Tooth surface cleaning tools and electric tooth surface cleaning devices

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a tooth surface cleaning tool which does not require individual packaging of a melamine resin foam sponge and which has improved strength and an improved effect for removing the impurities on a tooth surface, as compared to conventional tools; and a powered tooth surface cleaning device which is capable of removing impurities on the tooth surface extremely effectively with a simple configuration and operation.　This tooth surface cleaning tool (100, 100-2) is a tooth surface cleaning tool (100) made of a melamine resin foam sponge. The melamine resin foam sponge is obtained by applying heat and pressure to a material in which a liquid dentifrice has been included, and drying the resultant in a compressed state. Further, this powered tooth surface cleaning device (1) is configured such that a tooth surface cleaning tool (100-2) comprising the melamine resin foam sponge having the abovementioned configuration is detachably mounted on a mounting base (5) that rotates the tooth surface cleaning tool.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tooth surface cleaner for cleaning tooth surfaces and an electric tooth surface cleaning apparatus provided with the same.

Background Art

[0002] Toothbrushes and dentifrices are commonly used as oral cleaning implements. In particular, electric toothbrushes that clean teeth electrically have been proposed in the past (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2) and have already been commercialized. However, with ordinary toothbrushes and dentifrices, it is difficult to remove colored deposits from foods such as tobacco tar, coffee, black tea, and green tea adhering to the tooth surfaces.

[0003] Therefore, in order to remove colored deposits from foods such as tobacco tar, coffee, black tea, and green tea adhering to tooth surfaces, there are tooth cleaning implements (tooth surface cleaners) using melamine resin foam sponges as disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 3 to 5. The tooth cleaning implement described in Patent Document 3 is configured such that a melamine resin foam sponge impregnated with a liquid dentifrice is hermetically sealed in a packaging container such as a package bag.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the tooth cleaning tool described in Patent Document 3 consists of a melamine resin foam sponge impregnated with liquid toothpaste, and therefore needs to be stored and distributed in a sealed packaging container such as a package bag. For this reason, the manufacturing process requires a step of placing the melamine resin foam sponge into a packaging container and sealing it. Therefore, in order to further reduce manufacturing costs, it is desirable to be able to omit this step of placing the melamine resin foam sponge into a packaging container and sealing it.

[0006] Furthermore, melamine foam sponges impregnated with liquid toothpaste, individually packaged in separate containers, require opening each individual package before use. This is inconvenient because it requires opening the packaging each time and generates packaging waste. Moreover, since melamine foam sponges for cleaning tooth surfaces are used by rubbing them vigorously against the tooth surface, they deteriorate after one or a few uses, with the surface crumbling or the fibers breaking. Therefore, in order to enable repeated use, it is necessary to construct them with higher strength against friction against the tooth surface. It is also required that they be constructed in a way that allows for easier and more effective removal of plaque from the tooth surface by rubbing it.

[0007] Furthermore, as shown in Patent Documents 4 and 5, conventional melamine resin foam sponges for cleaning tooth surfaces were used by holding them with the hands or fingers, or attaching them to a handheld device, and rubbing them manually against the tooth surface. However, manually rubbing a melamine resin foam sponge against the tooth surface is difficult if one is not accustomed to it, and is particularly difficult for the elderly and children to handle, making it difficult to thoroughly clean the entire tooth surface.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a tooth cleaning tool that eliminates the need for individual packaging of melamine resin foam sponges and can further enhance strength and the effect of removing stains from tooth surfaces compared to conventional tools, and an electric tooth cleaning device that can remove stains from tooth surfaces very effectively with a simple structure and operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the tooth surface cleaning tool (100,100-2) according to the present invention is a tooth surface cleaning tool made of a melamine resin foam sponge, characterized in that the melamine resin foam sponge is made by impregnating it with liquid toothpaste, heating and pressurizing it, and drying it in a compressed state.

[0010] Furthermore, in the tooth cleaning device according to the present invention, the liquid toothpaste may contain polyphosphate or polyethylene glycol. The liquid toothpaste may also contain flavorings or fluorine compounds.

[0011] Furthermore, in the tooth surface cleaning tool according to the present invention, the melamine resin foam sponge may be dried by vacuum drying or freeze-drying. It is also desirable that the melamine resin foam sponge be compressed to about 1 / 4 of its original volume by the aforementioned pressurization.

[0012] According to the tooth surface cleaning tool of the present invention, the melamine resin foam sponge is made by impregnating it with liquid toothpaste, heating and pressurizing it, and then drying it in a compressed state, thereby achieving the following effects. (1) Because the melamine resin foam sponge is made by drying (by heating) a material impregnated with liquid toothpaste, it does not need to be stored and distributed in a sealed packaging container such as a package bag, as is the case with conventional products. Therefore, the process of placing the melamine resin foam sponge in a packaging container and sealing it is unnecessary in the manufacturing process. Consequently, the process of placing the melamine resin foam sponge in a packaging container and sealing it can be omitted, which can lead to a reduction in manufacturing costs. In addition, since there is no need to open the individual packaging when using the product, the effort involved in opening the packaging when using the product is eliminated, and there is no risk of generating packaging waste when opening the product. (2) Because the melamine resin foam sponge is compressed under pressure, it becomes tear-resistant, cleaning efficiency and durability are improved, and the holes become smaller when compressed.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electric tooth surface cleaning device (1) for cleaning teeth, comprising: a main body (2) having a main body case (2A) and a tapered neck portion (2B) extending from one end of the main body case (2A); a head portion (3) rotatably provided at the tip of the neck portion (2B); a tooth surface cleaning tool (100-2) detachably attached to a mounting base (5) of the head portion (3); a battery (7) and an electric motor (8) built into the case body (2A); and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotation of the electric motor (8) into rotational motion or reciprocating rotational motion of the mounting base (5), wherein the tooth surface cleaning tool (100-2) is a tooth surface cleaning tool having any of the above configurations of the present invention.

[0014] According to the electric tooth cleaning device of the present invention, the user simply inserts the head of the electric tooth cleaning device into their mouth and moves the tooth cleaning tool attached to the rotating or reciprocating head against the surface of the teeth, thereby easily and effectively removing plaque attached to the tooth surface with the tooth cleaning tool. Therefore, it is possible to remove stains from the tooth surface very effectively with a simple configuration and operation.

[0015] Furthermore, the electric tooth surface cleaning device (1) is provided with mounting means (6) for detachably attaching the tooth surface cleaning tool (100-2) to the mounting base (5), and the mounting means (6) may be a hook-and-loop fastener.

[0016] This configuration allows for the attachment and removal of the tooth surface cleaning tool to the mounting base in a simple and inexpensive manner. This makes it very easy and quick to replace the tooth surface cleaning tool, which is usually made of melamine foam sponge and is typically disposable after a few to a dozen uses. Furthermore, when using an electric tooth surface cleaning device, the tooth surface cleaning tool made of melamine foam sponge can be securely held to the mounting base, enabling effective cleaning of the tooth surface.

[0017] Furthermore, in the electric tooth surface cleaning device (1), the conversion mechanism that converts the rotation of the electric motor (8) to the rotation of the mounting base (5) may be composed of bevel gears (20, 22) that convert the rotation direction of the output shaft (8a) of the electric motor (8) to a direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0018] With the above configuration, the rotation direction of the output shaft of the electric motor is converted to a direction perpendicular to the axis by the bevel gear and transmitted to the head unit. This allows the head unit to rotate in the correct rotation direction (a rotation direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the output shaft of the electric motor), making it possible to easily and reliably remove tongue coating attached to the tongue.

[0019] Furthermore, in the electric tooth surface cleaning device (1), the conversion mechanism that converts the rotation of the electric motor (8) into the reciprocating rotational motion of the mounting base (5) may include a first mechanism that converts the rotation of the output shaft (8a) of the electric motor (8) into the reciprocating linear motion of the rod (13), and a second mechanism that converts the reciprocating linear motion of the rod (13) into the oscillating motion of the oscillating arm (16).

[0020] Here, the first mechanism may be configured to include a gear (9) coupled to an output shaft (8a) of the electric motor (8), a ring gear (10) meshing with the gear (9), an eccentric cam (12) having a center of rotation eccentric from the center of rotation of the ring gear (10), and a driven member (14) provided with an elongated hole (14a) with which the eccentric cam (12) engages; and the second mechanism may be configured to include a swing arm having a swing end slidably fitted into an elongated hole (5a) radially formed in the head portion (3), one point of a base end portion rotatably connected to a tip end portion of the rod (13), and another point of the base end portion swingably supported about a swing shaft (18).

[0021] According to the above configuration, rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor is converted into reciprocating linear motion of the rod by the first mechanism, and the reciprocating linear motion of the rod is converted into reciprocating rotational motion of the head portion (mounting base) by the second mechanism. Therefore, rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor is converted into reciprocating rotational motion of the head portion via the first and second mechanisms. Note that the reference numerals in the parentheses above are shown for reference to the corresponding drawing reference numerals of components in the embodiments described later.

Effects of the Invention

[0022] According to the tooth surface cleaning implement of the present invention, individual packaging of melamine resin foam sponges is unnecessary, and the strength and the effect of removing dirt from tooth surfaces can be further enhanced compared to conventional products. Further, according to the electric tooth cleaning device provided with the tooth surface cleaning implement of the present invention, dirt on tooth surfaces can be removed very effectively with a simple configuration and operation.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the tooth surface cleaning implement according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the electric tooth surface cleaning device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing the tooth surface cleaning implement mounted to the head portion (mounting base) of the electric tooth surface cleaning device. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the drive system of an electric tooth surface cleaning device. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the drive system of an electric tooth surface cleaning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the operation of the head (mounting base) of the electric tooth surface cleaning device according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0025] [First Embodiment: Tooth Surface Cleaning Tool] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a tooth cleaning tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The tooth surface cleaning tool 100 shown in the figure is a tooth surface cleaning tool made by heating and pressurizing a melamine resin foam sponge impregnated with liquid toothpaste and drying it in a compressed state.

[0026] Melamine resin foam sponges, with their countless continuous pores, can impregnate with water or liquid toothpaste. Furthermore, due to their material properties, melamine resin foam sponges can efficiently remove stains and other substances adhering to the tooth surface. Because melamine resin foam sponges are flexible, they allow for oral cleaning without damaging teeth or gums.

[0027] Furthermore, the density of melamine resin foam sponges can be increased during manufacturing. To increase the density of the sponge, the melamine resin foam sponge is pressurized and heated simultaneously to crush the structural walls that isolate the air bubbles. The melamine resin foam sponge obtained in this way has a density 1.5 to 15 times higher than a melamine sponge that has not been pressurized or heated. A high-density melamine resin foam sponge is less prone to wear and is more suitable for oral cleaning. Alternatively, the sponge may be pressed using a mold that creates a pattern of irregularities such as waves on the surface. When a pattern of irregularities is formed on the surface, it becomes possible to remove dirt attached to the tooth surface more effectively.

[0028] The active ingredients added to liquid toothpaste effectively clean the mouth, prevent bad breath, prevent tartar buildup, prevent periodontitis and gingivitis, and prevent cavities. Additionally, adding cooling agents and fragrances to liquid toothpaste can enhance the refreshing feeling during use. Specific substances are listed below, but the active ingredients are not limited to these.

[0029] Active ingredients added to liquid toothpaste include condensed phosphates, detergents, bleaching agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antibacterial agents, surfactants, and fluorine compounds, with one or more of these, preferably two or more, and more preferably all of them being used. Examples of condensed phosphates include polyphosphates, ultraphosphates, metaphosphates, and pyrophosphates. Examples of detergents include polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, phytic acid, sodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium phosphate, and zeolite. Examples of bleaching agents include hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, calcium peroxide, and sodium chlorite. Examples of anti-inflammatory agents include allantoin, ε-aminocaproic acid, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, β-glycyrrhetinic acid, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and sodium azulene sulfonate. Antimicrobial agents include isopropylmethylphenol, chlorhexidine hydrochloride, triclosan, hinokitiol, cetylpyridinium chloride, sodium copper chlorophyllin, benzalkonium chloride, depotassium chloride, benzethonium chloride, alkyldiaminoethylglycine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, lysozyme chloride, and catechin. Surfactants include polyoxyethylene lauryl ether and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. Fluorine compounds include sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, and stannous fluoride.

[0030] Furthermore, liquid toothpaste may contain thickeners, solvents, fragrances, and sweeteners. Examples of thickeners include sodium carboxymethylcellulose. Examples of solvents include ethanol and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil. Examples of fragrances include peppermint fragrance. Examples of sweeteners include xylitol and sodium saccharin, which also have cavity-preventing effects.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the liquid toothpaste may contain polyphosphate. Cleansing the mouth with a liquid toothpaste containing polyphosphate makes it easier to remove staining substances from the tooth surface, prevents the adhesion of new staining substances, and promotes blood circulation in the gums. When the liquid toothpaste is 100 parts by weight, the amount of polyphosphate added may be 0.1 parts by weight or more and 20 parts by weight or less, and even better if it is between 0.5 parts by weight and 5 parts by weight.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the liquid toothpaste may also contain polyethylene glycol. Cleaning the mouth with a liquid toothpaste containing polyethylene glycol makes it easier to remove substances adhering to the tooth surface. When the liquid toothpaste is 100 parts by weight, the amount of polyethylene glycol added may be 0.5 parts by weight or more and 20 parts by weight or less, and even better if it is between 1 and 10 parts by weight.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the liquid toothpaste may contain a flavoring agent. By including a flavoring agent in the liquid toothpaste, the tooth cleaning tool of this embodiment has the function of preventing bad breath and imparting flavor to the oral cavity. When the liquid toothpaste is 100 parts by weight, the amount of flavoring agent added may be between 0.01 parts by weight and 5 parts by weight, and even better if it is between 0.1 parts by weight and 1 part by weight.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the liquid toothpaste may contain a fluoride compound. Examples of fluoride compounds include sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate. By containing a fluoride compound in the liquid toothpaste, the tooth cleaning tool of this embodiment has the function of fluoride coating the tooth surface. When the liquid toothpaste is 100 parts by weight, the amount of fluoride compound added should be between 0.01 parts by weight and 5 parts by weight in terms of fluoride ion concentration, and even better if it is between 0.1 parts by weight and 1 part by weight.

[0035] A liquid toothpaste containing the above-mentioned active ingredients in appropriate amounts is impregnated into a melamine resin foam sponge. Specifically, the liquid toothpaste is placed in a container and the melamine resin foam sponge is immersed in it. The immersion time can be, for example, between 1 minute and 2 hours, and between 5 minutes and 1 hour is even better. The impregnation temperature can be between 5°C and 40°C, and between 15°C and 30°C is even better.

[0036] The melamine resin foam sponge impregnated with liquid toothpaste is dried through a drying process. This drying process can involve dehydrating the melamine resin foam sponge impregnated with liquid toothpaste using methods such as vacuum drying or freeze-drying.

[0037] The melamine resin foam sponge is cut into appropriate sizes suitable for use either before or after the impregnation and drying processes with liquid toothpaste. For example, the melamine resin foam sponge can be cut into rectangular prism shapes with a long axis of 4 cm, a short axis of 1 cm, and a thickness of 0.5 cm.

[0038] Furthermore, the tooth cleaning tool 100, which is made of a dried melamine resin foam sponge, may be sterilized by a sterilization process if necessary. By going through the sterilization process, the growth of bacteria in the melamine resin foam sponge can be prevented. In addition, the sterilization process can pressurize and heat the melamine resin foam sponge, making it possible to obtain a melamine resin foam sponge with a higher density.

[0039] Next, the procedure for using the tooth surface cleaning tool 100 made of melamine resin foam sponge according to this embodiment will be described. First, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100 made of melamine resin foam sponge according to this embodiment should be soaked in water or doused with water immediately before use to return it from a dry state to a water-soaked state. In that state, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100 should be held by pinching it with your hand (fingers) or attached to a special jig and held by holding the jig, and the tooth surface should be rubbed against it to clean the tooth surface.

[0040] As described above, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100 of this embodiment is obtained by impregnating a melamine resin foam sponge with liquid toothpaste, heating and pressurizing it, and then drying it in a compressed state, thereby achieving the following effects.

[0041] Because the melamine foam sponge is made by drying (by heating) a material impregnated with liquid toothpaste, it does not need to be stored and distributed in sealed packaging such as bags, as is the case with conventional products. Therefore, the manufacturing process does not require the step of placing the melamine foam sponge in packaging and sealing it. Consequently, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by omitting the process of placing the melamine foam sponge in packaging and sealing it. In addition, since there is no need to open individual packaging when using the product, the effort involved in opening the packaging is eliminated, and the risk of generating packaging waste when opening is also eliminated. Furthermore, because the melamine foam sponge is compressed under pressure, it becomes more resistant to tearing, cleaning efficiency and durability are improved, and the holes become smaller when compressed.

[0042] [Second Embodiment: Electric Tooth Surface Cleaning Device] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an electric tooth surface cleaning device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 of this embodiment is mainly for electrically removing dirt such as plaque attached to the tooth surface, and as shown in Figure 2, it is composed of a main body 2, a head 3 rotatably provided at the tip of the main body 2, a drive system for rotating the head 3 (see Figure 4), and a tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 made of a melamine resin foam sponge attached to the head 3. In the following description, the arrow directions shown in Figure 2 will be referred to as "up and down" and "forward and backward."

[0043] The main body 2 consists of a bottomed cylindrical main body case 2A and a tapered cylindrical neck portion (handle) 2B extending upward from the upper end of the main body case 2A, with the head portion 3 provided at the upper end of the neck portion 2B. The main body 2 is made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyacetal (POM), and the neck portion 2B is detachably connected to the main body case 2A. As shown in Figure 2, an ON / OFF switch 4 for rotating / stopping the head portion 3 (mounting base 5) is provided at approximately the middle height of the main body 2.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the head unit 3 is equipped with a roughly cylindrical mounting base 5 that is rotatably supported. A tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 made of melamine resin foam sponge is detachably attached to this mounting base 5. The outer diameter D of the mounting base is set to approximately φ0.7 to 1.0 cm.

[0045] Next, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 to be attached to the head portion 3 will be described. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the head portion and the tooth surface cleaning tool to be attached thereto. The tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 shown in the figure is a tooth surface cleaning tool made by heating and pressurizing a melamine resin foam sponge impregnated with liquid toothpaste and drying it in a compressed state. Details such as its manufacturing method and composition are the same as those of the tooth surface cleaning tool 100 of the first embodiment.

[0046] The melamine resin foam sponge constituting the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 of this embodiment is cut to a shape and dimensions suitable for mounting on the mounting base 5, either before or after the process of impregnating it with liquid toothpaste and the drying process. For example, the melamine resin foam sponge can be cut into a roughly cylindrical shape with an axis length of approximately 1 cm and a diameter of approximately 1 cm. Note that the size and shape of the melamine resin foam sponge are examples only, and are not limited to those shown above, as long as they are of a size and shape suitable for use when mounted on the mounting base 5.

[0047] Furthermore, the tooth cleaning tool 100-2 of this embodiment is equipped with mounting means 6 for detachably attaching it to the mounting base 5 of the head portion 3. The mounting means 6 may be a hook-and-loop fastener or double-sided tape. As shown in the figure, if the mounting means 6 is a hook-and-loop fastener, one sheet member (male or female) 6a of the hook-and-loop fastener is provided on the upper end surface of the head portion 3, and the other sheet member (female or male) 6b of the hook-and-loop fastener is provided on the lower end surface of the tooth cleaning tool 100-2. The tooth cleaning tool 100-2 is then attached to the mounting base 5 of the head portion 5 by attaching the other sheet member 6b to the one sheet member 6a of the hook-and-loop fastener. If the mounting means is double-sided tape, although not shown in the figure, double-sided tape can be provided on the lower end surface of the tooth cleaning tool 100-2. Then, the release paper of the double-sided tape provided on the lower end surface of the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 is peeled off to expose the adhesive surface, and in this state, the adhesive surface is pressed against the upper end surface of the mounting base 5, thereby attaching and mounting the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 to the upper end surface of the mounting base 5.

[0048] On the other hand, when removing the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 attached to the mounting base 5, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 is pulled away from the mounting base 5 by pinching it with the hand or fingers, thereby removing the attachment (joining) by the mounting means 6, which consists of hook-and-loop fasteners or double-sided tape.

[0049] Next, the configuration of the drive system of the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 will be described. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the drive system of the electric tooth surface cleaning device. In the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 according to this embodiment, the head portion 3 is continuously rotated in one direction.

[0050] As shown in Figure 4, the main body case 2A of the main body 2 (see Figure 2) houses a battery 7 as a power source and an electric motor 8 that is driven by the power supplied by the battery 7, both in a vertical orientation. The output shaft (motor shaft) 8a extending upward from the center of the electric motor 8 passes through the neck portion 2B of the main body 2 to the head portion 3, and a bevel gear 20 is attached to its upper end. The battery 7 can be either a disposable primary battery or a rechargeable secondary battery.

[0051] Furthermore, the mounting base 5 of the head unit 3 is connected to a rotating shaft 21 that is arranged along the front-rear direction perpendicular to the output shaft 8a of the electric motor 8. A bevel gear 22 is attached to the front end of the rotating shaft 21, and this bevel gear 22 and bevel gear 20 mesh with each other. Here, the two meshing bevel gears 20 and 22 constitute a conversion mechanism that converts the rotation direction of the output shaft 8a of the electric motor 8 to a direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0052] Next, we will explain the procedure for using the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 configured as described above.

[0053] First, the tooth cleaning tool 100-2 made of melamine resin foam sponge in this embodiment, like the tooth cleaning tool 100 in the first embodiment, is returned to a moistened state from a dry state by soaking it in water or pouring water over it just before use. In that state, the tooth cleaning tool 100-2 is attached to the head portion 3 with fastening means 6 such as hook-and-loop fasteners.

[0054] Then, when the user grasps the case body 2A of the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 and presses the ON / OFF switch 4 once, power is supplied from the battery 7 to the electric motor 8, which starts up, and the output shaft 8a of the electric motor 8 rotates. The direction of rotation of this output shaft 8a is then converted to a direction perpendicular to the axis by the bevel gears 22 and 20 that constitute the conversion mechanism, and transmitted to the rotating shaft 21 and the head part 3 connected thereto, which are then driven to rotate.

[0055] In the above state, the user inserts the head portion 3 of the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 into their mouth and moves it while applying the upper end surface of the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2, which is mounted on the mounting base 5 of the rotating head portion 3, to the surface of the teeth. As a result, plaque and other dirt adhering to the surface of the teeth are easily and effectively removed by the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2, and the surface of the teeth is cleaned. The tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2, which is made of melamine resin foam sponge in this embodiment, is disposable and can be used several to more than ten times. Therefore, after the number of uses is complete, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 is removed from the mounting base 5 and discarded.

[0056] In this embodiment, if a motor 8 capable of forward and reverse rotation is used, and the polarity of the motor 8 is alternately switched by a switching means such as a switching circuit, the mounting base 5 of the head unit 3 can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions.

[0057] As described above, with the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 of this embodiment, the user simply inserts the head portion 3 of the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 into their mouth and moves the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2, which is mounted on a rotating or reciprocating mounting base 5, against the surface of the teeth, and the plaque attached to the surface of the teeth is easily and effectively removed by the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2. Therefore, the stains on the tooth surface can be removed very effectively with a simple configuration and operation.

[0058] In other words, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 mounted on the mounting base 5 of the head unit 3 is made of a melamine resin foam sponge, and by applying this melamine resin foam sponge to the tooth surface and rubbing, the substances adhering to the tooth surface can be effectively removed. Furthermore, this electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 does not require the same level of skill to operate as manual tooth surface cleaning tools or devices, so anyone, regardless of age or gender, from children to the elderly, can easily remove plaque and other stains from the tooth surface.

[0059] Furthermore, the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with mounting means 6 for detachably attaching a tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 made of melamine resin foam sponge to a mounting base 5. Since this mounting means 6 is a hook-and-loop fastener or double-sided tape, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 can be detachably attached to the mounting base 5 in a simple and inexpensive manner. Therefore, the work of replacing the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2, which is usually disposable after being used a few to a dozen times, can be performed very easily and quickly. In addition, when using the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1, the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 made of melamine resin foam sponge can be securely held to the mounting base 5, enabling more effective cleaning of the tooth surface.

[0060] [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the third embodiment and the corresponding drawings, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as or equivalent to those in the second embodiment, and detailed descriptions of those components will be omitted below. Furthermore, matters other than those described below, and matters not shown in the figures, are the same as in the second embodiment.

[0061] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the drive system of the electric tooth surface cleaning device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figures 6(a) to 6(c) show the operation (reciprocating rotational motion) of the head portion of the electric tooth surface cleaning device. Compared to the electric tooth surface cleaning device of the first embodiment, the electric tooth surface cleaning device of this embodiment differs only in the configuration of the drive system that drives the mounting base 5 of the head portion 3; all other configurations are the same.

[0062] As shown in Figure 5, in the electric tooth surface cleaning device of this embodiment, a gear 9 is attached to the upper end of the output shaft (motor shaft) 8a that extends upward from the center of the electric motor 8, and the gear 9 meshes with the ring gear 10.

[0063] The ring gear 10 is housed in the upper part of the main body case 2A and is rotatably supported around a rotating shaft 11 that is arranged in the front-rear direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 5). An eccentric cam 12 is attached to the rotating shaft 11, with its center located at an eccentric position of ε (as shown in the figure) relative to the center of the rotating shaft 11. A driven member 14 is attached to the lower end of a rod 13 that is inserted vertically into the neck portion 2B of the main body portion 2, and the eccentric cam 12 engages with an elongated hole 14a formed in this driven member 14.

[0064] Here, the gear 9, the ring gear 10, the eccentric cam 12, and the driven member 14 constitute a first mechanism for converting the rotation of the output shaft 8a of the electric motor 8 into reciprocating linear motion of the rod 13 in the vertical direction (direction of arrow A in Figure 5).

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the mounting base 5 of the head portion 3 is rotatably supported by a shaft 15 whose center is positioned in the front-rear direction, and an elongated hole 5a is formed on the back surface of the mounting base 5 along the radial direction. A roller 17 provided at the upper end (oscillating end) of the oscillating arm 16 is slidably fitted into this elongated hole 5a. The lower end (base end) of the oscillating arm 16 is pivotally attached to the neck portion 2B of the main body portion 2 by an oscillating shaft 18.

[0066] On the other hand, a bent portion 13A is formed at the upper end of the rod 13, and the upper end of this bent portion 13A is connected to the lower end (base end) of the swing arm 16 by a pin 19.

[0067] Here, the oscillating arm 16 constitutes a second mechanism for converting the vertical reciprocating linear motion of the rod 13 into reciprocating rotational motion of the head portion 3 (alternating forward and reverse motion within a predetermined angular range).

[0068] Then, when the user grasps the case body 2A of the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 and presses the ON / OFF switch 4 once, power is supplied from the battery 7 to the electric motor 8, which starts up, and the output shaft 8a of the electric motor 8 rotates. This rotation of the output shaft 8a is then reduced in speed via the gear 9 and ring gear 10 and transmitted to the rotating shaft 11, causing the rotating shaft 11 and the eccentric cam 12 connected to it to rotate.

[0069] As described above, when the eccentric cam 12 rotates within the elongated hole 14a of the driven member 14, the rotation of the eccentric cam 12 is converted via the driven member 14 into reciprocating linear motion of the rod 13 in the vertical direction (direction of arrow A in Figure 5) over a stroke S (=2ε). In other words, the rotation of the output shaft 8a of the electric motor 8 is converted into reciprocating linear motion of the rod 13 in the vertical direction by the first mechanism.

[0070] Then, the vertical reciprocating linear motion of the rod 13 is converted into a reciprocating rotational motion of the head unit 3 (mounting base 5) by the second mechanism, as will be explained below.

[0071] In other words, when the rod 13 moves upward by a stroke S from the neutral position shown in Figure 6(a), the swing arm 16 swings counterclockwise around the swing axis 18 as shown in Figure 6(b). As a result, the head portion 3, which is connected to the swing arm 16 via the roller 17, rotates clockwise around the axis 15 by the angle θ shown in the figure. At this time, the roller 17 provided at the tip of the swing arm 16 slides radially outward while rolling within the elongated hole 5a of the mounting base 5 provided on the head portion 3.

[0072] Conversely, when the rod 13 moves downward by a stroke S from the neutral position shown in Figure 6(a), the swing arm 16 swings clockwise around the swing axis 18 as shown in Figure 6(c). As a result, the head portion 3 (mounting base 5), which is connected to the swing arm 16 via the roller 17, rotates counterclockwise around the axis 15 by the angle θ shown in the figure. At this time, the roller 17 provided at the tip of the swing arm 16 slides radially outward while rolling within the elongated hole 5a of the mounting base 5. In this embodiment, the angle θ is set to 45°.

[0073] As described above, the vertical reciprocating linear motion of the rod 13 is converted by the second mechanism into reciprocating rotational motion of the head portion 3 within a predetermined angle 2θ (=90°). Therefore, when a user holds the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 in their hand and presses the ON / OFF switch 4 once to turn it ON, the electric motor 8 is started and the rotation of its output shaft 8a is converted by the first and second mechanisms into reciprocating rotational motion around the shaft 15 of the head portion 3 (mounting base 5).

[0074] In the above state, when the user inserts the head portion 3 of the electric tooth surface cleaning device 1 into their mouth and moves it while applying the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 of the reciprocating rotating head portion 3 (mounting base 5) to the surface of the teeth, plaque and other dirt attached to the surface of the teeth are easily and effectively removed by the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2.

[0075] Furthermore, if the user presses the ON / OFF switch 4 again after the tooth surface cleaning device 1 has finished removing plaque, the power supply from the battery 7 to the electric motor 8 is cut off, and the rotation of the electric motor 8 and the head unit 3 (mounting base 5) stops.

[0076] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, specification and drawings. For example, in the above embodiments, the mounting base 5 of the head portion 3 and the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2 are rotated or reciprocated to remove dirt adhering to the tooth surface, but high-speed vibrations (high-frequency vibrations) such as ultrasonic vibrations may be applied simultaneously to the rotating or reciprocating mounting base 5 of the head portion 3 and the tooth surface cleaning tool 100-2.

Claims

1. An electric tooth surface cleaning device for cleaning teeth, The main body comprises a main case and a tapered neck portion extending from one end of the main case, A head portion is rotatably provided at the tip of the aforementioned neck portion, A tooth surface cleaning tool that is detachably attached to the mounting base of the head portion, Mounting means for detachably attaching the tooth surface cleaning tool to the mounting base, The main body case includes a battery and an electric motor, and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotation of the electric motor into rotational motion or reciprocating rotational motion of the mounting base. The tooth cleaning tool is made by heating and pressurizing a melamine resin foam sponge impregnated with liquid toothpaste and drying it in a compressed state. The aforementioned attachment means is a hook-and-loop fastener, The mounting base is cylindrical in shape and has a mounting surface with an outer diameter of 0.7 to 1.0 cm. The tooth surface cleaning tool is a cylindrical body having an adhesive surface at one end that is attached to the surface to be adhered to, and a wave-like pattern of irregularities formed on the surface of the other end by pressing with a mold during the pressurizing process. An electric tooth surface cleaning device characterized by the following features.

2. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the conversion mechanism that converts the rotation of the electric motor into the rotation of the mounting base is composed of a bevel gear that converts the rotation direction of the output shaft of the electric motor into a direction perpendicular to the axis.

3. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to Claim 1, wherein the conversion mechanism that converts the rotation of the electric motor into the reciprocating rotational motion of the mounting base comprises a first mechanism that converts the rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor into the reciprocating linear motion of a rod, and a second mechanism that converts the reciprocating linear motion of the rod into the oscillating motion of an oscillating arm.

4. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the first mechanism comprises a gear connected to the output shaft of the electric motor, a ring gear that meshes with the gear, an eccentric cam whose rotation center is at a point eccentric from the rotation center of the ring gear, and a driven member having an elongated hole into which the eccentric cam engages, and the second mechanism comprises a swing arm whose swing end is slidably fitted into an elongated hole formed radially in the mounting base, one point of the base end is rotatably connected to the tip of the rod, and the other point of the base end is supported so as to be swingable about a swing axis.

5. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the liquid toothpaste contains a polyphosphate.

6. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the liquid toothpaste contains polyethylene glycol.

7. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the liquid toothpaste contains a flavoring agent.

8. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the liquid toothpaste contains a fluoride compound.

9. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the melamine resin foam sponge is dried by vacuum drying or freeze drying.

10. The electric tooth surface cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the melamine resin foam sponge is compressed to about 1 / 4 of its original volume by the pressurization.

Images