Head portion and handle portion of an oral care device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9724179-B2
Application number	US-201414532775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2014
Priority date	Jan 17, 2012
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

An oral care device is disclosed. The oral care device includes a housing being at least partly formed of an electrically isolating material; a capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that they are not exposed to an outside environment of the oral care device; and a processor unit being electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the oral care device it determines a capacitance (x) of the capacitor in order to determine whether the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity or not.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handle portion for an oral-care device comprising the handle portion and a head portion coupled therewith, the handle portion comprising:
a processor unit connectable to a first electrode and a second electrode of a capacitor;
a motor; and
an electrically conducting drive shaft comprising the first electrode and structured to transfer rotating motion of the motor to an oscillating pivoting motion of a bristle carrier;
wherein the processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the handle portion the processor unit determines a capacitance of a capacitor formed by the first electrode and the second electrode in order to determine whether or not the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity;
wherein the drive shaft provides both mechanical coupling with the head portion and electrical coupling with the first electrode of the head portion.

2. The handle portion according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a handle housing comprising an electrically isolating material;
wherein the second electrode is electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the handle housing such that it is not exposed to an outside environment of the handle portion.

3. The handle portion according to claim 2 , wherein the processor unit is arranged to compare the capacitance to a threshold value during operation of the handle.

4. The handle portion according to claim 3 , wherein the processor unit is arranged to prevent switching the drive shaft ON once the capacitance determined is above or below the threshold value.

5. The handle portion according to claim 3 , wherein the processor unit is arranged to output a warning signal once the capacitance determined is above or below the threshold value.

6. The handle portion of claim 1 coupled with the head portion, wherein the head portion has a head housing comprising an electrically isolating material; a moveable drive member defining at least a portion of the first electrode; and a first electrically conducting path for connecting the first electrode to the processor unit;
wherein the first electrode is electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the head housing such that it is not exposed to an outside environment of the head portion; the drive member including mechanical and electrical coupling for attachment to the handle portion of the oral care device.

7. An oral-care device comprising:
a housing being at least partially formed of an electrically isolating material
a processor unit;
a capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that they are not exposed to an outside environment of the oral care device; and
a head portion including a head housing comprising an electrically isolating material, a moveable drive member, the first electrode for forming part of a capacitor, and a first electrically conducting path for connecting the first and second electrodes to the processor unit;
wherein the processor unit is arranged to determine a capacitance of the capacitor during operation in order to determine whether or not the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity;
wherein the oral-care device includes an electrically conducting drive shaft that forms the first electrode,
wherein the first electrode is electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the head housing such that it is not exposed to an outside environment of the head portion; and
wherein the drive member forms at least part of the first electrode, the drive member including a mechanical and electrical coupling for attachment to a handle portion of the oral care device.

8. An oral-care device having a bristle carrier and comprising a handle portion and a head portion attachable to the handle portion,
wherein the handle portion includes a processor unit connectable to a first electrode and a second electrode forming a capacitor, the processor unit being arranged to determine, during operation, a capacitance of the capacitor in order to determine whether the oral-care device is within a user's oral cavity,
a motor and a drive shaft for transferring a rotating motion of the motor to an oscillating pivoting motion of the bristle carrier, wherein the drive shaft comprises the first electrode, the drive shaft providing both mechanical coupling and electrical coupling between the handle portion and the head portion;
wherein the head portion includes a head housing comprising an electrically isolating material, a moveable drive member comprising the first electrode, and a first electrically conducting path for connecting the first electrode to the processor unit;
wherein the first electrode is electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the head housing such that the first electrode is not exposed to an outside environment of the head portion, and wherein the movable drive member includes a mechanical coupling and electrical coupling for attachment to the handle portion.

Assignees

• Braun Gmbh

Inventors

• Simeth Martin
• Jung Philipp
• Fritsch Thomas

Classifications

• A61C17/34

  driven by electric motor · CPC title

• A61C17/16

  Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices · CPC title

• A61C17/221 Primary

  Control arrangements therefor · CPC title

• A46B15/0004

  with a controlling means · CPC title

• A46B15/0008

  with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing · CPC title