Oral care devices

Abstract

To fix the immovable part of the mouthpiece to the jaw reference frame, an oral cleaning mouthpiece device is provided with a dedicated mechanical structure (referred to as an anchoring member) for providing a support portion by which the user can fixedly hold the jaw. As a result, the movable part of the mouthpiece (which carries the cleaning element) moves in a substantially predictable manner with respect to the upper and lower tooth rows. The anchoring member is mechanically supported so as to be movable in a lateral direction (i.e., a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the mouthpiece) with respect to the portion of the mouthpiece that carries the cleaning element so that the mouthpiece portion can be laterally moved within the oral cavity during use to reach all teeth.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of oral care devices, and more particularly to the field of oral care devices having a brushing mouthpiece portion. [Background technology]

[0002] Brushing mouthpieces are expected to stimulate the powered toothbrush market in the future, as they have the potential to clean teeth faster, more consistently, and more thoroughly than toothbrushes. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Challenges remain in the development of such devices, for example, to provide devices that are structurally efficient enough to be affordable to end users, while remaining comfortable and practical to use.

[0004] There is a general need for developments in this area.

[0005] The various elements of a dental cleaning mouthpiece are designed to move the cleaning element specifically relative to the teeth during operation. In fact, the element moves relative to the most rigid point in the appliance-mouth system during operation. For example, if an element is designed to move up and down in the mouth along an axis extending from the lower jaw to the upper jaw, but the element is fixed to the lower jaw, it cannot move downward, and as a result, all movement will be in the upward direction only.

[0006] In an ideal scenario, the user holds the handle of the device steady and securely while avoiding biting the mouthpiece. In this case, the mouthpiece floats between the upper and lower jaws. In this case, the up and down movement of the cleaning element occurs in both directions (up and down) relative to the device body. In principle, this scenario allows for a proper brushing action to be performed on the jaws. However, in practice, it is difficult for the user to stabilize the device sufficiently and avoid contact with one of the jaws.

[0007] More commonly, users are typically found to allow the mouthpiece to strike the mandible or maxilla, and in particular the mandibular or maxillary dentition against the bottom of the mandibular or maxillary channel of the mouthpiece, in which event the drive motion is impeded and thus only one of the dentition is exposed to the movement of the cleaning element.

[0008] US 2021 / 315676 A1 discloses a dental care device customized for a particular user, including a support plate having a first portion configured to be inserted into the mouth, an attachment mechanism configured to attach the dental care device to a drive assembly, and an elastomeric (elastic polymer) portion surrounding the first portion of the plate, the elastomeric portion including a plurality of cleaning tips and shaped based on the particular user's dental details. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The inventors have recognized that although user handling can affect the anchoring point of the brushing device, design choices can be made to guide the anchoring in a manner that does not strain the user's arms while at the same time achieving the correct relative motion.

[0010] In particular, the inventors have recognised that the provision of a dedicated anchoring member that a user can hold firmly against a portion of their mouth while using the mouthpiece device can provide a rigid anchoring for the device, allowing movement of the cleaning element to remain unhindered and allowing the user to rest their arms during use, thereby reducing fatigue.

[0011] For example, one design we have devised is a bite block that the user places on the teeth, allowing the body of the mouthpiece, which carries the movable cleaning element, to move relative to the bite block. The bite block secures the position of the mouthpiece in a comfortable manner, while the cleaning element is left free to move. The brushing action is transmitted more efficiently because the motor is firmly seated (grounded) between the teeth. The action is easy and natural for the user because the jaws can provide much more force than the hands.

[0012] In developing this design, the inventors discovered new challenges for optimizing performance, including:

[0013] In typical non-custom mouthpieces, the mouthpiece is undersized for a typical mouth because an oversized mouthpiece would be highly uncomfortable in the back of the mouth.

[0014] An exemplary non-custom mouthpiece known in the art is shown in photographic (left) and schematic (right) representations in FIG. 1 . It does not include the novel anchoring member devised by the inventors and is undersized. The device has a handle portion 10 and a mouthpiece portion 12. The mouthpiece portion carries cleaning elements 20, e.g., an arrangement of elastomeric bristles. The mouthpiece portion defines an arcuate contour 30 to follow the contours of the user's teeth and defines tooth-receiving channels 16 in which the teeth sit and are brushed by the cleaning elements during use. There may be upper and lower channels for both dentition.

[0015] The way this device works is that the user must move the mouthpiece in either direction to reach the back molars due to its undersize.

[0016] The inventors recognized that when using the new anchoring member design, this need for lateral / sideways movement leads to the undesirable situation that the anchoring member (e.g., bite block) needs to be released by the user. When released, the seating function is lost, and when it moves, cleaning effectiveness is reduced. Furthermore, it is unclear to the user when to anchor and when to move for seating, complicating the technique of using such a brushing mouthpiece. This is highly undesirable, since a primary advantage of a brushing mouthpiece over a toothbrush is the expectation of superior ease of use.

[0017] The present inventors have recognized this problem and devised a solution, which is described herein.

[0018] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0019] According to an example according to one aspect of the present invention, an oral care device is provided. The oral care device has a mouthpiece portion that is at least partially received in a user's mouth. The body of the mouthpiece portion defines an arcuate contour that generally follows at least a portion of the contour of the user's dental arch. The mouthpiece portion carries a set of oral cleaning elements for mechanically engaging the teeth during operation. These may, for example, extend / rise from a surface of the mouthpiece portion body.

[0020] The device further includes a second portion coupled to the mouthpiece portion, which may be, for example, a handle portion, although this need not be the case in all cases.

[0021] The device further includes an actuation mechanism for actuating movement of the cleaning element relative to the second portion and relative to the teeth when the mouthpiece portion is received in the oral cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the actuation mechanism can be configured to generate a cyclical movement.

[0022] The device further includes an anchoring member engageable by a portion of a user's mouth when the mouthpiece portion is received in the mouth for normal use, the anchoring member being held in a fixed position relative to the jaw, for example this could be, but need not be, a bite block for the user to bite down on.

[0023] The anchoring member is mechanically coupled to the second portion via an anchoring member coupling.

[0024] The anchoring member coupling is such as to allow relative movement between the anchoring member and the mouthpiece portion in at least a first direction, the first direction being transverse to the direction of movement of the cleaning element.

[0025] Therefore, the mouthpiece of the present invention proposes connecting the anchoring member and a second part of the mouthpiece (e.g., the handle or a motor in the handle) using a connection part that is rigid in the direction of the brushing movement but movable in the positioning direction required to reach all dentition, e.g., laterally in the oral cavity.

[0026] The mouthpiece portion can be independently connected to the second part 10 via its own coupling.

[0027] It should be noted that the aforementioned at least a first direction in which the anchoring member coupling permits movement of the anchoring member relative to the mouthpiece portion may define a curved path. Thus, in some instances, this direction may be a direction defined by a non-linear path. Thus, more generally, the anchoring member coupling may be said to permit relative movement between the anchoring member and the mouthpiece portion along at least a first direction or first path of movement, which direction or path of movement is generally transverse to the direction of movement of the cleaning element.

[0028] The anchoring member can be configured such that when held by a portion of a user's mouth in normal operation, the cleaning element is movable relative to the anchoring member and the actuation mechanism is operable to cause the cleaning element to move simultaneously relative to both the upper and lower jaws.

[0029] The anchoring member coupling is preferably further such that it at least partially prevents (e.g. inhibits or resists or opposes) relative movement between the anchoring member and the mouthpiece portion in a second direction, the second direction being substantially parallel to the direction of movement.

[0030] Preferably, by further preventing relative movement between the anchoring member and the mouthpiece portion in the second direction (which is the direction of movement of the cleaning element), this avoids counteracting or absorbing movement of the cleaning element through movement of the anchoring member. If the anchoring member were able to move in the same direction as the driving force on the cleaning element, it may result in the anchoring member simply moving to absorb the movement, and the cleaning element remaining substantially stationary relative to the moving anchoring member. The anchoring member only needs to be able to move transverse to the direction of movement, it does not need to move with the direction of movement.

[0031] In some embodiments, the second part is intended to remain outside the mouth during use when the mouthpiece is received in the mouth. As already mentioned, it may be a handle part that the user holds during use. However, in a hands-free device, it may simply be a second body part that houses, for example, a drive unit for driving the operation. The second part in the context of the present invention may also be the drive unit itself, as will be explained later through examples.

[0032] In some embodiments, the anchoring member coupling is rigid in the second direction (the cleaning element actuation direction) and flexible or pivotable in the first direction (transverse to the cleaning element actuation direction), which is one way of promoting the two effects already introduced above.

[0033] In some embodiments, the arcuate contour defined by the body of the mouthpiece portion lies in a plane and the first direction is parallel to the plane, which is expected to be in a mesial-distal direction when the mouthpiece portion is received in the oral cavity, such that the expected relative motion allows advantageous movement of the mouthpiece portion laterally within the oral cavity without releasing the anchoring members, so that the back molars can be reached.

[0034] As already mentioned, in some embodiments, the anchoring member is for the user to bite down on, e.g., it forms a bite block. However, this is not the only possibility. It can also be designed so that the user rests against a part of the mouth or gums, or against an outer part of the mouth or face, for anchoring. In some cases, it can be designed to be held between the lips rather than bitten.

[0035] In some embodiments, when the mouthpiece portion is received in the mouth for normal use, the first direction is oriented so as to be approximately perpendicular to a vertical axis extending between the upper and lower jaws. In other words, it is parallel to the plane of the mouthpiece. In other words, as already suggested, the first direction may actually be lateral. It may be mesial-distal-mesial in operation.

[0036] In some embodiments, the first direction can partially follow the arcuate contour of the mouthpiece portion, such that expected movement of the anchoring member relative to the mouthpiece portion follows at least a partially arcuate path. This allows for partial rotational movement of the mouthpiece body about the anchoring member. As described, this can be achieved by a pivotal or hinged coupling between the anchoring member and the second portion.

[0037] As previously mentioned, in some embodiments the second portion may be a handle portion of the oral care device, the handle portion housing a drive unit of the actuation mechanism for generating the driving force for movement.

[0038] In some embodiments, the aforementioned anchoring member coupling can have a connecting element extending from the anchoring member to the drive unit or from the anchoring member to the housing of the second part, which can be formed in one or more parts.

[0039] In some embodiments, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling has at least a portion formed by a flexible sheet element, the plane of which is oriented parallel to the second direction (which is the direction of movement of the cleaning element) and the normal to which is oriented parallel to the first direction (which is substantially transverse to the movement of the cleaning element). The sheet element is a structurally very efficient way of providing a coupling which allows movement in only one direction (perpendicular to the plane of the sheet), while being rigid against movement in any direction orthogonal to the normal, i.e., parallel to the plane.

[0040] In some embodiments, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling comprises a sheet element having a reduced thickness portion between the second portion and the anchoring member, the reduced thickness portion defining a preferred bend line of the sheet element, the preferred bend line being perpendicular to the first direction, which is another efficient variation of the arrangement described above.

[0041] In some embodiments, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling comprises a rigid element that is connected to the anchoring member via a pivotable joint, or to the second part or drive unit by a pivotable joint, such as a hinge joint that allows only rotational movement along a single directional axis. This is another structurally efficient way to achieve the two desired effects of accommodating relative movement of the anchoring members in a first direction but not substantially accommodating relative movement in a second direction.

[0042] In some embodiments, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling extends from an outer surface of the anchoring member.

[0043] However, in other contemplated embodiments, the connection elements of the anchoring member coupling extend from connection points in the interior of the anchoring members, and preferably the anchoring members include hollow interior cavities for accommodating the connection elements. The connection points in the interior of the anchoring members may, for example, define pivotable joints.

[0044] As will become more apparent with reference to the drawings below, the connecting element can be configured to extend through at least one opening formed in the mouthpiece portion (e.g., in a wall thereof) at a position facing the second portion.

[0045] For example, the mouthpiece portion can define a teeth-receiving channel. The anchoring member is supported and positioned within the teeth-receiving channel. The at least one opening can be formed through a wall partially surrounding the teeth-receiving channel. The at least one opening can be sized and positioned to allow an anchoring member coupling connection element to pass through the opening for connection to the anchoring member within the teeth-receiving channel.

[0046] In some embodiments, the width across the opening in at least one direction is greater than the width of the connecting element extending through the opening, such that the opening defines a clearance area around the connecting element extending therethrough, allowing lateral movement of the connecting element within the opening, which provides structural accommodation for movement of the anchoring member via pivotal movement of the connecting element.

[0047] In some embodiments, the device may additionally comprise a drive coupling, which may also comprise a connecting element, for mechanically coupling the drive force of the drive unit to a body of the mouthpiece portion carrying the cleaning element to drive movement of the cleaning element. In the present disclosure, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling may be referred to as the first connecting element, and the connecting element of the drive coupling may be referred to as the second connecting element.

[0048] In some embodiments, the second connecting element extends coaxially relative to the first connecting element, which provides a structurally efficient way to accommodate both connecting elements.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first connecting element extends coaxially within an internal channel defined by the second connecting element; or the second connecting element extends coaxially within an internal channel defined by the first connecting element.

[0050] In some embodiments, the first connecting element has a pair of arms extending in a direction between the anchoring member and the second portion, the arms being spaced apart, and the second connecting element extending in the same direction as the first connecting element through the space.

[0051] In some embodiments, the drive unit comprises a motor, hi other embodiments, the actuation mechanism may be a pneumatic actuation mechanism, in which the drive unit is a fluid pump.

[0052] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0053] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a mouthpiece device known in the art. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 shows a further schematic representation of a mouthpiece device known in the art. [Figure 3] 10A-10C show displays of a mouthpiece device according to a set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10A-10C show displays of a mouthpiece device according to a set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 5] 10A-10C show displays of a mouthpiece device according to a set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 11] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 12] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 14] 10A-10C show representations of mouthpiece devices according to a further set of embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] For a better understanding of the present invention, and in order to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only, in which:

[0055] The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.

[0056] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments of the devices, systems, and methods, are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the figures are schematic only and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0057] The present invention provides an oral cleaning mouthpiece device with a specialized mechanical structure (called an anchoring member) for providing a support against which the user can hold their jaw stationary, for fixing the non-movable part of the mouthpiece to the jaw frame of reference, so that the movable part of the mouthpiece (carrying the cleaning elements) moves in a generally predictable manner relative to the upper and lower dentition. The anchoring member is mechanically supported so as to be movable laterally (i.e., in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the mouthpiece) relative to the part of the mouthpiece carrying the cleaning elements, allowing the mouthpiece part to be moved laterally within the oral cavity during use to reach all teeth.

[0058] A typical mouthpiece operation involves the user moving the mouthpiece sideways to reach the back molars. When using anchoring members such as bite blocks, this need for lateral movement can lead to the undesirable situation of the bite block needing to be released. When released, the seating function is lost, and when moved, the cleaning effect is reduced. Therefore, an embodiment of the present invention proposes to adapt the relative movement of the anchoring members to allow the mouthpiece portions to reach all teeth without the user having to release the anchoring members.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows the structure of a mouthpiece device 8 known in the art, the elements of which have already been described herein and therefore will not be repeated in detail again.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a further (side cross-sectional) view of the mouthpiece device depicted in FIG.

[0061] Briefly, the device has a mouthpiece portion 12 for at least partial reception in a user's mouth. The body of the mouthpiece portion defines an arcuate contour 30 to generally follow the contour of the user's dental arch. The mouthpiece portion 12 carries a set of oral cleaning elements 20 for mechanically engaging the teeth during operation. The device further includes a second portion 10 coupled to the mouthpiece portion, which forms a handle portion in the illustrated example.

[0062] The device has an actuation mechanism for actuating movement (preferably cyclic, e.g., alternating, e.g., periodic) of the cleaning element relative to the second portion and relative to the teeth when the mouthpiece portion is received in the oral cavity. Using the coordinate axes shown in Figure 2 (which will be used throughout this disclosure), this actuated movement is in the z direction. The actuation mechanism includes a drive unit 24 that generates an actuation drive force and a drive coupling 22 that mechanically couples the drive force to the mouthpiece portion 12 carrying the cleaning element 20 to provide the movement.

[0063] As shown in Figure 1, the mouthpiece portion can define tooth-receiving channels 16 in which the teeth sit and are brushed by the cleaning elements during operation. There may be upper and lower channels for both rows of teeth.

[0064] 3-5 show an exemplary mouthpiece according to at least a first set of embodiments.

[0065] To facilitate understanding of the following disclosure, essential features of devices according to all embodiments of the present invention will first be outlined in summary form. For convenience, these will be described with reference to Figures 3-5, but will apply equally to all other embodiments described in this disclosure.

[0066] One aspect of the present invention is an oral care device 8. The device has a mouthpiece portion 12 for at least partial reception in a user's mouth. The body of the mouthpiece portion describes an arcuate contour 30 to generally follow the contour of the user's dental arch. The mouthpiece portion 12 carries a set of oral cleaning elements 20 for mechanically engaging the teeth during operation. For example, these have protruding elongated elements. For example, these have bristles or bristle-like elements. They may be elastomeric, e.g., silicone bristle elements in some examples.

[0067] The device 8 further includes a second portion 10 coupled to the mouthpiece portion 12. For example, this can form a handle portion. For example, the second portion can be a handle portion, which houses a drive unit 24 of the actuation mechanism, which generates a driving force for the movement of the cleaning element 20. The actuation mechanism is for actuating the movement of the cleaning element 20 relative to the second portion 10 and relative to the teeth when the mouthpiece portion is received in the oral cavity. In some embodiments, it can be for actuating a cyclic motion, e.g., an alternating motion, e.g., a periodic motion. In some embodiments, the motion can be an oscillatory motion. Using the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 2, the driven motion is in the z direction. The drive unit 24 is for generating the actuation driving force. A drive coupling 22 mechanically couples the driving force to the mouthpiece portion 12 carrying the cleaning element 20, providing the movement.

[0068] The device further includes an anchoring member 32 engageable by a portion of the user's mouth when the mouthpiece portion 12 is received in the mouth for normal use, the anchoring member being held in a fixed position relative to the jaw.

[0069] Anchoring member 32 is mechanically coupled to the second portion 10 of the device via an anchoring member coupling 36 .

[0070] The anchoring member coupling 36 is adapted to permit relative movement between the anchoring member 32 and the mouthpiece portion 12 in at least a first direction, the first direction being transverse to the direction of actuation movement of the cleaning element 20. In the illustrated example, the first direction is the direction indicated by arrow 33. Using the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 4 , this is a direction within the xy plane, e.g., along the x direction, or along an arcuate path within the xy plane, e.g., the plane containing the arcuate profile 30 defined by the mouthpiece portion body. When the mouthpiece portion 12 is received in the mouth for normal use, the first direction 33 in this example is oriented so as to be approximately perpendicular to a vertical axis (Z) extending between the upper and lower jaws. As previously mentioned, the first direction 33 may generally be a direction along any straight or curved path generally transverse to the direction of actuation movement of the cleaning element. For example, if the anchoring member coupling is defined by a pivot or hinge (examples of which are discussed below), movement will generally be along a curved path in a plane transverse to the line of movement of the cleaning element. Indeed, in some cases, permitted movement along a first direction that defines a curved line may be preferred, since the mouthpiece and dentition also generally define a curved shape / contour. However, a curved path is not essential to the invention.

[0071] Features of exemplary implementations of devices according to the particular set of embodiments shown in Figures 3-5 will now be described using the above-summarized concepts of the present invention. It should be understood that not all features of this particular set of embodiments are essential to the inventive concepts and are described to aid understanding and to provide examples to illustrate the inventive concepts.

[0072] In the illustrated example, the anchoring member 32 is for the user to bite down on, forming a bite block.

[0073] In the illustrated example, the bite block is positioned within the teeth-receiving channel 16 of the mouthpiece portion 12 so that it is accessible to the user's teeth.

[0074] Preferably, the anchoring member coupling 36 is also configured to at least partially prevent relative movement between the anchoring member 32 and the mouthpiece portion 12 in a second direction, the second direction being substantially parallel to the direction of actuation movement of the cleaning element 20. In the illustrated example, this (second) direction is in the zy plane (using the coordinate axes of Figures 3 to 6), e.g. substantially the Z direction, or in other words along a vertical axis (Z) extending between the upper and lower jaw when the mouthpiece portion 12 is received in the mouth for normal use.

[0075] Although not entirely clear from the drawings in Figures 3-5, the anchoring member coupling 36 and the drive coupling 22 are not connected to one another. In the illustrated example, the drive coupling 22 extends around the outside of the anchoring member coupling 36 to accommodate both couplings. The drive coupling 22 is attached at its distal end to the body of the mouthpiece portion 12. The anchoring member coupling 36 is attached at its distal end to the anchoring member 32. As shown in Figure 5, the anchoring member coupling can extend from and be pivotally coupled to a point within or on the second part 10 or its housing, such that the anchoring member is movable along the first direction (the X direction in this example). Because the anchoring member 32 is not attached to the mouthpiece portion 12, it can move relative to the mouthpiece portion. As shown schematically in FIG. 5, the drive coupling 22 defines a clearance around the anchoring member coupling 36 that extends therethrough, allowing the anchoring member to move within this clearance space by pivoting the anchoring member coupling.

[0076] The anchoring member coupling 36 may be rigid in the second direction (Z) and flexible or pivotable in the first direction (X).

[0077] In the illustrated example, the anchoring member coupling 36 and the drive coupling 22 are disposed in a coaxial relationship. This is shown schematically in FIG. 4 (top left), which shows the anchoring member coupling connection element 36 extending through the drive coupling connection element 22. The drive coupling connection element 22 may be, for example, tubular or, in other embodiments, annular in cross section. As shown, the anchoring member coupling 36 is movable in a first direction (X in this example), while the drive coupling 22 is configured to move in a lateral direction (Z in this example).

[0078] The coaxial arrangement can likewise be reversed, such that the drive coupling connection element 22 extends coaxially within the internal bore or channel of the (e.g., tubular) anchoring member connection element 36. Indeed, examples of this alternative arrangement are shown in Figures 6-9 and will be described below.

[0079] As can be seen in Figures 3-5, the anchoring member coupling 36 has a connecting element that extends from the anchoring member 32 to a point in or on the second portion 10, in this case the handle portion.

[0080] The connecting element of the anchoring member coupling 36 can be configured to extend through at least one opening 54 formed in the wall of the mouthpiece portion 12 at a location facing the second portion. This is shown schematically in Figure 4 (bottom left), which shows the opening 54 in the bottom of the mouthpiece portion without the coupling extending therethrough.

[0081] For example, opening 54 is formed through a region of wall 18 that partially surrounds tooth-receiving channel 16 .

[0082] At least one opening 54 is sized and positioned to allow a connecting element of an anchoring member coupling 36 to pass therethrough to connect to an anchoring member 32 in the tooth-receiving channel 16 .

[0083] Further exemplary implementations of the device according to a particular set of embodiments will now be described with reference to Figures 6-9 through the description of the inventive concept summarized above. It should be understood that not all features of this particular set of embodiments are essential to the inventive concept and are described to facilitate understanding and to provide examples for illustrating the inventive concept. This set of embodiments may be identical in all respects to the embodiment of Figures 3-5, except with respect to the particular configuration of couplings 22, 36, or connecting elements thereof, connecting drive unit 24 to mouthpiece portion 12 and second portion 10 to anchoring member 32.

[0084] 6-9, the anchoring member is formed from two anchoring member portions 32a, 32b. In this case, anchoring member coupling 36 may have a pair of connector arms that extend from a point within the housing of second part 10 and connect at their distal ends to respective first and second portions 32a, 32b of the anchoring member. These are pivotally connected to respective pivotable connection points within second part 10.

[0085] The arms 36 are spaced apart, and the connecting element of the drive coupling 22 extends through the space in the same direction as the connecting arms of the anchoring member coupling 36. It connects at its proximal end to the drive unit 24 and at its distal end to the body of the mouthpiece portion 12 to which the cleaning element is attached. Instead of spaced arms, a tubular connecting element for the anchoring member coupling 36 can likewise be provided.

[0086] 8 shows a schematic view of the bottom region of the mouthpiece portion in the area facing the second portion 10 through which the couplings 22, 36 extend. In this example, there are three openings, including one opening 54 for accommodating passage of the drive coupling connecting element 22 into the mouthpiece portion body, e.g., recessed therein. The openings further include a pair of openings 52a, 52b on either side of the first opening 54 for accommodating passage of the respective anchoring member connecting arms 36 through the wall 18 of the mouthpiece portion 12 to connect to the anchoring members 32 in the tooth-receiving channels 16.

[0087] As shown schematically in Figure 9, the width (W_a) across opening 52a in at least one direction is greater than the width of connecting element arm / section 36 in the same direction, such that the opening defines a clearance area around the connecting element, allowing lateral movement of the connecting element within the opening. Illustratively, width W_a of each of openings 52a, 52b may be approximately 1 to 1.5 times the width of an average tooth plus the width of connecting arm 36. For example, this may be 8 mm + 2 mm for illustrative purposes.

[0088] Although not shown in FIG. 9, the same opening configuration may be provided for the other opening 52b for the other connecting arm 36 of the coupling.

[0089] A further exemplary realization of the device according to a particular set of embodiments will now be described with reference to Figures 10-11, using the inventive concepts summarized above. It should be understood that not all features of this particular set of embodiments are essential to the inventive concepts and are described to facilitate understanding and to provide examples for illustrating the inventive concepts. This set of embodiments may be identical in all respects to the embodiments of Figures 3-5 and 6-9, except for the particular configuration of the couplings 22, 36 or connecting elements thereof that connect the drive unit 24 to the mouthpiece portion 12 and the second portion 10 to the anchoring member 32.

[0090] In this set of embodiments, the anchoring member 32 connects to the drive unit 24 in the second part 10 via a thin, flexible sheet 42 that acts as a leaf spring. It is substantially rigid in the actuation direction of the cleaning element 20 (the up-down or Z direction in the example shown), but can be bent by the user in a direction transverse to this actuation direction (in the x-y plane in this example) to move the mouthpiece part 12 back and forth over the dentition during use. The connecting elements of the drive coupling 22 connecting the drive unit 24 to the mouthpiece part can be rigid (at least in the z direction), which allows for efficient transmission of the actuation drive motion.

[0091] Thus, using terminology consistent with that used throughout this disclosure, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling 36 has at least a portion formed by a flexible sheet element 42, the plane of which is oriented parallel to the direction of actuation movement of the cleaning element (in this example the z direction, or zy plane), and the normal to the plane of the sheet 42 is oriented parallel to the above-mentioned direction 33 transverse to the actuation direction (i.e. the direction 33 in which the anchoring member is movable relative to the mouthpiece portion 12).

[0092] In the example shown, the seat element 42 extends from the drive unit 24 and connects to a further connector element portion 36 of the anchoring member coupling, which in turn extends to the anchoring member 32. The seat element 42 may alternatively extend from another location in the second portion, for example, a location between the drive unit 24 and the anchoring member.

[0093] The drive coupling 22 connects the drive unit to the mouthpiece portion 12 in this example. The drive coupling in this example has a pair of drive coupling connectors. Alternatively, the drive coupling can be tubular in form and coaxially disposed relative to the anchoring member coupling 36, such that the anchoring member coupling extends into an internal channel or bore defined within the drive coupling 22. The drive coupling 22 is not connected to the seat element 42, such that it can move independently of the seat element. The drive coupling performs the function of moving the mouthpiece portion (transmitting force from the drive unit 24 to the mouthpiece portion 12).

[0094] As a more general principle of the present invention, the coupling 36 between the second portion 10 and the anchoring member 32 is a preferred feature for rigidly seating the motor in a manner that optimally transmits brushing vibration energy to the mouthpiece. Assuming up-and-down (z-direction) vibration, this can be done, for example, by stiffening the connection in the z-direction. However, the connection should also be movable in the x-y plane (using the same exemplary coordinate axes) to allow the mouthpiece cleaning element 20 to reach the entire dentition, including the posteriormost parts of the oral cavity. Because teeth are nearly parallel to the x-y plane, a coupling that can provide this flexibility of movement in the x-y plane combined with stiffness in the z-direction is ideal. By providing the seat element 42 to dampen or inhibit vibration in the vibration direction (the z-direction in this example), it can transmit a holding force to the motor 24 and handle 10 when the user bites down on the anchoring member 32. In this way, the drive unit 24 is held stationary, and all motion generated by the drive unit is used to move the mouthpiece portion 12 (instead of also vibrating the drive unit body and handle 10).

[0095] Flexibility of movement in the xy plane can be achieved in several different ways, some of which have already been discussed. Looking at Figures 10 and 11, the motivation behind this set of embodiments is to provide a structurally simple arrangement, where the thin sheet 42 naturally provides flexibility in directions perpendicular to its plane and relative stiffness in directions parallel to its plane.

[0096] Materials selected for the sheet may include, for example, nylon or polypropylene. Sheet 42 may have a thickness in the x-direction of, for example, 0.2 to 1 mm (for example). Sheet 42 may have a dimension in the z-direction of, for example, 10 to 30 mm.

[0097] Relative stiffness in the z-direction can be achieved, for example, by selecting a stiff material for the sheet and configuring the dimensions of the sheet in the z-direction.

[0098] In such an exemplary arrangement, the user can flex the seat 42 to allow the necessary mesial-to-distal (and retraction) movement of the mouthpiece portion 12 relative to the anchoring member 32 .

[0099] It should be noted that the inventors further recognize that a simple sheet embodiment is not always optimal, since the bending point cannot be well predicted. Alternatively, it is proposed to provide the sheet with specific thin regions to encourage bending only at those locations. In other words, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling 36 can have a sheet element 42 with a reduced thickness between the second portion 10 and the anchoring member 32, where the reduced thickness defines a preferred bending line for the sheet element, the preferred bending line being perpendicular to the direction in which bending is intended to occur, i.e., the bending line in this case is parallel to the z-direction. Alternatively, a pre-bend, e.g., an S-shape, can be used to form the preferred bending line, facilitating bending along the defined line.

[0100] Another alternative to using the seat 42 is to use a hinged connection.

[0101] A further exemplary realization of the device according to a particular set of embodiments will now be described with reference to Figures 12-14, using the inventive concepts summarized above. It should be understood that not all features of this particular set of embodiments are essential to the inventive concepts and are described to facilitate understanding and to provide examples for illustrating the inventive concepts. This set of embodiments may be identical in all respects to the embodiments of Figures 3-5, 6-9, and 10-11, except for the particular configuration of couplings 22, 36 or connecting elements thereof connecting drive unit 24 to mouthpiece portion 12 and second portion 10 to anchoring member 32.

[0102] In this set of embodiments, the connecting element of the anchoring member coupling 36 comprises a rod element. The connecting element is connected to the anchoring member via a pivotable joint or to the second part or drive unit by a pivotable joint. In the example illustrated in Figures 12-14, it is connected to the anchoring member by a pivotable joint, e.g., a hinge joint. This allows, for example, rotational movement along an axis in only one direction.

[0103] 12-14, the connection elements 36 of the anchoring member 32 extend from connection points within the anchoring member 32 itself. For example, the anchoring member defines a hollow interior cavity for accommodating the connection elements. In the illustrated example, the connection points within the anchoring member define a pivotable joint, e.g., a hinge joint.

[0104] This arrangement has several advantages because the internal rotation point of the anchoring member is very well defined and no compromises need to be made in material stiffness. For stiff z-motion, the stiffest materials can be selected. Also, xy-plane rotational motion at the pivot joint requires very little energy because there are no spring forces to overcome.

[0105] A potential drawback is that cleaning fluids may contaminate the hinge joint inside the anchoring member 32. A solution, as proposed, is to place the hinge inside the anchoring member and seal the internal cavity of the anchoring member with a sealant or cap, such as a rubber seal.

[0106] A preferred location for the hinge joint may be a position inside the mouth during use that is as close as possible to the (semi)circular symmetry point of the arc-like curve.

[0107] In the illustrated example, the drive coupling 22 extends in the same direction, e.g., coaxially, as the anchoring member coupling 36. For example, the anchoring member coupling 36 may extend through a central bore or cavity in the drive coupling 22.

[0108] According to any embodiment of the present invention, in use, the back and forth mesial-distal movement (xy plane movement using the coordinate axes used throughout this disclosure) of the mouthpiece portion relative to the anchoring member, which is held fixed by the user, can now be driven manually. Alternatively, if hands-free operation is desired, the user can drive this movement with their tongue. For a full reach, only one distal stroke to the right and one distal stroke to the left are required, which does not require much energy.

[0109] If the coupling 36 operates smoothly, the tongue can certainly have enough force to drive this movement. To enable tongue-driven motion, a mechanism may be included to reduce the force required for lateral movement. For example, biting on the anchoring member 32 itself may help drive the force. Additional actuators may be added to support lateral movement.

[0110] Further optional details relating to anchoring members and applicable to any embodiment of the present invention are briefly described below.

[0111] As previously mentioned, in some embodiments the anchoring member is for the user to bite into, in which case it is called a bite block.

[0112] One or more bite blocks can be used. The bite block preferably has sufficient thickness in the z-direction to provide space for the bite-cleaning elements of the mouthpiece in the posterior region. Preferably, it may include structural features to guide the centering and positioning of the mouthpiece part 12. It may have a surface with a high coefficient of friction, for example a (hard) rubber finish, to avoid sliding movements when biting.

[0113] In some embodiments, the device can include sensing means configured so that a user's biting on the anchoring member 32 triggers activation of the actuation mechanism. This can include a pressure sensor in the bite block or a sensitive motion sensor located on the bite block or handle portion 10 to sense movement of the coupling 36 between the bite block and the handle portion 10. Optimally, the triggering means can be configured so that the actuation mechanism is initiated only when the bite block is properly seated between the teeth, i.e., when the sensed bite satisfies a bite condition. This can include a bite force sensor in the bite block initiating actuation when a force exceeds a threshold. This feature provides the user with highly intuitive control of the brushing power of the mouthpiece; i.e., force is increased when biting harder.

[0114] Further optional details relating to the actuation mechanism and applicable to any embodiment of the present invention are briefly described below.

[0115] The drive unit can have one or more motors. The location of the motor may be within the handle portion 10, which also houses the electronics and battery. It may alternatively be closer to the mouthpiece portion 12, or even positioned so that it is inside the mouth during use. Since the preferred motion is a z-oscillation (using the coordinate system used in this disclosure), the motor and associated mechanical system should preferably generate an up-and-down oscillation at a sufficiently high frequency, e.g., 20-200 Hz. Many systems capable of generating such oscillations are known in the art.

[0116] With respect to the drive coupling 22, this connection is preferably rigid, at least in the direction of brushing vibration, to allow transmission of drive motion to the cleaning element. In some embodiments, the drive coupling is further provided with one or more flex points or hinges to accommodate mesial-distal mouthpiece motion.

[0117] With regard to the mouthpiece portion 12 itself, many alternative mouthpiece designs can be used. Again, stiffness in the direction of brushing vibration is preferred to efficiently provide actuation motion to all of the mouthpiece cleaning elements 20, while retaining sufficient flexibility in the xy plane to accommodate the different dentition curvatures of different individuals and to accommodate changes in curvature when moving from mesial to distal positions.

[0118] As an optional additional feature, the device can include means for measuring the distance of mesial-distal movement (i.e., the distance of movement of the mouthpiece portion relative to the anchoring member in the first direction, e.g., the distance of movement relative to a predetermined starting point or neutral point). This can provide guidance to the user as to whether the entire dental arch has been brushed. Measurement of the distance of movement can be achieved, for example, using a simple strain gauge in the anchoring member coupling 36, e.g., in the flexible sheet 42 in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-11. Calibration can be performed, for example, upon first use, where the user pushes the mouthpiece portion 12 fully backward, thereby measuring the arch length that needs to be covered. Alternatively, the system can be configured to learn an individual's arch length over multiple uses.

[0119] In some embodiments, one or more microprocessors may be included to control one or more elements, such as the drive unit and / or any sensors.

[0120] It should be noted that while the embodiments illustrated in this disclosure have been directed to a C-shaped mouthpiece that extends completely around the user's dental arch, portions of the mouthpiece can alternatively extend only around a portion of the user's dental arch, and such a mouthpiece design is sometimes referred to as a J-shaped mouthpiece.

[0121] In final summary, advantages of embodiments of the present invention compared to the prior art include the combination of continuous occlusal seating and the flexibility to move the mouthpiece portion laterally in the mouth, which facilitates the mouthpiece portion's access to the back molars, for example, in undersized, non-custom mouthpieces. This provides two important advantages: first, it provides optimal motion transmission from the drive unit to the cleaning elements on the teeth for the full duration of use; and second, it allows for optimal ease of use without the user even realizing it. The user simply bites down on the bite block (e.g., activates the actuation mechanism and manipulates the mouthpiece portion 12 as far as possible to the back molars).

[0122] The advantage over mouthpieces that do not provide anchoring members is optimal seating of the motor movement on the teeth.

[0123] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0124] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0125] It should be noted that when the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or specification, the term "adapted to" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to."

[0126] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An oral care device comprising: a mouthpiece portion for at least partial receipt in a user's mouth, a body of the mouthpiece portion having an arcuate contour that generally follows at least a portion of the contour of the user's dental arch; a mouthpiece portion, said mouthpiece portion carrying a set of oral cleaning elements for mechanically engaging the teeth during operation; a second portion coupled to the mouthpiece portion; an actuation mechanism for actuating movement of the oral cleaning element relative to the second portion and relative to the teeth when the mouthpiece portion is received in the oral cavity; an anchoring member engageable by a portion of the user's mouth and held in a fixed position relative to the jaw when the mouthpiece portion is received in the mouth for normal use, wherein the anchoring member is not attached to the mouthpiece portion and moves relative to the mouthpiece portion; the anchoring member is mechanically coupled to the second portion via an anchoring member coupling; the anchoring member coupling is such as to permit relative movement between the anchoring member and the mouthpiece portion in at least a first direction, the first direction being transverse to a direction of movement of the oral cleaning element; the anchoring member coupling is such as to at least partially prevent relative movement between the anchoring member and the mouthpiece portion in a second direction, the second direction being substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the oral cleaning element.

2. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion is for remaining outside the mouth during use when the mouthpiece portion is received in the mouth.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring member coupling is rigid in the second direction and flexible or pivotable in the first direction.

4. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the arcuate profile defined by the body of the mouthpiece portion lies in a plane, and the first direction is parallel to the plane.

5. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchoring member is for the user to bite.

6. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first direction is oriented so as to be approximately perpendicular to a vertical axis extending between the upper and lower jaws when the mouthpiece portion is received in the oral cavity for normal use.

7. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion is a handle portion of the oral care device, the handle portion housing a drive unit of the actuation mechanism that generates the driving force for the movement.

8. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchoring member coupling includes a connecting element extending from the anchoring member to a location within or on the housing of the second part.

9. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the connecting element has at least a portion formed by a flexible sheet element, the plane of the flexible sheet element being oriented in a direction parallel to the second direction and the normal to the plane being oriented parallel to the first direction.

10. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the connecting element comprises a sheet element having a portion of reduced thickness, the portion of reduced thickness defining a preferred bend line of the sheet element, the preferred bend line being perpendicular to the first direction.

11. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the connecting element comprises an inflexible element, the connecting element being connected to the anchoring member via a pivotable joint or to the second part or the drive unit by a pivotable joint.

12. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the connecting element extends from a connection point within the anchoring member, and preferably the anchoring member includes a hollow interior cavity for accommodating the connecting element.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the connection points within the anchoring members define pivotable joints.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the drive unit is a motor.

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