Abstract
The invention relates to a device for cleaning teeth of a human or animal user with a mouthpiece to be placed in the user's mouth, having a support with cleaning elements arranged thereon, which cleaning elements are arranged on the support for simultaneous engagement with substantially all of the teeth of an upper jaw and/or a lower jaw of the user, and with an electric drive unit fastened detachably to the mouthpiece with at least one vibration element to execute a vibrating motion, wherein the cleaning elements are arranged on the support for simultaneous engagement with substantially all of the teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw of the user, and that a detachable magnetic connection is provided for the detachable fastening of the drive unit to the mouthpiece.
Claims
1.-15. (canceled)
16. A device (1) for cleaning teeth of a human or animal user with a mouthpiece (3) to be placed in a user's mouth, having a support (4) with cleaning elements (5) arranged thereon, which cleaning elements (5) are arranged on the support (4) for simultaneous engagement of all of the teeth of an upper jaw and/or a lower jaw of the user, and with an electric drive unit (2) fastened detachably to the mouthpiece (3) with at least one vibration element (8) to execute a vibrating motion, wherein the cleaning elements (5) are arranged on the support (4) for simultaneous engagement of all of the teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw of the user, and that a detachable magnetic connection (M) is provided for the detachable fastening of the drive unit (2) to the mouthpiece (3), wherein the drive unit (2) is configured for arrangement outside the user's mouth and the vibration element (8) is arranged in the drive unit (2) in such manner that the vibrating motion thereof can be transmitted to the entire drive unit (2) and via the magnetic connection (M) to the mouthpiece (3) from said unit.
17. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the at least one vibration element (8) is formed by a piezoelement, an electromagnetic acoustic transducer or an unbalance motor and is designed to generate a vibrating motion preferably perpendicularly to the upper jaw and lower jaw.
18. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the drive unit (2) has a receptacle (9) for a dental care product (13) and a pump (10) for transporting the dental care product (13) out of the receptacle (9) to an outlet (11) arranged in the area of the connection with the mouthpiece (3).
19. The device (1) according to claim 18, wherein the pump (10) is formed by a piezoelectric micropump, a positive displacement pump or a flow-type pump.
20. The device (1) according to claim 18, wherein the receptacle (9) has a filling opening (12) for filling the receptacle (9) with the dental care product (13).
21. The device (1) according to claim 18, wherein the receptacle (9) is designed to be replaceable.
22. The device (1) according to claim 18, wherein the mouthpiece (3) has an inlet (18) arranged in the area of the connection with the drive unit (2), which inlet is aligned with the outlet (11) of the drive unit (2) when the drive unit (2) is connected, and the inlet (18) is connected to at least one channel (7), which has at least one channel (7) with multiple orifices (6) on the support (4).
23. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the detachable magnetic connection (M) is formed by at least one magnet (19) and at least one magnetic or magnetizable counterpart (20).
24. The device (1) according to claim 23, wherein the at least one magnet (19) and the at least one counterpart (20) are arranged in the form of a ring around the outlet (11) on the drive unit (2) and the inlet (18) on the mouthpiece (3).
25. The device (1) according to claim 22, wherein the drive unit (2) and the mouthpiece (3) have guide elements (21) to ensure that the outlet (11) on the drive unit (2) for the dental care product (13) and the inlet (18) on the mouthpiece (3) for the dental care product (13) are aligned correctly.
26. The device (1) according to claim 18, wherein the drive unit (2) has an electrical energy store (14), particularly a rechargeable battery, which is connected to the vibration element (8) and the pump (10).
27. The device (1) according to claim 26, wherein a device (15) is provided for inductive charging of the energy store (14).
28. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the cleaning elements (5) are formed by bristles.
29. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein at least one pressure sensor (23) is arranged in the mouthpiece (3).
30. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the drive unit (2) has a control device (16), preferably with a wireless data transmission interface (17).
Description
[0025] The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention for cleaning teeth, with a drive unit and a mouthpiece in an assembled state;
[0027] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view through the mouthpiece according to FIG. 1 in a substantially vertical plane;
[0028] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view through the mouthpiece according to FIG. 1 in a substantially horizontal plane;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device according to FIG. 1, wherein the drive unit and the mouthpiece are separated from each other;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the drive unit;
[0031] FIGS. 4A to 4C show front views of the surfaces of the drive unit and the mouthpiece facing each other in the assembled state;
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the drive unit and the mouthpiece in the assembled state; and
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a part of a mouthpiece in the area of the connection to the drive unit with a ring-shaped guide element.
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for cleaning the teeth (not shown) of a human or animal user. Device 1 has an electric drive unit 2 and a mouthpiece 3 that is connectable thereto. In the ready-to-use state of device 1 shown in FIG. 1, electric drive unit 2 is connected or coupled to mouthpiece 3. Mouthpiece 3 is designed to be placed in the user's mouth, and for this purpose includes a support 4 and cleaning elements 5, particularly bristles, arranged thereon. Drive unit 2 is arranged outside the user's mouth. Support 4 for mouthpiece 3 includes a curved tray, open upwards to accommodate the teeth of the upper jaw and also a curved tray, open downwards to accommodate the teeth of the lower jaw. For efficient cleaning of the teeth, cleaning elements 5 preferably extend along the open trays of support 4 from the front to the back of mouthpiece 3. The mouthpiece 3 shown is designed for simultaneous engagement with substantially all of the teeth of an upper jaw and a lower jaw of the user. Electric drive unit 2 is designed to perform vibrating motions and may be fastened detachably to mouthpiece 3. For this purpose, a detachable magnetic connection M is provided. When drive unit 2 and mouthpiece 3 are connected, the vibrations generated are transmitted to mouthpiece 3 and subsequently to cleaning elements 5.
[0035] As it is shown in the cross-sectional images according to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B of mouthpiece 3, a channel 7 runs in mouthpiece 3 and the support 4 therefor to transport a dental care product 13 (see FIG. 3), which channel ends in corresponding orifices 6, from where the dental care product 13 is able to reach cleaning elements 5 and the teeth. Channel 7 has an inlet 18 which cooperates with a corresponding outlet 11 on drive unit 2 (see FIG. 3). In FIGS. 1 and 1A, the cleaning elements 5 are only indicated schematically. Of course, cleaning elements 5 may also be arranged on the horizontal side of support 4, particularly for cleaning the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
[0036] Pressure sensors 23 may also be provided in mouthpiece 3 to detect the pressure on mouthpiece 3.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows device 1, wherein drive unit 2 and mouthpiece 3 are separated from each other. In this state, magnetic connection M is canceled. This enables mouthpiece 3 to be cleaned or replaced easily. Magnetic connection M is formed by at least one magnet 19 on drive unit 2 and at least one magnetic or magnetizable counterpart 20 on mouthpiece 3. Of course, magnet 19 may also be arranged on mouthpiece 3 and the magnetic or magnetizable counterpart 20 may be arranged on drive unit 2. Magnet 19 and the at least one counterpart 20 are preferably arranged in the form of a ring around outlet 11 on drive unit 2 and around inlet 18 on mouthpiece 3.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of drive unit 2. In the example illustrated, drive unit 2 has as vibration element 8, for example a piezoelement, an electromagnetic acoustic transducer or an unbalance motor, which generates the vibrating motions necessary for cleaning teeth. Drive unit 2 also contains a receptacle 9, in which a dental care product 13 may be held, and a pump 10 for transporting the dental care product 13 from receptacle 9 to an outlet 11 of drive unit 2. Outlet 11 of drive unit 2 is arranged in the area of the connection between drive unit 2 and mouthpiece 3. Pump 10 may be in the form of a piezoelectric micropump, a positive displacement pump or a flow-type pump. In order to replenish the dental care product 13, receptacle 9 has an inlet opening 12, for example a lid, a valve or a push-through membrane. Receptacle 9 may also be designed to be replaceable in the manner of a cartridge or cassette (see FIG. 5), so that it may be replaced very simply. For the energy supply to vibration element 8 and pump 10, drive unit 2 has an electrical energy store 14 connected therewith, particularly a rechargeable battery. This may be connected to a device 15 for preferably inductive charging of energy store 14. A control device 16 with a preferably wireless data transmission interface 17 may also be contained in drive unit 2 and may also be connected to energy store 14.
[0039] Mouthpiece 3 has an inlet 18 in the area of the connection with drive unit 2, which inlet aligns with outlet 11 of drive unit 2 when the drive unit 2 is connected (see FIG. 2). Inlet 18 is connected to channel 7, which ends at orifices 6 on support 4. In this way, the dental care product 13 is able to be transported out of receptacle 9 through outlet 11 and through inlet 18 via channel 7 and finally reach the cleaning elements 5 or bristles and teeth through orifices 6.
[0040] FIG. 4A shows a view of drive unit 2 with a part of the magnetic connection M, particularly a ring-shaped magnet 19, which is arranged around outlet 11 for the dental care product 13.
[0041] FIG. 4B represents a view of mouthpiece 3, wherein in this case a corresponding part of the magnetic connection M, particularly a ring-shaped magnetizable counterpart 20 is shown, and is arranged in the manner of a ring around inlet 18 for channel 7 on mouthpiece 3. A ring-shaped guide element 21 may be provided around the magnetizable counterpart 20 to ensure that outlet 11 and inlet 18 align correctly. Guide element 21 may be embodied as shown in FIG. 6 for example, by providing it with a collar 22 or the like, which serves accordingly to seat the counterpart on drive unit 2. When device 1 is in the connected state, the ring-shaped magnet 19 or the ring-shaped magnetizable counterpart 20 are drawn together by magnetic attraction and lie flush against each other.
[0042] FIG. 4C shows a magnetizable counterpart 20 functioning as a guide element 21 on mouthpiece 3.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a side view of drive unit 2 and mouthpiece 3 in the assembled state of device 1, with magnet 19 and magnetizable counterpart 20, which are advantageously of flat construction to create a large connection area. Receptacle 9 for the dental care product 13 on drive unit 2 is replaceable in the manner of cartridge or cassette. This enables receptacle 9 to be replaced quickly and easily.
