Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Brushing
Patent
1995-01-04
1996-03-19
Roberts, Jr., Edward L.
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Brushing
151671, 151766, A61C 1726, A46B 1302
Patent
active
054994209
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a brush holder for a toothbrush, in particular for cleaning the interproximal spaces, for releasably locating a brush preferably comprising an in particular stem-shaped bristle supporting structure having bristles secured thereto, with the bristle supporting structure including a portion carrying no bristles, and the brush holder including a receiving means adapted to receive this bare portion.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,780 923 A, a brush holder for interproximal brushes is known which is configured as a handle. Provided at the upper end of the handle is a transverse hole for receiving the stem of the interproximal brush. Using a cap pivotally mounted on the handle, the stem is bent at an angle of about 90.degree., to be received in a longitudinal groove in the handle. The cap covers the stem, including in one embodiment a latching means adapted to engage into a recess on the handle. The stem of the bristle supporting structure is thereby clampingly secured in position. By bending the stem at right angles, the angled area is exposed to bending loads particularly in the use of brushes which are driven in a rotating/oscillating fashion. Adopting this brush arrangement to an electrically rotating or oscillating toothbrush is not readily possible.
An electrically rotating toothbrush including a disposable brush is known from DE 90 142 71 U1. This toothbrush is intended for the cleaning of fixed dental braces and in particular interproximal areas. The toothbrush is comprised of a brush handle section with an electric motor to which a drive shaft is connected which extends in a guide to the end of the brush handle section. A transmission device transmits the motion to a shaft end portion which terminates in a mounting portion for receiving the brush. The mounting portion is intended to enable the brush to be plugged-in, clamped or threaded thereto. The structure and the mode of operation of the connections referred to do not appear from the description.
The main problem underlying the present invention is to devise a brush holder by means of which an interproximal brush can be located securely, yet exchangeably. According to a secondary aspect of the present invention, it is desirable that the brush holder be suitable for utilization particularly on an electrically rotating or oscillating toothbrush.
This object is essentially accomplished with a brush holder incorporating the features initially referred to, in that the brush holder is of an approximately disk-shaped configuration, that the receiving means is associated with a recess, and that the recess carries pivotally therein a clamping means for clampingly, yet releasably, positioning the brush in its proper location relative to the brush holder. The disk-shaped configuration of the brush holder is beneficial particularly because its substantially closed form prevents the possibility of injury in the mouth and gum areas in the use of the toothbrush. The use of a clamping means enables the brush to be detachably secured to the brush holder without adversely affecting the mode of function of the brush.
Advantageously, the clamping means has a pivot axis extending parallel to a center line of the receiving means. This enables the force of the clamping means to act on the stem-shaped bristle supporting structure at right angles, resulting in high efficiency and a secure clamping of the brush in its proper location with relatively little effort. Moreover, in contrast to brushes in which the stem of the bristle supporting structure is bent at right angles for the purpose of securing it to the brush holder, the risk of fracture can be significantly reduced or avoided entirely.
By providing for the recess to terminate in a section of the receiving means, and for the receiving means to include an enlarged portion adjacent to this section, the stem-shaped bristle supporting structure is in a position to enter the enlarged portion when acted upon by the clamping means, being exposed to a minor deformation in the process. Owing to this deformation,
REFERENCES:
patent: 4751761 (1988-06-01), Breitschmid
patent: 4780923 (1988-11-01), Schultheiss
patent: 5029358 (1991-07-01), Zimmerman
Braun Aktiengesellschaft
Roberts, Jr. Edward L.
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