PATENT DOCUMENT

Abstract:
An electric toothbrush includes a rechargeable energy store which is arranged in an inner space in the body of the toothbrush. The inner space is sealed by a primary sealing element against splash water and other detrimental influences. At least one contact element for an external power supply unit produces an electrically conductive connection to the energy store. The contact element is located either within the inner space, the primary sealing element being removable for charging purposes, or outside the inner space, in which case it is optionally protected by an additional secondary sealing element. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a toothbrush having an electrically operated functional unit and an electrical supply device and to a process for producing such a toothbrush.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Electric toothbrushes with rechargeable energy stores (storage batteries) are known and widely available on the market. In most cases, electrical energy is transmitted inductively to the energy store from the charging station. This is described, for example, in CH 656 987. Since there is no need for any electrical line connections between the energy store and the charging station, the advantage of this charging method resides in the straightforward handling for the user (i.e., straightforward positioning in the charging station without trying to find contact) and in the low level of susceptibility to external influences, e.g., water or toothpaste, which may result in contamination or corrosion of electrical contacts. The disadvantage with inductive charging resides in the high production costs and in the large amount of space required for the charging station, which comprises a high-outlay charging circuit. The toothbrushes are likewise large, heavy and unwieldy since, in addition to the storage batteries, at least one secondary coil with a rectifier arrangement has to be present.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,552 discloses an electric toothbrush of the generic type having an energy store which can be charged up via a plug-in contact. The contact element is located without protection at the foot of the electric toothbrush and thus in a region in which water dripping off from the brush head accumulates. Satisfactory current transmission is put at risk by corrosion and contamination of the contact elements.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An aspect of the invention is to develop a cost-effective charging method which allows reliable operation, can be used in a space-saving manner, is as straightforward as possible to implement and allows minimal dimensions of the electric toothbrush.  
         [0007]     The direct loading method for electrical equipment, e.g., mobile telephones, which is known per se, is adapted according to aspects of the invention such that it can also be used for toothbrushes having electrical functional components in the wet region. The charging current is transmitted to the electric toothbrush directly, i.e., by contact elements, using a power supply unit comprising a transformer and rectifying element or comprising a clocked electronic circuit. Provided within the toothbrush, instead of a costly charging circuit which takes up a lot of space, is just one contact element, if appropriate, with connecting lines to the storage battery. The toothbrush may thus be configured to be considerably more slender and lightweight than conventional electric toothbrushes with inductive charging and is easier to handle. For the purpose of fulfilling aesthetic requirements, there is more design freedom. The invention makes it possible to use favorable, mass-produced components, possibly standard elements, and thus power supply units which are already present in the home.  
         [0008]     According to the invention, the inner space of the toothbrush, in which the energy store is located, is sealed by a primary sealing element, with the result that it is not possible for any water or other foreign matter to penetrate during intended use of the toothbrush. This prevents corrosion and contamination of the energy store and of the electrical contacts.  
         [0009]     In the case of one variant of the invention, the energy store and contact elements are both located in the inner space, which is sealed by the primary sealing element during intended use, i.e., during teeth cleaning. The primary sealing element may be moved at least to the extent where the contact element is accessible for the charging operation.  
         [0010]     In the case of another variant of the invention, the inner space is permanently sealed, i.e., the inner space is closed in a water-tight manner during intended use of the toothbrush and during the charging operation. Provision may be made for it to be possible for the primary sealing element to be removed, for example for repair work. It is also possible, however, for the energy store to be fully set in place by injection molding. The contact element is located outside the inner space and is optionally sealed by a secondary sealing element, e.g., a closure cap.  
         [0011]     If just the inner space is permanently sealed, the contact element is arranged, for example, on the surface of the handle region and/or of the neck region, in the region of the rear side and/or of the side regions. It may also be offset inward in relation to the surface and arranged in a cutout. It is thus positioned such that when the toothbrush is set down, this usually taking place with the toothbrush upright or with the front side located in the upward direction, it is not possible for any residues to form on the contact element by droplets of water and toothpaste flowing off. The opening of the contact elements, in the respective position, is provided on the side which is directed away from the direction in which the water flows. For producing one or more defined set-down positions, the electric toothbrush is preferably provided on the outer casing with geometrical elements (supporting protuberances) which are preferably formed from a soft component.  
         [0012]     In an advantageous development in particular of the first variant of the invention, the charging logic is configured such that operation of the appliance during charging is not possible. This prevents short-circuits and contamination of the inner space and increases user safety.  
         [0013]     The toothbrush is preferably packaged such that its presentation in the packaging is self-explanatory. For example, the power supply unit and/or the contact elements arenas visible through viewing windows. In this way, it is also possible for the purchaser to check whether he/she already has a suitable power supply unit.  
         [0014]     The functional component of the electric toothbrushes comprises, for example, a vibration element, which causes the head to vibrate, or a drive, by means of which the head part can be oscillated. It is also possible to provide other energy consumers, e.g., light, music, timing. Also preferably provided are switching elements which switch the energy consumers on or off in relation to the storage battery. Mechanical or electronic switches may be provided here. The switch can be triggered by the user (e.g., push button, rotary switch, butterfly, contact element in the closure, movement sensor, pressure sensor, etc.) or by other external influences. The storage battery is preferably of the NiCd (nickel cadmium) or NiMh (nickel metal hydride) type. Mass-produced AA or AAA cells are preferably used. The appliances are preferably operated with a voltage of less than 4 volts, preferably at 1.2 volts. For cost-related reasons, a single 1.2 volt storage-battery cell should be used. An optimum duration of use per discharging cycle of the storage battery is at least 2 h, but preferably at least 5 h or more. If this can be achieved using a AAA cell, this size is preferred for space-related reasons. In the case of a toothbrush with a vibrating head part, the preferred capacity of the AAA cell is 300-800 mAh; in the case of a toothbrush with a rotating head part, the preferred capacity of a AA cell is 600-2300 mAh.  
         [0015]     Since the storage battery can produce explosive gases such as oxygen and/or hydrogen particularly during the charging operation, the inner space is preferably sealed with a sealing element which is gas-permeable but protects the inner space against water. Use is preferably made of a corresponding membrane fitted on the hard component.  
         [0016]     The electric toothbrush preferably consists of one or more structure-forming hard components (e.g., PS polystyrene, ABS acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, SAN styrene-acrylonitrile, PET polyester, PA polyamide) but preferably of PP polypropylene and at least one or more soft components. The soft components are preferably formed from thermoplastic elastomer TPE which has an affinity for the hard component used and is connected to the latter during two-component injection molding. The soft component is usually used for a flexible switching membrane. The electric toothbrush contains, inter alia, an inner space with electrical components which are closed off in a water-tight manner. The inner space is preferably formed by a core puller in the mold of the hard component and of the soft component.  
         [0017]     A power supply unit is used in all the variants. This power supply unit is connected to the local power supply (e.g.,230 V AC or 115 V AC). The power supply unit is preferably designed such that the power plug is integrated in the housing and the power supply unit can thus be plugged directly into a socket. In this case, use is made of a class II power supply unit 4 kVolts and IP X4 (IEC Standard 60529, DIN 40050). In a less preferred variant, however, it is also possible to provide a power cable between the socket and power supply unit; in the case of this variant, it would be necessary to use a power supply unit with a higher degree of protection, e.g., IP X7. The power supply unit should always be kept short-circuit-proof.  
         [0018]     In the power supply unit, the local AC supply voltage (e.g., 210-250 volts AC 50 Hertz) is transformed into a low DC voltage in order thus to charge up the storage battery. By means of a cable and contact element, then, the direct voltage (4-7 volts DC) is transmitted directly to the electric toothbrush from the power supply unit. The charging currents are preferably around 30-230 mA corresponding to 10% of the storage-battery capacity (C/10). This results in a charging period of 10-14 hours in the case of the abovementioned types of storage battery. The cable serves for bridging the distance between the next power-supply connection and a means for setting down the electric toothbrush. This cable length is between 0.5 m and 2 m, preferably 1.5 m. In a less preferred variant, the electric toothbrush is plugged directly into the power supply unit with corresponding contact elements.  
         [0019]     Use is preferably made of contact elements of the plug and socket type. The plug is preferably fitted on the cable of the power supply unit. For safety reasons, use is made of a plug which has a hollow inner space and a phase provided on the outside and inside. This construction avoids short-circuits when the plug bears on an electrically conductive surface. The contact-connection element of the plug has approximately the following dimensions (length 3-15 mm, preferably 10 mm/diameter 2-10 mm, preferably 5.5 mm).  
         [0020]     The contact element designed as a socket is preferably fitted in or on the electric toothbrush. It is preferably possible for the socket (e.g., by means of a pin) also to be contact-connected by other electrically conductive components (e.g., in the toothbrush cover) in addition to the plug. For this reason, this pin should have a minimum diameter of 1-4 mm, preferably 2.4 mm. The pin is preferably connected to the (+) terminal of the motor and of the storage battery. Preferably interacting with the contact element is a switch which, during the charging operation, disconnects the consumer and only charges the storage battery.  
         [0021]     In order to keep the costs low, the plug-in contacts are preferably mass-produced parts. The metallic surfaces of the contact elements are usually surface-coated (e.g., gold, nickel, chromium, etc.). A layer of nickel guarantees good electrical conductivity and particularly good corrosion resistance against the aggressive toothpaste/water mixture with low production costs. The dimensions of the socket are usually selected to be equal to or less than the diameter of the storage battery, with the result that the dimensions of the inner space can be minimized. (Outer dimensions: width/height of the socket using a size AAA storage battery preferably less than 10.5 mm, length dependent on the plug-in distance selected, size AA storage batteries less than 14.5 mm).  
         [0022]     The plug-in operation is preferably carried out with a defined movement (translation, rotation or a combination thereof) of 1-10 mm and/or 10-180° preferably of the plug in relation to the socket. In the case of contamination and corrosion, this allows a certain amount of rubbing of the contact surfaces, which has a self-cleaning action and thus facilitates contact-connection. During the plug-in operation, a certain pressure is to be produced between the action of one contact-connection surface on the other), and contamination can likewise be effectively scraped away as a result. The plug-in operation is thus preferably carried out by means of a combination of movement and pressure of the contact-connection surfaces in relation to one another. At the end of plug-in distance, the plug is intended to latch in the socket, this preventing independent release of the plug or loose contacts between the plug and socket. The force which is necessary for releasing the plug is preferably larger than the deadweight of the entire electric toothbrush in the pulling direction of the plug. The socket preferably undergoes form-fitting latching with its carrier unit, e.g., the printed circuit board, in order that the plug-in forces do not rest on the, for example, soldered electrical contacts.  
         [0023]     Since certain forces are exerted in the above-defined plug-in operation, it should be ensured that fragile components of the electric toothbrush are not damaged. In particular, it should be ensured that the bristles are not crushed or flexible or vibration-damping means in the neck region are not deformed by the forces produced. For this reason, the contact elements are to be positioned on or in the handle such that the handle still has sufficient space available in order for it to be comfortably held in the other hand. In this respect, it is desirable for the contact elements to be positioned at one end of the handle or the other. In addition, the holding points in the handle region, at which the electric toothbrush should be held during the plug-in operation, are to be clearly marked for the user. For this purpose, use may be made of geometrical elements such as indents, protuberances, surface textures, etc., and/or zones with soft materials and/or a corresponding imprint.  
         [0024]     The plug-in direction is proposed as an angle between −90° and 90° to the longitudinal axis of the handle part, although the plug-in operation preferably takes place in the direction of this main axis in order that the other hand can best be used, as has been explained above, for absorbing the plug-in forces.  
         [0025]     The plug-in operation can be simplified by the contact elements having a rotationally symmetrical, preferably circular cross section. The relative positions of the plug-in contacts is thus not important and need not be sought by the user. It is only the plug-in direction which has to be correct. In the different variants, the plug-in direction is preferably provided parallel or perpendicularly to the opening direction of the closure.  
         [0026]     The position of the contact elements in relation to the electric toothbrush is critical in respect of contamination tendency, sealing of the inner space, plug-in operation during charging, and comfort during use of the electric toothbrush. In respect of the contamination, the contact element is to be positioned on the electric toothbrush such that, when the toothbrush is set down following the respective use, it is not possible for any residues of toothpaste to form on the contact element. The electric toothbrush is preferably provided with geometrical elements, preferably formed from soft components, on the outer casing in order that the set-down position, following use, is clearly defined for the user. In addition, the electrical contact elements should be provided at a location at which it is not possible for any droplets of water or toothpaste to be produced when the toothbrush is set down following use. In addition to one or, if need be, more defined horizontal set-down positions, the toothbrush glass or a flattened handle part, in the case of which the electric toothbrush assumes a more or less vertical position, should also be taken into consideration here. The opening of the contact elements (e.g., of the socket), in the respective position, is preferably provided on the side which is directed away from the direction in which the water flows.  
         [0027]     A further criterion for the position of the contact elements is comfort during use. Since said contact elements comprise, at least in part, metallic components, the position is selected such that, during use of the electric toothbrush, the resulting cleaning pressure (approximately 100 g-1 kg; 300 g on average) cannot produce any impressions, as a result of the contact elements, on the hand guiding the toothbrush. In a variant, for this purpose, the contact elements are arranged on the toothbrush surface, in a slightly sunken manner therein, and are encased with, or embedded in, soft component, which performs a certain resilient action. The resulting flexible mounting allows easier plug-in and removal operations since the plug-in direction need not be maintained precisely. The contact element, in this case, can preferably be fitted laterally or on the rear side of the handle part. It is preferable, however, for the contact elements to be introduced in the inner space or in a border layer of the electric toothbrush and to be sealed by the primary sealing element, e.g., covered over by a protective plastic layer of soft or hard component or of a combination thereof. In the case of this variant, the surface of the handle part may be completely covered with plastics, so that it is not possible for any impressions to be produced during the cleaning operation. The contact elements are likewise better protected against contamination.  
         [0028]     In respect of sealing of the inner space and of the contact elements, the following variants, which have already been mentioned above, apply:  
         [0029]     (i) The contact elements are placed in the actual inner space of the electric toothbrush, at a location which is easily accessible for the user, preferably in the immediate vicinity of the separating line between the handle part and closure. The entire inner space including the contact element is closed off with sealing action by a primary sealing element, e.g., a closure. The primary sealing element can be produced in one operation with the electric toothbrush, from the same hard and soft component, possibly just from the soft component. A permanent connection, e.g., in the form of a film hinge, is optionally provided between the primary sealing element and the toothbrush handle. The contact elements are fixed on a solid carrier unit made of plastic or on a printed circuit board and are electrically connected to the storage batteries (e.g., by printed conductors or cables, etc.). This solid carrier unit may also contain further functional units such as switches, drive and storage battery, etc. It preferably comprises a printed circuit board with the contact elements firmly connected thereto, the storage battery and further circuit components, e.g., printed conductors, resistor. This so-called storage-battery subassembly is a self-contained system which has the outer appearance of a rechargeable battery with integrated plug-in contacts. This subassembly can be used like a conventional disposable battery. The terminals of the energy store are accessible from the outside directly or via the contact element.  
         [0030]     In order to optimize the manageability of the electric toothbrush, it is proposed to place the contact elements in series with the storage battery (i.e., one behind the other) on the carrier unit. The diameter of the inner space thus corresponds approximately to the size of the storage battery plus carrier unit. In the variants in which a size AAA storage battery is used, the diameter of the AAA battery and the thickness of the carrier unit with printed circuit board and storage battery correspond approximately to the diameter of a AA battery. The minimal storage-battery subassembly described above may thus be replaced, with little outlay, by a AA battery. It is thus possible, with few changes (bridging the difference in length), to operate the electric toothbrush using a disposable AA battery. Furthermore, the same injection molds may be used for producing a rechargeable electric toothbrush and a toothbrush with a disposable energy store.  
         [0031]     There is no risk, in the case of this variant, of the contact elements being contaminated, since the inner space is only opened for charging the storage battery. In this variant, it is preferably ensured that the appliance cannot be used when the inner space is open, e.g., during the charging operation, since the inner space, in this state, does not have a seal. In the case of this variant, the other technical components (such as drive, storage battery, etc.) are preferably covered by means of a shield which is not necessarily water-tight (e.g., with an installed plastic part or a self-adhesive plastic label). The shield gives protection, during the charging operation, against splash water in the wet cell and clearly shows the user the contact elements which are not covered thereby. Other technical units which could confuse the user are not visible.  
         [0032]     (ii) The inner space of the electric toothbrush is sealed in relation to the contact elements by the primary sealing element. The contact elements themselves are not covered/sealed and can communicate freely with the exterior surroundings. In this variant, the contamination and corrosion tendency of the contact elements is greatest, but additional handling for the user, e.g., the removal of a closure or of a sealing element, is dispensed with. In order to ensure a satisfactory seal, the sealing element may be realized by a housing part with integrally molded or separate seals, e.g., 0-rings. For production reasons, however, the contact elements are preferably placed in a form-fitting manner on the hard component and are then overmolded and/or encapsulated, and fixed, by means of the soft component and thus sealed from the inner space of the electric toothbrush. The contact elements communicate either directly or by means of an electrical connection, e.g., a plastic-sheathed stranded wire, with further electrical components, e.g., the printed circuit board or the storage battery, in the inner space of the toothbrush.  
         [0033]     The variant (ii) may be extended by an additional secondary sealing element, which additionally seals the contact elements in relation to the exterior surroundings. All that is thus required for charging the appliance is to release the outer, secondary sealing element. The inner space is fully sealed in each state (during charging and during use). There is no provision made for the user to open the primary seal. In some circumstances, in the case of this variant, it is also possible for the electric toothbrushes to be used during the charging operation, i.e., with the contact element plugged in. The secondary seal may be produced in the form of an additional cover or of a flexibly deformable sealing lip. The secondary seal is also preferably produced with the soft component available. For cost-related reasons, secondary sealing elements should be produced in one operation with the hard or soft component provided. It is additionally proposed for these sealing elements to be firmly connected to the handle part of the electric toothbrush, e.g., by a film hinge or of a flexible connection made of elastomeric material. This prevents them from getting lost during the charging operation.  
         [0034]     The storage-battery subassembly is required to comprise, at the minimum, a storage battery, resistor and carrier unit, e.g., in the form of a printed circuit board. If the contact element is not set in place in the body (closure, handle part) by injection molding, the contact element is also preferably a constituent part of the storage-battery subassembly, which can thus replace one or more disposable batteries. This subassembly, if necessary, may be supplemented by further components, e.g., by switching elements, timer function, motor, LED. The resistor used prevents the storage batteries from being overcharged and allows a constant charging current from the power supply unit. If use is made of a preferred power supply unit with an output power of, without load, 7 volts DC and, with load, 4 volts DC, at 230 mA, with different cell capacities, the following resistance values are achieved by way of example, depending on the variant:  
                                                     Cell capacity (mAh)   Charging current (mA)   Resistance (Ohm)                                600   60   120       1500   150   47       2300   230   22                  
 
         [0035]     The resistance is preferably selected to be rather higher than necessary, in order that it is also possible to use “other” power supply units with a higher charging current without the storage battery being damaged.  
         [0036]     The charging logic is an essential constituent part of the charging method as a whole. The configuration according to the invention allows satisfactory charging of the storage battery and differentiated limiting of the operation of the electric toothbrush in different operating states in dependence on the sealing of the inner space. This is described herein below with reference to  FIG. 12 .  
         [0037]     A further advantageous variant provides a holder for the electric toothbrush, e.g., in the form of a stand.  
         [0038]     The toothbrush plugged into the latter is positioned such that the contact elements are not positioned in the direction in which the water flows or at the drip-off points. It is also intended for the charging operation to be possible when the user does not have the holder to hand. The holder is either purely mechanical, serves only as a supporting and positioning aid for the electric toothbrush and does not contain any electrical components. In the case of this variant, it is to be ensured that the contact elements are freely accessible if the electric toothbrush is placed on the holder. In another variant, the holder contains additional electrical elements, e.g., a timer unit, charging-state display, charging-capacity display, music. These additional electrical elements are supplied by the same contact element as the electric toothbrush itself, i.e., they preferably function at the same operating voltage as the electric toothbrush. In an alternative variant, the holder likewise has an additional storage battery. The holder is only an “intermediate electrical element”, which may or may not be used. When traveling, it is likewise possible for the electric toothbrush, in the case of this variant, to be charged directly by the power supply unit. Consequently, the holder has the same plug-in contacts as the power supply unit and the electric toothbrush. In the case of the variants with secondary seals, it is to be ensured that, in addition to the plug-in element of the holder, a corresponding amount of space is provided for the secondary seal, e.g., a recess. The holder preferably contains a detector that detects the positioning of the electric toothbrush in the holder, or the removal therefrom, in order thus to trigger electrical functions, e.g., timing. The presence of the electric toothbrush is detected by, for example, a mechanically actuated pushbutton, triggered by the user or as the toothbrush is placed in position. It is likewise possible for the presence of the toothbrush to be detected by an electronic analysis of the charging 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]     Examples of the invention are described hereinbelow and illustrated in the drawings, in which, purely schematically:  
         [0040]      FIGS. 1   a - i  show various views of a toothbrush according to the invention and constituent parts thereof;  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a toothbrush with a conventional, non-rechargeable energy store;  
         [0042]      FIGS. 3   a - d ,  4   a - c ,  5   a - c ,  6   a - d ,  7   a+b ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  show various views of further toothbrushes according to the invention and constituent parts thereof;  
         [0043]      FIG. 11  shows a toothbrush according to the invention with a holder;  
         [0044]      FIGS. 12   a - h  show circuit diagrams of the charging circuit in various operating states; and  
         [0045]      FIG. 13  shows a sales unit with a toothbrush according to the invention and a power supply unit. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0046]      FIGS. 1 and 3 - 10  show various exemplary toothbrushes  10  according to the invention, of which the body  12  comprises in each case a bristle-covered head region  16 , a handle region  14  and a neck region  18  located therebetween. The head region  16  forms around 5% -20% of the overall length, the neck region  18 , which is tapered in relation to the handle region  14 , forms around 15% -50% of the overall length, and the handle region forms around 40% -80% of the overall length. A closure  40  is a constituent part of the handle region  14  and, in different variants, can take up 10% -70% of the handle length.  
         [0047]     The body  12  contains in each case fuinctional components  20  with an electrically operated functional unit  22 , for example a motor for the vibratory drive ( FIGS. 1 and 7 - 9 ) or rotary drive ( FIGS. 3-6  and  10 ) of the head region and/or of the bristle plate. The toothbrushes  10  each comprise a rechargeable energy store  24  (storage battery) and a contact element  28 . These are fitted on a printed circuit board  38  which is arranged in an inner space  36  of the handle region  13 . Also located in the inner space  36  is a switch  34 , which merges into a resilient connecting element  88  which, in the installed state, contact-connects a terminal of the energy store  24 .  
         [0048]     The printed circuit board  38  has means  104  which allow a form-fitting and force-fitting connection to the hard component of the electric toothbrush. In the illustrated non-limiting example, resilient snap-action noses  104  ( FIG. 1   h ) latch in behind a contact bridge  54  ( FIG. 1   b ). The printed circuit board  38  has a thickness of 0.5-3 mm, preferably 1 mm. In a number of variants, the printed circuit board  38  is introduced from behind, with the components mounted thereon, into the inner space  36  of the electric toothbrush  10 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 2  shows a comparative example of a toothbrush with a non-rechargeable energy store  26  in the form of a battery. The construction and functioning of the toothbrush are described in international Patent Application No. PCT/EP03/09681, which was not published before Applicants&#39; priority date. The outer configuration of this toothbrush and the installation of the functional unit  22  are realized in a manner identical to the toothbrush which is shown in  FIGS. 1   a - c . It is possible to compensate for the difference in length between the battery  26  and the storage-battery subassembly  108 , comprising storage battery  24 , contact element  28 , printed circuit board  38  and connecting lines ( FIG. 1   h ), by resilient connecting elements  88  of different lengths. It is thus advantageously possible to use the same brush body and the same production tools and largely the same production steps. The switch  34  is optionally arranged on the printed circuit board  38  of the storage-battery subassembly  108 .  
         [0050]     The toothbrush  10  which is shown in  FIGS. 1   a - g  is only described hereinbelow to the extent which is necessary for understanding the invention. In respect of construction and production of the body  12  and of the functional components  20 , see PCT/EP03/09681.  
         [0051]     The storage battery  24  and contact element  28  in the form of a standard socket are fitted on a printed circuit board  38  ( FIG. 1   h ). The contact element  28  is fastened in a form-fitting manner, on the printed circuit board  38  by way of an anchoring element  106 . The storage-battery subassembly  108  is pushed into an inner space  36  in a first housing part  62  of the two-part body  12 . The inner space  36  is closed by a second housing part  64  in the form of a closure  40  being placed in position. Arranged between the two housing parts is a seal  58 , which is integrally molded on the closure  40  or preferably on the hard component  30  of the handle region  14 . The seal  58  preferably consists of the same material as the soft component  32  of the body  12 , consisting of soft and hard material. The hard component  30  serves for producing the stability-forming constituent parts of the housing, while the soft component  32  serves for producing additional elements, e.g., resilient neck region  18 , non-slip coating on the handle region  14 , cleaning elements in the head region  16 , supporting elements  102  for producing a defined set-down position, for embedding the functional unit  22 , and damping elements in the inner space  36  for damping shocks to the storage battery  24 . All the elements formed from the soft component are preferably integrally molded in one operation, in particular using the same material.  
         [0052]     The closure  40 , together with the seal  58 , serves as a primary sealing element  56 , by which the inner space  36 , during normal use of the toothbrush, is sealed against the penetration of water and other foreign matter, as is illustrated in  FIG. 1   b .  FIGS. 1   c  and  1   d  show the open state, in which the contact element  28  is accessible for a plug  44  of a power supply unit  46  (see  FIG. 13 ). The closure  40  is positioned on the first housing part  62  in the manner of a bayonet, screw-type or snap-action closure and is optionally connected to a fastening ring  50 , which is drawn over the first housing part  62 , via a film hinge  42  ( FIGS. 1   c  and  1   g ). A corresponding recess is provided in the handle part in order to ensure seamless latching in of the fastening ring  50 .  
         [0053]     As can be seen from the longitudinal-direction view into the inner space in  FIG. 1   e , the inner space  36 , in the open state, is only covered by a shield  60  ( FIG. 1   f ) which does not have any sealing function. The state without the shield  60  is illustrated in  FIG. 1   i . Since it would thus be possible for water to penetrate during the charging operation, the following measures ensure that the functional unit  20  can operate, irrespective of the position of the switch  34 , only in the closed, sealed state: as is illustrated in  FIGS. 12   a - e , the manual-actuation switch  34  has connected in series with it a further switch  70 , which is formed by a contact strip  48  in the closure  40  in connection with contact bridges  54  in the first housing part  62 . The contact strip  48  is illustrated in  FIG. 1   g  in the partial view of the closure  40 . In the closed state, the contact strip  48  produces an electrically conductive connection between the pin  90  of the contact element  28  and the contact bridges  54 , as a result of which the functional unit  22  is basically rendered ready for operation. If the contact element  44  of the power supply unit has been plugged in, the contact bridges  54  are only contact-connected by non-conductive components of the contact element  44 , with the result that the switch  70  is open.  
         [0054]     The closure  40  contains an opening  92  and a membrane  52 , through which the gases produced during operation can escape, but which forms sufficient protection against water.  
         [0055]     During the production of the toothbrush, the inner space  36  is formed in the hard component by means of a core, which is demolded axially from the rear of the handle part  14 . Surfaces, protrusions and recesses are formed here, and these are used for the installation of the switching element  34 , of the storage-battery subassembly  108  and of the motor subassembly  22 . The storage-battery subassembly  108  is mounted in a flexible manner in the axial direction by means of a spring element  88 . Damping elements made of soft material (not illustrated) are preferably provided in the radial direction. The printed circuit board  38  has one or more snap-action elements  104 , which once the subassembly has been pushed into a corresponding recess in the hard component, latch in behind one or both legs of the bridge  54 . The contact strip  48  and the pin  90  of the socket  28  are arranged such that the contact strip  48  comes into contact with the pin  90  with prestressing when the bayonet closure is rotated. The pin  90  of the socket is preferably located on the axis of rotation of the closure  40 .  
         [0056]     The closure  40 , like the first housing part  62 , is produced from a hard or soft component or from a combination thereof. The fastening ring  50  is preferably produced in one operation with the closure and preferably consists of the same material as the rest of the soft constituent parts. It is of flexible and elastic configuration, in order to be able to accommodate the rotation for closing/opening the inner space without any damage. In order that there are no impressions left on the surface of the user&#39;s hand during use, the connecting crosspiece  42  between the retaining ring  50  and closure  40  is preferably provided laterally or on the underside of the electric toothbrush.  
         [0057]     The storage-battery subassembly has a AAA cell  24 . The diameter of the inner space  36 , however, is configured such that, instead of this subassembly, it can also accommodate a disposable AA cell  26 . The production can thus easily be changed over to a battery-operated toothbrush. In order to bridge the difference in length between a AA cell and a storage-battery subassembly with AAA cell, the contact strip  48  in the closure  40 , the switching element  34  or the extension of the latter, designed as spring part  88 , is lengthened accordingly. The actual seal  58  of the primary sealing element  56  is soft material or a separate 0-ring on the first housing part  62  or on the closure  40 .  
         [0058]     For production purposes, the following subassemblies are prepared: 1. Motor subassembly  22  with vibration unit, lines, contact pin, contact bridge  54 ; 2. Closure  40  with degassing membrane  52 , contact strip  48 , optional retaining ring  50 ; 3. Storage-battery subassembly  108  with printed circuit board  38  with snap-action element  104 , resistor R, storage battery  24 , contact element  28 , optional shield  60 ; 4. Switch  34  with spring element  88 ; 5. Toothbrush head  16  with bristles.  
         [0059]     Assembly takes place by way of the following steps: 
        1. Hard component  30  of the toothbrush;     2. Installing/fixing the motor subassembly  22  on the hard component;     3. Soft component  32  of the toothbrush (overmolding the motor subassembly  22 , producing the switching membrane, retaining zones, supporting elements  102 , sealing elements, optional soft/resilient cleaning elements, damping elements, flexible zones in the neck region, etc.);     4. Introducing the switching element  34 , fixing it on the hard component  30  of the electric toothbrush;     5. Introducing the storage-battery subassembly  108  into the recess of the hard component  30 , latching it in behind legs of the contact bridge  54 , then optional performance testing;     6. Installing the closure  40  (optionally by means of retaining ring  50 );     7. Installing the brush head;     8. Packaging.        
 
         [0068]      FIGS. 3   a - d  show a further toothbrush according to the invention, having a rotary head and a corresponding drive unit  22 . The closure  40 , as second housing part  64 , takes up a considerable amount of the handle part  14  and accommodates the energy store  24 . The contact element  28  is positioned approximately in the center of the handle part  14 , in the inner space  36 . The first and second housing parts  62 ,  64  are screwed to one another via a thread  66 . The distance by which the closure  40  opens is limited by suitable means. The closure  40  can thus be opened by rotation over a limited distance for the charging operation, complete removal of the closure  40  by the user not being envisaged. The distance corresponds at least approximately to the size of the contact element  28 . The contact element  44  of the power supply unit  46  is plugged into the contact element  28 , on the front side of the toothbrush, perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L of the toothbrush  10 . As an alternative, it would also be possible to provide a sliding closure which snaps in on the handle part  62 .  
         [0069]     A switch  70  which is closed automatically when the closure  40  is closed is also provided here. A bent spring part  68  is preferably fitted at the end of the printed circuit board, the spring being forced against a storage-battery terminal by the closure  40  and thus functioning as switch  70 . For this purpose, the closure  40  has, on its inside, a protuberance  110  which is arranged on the longitudinal axis L and, in the closed state, presses on the spring part  68  irrespective of the rotary position.  
         [0070]     According to the invention, the inner space  36  with the energy store  24  and contact element  28  is closed off in a water-tight manner by a primary sealing element  56  in the form of the second housing part  64 , if appropriate with an additional seal (soft material or 0-ring).  
         [0071]     For production purposes, the following subassemblies are prepared: 1. Motor subassembly  22  with motor, seal, guide; 2. Closure  40  with protuberance  110 ; 3. Storage-battery subassembly  108  with printed circuit board  38 , switch  70 , resistor R, storage battery  24 , socket  28 ; 4. Plug-on toothbrush with brush head  16 .  
         [0072]     The rest of production/assembly takes place by way of the following steps: 
        1. Hard component  30  of the toothbrush;     2. Soft component  32  of the toothbrush (producing the switching membrane, retaining zones, supporting protuberances, sealing elements, optional soft/resilient cleaning elements, damping elements, flexible zones in the neck region, etc.);     3. Installing/fixing the motor subassembly on the hard component;     4. Introducing the storage-battery subassembly  108  into the recess of the hard component  30  and latching it in, producing an electrical connection here to the motor subassembly by means of plug-in contacts or wires  94 ;     5. Installing the cover  40 ;     6. Installing the plug-on toothbrush;     7. Packaging.        
 
         [0080]      FIGS. 4   a - c  show a similar solution to  FIGS. 3   a - d . The closure  40  here is considerably shorter and flattened at the end, in order that the toothbrush can be charged in the vertical position. The contact element  28  is located at the rear end of the handle region  14 . As an option here, the motor subassembly  22 ,  34  and the storage-battery subassembly  108  are connected by means of the printed circuit board  38  to form a single subassembly ( FIG. 4   c ). The printed circuit board  38  has a switching element  70 , which is closed by means of rotation when the inner space  36  is closed by the closure  40 . Two spring parts  70   a ,  70   b  are preferably fitted at the closure end of the printed circuit board  38 , these spring parts being pressed against one another by the closure  40  and closing the circuit. Production and assembly are analogous to the example from  FIGS. 3   a - d.    
         [0081]     The switch  70  may also be arranged in the closure  40  separately from the contact element  28 .  
         [0082]      FIGS. 5   a - c  show an electric toothbrush with a rotating plug-on brush similar to that in  FIGS. 3   a - d  and  4   a - c . The contact element  28  and the energy store  24  are located with the printed circuit board  38  in the closure  40 , which can be completely removed from the first housing part  62  for charging purposes and is otherwise screwed, plugged or snapped onto the same. In the closed state, two contact springs  72 , which are preferably arranged on a further printed circuit board  38 ′ in the first housing part  62 , contact-connect a terminal of the storage battery  24  and/or the pin  90  of the contact element  28 , which is arranged above the storage battery. These components thus function as switch  70  and, in the closed state, serve for producing a conductive connection between the storage-battery subassembly  108  and the motor subassembly with switch  34 .  
         [0083]     The storage-battery subassembly, on the printed circuit board  38 , has one or more snap-action elements which, once the subassembly has been pushed into a corresponding recess in the hard component of the closure  40 , latch in. The storage-battery subassembly preferably has a AA cell. The diameter of the inner space  36  and/or of the corresponding recess in the closure  40 , however, is configured such that, instead of this subassembly, it can also accommodate two disposable AA cells. The production can thus easily be changed over to a toothbrush with a disposable battery.  
         [0084]     The primary sealing element  56  for closing the inner space  36  is realized by the closure  40 , preferably in conjunction with a seal  58 , which is arranged in the form of soft material or an 0-ring on the electric toothbrush or on the closure  40 .  
         [0085]     Production/assembly is analogous to the examples which have already been described, with the exception that the storage-battery subassembly is introduced into the recess in the closure and latched in.  
         [0086]      FIGS. 6   a - d  show a modification of the electric toothbrush from  FIGS. 5   a - c , in the case of which the storage-battery subassembly  108  is located in the handle part of the body  12 . The contact element  28  and energy store  24  are likewise arranged one above the other. The closure  40  contains just two spring elements  72 , which are connected in a conductive manner to one another. In the closed state of the closure, they short-circuit the pin  90  of the contact element  28  with a storage-battery terminal. In this variant, it is easily possible to change over to operation with a disposable AA battery, since the dimensions of the inner space  36  are sufficient for this purpose.  
         [0087]      FIGS. 7   a  and  b  show an electric toothbrush with a vibration unit  22 , a rechargeable energy store  24  and a contact element  28 . The basic construction corresponds to  FIG. 1 . In contrast to the example from  FIG. 1 , the inner space  36  in the handle region  14  is closed off permanently by a primary seal  56 . The primary seal  56  in this case is formed by a second housing part  64  which is in the form of a closure  40 , is positioned permanently on the first housing part  62  and, together with the latter, bounds the inner space  36 . The closure  40  consists of hard and soft component  30 ,  32 . The contact element  28  and connecting lines  94  from the contact element  28  to the energy store  24  and/or to the printed circuit board  38  are embedded in the soft component  32 . The contact element  28  is preferably fixed on the hard component of the closure  40  and overmolded/encapsulated by the soft component. The contact element  28  essentially consists of a hard material (e.g., metal) which withstands the injection pressure and the temperature during overmolding. The closure  40  is permanently connected to the first housing part  62 , e.g., by welding or a snap-action connection.  
         [0088]     The contact element  28  is arranged in a recess  74  which is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush  10  and is preferably of a shape which complements the contact element  44  of the power supply unit. The angle of orientation may also be up to ±90°. An opening  92  with a degassing membrane  52  is likewise arranged in the closure  40 .  
         [0089]     It is preferred, but not necessary, for the recess  74  to be covered, during normal operation, by a secondary sealing element  76 , which can be removed for charging purposes. It is preferably of a shape which complements the recess  74 , and it is connected to the actual brush body  12  via a film hinge  42 . By virtue of the shape of the secondary sealing element  76 , during closure, material which has accumulated in the recess  74  under certain circumstances is displaced.  
         [0090]     For production purposes, the following subassemblies are prepared: 1. Motor subassembly  22  with vibration unit, lines, contact pin  112 ; 2. Closure  40  with degassing membrane  52 , contact element  28 , possibly connecting lines  94 ; 3. Storage-battery subassembly  108  with printed circuit board  38 , resistor R, storage battery  24 , without contact element  28 ; 4. Switch  34 ; 5. Toothbrush head  16  with bristles.  
         [0091]     Assembly: 
        1. Hard component of the toothbrush;     2. Installing/fixing the motor subassembly  22  on the hard component;     3. Soft component of the toothbrush (overmolding the motor subassembly, producing the switching membrane  114 , retaining zones, supporting protuberances  102 , sealing elements, optional soft/resilient cleaning elements, damping elements, flexible zones in the neck region, etc.);     4. Introducing the switching element  34 , fixing it on the hard component of the electric toothbrush;     5. Introducing the storage-battery subassembly  108  in the recess of the hard component, then optional performance testing;     6. Producing a conductive connection between the contact element  28  in the closure and the energy store  24 ;     7. Installing the closure, storage-battery subassembly and motor subassembly;     8. Installing the brush head;     9. Packaging.        
 
         [0101]      FIG. 8  shows a further example of an electric toothbrush. The contact element  28  is embedded in the handle part  14  and is located on the rear side of the toothbrush, the plug-in direction running longitudinally. The inner space  36  is closed by a primary sealing element  56  made of hard component  30 . Connecting lines  94  may be embedded in the soft component  32 . A recess  74  for the contact element  44  of the power supply unit and also the degassing opening  92  are arranged in the termination surface  98  on the underside of the toothbrush. The termination surface  98  can be covered by a closure cap  96 , which may consist just of hard component. The closure cap  96  functions as a secondary sealing element  76  for protecting the contact element  28  against foreign matter.  
         [0102]     The production takes place in a manner analogous to  FIGS. 7   a  and  b,  with the exception that the contact element  28  is embedded directly in the handle part  14 , in particular is encapsulated by soft component  32 . This takes place preferably in one operation as the motor subassembly is embedded.  
         [0103]      FIG. 9  shows a further example of a toothbrush with a primary sealing element  56  and optional secondary sealing element  76 . The recess  74  is located on the rear side  86  of the body  12  and is oriented along the longitudinal axis. The inner space  36  is permanently closed by a closure  40 . This functions as primary sealing element  56  and contains a degassing opening  92  with membrane  52 . The contact element  28  is located in the wall of the handle part  14  and is optionally covered by the secondary sealing element  76 . The contact element  28  is embedded in the soft component  32 . The closure  40  may thus consist just of the hard component. This toothbrush is particularly suitable for upright storage, e.g. in a toothbrush glass.  
         [0104]     Production takes place in a manner analogous to the example from  FIG. 8 .  
         [0105]     In the case of all the variants, in particular those with a permanently closed inner space  36 , it is also possible for the inner space  36  to be filled by a material, provided the contact element  28  remains accessible.  
         [0106]      FIGS. 10   a - c  show a further variant of a toothbrush in which the inner space  36  is permanently closed by a primary sealing element  56 . The primary sealing element  56  is formed by a sleeve-like second housing part  64 , which is positioned on the first housing part  62  and permanently connected thereto. The second housing part  64  forms a recess  74 , in which the contact element  28  is arranged. The second housing part  64 , on its side which is directed away from the first housing part  62 , is provided with a secondary sealing element  76 . This comprises a membrane which is slit in a star-shaped manner and can be pierced by the contact element  44  of the power supply unit, but otherwise provides sufficient protection against water, at least against splash water.  
         [0107]      FIG. 10   c  shows the motor and storage-battery subassembly arranged on a common printed circuit board  38 . This subassembly is pushed into the inner space  36  once the hard component has been produced. The contact element is integrated in the separately produced, second housing part  64 , in particular it is embedded in the soft component. Before the first and second housing parts  62 ,  64  are connected, the connecting lines  94  of the storage-battery subassembly and of the contact element  28  are connected.  
         [0108]      FIG. 11  shows a holder  80  for a toothbrush  10  analogous to  FIGS. 3   a - d . The holder  80  has a hollow  82  adapted to the handle part  14  of the toothbrush  10 .  
         [0109]     The contact element  28  is located on the rear side  86  of the toothbrush  10 . When the latter is positioned in the holder  80 , it thus comes into contact with a contact element  84  in the hollow. This contact element is galvanically connected to a socket  100 , into which the contact element  44  of the power supply unit  46  can be plugged. The toothbrush  10  can be charged via the holder  80  or directly, by virtue of the contact element  44  of the power supply unit  46  being plugged into the contact element  28 .  
         [0110]      FIGS. 12   a - h  show circuit diagrams of the charging circuit for the different seal variants.  
         [0111]     Case  1 : the contact element  28 , together with the energy store  24 , is located in the inner space  36 , which is closed off with sealing action by a closure  40  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 - 5 ). During normal operation ( FIG. 12   a ), the primary sealing element (closure  40 ) closes off the inner space  36  in a water-tight manner. A switch  70 , which is actuated by placing the closure  40  in position/removing the closure  40 , is closed. The user can switch the consumer  22  on and off by a further switch  34 . If the closure  40  is removed, the switch  70  inevitably switches off the connection between the storage battery  24  and the consumer  22  ( FIG. 12   b ). In the open, i.e. non-sealed state, it is thus no longer possible for the electric toothbrush to be switched on. During charging of the storage battery  24  by virtue of the plug  44  being plugged into the socket  28 , the inner space  36  is open ( FIG. 12   c ). By providing the switch  70 , it is then additionally possible to achieve the situation where charging of the storage battery  24  can always take place, irrespective of the state of the switch  34 , only if the consumer  22  is not operating. This is because, if the consumer  22  was operating (i.e.,  34  and  70  closed) during charging of the storage battery  24  and the storage battery  24  was completely emptied, charging would not be possible.  
         [0112]     Case  2  ( FIGS. 12   d - e ): the inner space  36  is completely sealed in relation to the contact element  28  in each operating state ( FIGS. 7-10 ). Since the primary seal is not removed, a distinction is only made between two operating states, to be precise, the normal operating state ( FIG. 12   d ) and the charging state ( FIG. 12   e ). The operation of opening or closing the secondary seal need not, in fact, have any influence on the charging circuit. For the purpose of charging the storage battery  24 , the socket  28  preferably has an integrated switch  70  which performs the task of the switch  70  actuated by the closure in case  1 . This integrated switch  70  guarantees that the storage battery  24  can be charged irrespective of the switching state of the switch  34 . The integrated switch  70  is opened when the plug  44  is plugged in ( FIG. 12   e ), and thus prevents the situation where a completely empty storage battery  24  cannot be charged because the consumer  22  is connected to the storage battery  24  via the switch  34 .  
         [0113]     If, with the inclusion of this potential disadvantage, the integrated switch  70  is not provided, operation with the plug  44  plugged in is conceivable in principle.  
         [0114]     Case  3  ( FIGS. 12   f - h ): in a manner analogous to case  1 , a distinction is made here, once again, between three operating states. The switch  70  corresponds to the spring element  72  shown in  FIG. 6 , and the switch  70 ′, as in case  2 , is preferably integrated in the contact element  28 .  
         [0115]      FIG. 12   f  describes the normal operating state. The user switches the consumer  22  on and off via the switch  34 . The switches  70  (actuated by the closure) and  70 ′ (integrated in the contact element  28 ) are closed. The resistor R is short-circuited by the closed switch  70 .  
         [0116]      FIG. 12   g  describes the state in which the closure has been removed and the consumer, irrespective of the state of the switch  34 , on account of the risk of contamination, is not to function. In this operating state, it is indeed the case that the consumer  22  is in electrical connection with the storage battery  24  via the resistor R, but it will nevertheless not be possible to switch it on, since the resistance of the resistor R is selected to be higher than the internal resistance of the consumer  22 , the aim likewise being achieved as a result.  
         [0117]      FIG. 12   h  proposes an additional switch  70 ′ preferably integrated in the contact element  28 . If the plug  44  is plugged in (and the switch  70 ′ is thus opened), it is thus possible, as in case  2 , to prevent the situation where a completely emptied storage battery  24  cannot be charged because the consumer  22  is connected to the power supply unit  46  via the switch  34 .  
         [0118]     If, with the inclusion of this potential disadvantage, the integrated switch  70 ′ is not provided, operation with the plug  44  plugged in, as in case  2 , is likewise conceivable in principle.  
         [0119]      FIG. 13  shows a sales set  78  in which a toothbrush  10  and power supply unit  46  are displayed in a see-through pack.