ULTRASONIC GENERATING TOOTHBRUSH POSSIBLE OF

BRUSHING

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic toothbrush that can be driven manually and electrically and that uses ultrasonic wave vibrations for brushing, the ultrasonic wave vibrations being generated by a piezoelectric ultrasonic emitter during electrical brushing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration toothbrush that can be driven electrically and manually and that generates ultrasonic wave vibrations for enhancing cleansing efficiency, in which a brush support has an opening and a metal elastic member has an end portion having a polygonal cross-section, thereby propagating ultrasonic wave vibrations with a variety of frequencies in all directions in the oral cavity of a user. Background Art

[2] Generally, ultrasonic toothbrushes remove plaque and bacteria in the oral cavity of a user by using piezoelectric ultrasonic sound wave vibrations.

[3] One example of the ultrasonic toothbrushes is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0105123, filed by the applicant of the present invention.

[4] The above-mentioned ultrasonic toothbrush will be described below with reference to accompanying drawings.

[5] Referring to FIG. 1, the ultrasonic electric toothbrush comprises a switching unit

21 provided on a side of a handle 1, a chargeable battery pack 2 for supplying a driving power, a driving circuit 3 for generating a variety of frequencies, a wire 11' for connecting the driving circuit 3 to a metal electrode ring 11, the metal electrode ring 11 disposed on a piezoelectric ceramic device 9 for vibrating piezoelectric ceramic devices 9 by receiving driving power from the driving circuit 3, the piezoelectric ceramic device 9 vibrating by receiving a driving power from the driving circuit 3 via the metal electrode ring 11, a front metal elastic member 12 for generating a variety of frequencies, a rear metal elastic member 10 disposed between the piezoelectric ceramic device 9 and the driving circuit 3 for transferring vibrations of the piezoelectric ceramic device 9 to the front metal elastic member 12, a sound impedance matching layer 14 disposed on an end portion of the front metal elastic member 12 for effectively transferring vibrations, a brush support 22 in which the sound impedance matching layer 14 is installed at an inclination angle θ of 0 to 45 degrees, and a brush 16 installed on the brush support 22 for cleansing the oral cavity of a user.

[6] In the above-mentioned ultrasonic toothbrush, the brush support is completely

embedded in a brush head, so that the outer surface of the support is not exposed. Accordingly, the above ultrasonic toothbrush has a problem in that ultrasonic wave vibrations cannot be effectively transferred to the oral cavity of a user because the ultrasonic wave vibrations from the front metal elastic member are offset while the vibrations are transferred.

[7] The conventional ultrasonic toothbrush has a further problem in that the ultrasonic wave vibrations are not propagated in all directions in the oral cavity of a user because the front metal elastic member has a rectangular cross-section having rounded corners. Accordingly, effective plaque and bacteria removal is difficult. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in consideration of the aforementioned problems and situations, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic toothbrush that can be driven electrically and manually and that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations for electric brushing, in which the ultra sonic toothbrush has enhanced cleansing efficiency because a variety of frequencies are generated by a piezoelectric ceramic device.

[9] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic toothbrush that can be driven electrically and manually and that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations for electric brushing, in which ultrasonic wave vibrations can be propagated in all directions at an end of a brush support, that is, at a place where cleansing is directly performed, so that effective cleansing and bacteria removal can be achieved. Technical Solution

[10] In order to achieve the above objects and advantages, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic toothbrush that is able to be electrically and manually driven, comprising a hollow body in which a piezoelectric ceramic device is installed and vibrated by ultrasonic waves, a brush support having a first end detachably coupled to the hollow body and having a second end at a side of which a brush is installed, a metal elastic member installed in the body and having at least part disposed near the brush support so that vibrations of a variety of frequencies generated by the metal elastic member are transferred to the brush support, and a power supply unit for supplying driving power to the metal elastic member.

[11] The metal elastic member may comprise a vibration plate, and a vibration connection bar coupled to the vibration plate, in which an end portion of the vibration connection bar has a polygonal cross-section. The vibration plate may have an edge with an interface intermediate between a circular arc form and a straight line form.

[12] The end portion of the vibration connection bar may comprise at least one planar

face extending in a lengthwise direction, and at least one curved face extending in a lengthwise direction, wherein the planar faces and the curved faces are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the vibration connection bar. The brush support may have an opening, with brush hairs of the brush being installed on the brush support next to the opening.

[13] The second end of the brush support may be made of synthetic resin containing minerals that can release anions when external pressure is applied thereto. The minerals may be amethyst or tourmaline. The hollow body may have a circular circumferential groove on the outer surface, and the first end of the brush support has a hook, so that the hook engages with and is locked in the groove. A leaf spring may be installed at the groove so that coupling force between the body and the brush support is maintained. A silicon rubber packing may be fitted over a circumferential outer surface of the metal elastic member disposed near the brush support, so that the inside of the body is sealed and waterproofed.

Advantageous Effects

[14] The ultrasonic toothbrush according to the present invention has the following advantages. First, it has a high gum cleansing and clinical effect because ultrasonic wave vibrations are effectively transferred to the teeth and gums through one or more openings formed in a brush support having a metal elastic member generating ultrasonic wave vibrations therein.

[15] Second, it has high cleansing and cleaning efficiency thanks to strong power generated due to a ground part of a metal elastic member provided at an end portion thereof, the ground part having a polygonal section, that is, the outer surface of the ground part comprising planar faces and curved faces.

[16] Third, a brush support to which a brush is installed can be securely combined with a handle and can be easily replaced because the brush support is combined with the handle in a manner such that a hook of the brush support engages with a circular circumferential groove formed on the outer surface of the handle, and a leaf spring provided in the groove maintains the coupling state of the brush support and the handle. Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ultrasonic toothbrush that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations according to the related art;

[18] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ultrasonic toothbrush that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations and is able to be driven electrically and manually, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are an exploded perspective view and a cross-sectional view, re-

spectively, illustrating the ultrasonic toothbrush that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations and is able to be driven electrically and manually, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which a brush support is separated from a body;

[20] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a brush support of the ultrasonic toothbrush that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations and is able to be driven electrically and manually, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of a brush support in the ultrasonic toothbrush according to the present invention;

[22] FIG. 7 through FIG. 9 are a perspective view, a front view, and a side view, respectively, illustrating a metal elastic member of the ultrasonic toothbrush that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations and is able to be driven electrically and manually, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] Hereinafter, the characteristics and other advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[24] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an ultrasonic toothbrush that uses piezoelectric ultrasonic wave vibrations and is able to be driven electrically and manually, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[25] Referring to FIG. 2, the ultrasonic toothbrush according to the present invention comprises a hollow body 400 (serving as a handle) having a piezoelectric ceramic device therein, a brush support 100 detachably coupled to the hollow body 400, a metal elastic member 200 installed such that at least part thereof is disposed near the brush support 100, and a power supply unit 300 for supplying a driving power to the metal elastic member 200.

[26] The brush support 100 has a first end coupled to the body 400, and has a second end having a brush 120 installed thereto. The second end and has one or more openings 110.

[27] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the ultrasonic toothbrush according to the present invention.

[28] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first end of the brush support 100 is coupled to the body 400 so as to be easily detachable. For example, the first end of the brush support 100 has a hook 130 formed in such a manner that it is bent inward, and the body 400 has a groove 130 formed along the circumferential outer surface at an end thereof. The groove 410 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the hook 130. Accordingly, the hook 130 is inserted into and locked in the groove 410. In order to

maintain coupling force between the hook 130 and the groove 410 when the hook 130 engages with the groove 410 once, a leaf spring can be provided to the groove 410. As described above, since the brush support 100 is detachably coupled to the body 400, the brush support 100 can be easily replaced when a brush installed on the brush support 100 is worn out.

[29] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the brush support of the ultrasonic toothbrush according to the present invention.

[30] Referring to FIG. 5, a second end of the brush support 100 has a hollow cylinder shape, and a brush 120 for brushing teeth is attached to one side of a second end of the brush support 100. The second end of the brush support 100 has one or more openings 110, 110' and 110". Thanks to the openings 110, 110' and 110", ultrasonic wave vibrations generated by a metal elastic member 200 can be effectively transferred to the oral cavity of a user, compared to the conventional ultrasonic toothbrush, in which a brush support does not have any openings, so that ultrasonic wave vibrations generated in a metal elastic member are offset and decreased while they are passing through the brush support.

[31] In and near the second end of the brush support 100, at least part of the metal elastic member 200 is disposed. The brush support 100 may be preferably made of synthetic resin containing minerals that can release anions when external pressure is applied thereto. The minerals are preferably amethyst or tourmaline. Since pressure, generated when the brush 120 is brought into contact with teeth, is applied to the minerals, the minerals can release anions.

[32] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the brush support 100 has the openings 110' at one side thereof, and brush hairs of the brush 120 are provided between the openings 110'. The brush support 100 has the opening 110" at the other side, and the opening 110 at a top end portion. Accordingly, ultrasonic wave vibrations induced by the metal elastic member 200 can be effectively transferred to objects in the oral cavity of a user. Accordingly, ultrasonic wave vibrations induced by the metal elastic member 200 act together with manual brushing, thereby removing plaque at an early stage when the plaque is formed, removing bacteria existing between the gums and teeth, and inhibiting the growth and multiplication of bacteria, preventing the recurrence of stomatitis.

[33] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example the brush support.

[34] Referring to FIG. 6, the brush 120 is installed on the second end of the brush support 100 in a manner such that brush hairs of the brush 120 are arranged in the radial direction around a central axis extending in a lengthwise direction of the brush support 100, in which rows of the brush hairs are disposed to be oriented away from each other at regular angles. For example, the rows of the brush hairs can be arranged

to be disposed apart from each other with an angle of 90 degrees, while the openings 110 are formed between the rows of the brush hairs. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the brush hairs of the brush 120 can be arranged in a manner such that they are gathered at one side of the brush support 100, or can be arranged in a manner such that they are radially arranged at regular intervals along the circumferential outer surface of the brush support 100. However, the arrangement of the brush hairs of the brush 120 is not limited thereto, but can be diversely modified.

[35] FIGs. 7 through 9 are a perspective view, a front view and a side view illustrating the metal elastic member 2090 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[36] Referring to FIGs. 7 through 9, the metal elastic member 200 for inducing ultrasonic wave vibrations comprises a vibration plate 210, and a multi-stepped vibration connection bar 220 disposed in the center of the vibration plate 210 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the vibration plate 210. The vibration connection bar 220 comprises a plurality of bar pieces having different diameters, thereby being multi-stepped. At least part of the vibration connection bar 220 is disposed near the brush support 100.

[37] The vibration plate 210 has a polygonal shape comprising a plurality of circular arc forms 211 and a plurality of straight line forms 212, so that the shape of the vibration plate 210 has a plurality of interfaces 213 between the circular arc forms 211 and the straight line forms 212. The vibration connection bar 220 has a ground part 223 at an end portion thereof. The outer surface of the ground part 223 comprises alternatively arranged planar faces 221 and curved faces 222. That is, a cross-section of the ground part 223 has a polygonal shape. The ground part 223 provided at the end of the vibration connection bar 220 and the interfaces 213 of the vibration plate 210 may be formed by specifically grinding the outer surface of the end portion of the vibration connection bar 220 and the edges of the vibration plate 210, in which the plain faces 221 of the ground part 223 and the straight line forms 212 of the interface 213 are inclined relative to each other at a predetermined angle.

[38] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section of the vibration connection bar 220 can have the shape of a triangle having rounded corners. As described above, since the cross-section of the end of the vibration connection bar 220 is polygonal, the metal elastic member 200 generates a variety of forms of vibrations, thereby effectively cleansing the oral cavity.

[39] That is, since the faces of the ground part 223 of the end portion of the vibration connection bar 220 are formed to have a predetermined angle therebetween, length- direction vibration, curve-direction vibration and twisting vibration are simultaneously generated by the metal elastic member 200. The ultrasonic waves generated in this instance generate strong cavitations having a variety of sizes of 400 micrometers or

more and a variety of intensities, so that sterilizing and cleansing effects of the oral cavity can be enhanced thanks to the increased cavitation area regardless of shapes and positions of objects to be cleaned.

[40] Further, a power supply unit 300 for driving a piezoelectric ceramic device is installed in the hollow body 400, and the power supply unit 300 comprises a switch 320 for turning on and off the ultrasonic toothbrush, a rechargeable battery pack 339 for supplying driving power to the piezoelectric ceramic device, and a driving circuit 310 for generating a variety of frequencies. Since details of the power supply unit 300 are disclosed for the ultrasonic toothbrush of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0105139 filed by the applicant of the present invention, the description of the power supply unit 300 will be omitted.

[41] As described above, the ultrasonic toothbrush according to the present invention has the following advantages. Since strong cavitation is generated in the oral cavity, in which saliva, water and toothpaste are mixed using strong vibrations generated by ultrasonic waves, high sterilizing and cleansing efficiency can be achieved regardless of shapes and positions of objects to be cleaned.

[42] Particularly, cleansing efficiency can be further enhanced because cleaning water in the oral cavity is turned into anions and surfactant ions are generated in the oral cavity by increasing the intensity of ultrasonic wave vibrations.

[43] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.