a positive displacement pump 46 and a drive for driving the pump 46. The drive preferably comprises a pump motor 48. A battery 50 for supplying power to the pump motor 48 is also located in the handle 12. The battery 50 is preferably a rechargeable battery.

[0054] A first conduit 52 connects the fluid inlet 44 of the fluid delivery system 40 to a fluid inlet 54 of the pump 46. A first one-way valve 56 is located between the fluid inlet 44 and the pump 46 to prevent water from returning to the fluid reservoir 32 from the pump 46. A second conduit 58 connects a fluid outlet 60 of the pump 46 to the nozzle 34. A second one-way valve 62 is located between the pump 46 and the nozzle 34 to prevent water from returning to the pump 46. A control circuit 64 controls the actuation of the motor 48, and so the pump motor 48 and the control circuit 64 provide a drive for driving the pump 46. The battery 50 supplies power to the control circuit 64. The control circuit 64 includes a motor controller which supplies power to the pump motor 48.

[0055] In this embodiment, the control circuit 64 receives signals generated when the user depresses the button on the handle 12 of the appliance 10. Alternatively, or additionally, the control circuit 64 may receive signals which are generated by a sensor located within the appliance 10, or which are received from a remote device, such as a display or a personal device. For brevity, in the following description the control circuit 64 receives signals which are generated when the user operates the button 20.

[0056] The cleaning tool 14 is detachably connected to the handle 12. With reference also to FIGS. 4 to 6, the handle 12 comprises a male connector, preferably in the form of a spigot 66, which is received by a complementary female connector, preferably in the form of a recessed connector 68, of the cleaning tool 14. The spigot 66 protrudes outwardly from the end section 36 of the handle 12, and preferably in a direction which is parallel to, and more preferably collinear with, a longitudinal axis of the handle 12.

[0057] The appliance 10 comprises a drive mechanism for driving the movement of the stem 22, and thus the bristle carrier 28, relative to the handle 12. The drive mechanism comprises a transmission unit and a drive unit for driving the transmission unit to move the stem 22 relative to the handle 12. The drive unit comprises a drive motor 70 which is located within the end section 36 of the handle 12. The transmission unit comprises a shaft 72 which is driven by the drive motor 70 to vibrate relative to the handle 12. The spigot 66 is connected to, and is preferably integral with, the shaft 72. The control circuit 64 includes a motor controller which supplies power to the drive motor 70. The button 20 may also be used to activate and deactivate the drive motor 70, for example by depressing the button 20 for a predetermined duration to stop a cleaning session using the appliance 10. Alternatively, a separate button (not shown) may be provided for activating and deactivating the drive motor 70. The drive motor 70 is preferably arranged to vibrate the stem 22 so that the bristles 30 are swept in a sideways motion, that is, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12, at a frequency in the range from 250 to 300 Hz, and so that the angular displacement of the bristles 30 is in the range from 5 to 15°.

[0058] The handle 12 comprises a seat 74 for receiving the fluid reservoir 32. The seat 74 is located between the grip section 18 and the end section 36 of the handle 12. The seat 74 comprises the fluid inlet 44 of the fluid delivery system 40. The fluid inlet 44 receives fluid from a fluid port 76 of the fluid reservoir 32. The first conduit 52 of the fluid delivery system comprises an inlet section 78 which extends through the seat 74 from the fluid port 76 towards the pump 46. The inlet section 78 of the first conduit 52 thus passes along the outside of the drive motor 70, adjacent to the external surface of the drive motor 70, towards the pump 46.

[0059] The second conduit 58, which connects the pump 46 to the nozzle 34, comprises a handle conduit section located within the handle 12, and a cleaning tool conduit section located within the cleaning tool 14. The handle conduit section extends from the fluid outlet 60 of the pump 46 to a handle fluid outlet 80 located at the end of the spigot 66. The handle conduit section comprises an outlet section 82 which is defined by the bore of the shaft 72, and which passes through the drive motor 70 towards the cleaning tool 14. Working fluid thus passes external to the drive motor 70 in a first direction towards the pump 46, and subsequently through the drive motor 70 in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, away from the pump 46. The cleaning tool conduit section extends from a cleaning tool fluid inlet port defined by the recessed connector 68 of the cleaning tool 14 towards the nozzle 34. The cleaning tool conduit section comprises a conduit 84 which is defined by a bore of the stem 22 of the cleaning tool 14.

[0060] The fluid reservoir 32 preferably has a capacity in the range from 5 to 50 ml, and in this embodiment has a capacity of 10 ml. The fluid reservoir 32 comprises a base 90 in which the fluid port 76 is formed. The base 90 is annular in shape, and extends outwardly from a tubular inner wall 92 of the fluid reservoir 32. With particular reference to FIG. 6, the inner wall 92 of the fluid reservoir 32 has a tubular internal surface which surrounds the external surface of the end section 36 of the handle 12. Each of these surfaces preferably has a non-circular cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12. In this embodiment, each of these surfaces has such a cross-section having a “racetrack” shape, insofar as the cross-sectional shape comprises two parallel opposing side surfaces and two curved opposing side surfaces.

[0061] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the end section 36 of the handle 12 preferably has a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12, which is smaller than that of the grip section 18 of the handle 12. This can allow, for a given fixed capacity of the fluid reservoir 32, the width of the fluid reservoir 32 to be minimised.

[0062] The fluid reservoir 32 further comprises an external wall 94 which extends from the edge of the base 90 to the end of the inner wall 92 which is remote from the base 90. At least part of the external wall 94 of the fluid reservoir 32 is preferably transparent to allow a user to observe the contents of the fluid reservoir 32, and so assess whether the fluid reservoir 32 requires replenishment prior to the desired use of the appliance 10. The external wall 94 preferably has a shape which is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the handle 12. The external wall 94 preferably has a curved shape, more preferably a convex curved shape, but alternatively the external wall 94 may have a polygonal or faceted shape. In this embodiment, the external wall 94 has a spherical curvature. The adjoining portion of the external side surface of the seat 74 also has a similar spherical curvature so that, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), together the fluid reservoir 32 and the seat 72 appear to the user as a single spherically curved unit. The end of the external wall 94 which is remote from the base 90 defines a circular aperture 96 through which the shaft 72 of the drive mechanism passes.

[0063] The fluid reservoir 32 also comprises a diaphragm 98. The diaphragm 98 is tubular in shape, and surrounds the inner wall 92 of the fluid reservoir 32. The upper end (as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the diaphragm 98 is held between the inner wall 92 and the external wall 94, whereas as the lower end of the diaphragm 98 is retained by an annular seal 100 extending over the base 90 of the fluid reservoir 32. The annular seal 100 comprises an aperture 102 which allows fluid to enter the fluid delivery system 40 from the fluid reservoir 32; an o-ring seal 104 forms a seal between the base 90 and the annular seal 100 to inhibit leakage of fluid from between the base 90 and the annular seal 100.

[0064] The diaphragm 98 thus has an external surface which faces the external wall 94 of the fluid reservoir 32, and which defines with the external wall 94 and the annular seal 100 the capacity of the fluid reservoir 32. As the diaphragm 98 is visible to the user through at least part of the external wall 94, the external surface of the diaphragm 98 may bear an identifier for user identification of the cleaning tool 14.

[0065] As described in WO2016/185166, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, the thickness of the diaphragm 98, and the material from which the diaphragm 98 is formed, are selected so that at least part of the diaphragm 98 is moveable relative to the external wall 94 in response to a pressure differential which is established across the diaphragm 98 as working fluid is drawn from the fluid reservoir 32 by the pump 46. An expansion chamber which is located between the inner wall 92 and the diaphragm 98 is open to the atmosphere to allow atmospheric air to enter the expansion chamber as the diaphragm 98 moves towards the external wall 94 as working fluid is supplied to the fluid delivery system 40. One or more apertures (not shown) are formed in the inner wall 92 to allow atmospheric air to enter the expansion chamber, for example, from an air flow path which extends between the fluid reservoir 32 and the end section 36 of the handle 12. As the diaphragm 98 expands towards its fully expanded configuration, the size and shape of the diaphragm 98 approaches that of the external wall 94. In other words, when the diaphragm 98 is in a fully expanded configuration, which occurs when the fluid reservoir 32 is substantially empty, the size and the shape of the diaphragm 98 are substantially the same as the size and the shape of the external wall 94 of the fluid reservoir 34. Thus, the maximum volume of the expansion chamber is preferably substantially the same as the maximum volume of the fluid reservoir 32.

[0066] The fluid reservoir 32 does not have a dedicated fluid inlet through which the fluid reservoir 32 is replenished with working fluid. Instead, the fluid reservoir 32 is replenished through the fluid port 76. In view of this, the fluid reservoir 32 is moveable along the end portion 36 of the handle 12 between a first position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1(a) to 6, in which the fluid port 76 is connected to the fluid delivery system 40, and a second position, as illustrated in FIGS. 9(a) to 13, in which the fluid port 76 is exposed to allow the fluid reservoir 32 to be replenished. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the fluid reservoir 32 intermediate the first position and the second position.

[0067] In this embodiment, the fluid reservoir 32 is slidable along the end section 36 of the handle 12 as it moves between the first position and the second position. Rotation of the fluid reservoir 32 relative to the handle 12 is inhibited through the use of non-circular cross-sectional shapes for the external surface of the end section 36 of the handle 12 and the internal surface of the inner wall 92 of the fluid reservoir 32. This maintains the angular alignment of the fluid port 76 and the fluid inlet 44, and so ensures that the fluid reservoir 32 becomes reconnected to the fluid delivery system 40 when it is returned to its first position.

[0068] To reduce the risk of the fluid reservoir 32 becoming accidentally dislodged from its first position during use of the appliance 10, the appliance 10 is arranged to apply a biasing force to the fluid reservoir 32 which urges it towards its first position. In the embodiment, the fluid reservoir 32 is urged by a magnetic force towards its first position. With reference to FIG. 4, two permanent magnets 106, 108 of the same polarity are mounted on the base 90 of the fluid reservoir 32. These magnets 106, 108 are attracted to a loop 110 of ferromagnetic material which is located on the seat 74. The magnetic force of attraction between the magnets 106, 108 and the loop 100 is selected so as to reduce the risk of accidental dislodgement of the fluid reservoir 32 from its first position, whilst enabling a user to pull the fluid reservoir 32 away from its first position without damage when the fluid reservoir 32 requires replenishment.

[0069] As the fluid reservoir 32 moves towards its second position, the base 90 of the fluid reservoir 32 moves along the end portion 36 of the handle 12 towards the stem 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, when in its second position only the base 90 and the seal 100 of the fluid reservoir 32 still extend around the end portion 36 of the handle 12; a portion of the fluid reservoir 32 now extends around the stem 22. To prevent the fluid reservoir 32 from becoming fully detached from the handle 12 as it moves away from its first position, the appliance 10 includes a stop member 112 which engages the fluid reservoir 32 when in its second position to inhibit movement of the fluid reservoir 32 beyond its second position. The stop member 112 protrudes from the stem 22, and is arranged to engage the peripheral portion of the external wall 94 which defines the aperture 96 through which the shaft 72 passes.

[0070] To fill the fluid reservoir 32 with working fluid, which in this embodiment is water, the user inverts the appliance 10 from the orientation shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 2(c) and pulls the fluid reservoir 32 towards the head 24 of the appliance 10 so that the fluid reservoir 32 moves to its second position. The user may place the exposed fluid port 76 beneath the spout of a tap and turn on the tap so that water from the spout enters the fluid reservoir 32 through the fluid port 76. As the external wall 94 of the fluid reservoir 32 is transparent, the user can observe the filling of the fluid reservoir 32, and the contraction of the diaphragm 98 of the fluid reservoir 32 under the weight of the water within the fluid reservoir 32. As the fluid reservoir 32 becomes filled with water, air is expelled from the expansion chamber. When the fluid reservoir 32 is full, the user returns the fluid reservoir 32 to its first position, where it is retained by the magnetic force of attraction between the magnets 106, 108 and the loop 110. The user then returns the appliance 10 to the orientation shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 2(c) for use.

[0071] To operate the appliance 10, the user switches on the appliance 10 by depressing button 20, the action of which is detected by the control circuit 64. The control circuit 64 activates the drive motor 70 to move the brush unit 26 relative to the handle 12.

[0072] When the button 20 is pressed again, a burst of water is emitted from the nozzle 34. The control circuit 64 activates the pump 46 to urge a volume of water from a fluid chamber of the pump 46 to the nozzle 34, and to replenish the fluid chamber through drawing a volume of water from the fluid reservoir 32. This continues until the user switches off the appliance 10 using the button 20, or until the fluid reservoir 32 has become depleted.

[0073] To replace the fluid reservoir 32, the user first pulls the stem 22 from the spigot 66. The user may then slide the fluid reservoir 32 from the end section 36 of the handle 12.