Attachment for an electric toothbrush

Abstract

Attachment for an electric toothbrush (12) with a handle (2) designed to be attached to a handpiece (13) of the toothbrush (12), and with a brush head (3) arranged at the free end of the handle (2) designed to be set in rotational motion by means of an electric motor arranged in the handpiece (13), the rotation being relative to the handpiece (13) and about an axis of rotation (6), wherein the brush head (3) has a bristle carrier (4) and a plurality of bristles which are bundled into bristle bundles (5) and anchored in the bristle carrier (4), wherein the entirety of the bristle bundles (5) is arranged approximately rotationally symmetrically around the axis of rotation (6), wherein the brush head (3) has a main section (15) in which all bristle bundles (5) of the brush head (3), which are oriented approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation (6) of the brush head (24), are arranged, and where the maximum width of the main section (15) is greater than its length.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an attachment for an electric toothbrush and to an electric toothbrush with an attachment. Toothbrushes are used to brush teeth and for this purpose have bristles which are moved over the teeth. Electric toothbrushes generally ensure thorough cleaning results due to electric motor-driven brush heads which have bristle carriers with bristles. Such toothbrushes consist of a handle with an integrated electric motor and an attachment containing the brush head which can be reversibly attached to the handle. The attachment with the bristles is a wearing part which can be replaced with a new attachment at regular intervals. To do this, the attachment is pulled off the handle and a new attachment of the same or a different design is attached to the handle.

[0002] Known attachments comprise a handle and a brush head arranged at the free end of the handle, with a bristle holder and a multitude of bristles. The bristles are bundled together in bristle bundles and anchored in the bristle holder. The brush head can be set in rotation by the electric motor arranged in the handle. The rotation occurs relative to the handle and around a rotation axis. The rotation is usually an oscillating movement, i.e., an oscillation. The direction of rotation changes many times per second. The angle of rotation covered between changes of direction is generally small. The electric motor is designed as an oscillation motor for this purpose.

[0003] Several known attachments differ from one another in the arrangement of the axis of rotation relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle, as well as in the design of the bristle holder and the arrangement of the bristle bundles. In particular, two common basic shapes of attachments can be distinguished. In the first basic shape, the axis of rotation is angled almost vertically to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The bristle bundles are arranged next to one another on the almost plate-shaped bristle holder and are essentially aligned parallel to the axis of rotation. In the second basic shape, however, the axis of rotation is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The bristle holder can be moved together with the handle and over the handle. The middle bristles, however, are arranged laterally away from the axis of rotation. All bristle bundles are essentially arranged next to one another and are usually aligned parallel to one another.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a further attachment for an electric toothbrush and an electric toothbrush in which the advantages of the various known basic shapes are combined in order to always achieve thorough cleaning results on tooth surfaces as well as on tooth edges and in the area between teeth.

[0005] The invention solves this problem with an attachment according to claim 1 and with an electric toothbrush according to claim 7.

[0006] An attachment according to the invention for an electric toothbrush has a stem which is designed to be attached to a handle of the toothbrush, and has a brush head arranged at the free end of the stem which is designed to be set in rotational movement relative to the handle and about a rotational axis by means of an electric motor arranged in the handle, wherein the brush head has a bristle carrier and a plurality of bristles which are bundled together to form bristle bundles and anchored in the bristle carrier, wherein the entirety of the bristle bundles is arranged approximately rotationally symmetrically about the rotational axis, wherein the brush head has a main section in which all the bristle bundles of the brush head, which are aligned approximately perpendicular to the rotational axis of the brush head, are arranged, and wherein the maximum width of the main section is greater than its length.

[0007] In particular, the inventive ratio of width to height of the main section ensures that the bristle bundles can easily reach and effectively clean both the tooth surfaces and the transition area between the teeth and gums, as well as the area between the teeth, which is still accessible in principle. The size of the entire bristle bundles and the overall length of the attachment are adapted to the size required for a toothbrush.

[0008] The bristle bundles, aligned approximately perpendicular to the rotational axis, define the main section. The bristle carrier extends at least through the entire main section and is preferably rod-shaped or cylindrical there. The bristle bundles are considered to be aligned approximately perpendicular to the rotational axis if these bristle bundles, particularly in the area of ​​their anchorage in the bristle carrier, are inclined between 84° and 96°, preferably between 87° and 93°, and particularly preferably between 89° and 101° relative to the rotational axis.

[0009] Preferably, the maximum width of the brush head, i.e. its diameter transverse to its axis of rotation, is greater than 80%, preferably 90%, particularly preferably 100%, of the axial length of the bristle carrier, wherein the bristle carrier can be longer than the main section of the brush head depending on the embodiment.

[0010] The handle and the brush head, in particular the handle and the bristle holder, are either formed as one piece or separately and are connected to each other either fixedly or movably. In a one-piece design, the handle also carries out the rotary movement. In a separate design, one embodiment provides for the handle to assume a fixed position relative to the handle and to have an internal axis element that transmits the rotary movement from the electric motor to the brush head.

[0011] Particularly preferably, the brush head is configured to rotate in a selected direction of the two possible directions. This allows brushing from the gums to the teeth. In particular, the bristle bundles are arranged in such a way that brushing can be performed in a mirror-image manner, for example, on the outer sides of the upper left and right teeth, with opposite directions of rotation.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the brush head is configured to be set into vibration by means of the electric motor designed for this purpose as an oscillation motor, wherein the rotational movement of the brush head has a periodically changing direction of rotation. The electric motor designed as an oscillation motor is preferably capable of oscillating at a frequency of at least 8,000 vibrations per minute, i.e., with at least 16,000 changes of direction per minute.

[0013] In particularly preferred embodiments of the attachment part, the main section has a tapered contour, particularly a cross-sectional contour concave on both sides, over at least a portion of its axial length, in particular over its entire axial length. This allows the main section to be advantageously applied to convex tooth surfaces.

[0014] In another embodiment, a section with a cross-sectional contour that is concave on both sides is arranged between two sections with a cross-sectional contour that is convex on both sides. In a further embodiment, the main section has a cylindrical contour. In yet another embodiment, the main section has a frustoconical contour.

[0015] In particularly advantageous embodiments of the attachment, the brush head is further provided with an end section adjoining the main section with a convex cross-sectional contour. This provides even more options for positioning the brush head at a suitable angle to the teeth.

[0016] In one embodiment, the brush head with the ends of its bristle bundles has an approximately U-shaped cross-sectional contour or an approximately parabolic cross-sectional contour or a U-shaped to parabolic cross-sectional contour.

[0017] The outer shape of the entire bristle bundle resembles the shape of the otherwise much larger brush head of a standard toilet brush. There are particularly similarities in terms of the length-to-width ratio, the curvature of the outer contour, and the orientation of the bristles. Compared to conventional toothbrushes, the brush offers more options, allowing for an ideal brushing position for particularly thorough cleaning.

[0018] The cross-sectional contour of the brush head preferably consists of a convex-shaped central section and two end sections formed by the main section of the brush head, each of which is straight or convex, or partially straight and partially convex. In particular, the central section of the cross-sectional contour has approximately the shape of a circular segment, preferably the shape of a semicircle.

[0019] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the attachment, the brush head has an edge portion adjoining the main portion with a convex cross-sectional contour extending in the direction of the handle on both sides of the handle. In particular, the edge portion is similar to the end portion; however, unlike the end portion, the handle is attached in a region of the edge portion close to the axis, and therefore no bristle bundles are arranged there. Radially outside the handle, the end portion and the edge portion are preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to a mirror plane arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0020] The length of the cross-sectional contour of the entire bristle bundles in the direction of the rotation axis is preferably at most twice the width of this cross-sectional contour transverse to the rotation axis. In particular, the entire bristle bundles, i.e., the area encompassing all bristle bundles, have a length in the range of 0.6 cm to 1.2 cm and a width in the range of 0.6 cm to 1.2 cm. Particularly preferably, the entire bristle bundles have a length of approximately 1.0 cm and a width of approximately 0.8 cm.

[0021] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the length of the entire attachment part in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the handle is more than twice as long as the length of the brush head in the direction of the axis of rotation.

[0022] Particularly preferably, the rotational axis is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. In particular, the rotational axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the handle and forms a common longitudinal axis of the attachment, around which the attachment is preferably designed to be substantially rotationally symmetrical. However, deviations from rotational symmetry may occur, particularly in the area of ​​the base of the handle, in order to establish the connection between the handle and the handle, and in particular to a protruding pin on the handle that transmits the rotational movement.

[0023] An electric toothbrush according to the invention has a handle and an attachment according to the invention according to a possible embodiment within the scope of the invention, wherein an electric motor is arranged in the handle, which is configured to set the brush head of the attachment in rotation when the attachment is attached to the handle. For the electrical power supply of the electric motor, the handle preferably has a rechargeable battery or a cable connection for the wired power supply. Furthermore, at least one switch for switching the electric motor on and off is preferably provided on the handle.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the toothbrush according to the invention, the handle, in particular the electric motor, is configured to set the brush head of the attachment in rotation in the selected direction of rotation. Preferably, the handle also has a control element for selecting and, in particular, changing the direction of rotation of the brush head.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the toothbrush according to the invention, the handle has a pressure sensor for sensing the contact pressure of the attachment with the bristle bundles against the teeth or against the gums of a user of the toothbrush.

[0026] In an advantageous embodiment, which builds on the embodiment with the pressure sensor, the handle, in particular the electric motor, is configured to start the rotational movement of the brush head when the sensed contact pressure exceeds a predetermined starting contact pressure. This eliminates the need to manually switch on the electric motor. In one possible embodiment, a power switch is nevertheless provided, the actuation of which can put the handle into a standby mode in which it reacts to the sensed contact pressure or even senses the contact pressure in the first place.

[0027] Preferably, the handle, in particular the electric motor, is also configured to stop the rotary movement of the brush head when the sensed contact pressure falls below a predetermined final contact pressure. In one variant, at least a brief drop in contact pressure is sufficient for this. The rotary movement is thus stopped when the contact pressure falls below the specified level. In another variant, the rotary movement only stops when the contact pressure falls below the specified level for a defined period of time, for example, after one or two seconds.

[0028] The pressure sensor is particularly preferably designed to sense the direction of the contact pressure, in particular to sense the contact pressure at least two-dimensionally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Depending on the temporal progression of the sensed pressure direction, the handle selects the direction of rotation for the rotary movement of the brush head in order to guide the bristles from the gums to the teeth. For this purpose, the handle is preferably configured to detect, based on the temporal progression of the sensed contact pressure in combination with the temporal progression of the sensed pressure direction, whether the bristle bundles are pressing either against the transition area between the gums and teeth or only against the teeth or the gums. Furthermore, the handle is preferably configured to select the direction of rotation depending on the temporal progression of the sensed pressure direction when it is detected that the bristle bundles are pressing against the transition area.In particular, the handle is designed to select the direction of rotation depending on the temporal progression of the sensed pressure direction only when it is detected that the bristle bundles are pressing against the transition area, and otherwise to maintain the last selected direction of rotation.

[0029] Preferably, the handle is configured to compare the temporal progression of the sensed contact pressure and the temporal progression of the sensed pressure direction with stored values ​​from a model and, based on this comparison, to select the direction of rotation for the rotational movement of the brush head and / or to detect whether the bristle bundles are either pressing against the transition area between gums and teeth or only pressing against either the teeth or the gums.

[0030] In a further development based on this, the handset is designed to refine the stored values ​​of the model with the help of artificial intelligence, whereby the handset recognizes, depending on the length of time for which a minimum contact pressure is maintained after the start of the rotational movement of the brush head, whether the selected rotational movement of the brush head was probably correct and links this information with the previously determined temporal course of the sensed contact pressure and with the previously determined temporal course of the sensed pressure direction.

[0031] Further embodiments emerge from the claims, the accompanying drawings, and the following description of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1: an attachment according to the invention for an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of the invention in a side view; Fig. 2: the simplified representation of the brush head of the attachment part of Fig. 1 in a side sectional view with the axis of rotation in the section plane; Fig. 3: an electric toothbrush according to the invention with the attachment part of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a side view; Fig. 4: a section of an attachment according to the invention with a brush head according to a second embodiment of the invention in a side view; Fig. 5: a section of an attachment according to the invention with a brush head according to a third embodiment of the invention in a side view; Fig. 6: a section of an attachment according to the invention with a brush head according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in a side view; Fig. 7: a section of an attachment according to the invention with a brush head according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in a side sectional view; and Fig. 8: the section of the plug-on part according to the fifth embodiment of Fig. 7 attached to teeth to be brushed in a side view.

[0032] Fig. Figure 1 shows an attachment 1 intended to be attached to a handle of an electric toothbrush. The attachment 1 comprises a handle 2 and a brush head 3 arranged at the free end of the handle 2, said brush head having a bristle carrier 4 and a plurality of bristles bundled into bristle clusters 5 and anchored in the bristle carrier 4. The brush head 3 is firmly connected to a brush head arranged inside the handle 2 and therefore in Fig. 1 is connected to an axle element not visible and is mounted by means of the axle element so that it can rotate relative to the stem 2 about a rotation axis 6. The rotation axis 6 coincides with the longitudinal axis of the stem 2.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows the brush head 3 in a simplified side sectional view. The same reference numerals designate the same parts in all figures. On the outside, an envelope is shown which surrounds the entirety of the bristle bundles 5 on the outside and is thus a cross-sectional contour of this entirety of the bristle bundles 5. This cross-sectional contour comprises two end sections 7 and 8 as well as a central section 9 arranged between the end sections 7 and 8. The length 10 of the cross-sectional contour of the entirety of the bristle bundles 5 and thus also the length of the brush head 3 is approximately 1.5 cm. The length of the bristle carrier 4 is shorter than the length of the brush head 3. The width 11 of the cross-sectional contour of the entirety of the bristle bundles 5 and thus also the width of the bristle head 3 is approximately 1.5 cm.

[0034] The cross-sectional contour of the entire bristle bundles 5 is approximately U-shaped. The end sections 7 and 8 are straight. The central section 11 is semicircular. The brush head 3 is rotationally symmetrical. In keeping with the shape of the cross-sectional contour, the shape of the brush head 3 is cylindrical in a main section 15, which corresponds to the straight end sections 7 and 8, and half a sphere in an end section 16, which corresponds to the semicircular central section 9. The diameter of the entire bristle bundles 5 is therefore the same everywhere in the main section 15 and also identical to the maximum diameter in the end section 16, which is reached at the transition to the main section 15.

[0035] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the bristle bundles 5 are all aligned approximately perpendicular to the enveloping lateral and head-side surface of the entirety of the bristle bundles 5. In the cylindrical section of this entirety of the bristle bundles 5, the bristle bundles 5 are therefore aligned radially or perpendicular to the axis of rotation 6. In deviation from this, however, it can be provided, for example, that the bristle bundles 5 are aligned radially or perpendicular to the axis of rotation 6 only in a lower region of the brush head 3, i.e. in an area adjacent to the handle 2, and are aligned increasingly further towards the tip of the brush head 3 in the direction of the head-side region of the brush head 3, i.e. not only above the cylindrical section.In deviation from the exemplary embodiment, further orientations of the bristle bundles 5 are also possible within the scope of the invention, including bristle bundles 5 that are aligned differently from the radial and differently from one another, which can also be located adjacent to one another.

[0036] Deviating from the illustrated embodiment, several similar configurations of the brush head 3 are conceivable. For example, in another embodiment, the main section 15 of the brush head 3 is frustoconical. In yet other embodiments, the end sections of the cross-sectional contour are curved. In all embodiments, the maximum diameter in the main section 15 of the brush head 3 is either the same as or only by a maximum of 30 percent, preferably a maximum of 20 percent or a maximum of 10 percent, larger than the minimum diameter of a contour, in particular a smoothed one, in the main section 15 of the brush head 3.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows an electric toothbrush 12 according to the invention with the attachment 1. The toothbrush 12 has a handle 13 with a rechargeable battery integrated therein and an electric motor integrated therein, which is supplied with electrical energy by the rechargeable battery.

[0038] At the tip of the handle 13, a drive element, for example in the form of a pin or in the form of a groove, is provided which is moved by the electric motor and which is connected in a form-fitting manner and by means of the form-fitting connection in a torque-transmitting manner to the axle element in the plug-on part 1 when the plug-on part 1, as in Fig. 3, is attached to the handset 13.

[0039] In the Fig. 4 to 8 show further embodiments of plug-on parts 1 according to the invention, which differ particularly in the design of the brush head 3 from the plug-on part 1 of the first embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 3 and alternatively on the electric toothbrush 12 of Fig. 3 can be used.

[0040] In the case of the plug-on part 1 of the embodiment of Fig. 4, the brush head 3 comprises only the main section 15, i.e., the section in which all bristle bundles 5 are aligned substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 6. The brush head 3 is therefore approximately as long as the bristle carrier 4. The bristle bundles 5 have a length dependent on their axial position. Comparatively shorter bristle bundles 5 in the central region and at the axial edges ensure a tapered profile in the central region and two adjoining cleaning zones, in the centers of which the bristle bundles 5 are at their maximum length and there define the maximum width of the brush head 3.

[0041] The attachment part 1 of Fig. 5 differs from the attachment part 1 of Figure 4 by a different length distribution of the bristle bundles 5 over the axial length of the brush head 3. The bristle bundles 5 protrude at the axial edges of the brush head 3 to the maximum extent from the axis of rotation 6 and the bristle carrier 4. In between, a concave contour of the surface of the brush head 3 results over its length, which results in a slight waisting of the brush head 3.

[0042] The brush head 3 of the attachment 1 of the embodiment according to Fig. 6 and the brush head 3 of the attachment part 1 of the embodiment according to the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 differ from the brush head 3 of the attachment 1 according to Fig. 5 by a longer design of the bristle carrier 4 and additional bristle bundles 5 which are anchored therein. In particular, both the brush head 3 according to Fig. 6 and the brush head 3 according to the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 each have an end section 16 in which the bristle bundles 5 are anchored at different angles in the bristle carrier 4, whereby their orientation increasingly approaches the orientation of the rotation axis 6 with increasing proximity to the rotation axis 6. In cross-section, a convex profile of the surface contour results in the area of ​​the end section 16.

[0043] Only in the embodiment according to the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the bristle carrier 4 also has bristle bundles 5 in the area of ​​its handle base, thus forming an edge section 17 of the brush head 3. The surface contour of the entirety of the bristle bundles 5 is formed in the edge section 17 outside the bristle carrier 2 similarly to that in the end section 15. However, the bristle bundles 5 are not anchored in a convex head portion of the bristle carrier 4, as in the end section 16, but rather, for example, in a cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped part of the bristle carrier 4 that adjoins the handle 2.

[0044] Fig. 8 shows the plug-on part 1 of Fig. 7 together with a section of a set of teeth. The brush head 3 is applied to a tooth for cleaning, whereby the edges of the brush head 3 also reach adjacent teeth and accessible parts of the interdental spaces. In this way, advantageous cleaning results can be achieved.

Claims

[1] Attachment for an electric toothbrush (12) with a handle (2) which is designed to be attached to a handle (13) of the toothbrush (12), and with a brush head (3) arranged at the free end of the handle (2), which brush head is designed to be set in rotation by means of an electric motor arranged in the handle (13), which movement takes place relative to the handle (13) and about a rotation axis (6), wherein the brush head (3) has a bristle carrier (4) and a plurality of bristles which are bundled to form bristle bundles (5) and anchored in the bristle carrier (4), wherein the entirety of the bristle bundles (5) is arranged approximately rotationally symmetrically around the axis of rotation (6), wherein the brush head (3) has a main section (15) in which all the bristle bundles (5) of the brush head (3) are arranged, which are aligned approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation (6) of the brush head (24), and wherein the maximum width of the main section (15) is greater than its length. [2] Attachment according to claim 1, characterized by that the main section (15) has a waisted contour, in particular a cross-sectional contour concave on both sides, over at least a section of its axial length, in particular over its entire axial length. [3] Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the brush head (3) has an end section (16) adjoining the main section (15) with a convex cross-sectional contour. [4] Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the brush head (3) has an edge section (17) adjoining the main section (15) with a convex cross-sectional contour extending in the direction of the handle (2) on both sides of the handle (2). [5] Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the length of the entire attachment (1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the handle (2) is more than twice as long as the length (10) of the brush head (3) in the direction of the axis of rotation (6). [6] Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the axis of rotation (6) is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem (2). [7] Electric toothbrush with a handle (13) and with an attachment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which can be plugged or is plugged onto the handle (13), wherein an electric motor is arranged in the handle (13) which is designed to set the brush head (3) of the attachment (1) in rotational movement when the attachment (1) is plugged onto the handle (13). [8] Electric toothbrush according to claim 7, characterized bythat the handle (13) has an operating element for selecting the direction of rotation of the brush head (3) and that the handle (13), in particular the electric motor, is designed to set the brush head (3) in rotation in the respectively selected direction of rotation. [9] Electric toothbrush according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized by that the handle (13) has a pressure sensor for sensing the contact pressure of the brush head (3) against the teeth or against the gums of a user of the toothbrush (12). [10] Electric toothbrush according to claim 9, characterized by that the handpiece (13), in particular the electric motor, is designed to start the rotary movement of the brush head (3) when the sensed contact pressure exceeds a predetermined starting contact pressure. [11] Electric toothbrush according to claim 10, characterized bythat the handpiece (13), in particular the electric motor, is designed to terminate the rotary movement of the brush head (3) when the sensed contact pressure falls below a predetermined final contact pressure either at least briefly or over a defined period of time. [12] Electric toothbrush according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by that the pressure sensor is designed to sense the pressure direction of the contact pressure, in particular to sense the contact pressure at least two-dimensionally perpendicular to the axis of rotation (6). [13] Electric toothbrush according to claim 12, characterized by that the handle (13) is designed to select the direction of rotation for the rotational movement of the brush head (3) depending on the temporal course of the sensed pressure direction in order to guide the bristles from the gums to the teeth. [14] Electric toothbrush according to claim 13, characterized byin that the handpiece (13) is designed to detect, on the basis of the temporal progression of the sensed contact pressure in combination with the temporal progression of the sensed pressure direction, whether the bristle bundles (5) are either pressing against the transition area between gums and teeth or only against the teeth or the gums, and only when it is detected that the bristle bundles (5) are pressing against the transition area, to select the direction of rotation depending on the temporal progression of the sensed pressure direction and otherwise to maintain the last selected direction of rotation. [15] Electric toothbrush according to claim 13 or claim 14, characterized bythat the handpiece (13) is designed to compare the temporal course of the sensed contact pressure and the temporal course of the sensed pressure direction with stored values from a model and, on the basis of this comparison, to select the direction of rotation for the rotary movement of the brush head (3) according to claim 13 and / or to recognize according to claim 3 whether the bristle bundles (5) are either pressing against the transition area between the gums and teeth or only pressing against either the teeth or the gums. [16] Electric toothbrush according to claim 15, characterized byin that the handset (13) is configured to refine the stored values of the model with the aid of artificial intelligence, wherein the handset (13) detects, depending on the period of time over which a minimum contact pressure is maintained after the start of the rotary movement of the brush head (3), whether the selected rotary movement of the brush head (3) was probably correct and links this information with the previously determined temporal course of the sensed contact pressure and with the previously determined temporal course of the sensed pressure direction.

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