Abstract: The electronic toothbrush (10) includes a brush head (20) having an implantation area where bristles (22) for brushing of teeth are fixed and a handle (21) configured to carry the brush head (20). The brush head (20) includes a brush electrode exposed on its surface. The brush electrode includes a first electrode (23) located in the implantation area where the bristles (22) are fixed and a second electrode (242) located in a non-implantation area where no bristles (22) are fixed. The handle (30) includes a handle electrode (32) exposed on its surface. The handle (30) is configured to house a power source (35) for applying a voltage between the handle electrode (32) and each of the first electrode (23) and the second electrode (242). The bristles (22) are fixed directly to the first electrode (24).

Abstract: An electric-electronic toothbrush carries a brush driven to vibrate, and arranged to flow an electric current into a user's oral cavity for promoting removal of tooth plaque. The electric-electronic toothbrush has a shaft driven to vibrate along and/or about an axis of the shaft, and a battery supplying the electric current. The shaft is electrically conductive to flow the electric current into a brush electrode of a brush head. The shaft is electrically connected to the battery by way of an extendible electrically conductive coupler within the handle. The electrically conductive coupler has its one end secured to the shaft, and the other end to an electrically conductive member connected to one of poles of the battery, so as to absorb the vibration of the shaft. The handle is provided on its outer peripheral surface with a touch electrode.

Abstract: A mouth cleaning device includes a head portion provided with bristles and an electrode; and a grip portion provided with an electrode. Further, the mouth cleaning device includes a boosting circuit for boosting an output voltage of a battery serving as a power source and applying the boosted voltage to the electrodes of the head portion and the grip portion; and a current limit circuit for limiting a current flowing from one electrode to the other via a human body.

Abstract: A toothbrush device including a brush member and a grip. The brush member includes an electric terminal accommodation chamber and an electric terminal plate accommodated in the electric terminal accommodation chamber. The electric terminal plate includes a contact, which comes into contact with a contact portion of a coupler shaft of the grip through a window providing communication with a receptacle of the brush member. The brush member includes a holding portion supporting the coupler shaft. The receptacle includes a fastener mount portion and an engaging piece which cooperates with the fastener mount portion to hold the coupler shaft therebetween. The engaging piece and the contact portion are arranged at the same side of the axis of the coupler shaft. The fastener mount portion is arranged opposite the contact portion with respect to the axis of the coupler shaft.

Abstract: The electronic toothbrush (10) includes a brush head (20) having an implantation area where bristles (22) for brushing of teeth are fixed and a handle (21) configured to carry the brush head (20). The brush head (20) includes a brush electrode exposed on its surface. The brush electrode includes a first electrode (23) located in the implantation area where the bristles (22) are fixed and a second electrode (242) located in a non-implantation area where no bristles (22) are fixed. The handle (30) includes a handle electrode (32) exposed on its surface. The handle (30) is configured to house a power source (35) for applying a voltage between the handle electrode (32) and each of the first electrode (23) and the second electrode (242). The bristles (22) are fixed directly to the first electrode (24).

Abstract: An electric-electronic toothbrush carries a brush driven to vibrate, and arranged to flow an electric current into a user's oral cavity for promoting removal of tooth plaque. The electric-electronic toothbrush has a shaft driven to vibrate along and/or about an axis of the shaft, and a battery supplying the electric current. The shaft is electrically conductive to flow the electric current into a brush electrode of a brush head. The shaft is electrically connected to the battery by way of an extendible electrically conductive coupler within the handle. The electrically conductive coupler has its one end secured to the shaft, and the other end to an electrically conductive member connected to one of poles of the battery, so as to absorb the vibration of the shaft. The handle is provided on its outer peripheral surface with a touch electrode.

Abstract: An actuator includes a shaft supported in such a manner as to make axial reciprocating movement or rotational reciprocating movement around longitudinal axis thereof, and an electricity conducting member for making contact with the shaft at a plurality of points on a circumferential surface of the shaft used as an electricity conducting path leading to other members. Further, an electric toothbrush includes the actuator as a drive power source for a brush body, and the brush body is adapted to be supplied with an electric current through the shaft.

Abstract: A toothbrush device including a brush member and a grip. The brush member includes an electric terminal accommodation chamber and an electric terminal plate accommodated in the electric terminal accommodation chamber. The electric terminal plate includes a contact, which comes into contact with a contact portion of a coupler shaft of the grip through a window providing communication with a receptacle of the brush member. The brush member includes a holding portion supporting the coupler shaft. The receptacle includes a fastener mount portion and an engaging piece which cooperates with the fastener mount portion to hold the coupler shaft therebetween. The engaging piece and the contact portion are arranged at the same side of the axis of the coupler shaft. The fastener mount portion is arranged opposite the contact portion with respect to the axis of the coupler shaft.

Abstract: An actuator includes a shaft supported in such a manner as to make axial reciprocating movement or rotational reciprocating movement around longitudinal axis thereof, and an electricity conducting member for making contact with the shaft at a plurality of points on a circumferential surface of the shaft used as an electricity conducting path leading to other members. Further, an electric toothbrush includes the actuator as a drive power source for a brush body, and the brush body is adapted to be supplied with an electric current through the shaft.

Abstract: A mouth cleaning device includes: a head portion provided with bristles and an electrode; and a handle portion provided with an electrode. In the mouth cleaning device, when an electric circuit is formed from one electrode to the other electrode via a human body by application of a voltage to the electrodes, a pulse current having a frequency of about 4000 Hz to about 15000 Hz flows therein.

Abstract: A mouth cleaning device includes a head portion provided with bristles and an electrode; and a grip portion provided with an electrode. Further, the mouth cleaning device includes a boosting circuit for boosting an output voltage of a battery serving as a power source and applying the boosted voltage to the electrodes of the head portion and the grip portion; and a current limit circuit for limiting a current flowing from one electrode to the other via a human body.

Abstract: In a power toothbrush, a brush base portion is provided at a top end of a brush attachment which is detachably engaged with a main body containing an actuator generating driving force for driving at least the brush base portion. The brush base portion can be reciprocally moved in an axial direction of the main body with a predetermined stroke and a predetermined frequency, swing around a rotation axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body with a predetermined swing angle and a predetermined frequency, or rotated around the rotation axis with a predetermined rotation speed. A plurality of floating base member is floatingly supported in guiding hollows formed in the brush base portion, and a brush staple is planted on each floating base member. Thus, dirt or plaque remained in interdental portion of the tooth can effectively be removed, when top ends of the brush staples contact the surfaces of the tooth.

Abstract: A linear oscillator and an electric toothbrush capable of emitting a low noise and of being assembled compact are provided. The linear oscillator, which reciprocates a shaft in an axial direction thereof, includes a plunger movable together with the shaft in the axial direction of the shaft, an elastic member for applying an axially acting resilient force to the plunger, an electromagnetic driving unit operable to reciprocate the plunger in the axial direction of the shaft at a resonant frequency when an alternating current is supplied thereto, and a fixing member restricting rotation of the plunger about an axis thereof within a predetermined angle. The electric toothbrush includes the linear oscillator and a brush head attached to the shaft for use in brushing teeth.

Abstract: An actuator includes a casing, a stationary member having a coil member and mounted in the casing and a movable member having a moving element and supported by the casing. The moving element has a shaft and is supported by the casing so as to be moved in an axial direction of the shaft and in a rotational direction having the axial direction of the shaft as its rotational axis and the moving element is moved in the axial direction and in the rotational direction by causing electric current to flow through the coil member. The stationary member includes a first stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the axial direction and a second stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the rotational direction, while the coil member includes a first coil member for exciting a first magnetic path passing through the first stationary member and a second coil member for exciting a second magnetic path passing through the second stationary member.

Abstract: A gum massager is made to activate cells in a gingiva efficiently, and thereby, effective to prevent a periodontal disease. The gum massager includes a main body and an attachment. The main body has a linear drive motor and a drive shaft which is driven in linear reciprocation vibration in a frequency in sonic wave range, for example, about 300 Hz to 400 Hz. The attachment has a brush unit disposed at a front portion and a heat unit disposed inside of the brush unit, and attached to a front end of the drive shaft. The attachment is vibrated by the vibration of the drive shaft while a temperature of the brush unit is kept in a region from 40 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius by the heat unit. By applying stimulation due to the vibration in the sonic wave region and the thermal stimulation to the gingiva, the cells of the gingiva are activated.

Abstract: An actuator includes a casing, a stationary member having a coil member and mounted in the casing and a movable member having a moving element and supported by the casing. The moving element has a shaft and is supported by the casing so as to be moved in an axial direction of the shaft and in a rotational direction having the axial direction of the shaft as its rotational axis and the moving element is moved in the axial direction and in the rotational direction by causing electric current to flow through the coil member. The stationary member includes a first stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the axial direction and a second stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the rotational direction, while the coil member includes a first coil member for exciting a first magnetic path passing through the first stationary member and a second coil member for exciting a second magnetic path passing through the second stationary member.

Abstract: In a power toothbrush, an interchangeable brush head is directly fitted to a front end portion of a drive shaft of an actuator. The actuator comprises a first magnetic circuit for moving the drive shaft reciprocally in an axial direction of the drive shaft, and a second magnetic circuit for rotating the drive shaft around a center axis of the drive shaft. The first magnetic circuit and the second magnetic circuit are independently excited by independent driving current having predetermined frequencies and a predetermined phase difference therebetween. Thus, the brush head fitted to the drive shaft can be moved in a composition of reciprocal linear movement and reciprocal rotation. The actuator does not include conventional mechanical elements such as gears or cams so that the actuator can move the drive shaft much faster than that of the conventional actuator.

Abstract: An actuator includes a casing, a stationary member having a coil member and mounted in the casing and a movable member having a moving element and supported by the casing. The moving element has a shaft and is supported by the casing so as to be moved in an axial direction of the shaft and in a rotational direction having the axial direction of the shaft as its rotational axis and the moving element is moved in the axial direction and in the rotational direction by causing electric current to flow through the coil member. The stationary member includes a first stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the axial direction and a second stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the rotational direction, while the coil member includes a first coil member for exciting a first magnetic path passing through the first stationary member and a second coil member for exciting a second magnetic path passing through the second stationary member.

Abstract: In a power toothbrush, a brush base portion is provided at a top end of a brush attachment which is detachably engaged with a main body containing an actuator generating driving force for driving at least the brush base portion. The brush base portion can be reciprocally moved in an axial direction of the main body with a predetermined stroke and a predetermined frequency, swing around a rotation axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body with a predetermined swing angle and a predetermined frequency, or rotated around the rotation axis with a predetermined rotation speed. A plurality of floating base member is floatingly supported in guiding hollows formed in the brush base portion, and a brush staple is planted on each floating base member. Thus, dirt or plaque remained in interdental portion of the tooth can effectively be removed, when top ends of the brush staples contact the surfaces of the tooth.

Abstract: A linear oscillator and an electric toothbrush capable of emitting a low noise and of being assembled compact are provided. The linear oscillator, which reciprocates a shaft in an axial direction thereof, includes a plunger movable together with the shaft in the axial direction of the shaft, an elastic member for applying an axially acting resilient force to the plunger, an electromagnetic driving unit operable to reciprocate the plunger in the axial direction of the shaft at a resonant frequency when an alternating current is supplied thereto, and a fixing member restricting rotation of the plunger about an axis thereof within a predetermined angle. The electric toothbrush includes the linear oscillator and a brush head attached to the shaft for use in brushing teeth.