WO2005067813A1

WO2005067813A1 - Foldable electrical toothbrush

Info

Publication number: WO2005067813A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/000225
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregor John Mclennan Anderson
Original assignee: Glaxo Group Ltd
Current assignee: Glaxo Group Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-13
Filing date: 2005-01-11
Publication date: 2005-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2006-07-13
Also published as: GB0400691D0

Abstract

An electric toothbrush incorporating a hinge intermediate between its ends, so that the toothbrush is in the form of a head part incorporating a brush head, and a handle part, the toothbrush being foldable about the hinge so that the toothbrush may adopt an unfolded configuration with the first and second ends more distanced, and a folded configuration with the first and second ends less distanced.

Description

Toothbrush This invention relates to toothbrushes, in particular to electrically powered toothbrushes. Electrically powered toothbrushes generally comprise an elongate housing defining a handle which contains inter alia a power supply and a drive motor, and a brush head connected to the handle and which incorporates one or more oral hygiene tool to be driven by the motor. Often the housing comprises a neck between the brush head and the handle. Generally the housing also includes a transmission means such as a gear system with a drive shaft between the oral hygiene tool and the motor by means of which rotary motion from the motor is transmitted to the brush head to thereby move the oral hygiene tool in a suitable oral hygiene motion. Numerous types of oral hygiene motion are known. For example the brush head may be moved in rotary motion about a rotation axis transverse to the handle- head part, which may be oscillatory rotary, i.e. motion involving reciprocal angular displacement about a mean position. Suitable means for achieving such oscillatory motion are well known in commercially available electric toothbrushes. Sometimes the rotary motion also involves a reciprocal back and forth movement of the oral hygiene tool along the rotational axis direction. Often the brush head is replaceable. For example the brush head may be replaceably connectable to the end of the head part remote from the handle.

Alternatively the brush head may be integral with the neck, and the neck may be replaceably connectable to the handle. The term "oral hygiene tool" as used herein refers to a part which contributes to oral hygiene, for example by cleaning the teeth, gums or other oral tissues, and/or polishing or whitening the teeth, and/or massaging the gums or other oral tissues. Numerous types of oral hygiene tool are known. Bristles, generally arranged in tufts, are the most common type of oral hygiene tool but other types are known. Electrically powered toothbrushes suffer from various problems. They tend to be bulky, in particular having their batteries, motor, transmission and head arranged generally longitudinally resulting in an inconveniently elongate shape, which can be unstable if stood upright with their end opposite the head as a base. Electrically powered toothbrushes normally have an on-off control and this can be inadvertently actuated e.g. by pressure if the toothbrush is packed in luggage, leading to draining of battery power. In common with all toothbrushes, electrically powered toothbrushes have an oral hygiene tool such as a cluster of bristles which is easily damaged or can become contaminated by contact with its environment. It is known to make a manual, i.e. non-electrically powered, toothbrush in a construction which allows it to be folded into a more compact form. See for example BR-A-9802693, DE-U-29914169, DE-A-4435418, EP-A-0 0 20 268, EP-A-0 056 069, EP-A-0 235 671, EP-A-0 389 711, FI-A-9801106, GB-A-2 222 765, JP-A- 0729824, RU-C-2039503, RU-C-2039215, RU-C-2039516, RU-C-2043060, SU- 1761110, SU-A-1808294, US-A-4,850,074, US-A-4,924,547, US-A-4,979,258, US- A-5,382,107, US-A-5,432,971, US-A-5,464,294, US-A-5,476,334, US-A-5,735,298, US-A-6,643,887 and ZA-A-9807601. It is also known to make an electrically powered toothbrush in a folding form e.g. JP-A-4058902 which discloses an electrically powered toothbrush with two hinged casings, one containing a battery power source, the other containing a motor with a projecting drive shaft. The housings also define a recess to enclose a brush head. The construction of the toothbrush of JP-A-4058902 is awkward and inconvenient. It is an object of this invention to provide an electrically powered toothbrush that addresses these problems. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. According to this invention an electrically powered toothbrush is provided having a first end and an opposite second end, with an oral hygiene tool adjacent the first end, and comprising a housing which encloses an electric motor, a transmission means to communicate motion from the motor to the oral hygiene tool, and an electricity supply for the electric motor, characterised in that; the toothbrush incorporates a hinge intermediate between the first and second ends, so that the toothbrush is in the form of a head part which comprises the part of the toothbrush between the hinge and the first end, and a handle part which comprises the part of the toothbrush between the hinge and the second end, the toothbrush being foldable about the hinge so that the toothbrush may adopt an unfolded configuration with the first and second ends more distanced, and a folded configuration with the first and second ends less distanced. The handle part may be conventionally profiled for convenient grip by the user during use in toothbrushing. The head part and handle part may be of approximately the same length. The hinge may be of conventional construction, for example comprising an axle about which the head part and base part may relatively rotate. Alternate constructions of hinge may include a so called "live" or film hinge. The hinge is preferably located between the electricity supply and the motor, so that the electricity supply is enclosed in the handle part, and the motor is enclosed in the handle part. This provides a convenient distribution of the toothbrush components. The electricity supply may comprise one or more conventional replaceable or rechargeable battery cell(s). When the hinge is in this position it may be of a construction that allows electricity to be conducted from the electricity supply to the motor in the head part across the hinge. Suitable hinges to allow this are known, e.g. from commercially available battery torches of the type in which the bulb- containing head can be folded relative to a battery containing handle, "clamshell" electronic organisers in which electric signals and power are transferred between a part of the organiser that contains a battery, and a part hinged thereto and including a screen. One form of such a hinge comprises a ring-shaped conductor around the axle, and a conducting electrode which can slide in conducting contact with this ring- shaped conductor as the handle part and head part move relative to each other about the hinge. Alternative means to provide electrically conducting contact between the electricity supply and the motor when the first and second ends are in their unfolded configuration, e.g. respective electrical contacts on the first and second ends which come together when the first and second ends are in their unfolded configuration. The toothbrush is preferably constructed such that when it is converted from its folded to its unfolded configuration the head part and handle part rotate relative to each other through an angle 160 - 200°, preferably through 180 +/-5°, relative to each other. This angle of rotation provides the advantage of a particularly compact construction because the toothbrush can be folded into a folded form approximately half the length of the unfolded configuration. Preferably in the folded configuration the first end and the second end are adjacent. Preferably the oral hygiene tool and the second end are adjacent in the folded configuration. This provides the advantage that with the second end adjacent to the oral hygiene tool the second end can be adapted to protect the oral hygiene tool. For example the second end can incorporate a cavity that can enclose the oral hygiene tool in the folded configuration. For example the brush head may comprise a base on which are mounted bristles in the form of elongate filaments extending in a bristle length direction, the base being movable in an oral hygiene motion such as rotary, the bristle direction may be transverse to, e.g. within 75-90° of, an axis running between the first and second ends in the unfolded configuration, and the handle part may incorporate a cavity that can enclose the bristles in the folded configuration. Such a construction of. A brush head of such a construction may be mounted on the head part in an operating position, i.e. driveably connected to motor, even when the toothbrush is in its folded configuration, requiring only unfolding of the folded toothbrush and activation of the motor to drive the brush head. Such a construction is an advantage over e.g. JP-A- 4058902 in which the brush head needs to be disengaged from a storage position in a recess in the folded toothbrush and connected to a drive shaft of the motor for use. In its folded configuration the head part and handle part have adjacent facing surfaces which shield each other from accidental contact or pressure from the environment. Preferably the on-off switch, and any other toothbrush control(s) which the toothbrush may have, is/are located in one or both of these surfaces. This location conveniently protects the switch and/or control from inadvertent operation. Alternatively the toothbrush may incorporate a switch of known type which automatically switches the motor on when the toothbrush is converted into its unfolded configuration. Preferably the toothbrush is constructed such that it can be releasably locked into its folded configuration during non-use, and into its unfolded configuration during use. For example to achieve this the hinge may apply frictional resistance against return to the folded configuration. For example the head part and handle part may incorporate locking features e.g. snap-lock parts to releasably lock the toothbrush into its unfolded configuration. In its folded configuration adjacent surfaces of the head part and handle part may comprise a base upon which the toothbrush may be stood. Such surfaces may be profiled so that the toothbrush is stable when stood in this way. If the motor is in the head part and the batteries are in the handle part then the toothbrush construction described herein causes the batteries and handle to be horizontally adjacent rather than vertically adjacent when the toothbrush is stood in this way, consequently having a low centre of gravity. The motor, transmission means and oral hygiene tool may be entirely conventional. The toothbrush may comprise a housing enclosing the motor, transmission means and battery in a conventional manner. Conveniently the toothbrush of the invention may have its brush head mounted on the head part in an operating position, i.e. driveably connected to motor, even when the toothbrush is in its folded configuration, requiring only unfolding of the folded toothbrush and activation of the motor to drive the brush head. The components of the toothbrush of this invention may be made of materials such as plastics, elastomeric materials, metals etc. which are conventional in the field of electrically powered toothbrushes. The oral hygiene tool may be replaceably connected to the head part. For example the head part may incorporate a neck longitudinally adjacent to the oral hygiene tool, and this neck part may be replaceably connectable to the remainder of the head part in a conventional manner, e.g. by a bayonet connection. A housing comprising a head part which is replaceably connectable to such an oral hygiene tool is an aspect of this invention. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 which respectively shows schematically an electrically powered toothbrush of this invention in unfolded and folded configurations. Fig. 3 shows a side view of the folded configuration looking in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2. Parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are listed below. 10 electrically powered toothbrush overall 11 housing 12 housing wall 13 first end 14 second end 15 oral hygiene tool 16 base 17 support 18 electric motor 19 gearbox 110 drive shaft 111 battery cells 112 hinge 113 axle 114 flat base 115 cavity 116, 117 facing surfaces 118 on-off switch 119 optional cavity 120 recharging contacts 121 connection 122 split line 123 internal cavity 20 head part 30 handle part Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 an electrically powered toothbrush is shown overall 10. Toothbrush 10 comprises a housing 11 which is elongate along direction A- A and defined by a thin plastics material housing wall 12 (part shown). The housing 11 has a first end 13 and a opposite second end 14. Adjacent first end 13 of housing 11 is mounted a brush head which comprises an oral hygiene tool 15 which comprises a conventional cluster of bristles mounted on a base 16 which is rotatably supported by support 17 in a conventional manner. The housing 11 encloses an electric motor 18 of a conventional rotary type commonly used in electrically powered toothbrushes. Housing 11 also encloses a transmission means to communicate motion from the motor to the oral hygiene tool. The transmission means comprises an optional gearbox 19 which communicates rotary motion from motor 18 to drive shaft 110. Support 17 converts rotary motion of shaft 19 into oscillatory rotary motion of the base 17 and oral hygiene tool 15. This transmission means is conventional in electrically powered toothbrushes. Housing 11 also encloses plural conventional battery cells 111, e.g. two AA cells which provide an electricity supply for the electric motor 18. Housing 11 may be openable in a generally conventional manner to allow the cells 111 to be replaced. Various conventional internal bulkheads, supports etc. inside housing 11 are omitted for clarity. Such bulkheads, supports etc. are well known in the art of conventional electric toothbrushes for example to hold the batteries 111, motor 18, shaft 110 etc. securely in place, and their construction will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The housing incorporates a hinge 112 longitudinally intermediate between the first and second ends 13, 14 to enable the housing 11 to be folded about the hinge, the unfolded configuration being shown in Fig. 1 with the first and second ends 13,14 more distanced, and a folded configuration shown in Fig. 2 with the first and second ends 13,14 less distanced. Fig. 1 shows how the toothbrush 10 is in the form of a head part 20 which comprises the part of the housing 11 between the hinge 112 and the first end 13, and a handle part 30 which comprises the part of the housing 11 between the hinge 112 and the second end 14. The hinge 112 is of conventional construction comprising an axle 113 aligned peφendicular to the plane of the drawings, and about which the head part 20 and handle part 30 relatively rotate. It is seen that when the housing 11 is converted from its folded Fig. 2 to its unfolded Fig. 1 configuration and vice versa the head part 20 and handle part 30 rotate relative to each other through an ca. 180° relative to each other. It is seen that in its folded Fig. 2 form the toothbrush 10 is in a compact form approximately half the length of the unfolded Fig. 1 configuration, much more convenient for a ash-bag etc. The hinge 112 has sufficient friction that the toothbrush 10 remains in either its folded or unfolded configuration unless converted into the other state by the user. It is seen in Fig. 1 that the bristles of which oral hygiene tool 15 consists, i.e. conventional elongate nylon filaments, extend in a bristle length direction indicated by an arrow which is transverse to, e.g. within 75-90° of, the axis A - - A running between the first and second ends in the unfolded configuration seen in Fig. 1. In the embodiment shown the bristle direction is peφendicular to this axis A- -A. It can also be seen in Figs. 1 and 2 that the brush head, i.e. base 16 is mounted on the head part 20 in an operating position, i.e. driveably connected to motor 18, even when the toothbrush is in its folded configuration seen in Fig. 2, requiring only unfolding of the folded toothbrush into the configuration shown in Fig. 1 and activation of the motor to drive the base 16 e.g. in rotary motion. Handle part 30 is profiled for convenient grip by the user during use in toothbrushing. It is also seen that in its folded non-use state of Fig. 2 the adjacent surfaces of the head part 20 and handle part 30 form a generally flat base 114 upon which the folded toothbrush may be stood when not in use, with the ends 13,14 uppermost. It will be appreciated that the base 114 may be provided with e.g. feet for this puφose. It will also be appreciated that when standing in this way the centre of gravity of the folded toothbrush will be relatively low as the batteries 110 and motor are approximately level with each other, resulting in stability. Fig. 3 shows the side view, with internal components shown hatched, showing the particularly compact shape. The hinge 112 is located between the battery cells 110 and the motor 16 and is of a construction that allows electricity to be conducted from the electricity supply to the motor in the head part across the hinge. For example the axle 112 may incoφorate conductive parts (not shown) which are in conductive contact with leads (not shown) from the batteries 110 and motor 18. In the folded configuration of Fig. 2 the second end 13 and the first end 14 are adjacent, with the oral hygiene tool 15 and the second end 14 adjacent. The second end 13 incoφorates a cavity 115 that encloses and protects the oral hygiene tool 15 in the folded configuration. The cavity has an open mouth to receive the oral hygiene tool 15, and extends into the second end 13 in a depth direction which has substantially the same orientation as the bristles 15 in the folded state seen in Fig. 2, and cavity 115 has a size comparable to that of the bristles 15, i.e. to closely enclose bristles 15. A seal (not shown) may be provided between the rim of the cavity 115 and the adjacent surfaces of the head part to prevent contamination of the tool 15 or escape of water etc. when the tool 15 is enclosed in cavity 15. Alternatively cavity 15 may be open to the atmosphere via one or more pores (not shown) to allow access of air to the tool 15, e.g. to allow bristles 15 to dry after use and to prevent build up of odours. Cavity 115 may be used to contain a sterilising material e.g. on a pad (not shown) in cavity 115 to inhibit growth of micro-organisms on the tool. In its folded configuration the head part 20 and handle part 30 have adjacent facing surfaces, 116,117. An on-off switch 118 is located in the surface 116 and is shielded by surface 117, which is shown having an optional cavity 119 to receive switch 118, to protect the switch 118 from inadvertent activation by accidental contact or pressure e.g. when stowed in luggage. Connections between the switch 118, batteries 110 and motor 18 are conventional and are not shown. In use the toothbrush 10 may be stored in the folded configuration of Fig. 2, then unfolded into the configuration of Fig. 1. The user can hold the toothbrush by handle part 30, switch on the motor 18 using switch 118, use the toothbrush, then switch off the motor 18 and return the toothbrush to the folded configuration of Fig. 2. If the cells 110 are rechargeable then recharging contacts 120 may be located in the base 114 to allow connection to a charging station (not shown). This has the further advantage that when the toothbrush is in the unfolded state of Fig. 1 charging contacts positioned in this location are shielded by the adjacent facing end surfaces of the head and handle parts 20,30. Head part 20 may include a conventional connection 121 at which the oral hygiene tool 15 and adjacent part of the head part 20 may be replaceably connected. The shape of the toothbrush as shown is purely representative, and the aesthetics may be different to suit taste and style. The toothbrush 10 may be made in a conventional manner, e.g. making the each of the head and handle parts 20,30 as moulded half-shells cut in the plane of the drawing, and assembling these part shells at the split line 122 to enclose the components. Various modifications of the toothbrush construction shown will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are encompassed within this invention. For example it will be appreciated that a substantial internal cavity 123 can exist within the handle part 30. This cavity 123 might be used for the containment of articles useful for dental hygiene, e.g. the cavity 123 may be used to contain a dispenser (not shown) of a dentifrice, e.g. a toothpaste, from which the dentifrice can be loaded onto the tool 15 when this is contained in the cavity 115, via a suitable conduit (not shown) between this dispenser and cavity 115. For example the surfaces of the head end 20 and handle end 30 which become closely adjacent in the unfolded configuration as seen in Fig. 1 may incoφorate respective electrical connectors which come into electrical contact to connect batteries 111 to motor 18 in the unfolded configuration of Fig. 1.

Claims

Claims:

1. An electrically powered toothbrush having a first end and an opposite second end, with an oral hygiene tool adjacent the first end, and comprising a housing which encloses an electric motor, a transmission means to communicate motion from the motor to the oral hygiene tool, and an electricity supply for the electric motor, characterised in that; the toothbrush incoφorates a hinge intermediate between the first and second ends, so that the toothbrush is in the form of a head part which comprises the part of the toothbrush between the hinge and the first end, and a handle part which comprises the part of the toothbrush between the hinge and the second end, the toothbrush being foldable about the hinge so that the toothbrush may adopt an unfolded configuration with the first and second ends more distanced, and a folded configuration with the first and second ends less distanced.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1 characterised in that the hinge is located between the electricity supply and the motor, so that the electricity supply is enclosed in the handle part, and the motor is enclosed in the handle part.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 2 characterised in that the hinge is of a construction that allows electricity to be conducted from the electricity supply to the motor in the head part across the hinge.

4. A toothbrush according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that when the housing is converted from its folded to its unfolded configuration the head part and handle part rotate relative to each other through an angle 160 - 200° relative to each other.

5. A toothbrush according to claim 4 characterised in that when the housing is converted from its folded to its unfolded configuration the head part and handle part rotate relative to each other through an 180 +/-5° relative to each other.

6. A toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that in the folded configuration the second part and the first part are adjacent.

7. A toothbrush according to claim 6 characterised in that the oral hygiene tool and the second end are adjacent in the folded configuration.

8. A toothbrush according to claim 6 or 7 characterised in that the second end incoφorates a cavity that can enclose the oral hygiene tool in the folded configuration.

9. A toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that in its folded configuration the head part and handle part have adjacent facing surfaces which shield each other from accidental contact or pressure from the environment, and the on-off switch, and any other toothbrush control(s) which the toothbrush may have, is/are located in one or both of these surfaces.

10. A toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that it can be releasably locked into its folded configuration during non-use, and into its unfolded configuration during use.

11. A toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that in its folded configuration adjacent surfaces of the head part and handle part comprise a base upon which the toothbrush may be stood.