Abstract:
An automatic interdental cleaner for cleaning between teeth more effectively and cleanly without hurting the gum between the teeth is disclosed. The cleaner comprises: a grip portion disposed therein with a battery and a motor and a power switch at one wall side; a power transmitting unit coupled to one end of the grip portion for supplying power from the grip portion and formed with a first insertion hole at a free end; an interdental brush portion including a brush holder having a shape corresponding to that of the first insertion hole of the power transmitting unit and also having one end insertedly fixed to the first insertion hole, and a brush fixed to the other end of the brush holder; and an adapter portion one end of which is coupled to the power transmitting unit and the other end of which accepts the interdental brush portion, such that spaces between the teeth can be automatically cleaned using the automatic interdental cleaner.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT CONCERNING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to an automatic interdental cleaner for removing foreign objects between teeth, and more particularly an automatic interdental cleaner adapted to be attached with an interdental brush or an adapter to a grip portion for automatic cleaning between teeth.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Interdental brushes are used as a part of the teeth-cleaning regimen by coupling an end of a handle with a brush or a dental floss. The interdental brushes are useful for removing food remains or dental calculus between teeth where conventional toothbrushes do not touch. They are also useful for cleaning various dental prostheses, such as braces, around various bridgeworks, and improving the level of a person&#39;s oral care hygiene.  
         [0005]     The interdental brushes thus explained are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,615 granted to Colgate-Palmolive Company.  
         [0006]     Interdental brushes according to the prior art will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an interdental brush according to the prior art, and  FIG. 7  is a lateral view of the interdental brush of  FIG. 6  removed of an end of a handle.  
         [0007]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an interdental brush  10  is equipped at one end thereof with a handle grip portion  12  with a sloped brush head support portion  14 . A brush head cartridge  20  with a brush  22  projecting upwardly therefrom is extended from brush head support portion  14 .  
         [0008]     A first longitudinal rod section  24  is a part of the brush head attachment means. An aperture  15  on the brush head portion accepts a protrusion on the brush head cartridge  20  to lock the brush head cartridge into the sloped brush head support portion.  
         [0009]     At the end of the handle grip portion  12  opposite the brush head portion, there is a movable section  18 , which carries a grip  19 . This is held in place by a protrusion  34  on a brush head support rod  30  (see  FIG. 7 ), which extends into an aperture  11  of the movable section  18 .  
         [0010]     In the interdental brushes thus described, after assembled, the handle grip portion  12  can be held by hands and the brush can be manually inserted between teeth. In the interdental brushes according to the prior art, dental floss or thin synthetic resin piece may be inserted between teeth instead of a brush.  
         [0011]     However, there is a problem in the interdental brushes thus described according to the prior art in that gums may be hurt by dental floss or thin synthetic resin piece when an excessive force is applied to the gums. There is another problem in that the interdental brushes may not clean between teeth in the desired state due to inattention by a user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention is disclosed to solve the aforementioned problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic interdental cleaner adapted not to hurt gums between teeth and to effectively clean between the teeth as well.  
         [0013]     In accordance with the object of the present invention, the automatic interdental cleaner is provided, the cleaner comprising: a grip portion disposed therein with a battery and a motor and a power switch at one side wall; a power transmitting unit coupled to one end of the grip portion for supplying power from the grip portion and formed with a first insertion hole at a free end; and an interdental brush portion including a brush holder having a shape corresponding to that of the first insertion hole of the power transmitting unit and also having one end insertedly fixed to the first insertion hole, and a brush fixed to the other end of the brush holder.  
         [0014]     The automatic interdental cleaner further comprises an adapter portion one end of which is coupled to the power transmitting unit and the other end of which accepts the interdental brush portion.  
         [0015]     The adapter comprises: a connecting portion surrounded on a peripheral surface of the power transmitting unit and disposed at a lateral wall thereof with a fixing hook meshing with the power transmitting unit; an extension portion extended from the connecting portion; and an interdental brush holder disposed at one end thereof with a second insertion hole having a shape corresponding to that of the end of the brush holder.  
         [0016]     The interdental brush holder is slantly connected at a predetermined angle relative to the extension portion.  
         [0017]     The interdental brush holder is inclined at 80-120 degrees relative to the extension portion, and more preferably, at 90-100 degrees.  
         [0018]     The second insertion hole may be of a cylindrical or a plate shape at one end thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the drawings demonstrate and explain the principles of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are examples of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1 a  perspective view for schematically illustrating an automatic interdental cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view for illustrating an interdental brush portion of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view for schematically illustrating an automatic interdental cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a plan of an adapter portion of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a lateral of the adapter portion of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an interdental brush according to the prior art; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a lateral view removed of an end of a handle at the interdental brush of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     The automatic interdental cleaner according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view for schematically illustrating an automatic interdental cleaner  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an interdental brush portion  300  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an automatic interdental cleaner  1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a grip portion  100 , a power transmitting unit  200  and an interdental brush portion  300 .  
         [0030]     The grip portion  100  is disposed therein with a battery (not shown) and a motor (not shown). The grip portion  100  is disposed at one lateral wall thereof with a power switch  110  that is circuitally connected to the battery (not shown) and the motor (not shown).  
         [0031]     The power transmitting unit  200  is cylindrically shaped and coupled to one end of the grip portion  100 . The power transmitting unit  200  receives the power from the motor (not shown) formed inside the grip portion  100  on switching and vibrates thereby.  
         [0032]     A free end of the power transmitting unit  200  is formed with a first insertion hole  210  which, as shown in  FIG. 1 , has a rectangular plate shape but may carry a variety of shapes like cylindrical shape, spiral shape and the like.  
         [0033]     The interdental brush  300  includes a brush holder  310  whose one end is fixedly inserted into the first insertion hole  210  and a brush  320  that is fixed to the other end of the brush holder  310 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the brush holder  310  has a plate shape at one end  311  thereof. The one end  311  of the brush holder  310  has a shape corresponding to that of the first insertion hole  210  so as to be inserted into the first insertion hole  210  formed at the power transmitting unit  200 . For that reason, in case the first insertion hole  210  has a cylindrical shape or a spiral shape, the one end of the brush holder  310  is to subsequently have a shape corresponding to that of the first insertion hole  210 .  
         [0035]     The brush holder  310  has a cylindrical shape at the other end thereof to which the brush  320  is fixed. The brush holder  310  may be made of resilient material like rubber or synthetic resin material.  
         [0036]     Hereinafter, the operation of the automatic interdental cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.  
         [0037]     First of all, the first insertion hole  210  at the power transmitting unit  200  is inserted by the one end  311  of the brush holder at the interdental brush portion  300 . Because the shape of the first insertion hole  210  and that of the one end of the brush holder  311  are correspondingly matched, the interdental brush portion  300  is fixed in the first insertion hole  210  when the one end  311  of the brush holder is inserted into the first insertion hole  210 .  
         [0038]     Thereafter, when the power switch  110  is pressed, the motor (not shown) disposed inside the grip portion  100 , which is circuitally connected to the power switch  110  is vibrated. The vibration of the motor (not shown) is transmitted to the power transmitting unit  210 , and the vibration of the power transmitting unit  210  is in turn transmitted to the interdental brush portion  300 .  
         [0039]     When the vibrating brush  320  is inserted between teeth, food remaining or tartar between the teeth can be automatically removed. The gum contacting the interdental brush portion  300  is not hurt because the brush  320  is soft.  
         [0040]     When the cleaning between the teeth is over and the brush  320  is removed from between the teeth and the power switch  110  is turned off, the vibration is stopped. Following the completion of the vibration, the interdental brush  300  is separated from the first insertion hole  210 , cleansed and stored.  
         [0041]     Now, referring to FIGS.  3  to  5 , the automatic interdental cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same reference numerals refer to the same parts or portions throughout the various figures, and explanation of the same elements will be briefed.  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view for schematically illustrating an automatic interdental cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 4  is a plan view of an adapter portion  400  of  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5  is a lateral view of the adapter portion  400  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an automatic interdental cleaner  2  according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a grip portion  100 , a power transmitting unit  200 , an interdental brush portion  300  and an adapter portion  400 .  
         [0044]     The grip portion  100  is disposed therein with a battery (not shown) and a motor (not shown). The grip portion  100  is disposed at one lateral wall thereof with a power switch  110  that is circuitally connected to the battery (not shown) and the motor (not shown).  
         [0045]     The power transmitting unit  200  is cylindrically shaped and coupled to one end of the grip portion  100 . The power transmitting unit  200  receives the power from the motor (not shown) formed inside the grip portion  100  and vibrates thereby. The power transmitting unit  200  is formed at one lateral wall thereof with an aperture  220 .  
         [0046]     The interdental brush portion  300  includes a brush holder  310  for insertion into the adapter portion  400 , and a brush  320  fixed to the other end of the brush holder  310 . One end  311  of the brush holder  310  may be cylindrical as shown in  FIG. 3 , or may be of plate shape as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The end  311  may carry a variety of shapes.  
         [0047]     The adapter portion  400  is coupled at one end thereof to the power transmitting unit  200 , and the other end of the adapter portion  400  receives the interdental brush portion  300 .  
         [0048]     Now, the adapter portion  400  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  
         [0049]     The adapter portion  400  comprises a connecting portion  410 , an extension portion  420  and an interdental brush holder  430 .  
         [0050]     The connecting portion  410  is surrounded on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical power transmitting unit  200 . The connecting portion  410  is disposed at one lateral wall thereof with a fixing hook  411  that is hitched at the aperture  220  of the power transmitting unit  200 . The fixing hook  411  is inserted into the aperture  220  to prevent the adapter portion  400  from rotating or being bolted.  
         [0051]     The extension portion  420  extended from the connecting portion  410  has a predetermined curved or axial shape. The extension portion  420  may be integrally formed with the connecting portion  410 , or may be glued or screwed to the connecting portion  410 .  
         [0052]     The interdental brush holder  430  is connected to an opposite side of the extension portion  420  that is in turn connected to the connecting portion  410 . The interdental brush holder  430  is integrally formed with the extension portion  420  and is formed at one end thereof with a second insertion hole  431 , the shape of which corresponds to that of the end  311  of the brush holder  310 .  
         [0053]     The second insertion hole  431  may have a cylindrical shape corresponding to that of the end  311  of the brush holder  310  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , but may carry a variety of shapes such as plate shape, screw shape and the like.  
         [0054]     In case the end  311  of the brush holder  310  is cylindrical, an annular support plate  312  may be integrally formed with the midsection of the brush holder  310  for preventing the brush holder  310  from entering an interior of the second insertion hole  431  of the interdental brush holder  430 .  
         [0055]     The interdental brush holder  430  may be slantly connected to the extension portion  42  at a predetermined angle. The angle between the interdental brush holder  430  and the extension portion  420  is generally set at 80-120 degrees. Preferably, the angle between the interdental brush holder  430  and the extension portion  420  is given at 90-100 degrees. These angles are within an angle scope in which the brush  320  is conveniently and ergonomically positioned between teeth, when the grip portion  100  is held by a user.  
         [0056]     Hereinafter, the operation of the automatic interdental cleaner according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.  
         [0057]     First, an outside of the power transmitting unit  200  is fitted into by the connecting portion  410  of the adapter portion  400 . The fixing hook  411  is made to get hitched at the aperture  220  of the power transmitting unit  200  to fix the adapter portion  400  and the power transmitting unit  200 .  
         [0058]     Thereafter, the interdental brush portion  300  is inserted into the second insertion hole  431  of the adapter portion  400 . The brush holder  310  of the interdental brush portion  300  matches the shape to that of the second insertion hole  431  of the interdental brush holder  430  such that, when the second insertion hole  431  is inserted by the end  311  of the brush holder, the interdental brush portion  300  is fixed at the adapter portion  400 .  
         [0059]     Afterward, when the power switch  110  is pressed, the motor (not shown) disposed inside the grip portion  100  circuitally connected to the power switch  110  is vibrated. The vibration of the motor (not shown) is transmitted to the power transmitting unit  200 , and vibration of the power transmitting unit  200  is in turn transmitted to the interdental brush portion  300 .  
         [0060]     When the vibrating brush  320  is inserted between teeth, food remains or tartar between the teeth can be automatically removed by the vibration. The gum contacting the interdental brush portion  300  is not hurt at all because the brush  320  is soft.  
         [0061]     In the automatic interdental cleaner  2  according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the adapter portion  400  is separately attached to the power transmitting unit  200  such that many spaces near molar teeth that the brush  320  alone cannot penetrate can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, the extension portion  420  and the interdental brush holder  430  are inclined each at a predetermined angle, the teeth can be ergonomically cleaned at a convenient position.  
         [0062]     The power transmitting unit  200  of the automatic interdental cleaner  2  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is formed at a free end thereof with the first insertion hole  210  as in the automatic interdental cleaner  1  of the first embodiment. If the shape of the first insertion hole  210  and that of the second insertion hole  431  are the same, the interdental brush portion  300  may be inserted into either the first insertion hole  210  or the second insertion hole  431  as needed and required by a user.  
         [0063]     Once the cleaning is over between the teeth, the brush  320  is removed from between the teeth, and the power switch  110  is turned off to stop the vibration. When the vibration is stopped, the interdental brush portion  300  and the adapter portion  400  are separated from the power transmitting unit  200 , and cleaned and stored for after-use.  
         [0064]     As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in the automatic interdental cleaner thus described according to the embodiments of the present invention in that a soft brush is used to reduce the possibility of the gum being hurt. There is another advantage in that food remains or tartar can be automatically cleaned between teeth to increase a cleaning efficiency.  
         [0065]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.