Mounting device for the brush attachment of an electric body care brush

Abstract

Receiving device (7) for a brush attachment part of an electric body care brush, in particular an electric toothbrush, in particular an electric sonic toothbrush, comprising a pin (13), preferably a steel pin, which is connected to a motor axis in a handle part of the electric body care brush, wherein the pin (13) has a basically cylindrical shape, wherein the pin (13) has an upper region onto which the brush attachment part can be plugged, wherein the upper region (15) of the pin (13) has a part-circular, in particular semi-circular, cross-section with a flat or planar side and wherein a raised portion (17) is formed on the flat or planar side.

Description

[0001] Electric care and cleaning brushes are characterized by the fact that the brush head is driven by an electric motor. Electric care and cleaning brushes, which are designed for a longer service life and generally also offer high functionality, usually comprise a handle and a separate brush head that can be reversibly attached and removed from the handle.

[0002] There are currently three types of electric toothbrushes on the market: rotating-oscillating models, high-vibration sonic toothbrushes, and ultrasonic toothbrushes. Rotating-oscillating models have a round brush head, while sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes have an elongated brush head.

[0003] In sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes, for which the receiving device according to the invention is specifically designed, the brush head oscillates back and forth along the toothbrush's longitudinal axis and does not exhibit an oscillating motion. This oscillating motion of a sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush is generated electromagnetically by a copper coil oscillating in a magnetic field. The copper coil drives a single-rod connecting piece (control pin), which transmits the generated 20,000 to 62,000 oscillations per minute to the brush head via a shaft and / or another connecting piece. The brush head typically oscillates back and forth with an amplitude of 3-4 mm.

[0004] On some electric sonic toothbrushes, the connecting piece (control pin) is usually designed with a simple flattened section on one side to prevent the attached brush head from twisting. This solution is structurally simple, but frequently leads to inaccurate fits, play between the parts, as well as clicking noises and vibrations during operation.

[0005] DE 19 745 876 ​​A1, for example, shows a conventional connector for an electric toothbrush. US 4,827,550 A shows a base drive shaft 30 with an outermost end 32 extending through the mouth 23 of the neck 20 of the base 12 and including an annular, notched portion 34 located a short distance from the end 32 of the shaft 30, forming a tip 36 and a shoulder 38 facing the upper part 15 of the base housing 13. The tip 36 is tapered at the end 32 to facilitate insertion into the head mechanism 14.

[0006] For optimal, i.e., loss-free and quiet transmission of the mechanical movement from the control pin to the brush head, it is important that the handle and brush head are connected to each other via the connector. This means that the connector must be designed in such a way that the connection between the brush head and the handle is secured both axially and against rotation when coupled.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device for an electric body care brush, i.e., a connection between the motor axis or motor shaft and the brush attachment (or brush head), which enables improved fit, increased mechanical stability, and reduced noise and vibration. Furthermore, the new shape of the axis is intended to improve the control of a pressure control.

[0008] The receiving device according to the invention for a brush attachment part of an electric body care brush comprises a pin, preferably a steel pin, which is connected to a motor axis in the handle of the electric body care brush, wherein the pin has a basically cylindrical shape, wherein the pin has an upper region onto which a brush attachment part can be plugged, and wherein the upper region of the pin has a part-circular cross-section, in particular a semicircular cross-section with at least one flat or planar side, and wherein an elevation is formed on the at least one flat or planar side.

[0009] The electric body care brush can, in particular, be an electric toothbrush. The receiving device according to the invention is particularly suitable for an electric sonic or ultrasonic toothbrush.

[0010] The term "upper section of the pin" refers to the brush-head-side section of the pin, i.e., the section of the pin adjacent to the end onto which a brush head-carrying brush attachment is attached. This section protrudes from the handle of the electric body care brush when the receiving device is built into the handle. The upper section of the pin can accommodate the brush attachment and thus serves as a connection between the handle, or rather the motor shaft of the electric body care brush, in particular the electric sonic toothbrush, and the brush attachment.

[0011] Raising the pin increases the contact area between the pin and the brush head. This stabilizes the connection between the motor shaft and the brush head. This improved connection also allows for improved pressure control.

[0012] The pressure control in an electric toothbrush serves to protect the gums and teeth from excessive pressure while brushing. The toothbrush can provide a visual or haptic warning when too much pressure is applied, for example, visually (e.g., by flashing a red or other colored light), acoustically (e.g., by a beep), and / or haptically (e.g., by generating a vibration).

[0013] In its brush-head-side region, the pin transitions from a substantially cylindrical shape with a substantially circular base cross-section to a flattened cylindrical shape with a partially circular or semicircular cross-section. This means that in the upper region or brush-head-side region, the pin forms at least one flat or planar lateral surface as the "front side," from which a protrusion protrudes. The remaining lateral surface of the pin then forms a substantially cylindrically shaped lateral surface as the "rear side," for example, as the rear side with a partially circular or semicircular lateral surface in cross-section.

[0014] The pin can be made of metal or plastic.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the raised portion is arranged centrally on the flat or planar side or lateral surface. The raised portion preferably runs along the length of the pin, i.e., parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pin. The raised portion can be cuboid-shaped, trapezoidal, a triangular pyramid with a rectangular base and triangular cross-section, or curved.

[0016] In one embodiment, the elevation can have at least two longitudinal edges. The at least two longitudinal edges can run parallel to each other. This creates a positive locking mechanism to prevent rotation between the pin and the brush head. The elevation can extend over one third of the width of the flat or planar side of the pin. If the pin has a flattened cylindrical shape with a semicircular cross-section, the elevation can extend over one third of the diameter of the pin. An end section of the upper region of the pin can be flattened. The pin has an end section with an end / tip. The elevation of the pin does not extend to the end of the upper region of the pin. The elevation ends shortly before the end of the pin and merges into an inclined plane.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the pin can comprise a notch, in particular a locking notch. The notch runs, in particular, transversely to the longitudinal direction of the pin, at least partially around a circumference of the pin. In particular, the notch can be formed completely around the circumference of the pin. The notch can, in particular, be arranged in a lower section of the upper region of the pin, i.e., in a section that is close to the handle when the receiving device is installed in the handle.

[0018] In a further embodiment, a cross-section of the upper region of the pin may have a plurality of corners, preferably at least two corners, more preferably at least four corners, even more preferably at least six corners.

[0019] Compared to conventional pens, this design gives the pen two additional corners, which provide improved anti-twist protection between the pen and the brush head and increased stability during operation.

[0020] The pin can have a length of 10 to 75 mm, preferably 15 to 65 mm, more preferably 20 to 55 mm, in particular approximately 50 mm. The upper region of the pin can have a length of 5 to 30 mm, preferably 10 to 25 mm, more preferably 20 to 22 mm, in particular approximately 21 mm. This means that the upper region of the pin protrudes beyond the handle when installed in the handle. The upper region of the pin is between 1 / 2 to 1 / 4, preferably 1 / 3, of the length of the entire pin.

[0021] The pin is longer than conventional designs, especially those of sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes. This allows for the integration or activation of a pressure control.

[0022] In one embodiment, the pin may have a diameter of 1.5 mm to 5 mm, in particular of 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm, in particular of approximately 4 mm.

[0023] A further aspect of the present invention relates to an electric body care brush according to the invention, in particular an electric toothbrush, in particular an electric sonic toothbrush, comprising a receiving device as described above, a brush attachment part and a handle, wherein the receiving device is arranged on the handle and the brush attachment part can be plugged onto the handle via the receiving device.

[0024] All embodiments listed with regard to the receiving device also apply to the receiving device of the electric body care brush according to the invention.

[0025] The handle comprises a grip for holding the electric grooming or cleaning brush. The handle contains a housing that houses an electric motor and a battery for power supply.

[0026] The pin of the receiving device can be partially integrated into the handle. The pin of the receiving device can partially protrude from the handle. Preferably, 1 / 2-1 / 4, more preferably 1 / 3, of the pin protrudes from the handle.

[0027] The pin can extend outward from the handle through a coupling pin. The pin can protrude from the coupling pin at the end of the handle near the brush attachment, in the longitudinal direction of the body care brush or toothbrush. This means that the pin runs in the longitudinal direction of the body care brush or toothbrush.

[0028] In a sonic toothbrush, the electric motor sets the drive pin into a relatively high-frequency vibration, which is transmitted directly to the brush head and, accordingly, to the brush head. The brush head thus oscillates back and forth along the toothbrush's longitudinal axis, as described above.

[0029] The brush attachment part can have at least one internal receiving groove or an internal receiving sleeve which is configured to receive the pin in a form-fitting or clamping manner.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the brush head can comprise an elastic element that helps the brush head snap onto the pin. This makes the electric body care brush suitable for repeated attachment and detachment without wear on the fit between the pin and the brush head. This allows the brush head to be designed separately and replaced regularly without compromising the service life of the handle.

[0031] The length of the brush attachment part can be 50 mm to 150 mm, in particular 60 mm to 120 mm, in particular approximately 90 mm. The width of the brush attachment part at its lower end can be 10 mm to 25 mm, in particular 12 mm to 20 mm, in particular approximately 16 mm.

[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an electric toothbrush designed as a sonic toothbrush. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the front portion of the handle of the electric toothbrush according to Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows a pin of the receiving device according to the invention Fig. 4 shows a view of a brush head part according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 from the bottom

[0033] The Fig. 1 to 4 show a preferred embodiment of a brush attachment part 3, a receiving device 7 according to the invention and a handle 5 as well as a toothbrush 1 formed therefrom.

[0034] The Fig. 1 shows the toothbrush 1 in the assembled state, ie the brush head 3 and the handle 5 are connected to each other via the receiving device 7. The Fig. 2 shows the toothbrush 1 in disassembled state.

[0035] The handle 2 comprises a housing 9, which houses an electric motor drive (not shown) for driving the receiving device 7 and a battery (not shown) for storing the electrical energy required for operation. Furthermore, the housing 9 also has an operating unit 11 for switching the toothbrush 1 on and off. The receiving device 7 is arranged on the handle 5, and the brush attachment 3 can be plugged onto the handle 5 via the receiving device 7. The receiving device 7 or the pin 13 extends axially out of the handle 5.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows the pin 13 of the receiving device 7 according to the invention. The pin 13 can be designed as a steel pin. The pin 13 has a cylindrical basic shape. The pin 13 has an upper region 15 which, when the receiving device 7 is installed in the handle 5, protrudes beyond the handle 5 and onto which a brush attachment 3 can be plugged. This upper region 15 of the pin 13 has a part-circular, in particular semicircular, cross-section with a flat or planar outer surface on one side (“front side”) and a cylindrical outer surface on the opposite side (“back side”). A projection 17 is formed on the flat or planar outer surface of the pin 13. The projection 17 protrudes from the flat or planar outer surface. The projection 17 is arranged centrally and runs along the length of the pin 13. The projection 17 has two longitudinal edges that run parallel to one another.The elevation 17 extends over approximately one third of the width of the plane or flat lateral surface and thus in the case of . Fig. 3, with a semicircular cross-section over one-third of the diameter of the pin 13. The end section 19 of the upper region of the pin is flattened. The pin 13 also includes a circumferentially running notch 21, which is arranged in the lower section of the upper region of the pin 13. The upper region of the pin 13 has six corners. When a brush attachment is attached to the pin 13, the elevation 17 of the pin 13 increases the contact surface between the pin 13 and the brush attachment part 3. This stabilizes the connection between the motor axis and the brush attachment part 3. This improved connection also ensures that the control of the pressure control can be improved.

[0037] Pin 13 has a total length of approximately 50 mm. The upper part is approximately 21 mm long. The pin has a diameter of approximately 4 mm.

[0038] Fig. Figure 4 shows the brush head 3 from below. The brush head has internal receiving grooves 23 configured to accommodate the pin in a form-fitting or clamping manner. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 19 745 876 ​​A1

[0005] US 4 827 550 A

[0005]

Claims

[1] Receiving device (7) for a brush attachment part of an electric body care brush, in particular an electric toothbrush, in particular an electric sonic toothbrush, comprising a pin (13), preferably a steel pin, which is connected to a motor axis in a handle part of the electric body care brush, wherein the pin (13) has a basically cylindrical shape, wherein the pin (13) has an upper region onto which the brush attachment part can be plugged, wherein the upper region (15) of the pin (13) has a part-circular, in particular semi-circular, cross-section with a flat or planar side and wherein a raised portion (17) is formed on the flat or planar side. [2] Receiving device (7) according to claim 1, wherein the elevation (17) is arranged centrally on the flat or planar side. [3] Receiving device (7) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elevation (7) extends along a longitudinal axis of the pin (13). [4] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevation (17) is cuboid-shaped, trapezoidal, triangular pyramid with a rectangular base and triangular cross-section or arched. [5] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevation (17) has at least two longitudinal edges. [6] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two longitudinal edges run parallel to each other. [7] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevation (17) extends over one third of the width of the flat or planar side of the pin (13). [8] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an end portion (19) of the upper region of the pin (13) is flattened. [9] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin (13) comprises a notch (21), in particular a locking notch, wherein the notch is preferably arranged in a lower section of the upper region of the pin (13). [10] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a cross-section of the upper region of the pin (13) has a plurality of corners, preferably at least two corners, more preferably at least four corners, even more preferably at least six corners. [11] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin (13) has a length of 10 to 75 mm, in particular a length of 20 to 22 mm. [12] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper region (15) of the pin (13) has a length of 5 to 30 mm, in particular of 20 to 55 mm. [13] Receiving device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin (13) has a diameter of 1.5 mm to 5 mm, in particular of 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm. [14] Electric body care brush (1), in particular an electric toothbrush, in particular an electric sonic toothbrush, comprising a receiving device (7) according to one of claims 1 to 13, a brush attachment part and a handle (5), wherein the receiving device is arranged on the handle (5) and the brush attachment part can be plugged onto the handle (5) via the receiving device. [15] Electric body care brush (1) according to claim 14, wherein the brush attachment part (3) has at least one internal receiving groove (23) or an internal receiving sleeve which is configured to receive the pin in a form-fitting and / or clamping manner.

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