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EP-4201376-B1 - ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH HANDPIECE AND ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH

EP4201376B1EP 4201376 B1EP4201376 B1EP 4201376B1EP-4201376-B1

Inventors

  • ZWIMPFER, MARTIN
  • KIRCHHOFER, Pierre Fredy
  • FISCHER, HERBERT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20181011

Claims (15)

  1. An electric toothbrush handpiece having at least one interface (24a; 24b) for coupling to a brush attachment (10a; 10b), having at least one housing (46a; 46b), having at least one drive unit (48a; 48b) for driving the interface (24a; 24b), which is received in the housing (46a; 46b), having at least one energy store (50.1a, 50.2a; 50.1b) for supplying energy to the drive unit (48a; 48b), and having a fix frame unit (52a; 52b) which is arranged in the housing (46a; 46b) and which is implemented as a single piece and which receives the drive unit (48a; 48b) and the energy store (50.1a, 50.2a; 50.1b), wherein the frame unit (52a; 52b) forms multiple receptacle regions at least for the drive unit (48a; 48b) and the energy store (50.1a, 50.2a; 50.1b), which receptacle regions are positioned in a defined manner relative to one another in particular both in an assembled state and in an unassembled state of the frame unit (52a; 52b), wherein the frame unit (52a; 52b) extends axially over the entire drive unit (48a; 48b) and the entire energy store (50.1a, 50.2a; 50.1b), wherein at least one charging coil (54a; 54b) for charging the energy store (50.1a, 50.2a; 50.1b) is received in the fix frame unit (52a; 52b), wherein a compressible length compensation element (57a) for a length compensation for a compensation of tolerances is fitted between the charging coil (54a) and the frame unit (52a).
  2. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to claim 1, characterized by a separate frame unit (144b) of the charging coil (54a; 54b), which is installed on the frame unit (52a; 52b), wherein the frame unit (144b) of the charging coil (54a; 54b) carries within the charging coil (54a; 54b) and also a length compensation element (57b), which is pressed by the charging coil (54a; 54b) against the energy store.
  3. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to claim 2, characterized in that the separate frame unit (144b) of the charging coil (54a; 54b) is installed on the frame unit (52a; 52b) by a plugging-on process.
  4. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a circuit board (56a; 56b) for control of the drive unit (48a; 48b), which circuit board is at least partially received in positively locking fashion by the frame unit (52a; 52b) and extends at least over a large part of an axial extent of the frame unit (52a; 52b).
  5. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to claim 4, characterized in that, to receive the circuit board (56a; 56b) in positively locking fashion, the frame unit (52a; 52b) has at least two hook-shaped positive-locking elements (138a; 138b), which are configured for partially engaging over the circuit board (56a; 56b) in an installed state.
  6. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to claim 5, characterized in that, for an installation process, the circuit board (56a; 56b) has, on an outer edge, recesses (140a; 140b) which correspond to the positive-locking elements (138a; 138b) and via which the circuit board (56a; 56b) can, for installation thereof, be moved past the positive-locking elements (138a; 138b) into an end position.
  7. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy store (50.1a; 50.2a; 50.1b) is clamped radially by lateral holding arms of the frame unit (52a; 52b).
  8. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one rotor cover (88a; 88b) which is connected fixedly to the frame unit (52a; 52b) and which, together with the frame unit (52a; 52b), is configured for a support and/or fixing of the rotor (58a; 58b) of the drive unit (48a; 48b).
  9. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to claim 8, characterized in that the rotor cover (88a; 88b) is screwed to the frame unit (52a; 52b).
  10. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the rotor (58a; 58b) is supported between the frame unit (52a; 52b) and the rotor cover (88a; 88b).
  11. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by a covering cap (126a; 126b) which is configured for being pushed over a spindle-side end of the rotor cover (88a; 88b) and of the frame unit (52a; 52b), wherein, in an assembled state, the covering cap (126a; 126b) engages around in each case the spindle-side end of the rotor cover (88a; 88b) and of the frame unit (52a; 52b).
  12. The electric toothbrush handpiece according to claim 11, characterized int hat the interface (24a; 24b) comprises a spindle (110a; 110b), wherein the covering cap (126a; 126b) is configured for spindle guidance of the spindle (110a; 110b) of the interface (24a; 24b), wherein, for this purpose, the spindle (110a; 110b) is guided through the covering cap (126a; 126b).
  13. The electric toothbrush handpiece at least according to claim 11, characterized in that the covering cap (126a; 126b) serves for sealing off a housing interior with respect to the interface (24a; 24b).
  14. A method for producing the electric toothbrush handpiece (12a; 12b) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, during a process of assembly of the electric toothbrush handpiece (12a; 12b), in a first step, all of the internal parts are installed via the frame unit (52a; 52b) and are subsequently, in a second step, pressed into the housing (46a; 46b).
  15. An electric toothbrush having an electric toothbrush handpiece (12a; 12b) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and having a brush attachment (10a; 10b).

Description

State of the art The invention relates to an electric toothbrush handle and an electric toothbrush comprising the electric toothbrush handle and a brush head. Brush heads for toothbrush handles, electric toothbrush handles, and electric toothbrushes have already been proposed, as for example in the CN 201966781 U , the DE 10 2012 006 723 A1 , the EP 0 893 106 A2 , the EP 2 234 561 B1 , the US 9,237,943 B2 , the US 2002/056402 A1 and the WO 95/33419 A1 . From the US 2011/0107536 A1 A brush head for a toothbrush handle is already known, comprising a head section that includes a brush head, a mounting section that includes an interface receptacle, and a neck section arranged between the head section and the mounting section. From the JP 2012-165954 A An electric toothbrush handle with at least one interface for coupling with a brush head, with at least one housing, with at least one drive unit included in the housing for driving the interface and with at least one energy storage device for supplying the drive unit with energy is already known. From the CN 206 198 074 U An electric toothbrush handle is already known, comprising at least one housing with at least one drive unit enclosed in the housing, an energy storage device for supplying the drive unit with energy, and a circuit board, wherein the electric toothbrush handle comprises a first frame unit on which the circuit board and the energy storage device are arranged, and wherein the electric toothbrush handle is separated from the first frame unit. A separately formed second frame unit is included, on which the drive unit is arranged. WO 2015/159250 A1 Disclosing an electric toothbrush handle with an interface for coupling with a brush head, and with a fixed, one-piece frame unit arranged in a housing, which accommodates a drive unit and an energy storage device in corresponding receiving areas, wherein the frame unit extends axially over the entire drive unit and the entire energy storage device, and wherein a charging coil is attached around connecting tabs on the outside of the proximal end of the frame unit and is in elastic pressure contact with the frame unit by means of a bridge spring. The object of the invention is, in particular, to achieve advantageous properties with regard to a variable and/or easy-to-assemble and/or advantageously compact design and/or efficient transmission of motion from the drive to the brush head and/or cost-effective manufacturability and/or high cleaning performance with low risk of injury. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims. Advantages of the invention The invention relates to an electric toothbrush handle with at least one interface for coupling with a brush head with at least one housing, with at least one drive unit housed in the housing for driving the interface and with at least one energy storage device for supplying the drive unit with energy. and with a fixed, one-piece frame unit arranged in the housing, which accommodates the drive unit and the energy storage device, wherein the frame unit forms several receiving areas at least for the drive unit and the energy storage device, which are positioned in a defined relative to each other both in a mounted state and in an unmounted state of the frame unit, wherein the frame unit extends axially over the entire drive unit and the entire energy storage device, wherein at least one charging coil for charging the energy storage device is included in the fixed frame unit, wherein a compressible length compensation element is included for a Length compensation is provided to absorb tolerances between the charging coil and the frame unit. Preferably, the drive unit is formed by a motor. Furthermore, the energy storage device is formed by a rechargeable battery. However, in principle, other configurations of the energy storage device that would appear sensible to a person skilled in the art would also be conceivable, such as a battery. Preferably, the frame unit is designed to accommodate both a single energy storage cell, such as an AA energy storage cell, and three energy storage cells simultaneously, such as three AAA energy storage cells. Preferably, three Energy storage cells are provided in a frame which accommodates the three energy storage cells and fits into a receiving area of the frame unit for the individual energy storage cell. In this context, the term "housing" refers in particular to a protective outer shell of the toothbrush handle. Preferably, the housing surrounds a substantial part of the toothbrush handle. Preferably, the housing also includes a grip area. Preferably, the housing forms the handle of the toothbrush handle. The housing is preferably made of plastic. However, in principle, another material that would appear suitable to a person skilled in the art would also be conceivable. Furthermo