HK1140668A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

Tooth brush

Technical Field

The present invention preferably relates to an electric toothbrush. The invention therefore relates to a toothbrush handle part having a handle part neck which can be inserted into a connector of an insert, for example a toothbrush insert, the handle part neck having a coupling device comprising at least one engagement part for interlocking with a positive fit and/or frictional engagement of the connector of the insert. The invention also relates to such an attachment which can form, for example, a toothbrush attachment having a working head and a tubular connecting piece connected to the working head which can be placed onto a handle part neck of a toothbrush handle part, wherein the connecting piece has coupling means for positive-locking and/or frictional engagement of the connecting piece on the handle part neck.

Background

An electric toothbrush can be seen in EP 0500537B 1, in which a toothbrush attachment is connected both to a shaft-like handle part neck of a toothbrush handle part protruding from the front and to a drive shaft protruding therefrom. The handle member neck is shaped in the form of a generally cylindrical frustum so that the generally tubular connector of the brush attachment can be precision snap-fit attached to the handle member neck.

With this type of pluggable toothbrush insert, unintentional loosening of the insert during operation of the toothbrush should be prevented, and a simple and easy plugging and removal method should be possible. In order to achieve this, it has hitherto been the option to make the fit between the neck of the handle part and the attachment brush so tight that the toothbrush attachment can be attached to and removed from the neck of the handle part only with great effort. However, if a detent locking connection is provided between the brush attachment and the brush handle member, the tolerance required for a simple snap connection often prevents a zero clearance and a close fit of the connection.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to create an improved toothbrush, an improved toothbrush handle part and/or an improved attachment for such a toothbrush handle part, wherein the disadvantages of the prior art can be avoided and the prior art can be advantageously improved. Preferably, a connection between the plug and the toothbrush handle part should be created which is easy to handle and requires little effort, which connection firmly supports the plug on the toothbrush handle part and which substantially prevents the toothbrush plug from loosening.

This object is achieved by a toothbrush handle part according to claim 1, a plug-in connection according to claim 28, preferably for such a toothbrush handle part, and a toothbrush according to claim 43. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed that the handle part of the toothbrush has a coupling device on its handle part neck, which coupling device has at least one engagement part for interlocking with a positive fit and/or frictional engagement with a connector of a connector, for example of a toothbrush connector, wherein the coupling element is movable in the longitudinal direction of the handle part. The coupling is preferably pushed axially by the spring element away from the grip portion of the toothbrush handle part, so that when the plug-in unit is unplugged, the coupling is positioned in a defined position relative to the handle part, wherein the plug-in unit can be plugged in without hindrance. The handle part neck is preferably formed in one piece with the outer shell of the handle part.

The coupling means on the neck of the handle part are advantageously operated with an axial movement in the longitudinal direction of the handle part and a transverse movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle part, wherein advantageously an axial movement in the longitudinal direction of the handle part causes activation of the coupling means and a transverse movement causes locking. The toothbrush handle component is characterized in that its coupling means have a coupling which is axially movable in the longitudinal direction of the handle component and which is supported and/or shaped such that an axial movement of the coupling produces a transverse movement of the engaging part of the coupling means transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle component.

The axial activation movement can advantageously be generated by the plug-in piece during its plugging onto or removal from the handle part neck. The insertion or removal of the plug-in piece can be used, for example, to produce a locking or unlocking movement which acts transversely on the coupling means of the handle part. According to another aspect, the plug-in connector is characterized in that its coupling part has an outwardly oriented recess on the inner cylindrical surface, into which recess the engagement part of the coupling part of the handle part can be moved; and an abutment surface for pushing back the coupling element of the handle part axially when the connecting element is placed onto the neck of the handle part. The abutment surfaces on the coupling part of the plug-in part are advantageously adapted to the coupling of the handle part with respect to their shape and position such that the abutment surfaces can catch the coupling of the toothbrush handle part when the plug-in part and the toothbrush handle part are plugged into each other and push them back axially towards the gripping portion of the toothbrush handle part in order to initiate the locking quasi-automatically during placement on the plug-in part.

In order to produce a lateral movement of the engaging part of the coupling means of the handle part which can trigger the locking, an expansion mechanism is advantageously provided between the handle part neck of the toothbrush handle part and the coupling member, so that the engaging part of the coupling means of the aforementioned handle part is expanded outwards transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle part when said coupling member is moved in the axial direction towards the handle part. Advantageously, it is the coupling member itself that is expanded outwardly by said expansion means upon corresponding axial movement so that said engagement member can be arranged directly on the coupling member, preferably integrally formed in one piece.

The expansion mechanism may be designed in various ways. For example, the expansion may be induced by a pair of inclined surfaces. For example, the coupling may be moved upwards onto an inclined surface provided on the neck of the handle part, such that the coupling is pressed outwards when it is pushed back towards the grip portion.

Preferably, however, the expansion mechanism is designed in the form of a positive guide which prevents lateral movement of the coupling without axial movement of the coupling and/or prevents axial movement of the coupling without lateral movement of the coupling. The expansion mechanism is therefore designed such that it can ensure not only that the coupling is pushed outwards during the corresponding axial movement, but also that it is pulled inwards during the opposite axial movement.

In particular, the coupling of the coupling means of the handle part can be supported by means of a guide link on the neck of the handle part, said guide link comprising at least one link. In an advantageous embodiment, the guide link is rotatably hinged with one end to the handle part neck and with its other end to the coupling, wherein the pivot axis is advantageously oriented transversely to the handle part longitudinal direction.

In principle, it is sufficient to use only one link in the region of the engaging parts for hinging the coupling, in order to obtain the desired expansion in the region of the engaging parts. The coupling element can in this case be guided in the longitudinal direction on the neck of the handle part over a portion arranged at a distance from the engaging part so that a general double-link design can be produced. Preferably, however, the coupling is hinged to the handle part neck by means of a parallelogram-shaped guide link having at least two links arranged substantially parallel to each other, so that the coupling can be displaced in parallel on the movement path defined by these links substantially without rotational component. The parallelogram guide link is designed such that a transverse movement component transverse thereto can be generated during the axial movement of the coupling in the longitudinal direction of the handle part. Advantageously, the links of the parallelogram guide link are arranged such that initially, i.e. in the region of the unlocked position of the coupling, a stronger transverse movement component is generated during the axial movement than at the other end of the axial activation path, i.e. in the region of the locked position.

The coupling element can advantageously be guided on a movement path which is designed to radially overpressure the coupling element at one end of the movement path before reaching its locking position, wherein the coupling element is moved further longitudinally outwards transversely to the handle part than in the locking position itself. Thus, during the outward pivoting movement of the coupling member, it moves past the dead-center position before the coupling member assumes its final locking end position. In this way, a self-retaining fixing can be obtained in the locking position, which can be overcome only by means of a force defined on the plug in the axial direction.

In particular, the links of the parallelogram guide link can be arranged such that, when pivoted into the locking position of the coupling, the links move through a position oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the handle part, while the links assume a steeply inclined position in both end positions of the coupling of the handle part relative to the longitudinal direction of the handle part. Advantageously, the connecting rods may be arranged such that they are inclined with different degrees of steepness in said end position of the coupling. Although the connecting rods can be inclined at an angle of approximately 20 ° to 60 °, preferably 30 ° to 50 °, relative to the longitudinal direction of the handle part in the moved-in unlocked position of the coupling, they are advantageously inclined at an angle of approximately 70 ° to 89 °, preferably 75 ° to 85 °, relative to the longitudinal direction of the handle part in the locked position of the coupling. These angles are to be understood as being of magnitude, since the perpendicular 90 ° position with respect to the longitudinal direction of the handle part is advantageously shifted between the two end positions, so that the connecting rod is inclined to different sides at the aforementioned angles and end positions with respect to said 90 ° position (with respect to the longitudinal direction of the shank).

As an alternative to such a pivotally guided link, the coupling element can also be expanded by means of a sliding guide, wherein the coupling element is advantageously positively guided such that an axial movement of the coupling element is positively converted into a radial movement. The positive guide advantageously exists in both directions, i.e. when the coupling is moved in one direction, it is pushed outwards, and when it is moved in the opposite direction, it is pushed inwards.

The sliding guide is advantageously designed as a connecting guide link which preferably has a guide slide provided in the coupling and at least one guide projection engaging therein, which projection is arranged on the handle part neck. The coupling member forms, for example, a slider which can be expanded along a particular path by connecting guide links. The degree and height of the spreading movement can be controlled by the pitch of the connecting guide links. The connecting guide link advantageously comprises a plurality of guide segments with different inclinations, so that different expansion movements can occur depending on the axial position of the coupling. In particular, the connecting guide link may comprise a starting portion and an end portion which have only a low slope or advantageously extend substantially without slope parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle part, between which a guide part portion having a greater slope is provided. In this way it is achieved that in the end portions the coupling members can be held in their respective positions substantially free of axial forces by means of the guide portions being only slightly inclined or not inclined at all. On the other hand, the desired spreading movement can be obtained by means of the more steeply inclined guide member portion. Once this expansion movement is completed, the connecting guide link is moved, for example, to a platform by means of which the respective position can be maintained. The start portion and the end portion may optionally be slightly inclined in two opposite directions towards the intermediate portion, so that during the movement into the end positions, for example, a slight overpressure of the coupling may occur, whereby the latter is reliably held in their respective end positions.

The coupling device may have a preferably mechanically operated control device arranged thereto, which controls the toothbrush drive mechanism depending on the position of the coupling device. In particular, the control device may have a delay member that latches, disconnects, or delays or decelerates the toothbrush drive mechanism when the engagement portion of the coupling device is not in its locked position. In this way, the toothbrush drive mechanism is prevented from moving when the toothbrush insert is not properly inserted on the handle part. The delay means can be designed in various ways, wherein in principle it is conceivable to design the delay means using solutions based on control technology or software technology. However, a mechanical design of the delay member is preferred, wherein the delay member may advantageously comprise an engagement surface on the coupling which can be moved into engagement with the drive shaft of the handle member, in particular which can be pushed onto the drive shaft in the moved-in, non-locking position of the coupling. In particular, the delay member may comprise flat areas on the drive shaft and on said coupling of the handle member, which flat areas are movable onto each other. When the coupling is pressed with its flat region onto a corresponding flat region on the drive shaft, the latter can no longer rotate. The flat area is advantageously arranged on the circumferential surface. The delay of the toothbrush drive mechanism in the unlocked position of the coupling is assisted by the spring element, since the spring element pushes the coupling in the axial direction away from the grip portion of the toothbrush handle part, i.e. into the unlocked position, when the plug connector is not plugged in.

Advantageously, the delay member may cooperate with an electronic cut-off for driving the motor. In particular, the control device may preferably have an electronic shut-off device which shuts off the drive motor when the drive shaft is delayed. As soon as the electronic shut-off device detects that the drive shaft of the toothbrush cannot rotate freely, the drive motor is shut off in order to protect the motor and in particular also the battery. The detection of a delay condition of the transmission shaft may in principle take place in various ways. For example, a position sensor may be provided to detect the position of the aforementioned coupling. If the coupling is positioned in its delayed position, the drive motor is switched off. However, advantageously, the motor can also be switched off by means of its power consumption. In particular, the aforementioned cut-off device may include a detection means for detecting a motor current, and disconnect the drive motor when the motor current exceeds a prescribed motor current level. This occurs when the drive shaft is locked or delayed.

By this mechanical delay of the drive shaft of the toothbrush handle part when the plug is not plugged in, in combination with an electronic cut-off of the drive motor, it is possible to obtain a very simple travel safety mechanism including battery protection. To prevent the toothbrush handle part from being accidentally switched on, it is only necessary to pull the plug-in part away from the toothbrush handle part. Even if this handle part is placed loosely in e.g. a suitcase, the battery of the toothbrush cannot be discharged accidentally.

In order to be able to use the axial plugging movement of the plug-in on the handle part neck for activating the coupling device, the coupling member of the handle part has a catch portion provided thereon which catches an abutment surface provided on the connecting piece of the plug-in when the plug-in is placed on the handle part neck so that the abutment surface moves the catch portion, thereby moving the coupling member in the axial direction towards the grip portion of the toothbrush handle part when the plug-in is plugged onto the handle part neck. In particular, a pair of abutment surfaces extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle part and the longitudinal direction of the plug connector may be provided on the coupling part of the handle part and on the coupling part of the plug connector, which pairs of abutment surfaces are matched to each other in their position and orientation such that when the plug connector is placed on the handle part neck, the abutment surfaces are actively moved into engagement with each other, thereby inducing the desired axial displacement of the coupling part of the handle part. Advantageously, the abutment surfaces of the mutual catch are designed such that not only an axial activation movement of the coupling part of the handle part can be initiated, but also a lateral movement of the coupling part of the handle part is possible to design in the process. In particular, the coupling element of the handle part or the abutment surface thereof can be slid off on the abutment surface of the plug-in element transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle part. The mutually catching portions on the handle part and on the plug-in part, which bring about an axial actuating movement of the coupling, form, for example, a pair of sliding surfaces which slide away from each other when the plug-in parts are plugged in axially.

The abutment surface of the plug is arranged to directly abut the edge of the recess into which the coupling element of the handle part can be moved. In particular, the abutment surface may transition into the edge surface of the recess in a flush manner and/or simultaneously form at least a part of a later edge surface of the recess. Advantageously, the abutment surface will be located at an edge portion of the recess. Is positioned at the deepest part of the tubular plug of the plug, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the plug.

In order, on the contrary, to automatically release the coupling and move it axially when removing the plug from the toothbrush handle part, the plug and the coupling of the handle part have a pair of driving surfaces provided thereon, which advantageously extend transversely to the axial direction and form a pair of sliding surfaces in the manner described above, thus allowing a sliding-off to occur transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle part and the plug, and thus an unlocking movement of the coupling transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle part. The pair of drive surfaces are advantageously suitably dimensioned and adapted to each other in the transverse direction, i.e. transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle part and the plug connector, respectively, such that they overlap each other and engage against each other in the expanded locking position of the coupling, but are offset from each other in the transverse direction in the moved-in unlocked position of the coupling. In other words, when the plug-in is removed, the drive surfaces are disengaged no later than at the end of the axial movement of the coupling of the handle part in order to allow the complete removal of the plug-in.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the drive surface can be formed on the one hand by a recessed edge surface provided on the plug connector and on the other hand by an edge surface of a pawl-locking projection on the coupling element of the handle part in order to drive the coupling element when the plug brush is removed.

In order to ensure that the plug is placed and coupled with a precise fit on the toothbrush handle part neck (even when there is dirt on the mating surfaces), dirt catching grooves are provided on the handle part neck of the toothbrush handle part and/or on the connecting piece of the plug. When the two toothbrush parts are plugged into one another, dust particles, debris, etc. can for example disappear, so that they do not hinder the coupling process. The dirt catching groove may in particular be provided on a cylindrical or conical mating surface of the handle part neck and the plug connector, in particular on an outer cylindrical surface of the handle part neck and on an inner cylindrical surface of the connecting piece of the plug connector. Alternatively or additionally, such dirt catching grooves can also be provided on the coupling of the toothbrush handle part and/or on the coupling of the plug-in connector and/or on the engagement part provided thereon, so that the coupling process is not impeded. For example, the outer surface of an expandable coupling and/or the inner surface of a plug connector (which can be moved into engagement) can be provided with such dirt catching grooves so that expansion of the coupling is not impeded.

The dirt catching groove can be designed in various ways. In an advantageous embodiment, the dirt catching grooves can be designed in the form of surface corrugations, in particular in the form of longitudinal corrugations with substantially trough-shaped catching grooves, which grooves extend in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush.

Drawings

These and additional features, which may constitute the subject matter of the present invention, will become apparent not only from the claims, but also from the following description and the associated drawings, whether referred to themselves or in any subcombination or combination thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional top view of an electric toothbrush according to a preferred embodiment, showing its insertion brush and partially showing its handle member;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 along line C-C depicting a multi-component handle part neck having disposed thereon a coupling in its locked position;

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 along line B-B showing the parallelogram guide links of the coupling of the handle member;

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of the preceding figures showing the connector of the toothbrush plug being plugged onto the neck of the handle member, wherein the coupling of the handle member is not yet in its removed unlocked position;

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of the foregoing figures, similar to FIG. 4, showing the toothbrush head connector plugged in a position shortly before the coupling reaches an abutment surface in the connector of the toothbrush head connector and is activated;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show additional positions of the coupling element of the handle part in the further course of the insertion of the toothbrush head connector onto the toothbrush handle part in partially schematic longitudinal sectional views similar to FIGS. 4 and 5;

fig. 9 shows, in a partially schematic longitudinal section similar to the previously described fig. 4 to 8, the locking end position of the coupling element of the handle part in the fully plugged-in position of the plugging brush;

fig. 10 shows a partial longitudinal section of a toothbrush similar to fig. 4 according to an additional advantageous embodiment. According to said embodiment, the coupling is expandable by connecting the guide link, wherein said coupling is shown in its removed, locked position; and is

Fig. 11 shows a partial longitudinal section of the toothbrush of fig. 10, with the coupling shown in its moved-in unlocked position.

Detailed Description

The toothbrush 1 shown in the figures comprises a handle part 2 and a socket in the form of a brush socket 3 connected thereto. The handle part 2 (only partly shown) comprises, in a known manner, a housing in which a drive motor and a power supply part, for example in the form of a rechargeable battery, are arranged, and on which an activation switch for switching on and off the drive mechanism is arranged. On the front end of the handle part 2 shown in fig. 1 to 3, the housing of the handle part 2 forms a handle part neck 4, which-viewed as a whole-is designed as a forwardly protruding, truncated and substantially cylindrical connecting piece, which optionally tapers slightly towards its free end. Projecting from the handle part neck 4 on the front face is a drive shaft 5 which can be driven, for example, in a rotationally oscillating manner.

The insertion brush 3 comprises a working head 6 with bristle fields (not shown in detail) which can be driven in a rotationally oscillating manner, for example about a bristle field axis which is oriented approximately in the longitudinal direction of the bristles. The working head 6 is held by a generally tubular connecting piece 7 which is insertable onto the handle part neck 4 of the toothbrush handle part 2. Inside said tubular connection 7, the brush attachment 3 comprises a pluggable shaft 8 which can be coupled with the drive shaft 5 of the handle part so as to be rotationally integral therewith.

In order to fasten the brush attachment 3 on the handle part 2, a coupling insert 9 in the form of a separate coupling sleeve or coupling ring can be provided in or on the tubular connecting element 7, which insert is arranged in or on the tubular connecting element 7 in an axially and/or radially fixed manner. The coupling sleeve 9 is designed so as to be generally-roughly-cylindrical or slightly conical, so that the coupling sleeve 9 can be plugged onto the handle part neck 4 in the axial direction, thereby allowing the toothbrush plug to be fastened to the handle part 2 substantially without play. In another embodiment of the brush attachment, the connecting element 7 is constructed physically in combination with the coupling insert 9, i.e. as one piece.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the handle part neck 4 of the toothbrush handle part 2 has a rib-shaped and/or substantially half-shell-shaped coupling 13 provided thereon, which can be moved into locking engagement with the coupling insert 9 of the brush attachment. The truncated handle part neck 4 may be separated, for example, into: a body part, which is rigidly connected to the handle part housing and forms the actual handle part neck 4; and a movably supported coupling member 13 which, in the unlocked starting position shown for example in fig. 4, extends substantially over the contour of the neck 4 of the handle part and forms therewith a connecting head, to which the tubular connecting piece 7 of the brush attachment can be plugged. The coupling is urged into the position shown in figure 4 by a spring element 29 formed, for example, by a coil spring arranged in the handle part.

The coupling 13 of the handle part, which coupling extends with its plane of symmetry in the longitudinal direction 12 of the handle part 2, is articulated movably to the handle part neck by means of a parallelogram guide link 17. As best shown in fig. 3, the parallelogram guide link comprises two rotatable links 15 and 16 oriented parallel to each other and hinged at one end to the handle part neck 4 and at the other end to the coupling 13. These "two" links 15 and 16 can also be a pair of links which are arranged in each case to the left and to the right of the drive shaft 5 and are in each case articulated about a common pivot axis so that the coupling 13 is supported in a stable manner while tilting transversely to the links is also prevented.

As can be seen by comparing fig. 4 to 9, the coupling member 13 can be pivoted or moved back against the force of the spring element 29 by means of the parallelogram guide link 17 from a non-locking end position located in front of the front end of the handle part, forming for example a starting position, back towards the handle part 2 into a locking second end position. The parallelogram guide link 17 forms an expansion mechanism 14 which expands the coupling member 13 during its transition from the front position to the rear end position transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush, so that the coupling member 13 projects radially further in the locked second end position as shown in fig. 9 than in the front first end position as shown in fig. 4. To this end, the links 15 and 16 are arranged so that in the unlocked front end position they are more flatly inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush and in the locked rearward end position they are more steeply inclined; see fig. 4, in comparison to fig. 9. Advantageously, the links 15 and 16 (when the coupling 13 is turned into its locking position) are moved through a position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush, so that an overpressure of the parallelogram guide link 17 occurs before the locking end position is reached. In this way, the coupling member 13 (and thus the brush attachment 3) is held in a stable manner in the locked coupling position. For this purpose, the coupling insert 9 of the brush attachment 3 is advantageously adapted in its diameter to match the expansion movement of the coupling member 13, so that a slight elastic deformation can take place during overpressure of the parallelogram guide link 17 and/or a clean, precise fit onto the coupling member 13 with a slight radial pressure can be obtained in the surrounding area of the locking position of the coupling member 13. In this way, the brush attachment 3 is held firmly on the brush handle part 3.

As shown in fig. 4 to 9, the coupling insert 9 of the plug-in connector has in its inner cylindrical surface an outwardly oriented recess 25 in the form of a window in the coupling insert 9, into which recess the radially projecting pawl locking projection 18 can enter for movement on the coupling element 13. Said pawl locking projection 18 forms an engagement element 11 with which the coupling means 10 of the handle part lock the brush attachment 3 to the handle part neck 4.

Advantageously in the vicinity of said recess 25, the coupling insert 9 has a radially inwardly projecting activation projection 28 provided thereon. When the brush attachment 3 is plugged onto the handle element neck 4, the protrusion can drive the coupling 3 and push it into its locking position. The activating projection 28 in the embodiment shown is arranged downstream of the aforementioned recess 25 in the plugging direction, wherein it projects further inwards (towards the axis) than the portion 30 of the coupling insert 9 which is located upstream of the recess 25 in the plugging direction, when viewed radially; see fig. 4. In the embodiment shown, the actuating projection 28 directly adjoins the recess 25, so that the abutment surface 20 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plug-in part transitions at the actuating projection 28 and extends in a flush manner into the edge surface of the recess; see fig. 4.

This results in the following functions: when the brush attachment 3 is plugged onto the handle part neck 4, the coupling 13 initially remains in the moved-in, unlocked end position. The coupling insert 9 has a clear width in its slide-in region up to the recess 25. When viewed radially, the clear width is greater than the radial dimension of the pawl locking projection 18 in the moved-in unlocked position of the coupling member 13; see fig. 4.

In this way, the brush attachment 3 can be pushed past the coupling element 13 until its pawl locking projection 18 comes to rest in the region of the recess 25, as shown in fig. 5. However, during continued plugging of the brush plug 3, the coupling member 13 may hit its abutment surface 20 provided on its front end, which also extends transversely to the longitudinal direction 12 of the handle part, against an abutment surface 26 on an actuating projection 28 of the coupling insert 9. This results in the coupling element 13, for example, coming to rest, wherein during the continued insertion into the neck of the handle part, the coupling element 13 is expanded outwards by means of the parallelogram guide links 17 on the path of movement defined by said guide links, as shown in fig. 6 to 8. The pawl locking nose 18 thus moves into the recess 25. When the brush attachment 3 is fully attached, the vertical position of the links 15 and 16 of the parallelogram guide link 17 shown in fig. 8 is advantageously moved past, so that the dead center position of the parallelogram guide link 17 is exposed to overpressure. In the fully locked position, the links 15 and 16 tilt back slightly towards the handle part 2; see fig. 9.

When the brush attachment 3 is removed, the coupling member 13 is pivoted back in the opposite direction into its unlocked position. In the process, the drive surface 27 provided on the coupling insert 9 drives the drive surface 21 provided on the coupling member 13, thereby driving the coupling member 13 in the axial direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive surface 21 of the coupling member 13 is formed by the rear part of the pawl locking protrusion 18 and extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12 of the handle part. On the coupling insert 9, the drive surface 27 is formed by an edge surface of the recess 25.

Advantageously, the coupling element 13 simultaneously forms a control device 22 or a part thereof which prevents the toothbrush drive mechanism from being accidentally opened during coupling and decoupling of the toothbrush plug connector 3. The coupling member 13 has a flat region 24 as the delay member 23 on the inner side thereof, which region cooperates with a flat region 31 of the drive shaft 5 on the circumferential surface. As shown in a comparative manner in fig. 4 and 9, the coupling 13 stops in its non-locking position, in which its flat region 24 is on the flat region 31 of the drive shaft 5, so that the latter cannot rotate. However, when the coupling 13 is moved out into its locking position, the transmission shaft 8 is released; see fig. 9.

Said delay of the drive shaft 5 can be part of a travel safety and/or battery protection mechanism, which disconnects the drive motor when the drive shaft is delayed. By means of a suitable detection device, the control device 22 can detect whether the coupling 13 is delaying the propeller shaft 5. In particular, a detection means 32 for detecting the level of the motor current may be provided for this purpose. That is, if the drive shaft 5 is delayed, the motor current will rise above its normal level, so that when a particular motor current threshold is exceeded, it can be assumed that this is due to the delay of the drive shaft 5, and thus to the removed plug. In this case, the shut-off device 33 of the control device 22 can shut down the drive motor in order to prevent the drive motor from being damaged or the disposable or rechargeable battery from being discharged accidentally.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, the expansion mechanism 14 can also have a sliding guide in the form of a connecting guide link 34 for the expansion coupling 13 instead of the previously described parallelogram guide link 17. In the embodiment shown according to fig. 10 and 11, the coupling 13 comprises a guide slide 35 in the form of two stepped angular guide slots in the shape of longitudinal grooves, into which two guide pins 36 engage, the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the width of the guide slots, in order to obtain a substantially play-free sliding guidance of the coupling 13. Instead of the two guide slots shown in fig. 10 and 11, it is also possible optionally to provide only one guide slot, which is optionally associated with an additional support for the coupling 13 so that it will additionally undergo a pivoting movement during expansion. However, the connecting guide link shown in fig. 10 and 11 with two guide pins 36 is preferred.

Advantageously, the guide slide 35 may comprise guide portions 37, 38, 39 having different degrees of steepness of inclination in the longitudinal direction 12 of the handle part, so that the lifting and spreading movement of the coupling 13 experiences a plurality of phases. Preferably, a more steeply inclined pilot intermediate portion 39 is provided which leads into less steeply inclined pilot end portions 37 and 38; see fig. 10. The guide end portions 37 and 38 are advantageously oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 12 of the handle part, so that no lifting movement of the coupling member 13 occurs when the guide pin 36 is positioned in the region of these guide end portions 37 and 38, the latter thus remaining at the respective level of expansion without axial forces. The guide end portions 37 and 38 may optionally also be slightly inclined in opposite directions-compared to the inclination of the guide intermediate portion 39-so that a slight overpressure may occur when approaching the end position.

The inclination of the guide intermediate part 39 is advantageously adapted to the characteristics of the coupling device 10, such as in particular to the length of the plugging movement and the diameter of the handle part neck, wherein an inclination angle in the range of approximately 45 ° to 80 ° is shown to be advantageous in the embodiment according to fig. 10.

The embodiment of fig. 10 and 11 corresponds substantially to the embodiment of the preceding figures, apart from the design of the expansion mechanism 14, so that reference is made in this respect to the preceding description, and the same reference numerals are used for the corresponding components.

Functionally, the embodiments of fig. 10 and 11 also substantially correspond to the preceding figures: when the brush attachment 3 is plugged onto the handle element neck 4, the coupling member 13 initially remains in its moved-in, unlocked end position, as shown in fig. 11. The coupling insert 9 has a clear width in its slide-in region up to the recess 25. The clear width is larger than the radial dimension of the pawl locking projection 18 of the coupling member 13 when viewed radially; see fig. 11.

In this way, the brush attachment 3 can be pushed through the coupling element 13 until its pawl locking projection 18 comes to rest in the region of the recess 25. However, during continued plugging of the brush plug 3, the coupling member 13 may hit its abutment surface 20 provided on its front end, which surface extends transversely to the longitudinal direction 12 of the handle part, against an abutment surface 26 on an activation protrusion 28 of the coupling insert 9. This results in the coupling member 13 being driven axially during the continued plugging of the toothbrush plug 13, which results in the coupling member 13 being moved into the connecting guide link 34. In the process, the coupling member 13 is pushed radially outwards by the obliquely guided intermediate portion 39, so that its pawl-locking projection 18 moves into the window-like recess 25 of the brush attachment 3; see fig. 10.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, the actuating projection 28 of the brush attachment 3 of the drive coupling 13 is designed in the form of a spring clip which locks on the handle part neck in the fully plugged-in position and in this respect forms a detent locking. In particular, the actuating projection 28 can first be elastically deflected radially in this position and slide over the handle part neck contour when it is moved into the interior of the handle part neck 4. When the end position is reached, the actuating strut can snap into the undercut groove and spring back. In the embodiment shown, the actuating projection 28 has a radially projecting pawl locking nose which moves into a pawl locking recess provided on the handle part neck 4; see fig. 10. This makes it possible to achieve an increased retention of the brush attachment 3 in the attached position.

When the brush attachment 3 is removed, the coupling member 13 is pivoted back in the opposite direction into its unlocked position. In the process, the drive surface 27 provided on the coupling insert 9 drives the drive surface 21 provided on the coupling member 13, thereby driving the coupling member 13 in the axial direction. At the same time, the activation projection 28 is unlocked by its inclined surface on the pawl locking projection 40; see fig. 10. During the further retraction, the coupling element 13 is moved radially inward in the connecting guide link far enough that the inner contour of the brush attachment 3 can be pushed over the pawl locking projection 18 of the coupling element 13; see fig. 11. At the same time, the coupling member 13 rests with the flat region 24 positioned on its inner side on the flat region 31 of the drive shaft 5 and is thus blocked.

Advantageously, dirt catching grooves 41 are provided on the mating surfaces of the toothbrush handle part and the plug-in part, in which grooves dust particles, debris, etc. can for example disappear, so that they do not hinder the coupling process. For example, the dirt catching groove 42 can be provided in the form of a longitudinal groove-like corrugation 42 on the outer surface of the coupling and/or on the outer surface of the handle part neck 4; see fig. 10 and 11.

Claims (45)

1. A toothbrush handle part of an electric toothbrush (1), having a handle part neck (4) which can be inserted into a connecting piece (7) of an attachment, such as a toothbrush attachment (3), wherein a coupling device (10) is provided on the handle part neck (4), which coupling device has at least one engagement piece (11) for interlocking positive-fit and/or frictional engagement thereof with the connecting piece (7) of the attachment, characterized in that the coupling device (10) has a coupling piece (13) which is movable in the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle part.

2. A toothbrush handle component according to claim 1, wherein the coupling (13) is supported and/or designed such that an axial movement of the coupling (13) produces a transverse movement of the engaging component (11) transverse to the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle component.

3. A toothbrush handle part according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an expansion mechanism (14) is provided between the handle part neck (4) and the engagement part (11), by means of which expansion mechanism the engagement part (11) can be expanded outwards transversely to the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle part when the coupling (13) is moved axially towards the handle part.

4. A toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the expansion mechanism (14) is provided between the handle part neck (4) and the coupling member (13) so that the coupling member (13) is expandable outwardly when moved axially towards the handle part.

5. Toothbrush handle component according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the expansion mechanism (14) is designed in the form of a positive guide which prevents a lateral movement of the coupling member (13) without an axial movement of the coupling member (13) and/or prevents an axial movement of the coupling member (13) without a lateral movement of the coupling member (13).

6. A toothbrush handle component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, wherein the expansion mechanism (14) has at least one link (15) which is rotationally hinged at one end thereof to the handle component neck (4) and at the other end thereof to a coupling (13).

7. A toothbrush handle component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling (13) is hinged to the handle component neck (4) by means of a parallelogram guide link (17) comprising at least two links (15, 16) oriented substantially parallel to each other.

8. Toothbrush handle component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling (13) is guided on a movement path relative to the handle component neck (4) which provides a radial overpressure of the coupling (13) before reaching a locking position of the coupling (13) at the axial end of the movement path, wherein the coupling (13) is moved out further transversely to the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle component than in the locking position.

9. The toothbrush handle component of claim 7 and/or claim 8, wherein the links (15, 16) of the parallelogram guide link (17) are arranged such that the links (15, 16) when pivoted into the locking position of the coupling (13) pass through a position oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle component.

10. Toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the links (15, 16) of the parallelogram guide link (17) are inclined with different degrees of steepness in their end positions corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of the coupling (13) in the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle part.

11. The toothbrush handle component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engaging component (11) is rigidly connected to the coupling member (13), preferably integrally formed on the coupling member (13).

12. Toothbrush handle part according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the expansion mechanism (14) comprises a sliding guide for the coupling (13), preferably a connecting guide link (34), having a guide portion (39) which is acutely angled in the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle part.

13. Toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the sliding guide has a plurality of guide sections (37, 38, 39) which are differently inclined in the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle part, wherein preferably the inclination of both guide end sections (37, 38) is less steep than the guide intermediate section (39) located between them.

14. A toothbrush handle part according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement part (11) has a detent profile, preferably a radially protruding detent locking nose (18), which matches in its shape the counterpart of the plug-in part.

15. A toothbrush handle component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling member (13) has a catch portion (19) matching a counterpart of the plug connector in the shape and position thereof for catching the counterpart on the plug connector and for axially displacing the coupling member (13) when the plug connector is plugged onto the handle component neck (4).

16. Toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the catch portion (19) has an abutment surface (20) which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle part.

17. The toothbrush handle part according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an engagement profile, preferably in the form of a drive surface (21), is provided on the engagement part (11) for axially moving back the coupling member (13) when removing the plug connector from the handle part neck (4), the engagement profile being dimensioned such that it moves inwards towards the handle part neck (4) out of engagement with the plug connector when the coupling member (13) moves transversely to the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle part.

18. A toothbrush handle component as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (10) has a control device (22) assigned to it for controlling the toothbrush drive mechanism depending on the position of the coupling device (10).

19. Toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the control device (22) has a delay member (23) for delaying, locking, decelerating and/or disconnecting the toothbrush drive mechanism when the engaging member (11) of the coupling device (10) is in a position deviating from its locked position.

20. The toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the delay part (23) has an engagement surface on the coupling (13) which can be moved into engagement with the drive shaft of the handle part (2) in the moved-in, non-locking position of the coupling (13).

21. Toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the delay part (23) comprises a flat area on the circumferential side on the coupling (13) which is movable against a flat area of the drive shaft of the handle part (2) which is also provided on the circumferential side.

22. A toothbrush handle part as claimed in any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the control means (22) preferably has an electronic cut-off (33) for switching off the drive motor when the drive shaft (5) is delayed.

23. Toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the shut-off device (33) has a detection means (32) for detecting the motor current and a shut-off means for switching off the drive motor if a defined motor current is exceeded.

24. The toothbrush handle part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling (14) forms a preferably rib-shaped shell part which in the unlocked position of the coupling device (10) forms a part of the handle part neck contour, preferably extends substantially uniformly.

25. A toothbrush handle component according to any of the preceding claims wherein the handle component neck (4) has a dirt catching groove (41).

26. Toothbrush handle part according to the preceding claim, wherein the dirt catching groove (41) is designed in the form of a preferably longitudinal groove-like corrugation (42) of the mating surface which can be moved into engagement with the mating surface of the plug connector (3).

27. A toothbrush handle component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a spring element (29) which urges the coupling member (13) in the longitudinal direction (12) of the handle component into an unlocked position, i.e. away from the grip portion of the handle component.

28. Attachment, for example a toothbrush attachment, for a toothbrush handle part, preferably according to one of the preceding claims, having a working head (6) and a tubular connecting piece (7) connected to the working head (6), which tubular connecting piece (7) can be placed onto a handle part neck (4) of the toothbrush handle part, wherein the connecting piece (7) has a coupling part (9) for locking the connecting piece (7) onto the handle part neck (4) in a form-fitting and/or frictional engagement, characterized in that the coupling part (9) has an outwardly oriented recess (25) and an abutment surface (26) on an inner cylindrical surface.

29. The plug connector of the preceding claim wherein said recess (25) forms a window-shaped locking detent recess.

30. The plug connector according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the engagement part (11) of the coupling element (13) of the handle part can be moved into the recess (25).

31. The plug according to any of the three preceding claims, wherein the abutment surface (26) is arranged to abut the recess (25) in the longitudinal direction of the plug.

32. The plug according to the preceding claim, wherein the abutment surface (26) transitions into the edge surface of the recess in a flush manner and/or at least partially forms the edge surface which delimits the recess (25).

33. The plug connector of the preceding claim, wherein the abutment surface (26) is used to axially push back the coupling of the handle part when the connecting piece (7) is placed onto the handle part neck (4).

34. The plug connector of any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein a drive surface (27) is provided for axially driving the coupling (13) of the handle part when the connecting piece (7) is removed from the handle part neck (4).

35. The plug according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive surface (27) is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the plug to abut the recess (25), in particular to form a recess edge surface which defines the recess (25).

36. The plug connector of the preceding claim, wherein the abutment surface (26) and the drive surface (27) are provided on opposite edges of the recess (25).

37. The plug according to any of claims 28 to 36, wherein the coupling element (9) has a coupling insert, such as a coupling ring or a coupling sleeve, separate from the connecting piece (7).

38. The plug connector of any one of claims 28 to 36, wherein the coupling element (9) is integrally formed in the connecting piece (7).

39. The socket connector according to any one of claims 28 to 38, wherein a detent locking hook is provided which can be moved into the handle part neck (4) of the toothbrush handle part (2) and can be moved into engagement with a detent profile on the toothbrush handle part neck (4).

40. The plug connector according to the preceding claim, wherein the pawl locking hook has an abutment surface (26) for displacing a coupling part (13) of the toothbrush handle part and/or is designed in the form of a radially movable spring brace.

41. The plug according to any of claims 28 to 40, wherein the connector (7) and/or the coupling element (9) thereof has a dirt catching groove.

42. The socket according to the preceding claim, wherein the dirt catching groove is designed in the form of a preferably longitudinal groove-like corrugation of the mating surface, which mating surface can be moved into engagement with a mating surface of the toothbrush handle part neck (4).

43. A toothbrush having a toothbrush handle part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27 and a socket connector as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 42.

44. The toothbrush according to the preceding claim, wherein the recess (25) on the plug is adapted to the expandable engagement element (11) of the coupling device (10) of the handle part in the following manner with respect to the shape and position thereof: during the placement of the plug on the handle part neck (4), the engagement part (11) of the coupling device (10) of the handle part can be moved with a close fit into the recess (15).

45. The toothbrush according to either of the two preceding claims, wherein the coupling element (9) of the plug-in and the coupling element (13) of the coupling device (10) of the handle part have catch portions arranged on them, which catch portions catch each other when the plug-in is plugged onto the handle part neck (4), the catch portions being designed such that, when the plug-in is plugged onto the handle part neck (4), they cause an axial actuating movement of the coupling element (13) of the coupling device (10) of the handle part and slide away on each other transversely to the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush.