CN100469276C - Flexible arched-top toothbrush - Google Patents
Flexible arched-top toothbrush Download PDFInfo
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- CN100469276C CN100469276C CNB038240602A CN03824060A CN100469276C CN 100469276 C CN100469276 C CN 100469276C CN B038240602 A CNB038240602 A CN B038240602A CN 03824060 A CN03824060 A CN 03824060A CN 100469276 C CN100469276 C CN 100469276C
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- brush
- toothbrush
- barrier film
- bristle
- cleaning element
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Abstract
A toothbrush (10) includes a head (14) having a bristle carrying surface formed from a thin flexible dome shaped membrane (24). An air space (28) is located between the base of the head and the membrane so that the membrane can be capable of flexing to alter its shape during use and then resuming the original shape. In a second embodiment, the head (114) and/or handle (112) have elastomeric portions at least partially surrounding an open area. These portions are readily deflectable under pressure during use to improve handling of the toothrush and orientation of the cleaning elements (124). Alternatively the toothbrush includes a resilient spring-like longitudinal hinge (222) collinear with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head so as to separate the head into a pair of side by side longitudinal sections having extending cleaning elements (228) wherein the hinge urges the sections to return to their original position after the hinge has been opened as a result of the cleaning elements contacting teeth.
Description
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of manual maintenance and operated toothbrushes or relate to a kind of motive power toothbrush that comprises brush holder and brush. for example the cleaning element of brushing cluster is installed on the brush. and after toothpaste was painted on the cleaning element, the user inserted brush in the mouth and with known manner and brushes teeth.
Background technology
The brush of conventional toothbrush has surface flat or slight modification usually, and cleaning element is attached on the described surface.Cleaning element normally forms bunch or the strands of plastic material of other cohort.Strand groupings is attached on the brush before forming brush holder or after forming brush holder.
For the mode of giving attached bristle provides flexibility to carry out various trials.Taked the whole bag of tricks, wherein the bristle loading end of brush is not flat yet.For example, U.S. Patent No. 1,688,581 disclosed a kind of have to curve inwardly usually enter the toothbrush of the bristle bearing carrier in the hollow brush.The bristle bearing carrier can be by controlling the wire that is installed in the toothbrush by outwardly-bent.
U.S. Patent No. 5,483,772 have disclosed a kind of toothbrush with resilient flexibility bristle holder, and described bearing strides across the parallel brush holder extension that separates each other.The different embodiment of this toothbrush comprise having and curve inwardly or bandy bearing.
U.S. Patent No. 5,325,560 relate to a kind of orthodontia toothbrush that comprises that multiple bristle is capable, the capable bristle pack that is positioned at the center and vertically arranges that comprises of described multiple bristle, described bristle pack is installed on the flexible member of air bag top.
U.S. Patent No. 5,799,354 have disclosed the toothbrush that a kind of rocking bar is shaped, and wherein base part is joined together by hinge.This toothbrush also comprises the cavity below the base part.
U.S. Patent No. 5,454,133 have disclosed a kind of incompressible medium that has, the Compressed Gas that below bristle bearing basement member, flows for example, the toothbrush of closed-system of passage.
U.S. Patent No. 6,088,870 have disclosed a kind of head toothbrushes with flexible mounted bristles, and described bristle is installed by using the flexible resilient lattice network to make bristle deflection in the moving process of brush carry out flexibility with the curved surfaces that meets tooth.
The U.S. Patent No. 2,003,243 that licenses to Campbell (Campbell) etc. May 28 nineteen thirty-five has disclosed the section that comprises bristle pack, and described bristle is installed on the using flexible wire that is attached on the rigid head (first page, secondary series, 45-55 is capable).This installs the shape of the tooth that flexibility wiry helps bristle to meet just to be cleaned.
The U.S. Patent No. 2,706,825 that licenses to Blacknam (Blackman) April 26 nineteen fifty-five has disclosed a kind of dismountable bristle retainer of toothbrush, and it is with respect to the longitudinal axis deflection up and down of brush body.This flexible member changes the position.It adds that toothbrush moves the pressure of tooth and toothbrush and allows toothbrush to contact (secondary series, 15-18 is capable) with tooth with different matching degrees.
The U.S. Patent No. 4,520,526 that licenses to Peter Si (Peters) on June 4th, 1985 has the interior flexible portion of brush holder, and it allows brushhead portion partly to move with respect to tooth-brush handle in a plane.This patent advises that described flexibility avoids damaging fragile dental material and gingival tissues (first row, 42-44 is capable).In U.S. Patent No. 5,146, be used for providing the flexible analog structure that reduces the wearing and tearing of tooth and gums to head toothbrushes thereby disclosed in 645.
United States Patent(USP) Nos. 3,355,546 and 5,839, disclosed other flexible installation method of toothbrush cleaning element in 149. in these patents, head toothbrushes is placed in the lower face of nipping perpendicular to the tooth in the plane on tooth plane. and so the brush of orientation has in the middle than short bristles, thereby describedly pushes sidepiece that the surface of nipping causes longer outer bristles and tooth and gums line than short bristles and rotate and engage.
The U.S. Patent No. 5,987,690 that licenses to Heuler on November 23rd, 1999 has disclosed the deflection that a kind of connection that has between brush holder and the brush is beneficial to brush, makes in use free brush end arrange with respect to the brush holder keeping parallelism.
The U.S. Patent No. 6,003,189 of authorizing on December 21st, 1999 has disclosed a kind of flexible portion of the toothbrush between brush holder and brush, is applied to power on the toothbrush to absorb a part of toothbrush user.Elastic shock ab-sorbing be inserted in this part so that brush to its inoperation position deflection.
U.S. Patent No. 6,141,817 have disclosed a kind of head toothbrushes with central longitudinal axis, and described central longitudinal axis is positioned at below the stage casing of the elastic component that comprises bristle.This central axis has limited the distortion in elastic component stage casing.The balance of the brush on the central axis either side is tilted with the permission flexible member and produces bigger moving, thereby causes outer bristles outwards to be opened.This outwards opens the slit infiltration capability (secondary series, 40-46 is capable) that is considered to improve bristle.
The European patent of publishing on October 30th, 1991 is announced 0 454 625 A1 and has been disclosed and a kind ofly can be used for changing brush with respect to the cam in the toothbrush handles of the angular orientation of brush holder.
In U.S. Patent No. 5,228,466 and WO 90/01281 in other trial of carrying out for the mobile form that some cleaning elements are provided in the prior art has been described, described Patent publish a kind of toothbrush, wherein brush holder and brush are by vertically hinged to provide across the interchangeable bristle on delegation's tooth.
U.S. Patent No. 1,616,484 have disclosed a kind of toothbrush that is hinged along brush holder length so that two brushhead portions that separate each other can relative to each other back-to-back setting.U.S. Patent No. 1,616,484 a kind of hinged toothbrush of brushing teeth from three different directions that provides has been provided.United States Patent(USP) Nos. 5,528,782 and 5,269,083 has disclosed the bristle that is mounted in the swing mode.U.S. Patent No. 5,799,354 have disclosed the utilization cavity so that hinged effect to be provided.U.S. Patent No. 1,924,152 have disclosed a kind of toothbrush with multirow rubber bristles.U.S. Patent No. 301,644 has disclosed a kind of toothbrush that multirow is installed in the bristle in the rubber tongue that has.
U.S. Patent No. Des.421,843 show a kind of toothbrush, and wherein the bristle loading end is rendered as nonplanar.
U.S. Patent No. 4,240,452 have disclosed a kind of toothbrush of elastic substrates, and wherein the bristle loading plate is installed in the rubber tube top.
A plurality of Patent publish have some toothbrushes and/or a gum-massaging device of non-planar surfaces.For example BP No.524135 relates to a kind of gum-massaging device, and described gum-massaging device has the hollow rubber head that is filled with air and thinks that the gum-massaging member provides air cushion.U.S. Patent No. 1,058,273 have disclosed a kind of massage machine with internal air gap.U.S. Patent No. 2,148,483 have disclosed a kind of tooth and gum-massaging device and training aids that comprises the cavity that is full of air.U.S. Patent No. 2,176,309 have also disclosed a kind of gum-massaging device with air bag.
Various patents have also disclosed the hair brush with dome shape outer surface.The example of these patents comprises United States Patent(USP) Nos. 3,739,419,4,500,939 and 5,581,840.Similarly, U.S. Patent No. Des.892,299 illustrate the toilet bruss with convex bristle loading end.
Summary of the invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of head toothbrushes, thereby the cleaning element flexibility of raising is provided with dome shape or trampoline type cleaning element loading end.
Another object of the present invention provides a kind of toothbrush, and wherein the brush edge is linked with the hinge axis of the longitudinal axis conllinear of brush.
The present invention also has another purpose to provide a kind of like this toothbrush, and described toothbrush uses and can hold the tooth edge with the anterior cleaning element that contacts with the top of while and tooth.
The present invention also has another purpose to provide the manufacturing technology of making this toothbrush.
According to an aspect of the present invention, toothbrush comprises with substrate having the brush that upright wall portion exists with the form that forms all frames.Thin elastic diaphragm is installed in the frame portion, has the space between barrier film and frame portion.Under its primary condition, when toothbrush is not used, described barrier film be protrude so that its original shape is a class dome shape.When moving when recovering original shape arbitrarily in this use at brush on the tooth by the cleaning element of barrier film carrying, barrier film deflection in use is to change original shape.
Cleaning element preferably is fixed to bristle on the barrier film by technology in the mould.
In a kind of preferred implementation of the present invention, head toothbrushes is oval-shaped and barrier film also is oval-shaped.Barrier film all protrudes on its vertical and horizontal direction.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a kind of easy and effective method that obtains the required flexibility in brush and the brush holder.Be similar to trampoline, the brushhead portion that carries bristle at least is interpreted as allowing bristle easy deformation in use, and it has improved with the contact performance of tooth and to the clean-up performance of tooth.The pressure to tooth on the bristle causes brush together with the bristle deflection, in case but flexible brush head is designed to be applied to pressure on the bristle obtains alleviating and promptly return its initial position.To stress-free transition process, the flexibility that bristle has owing to the head toothbrushes inherence keeps and the tooth Continuous Contact pressure on brush holder from weight.
According to another aspect of the present invention, head toothbrushes has the spine of extending with the longitudinal axis conllinear of brush, thereby brush is divided into a pair of longitudinal component side by side that links to each other with this spine.This spine forms the hinge axis of being made by elastomeric material, and its work that plays spring moves with contacting from initial position with to initial position of tooth in order to allow described partial response.
In a kind of preferred implementation aspect this of the present invention, described part side by side also can comprise soft compliant material.Cleaning element on each described part preferably includes than one group of one group of exterior clean element that the cleaning inside leement duration is longer.Described exterior clean element can play the effect that dental plaque is removed bristle, and it has enough length to extend along dental part ground, and the cleaning inside element is then cleaned tooth with water.When described part was positioned at its initial position, the end surface of cleaning inside element group preferably made side by side two groups of cleaning inside elements of part become obtuse angle contacting with maximization and tooth.In use, thus brush causes flexible hinge open and close in cleaning course for the tooth edge pressure.
Description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the perspective view according to toothbrush of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is the side view of toothbrush shown in Figure 1;
Fig. 3 is the front view as the toothbrush of Fig. 1-shown in Figure 2;
Fig. 4 is the cutaway view of 4-4 intercepting along the line from Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is the front view according to motive power toothbrush of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is the perspective view of toothbrush according to another embodiment of the invention, thereby described toothbrush has Hookean region to allow toothbrush, bristle and brush holder deflection and carry out cleaning of teeth better and to control in brush and brush holder;
Fig. 7 is the side view of toothbrush shown in Figure 6;
Fig. 8 is Fig. 6-circled area plane shown in Figure 7;
Fig. 9 is the side view that the toothbrush shown in Figure 6 of the deflection in the void area of bristle and brush holder zone below is shown;
Figure 10 is the top plan view according to the motive power toothbrush of Fig. 6 of the present invention-embodiment illustrated in fig. 9;
Figure 11 is the perspective view of the toothbrush that forms according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 12 is the side view of toothbrush shown in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is Figure 11-circled area plane shown in Figure 12;
Figure 14 is the end-view of Figure 11-toothbrush shown in Figure 13 when being positioned at its first closure position;
Figure 15 is the cutaway view of 15-15 intercepting along the line from Figure 13, but brush is positioned at its hinge open position and has omitted some cleaning elements; With
Figure 16 is the front view according to the motive power toothbrush of Figure 11 of the present invention-embodiment illustrated in fig. 15.
The specific embodiment
Fig. 1-Fig. 4 shows toothbrush 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.As shown in FIG., toothbrush 10 comprises brush holder 12 and brush 14.Brush holder 12 can comprise the suitable grip pad of being made by elastomeric material 16.Yet the present invention relates generally to the structure of brush 14.As shown in Figure 4, brush 14 has base part 18, and described base part 18 has upright wall portion 20 to be formed on the outward extending all frames in base part 18 tops.According to the present invention, barrier film 22 fully is attached in the frame portion 20 along its periphery.The barrier film 22 that is in its initial unused state is that protrude or bandy, shown in Fig. 4 the best.Preferably all convexly curved in the longitudinal and transverse direction, thus present the outer surface 24 of similar dome shape, and cleaning element 26 links to each other with described outer surface 24.
The present invention is particularly suitable for by technology in the mould (IMT:In-moldedtechnology) method in all embodiments by the attached cleaning element that exists with bristle thigh or bristle form, technology (IMT) method needs the material of little cross section usually in the described mould, and the bristle thigh forever is attached in the described material.Preferably in the forming process of toothbrush handles or carry out attachedly at least in the forming process of brush, described brush is the part of toothbrush to the bristle thigh that utilizes the IMT method, and bristle thigh and other material are attached on the described brush.Key feature of the present invention shown in Fig. 1-Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is to utilize thin cross sectional material to make barrier film 22.Barrier film 22 is flexible with flexible.For example, as shown in Figure 4 cross section form similar crescent, thereby be the shape that is similar to dome.
Owing to have space 28 between base part 18 and the barrier film 22, when cleaning element or bristle 26 contacted with tooth, barrier film can move to be twisted into other shape from its initial classes dome shape.Therefore, dome 22 has thin membrane, described barrier film by can be in the moving process of brush deflection to change and recover the material of its original shape or the combination of material is made from its original shape arbitrarily.Bristle 26 is attached on the flexible arched-top film and correspondingly moves and forms randomly topologically structuredly, has improved the cleaning capacity to tooth thus.The movable bristle thigh has bigger mobile degree and thereby different and tooth brushing device uniqueness is provided than other toothbrush.
In the present invention embodiment as shown in the figure, brush 14 is oval-shaped substantially and barrier film 22 has corresponding elliptical shape, referring to Fig. 3.
The cleaning element of any appropriate format can be used as the cleaning element 26 in the broad sense embodiment of the present invention.Term " cleaning element " is intended to be used for general meaning, it can comprise the conventional fiber bristles or the cleaning element of massage elements or other form, for example with circular cross sectional shape or comprise straight portion or elastomer finger or wall portion that any required form of sine curve part is arranged.In the place that bristle uses, make the substrate of bristle be installed in the cluster section or below it and below the barrier film 22, bristle can be installed on cluster section or the part by extending through suitable opening in the cluster section.
The concrete examples shown that should be appreciated that cleaning element only is the example purpose.Can use the various combinations of identical or different cleaning element structure (for example to be bundled into the bristle or the interior technology bristle of mould of bundle, no anchoring technology (AFT) bristle etc.) and/or use identical bristle or cleaning element material (for example nylon brush hair, spiralled bristles, rubber bristles etc.), implement the present invention.Similarly, though Fig. 2 illustrates cleaning element usually perpendicular to the outer surface 24 or the barrier film 22 of brush 14, some or all in the cleaning element can become different angles with respect to the outer surface of brush 14.Therefore the combination that might select cleaning element structure, material and orientation to be realizing specific expected results, thereby additional oral health interests are provided, as clean-up performance, the tooth that strengthens add lustre to, dental whitening and/or gum-massaging.
Yet because the technology bristle needs the bristle thigh to be attached to wherein little cross sectional material in the mould, and the barrier film in the preferred implementation of the present invention 22 has little cross section, so cleaning element 26 is preferably technology bristle in the mould.
Although Fig. 1-Fig. 3 illustrates barrier film 22 and occupies whole brush 14 substantially, the present invention also can be implemented, and wherein brush 14 has enough big size and makes it can comprise the adjacent bristle loading end of other and dome shape barrier film 22.
Although Fig. 1-Fig. 4 illustrates a kind of manually operated toothbrush, the present invention also can be implemented, and wherein brush comprises the power or the electrically operated movable part of one or more carrying cleaning elements.This movable part can rotation mode vibration or with respect to the longitudinal axis linear oscillator along the longitudinal direction of brush or with respect to the longitudinal axis of brush along side direction or horizontal direction linear oscillator.This movable part can along towards or vibrate away from the direction of brush head outer surface with passing in and out.This movable part can be with respect to the brush head outer surface swing.This movable part can rotate continuously along equidirectional, rather than vibration.Any suitable driving mechanism can be used to provide required to movable part and move.In the place of using a plurality of movable parts, all movable parts can have moving of same type and direction, perhaps can use different combinations of moving.
Fig. 5 shows and comprises the power-actuated movable disc with cleaning element or the toothbrush 10A of part 30.For example by using U.S. Patent No. 5,625, the driving mechanism of type described in 916 can make this movable part 30 whirling vibrations, perhaps use U.S. Patent No. Re35, the driving mechanism of type described in 941 can make this movable part move with passing in and out, and the reference that all details of two patents pass through on it is incorporated in this.Another kind of optional mode is that the drive unit of above-mentioned other type of mentioning can make part 30 otherwise move with direction.Although Fig. 5 illustrates the far-end that movable part 30 is positioned at brush, movable part or a plurality of movable part can be positioned at any desired location place on the brush.
Fig. 6-Fig. 9 illustrates the manual toothbrush 110 according to another embodiment of the invention.This is the modification of previous embodiment, and it utilizes trampoline type structure to move up and down with realization.As shown therein, toothbrush 110 comprises brush holder 112 and brush 114.Brush holder 112 can comprise the appropriate area of being made by elastomeric material 116.This elastomer portion of brush holder preferably is molded as has void area 118, and the user is easy to make described void area distortion.Under the elastomeric material on the top side of brush holder 112 116 (as Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and shown in Figure 9) will the finger pressure the user, surrender and brush holder is better held with a firm grip, provide simultaneously the more comfortable sense of touch of brush holder to provide.Fig. 9 illustrates this elastomer portion 116 of the brush holder 112 that is in depressed state.Downward arrow among this figure is represented the applied pressure by the toothbrush user.Void area 118 thereby be minimized.In case user's pressure is released, the performance of the elastomer portion 116 of brush holder 112 makes elastomeric material 116 reply its original shape, as shown in Figure 6.
By being included in elastomer portion 122 in the brush and overlaying on void area 120 tops, in brush, form similar flexibility, deformable void area 120.Cleaning element 124 is arranged in the elastomer portion of brush and by the known method that comprises technology in the mould (IMT) and is fixed on it.The bristle that utilizes the IMT method to carry out is attached preferably to be occurred in the forming process of brush holder or at least in the forming process of the elastomer portion 122 of brush 114.
In use, toothbrush user applied pressure causes and has produced the similar pressure of tooth to cleaning element 124, shown in the arrow among Fig. 9.This makes the elastomer portion 122 of brush 114 produce deflection, and it further causes cleaning element with respect to the tooth reorientation that just is being cleaned.When user's pressure reduced, the void area 120 of brush 114 was opened, and caused cleaning element to follow the shape of the tooth of just being cleaned with water, thereby improved the clean-up performance to tooth.After all pressure of user were released, void area 120 was returned its original shape.
The elastomer portion 122 of brush 114 should be can the combination of deflection at random to change its original shape and to recover the material or the material of its original shape in the moving process of brush.Cleaning element, for example bristle is attached on the flexible partition, forms the flexible orientation of cleaning element 124, and it has improved the clean-up performance to tooth.Thereby the movable bristle thigh has sizable mobile degree and provide unique tooth brush kinetoplast to test.
The cleaning element of any appropriate format can be used as the cleaning element 124 in the broad sense embodiment of the present invention, as what discussed with Fig. 1-embodiment illustrated in fig. 5.The concrete examples shown that should be appreciated that cleaning element only is the example purpose.Can use the various combination of identical or different cleaning element structure (for example to be bundled into the bristle or the interior technology bristle of mould of bundle, no anchoring technology (AFT) bristle etc.) and/or use identical bristle or cleaning element (for example nylon brush hair, spiralled bristles, rubber bristles etc.), implement the present invention.Similarly, though Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 illustrate cleaning element usually perpendicular to the elastomer portion 122 of brush 114, some or all the become different angles in the cleaning element.Therefore the combination that might select cleaning element structure, material and orientation to be realizing concrete expected results, thereby additional oral health interests are provided, as clean-up performance, the tooth that strengthens add lustre to, dental whitening and/or gum-massaging.
The part of brush holder 112 and brush 114 can be made by the rigid plastic material that is used for manual toothbrush.Yet, as shown in, a feature of this toothbrush has been to use the elastomer portion 116 of brush holder and/or the elastomer portion 122 of brush 114, for example can move and return subsequently the elastomer of this initial position from its initial position.
The present invention can also be implemented, and wherein brush 114 comprises the power or the electrically operated movable part of one or more carrying cleaning elements.
Figure 10 shows and comprises the power-actuated movable disc with cleaning element or the toothbrush 110A of part 150.Movable part 150 can be similar with part shown in Figure 5 30.Although Figure 10 illustrates the end that movable part 150 is positioned at brush, and is similar with Fig. 5, movable part or a plurality of movable part can be positioned at any desired location place on the brush.
In another embodiment of the present invention, toothbrush comprise by the flexible hinge structure by vertically be divided into several side by side the zone brush, described flexible hinge structure plays the effect that makes brush material and cleaning area return the spring of its initial position.Figure 11-Figure 13 illustrates the toothbrush 210 that comprises elongated handle 212 and brush 214.Part brush holder 212 can be at 216 places of the gripping area between shoulder 218 and 220 by recessed.Enough distances are beneficial to the effect of playing hook or flange and hang the toothbrush that is in inversion state thereby shoulder 218 can stretch out.
As shown in the figure, each described part 224,226 comprises many group cleaning elements.For example, one group of exterior clean element 228 is positioned at the outer circumference of each part 224,226, and one group of cleaning inside element 230 is positioned near the spine 222.The end surface 232 of cleaning inside element 230 preferably is tapered so that when brush is positioned at its initial position towards hinge axis 222, the obtuse angle that the adjacent end 232 of every group of cleaning inside element forms shown in alphabetical A among Figure 14.
228 groups of exterior clean elements than cleaning inside element 230 from the longer distance that stretches out of the outer surface of part side by side.Therefore, thereby being designed to hold the tooth edge, the combination cleaning element may contact with the top with tooth is anterior simultaneously, referring to Figure 14.In use, brush is pushed the tooth edge, causes flexible hinge open and close in use.
Shown in a kind of preferred implementation of the present invention among Figure 11-Figure 13, the exterior clean element is the bristle tuft of plaque bristles for 228 groups.The cleaning inside element can be the bristle that is formed by technology in the mould (IMT) for 230 groups, and wherein bristle pack one end is fused together and fused end is inserted in the die cavity in the brush manufacture process.
Figure 15 illustrates the part 224,226 that is in its open position.Figure 15 has omitted some cleaning elements to provide how the better understanding of cleaning element is installed.As shown therein, plaque bristles (plaque bristle) 228 be in the single hole 234 that is inserted in the bristle containers 236 bristle tuft or bunch form.The cleaning inside element is for 230 groups the IMT bristle that is installed in the IMT container 238.This IMT container 238 can be made into integration by soft, flexible elastomer material and hinge axis 222, as shown in figure 15.
As Figure 11-shown in Figure 13, bristle containers 236 does not extend to the far-end of brush 214 fully.Therefore, side plate 240 is set in each side of brush, described side plate 240 and bristle containers 236 vertically in abutting connection with and be oppositely arranged the residue length that is used to finish container 238 with container 238, thereby make and form level and smooth profile along the side of brush 214.Side plate 240 also can be made by soft, flexible elastomer material.
Illustrate as the best among Figure 11-Figure 12, every capable IMT bristle 230 separates each other its bristle or the staggered so that inclination IMT bristle of each part can be assemblied between the interval of adjacent IMT bristle of another part.
Although it is plaque bristles and IMT bristle that Figure 11-Figure 15 illustrates the optimal way of cleaning element, the cleaning element of any appropriate format can be used as foregoing cleaning element 228 and 230.Therefore term " cleaning element " is intended to be used for general meaning, it can comprise the conventional fiber bristles or the cleaning element of massage elements or other form, for example with circular cross sectional shape or comprise straight portion or elastomer finger or wall portion that any required form of sine curve part is arranged.Place in that bristle uses makes the substrate of bristle be installed in the cluster section or below it by the suitable opening that extends through the cluster section, and bristle can be installed on cluster section or the part.
Similarly, the concrete examples shown that should be appreciated that cleaning element only is the example purpose.Can use the various combination of identical or different cleaning element structure (for example to be bundled into the bristle or the interior technology bristle of mould of bundle, no anchoring technology (AFT) bristle etc.) and/or use identical bristle or cleaning element (for example nylon brush hair, spiralled bristles, rubber bristles etc.), implement the present invention.Similarly, though Fig. 2 illustrates cleaning element usually perpendicular to the outer surface of brush 214, some or all in the cleaning element can become different angles with respect to the outer surface of brush 214.Therefore the combination that might select cleaning element structure, material and orientation to be realizing concrete expected results, thereby additional oral health interests are provided, as clean-up performance, the tooth that strengthens add lustre to, dental whitening and/or gum-massaging.
Although Figure 11-Figure 13 illustrates manually operated toothbrush, the present invention also can be implemented, and wherein brush comprises the power or the electrically operated movable part of one or more carrying cleaning elements.Figure 16 illustrates and comprises the power drive movable disc with cleaning element or the toothbrush 210A of part 250, and is similar to the movable part of toothbrush 10A and 110A.
Claims (12)
1, a kind of toothbrush, described toothbrush comprises:
Brush holder (12);
Be fixed to described brush holder (12) go up and make the size that is used for the oral cavity brush (14), described brush has upright wall portion (20) with substrate (18) and exists with the form that forms around all frames of the outer rim of described brush;
The thin elastic diaphragm (22) of elastomeric material with periphery of the shape that meets described all frame portion, thereby described barrier film is by being fixed to its periphery the internal pore (28) that forms on described all frames between described barrier film (22) and the described substrate (18), described wall portion (20) has the periphery that is used for receiving and will described thin elastic diaphragm (22) and is fixed to the inside of all frames and is used for described space is enclosed in the interior installation surface of brush (14), described relatively space, described installation surface slopes inwardly, described barrier film (22) has untapped initial conditions, the described barrier film that is in described initial conditions be protrude to have initial class dome shape;
At least one cleaning element (26) away from brush (14) extension on described barrier film (22), described barrier film can deflection also return to described original shape arbitrarily to change described original shape subsequently in the use of described toothbrush in the use of described toothbrush.
2, toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cleaning element (26) comprise by technology in the mould and are fixed to bristle on the described barrier film (22).
3, toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said brush (14) is the cylindroid bodily form substantially, and the periphery of described barrier film is oval-shaped.
4, toothbrush according to claim 3, wherein said barrier film all protrudes on its horizontal and vertical direction, and this vertically is the direction along brush holder, and this laterally is perpendicular to this direction longitudinally.
5, a kind of method of making toothbrush, described method comprises: form brush (14) with base part (18) and with the attached brush holder (12) of brush (14), described base part (18) has upright wall portion (20) and comprises that with formation the periphery in the wall portion (20) installs the frame portion on surface, and described installation surface tilts in space (28) relatively; Bristle loading end (22) is installed to is attached to periphery and installs in the lip-deep described frame portion, wherein said bristle loading end (22) is the dome shape barrier film of being made by gentle elastomeric material, with described dome shape barrier film (22) so that described space (28) be fixed on the described peripheral installed surface of described wall portion (20) by a kind of like this mode of described barrier film and described wall portion (20) sealing; And bristle (26) is attached on the described barrier film by technology in the mould.
6, method according to claim 5, wherein said bristle (26) is attached on the described barrier film in the forming process of brush holder.
7, a kind of toothbrush, described toothbrush comprises brush holder (112) and brushhead portion (114), described brushhead portion comprises the void area (120) of partly being sealed by elastomeric material (122), described elastomeric material has the part that extends into described brushhead portion (114) from described void area (120), described material is easy to deflection and enters described void area (120) and extension and be easy to deflection changing its initial orientation and recover to present its initial orientation subsequently in the use of described toothbrush after the use of described toothbrush, and described brushhead portion (114) has cleaning element (124) being arranged on the described elastomeric material (122) of described void area (120) and described extension; Wherein said brush holder (112) comprises the zone (116) of being made by elastomeric material, and this zone (116) are provided with void area (118), and described zone (116) can be out of shape.
8, toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein said brushhead portion (114) comprise by technology in the mould and are fixed to cleaning element (124) on the described elastomeric material.
9, toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein said cleaning element (124) is a brushing cluster.
10, toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein said brush part comprise power cleaning element (150).
11, a kind of method of making toothbrush comprises: form brush (114) and be attached to brush holder (112) on the brush (114); Wherein a part of described brush comprises the void area (120) that is partly centered on by elastomeric material (122), described elastomeric material has the part that extends into described brush (114) from described void area (120), and described material is easy to enter described void area (120) on the bias and the extension is easy to deflection; Wherein said brush holder (112) comprises the zone (116) of being made by elastomeric material, this zone (116) is provided with void area (118), described zone (116) can be out of shape, and by technology in the mould cleaning element (124) is attached on the described elastomeric material (122) that is arranged in described void area (120) and described extension.
12, method according to claim 11, wherein said cleaning element (124) is attached in the forming process of brush holder (112) on the described elastomeric material (122).
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US40216202P | 2002-08-09 | 2002-08-09 | |
| US60/402,162 | 2002-08-09 | ||
| US60/402,170 | 2002-08-09 | ||
| US60/402,670 | 2002-08-12 |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN2008102129859A Division CN101357023B (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-08-08 | Flexible dome toothbrush |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN1777378A CN1777378A (en) | 2006-05-24 |
| CN100469276C true CN100469276C (en) | 2009-03-18 |
Family
ID=36766595
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNB038240602A Expired - Fee Related CN100469276C (en) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-08-08 | Flexible arched-top toothbrush |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN100469276C (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2745770C (en) |
Citations (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2706825A (en) * | 1954-04-02 | 1955-04-26 | Amoron R Blakeman | Toothbrush |
| US3129449A (en) * | 1960-09-13 | 1964-04-21 | Cyzer Bernard | Toothbrush with shuttingly oscillatingly and rotatingly movable cleaning and massaging elements |
| US5325560A (en) * | 1993-01-08 | 1994-07-05 | Pavone Bernadino J | Orthodontic toothbrush |
| US5390984A (en) * | 1992-04-28 | 1995-02-21 | G. B. Boucherie N.V. | Method of producing tooth brushes |
| US5483722A (en) * | 1992-12-11 | 1996-01-16 | Scheier; Paul A. | Toothbrush with resilient flexible bristle support |
| US5630244A (en) * | 1996-01-02 | 1997-05-20 | Chang; Ching-Min | Elastic toothbrush |
| US5799354A (en) * | 1997-02-27 | 1998-09-01 | Amir; Ehud | Toothbrush |
| US5813079A (en) * | 1991-03-27 | 1998-09-29 | Lingner & Fischer Gmbh | Toothbrush having a flexibility linked zone in its head |
| CN1200016A (en) * | 1995-10-17 | 1998-11-25 | 科伦特工厂有限公司 | Bristle article with adjustable bristle hardness |
| WO1999016604A1 (en) * | 1997-10-01 | 1999-04-08 | M + C Schiffer Gmbh | Process and device for manufacturing a toothbrush |
| US5946759A (en) * | 1996-01-18 | 1999-09-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Brush head |
| US5970564A (en) * | 1996-09-26 | 1999-10-26 | Chesebrough-Pond's Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc. | Brush having an elastomeric bridge |
| US6088870A (en) * | 1999-02-10 | 2000-07-18 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Toothbrush head with flexibly mounted bristles |
-
2003
- 2003-08-08 CA CA2745770A patent/CA2745770C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-08-08 CN CNB038240602A patent/CN100469276C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2706825A (en) * | 1954-04-02 | 1955-04-26 | Amoron R Blakeman | Toothbrush |
| US3129449A (en) * | 1960-09-13 | 1964-04-21 | Cyzer Bernard | Toothbrush with shuttingly oscillatingly and rotatingly movable cleaning and massaging elements |
| US5813079A (en) * | 1991-03-27 | 1998-09-29 | Lingner & Fischer Gmbh | Toothbrush having a flexibility linked zone in its head |
| US5390984A (en) * | 1992-04-28 | 1995-02-21 | G. B. Boucherie N.V. | Method of producing tooth brushes |
| US5483722A (en) * | 1992-12-11 | 1996-01-16 | Scheier; Paul A. | Toothbrush with resilient flexible bristle support |
| US5325560A (en) * | 1993-01-08 | 1994-07-05 | Pavone Bernadino J | Orthodontic toothbrush |
| CN1200016A (en) * | 1995-10-17 | 1998-11-25 | 科伦特工厂有限公司 | Bristle article with adjustable bristle hardness |
| US5630244A (en) * | 1996-01-02 | 1997-05-20 | Chang; Ching-Min | Elastic toothbrush |
| US5946759A (en) * | 1996-01-18 | 1999-09-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Brush head |
| US5970564A (en) * | 1996-09-26 | 1999-10-26 | Chesebrough-Pond's Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc. | Brush having an elastomeric bridge |
| US5799354A (en) * | 1997-02-27 | 1998-09-01 | Amir; Ehud | Toothbrush |
| WO1999016604A1 (en) * | 1997-10-01 | 1999-04-08 | M + C Schiffer Gmbh | Process and device for manufacturing a toothbrush |
| US6088870A (en) * | 1999-02-10 | 2000-07-18 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Toothbrush head with flexibly mounted bristles |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2745770A1 (en) | 2004-02-19 |
| CA2745770C (en) | 2014-11-18 |
| CN1777378A (en) | 2006-05-24 |
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| C06 | Publication | ||
| PB01 | Publication | ||
| C10 | Entry into substantive examination | ||
| SE01 | Entry into force of request for substantive examination | ||
| C14 | Grant of patent or utility model | ||
| GR01 | Patent grant | ||
| CF01 | Termination of patent right due to non-payment of annual fee | ||
| CF01 | Termination of patent right due to non-payment of annual fee |
Granted publication date: 20090318 Termination date: 20190808 |