interdental brush

Abstract

The invention relates to a motorized interdental brush comprising a brush head (200) extended by a rod (320), and a body (100) incorporating an electric motor (10) controlling a vibratory movement of said brush head (200) characterized in that the motor axis (10) forms an angle between 70° and 180° with the rod axis (320); said electric motor (10) cooperates with said rod (320) by means of a rotation-translation conversion mechanism (300) comprising: a toothed wheel (350) disposed in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the motor axis (320) and the rod axis (320); a yoke (310) fixed to said rod (320) having an oblong slot cooperating with an eccentric protrusion (352) formed on the surface of said toothed wheel (320); said toothed wheel (350) being driven by a pinion (12) fixed to the motor shaft (10). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: interdental brush FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of interdental brushes.

[0002] An interdental brush is an oral hygiene tool used to clean the spaces between the teeth, where a regular toothbrush cannot effectively reach.

[0003] It consists of a handle and a small cylindrical or conical brush mounted on a metal or plastic rod. The brush bristles can be made of nylon or silicone.

[0004] An interdental brush is designed to remove dental plaque and food debris between teeth, thereby reducing the risk of cavities and gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

[0005] Interdental brushes come in different sizes. It is important to choose the size that fits well in the space between the teeth.

[0006] The interdental brush is gently inserted between the teeth without forcing it. The brush is moved back and forth to clean both sides of the interdental space. It is often more effective than dental floss for wider spaces between teeth.

[0007] Prevention of oral diseases: By effectively cleaning interdental spaces, it helps to prevent gum problems and interproximal caries. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0008] US patent 7441297B2 is known, which proposes a motorized interdental brush solution comprising a brush including at least one wire with filaments arranged on this wire for insertion and engagement in an interdental space between the user's teeth, and a template located at the free end of said wire and having an outside diameter substantially equal to that of the filaments to limit the insertion and engagement of the wire and filaments in a predetermined interdental space between the user's teeth and to prevent the filaments from inserting and engaging in an interdental space of relatively smaller width and to prevent the user's gums from being injured or damaged by the filaments, and a means for moving the brush back and forth in a reciprocating motion to clean the interdental space between the user's teeth.

[0009] Patent EP0690685 proposes another interdental brush solution comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a brush holder, a brush mounted on this holder, and a pair of parallel legs attached in such a way The legs slide relative to each other for movement along the body's longitudinal axis. A hinged connection between the brush holder and the parallel legs allows the brush to be moved angularly relative to the body's longitudinal axis. The brush holder has a lower surface facing the parallel legs and an opposing upper surface where the outward-extending brush is positioned. The brush holder is a flat platform, and the hinged connection consists of two pairs of hinges. DISADVANTAGES OF PRIOR ART

[0010] Prior art solutions are not entirely satisfactory because they involve assembling a large number of parts, leading to high cost and poor reliability. Furthermore, this makes it difficult to create a sufficiently watertight device. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] One object of the invention is to provide an interdental brush that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] To achieve this goal, the object of the invention proposes a motorized interdental brush comprising a brushing head for insertion and engagement in an interdental space, extended by a rod, and a body integrating an electric motor controlling a vibratory movement of said brushing head characterized in that

[0013] a. The longitudinal axis ALmoteur of said electric motor forms with the longitudinal axis ALtige of said brush head rod an angle between 70° and 180°, and preferably an angle of 120°±30°

[0014] b. said electric motor cooperates with said brush head via a rotation-translation conversion mechanism comprising:

[0015] i. a toothed wheel disposed in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis ALmoteur and the longitudinal axis ALtige

[0016] ii. a jong fixed to the distal end of said rod having an oblong slot cooperating with an eccentric protuberance formed on the surface of said toothed wheel

[0017] iii. said toothed wheel being driven by a pinion fixed on the shaft of the motor.

[0018] According to other advantageous and non-limiting features of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination:

[0019] - the axis of said gear passes through the intersection of the longitudinal axis ALmoteur and of the longitudinal axis ALtige.

[0020] - the reduction ratio between said pinion and said gear is between 1 / 3 and 1 / 6.

[0021] - that said eccentric protuberance extends over a radius R, and in that the width of said oblong slot has a width between R and 1.2R and a width greater than 2R.

[0022] - said vibrating rod is axially mobile and has a chamber surrounded by a annular seal ensuring the seal with the wall of a tubular cavity formed in said brush head said vibrating rod is axially mobile and in that said body has a chamber sealed by at least one annular seal through which said vibrating rod passes.

[0023] - said yoke is formed by a molded piece having a first stage having an oblong cavity defining said oblong slot whose major axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ALtige, said first stage being surmounted by a second stage in which said vibrating rod is inserted, and presenting an oblong light whose major axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis ALtige, said oblong light being traversed by an extension of the axis of said toothed wheel.

[0024] - said rod has at its proximal end a connector for receiving a brush featuring a complementary connection segment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0026] Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of an interdental brush according to the invention;

[0027] Figure [Fig. 2] represents a perspective view of an interdental brush without its casing according to the invention;

[0028] Fig. 3 represents a detailed perspective view of the rotary-linear conversion mechanism of an interdental brush without its shell according to the invention;

[0029] Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the toothed wheel and the yoke of an interdental brush without its shell according to the invention;

[0030] Figure 5 shows another detailed perspective view of the rotary-linear conversion mechanism of an interdental brush without its casing according to the invention; GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The interdental brush according to the embodiment described in our new popular fronts has an angled shell (100) with a substantially tubular sleeve (110) and a curved portion (120) into which the brush head (200) is engaged. The brush head (200) has a crown of fibers (210) extended by a shaft (220) which, in the example described, terminates in a coupling sleeve (230) allowing the brush head to be interchanged.

[0032] The tubular sleeve (110) contains an electric motor (10) and an electric battery (20).

[0033] The principle of the invention lies in the orientation of the brush head (100) relative to the axis of the motor (10), and in the mechanism (300) for transforming rotary-linear motion.

[0034] This mechanism (300) consists of a toothed wheel (350) driving a yoke (310) linked to the end of the vibrating rod (320).

[0035] The motor axis ALmotor (110) forms an angle of approximately 120° with the vibrating rod axis ALtige (320). The axis (351) of the gear (350) is perpendicular to the ALmotor / ALtige plane and intersects this plane at the intersection of these two axes. DETAIL OF THE YOKE (310)

[0036] The yoke (310) is formed by a molded part fixed to the end of the vibrating rod (320). It has two stages (311, 312). The first stage (312) has a cavity (313) defining an oblong slot whose major axis GJ is perpendicular to the axis ALtige of the vibrating rod (320).

[0037] The toothed wheel (350) has a protrusion (352) extending over a radius R to form an eccentric beak. The width of the slot in the cavity (313) is equal to or slightly greater than R, between R and 1.2R, and its length is greater than 1.1R, for example 1.5R.

[0038] The protrusion (352) is driven in rotation by the toothed wheel (350) and its beak alternately moves the yoke (310) forward when it comes into contact with its front face (314), and backward when the beak comes into contact with its rear face (315). This causes the vibrating rod (320) to move back and forth with each revolution of the toothed wheel (350).

[0039] The second stage (312) provides the connection with the vibrating rod (320), at a height sufficient to allow the passage of the protuberance (352) under the vibrating rod (320).

[0040] This second stage (312) also has an oblong light, the main axis GL of which is perpendicular to the main axis GJ of the cavity (313) of the yoke (311), and therefore parallel to the axis ALtige of the vibrating rod (320). Waterproofing

[0041] Such a device must exhibit a high level of sealing. To this end, all the elements are enclosed in a closed housing, the head of which is traversed by the rod (320). Sealing is ensured by a chamber (150) separating the part of the body (100) containing the electrical and mechanical elements, and the front part through which the rod (320) or the coupling sleeve (230) passes.

[0042] The vibrating rod (320) has at least one seal (321), and preferably several seals (321, 322) in series ensuring a seal against the inner wall of the chamber (150). The seal is typically achieved by compression of a flat seal or by deformation of an O-ring that fills the entire available volume in a recess provided in the wall of the chamber (150).

[0043] Of course the invention is not limited to the described method(s) of implementation and alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Demands

1. Motorized interdental brush comprising a brush head (200) for insertion and engagement in an interdental space, extended by a rod (320), and a body (100) incorporating an electric motor (10) controlling a vibratory movement of said brush head (200) characterized in that a. The longitudinal axis ALmotor of said electric motor (10) forms with the longitudinal axis ALstem of said rod (320) of the brush head (200) an angle between 70° and 180° b. said electric motor (10) cooperates with said rod (320) by means of a rotation-translation conversion mechanism (300) comprising: i. a toothed wheel (350) disposed in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis ALmotor and the longitudinal axis ALstem ii.a yoke (310) fixed to the distal end of said rod (320) having an oblong slot cooperating with an eccentric protrusion (352) formed on the transverse surface of said gear (320) iii. said gear (350) being driven by a pinion (12) fixed on the shaft of the motor (10).

2. Motorized interdental brush according to the preceding claim characterized in that the axis (351) of said toothed wheel (350) passes through the intersection of the longitudinal axis ALmoteUr and the longitudinal axis ALtige.

3. Motorized interdental brush according to claim 1 characterized in that the reduction ratio between said pinion (12) and said toothed wheel (350) is between 1 / 3 and 1 / 6.

4. Motorized interdental brush according to claim 1 characterized in that the angle between said longitudinal axis ALmotor of said electric motor (10) and the longitudinal axis ALstem of said stem (320) of the brushing head (200) is 120°±30°.

5. Motorized interdental brush according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said vibrating rod (320) is axially movable and in that said body (100) has a chamber (150) sealed by at least one annular seal (321, 322) through which said vibrating rod (320) passes.

6. Motorized interdental brush according to claim 1 characterized in that said yoke is formed by a molded part having a first stage having an oblong cavity defining said oblong slot whose major axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ALüge, said first stage being surmounted by a second stage in which said vibrating rod is inserted, and having an oblong opening (326) whose major axis GL is parallel to the longitudinal axis ALtige, said oblong opening being traversed by an extension of the axis of said toothed wheel.

7. Motorized interdental brush according to claim 1 characterized in that said stem has at its proximal end a connector to receive a brush having a complementary connection segment.

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