Patent Application
20230248497
This invention relates to an improved toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush comprising a tufted hemisphere, or sphere, and in particular to a tufted hemisphere, or sphere, of a construction which enables reduced size of the toothbrush head.
European patent EP 2,142,138 B1 describes a toothbrush which comprises a substantially spherical brush comprising two substantially hemispherical sections separated from one another by a channel and drive means extending through the channel and adapted to impart at least first and second independent brushing motions to the head.
Applicant has found that a toothbrush comprising such a spherical brush should be no more than a certain size to enable comfortable use and effective cleaning of all teeth. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electric toothbrush head having a substantially spherical brush of small enough size that efficient cleaning of teeth is enabled.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved electric toothbrush head having a substantially hemispherical brush.
A substantially spherical brush having a drive means is at an inherent disadvantage when compared with conventional brushes. Conventional toothbrushes typically comprise a bristle pack formed from plural “bristle bundles” which are staked to a support at a fixed end. The bristles project in broadly the same orientation from the support to provide a generally planar brushing face at their free ends.
A spherical brush, or hemispherical brush (at its base diameter), has a central spherical support with bristles projecting in opposite directions therefrom. This has the result that, for a given length of bristle, the overall dimension of a spherical brush will be double that required for a single sided arrangement. Furthermore, because the bristles must be a minimum length to provide sufficient compliance for a given diameter of bristle, which is in turn set by wear requirements, a spherical arrangement sets a minimum size for a hemispherical or spherical brush of at least twice this minimum bristle length, plus the intervening support.
It is therefore necessary to minimise the size of the support. However, at the same time, the support must provide strong retention for the bristles of the toothbrush. Furthermore, where the support is provided with a drive receiver such as a gear, this must be strong enough transmit receive sufficient power from a drive mechanism of the toothbrush to the tufted sphere or tufted hemisphere, so that it rotates, even when loaded with toothpaste.
A further issue is that, because the bristles project in a generally radial direction from the surface of the sphere, the separation between bristles at their free ends becomes more pronounced with a small dome than a large dome, for a fixed length of bristle. Hence applicant has identified it is important to maximise the ‘packing’ of the bristles at the support surface to ensure sufficient density of bristles at the brushing surface of the brush for efficient cleaning, and to provide a visually acceptable appearance.
To this end, applicant has identified that, by fusing the bristle bundles (also known as tufts) at their base to provide a monolithic support structure, i.e. a support structure which is formed from the same material as, and integral with, the material of the bristles, the need for a separate support is reduced, and preferably eliminated. Without a separate support, and the associated staking required to lock the bristle packs into the support, a bristled dome of reduced dimension can be manufactured which still retains good retention strength of the bristles. In a further refinement, the monolithic structure is bonded to a supporting ring which provides the drive receiver for the bristled dome. Preferably, this supporting ring is made from the same material as the bristles and is fused to the dome by heating the plastic so that the entire support ring, dome, and bristles unite to form a monolithic structure. Furthermore, by optimising the geometry of the bristle bundles to improve packing density at their proximal ends, the amount of bristle fusion required to form the supporting dome is minimised.
According to the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush comprising a brush which comprises a bristled dome joined to an annular carrier, wherein the bristled dome comprises a supporting dome having a convex outer surface, and bristles which extend outwards from the convex outer surface, and wherein the bristled dome is a monolithic structure comprising fused bristles, preferably consisting of fused bristles.
Preferably the supporting dome formed by the fused bristle material has a radius, measured to the outer surface, of between 2 mm and 4 mm, preferably between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm, most preferably about 6 mm.
Preferably the supporting dome formed by the fused bristle material has a wall thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, more preferably about 1 mm.
Preferably, the bristles are of substantially equal length, and the bristled dome is shaped such that the brush is substantially hemispherical.
Preferably, the substantially hemispherical brush has a hemispherical radius of no more than 10 mm. More preferably the hemispherical radius is no more than 9 mm.
The toothbrush head may further comprise a second brush comprising a bristled dome joined to an annular carrier, wherein each brush comprises a supporting dome having a convex outer surface, and bristles which extend outwards from the convex outer surface, and wherein each bristled dome is a monolithic structure formed by heat fusion of the bristles, wherein the first brush and second brush are joined about their annular carriers to provide a pair of opposed, outward facing bristled domes.
Preferably the first brush annular carrier is bonded to the second brush annular carrier. The first annular carrier may be bonded to the second annular carrier by use of adhesive or, more preferably by heat fusion.
Most preferably, the first annular carrier is fused to the second annular carrier by laser welding. Preferably the first annular carrier is doped with a material e.g. carbon black which absorbs laser energy at a predetermined laser frequency, so that it is opaque to a predetermined laser light, while the second carrier is not doped and remains substantially transparent to said predetermined laser frequency thereby ensuring good control of melting at the interface of the first annular carrier and second annular carrier.
Preferably, the first brush and second brush are substantially hemispherical and the pair of opposed outward facing bristled domes provide a substantially spherical brush assembly.
Preferably, the substantially spherical brush assembly has a spherical diameter of no more than 20 mm. More preferably, the spherical diameter is no more than 18 mm.
Preferably the pair of substantially hemispherical brushes each provide a tufted spherical cone of between 135° and 145°, preferably about 140°, to provide a clearance between them for receipt of drive to the bonded annular carriers while providing a useful cleaning area at the distal ends of the bristles.
Preferably at least one bristled dome is bonded with its annular carrier and, where more than one bristled dome is used, all the bristled domes are bonded to their annular carriers.
Preferably, the dome is bonded with the annular carrier using adhesive and/or welding, and/or use of a mechanical/melt interface such as a snap fit arrangement which is then heated to fuse the bristled dome with the annular carrier, and/or by fusing of the bristled dome to the annular carrier.
Most preferably, the bonding is achieved by heat fusion of the at least one bristled dome with its annular carrier, such that the bristled dome and annular carrier are fused.
Preferably, the annular carrier of at least one brush provides a bearing surface and, where two annular carriers are used, each carrier provides at least one bearing surface.
Preferably, the annular carrier of at least one brush provides a drive receiver. Preferably the drive receiver provides at least part of a drive ring for receiving drive from an external driver, including a gear ring or pulley ring. More preferably the drive ring is a gear ring for receiving drive from a gear drive.
Where two annular carriers are used, each annular carrier can be adapted to provide a first and second quadrant of the drive ring, which first and second quadrants are angularly equi-spaced about the annular carrier so that the joined annular carriers form a complete drive ring.
More preferably the first brush comprises a first annular carrier provided with a gear ring, and the second brush comprises a second annular carrier which can be bonded to the gear ring of the first gear ring.
Preferably, the at least one bristled dome and annular carrier are made from compatible heat fusible materials.
Preferably, the at least one bristled dome is made of nylon or PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate), and the annular carrier is made from a compatible material.
Preferably, where at least one bristled dome is made from Nylon, the corresponding annular carrier is made from Nylon or PC.
More preferably, the at least one bristled dome is made from PBT, and the corresponding annular carrier is made from PBT, or ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), or PC (Polycarbonate) or PEI (Polyetherimide).
Most preferably, the at least one brush comprises a bristled dome and annular carrier made from PBT.
Preferably, at least one annular carrier is provided with an annular surface adapted to provide a keying feature for bonding with the bristled dome.
Preferably, this keying feature comprises a non-planar surface; in particular a re-entrant surface; in particular a castellated surface comprising an annular array of upstanding fingers which may be curved.
Optionally, keying features are provided to at least one annular carrier which comprise an etched material, or plurality of anchors around which molten bristle material can flow and, upon solidification, lock to provide a mechanical bond between the bristle material and the anchors of the annular carrier.
Preferably, the bristled dome comprises a plurality of bristle bundles each having a distal end and proximal end, wherein the bristles of the bristle bundles are fused together adjacent their proximal ends, by the application of heat, to form the supporting dome, while the distal end of each bristle is free to form a cleaning surface.
Preferably all the supporting dome of at least one brush is provided by fused bristle material.
Preferably, the bristle bundles have a polygonal cross section at their proximal ends to enable close packing prior to fusing.
More preferably, the bristle bundles are formed to have a polygonal cross section at their proximal ends such that they form a loose packed hemispherical polyhedra which is fused to form the supporting dome.
Preferably the at least one brush comprises at least a first frustoconical array of bristle bundles and second frustoconical array of bristle bundles, concentric with the annular carrier, wherein the bristle bundles of the first annular array have a first polygonal cross section and the second annular array of bristle bundles has a second polygonal cross section, and wherein the first and second polygonal cross sections are different.
Preferably the bristle bundles are arranged in four annular arrays, concentric with the annular carrier, and the bundles of each concentric array are provided with a polygonal cross-section which is different to the bundles of the other concentric arrays.
Preferably the bristle bundles are arranged in four frustoconic arrays, concentric with the annular carrier, and the bundles of each array are provided with a polygonal cross-section which is different to the bundles of the other arrays.
Preferably, the bristle bundles are arranged as four frustoconical arrays, each concentric with the annular carrier and comprising a first outermost array, adjacent the annular carrier, a second intermediate array, spaced further from the annular carrier, but interdigitate with the first array, a third array spaced further again from the annular carrier so that the bundles lie above those of the first array but interdigitate with the bundles of the second array, and a fourth array located about the apex of the dome.
More preferably the first, second and third arrays each comprises seven bristle bundles, while the fourth array comprises three bristle bundles, all of which are equiangularly spaced about the axis of the annular carrier in their respective arrays.
Preferably the bristles bundles of the first array have a first irregular hexagonal cross-section. This preferably comprises a substantially square lower half adjacent the annular ring, and a contiguous substantially trapezoid upper half.
Preferably the bristle bundles of the second array have a second irregular pentagonal cross-section. This preferably comprises a substantially trapezoid lower half, and a contiguous substantially triangular upper half.
Preferably the bristle bundles of the third array have a third irregular hexagonal form.
Preferably the bristle bundles of the fourth array have a fourth triangular cross section. This triangular cross-section preferably comprises an isosceles triangle having a curved based.
Preferably, the bristles of the bristled domes are between 4 mm and 7 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 7 mm, most preferably between 5.5 mm and 6.5 mm, still more preferably about 6 mm.
Turning now to
With reference to
The first static housing 106 is provided with a protective cover, or ‘spoon’, 116 which shields a portion of the spherical brush assembly 114 from contact with soft tissue, e.g. the cheeks, when brushing teeth with the remaining exposed portion of the brush assembly 114.
With reference to
The spherical brush assembly 114 comprises a first bristled dome 118 joined to a second bristled dome 120 by a central drive receiver 122 comprising a ring gear 124 having an annular array of gear teeth 126. These are partially recessed between a first annular flange 128 and second annular flange 130 so that each gear root 132 lies within the outer diameter of the flanges 128, 130.
Rotational drive about axis A-A is provided by the interaction of a drive gear 134 of the drive system which is driven about its axis to cause the ring gear 124 of the brush assembly 114 to drive in the opposite direction. The flanges 128, 130 and the location of the ring gear 124 between them so that the gear root 132 lies beneath their outer diameter, ensures that the drive gear 134 is well aligned with the ring gear, ensuring good drive, and minimising wear.
Referring now to
The first brush 136 comprises first bristled dome 118 bonded to a first annular carrier 140, although these components are shown apart for clarity of certain features. The second brush 138 comprises second bristled dome 120 bonded to a second annular carrier 142.
With reference also to
On the opposite side of the first annular flange 128, the first annular carrier 140 comprises a splined inner sleeve 154 having an outboard array of axial splines. The splined inner sleeve 154 is received by a splined outer sleeve 156 extending from the second annular carrier 142. The splined inner sleeve 154 abuts an inner shoulder of the splined outer sleeve 156 to provide an abutment joint 158 between the two annular carriers 140,142 suitable for bonding with adhesive, or by heat fusion. The splines of the inner sleeve 154 and inner sleeve 156 cooperate to ensure good alignment of the first annular carrier 140 and second annular carrier 142 upon assembly.
The gear teeth 126 of ring gear 124 are provided to the external curved surface of the splined outer sleeve 156.
The second annular carrier 142, like the first annular carrier 140, provides a bearing shoulder provided by the second annular flange 130. This bearing shoulder provides a curved outer edge 160 and outboard planar annular bearing surface 162.
The bearing surfaces 144, 146, 160, 162 of the spherical brush assembly cooperate with the bearing 110 of the inner housing to locate the brush assembly 114 within the inner housing 108. They provide bearing support on both sides of the ring gear 124 of the brush assembly 114 to allow rotational movement about the axis A-A by the brush assembly 114 under drive from the drive gear 134, whilst ensuring good alignment of the ring gear 124 and drive gear 134. The outer bearing surfaces 146, 162 locate the brush assembly 114 axially within the inner housing 108 to again ensure good alignment of the gears and are also important in the transmission of rotational force from the inner housing 108 to the assembly 110 when it is being rotated about the B-B axis.
The second annular carrier 142, like the first annular carrier 128, is provided with a castellated ring 164 around the outboard face of the second annular carrier 130. Again, a series of alternating reliefs are formed between the fingers which have alternating depth so that a like number of deep slots and shallow slots are provided by the ring 164.
With reference also to
In more detail, a first array of seven bristle bundles 166a, (et seq.) is aligned co-axial with the axis of the annular carrier 140, 142. The array equi-angularly distributed about the axis of the annular carrier 140, 142, and is substantially frustoconical, i.e. approximating a truncated cone. The array points towards the axis of the carrier 140, 142, (i.e. axis A-A) at an angle of about 70° to the axis, so that each bristle bundle projects upwards from the plane of the carrier 140, 142 at about 20°.
Each bristle bundle 166a (et seq.) extends from a proximal end 168, which is received in a deep slot 152a of a castellated ring 150, 164, to a distal end 170 which forms the cleaning surface of the brush 136,138.
The bundles 166a (et seq.) have a hexagonal cross-section 172 as shown in
A second frustoconical array of seven bristle bundles 174a, (et seq.) is aligned co-axial with the axis of the annular carrier 140, 142. Each bristle bundle points towards the axis of the carrier 140,142 at an angle of about 60°, so that each bristle bundle projects upwards from the plane of the carrier 140, 142, at an angle of about 30°.
Each bristle bundle of the second array 174a, (et seq.) extends from a proximal end 176, which is received in the shallow reliefs 152b of a castellated ring 150, 164, to a distal end 178 which forms the cleaning surface of the brush 136,138. The bundles 174a, (et seq.) have a pentagonal cross-section 180 comprising a lower trapezoid 180a, and a contiguous isosceles triangle 180b.
The proximal ends 176 of the second array lie interdigitate the proximal ends 176 of the first array but raised higher from the plane of the carrier 140, 142, than the first array such that the lower trapezoid part of the second bristles 174a, (et seq.) lies wholly between the first bundles, but the triangular part 180b of the cross section 180 of the second bristle bundles 174a, (et seq.) are displaced above the first array of bristle bundles 166a, (et seq.).
A third frustoconical array of seven equi-angularly spaced bristle bundles 182a, (et seq.) has an angle to the carrier axis of about 30° so that each bristle bundle projects upwards from the plane of the carrier at about 60°. Each bristle bundle 182a extends from a proximal end 184 located adjacent the proximal ends of the first and second arrays 166a, (et seq.), 174, (et seq.) to a distal end 186 which forms the cleaning surface of the brush 114.
The bristle bundles 182a, (et seq.) of the third array have a hexagonal cross section 188 comprising a lower half shaped such that fits and loosely conforms between the upper surface of the first bristle bundle cross section 172, and between the triangular part 180b of the second bristle bundle cross-section.
The final, fourth frustoconical array of bristle bundles 190a, 190b, 190c comprises three bristle bundles 190a, 190b, 190c equi-angularly spaced about the axis of the carrier 140,142. Each bundle is oriented at an angle of about 15° to the carrier axis, i.e. about 75° to the plane of the carrier 140, 142. Each bundle 190a, (et seq.) extends from a proximal end 192 located adjacent the proximal ends of the third array 182a, (et seq.), to a distal end 194 which forms the cleaning surface of the bristled dome 118,120.
The bristle bundles 190a, (et seq.) of the fourth array have a lobed cross-section 192 resembling an isosceles triangle with a curved base. The bundles are arranged so that their flat surfaces abut, so that the curved base forms a circular line which abuts the upper surface of the fourth bristle bundles at their proximal ends.
Referring now to
Fusion of this hemispherical polyhedra via fusion melting of the bristle bundles at their proximal ends to each other, provides a bristled dome 118, 120 according to the present invention. Fusion of the bristle bundles at their proximal ends removes the need to stake the bristle bundles in a separately formed component, enabling reduced dimensions but whilst providing sufficient retention of the bristles, via the monolithic structure.
Preferably, the bristled dome formed and fused to the annular carrier, which is made of a compatible material, at the same time. In this way, the bristled dome is strongly joined to the carrier, for the reasons set forth above. A further advantage is that the dome can be formed by fusion melting while features of the brush (136, 138) which require particular dimensional control, such as the bearing surfaces, and optional drive features, are provided via the annular carriers which can be manufactured via an injection moulding before joining. The injection moulding process has better dimensional control the melting process used to form the supporting dome, and this facilitates very good control of the bearing tolerances.
In manufacture, the bristle bundles are inserted into a mould comprising a substantially hemispherical cavity (not shown), such that they project a predetermined distance into the cavity. A heated hemispherical press, with similar geometry to the hemispherical cavity, but shaped to leave a gap between the press and cavity of approximately 1 mm to form the dome support, is then inserted into the cavity so that it contacts all of the bristle bundles at their proximal ends. The tool is heated to a temperature which causes the material of the bristles to fuse together, creating a monolithic bristled dome.
The gap between the press and cavity gives a wall thickness of about 1 mm which is believed to give good retention strength of the bristle bundles, while allowing a suitably small support to be formed, however, it may be possible to attain the same properties with wall thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 2 mm.
In a preferred step, the hemispherical cavity is provided with a recess to receive an annular carrier 140, 142 which is inserted into the recess such that the first and second bristle arrays 166a, (et seq.), and 174a, (et seq.) abut, respectively the reliefs 152a, 152b, provided by the castellated ring 150, 164 of the annular carriers. The curved fingers 148a, 148b enclose the bristle arrays on either side, providing a mechanical lock to stabilise them in place.
A similar heated hemispherical press is then introduced into the cavity, arranged to contact the proximal ends of all the bristle bundles and also the inside of the castellated ring 150, 164 of the annular carriers. The press is heated such that the proximal ends fuse to form the supporting dome of the bristled dome (118, 120), thereby forming the bristled dome, while at the same time, or near same time, fusing with the castellated rings of the support, creating a monolithic bristled dome and annular carrier.
In the present embodiment, the bristles and carriers are all manufactured from PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) ensuring good fusion of the components. Other materials could be used for the bristled dome, including nylon.
If the carrier is to be fused to the bristled dome, the same or compatible materials should be used, for example, for a PBT bristled dome, the carrier could be made from ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), or PC (Polycarbonate) or PEI (Polyetherimide). For a nylon bristled dome, the carrier could be made from nylon or PC.
In an alternative manufacturing process, the bristled dome could be bonded to the carrier after fusion of the bristle ends, either by a further melting step, to fuse the carrier to the bristled dome, or by use of an adhesive to glue the bristled dome and carrier together.
After a bristled dome 118 has been formed and joined with the first annular carrier 140 to provide the first brush 136, and a bristled dome has been formed and joined with the second annular carrier 142 to provide the second brush 138, the bristled domes 118, 120 are bonded together by the use of a suitable adhesive at the abutment joint 158 of their annular carriers 140, 142, thereby providing the substantially spherical brush assembly 114.
In an alternative process, one of the annular carriers 140, 142 can be doped with a suitable material such as carbon black. Upon assembly of the bristled domes 118, 120, a laser is focussed on to the abutment joint 158 through the undoped carrier so that the laser energy is absorbed by the doped carrier. This causes localised heating and, in turn, fusion of the two carriers 140, 142 at the abutment joint 158.
Ideally, all the bristles of the bristle bundles are the same length after manufacture. In the present embodiment, all the bristles are about 6 mm long. Preferably the dome of the bristled dome has a radius of no more than 8 mm, and more preferably 6 mm to ensure that the substantially hemispherical brush is no more than 20 mm across its widest dimension, and more preferably no more than 18 mm across its base dimension (across the first annular array of bristles).
With reference to
The second toothbrush is compatible with the toothbrush handle shown in
With reference also to
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010533.4 | Jul 2020 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/068675 | 7/6/2021 | WO |
