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EP-4736811-A1 - MECHANICAL MOUNTING OF A DRIVE TRAIN OF AN ORAL CLEANING DEVICE

EP4736811A1EP 4736811 A1EP4736811 A1EP 4736811A1EP-4736811-A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a drive train mount (114) for an oral cleaning device (100). The drive train mount comprises a mounting component (116) comprising a first fastening interface (210) configured for receiving the drive train of the oral cleaning device and comprising at least one first gripping element (204). The drive train mount further comprises a clamping component (118) comprising at least one second gripping element (206) paired with the at least one first gripping element and a second fastening interface (211). The clamping component and the mounting component are configured to form a wedged mechanical interlock (500). Actuation of the wedged interlock causes the paired at least one first gripping element and the at least one second gripping element to form at least one parallel jaw clamp (300) configured to grip at least one interior structural element (106) of the oral cleaning device.

Inventors

  • Solerio, Daniele
  • BRUGGERS, JAN WILLEM
  • RAJENDRAN, Vijayaragavan

Assignees

  • Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241031

Claims (15)

  1. A drive train mount (114) for an oral cleaning device (100), wherein the drive train mount comprises: - a mounting component (116) comprising a first fastening interface (210) configured for receiving a drive train (108) of the oral cleaning device and comprising at least one first gripping element (204); and - a clamping component (118) comprising at least one second gripping element (206) paired with the at least one first gripping element, wherein the clamping component further comprises a second fastening interface (211) configured for receiving the drive train, wherein the clamping component and the mounting component are configured to form a wedged mechanical interlock (500), wherein the drive train mount is configured such that actuation of the wedged interlock causes the paired at least one first gripping element and the at least one second gripping element to form at least one parallel jaw clamp (300) configured to grip at least one interior structural element (106) of the oral cleaning device.
  2. The drive train mount of claim 1, wherein the drive train mount is configured to rigidly mount the portion of the drive train to the oral cleaning device using the first fastening interface, the second fastening interface, and the at least one parallel jaw clamp.
  3. The drive train mount of claim 1 or 2, wherein the wedged interlock is formed from a pair of mating conical wedges (200, 202).
  4. The drive train mount of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the drive train mount is further configured to form a snap fit (600) between the mounting component and the clamping component.
  5. The drive train mount of claim 4, wherein the snap fit is configured to enable opening of the parallel jaw clamp by retracting the clamping component from the wedged interlock.
  6. The drive train mount of claim 5, wherein the snap fit is further configured such that retracting of the clamping component from the wedged interlock is limited to a predetermined retraction distance to prevent disassembly of the clamping component from the mounting component.
  7. The drive train mount of any one of the previous claims, wherein the clamping component comprises a spring cup (120) configured for receiving a compression spring.
  8. The drive train mount of any one of the previous claims, wherein any one of the following: - wherein the first fastening interface comprises one or more extrusions (210) configured for interlocking with the drive train, and wherein the clamping component; - wherein the second fastening interface comprises a clip element (211) configured for fastening the drive train; and - combinations thereof.
  9. An oral cleaning device (100) comprising: - the drive train mount (114) of any one of claims 1 through 8; - the body portion (102), wherein the body portion comprises the at least one interior structural element (106); and - the drive train (108), wherein the drive train mount rigidly mounts the drive train to the body portion.
  10. The oral cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the oral cleaning device is any one of the following: an electric toothbrush, a rotary motion electric toothbrush, an oscillating motion electric toothbrush, a sonic toothbrush, and an ultrasonic toothbrush.
  11. The oral cleaning device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the drive train is any one of the following: an electric motor and a mechanical resonator (108).
  12. The oral cleaning device of claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein the body portion comprises a plastic tube, wherein the at least one interior structural element is formed from two parallel rails extending along an interior surface of the plastic tube, and wherein the at least one parallel jaw clamp is a parallel jaw clamp for each of the two parallel rails.
  13. The oral cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the oral cleaning device further comprises: - a bottom cap (128) for sealing a back end of the plastic tube; and - an electronics portion (124) mounted between the bottom cap and the drive train mount.
  14. The oral cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the oral cleaning device further comprises the compression spring configured for exerting force between the electronics portion and the drive train mount, wherein the compression spring is configured for actuating the wedged mechanical interlock to cause the parallel jaw clamp for each of the two parallel rails to grip the two parallel rails.
  15. A method of replacing a battery (126) of an oral cleaning device (100) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the electronics portion (124) comprises the battery (126), wherein the device preferably comprises a front coupler (110) configured for attaching a front portion of the drive train to the plastic tube, wherein the front coupler is configured for sealing a front end of the plastic tube, wherein the method comprises: - removing (900) the bottom cap (128) from the body portion (102); - at least partially removing (902) the electronics portion from the body portion; - at least partially removing (904) the compression spring (122) from the body portion; - releasing (906) the parallel jaw clamp (300) for each of the two parallel rails (106) to grip the two parallel rails by moving the clamping component away from the mounting component; - at least partially removing (908) the drive train mount (114) from the body portion; - at least partially removing (910) the drive train (108) from the body portion; - preferably (912) removing the front coupler from the body portion; - replacing (914) the battery; - preferably (916) inserting the front coupler into the body portion; - inserting (918) the drive train into the body portion; - inserting (920) the drive train mount into the body portion; - inserting (922) the compression spring into the body portion; - inserting (922) the electronics portion into the body portion; - reattaching (924) the bottom cap from the body portion and compressing the compression spring, wherein compressing the compression spring causes motion of the clamping component towards the mounting component to actuate the parallel jaw clamp for each of the two parallel rails to grip the two parallel rails.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to oral cleaning devices, in particular to mechanical mounting of a drive train of an oral cleaning device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Oral cleaning devices, such as electric toothbrushes or sonic toothbrushes, are designed to improve dental hygiene by utilizing motor-driven brushing techniques that enhance plaque removal and gum cleaning. These devices often incorporate features like oscillating or sonic movements and timers to ensure thorough and consistent cleaning. United States patent publication US 10,813,733 B2 discloses a drivetrain assembly for a personal care device, the drivetrain assembly including a primary resonator; a secondary resonator configured to reduce vibrations transmitted from the motor to a body of the personal care device; a fixed point positioned between the primary resonator and the secondary resonator; a first spring member connected at a first end to the primary resonator and at a second end to the fixed point; a second spring member connected at a first end to the secondary resonator and at a second end to the fixed point; a coupling spring connected at a first end to the primary resonator and at a second end to the secondary resonator; and an actuator configured to exert force on at least one of the primary resonator and the secondary resonator. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides for a drive train mount for an oral cleaning device, an oral cleaning device, and a method of replacing a battery of an oral cleaning device in the independent claims. Embodiments are given in the dependent claims. In one aspect a drive train mount for an oral cleaning device is disclosed. The drive train mount comprises a mounting component comprising a first fastening interface configured for receiving the drive train of the oral cleaning device. The mounting component further comprises at least one first gripping element. The drive train mount comprises a clamping component that comprises at least one second gripping element paired with the at least one first gripping element. The clamping component further comprises a second fastening interface configured for receiving the drive train. The clamping component and the mounting component are configured to form a wedged mechanical interlock. The drive train mount is configured such that the actuation of the wedged interlock causes the paired at least one first gripping element and the at least one second gripping element to form at least one parallel jaw clamp configured to grip at least one interior structural element of the oral cleaning device. In another aspect, an oral cleaning device is disclosed. The oral cleaning device comprises the drive train mount. The oral cleaning device further comprises a body portion. The body portion comprises the at least one interior structural element. The oral cleaning device further comprises the drive train. The drive train mount rigidly mounts to the drive train to the body portion. In another aspect, a method of replacing a battery of an oral cleaning device is disclosed. The oral cleaning device comprises an electronic portion with a battery. The oral cleaning device preferably comprises a front coupler (or top coupler or sealing element) configured for attaching a front portion of the drive train to the plastic tube. The front coupler is configured for sealing a front end of the plastic tube. The method comprises removing a bottom cap from the body portion. The method further comprises at least partially removing an electronics portion from the body portion. The method further comprises at least partially removing the compression spring from the body portion. The method further comprises releasing the parallel jaw clamp for each of the two parallel rails by moving the clamping component away from the mounting component. The method further comprises at least partially removing the drive train mount from the body portion. The method further comprises at least partially removing the drive train from the body portion. The method further comprises preferably removing the front coupler from the body portion. The method further comprises replacing the battery. The method further comprises preferably inserting the front coupler into the body portion. The method further comprises inserting the drive train into the body portion. The method further comprises inserting the drive train mount into the body portion. The method further comprises inserting the compression spring into the body portion. The method further comprises inserting the electronic portion into the body portion. The method further comprises reattaching the bottom cap from the body portion and compressing the compression spring. The compression of the compression spring causes motion of the clamping component towards the mounting component to actuate the parallel jaw clamp for each of the two parallel rails causing it to grip the two parallel rails. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following