FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a device for cleaning oral health devices and, more specifically, removable dentures.

Specifically, the invention is intended for cleaning oral health devices which are cleaned using cleaning products such as tablets or pastes that are added to the water where the device is stored. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A denture is a dental prosthesis that integrates various artificial dental pieces which are assembled by means of a support. It is used to substitute the natural teeth. Dentures are generally removable.

Dentures make it possible to improve the oral health of the persons who wear them. Denture users are usually elderly people and people with serious oral health problems, although some children also wear them.

A significant problem associated with the use of removable dentures is that people who use them must clean them adequately every night. However, these people currently do not have the capacity or the time to clean them on a daily basis because there are currently few devices that effectively achieve it.

In the state of the art, some devices are known such as some air pumps that use water vapour for cleaning. Devices that use ultraviolet light for cleaning are also known, but these can cause radiation.

Some patents related to cleaning devices for dentures are, for example, patent US2669243A by Reynolds which discloses a cleaning system that uses an air container, patent US3802919A by Safer, patent US4157922A by Luik that uses an air compressor with an air pump and patent US7798159B2 by Palfy that uses an antibacterial cleaning mechanism based on the use of lamps that emit ultraviolet rays.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of this invention is to provide a device for cleaning oral health devices and, more specifically, removable dentures.

Another objective of the invention is that the cleaning device must be portable and transportable in the user's hand.

Preferably, the cleaning device comprises rotary brushes for performing the cleaning. Said brushes are actuated by a motor that is also part of the device. Likewise, the cleaning device may comprise a timer for determining the use time of the motor during the operation of the removable-denture cleaning device.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that it does not entail riska for the user's health, since the device does not emit any type of radiation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

As a complement to the description being made, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part thereof which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

Figure 1. Shows a front view of the cleaning device;

Figure 2. Shows a side view of the interior of the cleaning device;

Figure 3. Shows a view of brushes disposed in the interior of the cleaning device, mounted on a rotating platform.

Figure 4. Shows a front view of the interior of the cleaning device.

Figure 5. Shows a schematic view of the interaction between the cleaning device and the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

What follows is a description, with the help of figures 1 to 5, of an example of embodiment of the invention.

The device of the present invention comprises a main body with a receptacle, in the interior of which the removable dentures are housed during the cleaning operation. Said main body comprises an opening for accessing the receptacle and a lid (2) that moves between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the receptacle. Likewise, the device comprises at least first brushes (5) disposed in at least one of the walls of the interior of the receptacle. These first brushes (5) are actuated by a motor (8) that mobilises them during the cleaning operation.

Figure 1 shows the front part of the cleaning device. In said figure the main body of the device can be observed, which comprises a receptacle in the interior of which the removable dentures are disposed for cleaning thereof. Said main body comprises at least one opening for accessing the receptacle and a lid (2) for guaranteeing the correct closure thereof during cleaning operations. The device also comprises a closing element (1 ) that makes it possible to open and close the main body of the device. In this figure we can also observe the actuation element (3), which is a button for switching on the cleaning device.

Figures 2 and 4 represent the interior of the cleaning device. Said cleaning device comprises a plurality of first brushes (5) in the receptacle, which are elements in charge of cleaning the dentures. Preferably, the cleaning device may be disassembled to clean said first brushes (5) after using the device. Preferably, the first brushes (5) are disposed in various of the receptacle walls.

In these figures, it can be observed that the main body comprises at least one free space (4) that enables the correct disassembly of the device for removing the brushes (5) for cleaning thereof.

Likewise, a sliding part (7) can be observed which is the element that enables the fixing and removal of the brushes (5). Thanks to said part (7), the brushes (5) are fixed in their position through the fixing of the sliding part (7) to the main body. Subsequently, when the user actuates it, releases it and slides it to remove the brushes.

The brush actuation motor (8) is also disposed in the main body of the cleaning device. Likewise, in figures 2 and 4 second brushes (9) and third brushes (13) can be observed that enable the cleaning of the dentures. Preferably, the second brushes (9) and third brushes (13) are mounted on a platform (12) that is rotated by the motor (8) to move said brushes (9, 13).

Preferably, the motor (8), the platform (12), the second brushes (12) and the third brushes (13) are disposed on a hollow side (10) of the main body in the interior whereof the motor (8) is housed and wherefrom the other elements emerge towards the receptacle of the main body to remain in contact with the denture.

The cleaning device may also comprise a safety lock (1 1 ) to prevent a user from involuntarily opening the lid (2) during the cleaning operation. The figure also indicates a support (20) which allows the fixing of the lid (2) in the open position to facilitate the introduction of the lid (2) in the open position to facilitate the introduction of the denture in the receptacle.

Figure 3 shows the second brushes (9) and the third brushes (13) disposed on the platform (12), which is rotated by the motor in the direction of the arrows (14).

In one example of embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a timer (16) that controls the start and end of the cleaning by means of the activation or deactivation of the motor (8). In this manner, the user can actuate the cleaning device directly when he or she desires or programme the cleaning operations, for example to be carried out during the night or in the morning right after getting up.

In the figures the connection of the removable-denture cleaning device to the mains (15) can also be observed. In the example of embodiment shown, the device is connected to a power outlet wherethrough it passes the necessary power to the motor (8) for operation thereof. In other examples of embodiment, the device may have a battery system (17) in its interior to facilitate the transport and use thereof, for example when the user is going to travel.

Figure 5 shows a diagram wherein the interactions between the elements of the cleaning device and the user have been represented by arrows.