GB2597544A

GB2597544A - An electric toothbrush

Info

Publication number: GB2597544A
Application number: GB2015746.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Asare Osei Claudia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-10-05
Filing date: 2020-10-05
Publication date: 2022-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-05
Also published as: GB202015746D0; GB2597544B

Abstract

The invention discloses a dental hygiene device 1 comprising a U-shaped mouthpiece 50 configured to receive one or both dental arches in use, a first reservoir 30 for storing cleaning fluid and a second reservoir 40 for storing waste fluid. A pump apparatus 100 is configured to deliver fluid from the first reservoir to the mouthpiece and to drain fluid from the mouthpiece to the second reservoir. Bristles 56 may be oriented at different angles on the mouthpiece facing towards the user’s teeth, such that cleaning may be achieved by chewing. Cleaning may also be achieved via components which generate ultrasonic vibrations to dislodge food and scale. Fluid may be dispensed from and returned to the reservoirs via the same single conduit 120, using a combination of one-way valves and a peristaltic pump 150 to control the direction of fluid flow.

Description

AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to an electric toothbrush device for personal dental care.

Backaround

Toothbrushes are used for regular personal oral hygiene (and are generally a distinct class of devices from those used for professional mouthcare such as by dental hygienists or dental surgeons). Electric toothbrush devices are now commonplace and typically include a battery and motor which vibrate and/or oscillate and/or rotate a brush head to clean the teeth. Many users find electric toothbrushes to be of greater convenience than manual brushing. Further, depending upon effective use, electric toothbrushes may provide improved cleaning and clinical effectiveness.

Electric toothbrushes may also be useful for those with limited or compromised dexterity for example the elderly, disabled or infirm; however, even with the use of conventional electric toothbrushes maintaining oral hygiene may remain challenging.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an improved electric toothbrush specifically adapted or optimised for use by those which may provide advantages is cleaning and/or disinfection and/or sanitisation and ease of use.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an electric toothbrush comprising a mouthpiece comprising a generally u-shaped member configured to receive one or both dental arches in use; a first reservoir for storing cleaning fluid and a second reservoir for storing waste fluid.

The toothbrush further comprises a pump apparatus configured to deliver fluid from the first reservoir to the mouthpiece and to return fluid from the mouthpiece to the second reservoir.

Due to the combination of reservoirs for cleaning fluid and waste fluid and a pump apparatus to circulate fluid therebetween to the mouthpiece, embodiments of the invention may provide a self-contained electric toothbrush apparatus. For example, embodiments may be used as a portable teeth cleaning device which does not require a separate supply of liquid or a basin for waste. This may for example, be of use for personal dental care when traveling and access to clean water may be uncertain. Further, embodiments may be of particular use for the elderly, infirm or those with limited dexterity for such users a particular advantage of embodiments of the invention may be that the pump and waste fluid reservoir may help to avoid the undesirable build up of fluid and/or saliva in the mouth during teeth cleaning.

The mouthpiece may include at least one U-shaped recess to receive a dental arch in use. For example, the mouthpiece may comprise first and second U-shaped recesses on opposing sides to respectively receive an upper and lower dental arch in use.

The mouthpiece may further comprise cleaning bristles extending into the, or each, recess.

The toothbrush may further comprise a motor for providing a cleaning action. For example, the motor may be configured for transmitting a vibrational input to the mouthpiece (alternatively or additionally the motor could actively move the bristles, but it will be appreciated that this may increase the complexity of the toothbrush). The vibrating means may include an ultrasonic vibrating device. A vibration plate may be embedded within the mouthpiece to transfer vibrations from the motor. The ultrasonic vibrating device or mechanical vibrator help achieve deeper cleaning as vibrations that helps to dislodge food and scale.

In some embodiments, bristles are oriented at different angles and cleaning is enhanced by chewing the brush so that bristles brush against different parts of the teeth and mouth.

The mouth piece may also be tightened and loosened in order to vary its grip onto the teeth, so that when it moves from side to side and up and down a more effective clean can be achieved.

The pump apparatus may further comprise a manifold having an inlet for the first reservoir, an outlet for the second reservoir. The manifold may have a common conduit from the pump apparatus to the mouthpiece. The common conduit may be in communication with a single line extending from the pump apparatus to the mouthpiece. As such a common line may be used for both providing and returning fluid to/from the mouthpiece which may provide embodiments with a simplified configuration.

Optionally passageways or conduits are provided among the bristles or in the bristles themselves which allow liquid or cleaning fluid to be dispensed into the mouth and across the teeth and tongue. In some embodiments waste water is removed via the passageways or conduits for collection into the waste reservoir.

The pump apparatus may comprise a single pump for both fluid discharge and return of fluid. The pump may for example act on the common conduit (or a line associated therewith). For example, the pump may be a peristatic pump.

The invention therefore enables handsfree cleaning of the mouth, teeth, tongue and gum line and then enables the user or operator to remove waste liquid, cleaning fluid or toothpaste and food debris.

Ideally bristles are angled in different directions, so that the user can move their jaw in order to achieve brushing action of the bristles against their teeth and interior of the mouth. The chewing and chomping motion therefore further helps to clean the gums and teeth. The manifold may include non-return valves on the inlet and the outlet. The use of non-return (or check valves) ensures that reversal of the pump direction will either pump liquid from the cleaning fluid reservoir or returns liquid to the waste reservoir. The non-return valves may be flexible diaphragm or duckbill valves.

The electric toothbrush may further comprise a body enclosing at least the pump apparatus and first and second reservoir. The body may also enclose a battery. The first and second reservoirs may be removably mounted within the body.

The mouthpiece may be removably attached to the body of the toothbrush. The mouthpiece may for example be a consumable component which is periodically replaced by the user. The body and mouthpiece may have an attachment interface including a transfer member for transferring drive from the vibration motor and a fluid connection for a fluid line extending from the pump apparatus to the mouthpiece.

The electric toothbrush may further comprise a vacuum suction nozzle. The vacuum suction nozzle may be selectively attachable to the body, for example in place of the mouthpiece. A vacuum suction nozzle attachment may be particularly useful for the elderly, disabled or infirm to allow extraction of any excess fluid in the mouth after use of the toothbrush.

The toothbrush may further comprise a user control for selecting between operational modes. The user control may be a button formed in the body of the toothbrush. The user control may be mounted on a controlling printed circuit board (PCB) or processor which interfaces with at least the battery, pump apparatus and the toothbrush motor.

The control may enable switching between at least a first operational mode in which the pump apparatus delivers fluid from the first reservoir to the mouthpiece and a second operational mode in which the pump apparatus returns fluid from the mouthpiece to the second reservoir.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description or drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention may be performed in various ways, and an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of an electric toothbrush and attachments in accordance with an embodiment; and Figures 2a, 23 and 2C are partially exploded and cross-sectional views of the toothbrush of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

As seen in Figure 1, embodiments of the invention provide an electric toothbrush 1. The toothbrush has a plastic body 10 having a generally triangular or wedge-shaped profile with an attachment point 12 at a first end and broad base (for stability when stood up) at the other end 14. The base end 14 includes a charging interface for connection to an induction type charging dock 20 (of a similar type which are known in the field of electric toothbrushes).

A user control interface 16 is provided in a mid-portion of the body 10. The base end 14 of the body also includes a pair of reservoirs 30 and 40. A mouthpiece toothbrush attachment 50 is provided and attaches to the attachment point 12 in use via a complementary interface 52 in the neck 53 of the attachment 50. An optional vacuum suction attachment 60 may also be provided and can attach to the same attachment point 12 via a corresponding interface 62 formed in its neck 63.

The mouthpiece attachment 50 has a head portion 54 with a generally U-shaped configuration. As such the head portion 54 has a profile which substantially matches the size and shape of the dental arch. Optionally, a variety of size or shaped mouthpiece attachments could be available for a variety of end users (for example an adult and a child size). Within the head portion 54 a U-shaped recess 55 is defined into which the teeth of a user are received in use.

Although, not visible in figure 1, it will be appreciated that the reverse side of the head 54 would normally carry a corresponding recess such that both the upper and lower dental arches can be received within the mouthpiece simultaneously (although alternatively a single sided device could be possible in which the upper and lower arches are cleaned independently).

A plurality of bristles 56, arranged in a series of spaced apart tufts, are provided extending into the recess 55. The bristles 56 are generally arranged to project radially from the side walls of the recess 55. As seen in Figure 2, within the mouthpiece head 54 there is embedded a relatively rigid U-shaped plate 59 (for example formed of sheet metal) which acts to transfer vibrational forces to the mouthpiece head 54 and bristles 56 which are ideally formed from nylon or a similar synthetic plastics material. Within the U-shaped profile of the head portion 54 a tongue cleaning feature 58 may be provided. A number of openings 57 are provided in spaced apart locations along the recess 55 of the head portion 54 which serve as fluid inlets/outlets as will be described in further detail below.

The functional features of the toothbrush 1 are best seen in the partial cross sections and exploded views of figures 2a, 2b and 2c. The body 10 of the toothbrush is formed of two moulded plastic housing potions 102 and 10 b which have a generally clamshell type construction. The reservoirs 30 and 40 are removably attached to the body 10 (for example having a snap fit arrangement) and are formed of transparent or semitransparent plastic material such that the user can see the fill level of each reservoir.

Within the body 10 a battery 90 is mounted and which may have a profile that matches the shape of the housing. The battery supplies power to both a vibration motor 80 and a pump assembly 100. The battery, motor and pump assembly are controlled via a PCB 17 to which is mounted the user interface 16 (which as will be explained below may include separate buttons for the motor, pump function and vacuum function). As can be noted in figure 2b, the user interface 16 extends outwardly from the PCB 17 to be received in an aperture formed in the housing portion 10b.

The pump assembly 100 includes a manifold 110, and a pump 150. The manifold 110 defines a first port 113 which is in fluid communication with a conduit 130 extending to the first reservoir 30, a second port 114 which is in fluid communication with a conduit 140 extending to the second reservoir 40 and a third port 112 which is in fluid communication with the attachment point 12 (via the pump 150). Non-return valves 132 and 142 are mounted within the body of the manifold 110 and associated respectively with the ports 113 and 114 which lead to the reservoirs 30 and 40. The non-return valves 132 and 142 ensure that the first port 113 is an outlet and the second port 114 is an inlet.

A flexible tubing 120 extends from the port 112 and passes around to a reverse side of the pump apparatus (as shown in Figure 2a) to the pump 150. The pump 150 is a peristatic pump which can operate in either direction to cause flow through the flexible tubing 120. As may be appreciated a peristatic pump 150 operates by moving a rotor against the flexible tubing 120 to force fluid through the tubing. Beyond the pump 150 a portion 122 of the tubing 120 extends to an interface 11 (which as will be explained can selectively function as an inlet or an outlet) at the attachment point 12 which can sealing engage and form a fluid path into an attachment such as the mouthpiece 50 or vacuum attachment 60 via a corresponding interface 51 or 61 which extends into a conduit through the attachment.

Depending upon the rotational direction of the pump 150 fluid may be drawn in either direction through the tube 120. If the pump 150 operates in a first direction fluid is drawn through the flexible tubing 120 from the port 112 of the manifold 110 to the outlet/interface 11. In this mode the non-return valve 132 will prevent flow from the outlet 113 (and therefore the reservoir 30) but non-return valve 143 will allow fluid to be drawn into the manifold 110 from the reservoir 40 via inlet 114 and conduit 140. If the pump operates in the second (opposing) direction fluid is drawn through the flexible tubing 120 from the inlet/interface 11 to the port 112 the manifold 110. In this mode the non-return valve 142 will prevent flow to the inlet 114 (and therefore the reservoir 40) but non-return valve 142 will allow fluid to be expelled from the manifold 110 to the reservoir 30 via outlet 113 and conduit 130.

In use, a user will ensure that a mouthpiece 50 is attached to the body 10. A tooth cleaning fluid is provided in the cleaning fluid reservoir 40. The cleaning fluid may be a special substance or may simply be a mixture of water and toothpaste. The user activates the dispense function using the interface 16 which causes the pump 150 to activate a draw cleaning liquid from the reservoir 40 and out through the interface 11 and 51 along the neck 53 of the attachment and is delivered into the recess(es) 55 of the mouthpiece via openings 57.

The user then activates the brushing mode using the interface 16 which activates the vibration motor 80 which passes motion through the mouthpiece 50 via the embedded member 59. Once brushing is complete, the user may again use the interface 16 and switch the toothbrush 1 to a drainage mode. In this mode the pimp 150 operates in the reverse direction (relative to the dispense mode) and causes fluid to be drawn in through the openings 57 of the mouthpiece 50 into the waste reservoir 30 via the interface 51/11, tubing 120 and manifold 110. The waste liquid may then be safely retained in the body 10 of the toothbrush 1 until the user has a convenient opportunity to empty the device.

Particularly in the case of the elderly, infirm or disabled user who may not be able to maintain their head in an upright position, build-up of fluid in the mouth may occur which cannot be easily extracted by the mouthpiece 50. In such instances the user can interchange the mouthpiece 50 with the vacuum suction nozzle attachment 60. The vacuum suction nozzle includes an elongated neck 65 and a non-return valve (which may for example be integrated into the nozzle at the tip 64). Thus, the suction nozzle can be used to reach into rearward parts of the mouth and extract any remaining excess liquid after brushing.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, whilst references to a user above generally refer to the person whose teeth are being cleaned it will also be appreciated that as the device has particular utility elderly, infirm or disabled the user may be a carer or the like. However, even in such circumstances it will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention provide a simple to use device which does not require a specialist user and can therefore be used for regular individual dental care.

Claims

Claims 1. An electric toothbrush comprising: a mouthpiece comprising a generally u-shaped member configured to receive one or both dental arches in use; a first reservoir for storing cleaning fluid; a second reservoir for storing waste fluid; and a pump apparatus configured to deliver fluid from the first reservoir to the mouthpiece and to return fluid from the mouthpiece to the second reservoir.
2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises first and second U-shaped recesses on opposing sides to respectively receive an upper and lower dental arch in use.
3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises cleaning bristles extending into the, or each, recess.
4. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a motor for transmitting a vibrational input to the mouthpiece.
5. The electric toothbrush of claim 1. 2 or 3, further comprising an ultrasonic vibrating device for transmitting a vibrational input to the mouthpiece.
6. The electric toothbrush of claim 4 or 5, wherein a vibration plate is embedded within the mouthpiece to transfers vibrations from the motor.
7. The electric toothbrush of any preceding claim, wherein the pump apparatus further comprises a manifold having an inlet for the first reservoir, an outlet for the second reservoir and a common conduit from the pump apparatus to the mouthpiece.
8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the pump apparatus comprises a single pump for both fluid discharge and return of fluid.
9. The electric toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the pump acts on the common conduit.
10. The electric toothbrush of claim 9, wherein the pump comprises a peristatic pump.
11. The electric toothbrush of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the manifold further comprises non-return valves on the inlet and outlet.
12. The electric toothbrush of any preceding claim, further comprising a body enclosing at least the pump apparatus and first and second reservoir.
13. The electric toothbrush of claim 12, wherein the first and second reservoirs are removable mounted within the body.
14. The electric toothbrush of claim 12 or 13, wherein the mouthpiece is removably attached to the body of the toothbrush.
15. The electric toothbrush of any preceding claim further comprising a vacuum suction nozzle.
16. The electric toothbrush of claim 14 or 15 wherein the vacuum suction nozzle is selectively attachable to the body in place of the mouthpiece.
17. The electric toothbrush of any preceding claim, further comprising a user control for selecting between a first operational mode in which the pump apparatus delivers fluid from the first reservoir to the mouthpiece and a second operational mode in which the pump apparatus returns fluid from the mouthpiece to the second reservoir.