CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. no. 13/176,630, filed Jul. 5, 2011, which is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 11/453,307, filed Jun. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,136, issued Jul. 5, 2011, which is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 10/357,564, filed Feb. 5, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,853, issue Jun. 13, 2006, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/385,366, filed Jun. 3, 2002; 60/403,915 filed Aug. 15, 2002 and 60/409,760 filed Sep. 10, 2002.
INTRODUCTION The present developments relate generally to oral and/or dental hygiene devices and more specifically concern power-driven oscillatory and/or vibratory toothbrushes having a range of bristle tip vibratory velocities and toothbrush heads covering the crown and at least one side, and often both, bucal and/or lingual, of the teeth. Other implementations include power-driven oscillatory and/or vibratory toothbrushes which incorporate a linear drive together with the oscillatory and/or vibratory effect.
BACKGROUND Ever advantageous are toothbrush or other oral care devices which have significant cleaning effects, reaching important areas such as the interdental and subgingival regions, yet remaining or being improved in convenience of use.
DISCLOSURE The present disclosures include in some implementations, an oral and/or dental hygiene device for cleaning one or more of the teeth and interdental and gingival areas, including: a body member which includes an arm mounted for movement, typically some form of oscillating or vibratory movement, sometimes also referred to as acoustic movement; a set of bristles which are located in the vicinity of one end of the arm and which are disposed to be in brushing contact with the crown and at least one side, and often both, the bucal and/or lingual sides, of the teeth; and means in the body member for moving the arm and hence the bristles such that the tips of the bristles move at a substantially high velocity, in some implementations, sufficient to produce a cleansing action. Further, the disclosures hereof include a method of using such a toothbrush which involves moving the arm and hence the bristles of an oral or dental device on or adjacent or in the vicinity of the teeth and interdental and gingival areas to be cleaned such that the tips of the bristles move at a substantially high velocity to clean the teeth and/or oral, interdental and/or gingival areas.
These and still further aspects as shall hereinafter appear may readily be fulfilled by the present apparatuses and methods in one or more remarkably unexpected manners as will be readily discerned from the following detailed description of exemplary implementations hereof especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like numerals throughout the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an oral care device hereof;
FIG. 2, which includes sub-part FIGS. 2A and 2B, includes a cross-sectional side elevational view taken substantially along line 2A-2A of FIG. 1 of an oral care device hereof, and an internal top plan view of some parts thereof taken substantially along line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3, which includes subpart FIGS. 3A and 3B, provides respective isometric and elevational views of exemplary brushes for use as part of an oral cleaning device or system as described herein;
FIG. 4, which includes subpart FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, provides respective elevational and plan views of exemplary brushes as they may be in use according hereto;
FIG. 5, which includes subpart FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, provides respective elevational views of exemplary brushes for use as part of an oral cleaning device or system as described herein;
FIG. 6, which includes subpart FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, provides respective isometric individual part and/or exploded views of a brush assembly of an oral cleaning device like those shown in and described with respect to FIGS. 1-5;
FIG. 7, which includes subpart FIGS. 7A, 7AA, 7B and 7BB, provides respective cut-away isometric and elevational and/or schematic views of exemplary oral cleaning devices according hereto; and
FIG. 8 provides an isometric view of an exemplary device according hereto.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF SOME IMPLEMENTATIONS The present disclosure relates in various implementations to the provision of new and useful, substantially automated and/or power-driven oral cleaning devices and/or methods including unique coactive assemblages of distinct sub-assemblies which will be described herein in some detail. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a plurality of elements which when considered as one or more ensembles, may provide comprehensive attainment and/or maintenance of oral cleanliness. In many implementations, achievement of the Bass and/or ADA methods of brushing may be achieved. Of these, there are several features; among which are a variety of brush heads and brush head arrangements, as well as or alternatively including dynamic brush heads with a static handle of alternating reciprocation of the brushes, whether of oscillatory or vibratory movement alone or together with a linear in and out movement of the brush heads relative to the teeth and/or oral cavity.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show an oral care device hereof generally at 20. Such a device may alternatively be referred to as a toothbrush 20 herein as well, though this is not intended to be limiting inasmuch as the device 20 may be, and often is adapted to provide oral care to other oral structures including but not limited to the gums. Some operational effects of such a device or toothbrush, as described hereinafter, may include a significant cleansing effect produced by the bristles, reaching into interdental and subgingival regions, to bacterial plaque on the teeth. This effect may include an enhanced scrubbing effect produced by the motion of the bristles when they are in actual physical contact with the teeth to be cleaned.
A device 20 hereof may include a general body portion 21 which in turn includes a housing portion 23 as shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 2A. Now in more detail, though first in a relative macroscopic view; as shown at least initially in FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary automated tooth and/or gum cleaning device 20 hereof may generally include a body or control handle or module 21 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and one or more cleaning head arrangement(s), herein generally referred to as respective cleaning or brush head assemblies 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2) (and/or optional additional assembly 27 (see FIG. 8)); the brush head assembly(/ies) connected to the handle 21 via a connection sub-system/sub-assembly 25. These respective cleaning or brush head assemblies 26 (and/or 27) are shown positioning respective brushes, e.g. brushes 26a, 26b (see FIGS. 1, 2B and 3, inter alia., described below) and the brush bristles 34, 35 (again, see
FIGS. 2 and more particularly, 3 and 4, inter alia., below) thereof in operative dispositions, typically in a multiple directional, multi-sided fashion as described further below. The control handle 21 may then also include one or more control assemblies 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 7) within its structural housing 23 to provide for either or both securely holding the brushes or for moving or driving a brush action to and/or through the brush head assemblies 26 (, 27) for cleaning and massaging of the user's teeth and gums. In use, the toothbrush assemblages 26 (, 27) hereof may provide a totality of brushing, cleaning and massaging of the user's teeth and gums.
A handle 21 may then also include a connection configuration 25 which provides for connection of the one or more brush assemblies 26 (, 27) to the control handle 21. This connection may generally involve a shaft or shafts 22, one shaft being shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7A and 7B, namely, shaft 22a in the relative first position, and two shafts in FIGS. 7AA, 7BB and 8, the second shaft 22c in the relative second position; these shafts 22 stemming or emerging from the housing structure 23 of the handle 21, and then connecting or being adapted to connect to the brush assemblies 26 (, 27). Note, the relative first and second positions may be either top and bottom or side by side or any other orally useful position. Further details of brush mounting to/on a handle support assembly are shown and described below in particular relation to FIG. 6 (infra). Also as described in further detail below, the brushes may be made to be replaceable or interchangeable when and/or if desired and thus removably mountable on respective shaft(s) 22.
The action of the brushes or brush assemblies 26 (and optional 27, see FIG. 8) may be manually maneuvered or activated, or as described further here, may more often and/or more generally be driven by a control assembly or assemblies 24, as by an oscillatory sub-system 60 (see FIG. 2) and/or a motor (see motor 44 in FIG. 7 and below) and/or a mechanical system (see system 45, FIG. 7 and described further below). And, any one or more of these actions may be delivered with either a relatively fixed disposition of the brush arms and/or brush heads relative to each other, or as is further described herein for some implementations hereof, where as shown e.g., in FIG. 3, the brush arms and/or heads may be reciprocated in a vibratory motion and/or in and out alternately and/or in opposition to each other (see FIG. 7, inter alia)
In any case, the brush heads may then be disposed to reach the teeth and gums in a desirable fashion as shown in and described relative to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, below) to thereby brush away plaque and/or debris lodged in and/or between the teeth, and/or provide a vital massage of the gums, particularly adjacent the teeth. And as is further shown and described hereinbelow (see FIGS. 2 and 7), either or both of a vibratory sub-system 60 and/or a motor 44 as described herein may be activated to provide movement, as for example an oscillatory or vibratory movement as from FIG. 2 via the shaft(s) 22, to the brush assemblies 26 (, 27); and/or in some implementations to a mechanical system 45 which may in turn provide reciprocatable linear movement, see FIGS. 7. As mentioned above and as will be shown and described further below, the provision of either or both vibratory and/or reciprocatable linear movement into and out of the oral cavity may proficiently clean the teeth and/or gums and also provide for reaching the rear most teeth as well as all of those in between.
In the case of a vibratory or oscillatory sub-system 60, as for example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, inter alia, an electromagnet 61, which may include respective poles 62 (62a and 62b in FIG. 2B), with respect to a coil 63 may be mounted within the housing 23 of the handle 21. Coil 63 may be driven by a conventional power and/or circuitry, shown generally at 64 in FIG. 2A, which may be driven by a power supply 46, which in some cases may be battery-powered, as for example using batteries. It may be understood, however, that other driving circuitry could be used. The poles 62a, 62b as shown in FIG. 2B, may be positioned a relatively short distance away from one end 22b of an arm 22. A pair of magnets or magnetically attractive elements 67a, 67b may be mounted on a member 66 which is attached to the one end 22b of arm 22. Member 66, in operation, closes the magnetic flux path between electromagnet 61 and the two magnetic elements 67a and 67b.
Arm 22 is an elongated member, which may be a metal such as steel, or of other sturdy material, mounted by a pivot assembly 68, here including a torsion pin 68a, also metal or other sturdy material, to body 21 of the oral care device or toothbrush 20. Arm 22 may be fixedly secured to pivot about torsion pin 68a, the ends of which affixed to a support structure 68b attached to the body 21. In operation, arm 22 twists about the torsion pin 68a, as shown by the double-headed arrow 69a, with the torsion pin tending to maintain the arm in a fixed position at the pivot point. The brush head 26 then vibrates or oscillates as shown by the double headed arrow 69b.
At the other end 22a of resonator arm 22 is a brush head 26, which as shown in FIG. 2B, for one example has two brush arms 26a and 26b. The bristles 34, 35 on the brush head 26 have the tips are formed into a multi-surface pattern, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as in FIGS. 3 and 4, described below. The bristles may be disposed such that the bristle tips fit into the interdental crevices even between teeth. In operation, the brush of FIGS. 1 and 2 may oscillate in an approximate arcuate pattern, back and forth about pin 68a, within desirable frequency and amplitude ranges. In use, the brush may be moved at a substantially high velocity as in some examples at speeds near or greater than about 1.5 meters per second.
In actual use of the brush 20, and more particularly the head 26, as shown representationally in FIGS. 3 and 4, the toothbrush is held so that the brush head 26 is approximately horizontal, with the tips of the bristles 34, 35 positioned against the side surfaces of the teeth 56, typically near the gum line. As indicated above, the bristles 34, 35 fit around the teeth, and into the portions of the interdental regions between teeth 56. The oscillatory or vibratory motion of the brush is up and down, i.e. linearly toward and away from the tooth of FIG. 4, toward and away from the gumline.
The action of brushes or brush assemblies 26 (, 27) may be manually maneuvered or activated, or may more often and/or more generally be driven by a control assembly or assemblies 24, as by a motor (see motor 44 in FIG. 7 and below) and/or a mechanical system (see system 45, FIG. 7 and described further below). And, either of these actions may be delivered with either a relatively fixed disposition of the brush arms and/or brush heads relative to each other, or as is further described herein for the primary implementations hereof, where as shown e.g., in FIGS. 2 and 3, the brush arms and/or heads may be reciprocated about the pin 68a and/or in and out alternately and/or in opposition to each other (see FIG. 7, inter alia) More particularly, as shown, the brush assemblies 26 (, 27) may be disposed so that one is adapted to move inward relative to the mouth while the other is adapted to move outwardly; also in FIG. 7. This is shown in FIGS. 7AA and 7BB, e.g., wherein, the brush 26 moves or is moving inwardly relative to the mouth (outward from the handle 21), see direction arrow 53, while the brush 27 moves outward relative to the mouth (inward toward the handle 21), see direction arrow 54. Then, in an opposite reciprocal movement, not directly shown, the brush 26 moves outward mouth-wise direction, while the brush 27 moves inwardly, in the opposing direction. Thus, the brush heads may then reach the teeth and gums in a desirable fashion as shown in and described relative to FIG. 7, below) to thereby brush away plaque and/or debris lodged in and/or between the teeth, and/or provide a vital massage of the gums, particularly adjacent the teeth. And as is further shown and described hereinbelow (see FIG. 7), a motor 44 as described herein may be activated to provide movement to a mechanical system 45 which in turn provides movement, via the shaft(s) 22, to the brush assemblies 26, and if used also, 27. As mentioned above and as will be shown and described further below, the provision of reciprocatable linear movement into and out of the oral cavity may proficiently clean the teeth and/or gums and also provides for reaching the rear most teeth as well as all of those in between.
As initially shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but, also in more detail in FIG. 3, each device 20 may include one or more brush or other cleaning head assemblies, here shown as brush assemblies 26 (, 27, assembly 27 being an alternative additional assembly like that shown in FIG. 3, but not shown therein; but, see FIG. 8), which each may include one or more brushes, here see the brushes 26a, 26b of a brush assembly 26 in FIG. 3, each such brush 26a, 26b having respective brush arms 28a, 28b and brush heads 30a, 30b. The brush heads, e.g., heads 30a, 30b, may then be disposed such that adjacent brushes or sets of bristles may be used simultaneously during a brushing action. Combining multiple sets of brushing actions may provide better simulation or replacement of interproximal brushing, flossing, and/or perio-picking and/or using proxy brushes. Moreover, it may be noted that the action shown and described relative to FIG. 3 (including the sub-parts thereof) may be exemplary of attainment or simulation of either or both the Bass and ADA methods for tooth brushing technique. The brushes shown may be reciprocated with the oscillatory/vibratory movement of FIG. 2 alone or together with a substantially linear movement as shown and described relative to FIG. 7, below, and may be limited in length of stroke of about tooth wide, or about 0.25 inches (in some implementations on the order of between about 0.18 and about 0.25 inches).
The brushes are in many implementations hereof, see FIG. 3A, e.g., brushes 26a, 26b, disposed such that the brush heads, see e.g., heads 30a, 30b, may be disposed in or have portions thereof predisposed in a relatively/substantially preselected angular disposition to appropriately impact the teeth and gums, the intersection thereof and/or any gaps therebetween at a desirable location, height, and width thereof. As such, the heads 30a, 30b may have respective head portions, namely, side portions 36a, and crown portions 36b. These brushes 26a, 26b can then contact the teeth from one or all sides of an array of teeth 50 (see FIG. 4), see e.g. the outside or cheek or bucal side 51 toward the other side, e.g., the inside and/or tongue or lingual side 52 of an array of teeth 50 and/or the crown or occlusial side 550 as shown for example in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C.
The side portions 36a and crown portions 36b of the heads 30a, 30b may thus be disposed to have bristles 34, 35 (see discussion below) disposed in an angular disposition, see angle θ in FIG. 4A which may thereby provide a relative desirable cleaning action on the respective side surfaces of the teeth with which the tips of the bristles 34, 35 may more effectively come into contact. As shown in FIG. 4A, the bristles 34, 35 are shown angled downward to provide a potentially desirable impact of the bristles 34, 35 with the gum line intersection of respective gums 58, 59 with a tooth 56, for an example. This may include an angle θ at approximately a 45 degree angle (plus or minus) for the side bristles in accordance with the dental professional recommended Bass or modified Bass technique, moreover, also according to this technique, a quantity of bristles may be disposed on or impact with the teeth (as for example approximately one-half in some implementations) and another quantity of bristles on or in contact with the gums (in some cases as much as one-half the bristles). The crown bristles shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A may also be angularly disposed, though perhaps not at the approximate 45 degrees as those on the side (rather, more like a larger angle relative to the horizontal or smaller relative to the vertical orientation shown in the drawings).
It may also be desirable to provide an interaction of long bristles 34 of brushes such as brushes 26a, 26b particularly so as to substantially completely impact the deeper areas of teeth and between teeth, while having shorter bristles 35 impact the less deep, more prominent portions of teeth. For example, the long crown bristles 34 of adjacent brushes 26a, 26b may cover the interior depressed portion of the chewing or occlusial surface of the tooth, see e.g., tooth 56 in FIG. 4A, and the shorter crown bristles 35 (see FIGS. 3B and 4A) may impact the less deep extended tooth edges. Note the shorter bristles 35 may also be at a discrete angle, e.g. angle α in FIG. 3B, less pronounced than that of the longer crown bristles 34 (crown bristles 34 e.g., preferably, at something like about 5 to 20 degrees from the vertical, with the crown bristles 35 being less, from about 0 to 10). E.g., an angle α of about 14 or 15 degrees is shown and may be used. The shorter crown bristles 35 may thus be intended to impact and clean the higher, non-depressed, outer surfaces of the tooth. Moreover, it may be that the angle of the bristles on the crown portion 36b of the respective brush head 30a, 30b may be different, more or less than that of the side portion 36a bristles. Any combination of alternative angular dispositions may be used with the brushes of the present invention.
Other views of bristle dispositions are also shown, particularly of the side bristles 34, 35 in the isometric and elevational views of FIGS. 3A and 3B, as well as in the respective cross-sectional elevation and plan depictions of FIGS. 4B and 4C (as taken along respective lines 4B-4B and 4C-4C of FIG. 4A). Moreover, these uneven bristles, i.e. long bristles 34 and short bristles 35, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, provide bristle tip coverage of the uneven side surfaces of the tooth. For example, see the respective long and short bristles 34, 35 on the uneven side surfaces of FIG. 4A and on the uneven side surfaces of FIG. 4C. As indicated above, and as shown in FIG. 4A, these bristles may even be angled on the otherwise relatively flat crown or chewing surface of the tooth to get full coverage of the tooth surface.
In the use of angled uneven length bristles 34, 35, the bristles may first be brought into contact with the tooth, then movement of the brush and thus also of the bristles, thereby brings the different length bristles into contact with the various uneven portions of the tooth surface, at various points the long bristles are brought into contact with deeper surfaces or interproximal areas between teeth or between a tooth and gum, and the short bristles also at times being brought into contact with the less deep, more prominent surfaces, the bristle tips in both cases being brought to full, non-interfered-with usage on the respective surfaces of the teeth, the bristle tips rather than the respective sides of the bristles. The angled disposition assists by substantially simultaneously directing the bristle tips toward the surface-to-be-cleaned and resisting bending of the bristle which would lead to the bristle side coming into contact with the tooth surface rather than the bristle tip.
More particularly in a structural implementation, and, as initially shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 8, each device 20 may include one or more brush or other cleaning head assemblies, here shown as brush assemblies 26, 27 (see FIG. 8 for assembly 27), which each may include one or more brushes, here see the brushes 26a, 26b, of respective brush assemblies 26, 27, each such brush 26a, 26b having respective brush arms 28a, 28b and brush heads 30a, 30b (see FIG. 3A). The brush heads, e.g., heads 30a, 30b, may then be disposed such that adjacent brushes or sets of bristles may be used simultaneously during a brushing action. Combining multiple sets of brushing actions may provide better simulation or replacement of interproximal brushing, flossing, and/or perio picking and/or using proxy brushes.
Also directed to a maximal bristle cleaning activity may be an option of flexible, resilient brush arms, e.g., arms 28a, 28b, which can contribute to the preferred maintenance of the tips of the long and short bristles 34, 35 in contact with the respective deeper and shallower tooth portions by alternately flexing outwardly during an encounter with a wider tooth or shallower oral feature and then upon encountering a deeper or narrower feature, flexing or resiling inwardly to reach inwardly toward the deeper surfaces and/or the narrower teeth. This may be a part of providing for disposing the brushes in a preselected typically optimal brushing position. And, even the trim of the bristles may contribute to this maintenance of a desired bristle angle. As such, the trim at the tips of the bristles may be angled to be parallel to the tooth surfaces (see each of the views of FIG. 3). Moreover, the short and long trim of the bristles, which as otherwise described herein is primarily directed to reaching all the uneven surfaces of the teeth, including the interproximal areas, may also contribute to maximal cleaning because if all bristles were the same length, then upon reaching a raised area, the bristles would be deflected to present the sides of the bristles against the surfaces of the teeth and the sides of the bristles are not as capable of cleaning as the tips. Thus the bristle tips, as opposed to the bristle sides, are preferred to remain on or in contact with the enamel, with the long bristles also being adapted to reach into the interproximal areas without interference or with minimal interference or obstruction of the shorter bristles by long bristle sides on enamel surface. Note, long toothbrush heads, and/or overly voluminous bristle packing on a head can also yield problems like this, where rather less bristles may be better because the interference from adjacent bristles may be minimized. Rather accurate positioning (often very or ultra accurate positioning) of bristles is favored in the present implementations as opposed to the provision of an overabundance of bristles (such as is provided in some prior art brushes in an attempt or aspiration for hopefully some or any bristle(s) to hit the mark).
In some implementations, in order to effectively substantially eliminate human error, the present brushes may provide a relative “self-positioning” of the brush arms, brush heads and bristles relative to the teeth and gums. Self-positioning may involve disposition relative to an oral feature such as a tooth or teeth and gums, and/or may involve in and out positioning as well as swiveling heads. The in and out positioning may primarily be a result of resilient brush arms which allow for spreading of the heads away from each other when encountering a wide tooth and resiling back inwardly toward their original position when narrower surfaces are encountered. The width of the tooth can then limit the full amount of resiling, thus, the tooth determines the position; i.e., self-positioning the brushes. The heads may also have resilient characteristics, e.g. of the side relative to the crown and vice versa. The resilient arms and/or heads may thus provide for biting into the combination of brush heads, the resilience providing for applying substantially continuous force for the brush heads to continually close in on or appropriately squeeze toward the teeth large or small, spreading as necessary for the larger teeth. Note, the resiliency of the arms and/or heads may be selected so as to provide or apply a desirable, light yet operative pressure in the direction of bristles (maintaining the desirable angle, in some examples, about 45 degrees for the side bristles), not an overly aggressive or damaging force on the teeth and/or gums. Spreading is shown in FIG. 5A where a pair of brush heads 30a, 30b are shown as they might move outwardly (arrow 30c), downwardly (arrow 30d) or a combination of both (arrow 30e). Note also, this self-positioning particularly with resilient arms and/or heads may allow for smaller brushes to be used, where the user bites down and thereby moves the arms and gets a better fit around the tooth (a smaller brush perhaps also/alternatively being desirable due to the reduction of bristle volume and thus reduced bristle interference to maximize bristle tip effectiveness).
A swiveling positioning may include such resiliency, allowing relatively independent twisting or rotation of one or the other or both of the arms upon encountering an obstruction. This is shown in FIG. 5B (rotational arrows 30f and 30g). Moreover, a swivel positioning may include the swivel of the whole head assembly right and/or left, and if two heads are used then the swivel may be of both heads substantially simultaneously, see clockwise rotation/swivel 30h in FIG. 5C. Rotation may thus be available for each of the head assemblies 26 (, 27) about the respective shaft ends 22a, 22c (FIGS. 7 and 8) on and to which the assemblies are mounted. Self positioning of these sorts may thus provide for easily and substantially automatically obtaining and maintaining the Bass position for teeth and for simplifying use in manipulation of the handle 21 for the human user and reducing or eliminating human error.
In use with two or four wrap-around brushes, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-5, two brushes in the first brush assembly 26 which here may be for the top teeth and/or one or two in the second brush assembly 27 (see FIG. 8) which here may be for the bottom teeth, the user may simply bite into the brushing heads 26, and/or 27, and self-positioning may be substantially automatic as the brushes position themselves or are otherwise positioned to substantially correctly contact tooth and gum surfaces (see FIGS. 4 and 5), deviations accounted for by the resilient arms and/or the swiveling heads (see FIG. 5, e.g.). Alternative side-to-side or other orally effective relationships of brushes 26, 27 may be used instead. Thus, the brushes can achieve the dental professional recommended Bass technique placement of bristles on teeth and gums, with the side contacts being at approximately a 45 degree angle (see FIG. 4A) or otherwise as may be desired. Each brush unit 26, 27, e.g., may have user specific dimensions, or may, due to the self-positioning described here, be fit for use in any user's mouth for bristle contact of every or substantially all to-be-cleaned surfaces of the user's teeth and gums and may provide interproximal, gingival and/or sub-gingival contact while assuring that the brushing action does not include an overly aggressive bristle force. Such self-positioning may be achieved substantially automatically with or without the user's knowledge, understanding or active participation, as it is the width of the tooth or teeth which, in limiting the amount of resiling of the brush arms and/or heads, is actually achieving the self-positioning.
Another part of the Bass techniques recommendation includes the alternative to reciprocate the brushes in short (e.g. tooth-wide or less than about 0.25 inches, or in some cases between about 0.18 and about 0.25 inches), quick, back and forth strokes while applying light pressure in the direction of bristles. Note, such short strokes avoid the sweeping scraping which can lead to trenching (up and down strokes were once taught in an effort to avoid trenching); but, further such linear in and out strokes provide better cleaning The bristles can bend and/or flex and move little, yet still bring sufficient action to bear upon and clean or dislodge debris. Accordingly, the device 20 hereof can, and in many preferred implementations will be adapted to provide a defined stroke that imparts either a single sided linear in-and-out or and an alternating side-to side or top and bottom brushing, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7AA, 7B and 7BB, for example, with a first stroke 53 in a first direction with a return in the opposite direction. And, in some implementations with alternating motions (FIGS. 7AA, 7BB and 8), one brush assembly, e.g., assembly 26 moving in the first direction 53 while a second brush head, e.g., assembly 27 is moving with a second stroke 54 in the other direction (see particularly FIG. 7BB). The alternating stroke (out-to-in of one assembly simultaneously with in-to-out of the other assembly) can be desirable for a variety of reasons, these reasons and exemplar sub-assemblies adapted to provide such strokes are described further below. It may be that approximately 650-850 strokes per minute may provide the most effective results. Such speeds can be highly desirable, particularly as the strokes provide enough time for the bristles and particularly the bristle tips to react resiliently to move from one location to another and then have their bristle tips strike at debris trapped in a space, e.g., interproximal space 55 between the teeth, see e.g., teeth 56, 57 (FIGS. 4B and 4C) which debris might then be trapped at or near the mid-point and thereby loosen the debris more efficiently with a back and forth action so that the debris may be cleared therefrom. Shorter strokes (less than or equal to about 0.25 inches) and slower speeds such as these (650-850 strokes per minute as compared with or opposed to 3 to 30 thousand (3-30 k) strokes per minute of some conventional power brushes, e.g., so-called sonic brushes) are also more gentle, providing massage-like contact as opposed to dental drill-like, high-impact speeds.
In FIG. 7, particularly FIGS. 7A, 7AA, 7B and 7BB, an option for moving the shafts in a vibratory motion in addition to the linear reciprocation introduced above is shown by the addition of a vibratory sub-system 60 thereto. In these examples, which are not the only ways to achieve the effects hereof; the subsystem 60 including the electromagnet 61, poles 62 and coil 63 are position adjacent a member 66 with electromagnetic elements 67 (67b shown, 67a not) on a connecting member 22b which connects to the motor 44 or other structure of the reciprocating sub-assembly or mechanism 45 to vibrate same about a pivot assembly 68, here shown by a pivot block 68a to allow the shaft end 22a and/or 22c to vibrate in an oscillatory fashion as shown and described relative to FIG. 2 above. This option is shown for all of FIGS. 7A, 7AA, 7B and 7BB, and is not limitative of the options for providing linear reciprocation together with a vibratory or oscillatory action such as that shown in FIG. 2.
Note also, in some implementations, it may further be desirable to optionally though not necessarily include use of a dentifrice, tooth paste, flavor concentrate etc. To do this, the dentifrice may be delivered with, i.e., added to the brush or brush bristles in substantially conventional fashion and thus move with the brushes into the user's mouth and thereby be applied to the teeth and/or gums.
The respective brush assemblies 26 (, 27) introduced and shown above, may be unitary appliances (e.g., the one brush head 30 including the side and crown brush portions 36a, 36b), or may as shown in FIG. 3, be respective assemblies of one or more brushes, as for example the brushes 26a and 26b of FIG. 3. Each of these brushes may in turn, also as shown and described above, each include arms 28a, 28b and heads 30a, 30b. Note, as identified in FIG. 6A, it may be desirable to include a relief, reduction and/or other curvature feature in the arm(s) 28 to avoid less desirable impact of an arm 28 on/with the teeth in use. The heads 30a, 30b, may also have respective head portions 36a, 36b (side, crown) (see also FIG. 3) with respective drill holes (shown but not identified in FIG. 6A) (side, crown) to receive respective tufts (side, crown) of bristles 34, 35.
The respective brush assemblies 26 (, 27) may also include respective brush bases 40 (see the respective assembled base 40 in FIG. 3A as well as the parted components of bases 40 in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C) for connection of the respective brushes together, and/or for connection of the brush assemblies to the control handle 21 and/or shaft(s) 22. The bases 40 may be initially separate devices or may as shown in FIG. 6 be separate portions 40a, 40b and 40c formed as separate parts, portions 40a and 40b formed as integral parts of the respective brushes 26a and 26b and portion 40c as a separate base piece. A variety of connection features 41 (e.g., posts and/or receiving holes therefor) may be included within the various portions 40a, 40b and 40c to provide for the connection of the brush portions 40a, 40b and 40c together. These portions may then be connected by snap fit, snug fit, friction fit or welded, e.g. sonically-welded, or glued or otherwise adhesively or cohesively or otherwise put and held together.
As shown in FIGS. 6B, and 6C, a push-button device 42 may be included within the base 40 within its own slot 141 defined in one or more of the base portions 40a, 40b and 40c. The push button 42 may preferably be spring-loaded counter the release direction, as by a spring 43 (shown schematically in FIG. 6C) adapted to be disposed in a spring feature 143 in the base 40. The push button device 42 may have a push button surface 142a to be disposed outside the base 40 and connected hereto, an internal structure 142c with a cutout feature or ring 142b here shown as a sort of elliptical cutout. As shown in FIG. 6C, the push button device 42 may be engagable with the quill end 122 of a shaft 22, e.g. shaft 22a (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). The quill end 122 may have a slot or notch 123 with inner and outer diameters 123id and 123od (FIG. 6C) which together define the slot. Engagement as shown in FIG. 6C may then be had when the edge of the cutout feature 142b clips into the slot 123, and the spring 43 resiles back in the direction 144 under its spring force.
Disengagement of the quill end slot 123 from the cutout feature 142b may be effected by pushing on the push-button surface 142a in the direction 145 against the bias of the spring 43 which then allows for the outer diameter 123od to enter and move through the cutout feature 142b thereby allowing for removal of housing 40 and brush assembly 26 (or 27) from the shaft 22. Opposite engagement may be had by pushing the housing 40 onto the shaft 22 such that the quill end thereof enters the cutout feature 142b and the ramp surface 122r of the quill end engages the cutout feature and causes movement thereof against the bias of and compressing or otherwise deforming the spring 43 as the edge of the cutout feature rides along the incline of the ramp until the slot 123 is reached at which point the spring 43 pushes back against the push-button device 42b to engage the edge of the cutout feature with the slot as shown in FIG. 6C.
The tooth brush assemblies 26 (, 27) may thus be removably mountable on the shaft(s) 22 and thereby replaceable if and/or as they may be spent, or the assemblies 26 (, 27) may be interchangeable so that each of a plurality of users may each also have his/her own brush heads for sanitary reasons. Alternative cleaning head assemblies may be interchangeably used herewith as well. Or, different sizes may be made available (for plural or singular users), e.g., smaller brushes can provide a better fit around particular teeth, or for particular users, smaller brushes perhaps being more comfortable as well, and/or providing fewer bristles and thus reduce bristle interference.
Moving shafts for moving the cleaning heads 26 (, 27) will now be described. For example, in FIGS. 7 (including FIGS. 7A, 7AA, 7B and 7BB), are depictions of isometric cut-away views of alternative handles 21 of exemplary units 20 which each provide for moving one or more cleaning assemblies 26 (, 27) on respective shaft ends 22a, 22c of a connection assembly 25. More particularly, the structural shaft ends 22a, 22c may be disposed in reciprocal motive disposition in and emanating from the control handle 21. Note, the shaft ends 22a, 22c may be relatively integral or contiguous with or otherwise as shown and described above, may be connectable with brush assemblies 26 (, 27). More particularly, as shown, the brush assemblies 26 (, 27) may be disposed so that one is adapted to move inward relative to the mouth while the other is adapted to move outwardly. This is shown in FIG. 7BB, e.g., wherein, the brush 26 on end 22a moves or is moving inwardly relative to the mouth (outward from the handle 21), see direction arrow 53, while the brush 27 on end 22c moves outward relative to the mouth (inward toward the handle 21), see direction arrow 54. Then, in an opposite reciprocal movement, not directly shown, the brush 26 on 22a moves outward mouth-wise direction, while the brush 27 on end 22c moves inwardly, in the opposing direction.
Inside the control handle 21 may be one or more control assemblies 24 which may include conventional or unconventional reciprocation hardware. As a first example, a direct current (DC) motor 44 may be included to provide primary power to reciprocate the brush head assemblies 26 (, 27). The motor 44 may activate a mechanical system 45 such as a system of gears, to ultimately move the cleaning head assemblies 26 (, 27). The system 45 may be a double reciprocal/opposing movement like that described and shown in FIGS. 7 which may include mechanisms like a crown gear 208 connected by a shaft to a reduction spur gear 209 which communicates in gear meshing relationship with a double cam gear 203 (see FIGS. 7A, 7AA, 7B and 7BB). The DC motor 44 is adapted to directly turn a pinion gear 210 which in turn, turns the crown gear 208 and thence gear 209 is turned and turns the cam gear 203 which in FIGS. 7A and 7B is a single cam gear and in FIGS. 7AA and 7BB, is a double cam gear 203. The gear 203 has one cam 204 in the single cam example, or in the double cam example, respective cams 204, 205 one each on opposite sides of the gear 203 (see FIG. 7). The upper first side cam 204, the double cam gear 203, and second side cam 205 may be separate parts or may all be combined as one piece. Structural shafts/arms 22a and optionally also 22c may be attached to cam followers 206, 207. The single cam gear contacts and moves a single cam follower 206 to drive the single shaft 22a in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and the double-cam big gear 203 which may thus by contact move the two cam followers 206, 207 to move in and out the shafts 22a, 22c in FIGS. 7AA and 7BB relative to the power handle 21. Thus, this causes either one or both the structural shafts 22a, 22c to reciprocate in opposing directions and thereby provide for alternating dispositions of the heads 26 (, 27), the positions and directions being substantially and reversibly in opposition such that at one moment, the heads are as shown, and then they may be reciprocated such that they switch relative positions inside the mouth. FIGS. 7AA and 7BB show one position where the shaft 22a is further retracted within the handle 21 while the other shaft 22c is extended. The shafts 22 thereby further provide this reciprocatable linear movement to the brush head assemblies 26 (, 27) to alternately move into and out of the oral cavity in order to desirably clean the teeth and/or gums.
Note, in the first example the brush assembly 26 is reciprocated alone; however, in the two head example of FIGS. 7AA and 7BB, the two top heads 30a, 30b on the brush assembly 26 may as shown preferably be reciprocated together and the optional other, lower two heads 31a, 31b of the brush assembly 27 may be reciprocated together in opposed relationship to the upper heads. In many cases with devices 20, such alternate reciprocal moving part implementations having respective opposing parts moving contrary to each other may provide balance to the overall device. In many implementations, the force balance of alternating reciprocation can provide for a static handle at the same time as the brushes are dynamically cleaning. In any two opposed brush orientations, the opposing brushes may be moving substantially simultaneously in opposite directions, one out while the other is moving in and vice versa. Reciprocation of top and bottom (and/or side to side or other arrangement) in opposite directions may provide substantially simultaneous action and reaction in and out, and this force action and reaction cancels each other out so that net motive force on the handle 21 is substantially zero and the handle 21 thereby remains stationary. The mechanical force counterforce, i.e., the force(s) tending to push the brush heads further in, or out of the mouth simultaneously provide at least a reduction of the overall forces felt by the user who may then be able to operate the device simply by and through the use of a simple/minimal grasp of the handle 21 with the thumb and forefinger. This overall action/reaction may also provide a further advantage in the self-positioning described above, overcoming the reciprocal brushing action to allow the brush head and bristle design to achieve and maintain the desirable self-position (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) unforced away therefrom by the motor driven reciprocation. Also in these and/or other two (or more) brush implementations, though at least two such brushes may move in opposing reciprocation together, it may be possible to have contrary alternating movements whether for relative top and bottom movements contrary side versus side movements.
As mentioned above, the device 20 can provide alternating brushing, with, as shown in FIG. 7AA and 7BB, a first stroke 53 in a first direction with a second stroke 54 in the other direction. And, approximately 650-850 strokes per minute may provide the most effective results. Such alternating stroke speeds can be highly desirable as the strokes may have enough time for the bristles to react resiliently to move from one location to another and then strike at debris trapped in a space, e.g., interproximal space 55 between the teeth, see e.g., teeth 56, 57 (FIGS. 4B and 4C) which debris might then be trapped at or near the mid-point and thereby loosen the debris more efficiently with a back and forth action so that the debris may be cleared therefrom. Slower speeds such as these can be also more gentle, providing massage-like contact as opposed to dental drill-like, high-impact speeds. The slower speeds here rely on accurate bristle positioning to obtain effectiveness, and as a result, the brushes can reciprocate at a fraction of the speed of other products, resulting in user enjoyment of a comfortable massage with every use. Note, multiple or multi-speed options may alternatively be made available in these or other ranges of strokes per minute. In many cases, one speed is acceptable, but optionally one or more slower speeds can be offered particularly for beginners to become accustomed to the action. Faster speeds may also be offered.
An assembly such as this may be adequate for twin cooperative goals of efficaciously brushing the occlusial and lingual-bucal surfaces of the teeth and gums (including gaps between such surfaces and/or between the teeth and gums) while also simultaneously brushing the aforementioned surfaces and also the underlying gums. An aspect hereof may thus be the provision of an improved powered toothbrush for simultaneously efficaciously brushing the occlusial and the lingual bucal surfaces including any gaps therebetween while simultaneously beneficially brushing the teeth surfaces and also the underlying teeth/gums, the latter benefit representing therapeutical prevention of periodontal problems.
This action of the bristles as a result of the vibratory impetus, briefly described above, may result in a beneficial oscillatory effects of bristles themselves. It should be understood, however, that while there may be significant advantages of the toothbrush of the present developments is in its cleansing effects, the toothbrush is capable of scrubbing action, which removes plaque mechanically in those areas where the bristles physically contact the dental plaque.
In addition to the above, the tooth brush may be constructed so that the operating frequency of the bristles is below their resonant frequency. Bristle movement may be typically 2-3 times that of the resonance arm. This may facilitate driving the bristle tips to the desired velocity without having to drive the coupling elements, such as the resonance arm, the full amplitude of the bristle tips.
From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that new and useful implementations of the present invention have been herein described and illustrated which fulfill numerous desiderata in remarkably unexpected fashions. An assembly such as any of these described herein may be adequate for twin cooperative goals of efficaciously brushing the occlusial and lingual-bucal surfaces, including gaps therebetween, while also simultaneously brushing the aforementioned surfaces and also the underlying teeth and gums thereby providing therapeutical prevention and/or treatment of periodontal problems. It is, of course, understood that changes, modifications, substitutions, alterations and adaptations as may readily occur to the artisan confronted with this disclosure are intended within the spirit of this disclosure which is limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
