Feedback-enabled oral care device

Abstract

The oral care device comprises a brush section having a brush head with multiple bristles attached, a neck section, a feedback mechanism, and a handle section having a base. The feedback mechanism has a spring section and a hammer. The feedback mechanism is activated and provides feedback when a force exceeding a threshold is applied to the first surface of the brush head.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral care device having a feedback mechanism for preventing damage to teeth and gums during toothbrushing by warning the user when excessive force is applied to the teeth.

Background Art

[0002] Good oral hygiene and health include regularly brushing teeth using a toothbrush. Manual toothbrushes are commonly used for this purpose, however, people often misuse manual toothbrushes. This is because there is no reliable means to safely control the pressure applied to the teeth when cleaning them. In many cases, people are unaware that they are applying too much force when brushing their teeth, which can cause mechanical wear and damage. This can lead to several health problems such as abrasions at the tooth neck, gum recession, tooth hypersensitivity, enamel damage, and irritation to the gums. Therefore, there is a need for a toothbrush with a feedback mechanism that alerts the user when too much force is applied to the toothbrush.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] Aspects of the present invention relate to an oral care device. The device comprises a brush portion having a brush head to which a plurality of brush bristles are attached, a handle portion having a neck portion, a feedback mechanism, and a base portion. The feedback mechanism has a spring portion and a hammer, and the feedback mechanism operates when a force exceeding a threshold value is applied to a first surface of the brush head to provide feedback.

[0004] Aspects of the present invention relate to an oral care device in which the feedback mechanism provides audible feedback when operating. Aspects of the present invention relate to an oral care device in which the feedback mechanism provides haptic feedback when operating.

[0005] An aspect of the present invention relates to an oral care device in which the head of the device is removable.

[0006] Aspects of the present invention relate to a handle for an oral care device. The handle comprises a neck, a feedback mechanism, and a base. The feedback mechanism has a spring and a hammer. The feedback mechanism is activated when a force exceeding a threshold is applied to a first surface of the brush head and provides feedback. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an oral care device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an oral care device in one embodiment with the head removed. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an exploded view of an oral care device according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the operation of an oral care device according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the feedback mechanism of an oral care device according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Aspects of the present invention relate to a feedback-enabled oral care device that helps prevent mechanical wear and damage to teeth by warning the user if excessive force is being applied when cleaning teeth. In one embodiment, the oral care device is a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush. In a preferred embodiment, the oral care device is a manual toothbrush.

[0009] Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of an oral care device 100 according to one embodiment. The oral care device 100 has a brush section 110 and a handle body 120. The brush section 110 extends from the handle body 120 and includes a brush head 111 located at the upper end in the longitudinal direction. The handle body 120 further includes a neck section 121, a feedback mechanism, and a base section 123. In one embodiment, the feedback mechanism is incorporated into the internal space of the handle body 120. In one embodiment, the handle body 120 may have a grip section 124 made of a soft material provided above at least a portion of the feedback mechanism. In one embodiment, the material of the grip section is styrene-ethylene-butylene, styrene-based polymer, thermoplastic elastomer, or a combination thereof.

[0010] In one embodiment, the feedback mechanism can provide perceptible haptic or tactile feedback and / or audible feedback to the user. In one embodiment, the feedback is vibration, a click, or a combination thereof.

[0011] In one embodiment, the brush head 111 has a front surface 112 and a back surface 113 located opposite each other. In one embodiment, the front surface 112 is a brushing surface and may include bristle receiving holes. Tough or brush bristles 115 for brushing the surface of the teeth can be inserted into the bristle receiving holes by any means known in the art. The back surface 113 may have a tongue cleaning element 114 that can be used for cleaning the tongue. The tongue cleaning element 114 may have a rough or textured surface. In another embodiment, the front surface 112 has a plurality of brush bristles or tough bristles 115 and the back surface 113 is smooth.

[0012] In one embodiment, the brush portion 110 and the tongue cleaning element 114 are made of the same material. In one embodiment, the material may be a hard plastic such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (PETA), glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), or polybutadiene terephthalate (PBT). In one embodiment, the material of the brush portion 110 and the tongue cleaning element 114 is PP.

[0013] In one embodiment, the neck portion 121 is flexible, allowing the brush portion 110 to move and rotate in response to the force applied to the front surface 112. When the force applied by the user in a first direction perpendicular to the front surface 112 exceeds a threshold, the brush portion 110 moves in the first direction, and the feedback mechanism is activated to provide feedback to the user and warn them that excessive force is being applied. When the applied force decreases and falls within an appropriate range below the threshold, the brush portion 110 returns to its initial position, the feedback mechanism is deactivated, and the oral care device 100 becomes usable again.

[0014] Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the head portion 110 removed from the handle body 120 according to one embodiment. Since the head portion 110 of the oral care device 100 is removable and replaceable, the user can replace the head portion 110 without having to replace the entire device if the brush bristles 115 are damaged or worn. This also allows the oral care device 100 to be shared among users. This results in cost savings for the user and reduces waste.

[0015] Figure 3 is an exploded view of an oral care device 100 according to one embodiment. The brush head 110 and the feedback mechanism 130 are connected via a connector 125. The bottom of the connector 125 is fitted into the flexible portion 131 of the feedback mechanism 130, and the bottom of the brush head 110 is detachably attached to the top of the connector 125. The brush head 110 can be removed and replaced by the user as needed. The feedback mechanism 130 has a flexible portion 131, a spring portion 132, and a hammer 133. When in operation, the spring portion 132 and the hammer 133 drive the feedback mechanism 130 so that the hammer 133 can provide feedback. A cover 126 covering the spring portion 132 may be included. In one embodiment, the spring portion 132 has two arms. In one embodiment, the height of the spring portion is approximately 1.5 mm to approximately 3.0 mm. In one embodiment, the height of the spring portion is approximately 2.4 mm. In one embodiment, the width of the spring portion is approximately 2.0 mm to approximately 3.5 mm. In another embodiment, the width of the spring portion is approximately 2.9 mm.

[0016] In one embodiment, the hammer 133 may have a tapered shape that is wider at the base 133a and becomes thinner as it extends downward toward the tip 133b. In one embodiment, the thickness of the hammer is about 2.0 mm to about 3.5 mm at the base 133a and about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm at the tip 133b. In one embodiment, the hammer has a width of about 2.8 mm at the base 133a and about 1.5 mm at the tip 133b.

[0017] The upper end of the inner handle 127 has a cavity 128 into which at least a portion of the feedback mechanism 130 extends. In one embodiment, the spring portion 132 and the hammer 133 extend into the cavity 128 of the inner handle portion 127. In one embodiment, the grip portion 124 is provided on the outer surface of the inner handle 127. In one embodiment, the grip portion 124 is formed of a soft material that helps the user to comfortably grip the toothbrush handle without slipping. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the feedback mechanism 130 is located below the grip portion 124 into which the user normally holds the oral care device 100, so that the user can easily sense the feedback. The base portion 123 is provided to cover the lower part of the inner handle 127.

[0018] The feedback mechanism 130 and the base 123 of the handle body are made of hard plastic such as PP, PE, HDPE, LDPE, PET, amorphous PET, PETG, or PBT. In one embodiment, the material of the feedback mechanism 130 and the base 123 is PP. In one embodiment, the oral care device 100 does not contain any metal, and the oral care device 100 does not contain any metal.

[0019] Figure 4 shows the operation of an oral care device 100 according to one embodiment. In the initial position, the brush head 110 is in its initial position and the feedback mechanism 130 is not activated. The hammer 133 is positioned in its initial position within the cavity 128 of the inner handle, and in that position, the hammer 133 contacts the bottom surface of the cavity 128. The bottom surface of the cavity is an inclined surface, so that the hammer 133 is preloaded in the initial position. The spring portion 132 is in its initial position.

[0020] For example, if a force exceeding a threshold is applied to the toothbrush head 110 by brushing teeth with excessive force, the spring 132 allows the head 110 to move in a first direction (indicated by an arrow) perpendicular to the first surface 112 to reach an extended position. In the extended position, the hammer 133 transitions to an actuated state due to the deformation of the spring 132 and contacts the upper surface of the cavity 128. The interaction between the hammer 133 and the upper surface of the cavity 128 provides feedback to the user that excessive force has been applied. When the force decreases and falls below the threshold, the spring 132 springs back, returning the brush head 110 and hammer 133 to their initial positions, and the oral care device 100 becomes usable again. In one embodiment, the threshold is a force between approximately 2.5 Newtons and approximately 3.5 Newtons. In another embodiment, the threshold is a force greater than approximately 3.5 Newtons.

[0021] In one embodiment, a combination of the tension of the spring 132 and the tension of the preloaded hammer 133 is used to generate feedback. A force exceeding a threshold is required to overcome the tension or stiffness in the spring 132 and hammer 133. In one embodiment, the hammer 133 is deflected laterally so as to overcome the inclined surface of the cavity 128 and strike the upper surface of the cavity 128 to generate feedback. The feedback mechanism 300 is returned to its initial state by the spring 132. The relative stiffness or tension of the spring 132 and hammer 133 can be adjusted so that the majority of the force generating feedback originates from either the spring 132, the hammer 133, or a combination thereof. The stiffness or tension of the spring 132 and hammer 133 may be adjusted to control the threshold force required to generate feedback.

[0022] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the feedback mechanism 130. As shown in Figure 5A, in the initial stage, the hammer 133 is provided on the bottom surface 128a of the cavity 128 of the inner handle 127. The bottom surface 128a of the cavity 128 is an inclined surface having an angle of about 55 degrees. Due to this inclined shape, a preload is applied to the hammer 133 to generate sufficient impact feedback during operation. When the hammer 133 is inserted into the cavity during the manufacture of the oral care device 100, a preload is applied to the hammer 133 due to the shape of the hammer 133 and the inclination of the cavity 128, improving the reliability and robustness of the feedback mechanism. In one embodiment, the hammer 133 is preloaded on one side of the cavity 128.

[0023] As shown in Figure 5B, when the feedback mechanism 130 is activated, the spring portion 132 deflects in the first direction, thereby shifting the hammer 133 to the operating stage of hitting the surface of the cavity 128 and providing feedback. In one embodiment, the hammer 133 abuts against the upper surface 128b of the cavity 128. When a force is applied to the first surface 112 of the brush head 111, the force increases at the inclined portion, and sufficient elastic potential is accumulated. That is, when the force exceeds the threshold value, the hammer 133 strikes or abuts against the upper surface 128b of the cavity 128. In one embodiment, the hammer 133 is deflected laterally so as to overcome the inclined surface of the cavity 128 and abut against the upper surface 128b of the cavity 128 to generate feedback.

[0024] Figure 5C shows the state of the feedback mechanism 130 when the force applied to the first surface 112 of the brush head 111 again falls below the threshold amount. The feedback mechanism automatically returns to the initial position due to the action of the spring portion 132, and the oral care device 100 becomes available for use.

Claims

1. A brush section having a brush head with multiple brush bristles attached, It comprises a handle portion having a neck portion, a feedback mechanism, and a base portion, The feedback mechanism has a spring and a hammer, The feedback mechanism is activated when a force exceeding a threshold is applied to the first surface of the brush head, and provides feedback in this oral care device.

2. The oral care device according to claim 1, wherein the feedback mechanism provides audible feedback when in operation.

3. The oral care device according to claim 1, wherein the feedback mechanism provides tactile feedback when in operation.

4. The oral care device according to claim 1, wherein the head is removable.

5. The neck and, Feedback mechanism, It comprises a base and, The feedback mechanism has a spring and a hammer, The aforementioned feedback mechanism is a handle for a feedback toothbrush that operates when a force exceeding a threshold is applied to the first surface of the brush head, providing feedback.

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