Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8051520?dq=6106459
Timestamp: 2014-09-20 01:08:14
Document Index: 504875036

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 03025936', 'art 64', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'arts 62', 'art 62', 'arts 70']

Patent US8051520 - Toothbrush and process for producing the same - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsThe invention relates to an electric toothbrush (10) having a rechargeable energy store (24) that is arranged in an inner space (36) in the body (12) of the toothbrush (10). The inner space (36) is sealed by a primary sealing element (56) against splash water and other detrimental influences. At least...http://www.google.com/patents/US8051520?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8051520 - Toothbrush and process for producing the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8051520 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/656,979Publication dateNov 8, 2011Filing dateFeb 22, 2010Priority dateNov 13, 2003Also published asCA2545676A1, CA2545676C, DE50310904D1, EP1530955A1, EP1530955B1, EP1691713A1, US7049790, US7721371, US20050104556, US20060150350, US20080295266, US20100154152, WO2005046508A1Publication number12656979, 656979, US 8051520 B2, US 8051520B2, US-B2-8051520, US8051520 B2, US8051520B2InventorsPhilipp Pfenniger, Adrian Pfenniger, Franz FischerOriginal AssigneeTrisa Holding AgExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (34), Referenced by (2), Classifications (9) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetToothbrush and process for producing the sameUS 8051520 B2Abstract The invention relates to an electric toothbrush (10) having a rechargeable energy store (24) that is arranged in an inner space (36) in the body (12) of the toothbrush (10). The inner space (36) is sealed by a primary sealing element (56) against splash water and other detrimental influences. At least one contact element (28) for an external power supply unit (46) produces an electrically conductive connection to the energy store (24). The contact element is located either within the inner space (36), it being possible for the primary sealing element (56) to be removed for charging purposes, or outside the inner space (36), in which case it is optionally protected by an additional secondary sealing element (76). The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.
the energy store and the at least one contact element are arranged in the inner space of the body and the inner space is closable and openable at least to the extent where the at least one contact element is accessible for the corresponding further contact element from the outside when the first and second housing parts are in the open position. Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 12/213,075 filed Jun. 13, 2008, which is a Division of application Ser. No. 11/369,965 filed Mar. 8, 2006, which is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/012708 filed Nov. 10, 2004, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 03025936.0 filed Nov. 13, 2003. The entire disclosure of the prior applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND This invention relates to a toothbrush having an electrically operated functional unit and to a process for producing such a toothbrush.
SUMMARY The object 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.
The direct loading method for electrical equipment, e.g. mobile telephones, which is known per se is adapted according to 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 means of 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.
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 contact-connection surfaces (e.g. by means of spring 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.
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.
A further advantageous variant provides a holder for the electric toothbrush, e.g. in the form of a stand. 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 means which detect 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 means of 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 current/charging voltage, but this variant involves higher outlay and more cost.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 3-10 show various 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.
A switch 34′ can likewise optionally be incorporated in the closure 40. This switch 34′ can be used as an alternative to the on/off switch 34 or it can produce an alternative operating state if it is mounted in addition to the switch 34. A closure of this type is described below with reference to FIGS. 15 a and b. 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.
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 with shield 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. 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.
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. 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. The switch 70 may also be arranged in the closure 40 separately from the contact element 28.
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.
FIGS. 16 a-h show basic circuit diagrams for the variant with an additional switch 34′ described above with reference to FIGS. 15 a and b. The circuit diagrams correspond in principle to FIGS. 12 a-h, with the difference that the on/off switch 70 (realized by the closure) in that figure has been replaced by a switch subassembly 146 with a switch 34′ which can assume two switching states. The switch subassembly 146 is integrated in the closure 40 of the toothbrush. The state in which the closure is removed is illustrated in FIGS. 16 b, 16 c, 16 e, 16 g and 16 h. Only the differences from FIGS. 12 a-h are described below, otherwise reference is made to the explanations for FIGS. 12 a-h. The switch subassembly 146 has two lines 120, 122 which are connected in parallel and of which one is routed via an electrical component 124, a Schottky diode in this case. The electrical circuit can be closed by the switch 34′ either via the short-circuit line 120 or via the component 124, provided that the closure 40 is fitted to the toothbrush body. If the closure 40 is removed, the switch 34′ does not operate. The functions described above with reference to FIGS. 12 a-h are produced via the short-circuit line 120. An additional switching state is realized via the electrical component 124.
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