HK1062262B - Device for cleaning teeth - Google Patents

Description

Tooth cleaning device

The present invention relates to an electric tooth cleaning device. In particular, the invention relates to a handle portion of such a dentifrice device, the handle portion having: at least one or more coupling portions for coupling various cleaning implements; a drive mechanism for driving the associated cleaning implement; and a control device. Finally, the invention relates to a cleaning implement for such a handle portion.

Traditionally, tooth cleaning devices such as electric toothbrushes or electric rinsers have a handle or handle portion or handgrip to which various cleaning implements can be attached, such as toothbrush attachments, spray heads, interdental brushes, thus enabling several users to use their own tooth cleaning devices, in particular personal related cleaning implements. Such electric toothbrushes are known, for example, from DE 19627752a1 or from EP 0624079B 1.

In DE 29915858U 1, a tooth cleaning device is disclosed in which each different toothbrush can only be inserted into its designated socket in the holder. After this, the program for that particular toothbrush is initiated. However, especially children, find it difficult to find a separate opening for inserting their personal toothbrush and to dock the plugs. Moreover, this stand involves a highly complex manufacture, since it is necessary to provide a plurality of different sockets and each toothbrush has a different plug corresponding to its own socket.

Also disclosed in U.S. patent No.5,184,959 is a device wherein each hand-held toothbrush is provided with its own receiving slot in the housing so that each toothbrush can be assigned its own brushing time signal through the housing. From a manufacturing point of view, this design is very elegant and does not require the detection and storage of data for a particular user's tooth cleaning operation.

Such a dentifrice device can be improved in many ways. One problem is that, especially in toothbrushes that operate on batteries, the batteries may be prematurely depleted. Such a problem may occur, for example, when the drive mechanism is accidentally turned on without the toothbrush being properly stored in a travel bag or the like. Furthermore, it may also happen that the handle part is not always coupled to the correct cleaning appliance, so that, for example, the coupling part is particularly vulnerable in the region of the drive mechanism due to a lack of compatibility of the handle part, or that, again due to a lack of compatibility, a proper cleaning function cannot be ensured.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved handle portion of a powered dentifrice device, and a corresponding improved cleaning implement, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art, and which is improved upon and has further advantages. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a comfortable safety device that prevents accidental activation and/or misuse of the dentifrice.

The above object is achieved according to the invention in the initially mentioned handle part of an electric tooth cleaning device, mainly in that the control device of the handle part has an interlocking device and can be unlocked by an interlocking release element on the cleaning appliance. This is achieved for the cleaning appliance mentioned initially, since it has an interlock release element for releasing the interlock of the handle portion. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

These solutions thus prevent the dentifrice device from being accidentally opened. The drive mechanism of the handle part can be opened only when a compatible cleaning appliance is connected to the handle part, so that the locking device is unlocked. By separating the cleaning implement from the handle portion, accidental opening in a suitcase is easily prevented. And any accidental premature discharge of the accumulator is unlikely to occur. It is not necessary to additionally provide a structure or a mechanical structure for implementing the interlocking, for example, on a switch of the handle portion.

In a further aspect of the invention, the interlock device can be unlocked only by an interlock release element of the cleaning implement, in particular only when the cleaning implement is correctly connected to the handle portion. This can be achieved by: the interlock release member provided on the cleaning appliance and the detection means provided on the handle portion for detecting the presence of the interlock release member are configured and relatively identical in such a way that the interlock release member is effective, preferably in a predetermined orientation and/or position relative to the detection means and thus relative to the handle portion.

In order to prevent damage to the handle part, in particular to the drive mechanism or its coupling device, by incompatible cleaning implements when connected, the unlocking element can be designed in the form of a code which identifies the cleaning implement. The handle portion further comprises code detection means for detecting the code of the attached cleaning implement. The interlock device is unlocked only when the code detection device reads the correct code and generates a corresponding signal. Thus, the handle portion senses the cleaning implement attached thereto and controls the release of the drive mechanism in response to the sensed cleaning implement.

It will be appreciated that the code detection means may sample the code of the cleaning appliance at predetermined intervals. In a particular configuration of the invention, the coded detection means are activated only when an opening switch of the handle portion, for example a switch of the electric drive mechanism, is activated. This has the advantage that the current consumption of the encoding detection means is kept at a minimum. To turn on the tooth cleaning device, the user may activate the control device or the on-off switch of the motor as usual. However, the switch-on does not directly set the motor, i.e. the drive mechanism, to the active state, but only activates the coded detection means at the beginning, and sets the motor of the handle portion to the active state after a compatible cleaning appliance, i.e. a cleaning appliance with a suitable code, has been coupled to the handle portion. Finally, the coded detection means are therefore activated by the on-off switch, the drive mechanism of the handle part being brought into the operating state only indirectly, that is to say only when the interlock release element of the toothbrush part unlocks the interlock of the handle part. When no brush part is connected or coupled to the handle part, or when a non-matching brush part is inserted into the handle part, the code detection means will not detect the correct code when the on-off switch is activated, or the absence of an interlock release element on the cleaning appliance will prevent the interlock means on the handle part from being unlocked, so that in this case the handle part of the motor-driven toothbrush will not be put into an operative state. Among other advantages, this method of activating the coded detection means by means of the on-off switch has the advantage that it is preferably necessary to supply the coded detection means with power only during operation of the on-off switch of the handle portion, while otherwise being inactive or passive. It will of course be appreciated that it is also possible to activate the code detection means at regular or irregular intervals during operation of the toothbrush in order to check whether a compatible, i.e. correctly coded, cleaning appliance is present also in periods other than the periods of on-off switching. When the on-off switch is actuated again to turn off the drive means of the handle portion when the tooth cleaning operation is terminated, this will immediately stop the drive means and, in the event of unlocking the interlock, the cycle can be repeated when the on-off switch on the handle portion is subsequently turned on again.

The signal from the coding or interlock release element provided directly on the cleaning implement can be detected in a variety of different ways and used to code or configure the interlock release element of the cleaning implement.

A particularly simple way is to code the cleaning appliance by its shape. It may have one or more shaped portions which are particularly securely connected to the cleaning implement body when the cleaning implement is coupled to the handle portion and which are located within the detection zone of the coded detection means of the handle portion. The coding can be embodied in a specific geometric shape, for example a contour, and/or in a specific spatial arrangement of the shaped part relative to the coupling part of the cleaning appliance and thus also relative to the code detection means on the handle part. The shaped portion may be detected by using a non-contact manner such as a light blocking layer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the code of a single cleaning implement is in mechanical contact with the code detection means so that the code can be read. This results in a particularly compact structure.

The handle portion may include scanning means for scanning a code on each cleaning implement used, i.e. for releasing the interlock.

Preferably, the handle portion may include a movable or deformable sensing element that moves, deforms or actuates when the cleaning implement is attached to the handle portion, via mechanical coding of the cleaning implement. Depending on the encoding, the sensor element is moved or translated or deformed by a predetermined amount or in a predetermined direction. The sensing element generates a signal corresponding to the displacement or deformation so that the code can be detected. The sensing element can also be configured to detect a force or field, such as an electromagnetic field, generated by the code and acting on the sensing element when the cleaning appliance is attached to the handle portion, such that the sensing element actively transmits a signal. In order to achieve a particularly simple construction, the sensor element can preferably be designed in the form of an electromechanical contact element. When the code of the cleaning implement deforms or moves the member accordingly, the member will open or preferably close one or more contacts, thereby generating a corresponding signal.

The sensor element can be provided in such a way that, depending on the coding of the cleaning appliance connected, it deforms to a different extent or moves in different directions and accordingly closes different contacts or a different number of contacts.

In another aspect of the invention, multiple sensing elements can be provided, such that different codes of the cleaning appliance can actuate different sensing elements or different numbers of sensing elements.

The sensing element may be provided in a freely accessible form. In this arrangement, the sensor element can be operatively coupled directly to a corresponding coding element of the cleaning appliance. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor element can be actuated indirectly. The sensing element may be located inside a housing of the handle portion, which may have a deformable portion, for example in the form of a soft plastic portion, by means of which the sensing element can be actuated. This makes it possible to obtain a sealed, in particular liquid-tight, construction of the handle portion.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coded detection means may comprise a movable probe element which is moved by the code of the cleaning implement during cooperation of the cleaning implement with the handle portion. The code detection means comprises a motion sensor for advantageously detecting the magnitude and/or level of movement or displacement of the probe element. The coding of the different cleaning implements may be uniform or, alternatively, may be different to allow different sizes and/or different directions of movement or displacement of the probe element when the cleaning implements are attached to the handle portion. A plurality of probe elements may be provided so that individual probe elements or different combinations of probe elements can be actuated by differently provided coded portions of the cleaning appliance.

Various structures may be used for the motion/displacement sensor. It can work optically, for example in the form of a light blocking layer. It may also detect the force exerted by the code on the probe element. Preferably, a sensor element of the above-mentioned type can in this case be used for indirect actuation, that is to say via a probe element.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the probe element is a drive shaft of a drive mechanism provided in the handle portion for driving the cleaning appliance. The drive shaft can be mounted in the handle part in a longitudinally displaceable manner so that it can be pushed a certain distance into the interior of the handle part by the coding of the cleaning appliance when it is inserted onto the handle part. The use of a drive shaft as the probe element avoids the need for special extra structure to seal the handle portion since the drive shaft is always sealed. In this embodiment, however, it has proved necessary to fix the attachment, in particular the cleaning appliance, in the coupled state at a defined end position on the handle portion. This object is achieved, for example, by providing positioning means, such as recesses, projections or the like, in or on the coupling body of the handle part, which positioning means cooperate with corresponding co-operating positioning means, such as with a tube of the cleaning appliance connected thereto, and ensure that, by means of such co-operation, the cleaning appliance can be coupled precisely only to a defined position on the handle part. This position is selected such that when the attachment is in this defined coupling position, the drive shaft is axially displaced towards the handle portion by a predetermined distance, which displacement serves, for example, to actuate a switch or the like. A prerequisite for this is, of course, that the attachment comprises means for co-operating with the free end of the drive shaft or shaft, such as a seat, a bearing surface, an activation means, which by inserting the cleaning appliance onto the handle portion and into a given end position causes a given axial displacement of the drive shaft, so that the displacement of the drive shaft can activate an associated switch or other sensor arranged inside the handle portion, whereby the arrangement is also suitable for detecting the presence of a cleaning appliance attached to the handle portion in the case of a compatible exchangeable toothbrush or other exchangeable cleaning appliance suitable or capable for use on the handle portion.

In the coding, the cleaning implement preferably has an actuating surface, in particular a pressure-exerting surface, a seat or other activating member which is constructed and arranged to engage or contact an engagement surface of the code detection means when the cleaning implement is mounted on the handle portion, exerting a defined action on said surface. Thus, the actuation surface and the engagement surface form an interaction surface. Differently coded actuation surfaces may be provided to exert different effects on the same engagement surface, e.g. to move it more or less. Different actuation surfaces may also be provided to act on different engagement surfaces to enable reading of the code. The engagement surface on the handle portion may be provided directly on the sensor element or, alternatively, on a probe element similar to that described above, in particular on the drive shaft of the handle portion. In the last embodiment described above, the actuating surface is preferably provided on a section of the drive shaft in the cleaning appliance. This construction is particularly advantageous because it makes use of an existing coupling part for coupling the cleaning implement and the handle part, the coupling part being appropriately modified to enable detection of the respective cleaning implement, so that no additional mechanical parts need to be provided for this purpose. The coupling part on the cleaning appliance is suitably coded by the form and manner of the actuating surface in order to achieve a predetermined effect, in particular a predetermined triggering movement, for example a predetermined stroke, on the coupling part on the handle part, which coupling part of the handle part has a corresponding engagement surface for this purpose.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the code detection means are contactless. An advantage of this embodiment is that failures due to contaminated contact surfaces or wear caused by frequent connection disconnection operations are avoided.

According to another aspect of the invention, the handle portion may include a signal receiver for receiving a coded signal or interlock release signal from the cleaning implement. The handle portion may also have a signal transmitter for transmitting an interrogation signal or activation signal to the cleaning appliance which responds thereto by transmitting back a coded signal or interlock release signal. The cleaning appliance can actively emit a coded signal or a release-of-locking signal by means of a corresponding signal transmitter or a suitable actuating element, for example a magnet or the like. There is also the possibility of passive reflections from the cleaning appliance which will generate a coded or interlock release signal corresponding to the signal.

The coding or configuration of the interlock release element of the cleaning appliance and the corresponding detection of the coding or interlock release element can also be implemented in various other ways. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic sensor may be provided for detecting a magnetically encoded or magnetically acted interlock release member of each cleaning implement associated with the handle portion. The cleaning implement may be magnetically encoded or the interlock release member may be configured by incorporating magnetic particles, either uniform or provided in a mutually different number, or preferably small magnets, such as small magnetic bars or other permanent magnets, into the cleaning implement itself or into a portion of the cleaning implement, such as into a colored or profiled ring, as is the case in patent WO 99/20202 cited in the disclosure of the present application for ease of reference. The sensor of the cleaning appliance for detecting the magnet, i.e. the magnetic field, can also have different configurations. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle part comprises, preferably at the upper part of the coupling region with the attachable cleaning appliance, a hall sensor providing an electrical signal corresponding to the magnetic coding or corresponding to the uniform magnet of the interlock release element of the respective cleaning appliance. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle portion may include a capacitance-sensitive oscillator that is magnetically encoded or demodulated by a magnet associated with the cleaning implement to provide different frequencies that can be assigned to individual users to unlock the interlock of the handle portion.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in providing one or more reed contacts on the handle portion and individually actuating these reed contacts when the cleaning appliance is connected to the handle portion. Depending on the combination of contacts actuated, an interlock release signal may or may not be generated. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, an optical sensor can be provided for detecting an optical coding of the respective cleaning appliance connected to the handle part. A color code may be provided on the cleaning appliance as a light code and recognized by the color sensor.

The handle portion may also advantageously have one or more optical waveguides that extract and transmit optical signals from the handle portion. The light signal transmitted to the cleaning appliance is encoded by the appliance and the light signal is returned to the handle portion, which receives the encoded signal and converts it by a corresponding sensor or detector, receives it by a corresponding light guide and transmits it to a corresponding sensor. The encoding may be performed by a predetermined interruption or partial shielding of the optical waveguide leading away from the handle portion. Also, light emitted from the handle portion through the optical waveguide can be differentially reflected by the toothbrush. The locking device can be unlocked according to the intensity of the reflection.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a capacitive sensor may be provided for detecting a capacitive coding, i.e. the presence of the interlock release element of the respective cleaning appliance connected. In particular, the handle portion can have two or more capacitor plates, the capacitance of which is changed by introducing a dielectric provided on the cleaning appliance. The cleaning implements may be coded by different dielectric portions on each cleaning implement. Thereafter, a specific or compatible cleaning implement can be detected based on the change in capacitance.

In a further preferred embodiment of the detection device, an electric sensor can be provided for detecting an electric coding, i.e. the presence of the interlock release element of the respective cleaning appliance connected thereto. The cleaning appliance sends an encoded electrical signal to the handle portion, i.e. to a signal receiver located thereon, so that the respective cleaning appliance can be identified. The handle part can also initially transmit an interrogation signal to the cleaning appliance, which interrogation signal is coded by the cleaning appliance and then transmitted back.

In a further aspect of the invention, a transmitting device or radio device may be provided for detecting the respective cleaning appliance connected by means of electromagnetic waves. In particular, a transponder can be connected to the cleaning appliance. The handle portion initially emits electromagnetic waves for energizing the transponder. The transponder stores energy and sends back a respective different identification signal to a detector in the handle part, which detects the identification signal and identifies the cleaning appliance accordingly and unlocks the interlock.

The feature of the cleaning appliance therefore comprises a magnetic, electrical, optical, capacitive, electromagnetic and/or mechanical coding device or such an interlock release element. Another feature may include a signal receiver for receiving signals from the teeth cleaning device and a signal transmitter for transmitting encoded signals to the teeth cleaning device, with the encoding device being interposed between the signal receiver and the signal transmitter for encoding received signals.

Preferably, the coding means or the unlocking element are designed as separate parts, which are suitable for separation or replacement from the rest of the cleaning appliance. This has the advantage that only a single mould is required to manufacture the cleaning appliance. By mounting separate coding means, the cleaning implements are coded one by one and can be fitted to a particular type of handle portion. However, the coding configured as an interlock release element may also be integrated with the cleaning appliance when only the function of a safety interlock is to be implemented to prevent opening of the appliance switch during travel or in conjunction with an incompatible cleaning appliance.

Preferably, the coding means are located in the region of the connection or coupling between the cleaning appliance and the handle portion. This facilitates reading of the code, i.e. detection of the interlock release element by identification means on the handle portion. In particular, the coding means can be integrated in a ring at the end of the cleaning appliance near the handle portion, in particular by snap-fitting therewith. Various configurations of the identification means may be provided alone or in combination. The same is true of the various configurations of the coding means on the cleaning appliance.

In addition to preventing inadvertent opening of the handle portion and misuse of an incompatible cleaning implement, the coding of the cleaning implement may be utilized and detected by the handle portion to facilitate other functions. In another aspect of the invention, the handle portion may control one or preferably more functions of the tooth cleaning device, depending on the individual cleaning implement detected. Assuming that each user of the handle portion has his or her own cleaning implement, the specific controls for the handle portion can be automatically determined by examining the code on the cleaning implement and which user is using the dentifrice. On the part of the user, it is not necessary to inform the dentifrice device of its current user, for example by pressing a button or the like. The adaptation can be automatically performed for each user. This achieves a maximum degree of user friendliness.

In particular, in a further feature of the invention, the control device is able to automatically adjust operating parameters, such as brushing frequency, brushing speed and brushing time or thresholds or ranges of required applied pressure, in dependence on the respective identified user. Different user profiles can be set and stored, one of which is used by the control device at the start of brushing after the cleaning appliance code used has been detected and the respective user has been established. For this purpose, the code detection device sends a corresponding signal to the control device. Where the electric toothbrush is used, where the user is a child, the motor speed may be reduced, for example, from a normal speed for an adult, to perform a relatively gentle cleaning operation for the child. Furthermore, depending on the user identified, the control means can vary the duration of the timer in response to the signal from the code detection means, for example setting the timer to 2 minutes for children and 3 minutes for adults. The kind of timer signal can also be varied, such as selecting a tone for children, for adult beeps.

In another aspect of the invention, user-specific data such as brushing frequency, brushing speed, brushing time, time interval between brushing operations or applied pressure may also be stored, processed and indicated on the display automatically in response to corresponding signals from the sensing device. This can also improve the comfort of the user.

The handle portion then detects, i.e. identifies, the respective user indirectly with reference to the cleaning implement used or its code. Each user is assigned to his or her own cleaning appliance. For this purpose, the cleaning appliance can have a user-specific coding element, otherwise having exactly the same structure.

Special function controls may also be provided depending on the particular type of cleaning implement used. For example, when using a cleaning implement having high or low hardness characteristics, the operating parameters of the handle portion can be automatically changed. Likewise, other procedures may be performed when different types of cleaning implements, such as interdental cleaning implements, gum massaging implements, or tongue scrapers, are attached to the handle portion. The rotational speed, the required cleaning time, the driving action, the cleaning frequency, the cleaning speed, the applied pressure, the threshold values, etc. may be suitably varied in accordance with respective different and/or individual-related exchangeable cleaning appliances.

Furthermore, by accurately identifying or recharging individual cleaning or toothbrush implements, its wear state can be accurately determined, for example, by measuring the history of that particular cleaning implement, particularly the time of past use. Where cleaning implements with chemical additives are used, their use date can be identified by the manufacturing date concealed in the code. May indicate a predetermined cleaning or maintenance interval.

In summary, the gist of the invention is to be stated below and independently of the statements in the claims: the interlock release member of the cleaning tool for releasing the interlock device can be arranged in the simplest code detection device structure in such a manner that only the presence of a replacement toothbrush on the handle portion can be detected. For this purpose, for example, an acting element can be mounted in the brush, which acting element corresponds to a reaction element in the handle part, in such a way that, when the cleaning appliance is coupled to the handle part, the reaction element receives a signal from the acting element and unlocks, for example, an interlock device, so that the handle part and thus the cleaning appliance can be operated by the drive mechanism. As mentioned above, this provides a simple design of travel safety device for the handle portion for preventing the handle portion from operating when the cleaning implement with its acting member is not attached to the handle portion. Thus, it is sufficient to separate the cleaning implement from the handle portion in order to activate the travel interlock. No other step for locking, such as an on-off switch for the handle portion or any other device, is necessary. Since the producer does not equip incompatible cleaning appliances with an acting element that can communicate with the reaction element of the handle portion, it would be beneficial to arrange in the cleaning appliance an acting element that, in the coupled state, responds or communicates with the reaction element in the handle portion, so that the handle portion can be prevented from operating incompatible cleaning appliances. This represents the simplest form of coded detection means which is relatively straightforward in construction and only allows a decision to be made as to whether a cleaning implement is coupled to the handle portion or whether a cooperating cleaning implement is coupled to the handle portion.

In individual cases, it is also possible to provide acting elements, such as magnets or the like, which are usually provided in the cleaning appliance or end-user accessible coding means, which are separate components operated separately or provided on the handle portion itself. This method is self-sufficient, for example, when the end user already has a handle portion provided with an interlock device, but the toothbrush or cleaning appliance used in the home is not provided with an interlock release member or an acting member for releasing the interlock of the handle portion or grip. To ensure the availability of these cleaning implements which are normally due for replacement, it may be useful to have the interlock release member or an acting member for the end user as a separately operated component, with the exception that fastening means are provided on the handle portion to fasten the interlock release member thereto. This enables, for example, an end user to fasten this interlock release element or acting member directly to the handle portion or grip on which the interlock is mounted in the region of the reaction member of the handle portion, and for this special or exceptional case, to unlock the interlock on the handle portion by locating the acting member on the handle portion itself rather than on the cleaning implement. Thus, the handle portion may also be used with cleaning implements: when mechanically engaged, the cleaning appliance is not equipped with an interlock release member or an acting element in communication with the interlock device. Such a solution can also be used for cost reasons, for example, if not all exchangeable cleaning appliances which cooperate with the handle or grip or which cooperate mechanically are equipped with such interlocking release elements, coding means or acting elements. It will of course be appreciated that the solution involving fastening the interlock release member directly to the handle portion by its user is an exception and as a rule the interlock release member should be located on the brush portion or cleaning portion. In particular, where the interlock release member is a magnetic field acting member having a reaction member in the handle portion or grip associated therewith responsive to a magnetic field, a solution is provided for this exception which may involve magnetizing a drive shaft of the handle portion, the magnetized portion being generally disposed adjacent the reaction member for unlocking the interlock in the handle portion; or magnetic tape or the like may be provided which may be adhered to the handle portion at a suitable location within the reaction member region. This method also enables the interlock to be unlocked and the handle portion or grip to be operated in conjunction with a cleaning implement without the interlock release member.

Furthermore, the coded detection means may also be configured so that the coupling of the cleaning appliance allows several possible differences of the cleaning appliance. The code detection means described initially only allow, for example, a yes/no determination to be made, that is, a determination as to whether or not a cooperating cleaning implement is coupled to the handle portion, while the improved code detection means allow, for example, the identification of two, four or six different cleaning implement codes, thereby enabling functions other than the travel safety function. Thus, for example, the handle portion can identify whether an adult toothbrush (bristles) or a child toothbrush (bristles) is attached to the handle portion, whether an interdental cleaning device is used instead of a toothbrush, or other parameters are distinguished. In the case of a code being provided, the detected code can be used to activate the control device for the drive on its own, for example to control the speed of the drive in the form of the rotational speed or the desired brushing time, etc. However, in the event that a code or code detection means is provided which is capable of distinguishing a few (about two to about ten) possibilities, it is still not possible to identify a particular cleaning appliance from the thousands of commercially available cleaning appliances. Due to this limited possibility of discrimination, it is desirable to be able to identify a particular type of cleaning implement (children's toothbrush, adult's toothbrush, interdental brush, flossing device, each of which is an attachment to a handle portion) and to discriminate between several personal related cleaning or brushing implements.

When it is desired to use a coded detection device to detect each individual cleaning implement produced by the manufacturer and attached as a mating part to the handle portion, it is desirable to allow for the identification of a plurality of possibilities, ranging from about 10⁶To about 10¹²In the meantime, a transponder or similar electronic device is generally used for this purpose. In this case, it is possible to identify the individual cleaning implements provided by the manufacturer to be connected to the handle portion. With regard to a simpler coding, this provides, in addition to the possibilities already mentioned, a prerequisite for the ability to judge, for example, by evaluating the appliance history, the degree of wear of the cleaning appliance being judged more accurately. Where replaceable cleaning implements with chemical additives are used, the manufacture is indicated in the codeDate, enabling identification of the "use" date, or a predetermined cleaning or maintenance interval for the designated or followed cleaning implement.

Code for cleaning implements and code detection means, whether simple or complex, each of which is adapted to provide a travel safety function by separating the associated cleaning implement from the handle portion, thereby preventing operation of the handle portion. With any of these codes, the handle portion is similarly prevented from being brought into an operative condition, whether of simple or complex construction, if the cleaning appliance is initially free of the code or interlock release member. When such a cleaning appliance which is not coded or equipped with an interlock release element is coupled to the handle portion, the reaction member, transmitter, receiver or similar device located in the handle portion cannot communicate with the reaction member, transmitter, receiver, impulse transceiver or similar device which is not provided in an incompatible cleaning appliance, and so it is not possible to identify the presence or absence of such an incompatible cleaning appliance on the handle portion as accurately as in the case of a cleaning appliance which is fitted but not connected to the handle portion, since the handle portion cannot be set in an operative state due to the absence of the interlock release element and the absence of means for unlocking the interlock device.

In the most compact design of the cleaning implement coding, or in the coded detection means in the handle part of the motorized brushing device, care must be taken to ensure that the coded detection means in the handle part can recognize whether a suitable cleaning implement, i.e. the associated cleaning implement, is attached to the handle part. If it is suitable that the mating cleaning implement is not coupled to the handle part, the handle part cannot be set to the active state, since the cleaning implement has no associated unlocking element which is suitable for unlocking the locking means located in the handle part. Conversely, when a mating cleaning implement incorporating an interlock release member or suitable coding is coupled to the handle portion, the presence of the suitable coding or interlock release member is detected by a detection device in the handle portion at least while an on-off switch on the handle portion is actuated, thereby unlocking the interlock device and setting the handle portion in an operative state, so that the cleaning end, e.g., the brush head of the cleaning implement, is operated by the drive mechanism of the handle portion.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a power toothbrush or a power tooth cleaning device, which comprises a handle part and a cleaning tool that can be connected or connected thereto, wherein the handle part and the cleaning tool communicate with one another in a connected state, and wherein a device provided in the handle part is capable of detecting whether the cleaning tool is connected to the handle part and/or whether the cleaning tool connected to the handle part is a cleaning tool that is associated with the handle part. This information is used to prevent the power drive to activate the handle portion when no cleaning implement is coupled to the handle portion, as may occur, for example, by an activation switch on the handle portion. This may be achieved, for example, by an interlock in the handle portion. Thus, it is not possible to operate the handle portion without the cleaning implement being attached or connected thereto, thereby resulting in a free travel safety device. Another feature of the method is that the cleaning appliance includes an interlock release element which signals a detection means located in the handle portion, the cleaning appliance being coupled to the handle portion and being capable of unlocking, i.e. releasing, the interlock means so that the tooth cleaning appliance can be brought into an operative state by opening the electrically powered drive means. However, if the cleaning implement is not equipped with such an interlock release member, the driving means of the handle portion cannot be actuated even in a state where the cleaning implement is connected to the handle portion, because of the absence of the interlock release member on the cleaning implement, and it can only be assumed that a cleaning implement incompatible with the handle portion is connected.

Other embodiments of the method further comprise the steps of: coding different cleaning implements to be coupled to the handle portion based on personal related, cleaning implement related or similar basis; by means of a corresponding coded detection device, the handle part or the grip is informed not only of the coupling or uncoupling state of its cleaning appliance or of the associated cleaning appliance, but also of the type of cleaning appliance used or of the individual using the cleaning appliance, so that corresponding parameters of the handle part or also operating parameters can be set or stored as information relating to the individual and/or the cleaning appliance. The detailed description of such various methods is within the scope of the device specification and is relevant to the present method as an essential feature of the present invention. It is understood that within the scope of the invention, the words interlock and code detection means or identification means, and the words interlock release element and code means or code element, are used synonymously and may be used interchangeably in each individual embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention.

Other objects, advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that any feature described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whether used alone or in any combination thereof, forms the subject matter of the present invention, regardless of their inclusion in the claims or their back-up reference.

In the figure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power toothbrush having a handle portion and a cleaning implement attachable thereto;

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a handle portion of the power toothbrush of FIG. 1, showing a battery for a drive motor and a charging module for the battery, disposed in a housing thereof together with a gear and a drive shaft;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush showing a magnetic encoding of the cleaning implement and a Hall sensor for detecting the encoding in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIG. 3 showing the arrangement of the Hall sensors and the magnetic encoding of the cleaning implement attached to the handle portion;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush having a cleaning implement magnetically encoded and an LC oscillator in the handle portion for detecting the encoding in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIG. 5 showing the placement of the inductance-capacitance oscillator and the magnetic encoding of the cleaning implement attached to the handle portion;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush having a cleaning implement magnetically encoded and a handle portion with reed contacts for detecting the encoding in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIG. 7 showing the assembly of the reed contacts and the magnetic encoding of the cleaning implement attached to the handle portion;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush having an optically encoded cleaning implement and a handle portion with an optical waveguide in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush similar to FIG. 9 showing the arrangement of the light emitter and light detector in the handle portion and the coding of the cleaning implement in the form of an optical waveguide with the cleaning implement and handle portion in a coupled state;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the optical waveguide at the distal end of the cleaning implement of FIG. 10, near the handle portion;

FIG. 12 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush similar to FIG. 10 showing the arrangement of the light emitter and light detector as a single unitary element in the handle portion and the coding of the cleaning implement in the form of an optical waveguide with the cleaning implement coupled to the handle portion;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush having a cleaning implement coded in optical form and a handle portion with a color sensor for identifying the code of the cleaning implement in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIG. 13 showing the placement of a color sensor in the handle portion and the color code of the cleaning implement coupled to the handle portion;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush having a cleaning implement mechanically coded by its shape in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the toothbrush of FIG. 15 showing cleaning implements being coupled to the handle portion;

FIG. 17 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIGS. 15 and 16 showing the coded projections on the cleaning implement and the placement of the sensing elements in the form of electromechanical contacts for detecting the coded projections while the cleaning implement and the handle portion are coupled;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush having an electromagnetically encoded cleaning implement and a transponder adhered thereto or integrated therein with an adhesive, and a corresponding detection device in the handle portion, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the toothbrush of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the toothbrush similar to FIGS. 18 and 19 showing the placement of the transponder chip in the coded loop at the distal end of the cleaning implement and the transmitter and receiver coils in the handle portion along with associated electronic sensing devices, with the cleaning implement and handle portion in a coupled state;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a power toothbrush having a cleaning implement encoded in a capacitive manner and capacitive plates in the handle portion for detecting the encoding in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a detailed longitudinal cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIG. 21 showing the dielectric portion of the cleaning implement and the capacitive plates in the handle portion with the cleaning implement and handle portion in a coupled state;

FIG. 23 is a detailed transverse cross-sectional view of the toothbrush taken along line A-A of FIG. 22 showing the placement of the capacitor plates of the dielectric and handle portions of the cleaning implement;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of a handle portion having a longitudinally displaceable drive shaft and an electromechanical sensing element for sensing displacement of the drive shaft in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the handle portion of FIG. 23 showing the cleaning implement in an attached condition.

The electric toothbrush shown in the figures has: the handle portion 1 and the closure housing 26, together with the other components shown in fig. 2, contain a motor 23 in a manner known in the art; a battery 24 for coupling with a charging device via a charging module 25 at the bottom; and a control device 27 which may have a printed circuit board or microprocessor. Various cleaning implements 2 can be disposed on the distal end of the handle portion 1 to function as tooth brushing or cleaning implements. By means of the connecting means 3, the cleaning appliance 2 can be mechanically coupled to the handle portion 1 in order to transmit the driving movement of the motor to the brush head 4 of the cleaning appliance 2. The attachment means 3, which may be comprised of one or more parts or elements, includes a rigid-or friction-engaging member for locating the cleaning implement body in its proper position; furthermore, a drive coupling is included which transmits the drive movement of the drive to the brush head 4 of the cleaning appliance. A drive shaft 28 extends from the end of the handle portion 1, again in a manner known in the art, for being driven by the drive motor 23 via a gear wheel 29. The drive shaft 28 has a coupling portion 30 which is adapted to receive a complementary drive shaft coupling portion provided in the cleaning appliance 2 by rigid or frictional engagement therewith so as to transmit a driving motion such that the brush head 4 of the cleaning appliance can be driven in a reciprocating, rotating, vibrating or the like manner.

The control device 27 has an electronic interlock 100 which prevents the operation of the driver of the handle part, and which opens the driver for operation unless a matable cleaning appliance 2 is coupled to the handle part 1. The key of the electronic interlock device 100 is a coding or interlock release member 7 provided on the cleaning implement 2.

In order to identify the cleaning tool 2 when it is connected, a coded detection device 5 or a device for detecting the presence of the unlocking element 7 is provided on the handle part 1. In dependence of the signal from this means or the code detection means 5 the control means 27 releases or does not release the drive for operation.

According to fig. 3, a hall sensor 6 is provided at the coupling end of the handle part 1 in order to read, i.e. recognize, a code on the cleaning appliance 2. The magnetic coding is formed by a slip ring 8 or a shaped ring 102 arranged at the connection end of the cleaning appliance 2, as disclosed in WO 99/20202. The slip ring 8 may be of various colors known to the art including permanent or similar magnets, or may include different numbers, different magnetic orientations and/or different magnetic field strengths of magnetic particles or magnets depending on the color. As shown in fig. 4, the slip ring 8 or the shaped ring 102 can advantageously be located in its correct position on the cleaning tool body by a positive fit therewith, in particular by being snapped thereon. This connection may be configured in such a way that the ring 8 or the shaped ring 102 can only be fixed to the main body of the cleaning appliance in one predetermined direction relative thereto. The hall sensor 6 in the handle part 1 provides a signal corresponding to the number of magnets or magnetic particles or the arrangement of magnets, the value of which signal is characteristic of the respective cleaning appliance 2 in particular and is suitable for further processing by the control means in the handle part 1. The color of the slip ring 8 facilitates the memory of which cleaning implement 2 corresponds to which user.

As shown in figure 4, the magnetic coding and the Hall sensor 6 are arranged at the coupling end of the cleaning appliance and the handle portion, respectively, and advantageously opposite each other, in order to enable accurate detection.

The electric toothbrush according to the further embodiments shown in the other figures is constructed in the same way as the toothbrush shown in figures 1 and 2, whereby the same parts are given the same reference numerals and the following description refers only to the different embodiments of the coding of the cleaning appliance 2 and the corresponding coded detection means 5 on the handle portion 1.

In the electric toothbrush shown in fig. 5 and 6, the cleaning tool 2 is likewise provided with a slip ring 8, which can be of various colors and contains a different number of magnetic particles depending on the color. In order to detect the magnetic coding of the cleaning appliance 2, the identification device 5 has a capacitance-sensitive oscillator 9 which is arranged at the coupling end of the handle part 1 and is demodulated by the magnetic material in the cleaning appliance 2, so that different frequencies are assigned to the individual cleaning appliances. The corresponding frequency signal is further processed by the control means in the handle part 1 to effect unlocking of the interlock device 100 or to set other operating parameters or processes and to indicate user-specific profiles.

As shown in fig. 6, the lc oscillator has a coil 31 and a capacitor 32, which are provided in the coupling end region of the handle portion. The coil is disposed directly at the end. It may be mounted on a shoulder or the like of the base of the handle portion. The capacitance is located below the coil towards the encoder ring 8. This enables the code to be detected accurately.

Fig. 7 and 8 show a further embodiment of the electric toothbrush, wherein the slip ring 8 of the cleaning appliance 2 has magnetic material only at predetermined positions of its circumference (see fig. 7 a). The identification means 5 comprise a reed contact 10 (see fig. 8) arranged in the handle part 1, which reed contact is arranged at the handle end of the handle part close to the coupling means 3. When the cleaning appliance 2 is placed on the handle part 1, a predetermined actuation of the reed contact 10 takes place, depending on the magnetic coding of the slide ring 8. Depending on the combination of contacts actuated, a particular cleaning implement can be identified. Here too, the slip ring 8 is a coloured ring, so that the user can more easily identify the toothbrush belonging to him or her. To enhance the response capability of the reed contact, the magnetic ring 8 or the shaped ring 102 and the reed contact 10 are arranged with their respective ends facing each other.

Fig. 9 to 12 show a preferred and advantageous embodiment of the electric toothbrush, in which the cleaning appliance 2 is optically detected. The identification means 5 comprise one or more light guides 11 in the handle part 1, which light guides lead out of the coupling end of the handle part and are interrupted or partially blocked with certainty by the cleaning appliance 2. The cleaning appliance 2 returns the light signal emitted from the light guide 11 to the handle part 1 in coded form, the coded light signal being guided via the light guide 12 to the sensor 13, the sensor 13 detecting whether and/or with what intensity the light has returned and issuing a corresponding identification signal, so that the cleaning appliance is identified and/or the interlock device 100 is actuated. For encoding and returning the optical signal, the cleaning appliance 2 can preferably have a slip ring 8 of the same color, in which there is a corresponding optical waveguide 14 (see fig. 9 a). According to a further variant, the light emitted from the handle part 1 via the optical waveguide 11 is reflected separately by the cleaning appliance 2 or the correspondingly coded slip ring 8. Based on the intensity of the reflection, a specific cleaning implement can be identified.

Fig. 10 and 11 show an advantageous variant of the toothbrush in fig. 9, with a light code of the cleaning appliance and a corresponding detection of this code by the handle part 1. Provided in the handle portion 1 directly at its coupling end are: a light emitter 33 and a light detector 34 at a circumferentially eccentric position, the light detector 34 providing a view of the associated cleaning implement 2 through a light outlet 35 and a light inlet 36 at the distal end of the handle housing 26. The light outlet and the light inlet may be closed off using a transparent material to obtain a closed structure of the housing 26. The emitter 33 and the detector 34 are both connected to the control and evaluation means 27 of the handle portion 1. As shown in fig. 11, the slip ring 8 of the cleaning appliance 2 accommodates an optical waveguide 37 for receiving light emitted by the emitter 33 through an optical inlet 38 (see fig. 10), encoding it and returning it through an optical outlet 39 in the slip ring 8 to the detector 34 in the handle portion. The light may be directed in various ways, in particular by reflection. In this case, the optical waveguide can be configured as a reflector. The signal from the light detector can be detected by the control means of the handle portion 1 to identify the particular cleaning appliance connected. The optical waveguide 37 extends in the slide ring 8 in a substantially arc-shaped configuration (see fig. 11). To increase the possibility of encoding, a plurality of light processing means may be provided. Fig. 11 shows a second optical waveguide 40. The encoding may be performed by selecting one of a plurality of light detectors to which each light guide returns the received light. The encoding can also be performed by changing or processing the optical waveguide of the received light in a different way, in particular by reflecting at different intensities. The light detector then converts this into a corresponding signal.

Fig. 12 shows a further variant of the light coding. The light emitter 41 and the light detector 42 are constructed as one integral component. Preferably, partition walls 43 are provided to separate the light inlet and the light outlet from each other. In particular, light can be encoded with different reflection levels.

The embodiment of the electric toothbrush shown in fig. 13 and 14 has a coloured slide ring 8 similar to the above embodiment, which is fixed at the end of the cleaning appliance 2 close to the connecting means 3. The handle part 1 uses a color sensor 15 as the identification means 5, the color sensor 15 being arranged at the attachment end of the handle part 1 and being oriented in the direction of the colored slip ring 8. The color sensor 15 detects the color of the slip ring 8, so that the user of the cleaning appliance or the toothbrush can be determined. Conveniently, the colour sensor is mounted directly at the attachment end of the handle portion 1 and is oriented in the direction of the slip ring 8 when the cleaning appliance is seated on the handle portion 1.

Fig. 15, 16 and 17 show an embodiment of an electric toothbrush in which the cleaning appliance 2 is identified mechanically. The colored slip rings 8 at the end of the cleaning appliance 2 are each individually shaped coding bodies, preferably with elevations 16 or depressions in the form of ribs or grooves. According to one embodiment of the invention, the shaped body extends as a projection from the end of the cleaning appliance, in particular substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning appliance. At the opposite end of the handle part 1, an elastically deformable sensor element is provided in the form of a mechanical contact 17, which mechanical contact 17 is actuated by a respective positive actuation of the cleaning appliance 2, i.e. of a projection on the slide ring 8, so that the respective cleaning appliance 2 can be identified from the combination of the contacts actuated. For this purpose, the shaped coding body 16 has an actuating or pressure-exerting surface which is arranged, oriented and/or configured to be able to depress the sensor element by a predetermined amount when the cleaning appliance is placed down onto the handle portion. The sensor element generates a signal corresponding to the amount of depression, which in the simplest case is an on-off signal depending on the contact condition of the contact portion at the end of the sensor element. Preferably, the actuation of the mechanical contact 17 can be detected electrically. In order to cover the mechanical contacts 17 and protect them from the environment, a soft membrane 18 may be placed over the mechanical contacts 17 at the end of the handle portion 1, by means of which the projections 16 can actuate the mechanical contacts 17. To this end, the housing 26 may be a two-piece injection molded part made of hard plastic and soft plastic materials.

Fig. 18 to 20 show a further embodiment of the electric toothbrush, in which the cleaning appliance 2 is detected, i.e. identified, by means of a radio signal. The cleaning appliance 2 has a pulse transceiver 19 which may be adhered to or bonded to the cleaning appliance 2 in the form of a tag, referred to as a smart tag (fig. 19). Advantageously, the transponder 19 may also be included in the coloured slip ring 8 at the end of the cleaning appliance 2 (see fig. 18a and 20). A detector 20 tuned to the transponder 19 is provided in the handle portion 1, both as a signal transmitter and as a signal receiver. The detector 20 in the handle portion 1 initially emits electromagnetic waves through the coil 45 to the coil 44 connected to the pulse transceiver 19, thereby supplying the pulse transceiver 19 or microchip thereof with electrical energy. The transponder stores the energy and returns specific identification information to the detector 20, which the detector 20 receives, identifies by its electronic measuring means 46 and transmits a corresponding signal to the control means 27 of the handle part 1. Thus both coils 44 and 45 act as a transmitting device and a receiving device. In a preferred embodiment, the coils are located in an opposed configuration at the distal ends of the cleaning implement 2 and handle portion 1, respectively (see fig. 20). The identification information returned by the transponder 19 enables the cleaning appliance 2 to be identified.

In the embodiment of the electric toothbrush shown in fig. 21, 22 and 23, the identification of the cleaning appliance 2 is carried out capacitively. In the handle portion 1 there are two or more capacitor plates 21 between which a dielectric 22 may be interposed to vary the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the capacitor plates 21. The dielectric 22 is arranged at the end of the cleaning appliance 2, in particular it may be part of a slip ring 8 which is mountable to the cleaning appliance 2. Preferably, the dielectric portion 22 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning appliance, in particular substantially parallel to its circumferential surface. In the circumferential surface of the handle housing 26 there is a notch 47 open towards the distal end and in the form of a longitudinally parallel groove adapted to engage the dielectric part 22 of the cleaning implement when the cleaning implement is coupled to the handle portion 1. The capacitor plates 21 are arranged inside the housing 26 on both sides of the gap, so that the dielectric is between the capacitor plates. The cleaning appliances 2 can be individually coded using different dielectrics. The corresponding cleaning appliance 2 can be identified on the basis of the capacitance or the change in capacitance which occurs with different dielectrics. In a structure involving a plurality of capacitors, the coding can also be obtained by the arrangement of the dielectrics and/or the number of dielectrics. It will be appreciated that the capacitance of the capacitor may also be varied by varying the distance between the capacitor plates 21, which may be achieved by providing the cleaning appliance 2 with mechanical components acting on the capacitor.

Figures 24 and 25 show a particular embodiment of the invention involving a cleaning implement that is mechanically coded, i.e. coded by its shape, and mechanical detection of this code. The coding of the cleaning appliance is part of its coupling part 48 for coupling the transmission 49 in the toothbrush part with the drive shaft 28 in the handle part, more precisely with the coupling part 30 therein. As shown in figure 25, the main body of the cleaning implement is seated on the brush seat 50 of the handle portion 1 with a precise fit so that the cleaning implement is mounted on the handle portion 1 at a given location. The cleaning implement is held in place by the use of locating noses and corresponding recesses, and by, for example, positive engagement with the handle portion, i.e. with its brush holder. By friction fit, axial fixation can be achieved. The coupling portions 48 and 30 in the transmission mechanism form a mutual mating engagement when the cleaning appliance is pushed into its base. The coupling portion is formed by an axle stub and a complementary recess in the form of a blind bore in the opposite axle end so that the end stub can be accurately inserted into the blind axle bore. The torque is preferably transmitted by a rigid joint.

The coupling portion has complementary engagement surfaces 51 and 52, preferably in the form of a flat surface on the drive shaft 28 and corresponding bore cut surfaces in a recess 53 in a drive shaft portion 54 of the cleaning appliance. A spline or spline shaft profile may also be provided for transmitting torque.

The cleaning appliance, in particular the coupling portion 48, has as its coding an actuating surface 55 which in the coupled state cooperates with a corresponding engaging surface on the handle portion 1, in particular on the coupling portion 30 of the drive shaft 28. The actuation surface 55 engages the engagement surface 56 in such a way that a predetermined interaction between these two surfaces takes place in the coupled state. In particular, the actuating surface 55 is arranged and aligned so as to exert a predetermined pressure on the engagement surface 56. In order to be able to read or scan the structure of the actuation surface 55, a corresponding engagement surface 56 is located on the movable probe element and generates a predetermined movement of the probe element in an interactive manner. It will be appreciated that force can also be detected, but that it is much easier to detect motion. Different configurations of the actuation surface 56 are translated into different movements of the corresponding engagement surface 56 of the probe element.

The drive shaft 28 of the handle portion is preferably employed as the probe element. The drive shaft is mounted for longitudinal displacement and preferably is offset from the handle portion by an offset assembly. When the cleaning implement 2 is placed on the handle portion, the actuating surface 55 of the cleaning implement pushes the drive shaft 28 a predetermined distance into the interior of the handle portion 1. The displacement is detected by a displacement or motion sensor, which may be of various configurations and operative, for example, a light blocking layer. Other displacement sensors may also be used. Referring to fig. 7, preferably, an elastically deformable sensing element may be provided with electromechanical contacts of the type described above. The drive shaft 28 is preferably seated on the sensor element 57 by means of a flange, preferably the end thereof remote from the coupling part 30. The sensor element can simultaneously serve as a deflection component.

When the drive shaft 28 is depressed, the sensor element generates a corresponding signal, in particular opens or closes a corresponding contact. By suitably configuring the sensor or the sensor element or the plurality of sensor elements, the code of the cleaning appliance can be read or scanned.

As shown in fig. 25, the actuating surface 55 is formed by the bottom surface of a blind-ended recess 53 in the drive shaft of the cleaning appliance. The associated engagement surface is formed by the end of the drive shaft 28. Preferably, this configuration is as shown, although the reverse is possible.

Alternative embodiments of the actuation surface 55 and the engagement surface 56, respectively, are possible. In another aspect of the invention, a conical engagement surface may be provided. Other configurations are also contemplated.

Claims (37)

1. A handle portion (1) of an electric tooth cleaning or brushing device (1, 2) having a coupling portion for coupling a brushing or cleaning implement (2) thereto, a drive mechanism (23) for driving the coupled brushing or cleaning implement, and a control device (27) for controlling the drive mechanism, characterized in that the control device (27) has an interlocking device (100), which interlocking device (100) is unlocked by an interlocking release element (7) provided on the cleaning implement.

2. Handle portion according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (27) comprise code detection means (5) for detecting a code of an interlock release element (7) of the attached cleaning appliance (2) and in that the interlock means (100) can be unlocked in dependence of a signal from the code detection means (5).

3. Handle part according to claim 2, characterized in that a switch is provided on the handle part (1) for activating the code detection means (5), the actuation mechanism (23) being activatable upon receiving an acknowledgement of the code detection means (5) or upon unlocking of the interlock device (100).

4. The handle portion according to claim 3, characterized in that the switch is an on-off switch of the drive mechanism (23).

5. Handle portion according to claim 1, characterized in that the interlocking device (100) is operated in an electric manner.

6. Handle portion according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the code detection means (5) is non-contact.

7. Handle portion according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the coded detection means (5) are mechanically actuatable.

8. Handle portion according to claim 7, characterized in that the coded detection means (5) comprise one or more movable and/or elastically deformable sensor elements (17), which sensor elements (17) are adapted to be moved and/or deformed by the coding of the cleaning implement (2) and to generate a signal which is characteristic for the movement and/or deformation.

9. Handle portion according to claim 8, characterized in that the sensor element (17) is configured as a mechanical contact.

10. Handle portion according to claim 2, characterized in that the probe element of the coded detection means (5) is movably mounted and has an engagement surface (56) for engagement with a corresponding actuation surface (55) of the cleaning appliance (2).

11. The handle portion according to claim 10, wherein the engagement surface cooperates with an actuation surface of the cleaning implement (2) such that the probe element is moved by the actuation surface (55) a predetermined amount when the cleaning implement (2) is coupled to the handle portion, and the coded detection means (5) comprises a motion sensor (17; 57) for detecting the motion of the probe element.

12. Handle portion according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the probe element consists of a longitudinally displaceably mounted drive shaft (28).

13. Handle portion according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the coded detection means (5) comprise a signal receiver (20) for receiving a coded signal from the interlock release element (7) of the cleaning appliance (2) and/or a signal transmitter (20) for transmitting an interrogation signal or a trigger signal to the interlock release element (7) of the associated cleaning appliance (2).

14. Handle portion according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the code detection means (5) comprise an optical sensor (12, 13, 15) for detecting an optical code of the unlocking element (7) of the respective cleaning appliance (2) coupled thereto.

15. Handle portion according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the code detection means (5) comprise a magnetic sensor (6, 9, 10) for detecting a magnetic code of the unlocking element (7) of the respective cleaning appliance (2) coupled thereto.

16. Handle portion according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the code detection means (5) comprise a sensor (9) for detecting a metallic and/or electromagnetic code of the unlocking element (7) of the respective cleaning appliance (2) coupled thereto.

17. Handle portion according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the code detection means (5) comprise a capacitive sensor (21) for detecting a capacitive code of the interlock release element (7) of the respective cleaning appliance (2) coupled thereto.

18. Handle portion according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the code detection means (5) comprise an electronic sensor for detecting an electronic code of the unlocking element (7) of the respective cleaning appliance (2) coupled thereto.

19. Handle portion according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the coded detection means (5) are arranged in a closed, fluid-tight handle housing (26).

20. A handle portion (1) of an electric tooth cleaning or brushing device (1, 2) having a coupling portion for coupling a brushing or cleaning implement (2) thereto, a drive mechanism (23) for driving the coupled brushing or cleaning implement, and a control device (27) for controlling the drive mechanism, characterized in that the control device (27) has an interlocking device (100), which interlocking device (100) is unlocked by an interlocking release element (7), wherein the interlocking release element (7) is connected to the handle portion itself.

21. Handle portion according to claim 20, characterized in that the drive shaft (28) of the handle portion (1) is arranged as an interlock release element (7) by magnetization.

22. A tooth-brushing or cleaning implement having a coupling portion for coupling to a handle portion (1) of an electric tooth-cleaning device, characterized by an interlock release member (7) for unlocking an interlock device (100) of the handle portion (1).

23. Cleaning implement according to claim 22, characterized in that the interlock release element (7) comprises a coding means or an acting element or is constructed as an acting element with a magnetic, electrical, capacitive, electromagnetic, optical or mechanical coding function or acting function.

24. A cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the interlock release member comprises a signal receiver for receiving a signal from the handle portion (1) and/or a signal transmitter for transmitting an interlock release signal to the handle portion (1).

25. A cleaning appliance according to claim 24, characterised in that the signal receiver and/or signal transmitter is a smart transponder chip (19).

26. A cleaning appliance as claimed in claim 24, wherein the signal receiver and/or the signal transmitter act as a coding element for coding the received signal.

27. A cleaning implement according to any of claims 22 to 26 characterised in that the interlock release member has a code body fixedly connected to the main body of the cleaning implement and is arranged and constructed so as to be positioned within the detection range of the code detection means (5) of the handle portion (1) when the cleaning implement (2) and the handle portion (1) are in the coupled condition.

28. A cleaning implement according to any of the preceding claims 22 to 26 characterized in that one or more actuating portions are provided as an interlock release member which actuates the probe element (28) or sensing element (17, 57) on the handle portion (1) when the cleaning implement (2) is coupled to the handle portion (1).

29. A cleaning implement according to claim 28, characterized in that an actuating surface (55) is provided as an actuating portion which is aligned with a corresponding engaging surface (56) or a matching abutment member connected to the probe element (28) or to a sensor element connected to the handle portion (1) in such a way that, when the cleaning implement (2) is coupled to the handle portion, the engaging surface (56) on the handle portion is moved by a predetermined amount and/or in a predetermined direction and/or with a predetermined force acting thereon.

30. A cleaning implement according to any of the preceding claims 22 to 26 characterized in that the interlock release member (7) is configured such that a part of the drive shaft (49) in the cleaning implement cooperates with the drive shaft (28) in the handle portion (1).

31. A cleaning implement according to any of the preceding claims 22 to 26 characterized in that the interlock release element (7) comprises one or more magnetic field influencing parts or codings (8) which are arranged in the region of the coupling end of the cleaning implement (2).

32. A cleaning implement according to any one of the preceding claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the interlock release element (7) comprises one or more dielectrically acting parts or codings (8), which are arranged in the region of the coupling end of the cleaning implement (2) and which are configured to project beyond the end in the direction of the coupling movement.

33. A cleaning implement according to any of the preceding claims 22 to 26 characterized in that the interlock release member (7) comprises an optical waveguide (37) communicating with the light inlet (38) and the light outlet (39) and arranged in the coupling end of the body of the cleaning implement (2).

34. A cleaning implement according to any one of claims 22 to 26 characterised in that the interlock release member (7) is an integral part of the main body of the cleaning implement.

35. A cleaning implement according to any one of claims 22 to 26 characterised in that the interlock release member (7) is releasably coupled to the main body of the cleaning implement.

36. A cleaning implement according to claim 33 characterized in that the interlock release member (7) is integrally provided on a ring (8) at the coupling end of the cleaning implement.

37. An electric teeth cleaning device with a handle part (1) according to claim 1 and a cleaning implement (2) according to claim 22, the cleaning implement (2) being couplable to the handle part (1).