The present disclosure is directed generally to personal care appliances, more specifically to oral care appliances, even more specifically, to oral care appliances arranged to differentiate pressure within an oral environment.
Personal care appliances, for example, power toothbrushes, contain components which generate rotational motion of a drive shaft which creates a proportional rotational motion or a translational motion of a brush head arranged to contact the teeth and gums of a user. Power toothbrushes also contain components which can detect various conditions and/or states of the appliance and provide feedback to the user. For example, feedback may be provided which indicates that the user is applying excessive pressure between the user's teeth and/or gums and the bristles of the power toothbrush. In use, the bristles of a toothbrush should lightly skim the tooth surfaces to remove bacteria, food debris, and plaque. Increasing the pressure with which the user applies the bristles to the teeth does not aid the cleaning process and may damage the internal components of the power toothbrush and/or damage the user's teeth and gums. Additionally, increasing the pressure on the bristles may slow the speed of bristle vibration or stop the bristles from moving across the teeth lowering their effectiveness.
The present disclosure is related to a personal care appliance which includes a brush head assembly having a brush head which includes a first face having a plurality of bristles arranged to extend from the first face of the brush head in a first direction, and a second face arranged to create a first frictional force between the second face and an oral environment in a second direction, and create a second frictional force between the second face and the oral environment in a third direction. The difference between the first and second frictional force can be used to differentiate pressure on the personal care appliance generated from the oral environment on the brush head assembly from pressure generated by the user on the personal care appliance.
In one aspect, there is provided a brush head assembly for a personal care appliance, the brush head assembly including a brush head, the brush head including a first face fixedly secured to a plurality of bristles, the plurality of bristles arranged to extend from the first face in a first direction; and a neck having a first end and a second end, the neck or the brush head further including a second face arranged to create a first frictional force between the second face and an oral environment in a second direction, and create a second frictional force between the second face and the oral environment in a third direction.
In one aspect, the second face further comprises a first friction surface having a first coefficient of friction and a second friction surface having a second coefficient of friction, where the second coefficient of friction is different than the first coefficient of friction.
In one aspect, the second face further comprises a first plurality of protrusions, the first plurality of protrusions including a first protrusion, the first protrusion having a first side and a second side, wherein the first friction surface is arranged on the first side of the first protrusion and the second friction surface is arranged on the second side of the first protrusion.
In one aspect, the second face further comprises a third friction surface having the first coefficient of friction and a fourth friction surface having the second coefficient of friction wherein the first coefficient of friction and the second coefficient of friction are not equal.
In one aspect, the first plurality of protrusions includes a second protrusion, the second protrusion having a third side and a fourth side, wherein the third friction surface is arranged on the third side of the second protrusion and the fourth friction surface is arranged on the fourth side of the second protrusion.
In one aspect, the first friction surface comprises a first friction material having the first coefficient of friction along the second direction and a second friction material having a second coefficient of friction along the third direction.
In one aspect, there is provided a personal care appliance, the personal care appliance including a brush head assembly and a body portion, the brush head assembly including a neck having a first end and a second end, a brush head arranged proximate the first end of the neck, the brush head including a first face fixedly secured to a plurality of bristles, the plurality of bristles arranged to extend from the first face in a first direction, and, a second face having a first friction surface arranged thereon, the first friction surface having a first coefficient of friction. The body portion having a housing, the housing having third end and a fourth end, the housing comprising a cavity therein, the cavity including a drive shaft arranged proximate the third end of the body portion and arranged to engage with the second end of the neck, a drive assembly arranged to generate an oscillation of the drive shaft and, via the drive shaft, generate an oscillation of the brush head, and a first sensor arranged to determine a first force exerted by an oral environment on the second face of the brush head in the first direction based at least in part on a first frictional load between the first friction surface of the second face of the brush head and the oral environment in a second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.
In one aspect, the second face of the brush head further comprises a second friction surface having a second coefficient of friction, where the second coefficient of friction is different than the first coefficient of friction.
In one aspect, the second face of the brush head further comprises a first plurality of protrusions, the first plurality of protrusions including a first protrusion, the first protrusion having a first side and a second side, wherein the first friction surface is arranged on the first side of the first protrusion and the second friction surface is arranged on the second side of the first protrusion.
In one aspect, the second face of the brush head further comprises a third friction surface having the first coefficient of friction and a fourth friction surface having the second coefficient of friction wherein the first coefficient of friction and the second coefficient of friction are substantially equal.
In one aspect, the first plurality of protrusions includes a second protrusion, the second protrusion having a third side and a fourth side, wherein the third friction surface is arranged on the third side of the second protrusion and the fourth friction surface is arranged on the fourth side of the second protrusion.
In one aspect, the first friction surface comprises a first friction material having the first coefficient of friction along the second direction and a second friction material having a second coefficient of friction along a third direction where the third direction is opposite the second direction.
In one aspect, a method of differentiating pressure on a personal care appliance is provided, the method including: providing a brush head assembly having brush head, the brush head having a first face and a second face, the first face arranged to engage with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom in a first direction and a second face having a first friction surface arranged thereon, the first friction surface having a first coefficient of friction; providing, within a housing of the personal care appliance, a drive assembly arranged to engage with the brush head assembly via a drive shaft and transfer an oscillation of a drive assembly to the brush head; and, sensing, via a first sensor arranged within the housing, a first pressure exerted by an oral environment on the second face of the brush head in the first direction based at least in part on a first frictional load between the first friction surface of the second face of the brush head and the oral environment in a second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.
In one aspect, the second face of the brush head further comprises a second friction surface having a second coefficient of friction, where the second coefficient of friction is different than the first coefficient of friction.
In one aspect, the first friction surface comprises a first friction material having the first coefficient of friction along the second direction and a second friction material having a second coefficient of friction along a third direction where the third direction is opposite the second direction.
These and other aspects of the various embodiments will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the various embodiments.
The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a personal care appliance which includes a brush head assembly having a brush head which includes a first face having a plurality of bristles arranged to extend from the first face of the brush head in a first direction, and a second face arranged to create a first frictional force between the second face and an oral environment in a second direction, and create a second frictional force between the second face and the oral environment in a third direction. The difference between the first and second frictional force can be used to differentiate pressure on the personal care appliance generated from the oral environment on the brush head assembly from pressure generated by the user on the personal care appliance.
The following description should be read in view of
As illustrated in
Drive shaft 116 is intended to be a substantially longitudinal member arranged along first axis A1 at least between first end 106 and second end 108 of housing 104. Drive shaft 116 is arranged to rotate and oscillate about first axis A1 in a first rotational direction RD1 (shown in
Cavity 110 further includes first sensor 124, which is arranged to, for example, measure changes in torque during operation of motor 114. Although illustrated as an separate component, it should be appreciated that sensor 124 can be integrated within motor 114 such that it may provide load or current information to the other internal electronic components discussed above during operation of personal care appliance 100. For example, sensor 124 is arranged to obtain a first load L1 (not shown) during a first stroke of brush head 130, i.e., when brush head 130 moves within oral environment OE (shown in
Personal care appliance 100 further includes a brush head assembly, i.e., brush head assembly 126. Brush head assembly 126 is arranged to removably engage with drive shaft 116 and secure to body portion 102 proximate first end 106. Brush head assembly 126 includes neck 128 and brush head 130. Neck 128 has first end 132 and second end 134. When engaged, brush head 130 is integrally connected to first end 132 of neck 128 and second end 134 is arranged proximate first end 106 of body portion 102. Additionally, when engaged, brush head assembly 126 is positioned substantially about first axis A1 and secured to drive shaft 116 such that rotation and/or oscillation of drive shaft 116 corresponds to a translational oscillation of brush head 130 along second axis A2 in third direction DR3 and fourth direction DR4, and/or corresponds to a rotational oscillation about first axis A1 in a first rotational direction RD1 and a second rotational direction RD2. It should also be appreciated that brush head assembly 126 may also rotate about second axis A2 and/or translate along first axis A1.
As shown in
As illustrated in
In one example, second face 138 includes a plurality of protrusions 150 (shown in
During operation of personal care appliance 100, a user may place oral care appliance 100 within an oral environment OE, i.e., within the user's mouth. Within the user's oral environment OE, the inside of the user's cheek, a portion of the user's lips, or at least a portion of the user's tongue may apply a pressure or force F1 (shown in
FT=F1+F2
In the above example, sensor 124 may perceive the torque or load on motor 114 and determine that FT exceeds a certain threshold, i.e., the bristles of plurality of bristles 140 are applying too much total force on the user's teeth, which may cause damage to personal care appliance 100 and/or the user's teeth. However, the user has no way of distinguishing whether the total force FT exerted on brush head 130 in first direction DR1 is caused by excessive force from the user's oral environment OE, i.e., first force F1, or caused by excessive force on the housing 104 of oral care appliance 100 in first direction DR1, i.e., second force F2.
As described above, to aid in distinguishing the source of the excessive force, second face 138 of brush head 130 includes at least two surfaces, i.e., first friction surface 142 and second friction surface 144, having a first coefficient of friction FR1 and second coefficient of friction FR2, respectively, where the first coefficient of friction FR1 is different than second coefficient of friction FR2. In one example, first friction surface 142 comprises a nylon material having first coefficient of friction FR1 of approximately 0.25 and second friction surface 144 comprises a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) material having second coefficient of friction of approximately 0.5. It should be appreciated that the materials chosen for first friction surface 142 and second friction surface 144 can be any material or combination of materials which can produce a sufficient different in frictional drag in the first stroke in the third direction DR3 and the second stroke in fourth direction DR4 such that sensor 124 can perceive the difference in current or load of motor 114. The anisotropic effect created by these two friction surfaces, i.e., the frictional drag of second face 138 against oral environment OE in third direction DR3 is different than the frictional drag of second face 138 against oral environment OE in fourth direction DR4, creates two different torques or loads during the first stroke in the third direction DR3 and the second stroke in the fourth direction DR4, i.e., first load L1 and second load L2, on motor 114 which can be detected by first sensor 124 and utilized by processor 120 to determine the values of first force F1 and second force F2. For example, processor 120 may utilize the following two formulas to determine the force on brush head 130 caused solely by oral environment OE, i.e., first force F1, where R is the distance between second surface 138 and axis A1:
Additionally, the force applied on housing 104 by the user's hand, i.e., second force F2, can be found using a third formula where Rbristle is the approximate distance between the ends of the plurality of bristles 140 and first axis A1:
After total force FT, first force F1, and second force F2 have been determined, processor 120 can be arranged to provide feedback to the user and inform the user as to the source of the excessive pressure against the user's teeth. For example, if total force FT is determined to be above a first predefined threshold, e.g., 300g and first force F1/total force FT is greater than 0.5, processor 120 may be arranged to provide first feedback to the user in the form of a first unique notification, e.g., a first visual signal produced by a light source on or in housing 104, a first vibration in a first cadence or first pattern that is unique to an excessive first force F1, a first audible tone generated by a speaker arranged on or in housing 104, or a first wireless notification received on a peripheral device (e.g., a smart phone). Upon receiving this first feedback that first force F1 exceeds the first predefined threshold, the user can know that they should consider switching to a brush head having a smaller overall footprint, or a brush head that better conforms to the user's particular oral geometry. Additionally, if total force FT is determined to be above a first predefined threshold, e.g., 300g and second force F2/total force FT is greater than 0.5, processor 120 may be arranged to provide second feedback to the user in the form of a second unique notification, e.g., a second visual signal produced by a light source on or in housing 104, a second vibration in a second cadence or second pattern that is unique to an excessive second force F2, a second audible tone generated by a speaker arranged on or in housing 104, or a second wireless notification received on a peripheral device (e.g., a smart phone). Furthermore, it should be appreciated that, if first force F1 exceeds the first redefined threshold and second force F2 exceeds the second predefined threshold, processor 120 may be arranged to provide the first feedback and the second feedback to the user sequentially or simultaneously, or provide third feedback in the form of a third unique notification, e.g., a third visual signal produced by a light source on or in housing 104, a third vibration in a third cadence or second pattern that is unique to an excessive first force F1 and second force F2, a third audible tone generated by a speaker arranged on or in housing 104, or a third wireless notification received on a peripheral device (e.g., a smart phone).
As illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.
While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/061165 | 4/22/2020 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62838572 | Apr 2019 | US |