Interdental brush device
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- B-BETWEEN AB
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-20
AI Technical Summary
Interdental brushes are often difficult to use effectively for cleaning between teeth, as they lack ergonomics and are time-consuming, making it challenging for users to perform efficient interdental cleaning.
An interdental brush device with a support member and two arms that project from the support member, featuring first and second brush members arranged to face each other, allowing for simultaneous cleaning from the outer and inner sides of teeth, with spring tension and controlled movement to facilitate easy use, and optionally a drive arrangement for oscillating or axial movement of the brush elements.
The device enables efficient and easy interdental cleaning by allowing for simultaneous cleaning from both sides of the teeth, reducing user effort and time required for the operation, and providing effective plaque and food debris removal.
Smart Images

Figure SE2024050672_16012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] INTERDENTAL BRUSH DEVICE
[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present invention relates to an interdental brush device for facilitating interdental cleaning operation.
[0004] BACKGROUND
[0005] Interdental brushes are intended for cleaning between teeth, and may be used as an alternative or a complement to flossing. Interdental brushes usually comprise bristles attached to a wire with a grip handle at the other end, may be short or long, come in different sizes based on the size of the opening between adjacent teeth.
[0006] Interdental brushes are intended to be inserted between teeth and scrubbed back and forth and up and down in order to remove plaque and food debris.
[0007] Many users of such interdental brushes experience them as difficult to use in a proper way, not ergonomic and time consuming.
[0008] There is thus a need for providing an interdental brush device which facilities easy and efficient interdental cleaning operation.
[0009] OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an interdental brush device which facilitates easy and efficient interdental cleaning operation. SUMMARY
[0011] These and other objects, apparent from the following description, are achieved by an interdental brush device. Preferred embodiments of the interdental brush device are defined in appended dependent claims.
[0012] Specifically, an object of the invention is achieved by an interdental brush device for facilitating interdental cleaning operation. The interdental brush device comprises: a support member; a first arm and a second arm, said first arm and second arm being arranged to project from said support member and run along each other at a distance from each other. Said interdental brush device further comprises a first brush member arranged in connection to an end portion of said first arm, and a second brush member arranged in connection to an end portion of said second arm, said first brush member and second brush member being arranged to face each other and being configured so as to facilitate, at the same time, cleaning between teeth from the teeth outer side by means of one of said first and second brush members and from the teeth inner side by means of the other of said first and second brush members. Hereby easy and efficient interdental cleaning is facilitated in that cleaning from between adjacent teeth from the teeth outer side and teeth inner side at the same time. Said first and second brush members are configured to face each other at least when said first and second arms are at a certain distance from each other.
[0013] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first arm and second arm are arranged in connection to said support member so as to provide spring tension so that said end portions of said first and second arms, and thereby said first and second brush members, are held apart when no pressure for moving said first and second arms towards each other is applied, and so that a user may grasp and apply pressure on said first and second arms so that said first and second brush members are moved towards each other for facilitating interdental cleaning. Hereby easy and efficient interdental cleaning operation is facilitated. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device has a forceps configuration.
[0014] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first arm and second arm are arranged in connection to said support member and configured such that controlled movement of said first and second arms in a plane were said first and second arms are facing each other is allowed. Hereby, said first and second brush members, facing each other, may be moved towards and away from each other in said plane in a controlled manner, facilitating interdental cleaning operation. Hereby, finding space between one of the teeth outer side and teeth inner side will automatically result in finding the other of said teeth outer side and teeth inner side. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first arm and second arm are arranged in connection to said support member and configured such that resistance is provided for at least partly preventing movement of said arms relative to each other in a direction deviating from said plane.
[0015] According to an aspect, the interdental brush device further comprises a locking member for releasably locking said first and second arms from movement relative to each other when said first and second brush members are at a desired position relative to each other during an interdental cleaning operation. Hereby, interdental cleaning operation may be facilitated, particularly for a manual interdental brush device, i.e. a non-driven interdental brush device. Such a locking member may be any suitable member for facilitating such locking of said first and second arms. Said locking member may according to an aspect be a friction brake member. Said locking member may according to an aspect be a magnet brake member. Said locking member may according to an aspect be a backstop brake member.
[0016] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first brush member comprises a first projecting brush element, and said second brush member comprises a second projecting brush element, said first and second projecting brush elements being configured to project towards each other. Hereby, the projecting elements, in connection to an interdental cleaning operation, may be efficiently introduced into space between adjacent teeth from opposite directions. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first projecting brush elements has a first projecting element and bristles arranged around said first projecting element, and said second projecting brush elements has a second projecting element and bristles arranged around said second projecting element. Said projecting element may also be denoted elongated member. Thus, said first projecting element may be denoted first elongated member, and said second projecting element may be denoted second elongated member. Said projecting element, i.e. said elongated member, may have any suitable shape for facilitating interdental cleaning operation. Said projecting element, i.e. said elongated member, may have any suitable shape such as a tapering shape, e.g. a coned shape. Said projecting element, i.e. said elongated member, may have a flexible configuration so that it may bend when subjected to forces during interdental cleaning operation. Said projecting element, i.e. said elongated member, may be of any suitable material such as rubber material, a metallic material such as steel, e.g. in the shape of a steel wire. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first elongated member has a main direction of extension in an axial direction. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second elongated member has a main direction of extension in an axial direction. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said bristles configured to be arranged around the respective elongated member, i.e. first and second elongated member, are configured to protrude from said elongated member with a certain angle relative to the axial main extension of said elongated member. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said bristles arranged around the respective elongated member may be bristles configured to be attached to the elongated member and / or bristles being an integrated part of said elongated member. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, bristles of said bristles may be of the same material as said elongated member or another material. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction and said second elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction are configured to be arranged such that, when said first and second projecting brush elements are projecting towards each other, the axial extension of the first elongated member is configured to be offset relative to the axial extension of the second elongated member. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction and said second elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction are configured to be arranged such that, at least at a certain position, when said first and second projecting brush elements are being moved towards each other from opposite sides, said axial extension of the first elongated member and axial extension of said second elongated member are essentially parallel so that, when moved towards each other, they will overlap.
[0017] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second projecting brush elements have a tapering configuration so that they taper in the direction towards each other. Hereby, space between adjacent teeth may be efficiently filled out independent of configuration and size of the space, during interdental cleaning operation, by means of said tapering first and second projecting brush elements being moved towards each other from opposite sides, wherein the interdental cleaning operation is further improved. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second elongated member of said projecting brush elements have a tapering configuration so that they taper in the direction towards each other. Hereby, space between adjacent teeth may be efficiently filled out independent of configuration and size of the space, during interdental cleaning operation, by means of said first and second projecting brush elements being moved towards each other from opposite sides, wherein the interdental cleaning operation is further improved. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second projecting brush elements are cone shaped with the tip of the cone shaped first projecting brush element facing the second brush member and the tip of the cone shaped second projecting brush element facing the first brush member. Hereby, space between adjacent teeth may be efficiently filled out independent of configuration and size of the space, during interdental cleaning operation, by means of said cone shaped first and second projecting brush elements being moved towards each other from opposite sides, wherein the interdental cleaning operation is further improved. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second elongated member of said first and second projecting brush element are cone shaped with the tip of the cone shaped first elongated member facing the second brush member and the tip of the cone shaped second elongated member facing the first brush member.
[0018] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second brush member are configured to be arranged relative to each other so that, when pressed towards each other, said first and second projecting brush elements are allowed to engagingly overlap. Hereby, space between adjacent teeth may be efficiently filled out, during interdental cleaning operation, by means of said first and second projecting brush elements being moved towards and away from each other from opposite sides, wherein the interdental cleaning operation is further improved. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second elongated member of said first and second projecting brush element are configured to be arranged relative to each other so that, when pressed towards each other, said first and second projecting brush elements are allowed to engagingly overlap.
[0019] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second projecting brush elements have a flexible configuration so as to facilitate angled adaption relative to movement of said projecting brush elements towards and away from each other based on configuration of shape of teeth and space between teeth during interdental cleaning operation. Hereby, space between adjacent teeth may be efficiently filled out, independent of configuration and size of the space, during interdental cleaning operation, by means of said flexible configuration of said first and second projecting brush elements being moved towards each other from opposite sides, wherein the interdental cleaning operation is further improved. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second elongated member of said first and second brush element have a flexible configuration so as to facilitate angled adaption relative to movement of said projecting brush elements towards and away from each other based on configuration of shape of teeth and space between teeth during interdental cleaning operation.
[0020] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first projecting brush element comprises a first elongated member and bristles arranged around said first elongated member, said first elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction, and said second projecting brush element comprises a second elongated member and bristles arranged around said second elongated member, said second elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction.
[0021] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first brush member arranged in connection to said end portion of said first arm and said second brush member arranged in connection to said end portion of said second arm are arranged such that, when facing each other, said axial direction of said first elongated member is offset relative to said axial direction of said second elongated member such that, when said first and second projecting brush elements are moved towards each other, said elongated members will overlap. Hereby said first and second projecting brush elements are allowed to engagingly overlap for efficient interdental cleaning operation. Hereby, space between adjacent teeth may be efficiently filled out, during interdental cleaning operation, by means of said first and second projecting brush elements being moved towards and away from each other from opposite sides, wherein the interdental cleaning operation is further improved. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said end portion of the first arm together with the first brush member constitutes a first replaceable unit disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part of the first arm, and wherein the end portion of the second arm together with the second brush member constitutes a second replaceable unit disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part of the second arm. Hereby is facilitated easy replacement when brush member has been worn out. Such replaceable units are particularly suitable for a driven interdental brush device, where the certain parts are, such as drive arrangement, is not intended to be replaced.
[0022] According to an aspect the interdental brush device, further comprises a drive arrangement operably connected to said first and second brush member, said drive arrangement being configured to provide movement of said first and second brush members relative to said first and second arms. Hereby even more efficient interdental cleaning is facilitated.
[0023] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first projecting brush element has an axial extension from said end portion of said first arm and said second projecting brush element has an axial extension from said end portion of said second arm, wherein said movement provided by means of said drive arrangement comprises oscillating movement about an, in said axial extension running, axis of said first and second projecting brush element respectively, and / or an axial movement of said first and second projecting brush element respectively. Utilization of oscillating movement and / or axial movement of said first and second projecting brush elements further facilitates efficient interdental cleaning during interdental cleaning operation.
[0024] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first brush member further comprises a first diaphragm and said second brush member comprises a second diaphragm, wherein said first projecting brush element is connected to and configured to project from said first diaphragm and said second projecting brush element is connected to and configured to project from said second diaphragm, wherein said first and second diaphragms have a ring- shaped configuration, said first and second projecting brush elements being centrally arranged relative to and configured to axially project from the first and second diaphragms respectively, said first and second diaphragms being operable between a deflated state and an inflated state based on fluid pressure so as to allow axial movement of said first and second projecting brush elements relative to said first and second arms. A diaphragm may refer to any suitable wall like element having any suitable material and configuration, configured to facilitate being operated between said deflated state and inflated state. Said diaphragms may according to an aspect be of a rubber and / or plastic material, an elastomer material or the like, having elastic properties. Said diaphragms may according to an aspect have an elastomechanic configuration. Said diaphragms may according to an aspect have elastomechanic properties. Fluid for providing said fluid pressure for said operation of said diaphragm between said deflated and inflated state may be any suitable fluid, e.g. a gaseous fluid such as air or a liquid fluid such as water. Hereby, efficient axial movement of said first and second projecting brush elements may be easily provided, facilitating easy and efficient interdental cleaning. Such axial movement of said first and second projecting brush elements may be an axial movement towards and away from each other, or an axial movement where they move in the same direction back and forth, or an axial movement with different speed of the movement of the first and second projecting brush elements so that they move irregularly relative to each other.
[0025] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first brush member comprises a first brush element rotation arrangement configured to provide rotation of said first projecting brush element based on operation of said first diaphragm between said inflated state and deflated state and / or wherein said second brush member comprises a second brush element rotation arrangement configured to provide rotation of said second projecting brush element based on operation of said second diaphragm between said inflated state and deflated state. Hereby, efficient rotational, e.g. oscillating, movement of said first and second projecting brush elements is provided, facilitating easy and efficient interdental cleaning.
[0026] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first brush element rotation arrangement is comprised in said first diaphragm, said first brush element rotation arrangement being configured such that said first diaphragm, when operated between said deflated and inflated states from one of said deflated and inflated states to the other, is configured to be twisted so that it is operated between a tensioned position and a non-tensioned position so that said first projecting brush element is rotated back and forth a predetermined rotational angle about its axis so that an oscillating movement of said first projecting brush elements about said rotational axis is provided based on operation between said inflated state and deflated state. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first brush element rotation arrangement, comprised in said first diaphragm, has an elastomechanical configuration for facilitating elastomechanical behavior so as to provide elastomechanical control for providing said oscillating movement of said first projecting brush element during operation between said inflated state and deflated state of said first diaphragm. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said second brush element rotation arrangement is comprised in said second diaphragm, said second brush element rotation arrangement being configured such that said second diaphragm, when operated between said deflated and inflated states from one of said deflated and inflated states to the other, is configured to be twisted so that it is operated between a tensioned position and a non-tensioned position so that said second projecting brush element is rotated back and forth a predetermined rotational angle about its axis so that an oscillating movement of said second projecting brush elements about its rotational axis is provided based on operation between said inflated state and deflated state. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second brush element rotation arrangement, comprised in said second diaphragm, has an elastomechanical configuration for facilitating elastomechanical behavior so as to provide elastomechanical control for providing said oscillating movement of said second projecting brush element during operation between said inflated state and deflated state of said second diaphragm. Hereby, efficient oscillating movement of said first and second projecting brush elements may be easily and efficiently provided, facilitating easy and efficient interdental cleaning.
[0027] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said brush element rotation arrangement of said first brush member comprises a first rotatable member being fixedly connected to or an integrated part of said first projecting brush element so that it protrudes from the opposite side of the first diaphragm from which said first projecting brush element is projecting and is configured to move with said first projecting brush element in connection to inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm, and a first rotation element arranged at said opposite side fixedly attached in connection to said end portion of said first arm, wherein said first rotatable member and said first rotation element are arranged relative to each other and configured such that, during inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm, said first rotatable member is configured to interact with said first rotation element so that an oscillating movement of said first projecting brush elements about said rotational axis is provided. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first rotation element comprises a helical track, wherein said rotatable member is configured to be guided by means of said track so that rotation of said first projecting brush element about its axis is facilitated during inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first rotatable member has a helical configuration, wherein said first rotation element is configured to guide said first rotatable member so that rotation of said first projecting brush element about its axis is facilitated during inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said brush element rotation arrangement of said second brush member comprises a second rotatable member being fixedly connected to or an integrated part of said second projecting brush element so that it protrudes from the opposite side of the second diaphragm from which said second projecting brush element is projecting and is configured to move with said second projecting brush element in connection to inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm, and a second rotation element arranged at said opposite side fixedly attached in connection to said end portion of said second arm, wherein said second rotatable member and said second rotation element are arranged relative to each other and configured such that, during inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm, said second rotatable member is configured to interact with said second rotation element so that an oscillating movement of said second projecting brush elements about said rotational axis is provided. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second rotation element comprises a helical track, wherein said second rotatable member is configured to be guided by means of said track so that rotation of said second projecting brush element about its axis is facilitated during inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second rotatable member has a helical configuration, wherein said second rotation element is configured to guide said second rotatable member so that rotation of said projecting brush element about its axis is facilitated during inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm. Hereby, efficient oscillating movement of said first and second projecting brush elements may be easily and efficiently provided, facilitating easy and efficient interdental cleaning.
[0028] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said drive arrangement comprises comprising a pump arrangement and a fluid transport arrangement, wherein said fluid transport arrangement is operably connected to said pump arrangement and to said first brush member and second brush member and configured to run within said first and second arms, wherein, when said drive arrangement is operating, said pump arrangement is configured to move fluid back and forth to said first and second brush members so as to provide deflated states and inflated states of said first and second diaphragms for providing movement of said first and second projecting brush elements. Hereby, efficient operation of said first and second brush members is easily facilitated. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said fluid is air, wherein said fluid transport arrangement is an air transport arrangement for transporting air. Said pump arrangement may comprise one or more pump members. Said pump arrangement may be any suitable pump arrangement such as a diaphragm pump arrangement comprising one or more diaphragm pumps, a piston pump arrangement comprising one or more piston pumps or a rotary vane pump arrangement comprising one or more rotary vane pumps.
[0029] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said fluid transport arrangement comprises a first fluid transport channel running from said pump arrangement into and within said first arm towards said first brush member, and a second fluid transport channel running from said pump arrangement into and within said second arm towards said second brush member, wherein said pump arrangement is configured to move fluid to and from said first and second brush members via said first and second fluid transport channels so as to deflate and inflate said first and second diaphragms. Hereby, efficient operation of said first and second brush members is easily facilitated. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said fluid is air, wherein said first and second fluid transport channels are air transport channels for transporting air. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement is arranged so that said first fluid transport channel may be operated independently of said second fluid transport channel, wherein said pump arrangement may comprise a first pump member operably connected to said first fluid transport channel and a second pump member operably connected to said second fluid transport channel. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement is arranged so that said first fluid transport channel and second fluid transport channel may be co- operatingly operated. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, different operation of the first brush member and second brush member, comprising different speed of movement of said first and second projecting brush elements, may be obtained by having different volume and / or different lengths of said first and second fluid transportation channels. According to an aspect, the interdental brush device further comprises an activation device for activating said drive arrangement, said activation device being arranged such that, when pressure has been applied on said first and second arms so that said first and second brush members have moved towards each other at least a certain distance and said pressure has been applied during a predetermined time period, said drive arrangement is configured to be activated, and when said pressure on said first and second arms is released, said activation device is configured to deactivate said drive arrangement. Hereby, safe, easy and efficient operation of said first and second brush members is easily facilitated. Said activation device may be operated in any suitable way by means of any suitable activation arrangement comprising any suitable sensor devices or the like. Said activation device may be magnetically operated by means of a magnetic activation arrangement, or mechanically operated by means of a mechanic activation arrangement, or operated based on light, or operated based on sound.
[0030] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said activation device comprises a magnetic switch arrangement comprising a switch device and a first sensor arranged in connection to said first arm and a second sensor arranged in connection to said second arm, wherein a magnetic field with a certain strength is configured to be generated when said first and second arms are pressed together so that said first and second sensors are at a certain distance from said switch device, wherein said drive arrangement is configured to be activated by means of said switch arrangement when said magnetic field with said certain strength has been present during a predetermined time period, and wherein said distance between said first and second sensors is increased to a greater distance than said certain distance, said drive arrangement is configured to be deactivated by means of said switch arrangement. Hereby, safe, easy and efficient operation of said first and second brush members is easily facilitated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] For a better understanding of the present disclosure reference is made to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
[0032] Fig. 1 a schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interdental brush device according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0033] Fig. 1 b schematically illustrates a side view of the interdental brush device in fig. 1 a according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0034] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a top view of the interdental brush device in fig. 1 a according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0035] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a side view of a first brush member and second brush member of the interdental brush device in fig. 1a according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0036] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the first brush member in fig. 3 with a first diaphragm in an inflated state with a first projecting brush element connected to said first diaphragm, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0037] Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the second brush member in fig. 3 with a second diaphragm in an inflated state with a second projecting brush element connected to said second diaphragm, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0038] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a drive arrangement of an interdental brush device according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0039] Fig. 7a-c schematically illustrates plan views of first and second projecting brush elements of first and second brush members of an interdental brush device overlappingly and engagingly arranged in space between adjacent teeth with different configuration of space and teeth, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0040] Fig. 8a schematically illustrates a perspective view of a brush member with a diaphragm in an inflated state with a projecting brush element connected to said diaphragm, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0041] Fig. 8b schematically illustrates a front view of a brush element rotation arrangement of the brush member in fig. 8a, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0042] Fig. 9a schematically illustrates a perspective view of the brush member in fig. 8a, with the diaphragm in a deflated state with a projecting brush element connected to said diaphragm, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0043] Fig. 9b schematically illustrates a front view of the brush element rotation arrangement in fig. 8b, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0044] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brush member with a diaphragm in an inflated state with a projecting brush element connected to said diaphragm, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0045] Fig. 11 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interdental brush device according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0046] Fig. 12 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brush member of the interdental brush device in fig. 11 , according to an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0047] Fig. 13 schematically illustrates a side view of the interdental brush device in fig. 10, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; and,
[0048] Fig. 14 schematically illustrates a side view of an interdental brush according to an aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] Herein the term “interdental brush device” refers to a brush device which, in contrast to a conventional tooth brush, is intended to and configured to be inserted between adjacent teeth and scrubbed back and forth in order to facilitate cleaning, e.g. removing stuff such as plaque and food debris, wherein and interdental brush device, in order to facilitate insertion between adjacent teeth for such cleaning, requires some kind of brush member having a configuration for not only facilitating being introduced between adjacent teeth but also facilitate cleaning on opposite inner sides of adjacent teeth.
[0050] Herein the term “elongated member” associated with “projecting brush element comprising an elongated member” refers to a rod member, bar member or the like configured to be sufficiently robust for facilitating insertion between adjacent teeth and for supporting projecting parts or portions configured to be arranged around and protrude from said elongated member.
[0051] Herein the term “bristles” associated with “bristles arranged around an elongated member” may refer to any kind of parts or portions distributed around and along said elongated member and being configured to project from said elongated member, where such projecting parts or portions have a configuration comprising shape and / or flexibility so as to facilitate interdental cleaning. Said parts or portions configured to be arranged around and protrude from said elongated member may be denoted protrusions, brush protrusions, cleaning protrusions or the like. One or more of such bristles may be attached to said elongated member. One or more of such bristles may be an integrated portion of said elongated member.
[0052] Herein the term “bristles arranged around an elongated member” refers to bristles being distributed about and along said elongated member. Herein the term “diaphragm” refers to any suitable wall like element having any suitable material and configuration, configured to facilitate being operated between a deflated state and an inflated state.
[0053] Fig. 1 a schematically illustrates a perspective view, fig. 1 b a side view, and fig. 2 a top view of an interdental brush device 100 according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0054] The interdental brush device 100 comprises a support member 10. The interdental brush device 100 further comprises first arm 20 and a second arm 30. Said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are arranged to project from said support member 10 and run along each other and at a distance from each other.
[0055] Said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are configured to project from said support member 10 with essentially the same distance.
[0056] Said first arm 20 comprises an end portion 22 comprising the end of said arm 20 furthest away from said support member 10 from which said arm is configured to project. Said second arm 30 comprises an end portion 32 comprising the end of said arm 30 furthest away from said support member 10 from which said arm is configured to project.
[0057] Said first arm 20 comprises an arm part 24 projecting from said support member 10 and transfers into said end portion 22 of said first arm 20. Said second arm 30 comprises an arm part 34 projecting from said support member 10 and transfers into said end portion 32 of said second arm 30.
[0058] Said interdental brush device 100 further comprises a first brush member 40 arranged in connection to said end portion 22 of said first arm 20. Said interdental brush device 100 further comprises a second brush member 50 arranged in connection to said end portion 32 of said second arm 30.
[0059] Said first brush member 40 and second brush member 50 are arranged to face each other and are configured so as to facilitate, at the same time, cleaning between teeth from the teeth outer side by means of one of said first and second brush members 40, 50 and from the teeth inner side by means of the other of said first and second brush members 40, 50.
[0060] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as schematically illustrated in fig. 1 b, the end portion 22 of the first arm 20 together with the first brush member 40 constitutes a first replaceable unit U1 disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part 24 of the first arm 20, and the end portion 32 of the second arm 30 together with the second brush member 50 constitutes a second replaceable unit U2 disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part 34 of the second arm 30.
[0061] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device 100 has a forceps configuration. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device 100 has a forceps functionality when gripping said interdental brush device 100 comprising its first and second arms 20, 30.
[0062] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 and second arm are 30 arranged in connection to said support member 10 so as to provide spring tension so that said end portions 22, 32 of said first and second arms 20, 30, and thereby said first and second brush members 40, 50, are held apart when no pressure for moving said first and second arms 20, 30 towards each other is applied, and so that a user may grasp and apply pressure on said first and second arms 20, 30 so that said first and second brush members 40, 50 are moved towards each other for facilitating interdental cleaning.
[0063] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 and second arm 30 of said interdental brush device 100 are operable between a nontensioned state and tensioned states. In fig. 1a-b and fig. 2 a tensioned state of said first arm 20 and second arm 30 is illustrated, where said first arm 20 and second arm 30 have been pressed towards each other so that said first brush member 40 and second brush member 50 have been moved towards each other.
[0064] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are arranged in connection to said support member 10 and configured such that controlled movement of said first and second arms 20, 30 in a plane were said first and second arms 20, 30 are facing each other is allowed. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device 100, said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are attached to or integrated with said support member 10 such that resistance is provided for at least partly preventing movement of said arms 20, 30 relative to each other in a direction deviating from said plane were said first and second arms 20, 30 are facing each other.
[0065] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 has an elongated configuration having an outer side 20o, an opposite inner side 20i and an upper side 20a and lower side 20b. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second arm 30 has an elongated configuration having an outer side 30o, an opposite inner side 30i and an upper side 30a and lower side 30b. The inner side 20i of said first arm 20 is configured to face towards the inner side 30i of said second arm 30. Said first arm 20 and second arm 30 have an elongated configuration having an at least partly plate configuration or flat configuration. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the distance between said upper side 20a and lower side 20b of the first arm 20 is greater than the distance between said outer side 20o and said inner side 20i. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the distance between said upper side 30a and lower side 30b of the second arm 30 is greater than the distance between said outer side 30o and said inner side 30i.
[0066] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device 100 is a driven interdental brush device, as described in more detail below. According to an alternative aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device 100 is a non-driven interdental brush device, i.e. a manual interdental brush device. Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a side view of the first brush member 40 and second brush member 50 of the interdental brush device 100 in fig. 1 a according to an aspect of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the first brush member 40 in fig. 3, and fig. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the second brush member 50 in fig. 3.
[0067] Said first brush member 40 comprises a first projecting brush element 42. Said second brush member 50 comprises a second projecting brush element 52. Said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 being configured to project towards each other, at least when said first and second arms are at a certain distance from each other.
[0068] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 have a tapering configuration so that they taper in the direction towards each other, see e.g. fig. 3.
[0069] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are cone shaped, see e.g. fig. 4 and 5. The tip of the cone shaped first projecting brush element 42 is configured to face the second brush member 50 the tip of the cone shaped second projecting brush element 52 is configured to face the first brush element 40, at least when said first and second arms 20, 30 are within certain distance from each other.
[0070] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second brush member 40, 50 are configured to be arranged relative to each other so that, when pressed towards each other, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are allowed to engagingly overlap, see e.g. fig. 3. See also fig. 7a-c.
[0071] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device 100, said first projecting brush element 42 has a main direction of extension providing an axial extension from said end portion 22 of said first arm 20. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device 100, said second projecting brush element 50 has a main direction of extension providing an axial extension from said end portion 32 of said second arm 30.
[0072] Fig. 7a-c schematically illustrates plan views of first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 of not shown first and second brush members of an interdental brush device. At least parts of said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are overlappingly and engagingly arranged in space between adjacent teeth T with different configuration of space and teeth T.
[0073] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 have a flexible configuration so as to facilitate angled adaption relative to movement of said projecting brush elements 42, 52 towards and away from each other based on configuration of shape of teeth and space between teeth during interdental cleaning operation.
[0074] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in e.g. fig. 3, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 comprises an elongated member 42a, 52a, and bristles 42b, 52b connected to, i.e. arranged around, said elongated member 42, 52a. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in e.g. fig. 3, said first projecting brush element 42 comprises a first elongated member 42a and said second projecting brush element 52 comprises a second elongated member 52a.
[0075] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first elongated member 42a has a main direction of extension in an axial direction X1 , i.e. along an axis X1 . According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second elongated member 52a has a main direction of extension in an axial direction X2, i.e. along an axis X2.
[0076] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said bristles 42b, 52b configured to be arranged around the respective elongated member, i.e. first and second elongated member 42a, 52a, are configured to protrude from said elongated member with a certain angle relative to the axial main extension, i.e. relative to said axis X1 , X2, of said elongated member. Said angle may be any suitable angle in order to obtain efficient cleaning when said elongated members 42a, 52a are inserted from opposite directions between adjacent teeth, e.g. about 90 degrees or other angles. The angles of said, from said elongated members 42a, 52a protruding bristles 42b, 52b may vary e.g. depending on position of bristles 42b, 52b along said elongated member 42a, 52a. The length, i.e. protruding extension, of said, from said elongated members 42a, 52a protruding bristles 42b, 52b may vary, as illustrated in e.g. fig. 3, or be the same, e.g. depending on configuration of said elongated member 42a, 52a. The distribution of said, from said elongated members 42a, 52a protruding bristles 42b, 52b along said elongated members may be any suitable distribution, e.g. spirally as illustrated in fig. 3.
[0077] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said bristles 42b, 52b arranged around the respective elongated member 42a, 52a may be bristles configured to be attached to the elongated member 42a, 52a and / or bristles 42b, 52b being an integrated part of said elongated member 42a, 52a. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said bristles of said bristles 42b, 52b may be of the same material as said elongated member 42a, 52a or another material.
[0078] According to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first elongated member 42a having said main direction of extension in said axial direction along said axis X1 and said second elongated member 52a having said main direction of extension in said axial direction along said axis X2 are configured to be arranged such that, when said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are projecting towards each other, the axial extension of the first elongated member 42 is configured to be offset relative to the axial extension of the second elongated member 52, as illustrated in e.g. fig. 2 and fig. 3. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first elongated member 42a having said main direction of extension along said axis X1 and said second elongated member having a main direction along said axis X1 are configured to be arranged such that, at least at a certain position, when said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are being moved towards each other from opposite sides, said axis X1 corresponding to the axial extension of the first elongated member 42a and said axis X2 corresponding to the axial extension of said second elongated member 52a are essentially parallel so that, when moved towards each other, said elongated members 42a, 52a will overlap.
[0079] Said first brush member 40 arranged in connection to said end portion 22 of said first arm 20 and said second brush member 50 arranged in connection to said end portion 32 of said second arm 30 are, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, arranged in connection to said end portions 22, 32 such that when said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 of said first and second brush members 40, 50 are being moved towards each other from opposite sides, said axis X1 corresponding to the axial extension of the first elongated member 42a and said axis X2 corresponding to the axial extension of said second elongated member 52a are essentially parallel so that, when moved towards each other, said elongated members 42a, 52a will overlap. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second arms 20, 30 are configured to be moved towards and away from each other in a plane providing an arced path, wherein said elongated members 42a, 52a are arranged in connection to said arms 20, 30 such that they will overlap as described above.
[0080] Said elongated member 42a, 52a may have any suitable shape for facilitating interdental cleaning operation. Said elongated member 42a, 52a has according to an aspect said tapering shape, according to an aspect said cone shape. Said elongated member 42a, 52a has according to an aspect said flexible configuration so that it may bend when subjected to forces during interdental cleaning operation. Said elongated member 42a, 52a may be of any suitable material such as a rubber material, a plastic material, a metallic material such as steel, e.g. in the shape of a steel wire. Thus, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second elongated member 42a, 52a of said first and second projecting brush element 42, 52 have a tapering configuration so that they taper in the direction towards each other. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second elongated member 42a, 52a of said first and second projecting brush element 42, 52 are cone shaped with the tip of the cone shaped first elongated member 42a facing the second brush member 50 and the tip of the cone shaped second elongated member 52a facing the first brush member.
[0081] Thus, according to an aspect of the interdental brush device, said first and second elongated member 42a, 52a of said first and second brush element have a flexible configuration so as to facilitate angled adaption relative to movement of said projecting brush elements 42, 52 towards and away from each other based on configuration of shape of teeth and space between teeth during interdental cleaning operation.
[0082] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first brush member 40 further comprises a first diaphragm 44. Said first diaphragm 44 has a first side 44a facing towards the second brush member 40 and an opposite second side 44b facing towards the end portion 22 of said first arm 20 at which said first brush member 40 is configured to be connected. Said first projecting brush element 42 is configured to project from said first side 44a. Said first projecting brush element 42 is connected to and configured to project from said first diaphragm 44. Said first diaphragm 44 has a ring-shaped configuration. Said first projecting brush element 42 is centrally arranged relative to and configured to axially project from the first diaphragm 44. Said first projecting brush element 42 is configured to project from said first diaphragm 44 with a main extension along an axis X1 .
[0083] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first projecting brush element 42 is configured to be arranged in connection to said first diaphragm 44 so as to facilitate angled adaption of said first projecting brush element 42 relative to its main direction of extension, wherein the first projecting brush element 42 is allowed to tilt so that its direction of extension from the support member changes when subjected to forces transversal to the axis X1 .
[0084] Said first diaphragm 44 is operable between a deflated state and an inflated IS state based on fluid pressure, e.g. air pressure, so as to allow axial movement of said first projecting brush elements 42 relative to said first arm 20. The inflated state IS of said first diaphragm 44 is illustrated in fig. 3 and fig. 4.
[0085] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second brush member 50 further comprises a second diaphragm 54. Said second diaphragm 54 has a second side 54a facing towards the second brush member 50 and an opposite second side 54b facing towards the end portion 32 of said second arm 30 at which said second brush member 50 is configured to be connected. Said second projecting brush element 52 is connected to and configured to project from said second diaphragm 54. Said second projecting brush element 52 is configured to project from said first side 54a. Said second diaphragm 54 has a ring-shaped configuration. Said second projecting brush element 52 is centrally arranged relative to and configured to axially project from the second diaphragm 54. Said second projecting brush element 52 is configured to project from said second diaphragm 54 with a main extension along an axis X2.
[0086] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second projecting brush element 52 is configured to be arranged in connection to said second diaphragm 54 so as to facilitate angled adaption of said second projecting brush element 52 relative to its main direction of extension, wherein the second projecting brush element 52 is allowed to tilt so that its direction of extension from the support member changes when subjected to forces transversal to the axis X2.
[0087] Said second diaphragm 54 is operable between a deflated state DS and an inflated state based on fluid pressure, e.g. air pressure, so as to allow axial movement of said second projecting brush elements 52 relative to said second arm 30. The deflated state DS of said first diaphragm 44 is illustrated in fig. 3 and fig. 5.
[0088] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first projecting brush element 42 is configured to be connected to said first diaphragm 44 so that it may be rotated about a rotational axis X1 corresponding to the axis from which said first projecting brush element 42 is configured to project. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first brush member 40 comprises a first brush element rotation arrangement A1 configured to provide rotation of said first projecting brush element 42 based on operation of said first diaphragm 44 between said inflated state and deflated state.
[0089] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second projecting brush element 52 is configured to be connected to said second diaphragm 54 so that it may be rotated about a rotational axis X1 corresponding to the axis from which said second projecting brush element 52 is configured to project. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second brush member 40 comprises a second brush element rotation arrangement A2 configured to provide rotation of said second projecting brush element 52 based on operation of said second diaphragm 54 between said inflated state and deflated state.
[0090] Fig. 4 illustrates a first brush element rotation arrangement A1 and fig. 5 a second brush element rotation arrangement A2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0091] Fig. 8a and 9a illustrates a first brush element rotation arrangement A11 and a second brush element rotation arrangement A22 according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0092] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 4, said first brush element rotation arrangement A1 is comprised in said first diaphragm 44. Said first brush element rotation arrangement A1 is configured such that said first diaphragm 44, when operated between said deflated and inflated states from one of said deflated and inflated states to the other, is configured to be twisted so that it is operated between a tensioned position TP, illustrated in fig. 4, and a non-tensioned position so that said first projecting brush element 42 is rotated back and forth a predetermined rotational angle about its axis X1 so that an oscillating movement of said first projecting brush element 42 about said rotational axis X1 , see fig. 3, is provided based on operation between said inflated state and deflated state. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 3 and fig. 4, the inflated state IS corresponds to the tensioned position TP.
[0093] Said first brush element rotation arrangement A1 comprises a tension configuration 44T of said diaphragm 44, said tension configuration 44T being operably connected to said first projecting brush element 42 and being configured to be twisted in said non-tensioned state, here corresponding to the deflated state, not shown for brush member 40 but for brush member 50 in fig. 3 and fig. 5, and moved to a non-twisted position during inflation of said first diaphragm 44, see fig. 3 and 4.
[0094] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first brush element rotation arrangement A1 , comprised in said first diaphragm 44, has an elastomechanical configuration for facilitating elastomechanical behavior so as to provide elastomechanical control for providing said oscillating movement of said first projecting brush element 42 during operation between said inflated state and deflated state of said first diaphragm 44.
[0095] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 4, said second brush element rotation arrangement A2 is comprised in said second diaphragm 54. Said second brush element rotation arrangement A2 is configured such that said second diaphragm 54, when operated between said deflated and inflated states from one of said deflated and inflated states to the other, is configured to be twisted so that it is operated between a tensioned position and a non-tensioned position NTP, illustrated in fig. 5, so that said second projecting brush element 52 is rotated back and forth a predetermined rotational angle about its axis X2 so that an oscillating movement of said second projecting brush element 52 about said rotational axis X2, see fig. 3, is provided based on operation between said inflated state and deflated state. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 3 and fig. 5 the deflated state DS corresponds to the non-tensioned position NTP.
[0096] Said second brush element rotation arrangement A2 comprises a tension configuration 54T of said diaphragm 54, said tension configuration 54T being operably connected to said second projecting brush element 52 and being configured to be twisted in said non-tensioned state, here corresponding to the deflated state, see fig. 3 and 5, and moved to a non-twisted position during inflation of said second diaphragm 54, not shown for brush member 50 but for brush member 40 in fig. 3 and fig. 4.
[0097] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second brush element rotation arrangement A2, comprised in said second diaphragm 54, has an elastomechanical configuration for facilitating elastomechanical behavior so as to provide elastomechanical control for providing said oscillating movement of said second projecting brush element 52 during operation between said inflated state and deflated state of said second diaphragm 54.
[0098] Fig. 8a schematically illustrates a perspective view of a brush member 40, 50, which may be the first brush member 40 or the second brush member 50, with a diaphragm 44, 54 in an inflated state with a projecting brush element 42, 52 connected to said diaphragm, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0099] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 8a and 9a, for said first brush member 40, said first brush element rotation arrangement A11 of said first brush member 40 comprises a first rotatable member 46 being fixedly connected to or an integrated part of said first projecting brush element 42 so that it protrudes from the second side 44b of the first diaphragm 44 and is configured to move with said first projecting brush element 42 in connection to inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm 44.
[0100] Said first brush element rotation arrangement A11 of said first brush member 40 further comprises a first rotation element 48 arranged at said second side 44b fixedly attached in connection to said end portion 22 of said first arm 20.
[0101] Said first rotatable member 46 and said first rotation element 48 are arranged relative to each other and configured such that, during inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm 44, said first rotatable member 46 is configured to interact with said first rotation element 48 so that an oscillating movement of said first projecting brush elements 42 about said rotational axis X1 is provided.
[0102] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first rotation element 48 comprises a track 48a, e.g. a helical track, wherein said rotatable member 46 is configured to be guided by means of said track 48a so that rotation of said rotatable member 46 and thereby said first projecting brush element 42 about its axis X1 is facilitated during inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm 44. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first rotation element 48 has a hollow ring-shaped configuration with said track 48a arranged within said hollow ring-shaped configuration, wherein said rotatable member 46 is configured to be guided by means of said track 48a so that it rotates when said first diaphragm 44 operates between the inflated state and deflated moving said first projecting brush element 42 back and forth in its axial direction.
[0103] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 8a and 9a, for said second brush member 50, said second brush element rotation arrangement A22 of said second brush member 50 comprises a second rotatable member 56 being fixedly connected to or an integrated part of said second projecting brush element 52 so that it protrudes from the second side 54b of the second diaphragm 54 and is configured to move with said second projecting brush element 52 in connection to inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm 54. Said second brush element rotation arrangement A22 of said second brush member 50 further comprises a second rotation element 58 arranged at said second side 54b fixedly attached in connection to said end portion 22 of said second arm 20, wherein said second rotatable member 56 and said second rotation element 58 are arranged relative to each other and configured such that, during inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm 54, said second rotatable member 56 is configured to interact with said second rotation element 58 so that an oscillating movement of said second projecting brush elements 52 about said rotational axis X2 is provided.
[0104] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second rotation element 58 comprises a track 58a, e.g. a helical track, wherein said rotatable member 56 is configured to be guided by means of said track 58a so that rotation of said rotatable member 56 and thereby said second projecting brush element 52 about its axis X2 is facilitated during inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm 54. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second rotation element 58 has a hollow ring-shaped configuration with said track 58a arranged within said hollow ring-shaped configuration, wherein said rotatable member 56 is configured to be guided by means of said track 58a so that it rotates when said second diaphragm 54 operates between the inflated state and deflated moving said second projecting brush element 52 back and forth in its axial direction.
[0105] Fig. 8b schematically illustrates a front view of the brush element rotation arrangement of the brush member in fig. 8a, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. Thus, fig. 8b schematically illustrates a front view of the first brush element rotation arrangement A11 of the first brush member 40, or the second brush element rotation arrangement A22 of the second brush member 50. Here, the diaphragm, i.e. the first diaphragm 44 or the second diaphragm 54, is in the inflated state, wherein the rotatable member, i.e. the first rotatable member 46 or the second rotatable member 56, is in a first position corresponding to a first rotated position of the projecting brush element, i.e. the first projecting brush element 42 or the second projecting brush element 52.
[0106] Fig. 9b schematically illustrates a front view of the brush element rotation arrangement in fig. 8b, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. Thus, fig. 9b schematically illustrates a front view of the first brush element rotation arrangement A11 of the first brush member 40, or the second brush element rotation arrangement A22 of the second brush member 50. Here, the diaphragm, i.e. the first diaphragm 44 or the second diaphragm 54, is in the deflated state, wherein the rotatable member, i.e. the first rotatable member 46 or the second rotatable member 56, is in a second position corresponding to a second rotated position of the projecting brush element, i.e. the first projecting brush element 42 or the second projecting brush element 52.
[0107] In the example in fig. 8a-b and 9a-b, the brush element rotation arrangement A11 , A22 is configured to provide 90 degrees rotation back and forth of the projecting brush element 42, 52 about its axis X1 , X2 when said diaphragm 44, 54 is operated between the inflated state and the deflated state.
[0108] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brush member 40, 50, which may be the first brush member 40 or the second brush member 50, with a diaphragm 44, 54, which may be the first diaphragm 44 or the second diaphragm 54, in an inflated state IS with a projecting brush element 42, 52 connected to said diaphragm 44, 54, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0109] Said brush member 40, 50 comprises a brush element rotation arrangement A11 , A22 having essentially the same general function as the brush element rotation arrangement described with reference to fig. 8a-b, 9a-b. The brush element rotation arrangement A11 , A22 in fig. 10 mainly differs from the brush element rotation arrangement A11 , A22 in fig. 8a-b, 9a-b in that it is, although schematical, a bit more detailed. Thus, the general function of the brush element rotation arrangement A11 , A22 is described with reference to fig. 8a- b, 9a-b.
[0110] The brush element rotation arrangement A11 , A22 in fig. 10 thus comprises a rotatable member 46, 56 being fixedly connected to or an integrated part of said projecting brush element 42, 52 and a rotation element 48, 58 arranged at the second side 44b, 54b fixedly attached in connection to said end portion 22, 32 of said arm 20, 30.
[0111] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 10, said rotatable member 46, 56 has a helical configuration, and said rotation element 48, 58 has an opening, wherein said rotatable member 46, 56 is configured to be guided by means of said helically configured rotatable member 46, 56 contacting sides of said opening of said rotation element 48, 58 so that rotation of said rotatable member 46, 56 and thereby said projecting brush element 42, 52 about its axis X1 , X2 is facilitated during inflation IS and deflation DS of said diaphragm 44, 54.
[0112] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a drive arrangement D of an interdental brush device according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The interdental brush device is according to an aspect an interdental brush device 100 according to fig. 1 a-b and 2. Thus, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the interdental brush device 100 in fig. 1 a-b and 2 comprises a drive arrangement D as illustrated in fig. 6.
[0113] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D or at least the main part of said drive arrangement D is configured to be housed in said support member 10 of said interdental brush device 100 in fig. 1 a-b and fig. 2. Thus, according to an aspect, said support member 10 of said interdental brush device 100 has a hollow configuration for housing said drive arrangement.
[0114] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D is configured to be operably connected to said first and second brush member 40, 50. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D is configured to provide movement of said first and second brush members 40, 50 relative to said first and second arms 20, 30 of said interdental brush device 100.
[0115] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D comprises an electric circuit unit EC.
[0116] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D comprises a pump arrangement P. Said pump arrangement P may comprise one or more pump members. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 6, said pump arrangement P comprises a first pump member P1 and a second pump member P2.
[0117] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 6, said pump arrangement P comprises a motor unit MU. Said motor unit MU is configured to be operably connected to said first pump member P1 and second pump member P2 for operating said first pump member P1 and second pump member P2 during interdental cleaning operation.
[0118] Said pump arrangement P may be any suitable pump arrangement such as a diaphragm pump arrangement comprising one or more diaphragm pumps, a piston pump arrangement comprising one or more piston pumps or a rotary vane pump arrangement comprising one or more rotary vane pumps.
[0119] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D comprises a fluid transport arrangement F. Said fluid transport arrangement F is configured to be operably connected to said pump arrangement P and to said first brush member 40 and second brush member 50 of said interdental brush device 100, e.g. the interdental brush device 100 according to fig. 1 a. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said fluid transport arrangement F is configured to run within said first and second arms 20, 30 of said interdental brush device 100. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 6, said fluid transport arrangement F comprises a first fluid transport channel F1 . Said first fluid transport channel F1 is configured to be operably connected to said first pump member P1 . Said first fluid transport channel F1 is configured to run within said first arm 20 of said interdental brush device 100, towards said first brush member 40.
[0120] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first pump member P1 is configured to move fluid to and from said first brush member 40 via said first fluid transport channel F1. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said fluid is air.
[0121] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, for the version of the interdental brush device 100 having a first replaceable unit U1 disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part 24 of the first arm 20, said first fluid transport channel F1 is configured to run within said remaining arm part 24 and end there, so that said fluid may be introduced into and received from said first replaceable unit U1 when connected. Thus, according to an aspect, said first replaceable unit has a hollow configuration for transporting said fluid therein to and from said first brush member for facilitating inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm 44.
[0122] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 6, said fluid transport arrangement F comprises a second fluid transport channel F2. Said second fluid transport channel F2 is configured to be operably connected to said second pump member P2. Said second fluid transport channel F2 is configured to run within said second arm 30 of said interdental brush device 100, towards said second brush member 50.
[0123] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second pump member P1 is configured to move fluid to and from said second brush member 40 via said second fluid transport channel F2. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said fluid is air. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, for the version of the interdental brush device 100 having a second replaceable unit U2 disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part 34 of the second arm 30, said second fluid transport channel F2 is configured to run within said remaining arm part 34 and end there, so that said fluid may be introduced into and received from said second replaceable unit U2 when connected. Thus, according to an aspect, said second replaceable unit has a hollow configuration for transporting said fluid therein to and from said second brush member for facilitating inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm 44.
[0124] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D comprises a battery unit B. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said battery unit B is configured to be operably connected to said electric circuit unit EC. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said battery unit B is configured to provide power to said pump arrangement P.
[0125] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said drive arrangement D comprises a coil C for facilitating operation of said motor unit MU.
[0126] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device 100 comprises an activation device AD for activating said drive arrangement D. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said activation device AD is comprised in said drive arrangement D.
[0127] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said activation device AD is arranged such that, when pressure has been applied on said first and second arms 20, 30 so that said first and second brush members 40, 50 have moved towards each other at least a certain distance and said pressure has been applied during a predetermined time period, said drive arrangement D is configured to be activated, and when said pressure on said first and second arms 20, 30 is released, said activation device AD is configured to deactivate said drive arrangement D, see e.g. fig. 6 and fig. 1 a-b. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 6, said activation device AD comprises a magnetic switch arrangement M comprising a switch device M1 , M2 and a first sensor S1 arranged in connection to said first arm 20 and a second sensor S2 arranged in connection to said second arm 30. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 6, said switch device M1 , M2 comprises a first switch member M1 operably connected to said electric circuit EC and arranged in connection to and at a distance from said first sensor S1 , and a second switch member M2 operably connected to said electric circuit EC and arranged in connection to and at a distance from said first sensor S1 .
[0128] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 6, said first sensor S1 is configured to be connected to said first fluid transportation channel F1 , configured to be arranged within said first arm 20, and said second sensor S2 is configured to be connected to said second fluid transport channel F2, configured to be arranged within said second arm 30.
[0129] According to the aspect illustrated in fig. 6, said activation device AD is arranged such that a magnetic field with a certain strength is configured to be generated when said first and second arms 20, 30 are pressed together so that said first sensor S1 is at a certain distance from said first switch member M1 and said second sensor S2 is at a certain distance from said second switch member M2, wherein said drive arrangement D is configured to be activated by means of said switch arrangement M when said magnetic field with said certain strength has been present during a predetermined time period.
[0130] According to the aspect, said activation device AD is further arranged such that, when said distance between said first sensor S1 and said first switch member M1 and / or said distance between said second sensor S2 and said second switch member M2 is increased to a greater distance than said certain distance, said drive arrangement D is configured to be deactivated by means of said switch arrangement M. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said magnetic switch arrangement M is operably connected to said pump arrangement P and configured such that, when information associated with said magnetic field with said certain strength having been present during a predetermined time period has been determined, said pump arrangement P is activated. Said predetermined time period is according to an aspect in the range of a few seconds.
[0131] Fig. 11 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an interdental brush device 200 according to an aspect of the present disclosure, fig. 12 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brush member 40, 50 of the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 , according to an aspect of the present disclosure; and, fig. 13 schematically illustrates a side view of the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 , according to an aspect of the present disclosure.
[0132] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 differs from the interdental brush device 100 in e.g. fig. 1a-b in that the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 is a non-driven interdental brush device, thus not comprising any drive arrangement. Thus, the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 is a manual interdental brush device 200 intended for manual interdental cleaning operation.
[0133] The interdental brush device 200 comprises a support member 10. The interdental brush device 200 further comprises first arm 20 and a second arm 30. Said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are arranged to project from said support member 10 and run along each other and at a distance from each other. The support member 10 of the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 differ from the support member 10 of the interdental brush device 100 in fig. 1 a-b in that it only provides an end portion from which said arms 20, 30. In the embodiment in fig. 11 , said support member 10 and said arms 20, 30 is an integrated portion of said interdental brush device 200. In the embodiment in fig. 11 , said support member 10 has a U-shaped configuration from which the first arm 20 and second arm 30 projects. In the embodiment in fig. 11 , said support member 10, having a U-shaped configuration, provides a transition for the first arm 20 and second arm 30. According to an aspect, said interdental brush device 200 has a U-shaped configuration comprising said support member 10 as the U-turn from which the first arm 20 and second arm 30 project.
[0134] Said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are configured to project from said support member 10 with essentially the same distance.
[0135] Said first arm 20 comprises an end portion 22 comprising the end of said arm 20 furthest away from said support member 10 from which said arm is configured to project. Said second arm 30 comprises an end portion 32 comprising the end of said arm 30 furthest away from said support member 10 from which said arm is configured to project.
[0136] Said first arm 20 comprises an arm part 24 projecting from said support member 10 and transfers into said end portion 22 of said first arm 20. Said second arm 30 comprises an arm part 34 projecting from said support member 10 and transfers into said end portion 32 of said second arm 30.
[0137] Said interdental brush device 200 further comprises a first brush member 40 arranged in connection to said end portion 22 of said first arm 20. Said interdental brush device 200 further comprises a second brush member 50 arranged in connection to said end portion 32 of said second arm 30.
[0138] Said first brush member 40 and second brush member 50 are arranged to face each other and are configured so as to facilitate, at the same time, cleaning between teeth from the teeth outer side by means of one of said first and second brush members 40, 50 and from the teeth inner side by means of the other of said first and second brush members 40, 50.
[0139] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device 200 has a forceps configuration. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said interdental brush device 200 has a forceps functionality when gripping said interdental brush device 200 comprising its first and second arms 20, 30.
[0140] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 and second arm are 30 arranged in connection to said support member 10 so as to provide spring tension so that said end portions 22, 32 of said first and second arms 20, 30, and thereby said first and second brush members 40, 50, are held apart when no pressure for moving said first and second arms 20, 30 towards each other is applied, and so that a user may grasp and apply pressure on said first and second arms 20, 30 so that said first and second brush members 40, 50 are moved towards each other for facilitating interdental cleaning.
[0141] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 and second arm 30 of said interdental brush device 200 are operable between a nontensioned state and tensioned states. In fig. 11 a tensioned state of said first arm 20 and second arm 30 is illustrated, where said first arm 20 and second arm 30 have been pressed towards each other so that said first brush member 40 and second brush member 50 have been moved towards each other.
[0142] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are arranged in connection to said support member 10 and configured such that controlled movement of said first and second arms 20, 30 in a plane were said first and second arms 20, 30 are facing each other is allowed. According to an aspect of the interdental brush device 200, said first arm 20 and second arm 30 are attached to or integrated with said support member 10 such that resistance is provided for at least partly preventing movement of said arms 20, 30 relative to each other in a direction deviating from said plane were said first and second arms 20, 30 are facing each other.
[0143] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first arm 20 has an elongated configuration having an outer side 20o, an opposite inner side 20i and an upper side 20a and lower side 20b. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said second arm 30 has an elongated configuration having an outer side 30o, an opposite inner side 30i and an upper side 30a and lower side 30b. The inner side 20i of said first arm 20 is configured to face towards the inner side 30i of said second arm 30. Said first arm 20 and second arm 30 have an elongated configuration having an at least partly plate configuration or flat configuration. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the distance between said upper side 20a and lower side 20b of the first arm 20 is greater than the distance between said outer side 20o and said inner side 20i. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the distance between said upper side 30a and lower side 30b of the second arm 30 is greater than the distance between said outer side 30o and said inner side 30i.
[0144] Said first brush member 40 comprises a first projecting brush element 42. Said second brush member 50 comprises a second projecting brush element 52. Said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 being configured to project towards each other.
[0145] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 have a tapering configuration so that they taper in the direction towards each other, see fig. 11 .
[0146] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are cone shaped, see fig. 11 . The tip of the cone shaped first projecting brush element 42 is configured to face the second brush member 50 the tip of the cone shaped second projecting brush element 52 is configured to face the first brush element 40, at least when said first and second arms 20, 30 are within certain distance from each other.
[0147] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second brush member 40, 50 are configured to be arranged relative to each other so that, when pressed towards each other, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are allowed to engagingly overlap, see e.g. fig. 11 . According to an aspect of the interdental brush device 200, said first projecting brush element 42 has a main direction of extension providing an axial extension from said end portion 22 of said first arm 20. Said first projecting brush element 42 is configured to project from said end portion 22 with a main extension along an axis X1 . According to an aspect of the interdental brush device 100, said second projecting brush element 50 has a main direction of extension providing an axial extension from said end portion 32 of said second arm 30. Said second projecting brush element 52 is configured to project from said end portion 32 with a main extension along an axis X2.
[0148] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 have a flexible configuration so as to facilitate angled adaption relative to movement of said projecting brush elements 42, 52 towards and away from each other based on configuration of shape of teeth and space between teeth during interdental cleaning operation.
[0149] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 of said interdental brush device 200 illustrated in fig. 11 have essentially the same configuration as said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 of said interdental brush device 100 described above with reference to e.g. fig. 2 and 3.
[0150] Thus, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 11 , said first projecting brush element 42 comprises a first elongated member 42a and bristles 42b arranged around said first elongated member 42a, said first elongated member 42a having a main direction of extension in an axial direction X1 , and said second projecting brush element 52 comprises a second elongated member 52a and bristles 52b arranged around said second elongated member 52a, said second elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction X2.
[0151] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 11 , said first brush member 40 arranged in connection to said end portion 22 of said first arm 10 and said second brush member 50 arranged in connection to said end portion 32 of said second arm 30 are arranged such that, when facing each other, said axial direction X1 of said first elongated member 42a is offset relative to said axial direction X2 of said second elongated member 52a such that, when said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 are moved towards each other, said elongated members 42a, 52a will overlap.
[0152] Fig. 12 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brush member 40, 50 of the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 , connected to an end portion 22, 32 of an arm 20, 30. The brush member in fig. 12 may be the first brush member 40 or the second brush member 50 of the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11.
[0153] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in fig. 12, said first and second brush member 40, 50 comprises a first and second support member 43, 53 for supporting said first and second projecting brush elements. Fig. Thus, according to an aspect, the first brush member 40 comprises a first support member 43 from which said first projecting brush element 42 is configured to project, and the second brush member comprises a second support member 53 from which said second projecting brush element 52 is configured to project.
[0154] The first and second brush member 40, 50 is denoted brush member 40, 50, the first and second projecting element 42, 52 are denoted projecting element 42, 52, and the first and second support member 43, 53 are denoted support member 43, 53. Said support member 43, 53 has a flexible configuration so as to facilitate angled adaption of said projecting brush element 42, 52 relative to its main direction of extension, as illustrated in fig. 12 where the projecting brush element 42, 52 is allowed to tilt so that its direction of extension from the support member changes when subjected to forces transversal to the axis X1 , X2.
[0155] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, as illustrated in e.g. fig. 12, said first and second projecting brush elements 42, 52 comprises an elongated member 42a, 52a, and bristles 42b, 52b connected to said elongated member 42, 52a. Said elongated member 42a, 52a has according to an aspect said tapering shape, according to an aspect said cone shape. Said elongated member 42a, 52a has according to an aspect said flexible configuration.
[0156] According to an aspect, said support member 43, 53 has a ring-shaped configuration with a bottom portion connected at said end portion 22, 32 of said arm 20, 30 and configured to project from said end portion 22, 32 so that the projection transfers into said projecting brush element 42, 52.
[0157] In a cross-section, as illustrated in fig. 12, said support member 43, 53, runs from said end portion 22, 32 outwardly from the bottom portion and then curves and runs essentially transversely towards said axis X1 , X2 and transfers into said projecting brush element 42, 52, said running of the support member 43, 53 having an S-shaped configuration. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said projecting brush element 42, 52 is an integrated part of said support member 43, 53. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, said projecting brush element 42, 52 is attached to said support member 43, 53, facilitating having different materials and configurations and properties, such as different flexibility, of the support member and projecting brush element.
[0158] A flexible support member 43, 53 as described with reference to fig. 12, from which a projecting brush element 42, 52 projects, is, according to an aspect, configured to facilitate movement of the projecting brush element 42, 52 in the axial direction relative to said support member 43, 53.
[0159] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the interdental brush device 200 comprises a locking member L, schematically illustrated in fig. 11 , for releasably locking said first and second arms 20, 30 from movement relative to each other when said first and second brush members 40, 50 are at a desired position relative to each other during an interdental cleaning operation.
[0160] According to the aspect illustrated in fig. 11 , the locking member L comprises a first locking element L1 connected to the first arm 20 and a second locking element L2 connected to the second arm 30, said first locking element L1 and second locking element L2 being arranged such that they lockingly engage when said arms 20, 30 are pressed towards each other.
[0161] Such a locking member L may be any suitable member for facilitating such locking of said first and second arms, such as a friction brake member, a magnet brake member, a backstop brake member or the like. Such a locking member L may be configured such that it unlocks when no pressure is applied on said first and second arms 20, 30. Such a locking member L may be configured such that it comprises an unlocking member for unlocking said locking member from the locked position.
[0162] As illustrated in fig. 13, schematically illustrating a side view of the interdental brush device 200 in fig. 11 , said first and second arm 20, 30 has a main extension essentially along an axis Y1 , Y2, wherein the end portion 22, 32 is arranged along said axis Y1 , Y2.
[0163] Fig. 14 schematically illustrates a side view of an interdental brush device 200 according to an aspect of the present disclosure, where said first and second arm 20, 30 has an extension essentially partly running along said axis Y1 , Y2 and then turns so that the end portion 22, 32 is arranged with a certain angle relative to said axis Y1 , Y2. This may facilitate use of the interdental brush device 200 in that accessibility to teeth in mouth when grasping said interdental brush device 200 may be made easier. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
CLAIMS1. An interdental brush device (100; 200) for facilitating interdental cleaning operation, the interdental brush device comprising: a support member (10); a first arm (20) and a second arm (30), said first arm and second arm being arranged to project from said support member (10) and run along each other and at a distance from each other, said interdental brush device further comprising a first brush member (40) arranged in connection to an end portion (22) of said first arm (20), and a second brush member (50) arranged in connection to an end portion (32) of said second arm (30), said first brush member (40) and second brush member (50) being arranged to face each other and being configured so as to facilitate, at the same time, cleaning between teeth from the teeth outer side (TO) by means of one of said first and second brush members (40, 50) and from the teeth inner side (Tl) by means of the other of said first and second brush members (40, 50).
2. The interdental brush device according to claim 1 , wherein said first arm (20) and second arm are (30) arranged in connection to said support member (10) so as to provide spring tension so that said end portions (22, 32) of said first and second arms (20, 30), and thereby said first and second brush members (40, 50), are held apart when no pressure for moving said first and second arms (20, 30) towards each other is applied, and so that a user may grasp and apply pressure on said first and second arms (20, 30) so that said first and second brush members (40, 50) are moved towards each other for facilitating interdental cleaning.
3. The interdental brush device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first arm (20) and second arm (30) are arranged in connection to said support member (10) and configured such that controlled movement of said first and second arms (20, 30) in a plane were said first and second arms (20, 30) are facing each other is allowed.
4. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 1 -3, further comprising a locking member for releasably locking said first and second arms(20, 30) from movement relative to each other when said first and second brush members (40, 50) are at a desired position relative to each other during an interdental cleaning operation.
5. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 1 -4, wherein said first brush member (40) comprises a first projecting brush element (42), and said second brush member (50) comprises a second projecting brush element (52), said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) being configured to project towards each other.
6. The interdental brush device according to claim 5, wherein said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) have a tapering configuration so that they taper in the direction towards each other.
7. The interdental brush device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) are cone shaped with the tip of the cone shaped first projecting brush element (42) facing the second brush member (50) and the tip of the cone shaped second projecting brush element (52) facing the first brush member (40).
8. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 5-7, wherein said first and second brush member (40, 50) are configured to be arranged relative to each other so that, when pressed towards each other, said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) are allowed to engagingly overlap.
9. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 5-8, wherein said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) have a flexible configuration so as to facilitate angled adaption relative to movement of said projecting brush elements (42, 52) towards and away from each other based on configuration of shape of teeth and space between teeth during interdental cleaning operation.
10. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 5-9, wherein said first projecting brush element (42) comprises a first elongated member (42a)and bristles (42b) arranged around said first elongated member (42a), said first elongated member (42a) having a main direction of extension in an axial direction (X1 ), and wherein said second projecting brush element (52) comprises a second elongated member (52a) and bristles (52b) arranged around said second elongated member (52a), said second elongated member having a main direction of extension in an axial direction (X2).11 . The interdental brush device according to claim 10, wherein said first brush member (40) arranged in connection to said end portion (22) and said second brush member (50) arranged in connection to said end portion (32) of said second arm (30) are arranged such that, when facing each other, said axial direction (X1 ) of said first elongated member (42a) is offset relative to said axial direction (X2) of said second elongated member (52a) such that, when said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) are moved towards each other, said elongated members (42a, 52a) will overlap.
12. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 1 -11 , wherein the end portion (22) of the first arm (20) together with the first brush member (40) constitutes a first replaceable unit (U1 ) disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part (24) of the first arm (20), and wherein the end portion (32) of the second arm (30) together with the second brush member (50) constitutes a second replaceable unit (U2) disconnectedly connected to a remaining arm part (34) of the second arm (30).
13. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 1 -12, further comprising a drive arrangement (D) operably connected to said first and second brush member (40, 50), said drive arrangement (D) being configured to provide movement of said first and second brush members (40, 50) relative to said first and second arms (20, 30).
14. The interdental brush device according to claim 13, when depending on any of claims 5-9, wherein said first projecting brush element (42) has an axial extension from said end portion (22) of said first arm (20) and said secondprojecting brush element (52) has an axial extension from said end portion (32) of said second arm (30), wherein said movement provided by means of said drive arrangement (D) comprises oscillating movement about an, in said axial extension running, axis (X1 , X2) of said first and second projecting brush element (42, 52) respectively, and / or an axial movement of said first and second projecting brush element (42, 52) respectively.
15. The interdental brush device according to claim 13 or 14, when depending on any of claims 5-9, wherein said first brush member (40) further comprises a first diaphragm (44) and said second brush member (50) comprises a second diaphragm (54), wherein said first projecting brush element (42) is connected to and configured to project from said first diaphragm (44) and said second projecting brush element (52) is connected to and configured to project from said second diaphragm (54), wherein said first and second diaphragms (44, 54) have a ring-shaped configuration, said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) being centrally arranged relative to and configured to axially project from the first and second diaphragms (44, 54) respectively, said first and second diaphragms (44, 54) being operable between a deflated state (DS) and an inflated state (IS) based on fluid pressure so as to allow axial movement of said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52) relative to said first and second arms (20, 30).
16. The interdental brush device according to claim 15, wherein said first brush member (40) comprises a first brush element rotation arrangement (A1 ; A11 ) configured to provide rotation of said first projecting brush element (42) based on operation of said first diaphragm (44) between said inflated state and deflated state and / or wherein said second brush member (50) comprises a second brush element rotation arrangement (A2; A22) configured to provide rotation of said second projecting brush element (52) based on operation of said second diaphragm (54) between said inflated state and deflated state.
17. The interdental brush device according to claim 14, wherein said first brush element rotation arrangement (A1 ) is comprised in said first diaphragm (44),said first brush element rotation arrangement (A1 ) being configured such that said first diaphragm (44), when operated between said deflated and inflated states from one of said deflated and inflated states to the other, is configured to be twisted so that it is operated between a tensioned position (TP) and a non-tensioned position (NTP) so that said first projecting brush element (42) is rotated back and forth a predetermined rotational angle about its axis (X1 ) so that an oscillating movement of said first projecting brush elements (42) about said rotational axis (X1 ) is provided based on operation between said inflated state and deflated state, and / or wherein said second brush element rotation arrangement (A2) is comprised in said second diaphragm (54), said second brush element rotation arrangement (A2) being configured such that said second diaphragm (54), when operated between said deflated and inflated states from one of said deflated and inflated states to the other, is configured to be twisted so that it is operated between a tensioned position (TP) and a non-tensioned position (NTP) so that said second projecting brush element (52) is rotated back and forth a predetermined rotational angle about its axis (X2) so that an oscillating movement of said second projecting brush elements (52) about its rotational axis (X2) is provided based on operation between said inflated state and deflated state.
18. The interdental brush device according to claim 16, wherein first said brush element rotation arrangement (A11 ) of said first brush member (40) comprises a first rotatable member (46) being fixedly connected to or an integrated part of said first projecting brush element (42) so that it protrudes from the opposite side of the first diaphragm from which said first projecting brush element (42) is projecting and is configured to move with said first projecting brush element (42) in connection to inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm (44), and a first rotation element (48) arranged at said opposite side (44b) fixedly attached in connection to said end portion (22) of said first arm (20), wherein said first rotatable member (46) and said first rotation element (48) are arranged relative to each other and configured such that, during inflation and deflation of said first diaphragm (44), said first rotatable member (46) is configured to interactwith said first rotation element (48) so that an oscillating movement of said first projecting brush elements (42) about said rotational axis (X1 ) is provided; and / or wherein said second brush element rotation arrangement (A11 ) of said second brush member (50) comprises a second rotatable member (56) being fixedly connected to or an integrated part of said second projecting brush element (52) so that it protrudes from the opposite side of the second diaphragm from which said second projecting brush element (52) is projecting and is configured to move with said second projecting brush element (52) in connection to inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm (54), and a second rotation element (58) arranged at said opposite side (54b) fixedly attached in connection to said end portion (22) of said second arm (20), wherein said second rotatable member (56) and said second rotation element (58) are arranged relative to each other and configured such that, during inflation and deflation of said second diaphragm (54), said second rotatable member (56) is configured to interact with said second rotation element (58) so that an oscillating movement of said second projecting brush elements (52) about said rotational axis (X2) is provided.
19. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 13-18, wherein said drive arrangement (D) comprises a pump arrangement (P) and a fluid transport arrangement (F), wherein said fluid transport arrangement (F) is operably connected to said pump arrangement (P) and to said first brush member (40) and second brush member (50) and configured to run within said first and second arms (20, 30), wherein, when said drive arrangement (D) is operating, said pump arrangement (P) is configured to move fluid back and forth to said first and second brush members (40, 50) so as to provide deflated states (DS) and inflated states (IS) of said first and second diaphragms (44, 54) for providing movement of said first and second projecting brush elements (42, 52).
20. The interdental brush device according to claim 19, wherein said fluid transport arrangement (F) comprises a first fluid transport channel (F 1 ) runningfrom said pump arrangement (P) into and within said first arm (20) towards said first brush member (40), and a second fluid transport channel (F2) running from said pump arrangement (P) into and within said second arm (30) towards said second brush member (50), wherein said pump arrangement (P) is configured to move fluid to and from said first and second brush members (40, 50) via said first and second fluid transport channels (F1 , F2) so as to deflate and inflate said first and second diaphragms (44, 54).
21. The interdental brush device according to any of claims 13-20, further comprising an activation device (AD) for activating said drive arrangement (D), said activation device being arranged such that, when pressure has been applied on said first and second arms (20, 30) so that said first and second brush members (40, 50) have moved towards each other at least a certain distance and said pressure has been applied during a predetermined time period, said drive arrangement is configured to be activated, and when said pressure on said first and second arms (20, 30) is released, said activation device (AD) is configured to deactivate said drive arrangement (D).
22. The interdental brush device according to 21 , wherein said activation device (AD) comprises a magnetic switch arrangement (M) comprising a switch device (M1 , M2) and a first sensor (S1 ) arranged in connection to said first arm (20) and a second sensor (S2) arranged in connection to said second arm (30), wherein a magnetic field with a certain strength is configured to be generated when said first and second arms (20, 30) are pressed together so that said first and second sensors (S1 , S2) are at a certain distance from said switch device (M1 , M2), wherein said drive arrangement (D) is configured to be activated by means of said switch arrangement (M) when said magnetic field with said certain strength has been present during a predetermined time period, and wherein said distance between said first and second sensors (S1 , S2) is increased to a greater distance than said certain distance, said drive arrangement (D) is configured to be deactivated by means of said switch arrangement (M).