Handle for oral-care implement for safe and hygienic use by multiple users and method of disinfecting the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12440591-B2
Application number	US-202217690461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2022
Priority date	Mar 9, 2022
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A handle for an oral-care implement, the handle comprises an electrical motor arranged to drive an output element structured and configured to couple the handle and a head attachable to and detachable from the handle; and a microcontroller for controlling the motor and to cause the output element to vibrate in (a) at least one oral-hygiene mode during which the oral-care implement is being used for an oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is vibrating at a substantially constant frequency, and (b) a disinfection mode during which the handle is being disinfected, before or after being used for the oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is continuously vibrating at a modulated frequency alternating within a frequency range of between about 140 Hz and about 250 Hz, for a duration of the disinfection mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handle for an oral-care implement, the handle comprising:
an electrical motor arranged to drive an output element structured and configured to couple the handle and a head attachable to and detachable from the handle; and
a microcontroller for controlling the motor and to cause the output element to vibrate in
(a) at least one oral-hygiene mode during which the oral-care implement is being used for an oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is vibrating at a substantially constant frequency, and
(b) a disinfection mode wherein the handle is being disinfected during a disinfection routine, before or after being used for the oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is continuously vibrating at a modulated frequency alternating within a frequency range of between about 140 Hz and about 250 Hz, for a duration of the disinfection routine.

2. The handle of claim 1 , wherein the duration of the disinfection routine is from about 20 seconds to about 60 seconds.

3. The handle of claim 2 , wherein the duration of the disinfection routine is from about 35 seconds to about 45 seconds.

4. The handle of claim 1 , wherein the modulated frequency increases from about (155+5/−10) Hz to about (235+10/−5) Hz within about (11±2) seconds.

5. The handle of claim 4 , wherein the modulated frequency decreases from about (235+10/−5) Hz to about (165+5/−10) Hz within about (11±2) seconds.

6. The handle of claim 5 , wherein the modulated frequency increases from about (165+5/−10) Hz to about (235+10/−5) Hz within about (11±2) seconds.

7. The handle of claim 6 , wherein the modulated frequency decreases from about (235+10/−5) Hz to about (190+5/−10) Hz within about (5.5±2) seconds.

8. The handle of claim 1 , wherein the modulated frequency changes substantially linearly.

9. The handle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one oral-hygiene mode comprises a plurality of oral-hygiene modes, wherein each of said plurality of oral-hygiene modes differs from every other oral-hygiene mode in said plurality in at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of frequency, amplitude, and any combination thereof.

10. An oral-care implement for safe and hygienic use by multiple users, the implement comprising a handle structured and configured to be attached to a replaceable head, wherein the handle comprises:
an electrical motor arranged to drive an output element structured and configured to couple the handle and the replaceable head for a vibratory movement of the replaceable head; and
a microcontroller for controlling the motor to cause the output element to vibrate in
(a) at least one oral-hygiene mode during which the oral-care implement is being used for an oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is vibrating at a substantially constant frequency, and
(b) a disinfection mode during which the handle is being disinfected, before or after being used for the oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is continuously vibrating at a modulated frequency alternating in a frequency range of between about 140 Hz and about 250 Hz, for a duration of a disinfection routine.

11. A handle for an oral-care implement, the handle comprising:
an electrical motor arranged to drive an output element disposed at an end of the handle and structured and configured to couple the handle and a head attachable to and detachable from the handle; and
a microcontroller for controlling the motor and to cause the output element to vibrate in
(a) at least one oral-hygiene mode during which the oral-care implement is being used for an oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is vibrating at a substantially constant frequency, and
(b) a disinfection mode wherein the handle is being disinfected during a disinfection routine, before or after being used for the oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is continuously vibrating at a modulated frequency alternating between a low modulated frequency and a high modulated frequency, wherein the high modulated frequency is at least 50 percent greater than the low modulated frequency.

12. The handle of claim 11 , wherein the high modulated frequency is at least 60 percent greater than the low modulated frequency.

13. The handle of claim 11 , wherein the high modulated frequency is at least 70 percent greater than the low modulated frequency.

Assignees

• Braun Gmbh

Inventors

• Utsch Joern
• Stoerkel Ulrich
• Becker-Salzsaeuler Bianka
• Atlas Boris
• Kaminski Michael Anthony
• Watterson Todd Lynn
• Ohlman Darcie Ann
• Schuering Andrea
• Hilscher Alexander
• Kuechler Kervin Heinrich
• Maennchen Andreas
• Mark Erwin Paul

Classifications

• A61L2103/15

  Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps · CPC title

• A61L2/025

  Ultrasonic waves · CPC title

• A61L2101/16

  containing phosphorus · CPC title

• A61L2101/36

  Carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof · CPC title

• A61L2101/34

  Hydroxy compounds · CPC title