Abstract
Provided is a brush head for an oral cleaning device for cleaning teeth with a combination of brushing and emitting of a cleaning agent. The brush head comprises a bristle set for brushing the teeth and a nozzle for emitting the cleaning agent. When actuating the bristle set from a first configuration, which is optimized for brushing, to a second configuration, which is optimized for emitting of a cleaning agent, at least a part of the bristle 5 set is moved away from the nozzle and/or away from a path of the cleaning agent when being emitted from an orifice of the nozzle.
Claims
1. A brush head for an oral cleaning device for cleaning teeth with a combination of brushing and emitting of a cleaning agent, the brush head comprising: a platen with a first face, a first bristle set extending from the first face for brushing the teeth, a nozzle comprising an orifice for emitting the cleaning agent from the orifice towards a direction pointing away from the first face of the platen, and an actuator for moving at least a part of the first bristle set relative to a path of the cleaning agent from the orifice such that the brush head is configurable to adopt a first configuration in which the path is at least partially blocked by said at least part of the first bristle set, and a second configuration in which the path is cleared of said at least part of the first bristle set.
2. The brush head of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured for brushing the teeth in the first configuration, and wherein the brush head is configured for emitting the cleaning agent in the second configuration.
3. (canceled)
4. The brush head of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a flexible flap between the nozzle and the first bristle set, and wherein the orifice of the nozzle is oriented towards the flexible flap, so that the flexible flap is configured for transferring a momentum from the cleaning agent emitted from the orifice to the first bristle set.
5. The brush head of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is configured for changing its geometry for emitting the cleaning agent.
6. The brush head of claim 1, wherein the first bristle set is configured for being pushed away by the nozzle.
7. The brush head of claim 1, wherein the first bristle set is positioned on a changeable geometry of the nozzle and configured for being moved with the change of geometry of the nozzle.
8. The brush head of claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a temporarily extendable portion, wherein the orifice for emitting the cleaning agent is located at a tip of the temporarily extendable portion of the nozzle, wherein the nozzle with the temporarily extendable portion is configured for extending its length when emitting the cleaning agent from the orifice of the nozzle, and wherein the temporarily extendable portion of the nozzle is configured for actuating the first bristle set from the first configuration to the second configuration.
9. (canceled)
10. The bush head of claim 1, wherein the actuator is one of an electrically driven actuator, and an actuator driven by a pressure and/or a flow of the cleaning agent in a conduit delivering the cleaning agent to the nozzle.
11. The brush head of claim 1, wherein the first bristle set comprises a first bristle and a first bearing connecting the first bristle to the platen, and wherein the first bearing is made of an elastic material and/or comprises a hinge for facilitating the actuation of the first bristle set from the first configuration to the second configuration.
12. The brush head of claim 11, wherein the brush head further comprises a second bristle set extending from the first face of the platen for brushing the teeth and comprising a second bristle and a second bearing connecting the second bristle to the platen, wherein the first bristle set is positioned closer to the nozzle than the second bristle set, and wherein the second bearing is configured for providing a more rigid connection to the platen than the first bearing.
13. An oral cleaning device comprising a brush head according to claim 1 and a support unit.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. The brush head of claim 5 wherein the first bristle set is configured for being actuated from the first configuration to the second configuration by the change of the geometry of the nozzle.
17. The brush head of claim 6 wherein the brush head is configured for actuating the first bristle set from the first configuration into the second configuration by moving at least part of the nozzle away from the platen.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head in the first and the second configuration according to a first exemplary embodiment.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head in the first and the second configuration according to a second exemplary embodiment.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows schematic set-ups of two examples of a brush head according to a third exemplary embodiment.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows schematic set-ups of a brush head according to a fourth and a fifth exemplary embodiment.
[0063] FIG. 5 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head in the first configuration according to a sixth exemplary embodiment.
[0064] FIG. 6 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head in the first and the second configuration according to a seventh exemplary embodiment.
[0065] FIG. 7 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head in the first and the second configuration according to an eighth exemplary embodiment.
[0066] FIG. 8 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head in the first and the second configuration according to a ninth exemplary embodiment.
[0067] FIG. 9 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head in the first and the second configuration according to a tenth exemplary embodiment.
[0068] FIG. 10 shows a schematic set-up of an oral cleaning device comprising a brush head and a support unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0069] FIG. 1 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head 100 for an oral cleaning device in the first and the second configuration according to a first exemplary embodiment. The platen 170 comprises a first face 171. On the first face, a first bristle set 110 with a first bristle 111 is connected to the platen 170 and extends from the first face. A nozzle 140 is located adjacent to the first bristle set 110 and comprises an orifice 141 for emitting cleaning agent 150 towards a direction pointing away from the first face 171 of the platen 170. While the left drawing shows the first configuration with the bristle 111 covering the nozzle 140, the right drawing shows the second configuration with the bristle 111 being moved aside by an opening movement of the nozzle and a cleaning agent 150 is emitted from the orifice 141 of the nozzle 140 along the path 142. In other words, at least a part of the first bristle set 110, in this example the tips of the bristles, is moved away from the path 142 of the cleaning agent 150 when being emitted from the orifice. The nozzle 140 is activated for the emission of the cleaning agent 150, enlarges its cross-section, and pushes away the tips of the bristles from the first into the second configuration. When the emission of the cleaning agent 150 stops, the nozzle is deactivated and reduces its cross-section, such that the tips of the bristles are enabled to move elastically back from the second into the first configuration towards the path 142 of the cleaning agent 150, where the cleaning agent 150 has been emitted.
[0070] FIG. 2 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head 100 in the first and the second configuration according to a second exemplary embodiment. This brush head is similar to the brush head of FIG. 1, but in this embodiment, the first bristle set 110 is mounted on the nozzle 140. The opening of the nozzle 140 in the right drawing moves away the first bristle 111 and clears the path 142 for emitting the cleaning agent 150.
[0071] FIG. 3 shows schematic set-ups of two examples of a brush head 100 according to a third exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, the bristle 111 is pushed aside by the cleaning agent 150 jet emitted from the nozzle 140 (left drawing). In the right drawing, an additional flexible flap 155 lining the first bristle 111 is depicted, which is used to transfer the force from the jet of cleaning agent 150 to the first bristle 111.
[0072] FIG. 4 shows schematic set-ups of a brush head 100 according to a fourth and a fifth exemplary embodiment. The first bristle set 110 comprises a bearing 112 connecting the first bristle 111 to the platen 170. The bearing can be made of an elastic or deformable material as shown in the left drawing, or it can comprise a hinge 180 as shown in the right drawing. As an alternative, a portion of the bristles close to the platen can be made of a more elastic material than other portions of the bristles, so that the bristles can bend at these more elastic portions.
[0073] FIG. 5 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head 100 in the first configuration according to a sixth exemplary embodiment. An actuator 160 is connected to a hinge 180. The actuator is configured to actuate the first bristle set 110 from the first to the second configuration, such that cleaning agent 150 can be emitted along the path 142 in front of the nozzle 140. The actuator may be driven by a flow or a pressure of the cleaning agent 150, or by electricity. As an alternative, the actuator may be driven by a manual activation by the user, e.g. by actuating a lever at a tooth brush grip.
[0074] FIG. 6 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head 100 in the first and the second configuration according to a seventh exemplary embodiment. The actuator 160 is driven by the pressure of the cleaning agent 150 in a conduit 165. When the conduit is pressurized, the actuator 160 in form of a small elastic balloon expands and pushes against the first bearing 112 of the first bristle set 110, as can be seen in the second drawing of FIG. 6. Cleaning agent 150 can be emitted through the orifice 141 of the nozzle 140 through the cleared path 142. Instead of a balloon any other pressure expandable element can be used.
[0075] FIG. 7 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head 100 in the first and the second configuration according to an eighth exemplary embodiment. The actuator 160 is driven by a flow of the cleaning agent 150 in the conduit 165. The bristles of the first bristle set 110 are passing within a first bearing 112 through a wall of the conduit 165 and extend into the cleaning agent 150. In this embodiment, the bristles have to be stiffer than the bearing so that the cleaning agent 150 acting on the bristle portion in the conduit can move the bristle portion outside the conduit, i.e. the bristle portions extending from the platen. The flow of the cleaning agent 150 when emitting a jet through the nozzle 140 effects a force on the lower part of the bristles or on the bearing 112 of the first bristle set 110 and causes the bristles to move away from the nozzle 140 to clear the path 142.
[0076] FIG. 8 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head 100 in the first and the second configuration according to a ninth exemplary embodiment. The nozzle 140 is an extendable nozzle, which is integrated into the platen 170 and extends telescopically if cleaning agent 150 is emitted through the extendable nozzle. The nozzle 140 can push bristles or even splayed bristles of the first bristle 110 away when extending and provide an undisturbed jet of cleaning agent 150 in close proximity to the teeth.
[0077] FIG. 9 shows a schematic set-up of a brush head 100 in the first and the second configuration according to a tenth exemplary embodiment. The nozzle 140 in this embodiment is an extendable nozzle made of an elastic membrane. The extendable nozzle enlarges or enrolls when cleaning agent 150 is emitted through the nozzle 140. The first bristle set 110 adjacent to the extendable nozzle can be lined with a low-friction coating 190 for enabling a smooth extension of the nozzle 140.
[0078] FIG. 10 shows a schematic set-up of an oral cleaning device 1100 comprising a brush head 100 and a support unit 1200. The support unit 1200 can be a handle, and it can comprise a drive unit for a brushing motion of the brush head, a storage tank containing cleaning agent 150, and a pumping mechanism for boosting the cleaning agent 150.
[0079] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.
[0080] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0081] 100 brush head according to a first embodiment [0082] 110 first bristle set [0083] 111 first bristle [0084] 112 first bearing [0085] 120 second bristle set [0086] 121 second bristle [0087] 122 second bearing [0088] 140 nozzle [0089] 141 orifice [0090] 142 path [0091] 150 cleaning agent [0092] 155 flexible flap [0093] 160 actuator [0094] 165 conduit [0095] 170 platen [0096] 171 first face [0097] 180 hinge [0098] 190 coating [0099] 200 brush head according to a second embodiment [0100] 300 brush head according to a third embodiment [0101] 400 brush head according to a fourth embodiment [0102] 500 brush head according to a fifth embodiment [0103] 600 brush head according to a sixth embodiment [0104] 700 brush head according to a seventh embodiment [0105] 800 brush head according to an eighth embodiment [0106] 900 brush head according to a ninth embodiment [0107] 1000 brush head according to a tenth embodiment [0108] 1100 oral cleaning device [0109] 1200 support unit
