Cleansing implement and electrically powered dental cleansing device

• US 6,267,593 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Haczek, Werner, Boland, Bernhard, Schwarz-Hartmann, Armin, Hilfinger, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US09/590,982
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 433/118-123, 132/321, 132/322, 601/139
• US Class Current: 433/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/00 Devices for cleaning between the teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/425 Toothbrush

Abstract

The invention is directed to an electrically powered dental cleansing device (1) to which a cleansing implement (32) is fitted. In this manner, the cleansing implement (32) can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The cleansing implement (32) is configured as an integrally formed part comprising a thin and elongate cleansing shaft (125). The cleansing shaft has at least one longitudinal edge and is provided with a plurality of serrations.

Claims

1. A dental cleansing attachment for use with a dental cleaning device having a drive shaft, said attachment comprising:

a cleansing implement having a cleansing shaft and coupling portion configured to be coupled to the drive shaft of the dental cleansing device and to be set in rotation about its longitudinal axis; and

a housing in which the cleansing implement is slidably and rotatably received and which is adapted to be push-fitted onto the dental cleansing device.

2. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a guide tube in which a free end of the cleansing implement is guided.

3. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide tube includes an approximately hemispherical rounded portion with a diameter in the range from about 1 mm to about 4 mm.

4. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide tube includes an approximately hemispherical rounded portion with a diameter of about 2.5 mm.

5. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide tube of the housing includes a bent portion, with a bending angle in the range from about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees.

6. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide tube of the housing includes a bent portion, with a bending angle of about 90 degrees.

7. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes an annular collar configured to releasably locate the cleansing implement in a transit position in which the cleansing implement is completely received within the housing.

8. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a sleeve-shaped portion having an inwardly projecting annular collar, and the cleansing implement includes a disk-shaped base having an annular groove operatively associated with the annular collar and adapted to lockingly engage with the annular collar to provide a transit position of the cleansing implements.

9. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleansing implement includes at its end close to the handle section a pin configured to couple the cleansing implement to the drive shaft in an non-rotating relationship thereto, said drive shaft configured to be driven by a motor housed in the handle section.

10. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleansing implement includes a pin having a complementary cross-section to a bore of said drive shaft which in an assembled condition forms a press-fit.

11. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one recess configured to releasably locate the housing in position on the dental cleansing device.

12. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a longitudinal groove for aligning the housing in a clearly defined position relative to the dental cleansing device in the circumferential direction.

13. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 12, wherein the housing include at least one recess and at least one longitudinal groove, wherein one longitudinal groove is provided on either side of the recess.

14. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the housing includes three recesses, with associated longitudinal grooves, arranged with at least partly non-uniform distances on the periphery of the housing.

15. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleansing implement is an integrally formed part including a cleansing shaft which is flexible, made of a polyester elastomer or a material of similar flexural strength, and can be set in rotation by a motor of the dental cleansing device.

16. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cleansing shaft has an essentially square cross-section.

17. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 16, wherein a side of the square cross-section has a length of approximately 0.3 mm.

18. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein a plurality of serrations project from a surface of the cleansing shaft.

19. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 18, wherein each serration has a height of 0.2 mm.

20. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 19, wherein each serration has a width of approximately 0.2 mm.

21. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cleansing shaft is integrally formed having an unbalanced structure.

22. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cleansing shaft has a length of 12 mm.

23. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cleansing implement is made of Hytrel7.

24. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cleansing shaft includes a end having a blunt rounded portion.

25. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cleansing shaft is thin and elongate.

26. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cleansing shaft includes at least one longitudinal edge.

27. A dental cleansing attachment for use with a dental cleaning device having a drive shaft, said attachment comprising:

a cleansing implement having a cleansing shaft; and

a housing adapted to be push-fitted onto the dental cleansing device and in which the cleansing implement is received, said housing including a locating portion configured to releasably locate the cleansing implement in a transit position in which the cleansing implement is completely received within the housing.

28. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claim 27, wherein the housing is provided with a sleeve-shaped portion having an inwardly projecting annular collar, and that the cleansing implement is provided with a disk-shaped base which includes an annular groove operatively associated with the annular collar and adapted for locking engagement with the annular collar to provide the transit position.

29. The dental cleansing attachment as claimed in claims 27, wherein the cleansing implement includes a releasable coupling configured to couple cleansing element to a drive shaft in a non-rotating relationship thereto.