Abstract:
To provide a rotary toothbrush including a ratchet mechanism that is capable of rotating if exceeding a predetermined frictional resistance during brushing forward movement and incapable of rotating during backward movement by the interaction between a semicircular protrusion portion on the bottom of a guide plate installed on the inside of a pair of right and left bearing plates of a handle part and a pawl formed on the vertex of a polygonal rotary shaft to which a brush member is attached, and also that, by installing the protrusion portion and the pawl in an opposite direction, becomes incapable of rotating during the forward movement and capable of rotating during the backward movement.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a rotary toothbrush. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In the case of conventionally-used general toothbrushes, there have been provided rotary toothbrushes or the like that are just moved back and forth repeatedly when brushing one&#39;s teeth. 
         [0003]    Furthermore, in the case of the above-mentioned 360-degree rotary toothbrushes, there are no rotary toothbrushes that do not rotate during the backward movement when brushing one&#39;s teeth, as commonly used flat brushes do not. 
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    Technical Problem 
         [0005]    As described above, in conventionally-used rotary toothbrushes, there are no rotary toothbrushes including a ratchet mechanism that rotates during forward movement of the toothbrushes, and is incapable of rotating during backward movement of the toothbrushes when brushing one&#39;s teeth. The present invention is intended to solve a problem that the above-described configuration of conventional rotary toothbrushes have. 
         [0006]    Solution to Problem 
         [0007]    A rotary toothbrush according to the present invention for solving the above problem is explained below. 
         [0008]    A rotary toothbrush  1  is characterized by including guide plates  10 ,  10   a  whose bottom is formed into a semicircular shape  5  further installed on the inside of a pair of bearing plates  4 ,  4   a  with an attachment portion  12  formed thereon that are installed on right and left head portions  1  of a handle part  3 ; a protrusion portion  11 ,  11   a  formed on the bottom of the semicircular shape  5 ; a pawl  14  formed by cutting a vertex  8  of a polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an L-shape  9  formed on the polygonal rotary shaft  7  with an receiving hole  6  to which a brush member  5  is attached; and a ratchet mechanism for fixing the brush member  5  to the attachment portion  12  of the pair of right and left bearing plates  4 ,  4   a  through the polygonal rotary shaft  7  by attaching the brush member  5  to the polygonal rotary shaft  7 , and inserting into the receiving hole  6  through a support shaft  18 . 
         [0009]    The rotary toothbrush  1  is provided with a ratchet mechanism  13 ,  13   a  that is capable of rotating only if exceeding a predetermined frictional resistance in the rotation during the brushing forward movement by the interaction between the protrusion portion  11 ,  11   a  on the bottom of the guide plates  10  ,  10   a  installed on the inside of the pair of right and left bearing plates  4 ,  4   a  of the handle part  3  and the pawl  14  formed by cutting the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into the L-shape  9 , and becomes incapable of rotating during the brushing backward movement by the interaction. 
         [0010]    To install the ratchet mechanism  13 ,  13   a , it is preferable that material or the like used in the handle part  3  and the polygonal rotary shaft  7  of the rotary toothbrush  1  is plastic material having elasticity capable of achieving a spring-like effect. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, the position of the protrusion portion  11 ,  11   a  formed on the semicircular bottom of the guide plates  10 ,  10   a  is not limited as long as it is on the side surface of the semicircular shape  5 ; however, it is preferable to be formed on a right or left end part or a center part. 
         [0012]    Moreover, the number, size, etc. of the protrusion portions  11 ,  11   a  are not limited as long as they are formed in an appropriate size or position so that the below-described interaction with and the pawl formed on the polygonal rotary shaft  7  is maximized. 
         [0013]    The pawl formed by cutting the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into the L-shape  9  is formed in a range where the spring-like effect can be achieved, and the size of the pawl  14  formed is set appropriately, and also its number can be one but is not limited. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the size, etc. of the pawl  14  are also not limited as long as its size sets in a size, etc. so that the interaction of the ratchet mechanism with the protrusion portion  11 ,  11   a  is maximized. 
         [0015]    Moreover, the strength, position, width, thickness, etc. of the protrusion portion  11 ,  11   a  formed on the bottom of the guide plates  10 ,  10   a  are appropriately set in a range where the effect of the ratchet mechanism, which is capable of rotating if exceeding a predetermined frictional resistance in the rotation during the forward movement, and incapable of rotating during the backward movement, is maximized by the below-described interaction with the pawl  14  formed on the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7 . 
         [0016]    Furthermore, the position of the pawl  14  formed by cutting the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an L-shape is not limited, and can be the same position as the protrusion portion  11 ,  11   a  on the guide plates  10 ,  10   a  or be across the whole of the longitudinal direction of the polygonal rotary shaft. 
         [0017]    Moreover, the shape of the opening  16  of the brush member  15  attached through the polygonal rotary shaft  7  is set to be the same shape as the polygonal rotary shaft  7  so as not to run idle when rotary toothbrush  1  is used. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, sheets of the brush member  15  is formed by welding the periphery of the opening  16 , and the shape of the outer periphery is not limited, and can be any of the chevron shape  19 , the polygonal shape  20 , and the round shape  21 . 
         [0019]    Moreover, material used in the brush member  15  is not limited, but is preferred to be inexpensive nylon material from in terms of price, and it is preferable to use plastic material having elasticity in materials, etc. used in the handle part  3 , the polygonal rotary shaft  7 , and the support shaft  18 . 
         [0020]    Furthermore, the number of sheets of the brush member  15  installed between the pair of right and left bearing plates  4 ,  4   a  of the handle part and the guide plates  10 ,  10  by inserting the brush member  15  through the polygonal rotary shaft  7  and then attached to the attachment portion  12  of the bearing plates  4 ,  4   a  through the receiving hole  18  is not limited as long as it is set appropriately in a range where a toothbrushing effect can be expected. 
         [0021]    Moreover, the rotary toothbrush  1  is characterized by including the ratchet mechanism  13   a  that is incapable of rotating in rotation during the brushing forward movement and capable of rotating if exceeding a predetermined frictional resistance during the backward movement by the interaction between the protrusion portion  11   b ,  11   c  on the bottom of the guide plate  10  installed on the inside of the pair of right and left bearing plates of the handle part and a pawl  14   a  formed by cutting the vertex of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an inverted L-shape. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0022]    As described above, the rotary toothbrush of the present invention is a rotary toothbrush including a ratchet mechanism that rotates during the forward movement, but is incapable of rotating during the backward movement when brushing. 
         [0023]    A major difference from conventional rotary toothbrushes is that the rotary toothbrush of the present invention is an innovative rotary toothbrush with two functions of a rotary toothbrush and a flat brush. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, the rotary toothbrush of the present invention is a rotary toothbrush that is set to be rotatable if exceeding a predetermined frictional resistance by the interaction between a protrusion portion formed on guide plates and a pawl formed on the vertex of a polygonal rotary shaft during the brushing forward movement. 
         [0025]    Moreover, the rotary toothbrush of the present invention is a rotary toothbrush whose tip portion of a brush member is easy to enter the space between the teeth, and is widely expected to achieve an effect of scraping out a residue, and is widely expected to further achieve an effect of rubbing the surface of the teeth and gums because of the effect of the ratchet mechanism which is incapable of rotating during the backward movement due to the aforementioned interaction. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the rotary toothbrush of the present invention is a rotary toothbrush including the ratchet mechanism that is capable of rotating if exceeding a predetermined frictional resistance during the brushing forward movement, and incapable of rotating during the backward movement by the interaction between the semicircular protrusion portion on the bottom of the guide plate installed on the inside of the pair of right and left bearing plates of the handle part, and the pawl formed on the vertex of the polygonal rotary shaft to which the brush member is attached, and also that, by installing the protrusion portion and the pawl in an opposite direction, becomes incapable of rotating during the forward movement, and capable of rotating during the backward movement. 
         [0027]    Moreover, especially, in the case of the rotary toothbrush with a brush member having a chevron-shape, its shape makes the tip easy to enter the space between the teeth and between the teeth and gums, and also can be expected to achieve an advantageous effect when brushing behind one&#39;s teeth as an effect of the shape of the rotary toothbrush. 
         [0028]    As described above, the rotary toothbrush of the present invention is a rotary toothbrush including the ratchet mechanism, thereby can have functions of a rotary toothbrush and a flat brush at the same time, and is a rotary toothbrush that is easy to enter the space between the teeth and the periodontal pockets, and has a brush member whose surface is in wide contact with the teeth when the toothbrush is used, and can be expected to achieve a brushing effect of reducing part of the teeth left unbrushed. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Embodiments of Examples will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 16 . 
         [0030]    Incidentally, the scope of the present invention is described in the claims, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. 
         [0031]    Example 1 of the present invention is explained below on the basis of  FIGS. 1 to 13 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a handle part  3  of a rotary toothbrush before any of brush members  15  having chevron-, polygonal-, and round-shapes is attached thereto, where  2  denotes a head portion;  4  denotes a pair of bearing plates  4  installed on the right and left sides of the head portion  2 ;  12  denotes an attachment portion; A-A′ denotes a direction of a front view of the handle part in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a front view showing an A-A′ direction in  FIG. 1 , where  10 ,  10   a  denote guide plates installed on the inside of the pair of bearing plates  4 ,  4   a  installed on the right and left sides of the head portion  2  of the handle part  3 ;  12  denotes the attachment portion. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a polygonal rotary shaft  7  showing a pawl  14 , which is formed by cutting a vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an L-shape across the whole of the longitudinal direction of the polygonal rotary shaft  7 , and a receiving hole  6  for a support shaft  18  for attachment of the bearing plates of the handle part. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a bottom face of  FIG. 1 , where a ratchet mechanism is constructed on the center of the guide plates  10 ,  10   a.    
         [0036]    Reference numeral  3  denotes the handle part;  4 ,  4   a  denote the bearing plates;  7  denotes the polygonal rotary shaft;  12  denotes the attachment portion to which  18  which denotes the support shaft is fixed. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a B-B′ direction in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]    Reference numeral  3  denotes the handle part;  5  denotes the semicircular bottom of the guide plate  10  on which a protrusion portion  11  is formed on a center part thereof;  7  denotes the polygonal rotary shaft provided with the pawl  14  formed by cutting the vertex  8  into an L-shape  9  and the receiving hole  6  for the support shaft  18 ;  13  denotes a ratchet mechanism  13 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view showing the bottom of the guide plate  10  and the polygonal rotary shaft  7  composing the ratchet mechanism  13  in  FIG. 5 . The bottom of the guide plate  10  is formed in a semicircular shape  5 , and the protrusion portion  11  is formed on the center part of the semicircular shape  5 . 
         [0040]    The pawl  14  is formed by cutting the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an L-shape, and the receiving hole  6  for the support shaft  8  is formed on the polygonal rotary shaft  7  so as to be fixed to the attachment portion of the bearing plate. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a brush member  15  of which the periphery is cut into a chevron shape  19 , where  16  denotes an opening formed in the same shape as the shape of the polygonal rotary shaft to be attached thereto;  17  denotes a welding portion. 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the rotary toothbrush, where the brush member  15  having the chevron shape  19  in  FIG. 7  is attached to the polygonal rotary shaft and then is fixed to the attachment portion  12  of the handle part  3  through the support shaft. 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is a plan view showing a brush member  15  of which the periphery is cut into a polygonal shape  20 , where  16  denotes the opening formed in the same shape as the shape of the polygonal rotary shaft to be attached thereto;  17  denotes the welding portion. 
         [0044]      FIG. 10  is,  FIG. 8  is, a front view of the rotary toothbrush, where the brush member  15  having the polygonal shape  20  in  FIG. 7  is attached to the polygonal rotary shaft and then is fixed to the attachment portion  12  of the handle part  3  through the support shaft. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  is a plan view showing a brush member  15  of which the periphery is cut into a round shape  21 , where  16  denotes the opening formed in the same shape as the shape of the polygonal rotary shaft to be attached thereto;  17  denotes the welding portion. 
         [0046]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the rotary toothbrush, where the brush member  15  having the round shape  21  in  FIG. 11  is attached to the polygonal rotary shaft and then is fixed to the attachment portion  12  of the handle part  3  through the support shaft. 
         [0047]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged central cross-sectional view showing a C-C′ direction in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0048]    Reference numerals  4 ,  4   a  denote the bearing plates of the handle part;  12  denotes the attachment portion of the handle part;  10 ,  10   a  denote the guide plates; the polygonal rotary shaft  7  with the brush member  15  attached is fixed to the attachment portion  12  by the support shaft  18 . 
         [0049]    Example 2 of the present invention is explained below on the basis of  FIGS. 14 to 16 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 14  is a diagram showing the bottom face in  FIG. 1 , where a ratchet mechanism is constructed on the left end parts of the guide plates  10 ,  10   a . Reference numeral  3  denotes the handle part;  4 ,  4   a  denote the bearing plates;  7  denotes the polygonal rotary shaft;  12  denotes the attachment portion to which  18  which denotes the support shaft is fixed. 
         [0051]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a D-D′ direction in  FIG. 14 . Reference numeral  3  denotes the handle part;  5  denotes the semicircular bottom of the guide plate  10  on which a protrusion portion  11   a  is formed on the left end part thereof;  7  denotes the polygonal rotary shaft provided with the pawl  14  formed by cutting the vertex  8  into the L-shape  9  and the receiving hole  6  for the support shaft  18 ;  13  denotes the ratchet mechanism. 
         [0052]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged view showing the bottom of the guide plate  10  and the polygonal rotary shaft  7  composing the ratchet mechanism  13   a  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0053]    The bottom of the guide plate  10  is formed in the semicircular shape  5 , and the protrusion portion  11   a  is formed on the left end part of the semicircular shape  5 . 
         [0054]    The pawl  14  is formed by cutting the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an L-shape, and the receiving hole  6  for the support shaft  8  is formed on the polygonal rotary shaft  7  so as to be fixed to the attachment portion of the bearing plate. 
         [0055]    Example 3of the present invention is explained below on the basis of  FIGS. 17 and 18 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged view showing the bottom of the guide plate  10  and the polygonal rotary shaft  7  composing the ratchet mechanism  13   a . The bottom of the guide plate  10  is formed in the semicircular shape  5 , and a protrusion portion  11   b  is formed on the center part of the semicircular shape  5 . 
         [0057]    A pawl  14   a  is formed by cutting the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an inverted L-shape, and the receiving hole  6  for the support shaft  8  is formed on the polygonal rotary shaft  7  so as to be fixed to the attachment portion of the bearing plate. 
         [0058]      FIG. 18  is,  FIG. 6  is an enlarged view showing the bottom of the guide plate  10  and the polygonal rotary shaft  7  composing the ratchet mechanism  13   a  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0059]    The bottom of the guide plate  10  is formed in the semicircular shape  5 , and a protrusion portion  11   c  is formed on a center right end part of the semicircular shape. 
         [0060]    The pawl  14   a  is formed by cutting the vertex  8  of the polygonal rotary shaft  7  into an inverted L-shape, and the receiving hole  6  for the support shaft  8  is formed on the polygonal rotary shaft  7  so as to be fixed to the attachment portion of the bearing plate. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 16 , the ratchet mechanism is configured to be capable of rotating during the forward movement and incapable of rotating during the backward movement by the interaction between the protrusion portion  11 ,  11   a  and the pawl  14 ; however, the cases of  FIGS. 17 and 18  are different in the direction where the protrusion portion  11   b ,  11   c  and the pawl  14   a  are installed, so the ratchet mechanism is configured to be incapable of rotating during the forward movement and capable of rotating during the backward movement. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0062]    In the rotary toothbrush of the present invention, plastic material having elasticity is used in both the protrusion portion and the polygonal rotary shaft which are installed in the handle part, so they are very easy to manufacture using an injection molding machine or the like and very low in manufacturing cost; therefore, it is possible to provide at a low price. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       [0063]      FIGS. 1 to 13  in Example 1 of the present invention are explained. 
         [0064]      FIG. 1  is a front view showing a handle part composing a brush part. 
         [0065]      FIG. 2  is a front view showing an A-A′ direction in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a polygonal rotary shaft and a support shaft for attachment. 
         [0067]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view showing the handle part with the rotary shaft attached by the support shaft shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a B-B′ direction in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the bottom of that shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a brush member of which the outer periphery is cut into a chevron shape. 
         [0071]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a rotary toothbrush with the brush member shown in  FIG. 7  attached to the handle part. 
         [0072]      FIG. 9  is a plan view showing a brush member of which the outer periphery is cut into a polygonal shape. 
         [0073]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the rotary toothbrush with the brush member shown in  FIG. 9  attached to the handle part. 
         [0074]      FIG. 11  is a plan view showing a brush member of which the outer periphery is cut into a round shape. 
         [0075]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the rotary toothbrush with the brush member shown in  FIG. 11  attached to the handle part. 
         [0076]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view showing a C-C′ direction in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 14  is a bottom view showing the handle part with the rotary shaft attached by the support shaft shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a D-D′ direction in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged view showing the bottom of that in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the different direction of a protrusion portion and a pawl from those shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the different direction of a protrusion portion and a pawl from those shown in  FIG. 16 . 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Rotary toothbrush 
           2  Head portion 
           3  Handle part 
           4 ,  4   a  Bearing plate 
           5  Semicircular shape 
           6  Receiving hole 
           7  Polygonal rotary shaft 
           8  Vertex 
           9  L-shape 
           10 ,  10   a  Guide plate 
           11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c  Protrusion portion 
           12  Attachment portion 
           13 ,  13   a  Ratchet mechanism 
           14 ,  14   a  Pawl 
           15  Brush member 
           16  Opening 
           17  Welding portion 
           18  Support shaft 
           19  Chevron shape 
           20  Polygonal shape 
           21  Round shape 
         A-A′, B-B′, C-C′, D-D′ Direction