Manual toothbrush and brushing detector

Abstract

To provide a manual toothbrush that can detect brushing without installing a power supply battery and that can transmit detected brushing information.SOLUTION: The present invention pertains to a manual toothbrush 1 for which a brushing detector 10 is installed in a handle body 15. The brushing detector 10 is provided with: a power generation unit 20 which generates electricity by an acting force resulting from brushing movement by the manual toothbrush 1; a detection unit 30 which detects brushing movement based on the generation of the power generation unit 20; and a wireless transmission unit 40 which wirelessly transmits the detection information detected by the detection unit 30 by using electricity generated by the power generation unit 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a manual toothbrush that detects brushing and a brushing detection device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, an electric toothbrush has been proposed that detects the movement during brushing and teaches improvement points of brushing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an electric toothbrush, a battery that supplies power to a drive source for driving the toothbrush supplies power to a detection device that detects brushing and a transmission device that transmits brushing information detected by the detection device, and performs detection of brushing and transmission of brushing information.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the case of a manual toothbrush, since it does not have a drive source, it does not have a battery for supplying power. Even in such a manual toothbrush, when it is desired to obtain information about the date and time of use, the number of times, or the brushing duration, a detection device that detects brushing and a transmission device that transmits the brushing information detected by the detection device must be provided, and a battery for supplying power to these must also be provided.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a manual toothbrush that can detect brushing and transmit the detected brushing information without providing a battery for supplying power.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In view of such a situation, the present inventor has conducted intensive studies and, as a result, has found that power is generated by acting forces caused by brushing operations, such as the pressure applied when gripping the handle body, the pressure caused by deformation of the handle body accompanying the brushing operation, and the collision of a moving body that moves due to the brushing operation, to detect the brushing, and the brushing information is transmitted using the generated power, thus arriving at the present invention.

[0007] The present invention is a manual toothbrush provided with a brushing detection device on a handle body, wherein the brushing detection device includes a power generation unit that generates power by an acting force caused by a brushing operation of the manual toothbrush, a detection unit that detects the brushing operation based on the power generation of the power generation unit, and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits detection information detected by the detection unit using the power generated by the power generation unit.

[0008] According to the configuration of such a manual toothbrush, it is possible to provide a manual toothbrush that can detect brushing and transmit the detected brushing information without providing a battery for supplying power.

[0009] Further, it is preferable that the power generation unit includes a piezoelectric element provided on the grip or neck of the handle body.

[0010] According to the configuration of such a manual toothbrush, since the power generation unit includes a piezoelectric element provided on the grip or neck of the handle body, when pressure applied when gripping the grip or pressure caused by deformation of the handle body accompanying the brushing operation is applied, the handle body bends and the piezoelectric element generates power, and the brushing is detected by the power generation of the piezoelectric element, and at the same time, the power necessary for transmitting the brushing information is supplied.

[0011] Further, it is preferable that the power generation unit includes a moving body that freely moves in a space formed inside the handle body and a piezoelectric element that constitutes a part of the inner wall of the space.

[0012] According to the configuration of such a manual toothbrush, the power generation unit includes a moving body that freely moves within the space formed inside the handle body, and a piezoelectric element that forms part of the inner wall of the space. Thus, during the brushing operation, the moving body moves within the space. When the moving body that moves within the space collides with the piezoelectric element that forms part of the inner wall, the piezoelectric element generates electricity. The generation of electricity by the piezoelectric element detects the brushing and supplies the power necessary for transmitting the brushing information.

[0013] Also, it is preferable that the brushing detection device is an insert-molded product encapsulated within the handle body.

[0014] According to the configuration of such a manual toothbrush, since the brushing detection device is encapsulated integrally with the handle body, when washing the manual toothbrush with water or the like after brushing is performed, immersion of the brushing detection device is suppressed.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a brushing detection device having a housing that can be detachably attached to the handle body of a manual toothbrush, the device including a power generation unit that generates electricity by an acting force resulting from the brushing operation of the manual toothbrush, a detection unit that detects the brushing operation based on the power generation of the power generation element, and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the detection information detected by the detection unit using the power generated by the power generation element.

[0016] According to the configuration of such a brushing detection device, since the brushing detection device has a housing that can be detachably attached to the handle body of the manual toothbrush and is attached to the manual toothbrush, it is possible to detect the brushing and transmit the detected brushing information without providing a battery for supplying power.

[0017] Also, in the brushing detection device, it is preferable that the power generation unit includes a moving body that freely moves within the space formed inside the housing, and a piezoelectric element that forms part of the inner wall of the space.

[0018] According to the configuration of such a brushing detection device, by including a moving body that freely moves in a space formed inside the housing and a piezoelectric element that constitutes a part of the inner wall of the space, the moving body moves in the space by the brushing operation. When the moving body moving in the space collides with the piezoelectric element that constitutes a part of the inner wall, the piezoelectric element generates electricity, detects the brushing by the power generation of the piezoelectric element, and supplies the power necessary for transmitting the brushing information.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] The present invention can provide a manual toothbrush that can detect brushing and transmit the detected brushing information without providing a battery for supplying power.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] (First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a manual toothbrush according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a schematic plan view showing the manual toothbrush according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The manual toothbrush 1 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of a head 12 in which a plurality of brush tufts 11 are respectively implanted, and a handle body 15 including a neck 13 connected to the head 12 and a grip 14 connected to the neck 13.

[0023] The head 12 and the handle body 15 can be formed using generally used synthetic resins without particular limitation. For example, it is preferable to use any one or two or more resins of polypropylene, polyacetal resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, polystyrene resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, acrylonitrile-styrene resin, cellulose propionate resin, polyarylate resin, polycarbonate resin, polyester, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polycyclohexane dimethylene terephthalate. Particularly, polyacetal resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, acrylonitrile-styrene resin, polycarbonate resin, and polycyclohexane dimethylene terephthalate are preferable. Further, in order to improve the physical properties of the resin, fillers such as glass and metal may be added to the above-described resin.

[0024] Also, the head 12 and the handle body 15 may be integrally formed, or from the viewpoint of reducing plastic waste, a structure that allows easy attachment and detachment may be provided between the head 12 and the handle body 15 so that the head 12 can be replaced. The handle body 15 preferably has the neck 13 and the grip 14 integrally formed. The brush tuft 11 is composed of a plurality of filaments made of a resin having appropriate elasticity, such as polyamide resins such as nylon and aramid resin, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, or polybutylene terephthalate, polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomer resins, and other conventionally known thermoplastic resin filaments.

[0025] The handle body 15 incorporates a brushing detection device 10 by insert molding. By incorporating the brushing detection device 10 by insert molding, it is possible to prevent the brushing detection device 10 from being immersed in water during brushing or when the manual toothbrush 1 is washed with water. The brushing detection device 10 includes a power generation unit 20, a detection unit 30, and a wireless transmission unit 40. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration inside the handle body of the manual toothbrush shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] The power generation unit 20 is composed of a piezoelectric element 21. The piezoelectric element 21 generates electricity by the pressure applied when the handle body 15 is gripped. The piezoelectric element 21 is provided at the neck 13 on the tip side of the handle body 15 or at the grip 14 on the base end side of the handle body 15. The piezoelectric element 21 may be provided not only at either the neck 13 or the grip 14 as long as it is at a position where pressure is applied when the handle body 15 is gripped or at a position where pressure is applied due to the deformation of the handle body 15 accompanying the brushing operation, but may also be provided across the neck 13 and the grip 14. Further, the power generation unit 20 is not necessarily composed of a single piezoelectric element 21, and may be composed of two or more piezoelectric elements 21. When the power generation unit 20 is composed of two or more piezoelectric elements, the piezoelectric elements may be provided adjacent to each other, or the piezoelectric elements may be provided spaced apart within the handle body.

[0027] Further, the power generation unit 20 may further include a power converter 22 and a power stabilizer 23. As the power converter 22, for example, it is a converter circuit that converts the power generated by the piezoelectric element 21 from AC to DC. As the power stabilizer 23, for example, it is a switching regulator that stabilizes the power converted by the power converter 22 and supplies it to the detection unit 30 and the wireless transmission unit 40.

[0028] The detection unit 30 is composed of a rectifier 31 and a control processor 32. The piezoelectric element 21 generates electricity by the pressure applied when gripping the handle body 15 or the pressure caused by the deformation of the handle body 15 accompanying the brushing operation, and a detection signal for detecting the brushing operation is generated. Since the detection signal is an AC signal, the rectifier 31 rectifies it into a DC signal that can be processed by the control processor 32.

[0029] The control processor 32 is, for example, an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) that stores a program for at least functioning an information processing unit 321 and a transmission control unit 322, and executes the information processing unit 321 and the transmission control unit 322. Based on the detection signal rectified by the rectifier 31, the information processing unit 321 analyzes the brushing situation such as the start time and end time of brushing. Further, the information processing unit 321 processes the analyzed brushing situation into a form that can be wirelessly transmitted as brushing information. The transmission control unit 322 generates a control signal for controlling the wireless transmission unit 40, and transmits the control signal together with the brushing information processed by the information processing unit 321 to the wireless transmission unit 40.

[0030] The wireless transmission unit 40 is composed of a wireless transmission module 41 and an antenna 42. The wireless transmission module 41 is, for example, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) module, and based on the control signal from the transmission control unit 322, transmits the brushing information to an external wireless receiving device, such as a smartphone, via the antenna 42. Further, the wireless transmission module 41 may be any wireless transmission module capable of wirelessly transmitting the brushing information, such as a Zigbee (registered trademark) module that provides low-power wireless communication or a LoRa (registered trademark) module that enables long-distance communication.

[0031] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a manual toothbrush 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The handle body 15 of the manual toothbrush 1 shown in FIG. 3 houses a brushing detection device 10. The handle body 15 may be formed by assembling two or more members as long as it can house the brushing detection device 10, or may be integrally housed by insert molding. The handle body 15 has a space 150 formed inside. The space 150 is, for example, a substantially cylindrical chamber formed to extend in the axial direction of the handle.

[0032] The power generation unit 20 is composed of a moving body 201 and a piezoelectric element 203. The moving body 201 is, for example, a steel ball and freely moves inside the space 150. The piezoelectric element 203 constitutes the inner wall on the proximal end side in the space 150.

[0033] When brushing is performed with the manual toothbrush 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the moving body 201 reciprocates inside the space 150 due to the reciprocating motion of brushing in the axial direction of the manual toothbrush 1. When the moving body 201 that has moved in the space 150 collides with the piezoelectric element 203 that constitutes the inner wall of the space 150, the piezoelectric element 203 generates electricity due to the collision by the moving body 201, and a detection signal for detecting the brushing operation is generated due to the collision by the moving body 201.

[0034] The piezoelectric element 203 only needs to be able to receive the collision of the moving body 201 inside the space 150, and one or more may be provided on either the inner wall on the distal end side of the space 150 or the inner wall on the circumferential side surface of the space 150. Further, the space 150 may be formed to extend not only in the axial direction but also in two directions orthogonal to the axial direction. The space 150 may be formed to extend in three mutually orthogonal axial directions including the axial direction. In this case, the piezoelectric element 203 constitutes the inner walls in the three axial directions in the space 150, and the moving body 201 can reciprocate in each of the three axial directions inside the space 150.

[0035] (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a brushing detection device 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention attached to a manual toothbrush 9. The manual toothbrush 9 shown in FIG. 4 is an existing manual toothbrush. The brushing detection device 10 shown in FIG. 4 has a housing 101 that can be detachably attached to the manual toothbrush 9, and a space 102 identical to the space 150 is formed inside the housing 101. For example, it is a substantially cylindrical chamber formed to extend in the axial direction of the handle.

[0036] The housing 101 contains a power generation unit 20, a detection unit 30, and a wireless transmission unit 40. The moving body 201 is, for example, a steel ball and freely moves inside the space 102. The piezoelectric element 203 constitutes the inner wall of the space 102. The housing 101 may be formed by assembling two or more members as long as it can contain the power generation unit 20, the detection unit 30, and the wireless transmission unit 40, or may be integrally formed by insert molding.

[0037] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing 101 is formed with an insertion port 103 that can be detachably attached to the proximal end of the handle body 15. The housing 101 may be in the form of a cover that covers the entire handle body 15 or may be provided with an attachment mechanism such as a clamp or a belt as long as it enables the brushing detection device 10 to be attached / detached to / from the manual toothbrush 9.

[0038] In the brushing detection device 10 according to the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, although the power generation unit 20 is composed of a piezoelectric element, the power generation unit 20 may be composed of other power-generable elements. The power generation unit 20 may be composed of, for example, a coil and a magnet that generate electricity by electromagnetic induction by fixing one of them and moving the other.

[0039] In other embodiments, the brushing detection device 10 may analyze the detection signal from the piezoelectric element 21 by the control processor 321 without rectifying it by the rectifier 31. Based on the detection signal, which is an AC signal, the information processing unit 321 analyzes the frequency of the brushing operation performed with the manual toothbrush 1. For example, if the frequency of the detection signal is 3 - 5 Hz, it is determined that the brushing operation is appropriate; if it is 5 Hz or more, it is determined as excessive brushing; and if it is 3 Hz or less, it is determined as vibration caused by, for example, the dropping or movement of the manual toothbrush 1 rather than a brushing operation.

[0040] Therefore, the present invention can provide a manual toothbrush that can detect brushing with the power generated by the power generation unit and transmit the detected brushing information without providing a battery for power supply, and a brushing detection device that is detachable from the manual toothbrush. Of course, there may be a capacitor for storing the power generated by the power generation unit.

[0041] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such examples, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0042] 1, 9 Manual toothbrush 10 Brushing detection device 11 Bristle tufts 12 Head 13 Neck 14 Grip 15 Handle body 20 Power generation unit 21 Piezoelectric element 22 Power converter 23 Power stabilizer 30 Detection unit 31 Rectifier 32 Control processor 40 Wireless transmission unit 41 Wireless transmission module 42 Antenna 101 Housing 102 Space 103 Insertion Port 150 Space 201 Moving Body 203 Piezoelectric Element 321 Information Processing Unit 322 Transmission Control Unit

Claims

1. A manual toothbrush provided with a brushing detection device on a handle body, wherein the brushing detection device includes a power generation unit that generates electricity by an acting force caused by a brushing operation with the manual toothbrush, a detection unit that detects the brushing operation based on the power generation of the power generation unit, and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits detection information detected by the detection unit using the power generated by the power generation unit.

2. The manual toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the power generation unit includes a piezoelectric element provided on a grip or a neck of the handle body.

3. The manual toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the power generation unit includes a moving body that freely moves in a space formed inside the handle body and a piezoelectric element that constitutes a part of an inner wall of the space.

4. The manual toothbrush according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the brushing detection device is an insert molding product encapsulated in the handle body.

5. A brushing detection device having a housing that can be freely attached to and detached from a handle body of a manual toothbrush, including a power generation unit that generates electricity by an acting force caused by a brushing operation with the manual toothbrush, a detection unit that detects the brushing operation based on the power generation of the power generation element, and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits detection information detected by the detection unit with the power generated by the power generation element.

6. The brushing detection device according to claim 5, wherein the power generation unit includes a moving body that freely moves in a space formed inside the housing and a piezoelectric element that constitutes a part of an inner wall of the space.

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