Electric toothbrush

Abstract

The invention provides an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush comprises a handle outer shell; the driving assembly is provided with a driver and a driving shaft, and the driver enables the driving shaft to do main reciprocating motion; the rack assembly is used for installing the driving assembly in the handle outer shell; wherein the electric toothbrush further comprises an actuating device for generating an additional reciprocating motion, the actuating device comprising a permanent magnet and an induction device, the induction device having a magnetic core and an electrical conductor, one of the permanent magnet and the induction device being mounted to the frame assembly or the drive shaft, the other of the permanent magnet and the induction device being stationary mounted relative to the handle housing; when the electric conductor is powered on, electromagnetic force is generated between the sensing device and the permanent magnet, and the electromagnetic force is applied to the rack assembly or the driving shaft provided with one of the permanent magnet and the sensing device to enable the rack assembly or the driving shaft to do additional reciprocating motion. According to the electric toothbrush, besides main reciprocating motion for cleaning, additional reciprocating motion can be provided, cleaning power is improved, and diversity of functions is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush, and in particular to an electric toothbrush capable of providing compound motions. Background Art

[0002] Electric toothbrushes currently on the market typically only offer one type of motion, with the bristles rotating back and forth around an axis of motion. This reciprocating motion provides a cleaning force on the teeth. However, this single motion alone is difficult to effectively remove some stubborn stains.

[0003] These stubborn stains may have long been attached to the tooth surface or between teeth due to factors such as dietary habits and oral hygiene practices. Relying solely on the reciprocating rotation of the bristles makes it difficult to provide a piercing motion that intersects or is perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft. This additional piercing force is ineffective in breaking up and removing stubborn stains, making it difficult for them to escape from the tooth surface or between teeth, thus affecting the cleaning efficiency of the electric toothbrush.

[0004] Furthermore, existing electric toothbrushes have multiple problems when it comes to cleaning stubborn stains. Some electric toothbrushes have bristles that are too hard. While they can clean the surface of teeth, they have difficulty penetrating into areas like the gaps between teeth and the gum sulcus, and may even damage the gums. The bristles are not arranged properly, with spacing that is too large or too small, affecting the cleaning effect. Some electric toothbrushes do not vibrate strongly enough, providing insufficient power to loosen and remove stubborn stains, and their single mode makes it difficult to deeply clean different types of stubborn stains. Furthermore, the fit of the brush head to the teeth is also a prominent issue. For example, inappropriate brush head size and shape can affect the cleaning of various parts of the teeth.

[0005] Electric toothbrushes currently on the market also have some shortcomings when it comes to audio and vibration functions. Some products advertise audio vibration frequencies that don't match their actual operating frequencies, and the frequency stability is poor. They are noisy during operation and lack personalized audio settings. The audio and vibration functions are inconsistent, with the vibration rhythm inconsistent with the sound rhythm. Audio feedback doesn't accurately reflect the cleaning effect, reducing the product's practicality and user experience.

[0006] In summary, in order to improve the cleaning effect of electric toothbrushes on stubborn stains, enhance cleaning efficiency, optimize the audio vibration function, and meet users' diverse oral cleaning needs, it is necessary to improve the existing electric toothbrushes. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides an electric toothbrush, comprising: a handle outer shell; a drive assembly, the drive assembly having a driver and a drive shaft, the driver driving the drive shaft to perform a main reciprocating motion; a frame assembly, the frame assembly being used to mount the drive assembly in the handle outer shell; wherein the electric toothbrush further comprises an actuating device for generating additional reciprocating motion, the actuating device comprising a permanent magnet and an inductive device, the inductive device having a magnetic core and a conductor, one of the permanent magnet and the inductive device being mounted to the frame assembly or the drive shaft, and the other of the permanent magnet and the inductive device being stationarily mounted relative to the handle outer shell; when the conductor is energized, an electromagnetic force is generated between the inductive device and the permanent magnet, and the electromagnetic force is applied to the frame assembly or the drive shaft on which one of the permanent magnet and the inductive device is mounted, causing it to perform an additional reciprocating motion.

[0008] The electric toothbrush according to the present invention can provide additional reciprocating motion in addition to the main reciprocating motion for cleaning, so as to achieve functional diversity.

[0009] The induction device can be connected to the audio signal so that the additional reciprocating motion is associated with the audio signal. The actuator and the driver are independent components that provide motion and can be started simultaneously or one of them can be started selectively.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the primary reciprocating motion is linear reciprocating motion of the drive shaft along its axis or reciprocating rotation about its axis, and the direction of the additional reciprocating motion is different from the direction of the primary reciprocating motion. In some embodiments, one of the permanent magnet and the inductive device is mounted on the drive shaft, and the additional reciprocating motion is reciprocating swinging of the drive shaft about a swing fulcrum at its end or midway.

[0011] Preferably, the electric toothbrush has a PCB located within and fixed relative to the handle housing, the induction device is mounted on the PCB, and the permanent magnet is mounted to the frame assembly or the drive shaft. Mounting the induction device on the PCB simplifies the circuit layout of the actuator.

[0012] In some embodiments, the frame assembly further includes: an inner frame portion, the frame being used to mount the drive assembly and being located within the outer handle housing; and a handle interface member extending from the outer handle housing and configured to connect to a brush head interface member of the brush head. The inner frame portion is connected to the handle interface member, and the handle interface member and the outer handle housing are separated by a gap or an elastic member.

[0013] Preferably, one of the permanent magnet and the inductive element is mounted on the inner frame portion or the handle interface to cause it to produce additional reciprocating motion, and the additional reciprocating motion is transmitted to the brush head through the handle interface. In this way, the additional reciprocating motion and the main reciprocating motion are transmitted via different motion transmission components. When the additional reciprocating motion is a vibration in the audio range, this is beneficial for improving the quality of sound transmission.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, the actuator further comprises a magnetizer, the permanent magnet is attached to the magnetizer, the induction device is spaced apart from the magnetizer, and the permanent magnet is biased relative to the magnetic core of the induction device.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the induction device includes a first induction device and a second induction device, the first induction device and the second induction device are spaced apart relative to the magnetic conductor, and the permanent magnet is biased to one side of the first induction device and the second induction device.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, one of the permanent magnet and the inductive device is mounted on the driving shaft, and the additional reciprocating motion is a reciprocating swing of the driving shaft around a swing fulcrum at its end or midway.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, additional reciprocating motion is transmitted to the brush head connected to the handle portion, and the additional reciprocating motion causes the cleaning elements of the brush head to perform reciprocating stabbing motion along a direction that is angled or substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft.

[0018] The electric toothbrush with a combined motion provided by the present invention can significantly enhance cleaning power. For stubborn stains, this electric toothbrush not only provides the conventional reciprocating rotational motion of the bristles, but also provides a stabbing motion perpendicular to or intersecting the direction of this rotational motion. The combination of these two motions and forces greatly enhances the ability to break down and remove stubborn stains, making it easier for stubborn stains to escape from the tooth surface or between teeth. This significantly improves the cleaning efficiency of the electric toothbrush, enabling more comprehensive and in-depth cleaning of all areas of the teeth, including between teeth and gingival sulci, areas that are difficult to reach with traditional manual toothbrushing. It effectively removes plaque and food debris, preventing oral problems such as caries and periodontitis.

[0019] Furthermore, when the additional reciprocating actuator receives an audio signal, the additional motion generates audio vibrations in the electric toothbrush head. This allows the electric toothbrush to transmit sound to the brush head through the vibration of the drive shaft or handle interface, and further transmit it to the oral cavity for human perception. This provides clear audio feedback, enhances the product's practicality and user experience, and provides users with a more engaging and technologically advanced brushing experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the following description of exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 An external perspective view of an electric toothbrush is shown.

[0022] Figure 2 A perspective view showing the internal structure of an electric toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3A partial perspective view of an electric toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown, with the toothbrush head removed.

[0024] Figure 4 A perspective view showing the operating portion of an electric toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 Shown Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional view of the portion shown.

[0026] Figure 6 A perspective view showing an operating portion of an electric toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional view of the portion shown.

[0028] Figure 8 A perspective view showing an operating portion of an electric toothbrush according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 9 A perspective view showing an operating portion of an electric toothbrush according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 10 A perspective view showing an operating portion of an electric toothbrush according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 11 An external perspective view of another form of electric toothbrush is shown.

[0032] Figure 12 A perspective view showing the internal structure of an electric toothbrush according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention

[0033] Figure 13 An enlarged perspective view of an electric toothbrush according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 14 A perspective view showing an operating portion of an electric toothbrush according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 15 A perspective view showing the internal structure of an electric toothbrush according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 16 An internal cross-sectional perspective view of an electric toothbrush according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0037] Reference Signs List

[0038] 1. 6. Handle part

[0039] 2, 7, 8 brush heads

[0040] 11, 91 elastic parts

[0041] 12, 62, 92 drive shafts

[0042] 13, 93 handle interface

[0043] 131 pivoting portion

[0044] 14 Handle outer shell

[0045] 15, 45, 55, 65 PCB boards

[0046] 16, 36, 46, 56, 66, 96: permanent magnet

[0047] 17, 48, 58, 67, 97 induction devices

[0048] 18 gear box cover

[0049] 19, 49, 69, 99 cores

[0050] 50 additional cores

[0051] 21, 71, 81 cleaning elements

[0052] 22, 82 cleaning element carrier

[0053] 23, 70, 83 brush head housing

[0054] 24, 84 brush head interface parts

[0055] 25, 72 Motion transmission parts

[0056] 31 Fasteners

[0057] 32 Inductive device fixing parts

[0058] 47, 57 magnetic conductors

[0059] 63 drive shaft fixed bearing

[0060] F1, F2, F3, F4 forces

[0061] Axis of L1, L3, L7 drive shafts

[0062] Axis of L2 and L5 cleaning elements

[0063] L4 drive shaft fixed bearing rotation axis

[0064] L6: Swing axis

[0065] L8 cleaning element rotation axis

[0066] Point O is the swing fulcrum of the drive shaft DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] The present invention is further described below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. More details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can obviously be implemented in a variety of other ways different from the description herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations and deductions based on actual application situations without violating the connotation of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should not be limited by the content of this specific embodiment.

[0068] In the following description, "proximal" refers to the side or end close to the toothbrush head, while "distal" refers to the side or end away from the toothbrush head. "Transverse to" means that the two are arranged at an angle, which can be perpendicular to each other or not completely perpendicular but inclined at an angle to each other.

[0069] Figure 1 The figure shows an external stereoscopic view of an electric toothbrush according to the present invention, which mainly comprises a handle portion 1 and a brush head 2 detachably mounted on the handle portion 1. The handle portion 1 comprises a handle housing and a drive assembly mounted in the handle housing 6. The brush head mainly comprises a brush head housing 23, a cleaning element carrier 22 disposed at one end of the brush head housing 23, and a motion transmission member 25 disposed in the cavity of the brush head housing 23. The cleaning element carrier 22 carries the cleaning element 21. The motion transmission member 25 in the brush head housing 23 is connected to the drive shaft 12 of the handle portion 1, thereby driving the cleaning element carrier 22 to rotate around the rotation axis L2 of the cleaning element (see FIG. 2 ). Figure 2 ) rotates back and forth within a predetermined rotation angle range.

[0070] Figures 2 to 5 An electric toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The drive assembly of the electric toothbrush mainly includes a driver (such as a motor) for the main reciprocating motion (rotational cleaning motion), a gear connection mechanism and a drive shaft 12. The drive shaft 12 is connected to the rotational output part of the driver through a gear connection mechanism. The drive shaft 12 extends outward from the opening at the proximal end of the handle outer shell 14 to connect to the brush head 2. The handle portion 1 also includes a frame assembly for mounting the drive assembly in the chamber of the handle portion. The frame assembly mainly includes a handle interface member 13 extending out of the handle portion 1 and an inner frame portion accommodating the gear connection mechanism. A portion of the handle interface member 13 surrounds the drive shaft and another portion extends outside the handle portion 1 for connection to the brush head interface member 24 at the proximal end of the brush head outer shell 23 of the brush head 2. In the first embodiment, the inner frame portion includes a gear housing and a gear housing cover 18, and the handle interface member 13 and the gear housing cover 18 are fixed together by fasteners 31. In addition, as Figure 4As shown, the outside of the handle interface member 13 is integrally formed with a pivot portion 131, which fits into a corresponding recess formed by another frame inside the handle outer shell 14 (stationary relative to the handle outer shell 14, not shown here) to limit the movement of the handle interface member 13 along the axis L1 toward the brush head, but the drive assembly as a whole has the freedom to rotate around the rotation axis L6 of the handle interface member.

[0071] In addition, the handle portion 1 also includes a PCB board for setting electronic devices, including a micro control unit. The PCB board is fixedly installed in the handle outer shell. The PCB board is a stationary component relative to the handle outer shell.

[0072] like Figure 2 As shown, the drive shaft 12 in this electric toothbrush reciprocates around an axis L1 driven by a driver. This axis L1 is arranged at an angle to the rotation axis L2 of the cleaning element carrier, preferably perpendicular to each other. A driving bevel gear is provided at the proximal end of the motion transmission member 25 of the brush head 2, while the cleaning element carrier 22 has a passive bevel gear structure or is additionally provided with a passive bevel gear. The active and passive bevel gears mesh with each other, thereby transmitting the motion of the drive shaft 12 to the cleaning element carrier 22 via the motion transmission member.

[0073] According to the present invention, the handle portion 1 of the electric toothbrush further comprises an actuating device for generating an additional reciprocating motion. In the first embodiment, the actuating device is an electromagnetic actuating device, which comprises a permanent magnet 16 fixed to the drive shaft 12 and an inductive device 17 mounted on a PCB board. Figure 5 As shown, the permanent magnet 16 is preferably hollow cylindrical and is sleeved on the outer periphery of the drive shaft 12. Since the PCB board is a stationary component relative to the handle outer shell 14 in the handle portion 1, the induction device is also stationary relative to the handle outer shell 14 accordingly. The inductive device 17 has a magnetic core 19 and a conductor (such as a coil, which is arranged around the magnetic core 19. When an alternating current is passed through the coil, the current-carrying coil generates an alternating magnetic field in the magnetic core 19. The permanent magnet 16 is arranged relative to the inductive device 17 in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis L1, so that the direction of the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil is substantially parallel to the direction of the internal magnetic lines of force of the permanent magnet, thereby generating an interactive attractive force or repulsive force F1 / F2 between the inductive device 17 and the permanent magnet 16 through which the alternating current passes. The direction of F1 / F2 is transverse to the rotation axis L1 of the drive shaft 12. Preferably, the direction of the force F1 / F2 is transverse to or substantially perpendicular to the axis L1. The inner end of the drive shaft 12 is fixed, and the remaining part can move around the space around it. Under the action of the force F1 / F2, the drive shaft 12 can swing around the swing fulcrum O formed by the end of the drive shaft (see Figure 6) oscillates back and forth, thereby driving the cleaning element 21 to perform a corresponding additional reciprocating motion. The cleaning element 21 is away from the swing fulcrum O, and the reciprocating swing amplitude of the drive shaft 12 is limited. At this point, the additional reciprocating motion generated by the cleaning element 21 can be considered as additional reciprocating motion transverse to or perpendicular to the axis L1. In other words, the cleaning element 21 on the brush head 2 performs a stabbing motion relative to the teeth. The direction of the additional reciprocating motion is different from the direction of the main reciprocating rotation of the drive shaft 12 about the rotation axis L1 caused by the driver. These two reciprocating motions are driven by two independent devices. Under the control of the microcontroller, the two reciprocating motions can be performed selectively or simultaneously.

[0074] In particular, the PCB board is provided with an electronic device for generating an audio signal, such as an audio chip. The audio signal generated by the electronic device passes through the induction device in the form of an alternating current, is input into the conductor of the induction device, and the induction device 17 of the alternating current interacts with the permanent magnet 16, so that the additional reciprocating motion becomes an audio vibration. Usually, the frequency of the audio signal is between several hundred hertz and several thousand hertz, for example, between 200 Hz and 20,000 Hz. In the electric toothbrush of the first embodiment, the audio vibration is transmitted to the user's mouth through the drive shaft 12, the motion transmission member 25 of the brush head 2, the cleaning element carrier 22, and the cleaning element 21 on the cleaning element carrier 22, so that the user can perceive the corresponding audio content.

[0075] Figure 6 and Figure 7 A partial perspective view of an actuator in an electric toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The arrangement and structure of the drive assembly and frame assembly of the electric toothbrush in the second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that the permanent magnet 36 of the actuator for generating the additional reciprocating motion is disposed on the gear box cover 18, which is part of the frame assembly. The gear box cover 18 is secured to the handle interface 13 via fasteners 31. The inductive element 17 having a magnetic core 19 is still disposed on the PCB and is radially opposed to the permanent magnet with a gap therebetween.

[0076] When the coil of the induction device 17 is supplied with an alternating current, the induction device 17 interacts with the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 36 to generate a force. At this time, the force acts on the gear box cover 18 and is then transmitted to the handle interface 13 fixedly connected to the gear box cover 18. The frame assembly including the handle interface 13 rotates around the axis L6 (see FIG. Figure 4) reciprocates. Because the handle interface 13 connects the brush head interface 24, the handle housing 23, and the cleaning element carrier 22, the cleaning element 21 generates additional reciprocating motion along the axis L2. When the actuator and driver are activated simultaneously, this additional reciprocating motion combines with the primary reciprocating rotation of the cleaning element about the axis L2 provided by the driver, thereby facilitating efficient removal of stains adhering to the tooth surface.

[0077] In addition, the electric toothbrush of the second embodiment preferably includes an electronic device for generating audio signals, such as an audio chip, which is arranged on a PCB board. The audio signal generated by the electronic device is connected to the conductor (coil) in the induction device 17, so that the additional reciprocating motion becomes an audio vibration, which is transmitted to the user's mouth through the gear box cover 18, the handle interface 13, the brush head interface 24, the brush handle housing 23, the cleaning element carrier 22 and the cleaning element 21, so that the user can perceive the corresponding audio content.

[0078] In the electric toothbrush of the second embodiment, the main reciprocating motion and the supplementary reciprocating motion are transmitted to the cleaning elements via separate pathways. Specifically, the main reciprocating motion is transmitted from the driver to the cleaning elements (bristles) via the gear mechanism, drive shaft 12, motion transmission member 25 of the brush head 2, and cleaning element carrier 22, while the supplementary reciprocating motion is transmitted to the cleaning elements 21 via the gearbox cover 18, handle interface 13, brush head interface 24, handle housing 23, and cleaning element carrier 22. When the supplementary reciprocating motion is transmitted in the form of audio vibrations, the separate transmission pathways allow the user to more clearly discern the audio content.

[0079] In the first and second embodiments, an elastic member 11 is disposed between the handle outer housing 14 and the handle interface 13. This acts as a barrier to vibration transmission, preventing the additional reciprocating motion from being transferred to the handle outer housing 14 and reducing energy loss from the additional reciprocating motion. In the second embodiment, in particular, more of the energy from the additional reciprocating motion is transferred to the brush head housing 23 via the handle interface 13 and the brush head interface 24. In other embodiments, the elastic member 11 may be eliminated, and a gap may be formed between the handle outer housing 14 and the handle interface 13 to reduce energy loss from the additional reciprocating motion.

[0080] Figure 8 A perspective view of an actuating device of an electric toothbrush according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the third embodiment, the arrangement and structure of the driving assembly and the frame assembly of the electric toothbrush are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0081] The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that, in addition to the permanent magnet 46 and the induction device 48, the actuating device further includes a conductive magnet 47, wherein the permanent magnet 46 is fixed to the conductive magnet 47, for example, by an adhesive, and the two are fixedly connected to the handle interface 13. The induction device 48 is still mounted on the PCB board 45. The magnetic core of the induction device 48 is directly opposite the conductive magnet 47, while the permanent magnet 46 is offset relative to the conductive magnet 47 in a direction parallel to the axis L1. The actuating device for applying additional reciprocating motion is increased by the conductive magnet 47, which guides the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 46 toward the magnetic core of the induction device 48, making the arrangement position of the permanent magnet 46 more flexible.

[0082] Figure 9 The actuating device of the electric toothbrush according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the fourth embodiment, the arrangement and structure of the driving assembly and the frame assembly of the electric toothbrush are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0083] In the fourth embodiment, the actuating device includes a permanent magnet 46, a magnetic conductor 47, and an inductive element 48. The permanent magnet 46 is fixed to the magnetic conductor 47, and the two are together fixedly connected to the handle interface 13. The inductive element 48 includes a magnetic core 49 surrounded by a conductor and an additional magnetic core 50. The magnetic core 49 and the additional magnetic core 50 are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the PCB board. The addition of the additional magnetic core 50 helps to improve the inductive effect of the electromagnetic actuating device.

[0084] Figure 10 A perspective view of an actuating device of an electric toothbrush according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the fifth embodiment, the arrangement and structure of the driving assembly and the frame assembly of the electric toothbrush are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0085] In the fifth embodiment, the actuating device includes a permanent magnet 56, a magnetic conductor 57, and an inductive element 58. The permanent magnet is fixed to the magnetic conductor 57. The inductive element 58 includes a first inductive element and a second inductive element. The two inductive elements are arranged side by side on the PCB 55 along the axis L1 and face the magnetic conductor 57. The permanent magnet 56 is offset to one side of the two inductive elements. The magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 56 is guided by the magnetic conductor 57 and faces the inductive element, generating a magnetic force, thereby achieving additional reciprocating motion on the handle interface 13.

[0086] Figure 11 Shows another electric toothbrush stereogram, and Figure 12The internal structure of the electric toothbrush is shown. The electric toothbrush primarily comprises a handle 6 and a brush head 7 detachably mounted thereon. The brush head 7 comprises a brush head housing 70, a motion transmission member 72 located within the housing, and cleaning elements 71 (bristles). Driven by a drive assembly within the handle 1, the cleaning elements 71 reciprocate around an axis L3.

[0087] like Figure 12 As shown, the drive assembly of the electric toothbrush includes a driver that provides a reciprocating driving force around an axis and a drive shaft 62 connected to the driver. The drive shaft 62 is retained in the handle housing by a drive shaft fixed bearing 63 to allow the drive shaft 62 to reciprocate around the axis L3. At the same time, with the help of the drive shaft fixed bearing 63, the drive shaft 62 can make limited reciprocating swings around an axis L4 that is transverse to or preferably substantially perpendicular to the axis L3. In other words, in this embodiment, the fixed bearing 63 can serve as a swing fulcrum located midway between the drive shaft 62. The driver of the drive assembly can provide the brush head with a main cleaning motion that reciprocates around the axis L3. In addition, the electric toothbrush also includes a frame assembly, which is arranged in the handle housing for mounting the drive assembly. The electric toothbrush also includes a PCB board, which is fixedly mounted relative to the handle housing.

[0088] like Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the electric toothbrush of the sixth embodiment further includes an actuator for providing additional reciprocating motion. The actuator includes a permanent magnet 66 and an inductive element 67. The inductive element 67 comprises a coil and a magnetic core 69, which is mounted on a PCB 65. An alternating current is supplied to the coil via electrical connections on the PCB 65. The permanent magnet 66 is fixed to the drive shaft 62, preferably at the inner end of the drive shaft 62, away from the fixed bearing 63. The permanent magnet 66 and the inductive element 67 are arranged radially opposite each other.

[0089] When an alternating current is passed through the coil of the inductive element 67, the current-carrying coil generates an alternating magnetic field in the magnetic core 69. The direction of the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil is substantially parallel to the internal magnetic lines of force of the permanent magnet, thereby generating an attractive or repulsive force F3 / F4 between the inductive element 67 and the permanent magnet 66. The direction of the force F3 / F4 is transverse to or substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis L3 of the drive shaft 62. Under the action of the electromagnetic force, the drive shaft 62 reciprocates about the axis L4 with the fixed bearing 63 as the fulcrum, achieving an additional reciprocating motion independent of the main cleaning motion provided by the drive assembly. When the additional reciprocating motion is transmitted to the brush head, the cleaning element 71 on the brush head will perform a piercing reciprocating motion along the axis L5 of the cleaning element 71, and the direction of this motion can be transverse to or substantially perpendicular to the axis L3 of the drive shaft.

[0090] Preferably, an audio chip is mounted on the PCB board for providing an audio signal to the coil of the inductive device 67 .

[0091] In the electric toothbrush of the sixth embodiment, the connection between the handle 6 and the brush head 7 occurs only between the drive shaft 62 and the motion transmission member 72 within the brush head 72. Aside from the drive shaft 62, no other portion of the handle 6 is directly connected to the brush head 7. The additional reciprocating motion and the main reciprocating motion are achieved by different force-applying devices, applied to the drive shaft 62 in different directions.

[0092] Figure 15 and Figure 16 The figure shows the internal structure and actuating device of an electric toothbrush according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. This electric toothbrush also includes a drive assembly, a frame assembly for mounting the drive assembly, and a PCB board. The drive assembly includes a driver and a drive shaft 92 connected to the driver, wherein the driver is configured to cause the drive shaft 92 to reciprocate linearly along the longitudinal axis L7. The frame assembly includes an inner frame portion located within the handle housing and a handle interface member 93 directly connected to the inner frame portion. Meanwhile, the cleaning element carrier 82 of the brush head reciprocates about the rotation axis L8 of the cleaning element 81, which is angled (preferably substantially perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis L7. In this embodiment, the direction of motion of the main cleaning motion is converted by a magnetic coupling assembly disposed within the brush head 8. Specifically, the drive shaft 92 is connected to a first component of the magnetic coupling assembly in the brush head 8, and the cleaning element carrier 82 of the brush head 8 is connected to a second component of the magnetic coupling assembly. The two components are interconnected by magnetic force.

[0093] In the electric toothbrush of the seventh embodiment, the electric toothbrush includes an actuating device for applying an additional reciprocating motion, the actuating device including a permanent magnet 96 and an inductive device 97, wherein the permanent magnet 96 is disposed on the frame assembly, and the inductive device 97 having a magnetic core 99 and a conductor is disposed on the PCB board. Figure 16 As shown, the permanent magnet 96 is disposed on the inner frame portion. When an alternating current is applied to the coil of the induction device of the actuator, the generated electromagnetic force acts on the inner frame portion, is transmitted to the handle interface 93, and further to the brush head interface 84 of the brush head 8 that is directly in contact with the handle interface 93. The force is then transmitted to the cleaning element carrier 82 via the brush head housing 83, ultimately achieving additional reciprocating motion of the cleaning element 81.

[0094] In this embodiment, an elastic member 91 is provided between the handle outer shell and the handle interface member 93 , thereby effectively blocking the transmission of vibration from the handle interface member 93 to the handle outer shell.

[0095] It should be understood that in the above embodiments, the drive shaft or the handle interface member or the inner frame portion in the frame assembly to which the additional reciprocating motion is applied are arranged in the electric toothbrush in such a manner that they have a certain amount of movement space, such as the suspended drive shaft can swing around the swing fulcrum at its end or around the bearing, and the frame assembly has a certain amount of swing space or radial deformation space, thereby allowing the application of the additional reciprocating motion.

[0096] In the above embodiments, the inductive device may also be a widely used chip ferrite bead, inductor, chip VHF inductor, or chip inductor device with a multilayer ferrite core.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the permanent magnet in the actuator is arranged as a relatively movable part, thereby mounting the permanent magnet on the drive shaft or the frame assembly. In other alternative embodiments, the inductive device can also be arranged as a relatively movable part in the actuator and mounted on the drive shaft or the frame assembly.

[0098] In other alternative embodiments, the placement of the electromagnetic actuator can be varied to generate additional reciprocating motion in other directions. For example, the actuator can be configured to cause the drive shaft to perform additional reciprocating rotation about its axis, or to cause the handle interface to perform linear reciprocating motion along an axis parallel to the drive shaft. In any case, the additional reciprocating motion and the main reciprocating motion are independently implemented by different drive or actuator devices, and preferably the reciprocating motions are performed in different directions, and more preferably at different frequencies.

[0099] Although the invention is disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, this is not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art may make possible changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent variations, and modifications made to the above embodiments in accordance with the technical essence of the invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the invention shall fall within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the invention.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush comprising: handle outer shell; A drive assembly, the drive assembly comprising a driver and a drive shaft, the driver driving the drive shaft to perform a main reciprocating motion; a frame assembly, the frame assembly being used to mount the drive assembly in the handle outer shell; Characterized in that the electric toothbrush further comprises an actuating device for generating additional reciprocating motion, wherein the actuating device comprises a permanent magnet and an inductive device, wherein the inductive device has a magnetic core and a conductor, One of the permanent magnet and the inductive device is mounted to the frame assembly or the drive shaft, and the other of the permanent magnet and the inductive device is mounted stationary relative to the handle outer shell; When the conductor is energized, electromagnetic force is generated between the inductive device and the permanent magnet. The electromagnetic force is applied to the frame assembly or the drive shaft on which the permanent magnet and the inductive device are mounted, causing the frame assembly or the drive shaft to perform the additional reciprocating motion.

2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein The inductive device is connected to the audio signal, and the additional reciprocating motion is associated with the audio signal. The actuating device and the driver are independent of each other and can be started simultaneously or one of them can be started selectively.

3. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein The main reciprocating motion is a linear reciprocating motion of the drive shaft along the axis of the drive shaft or a reciprocating rotation around the axis, and the direction of the additional reciprocating motion is different from the direction of the main reciprocating motion.

4. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein The electric toothbrush comprises a PCB board located in the handle outer body and fixed relative to the handle outer body, the induction device is mounted on the PCB board, and the permanent magnet is mounted to the frame assembly or the drive shaft.

5. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein The frame assembly further comprises: An inner frame portion, the frame being used for mounting a drive assembly and being located within the handle outer shell; A handle interface member extending out of the handle outer shell and used for connecting to a brush head interface member of a brush head. Wherein, the inner frame portion is connected to the handle interface component, and the handle interface component is separated from the handle outer shell by a gap or an elastic component.

6. The electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein One of the permanent magnet and the induction device is mounted on the inner frame portion or the handle interface component to enable it to perform the additional reciprocating motion, and the additional reciprocating motion is transmitted to the brush head through the handle interface component.

7. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein The actuating device further includes a magnetic conductor, the permanent magnet is attached to the magnetic conductor, the inductive component is spaced apart from the magnetic conductor, and the permanent magnet is biased relative to the magnetic core of the inductive component.

8. The electric toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein The induction device includes a first induction device and a second induction device. The first induction device and the second induction device are spaced apart from each other relative to the magnetic conductor. The permanent magnet is biased to one side of the first induction device and the second induction device.

9. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein One of the permanent magnet and the induction device is mounted on the driving shaft, and the additional reciprocating motion is the reciprocating swing of the driving shaft around an end portion or a swing fulcrum in the middle thereof.

10. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein The additional reciprocating motion is transmitted to the brush head connected to the handle portion, and the additional reciprocating motion causes the cleaning element of the brush head to perform a reciprocating stabbing motion along a direction that is angled or substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft.

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