WO2007102678A1

WO2007102678A1 - A sterilize toothbrush

Info

Publication number: WO2007102678A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/001070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byung-Ok Jeon
Original assignee: Byung-Ok Jeon
Priority date: 2006-03-09
Filing date: 2007-03-05
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Also published as: KR100737691B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toothbrush with a sterilized function in which the ultraviolet rays emitted from an ultraviolet lamp is exactly irradiated on the toothbrush hair by the medium of optical fiber, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the sterilization and the user's convenience. Also, the appearance of the toothbrush is beautiful and the entertainment function is equipped to the toothbrush so that the marketability is enhanced. According to the present invention, in a toothbrush comprising a head portion with a transparent material in which toothbrush1 hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a user in which an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, the toothbrush with a sterilized function comprises plural optical fibers in which ends thereof are closely positioned at the ultraviolet lamp, the other ends thereof are positioned at the head portion and the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is transmitted and irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs.

Description

A STERILIZE TOOTHBRUSH

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a toothbrush with a sterilized function, and more particularly to, a toothbrush with a sterilized function in which a sterilized function is performed without a separate disinfection element only by using the toothbrush itself and also the ultraviolet rays emitted from an ultraviolet lamp is exactly irradiated on the toothbrush hair, thereby enhancing the sterilization performance.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, although many kinds of sanitary instruments such as dental floss and the mouth cleaning agent and the like are used in order to cleanly maintain the inside of the mouth and teeth, a toothbrush is used widely by the general public.

Like this, the toothbrush is used at many people and the wide age layer and various kinds of toothbrushes are used according to the user's age or the state of teeth, after using the toothbrush, the various kinds of bacteria may be propagated at the toothbrush so that the bacteria injures the health of teeth. Accordingly, there is needed the disinfection of the toothbrush.

Accordingly, although medicine or a disinfection instrument is used in order to disinfect the toothbrush, since the cost and time for purchasing the medicine or the disinfection instrument are required, so that the use of the medicine or the disinfection instrument is very inconvenient and > the burden of the cost is increased.

Accordingly, at the latest, the toothbrush in which a sterilized device is constructed to the toothbrush itself is designed, for example, according to the Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-2003-0001664, an ultraviolet lamp light-emitted by using a coin type battery as the power is constructed and a sterilized function is performed by itself by the ultraviolet rays light-emitted according to the manipulate of a switch. However, in the conventional sterilization toothbrush, there are several disadvantages that since the separation distance between the ultraviolet rays lamp for irradiating the ultraviolet rays and the toothbrush hair for sterilizing is large, so that the sterilization efficiency is lowered and since the sterilization procedure uses directly the light beam irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp, the flickering phenomenon is generated due to the ultraviolet rays irradiated from a remote distance.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION To solve the above problems, it is an object to provide a toothbrush with a sterilized function in which the ultraviolet rays emitted from an ultraviolet lamp is exactly irradiated ,on the toothbrush hair by the medium of optical fiber, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the sterilization and the user's convenience. It is another object to provide a toothbrush with a sterilized function in which the appearance is beautiful and the entertainment function is equipped to the toothbrush so that the marketability is enhanced.

To achieve the above objects, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a toothbrush comprising a head portion with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a "user in which an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, the toothbrush with a sterilized function comprises plural optical fibers in which ends thereof are closely positioned at the ultraviolet lamp, the other ends thereof are positioned at the head portion and the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is transmitted and irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs.

Also, the optical fibers are arranged with a constant distance on a head portion as the lower side of the toothbrush hairs.

And, the optical fibers are exposed upwardly through the head portion with a short length as compared with the length of the toothbrush hair.

Preferably, the ultraviolet lamp and the optical fibers are connected with each other by a connection member.

Also, a color plate with plural colors is installed between the ultraviolet lamp and the optical fibers so that the ultraviolet rays with various colors is irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs.

And, the head portion comprises a subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted and a main head portion in which the subsidiary head is detachably mounted thereon, and the other ends of the plural optical fibers are arranged at the main head portion so that the ultraviolet rays is irradiated toward the subsidiary head.

Also, a handle portion and a head portion are separately formed and then combined with each other, an ultraviolet lamp is installed within an end of the handle portion, optical fibers are installed within the head port and the ultraviolet lamp and the optical fibers are connected with each other by a connection member.

And, a subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted is combined with detachably a main head portion, plural optical fibers are arranged with a radial shape toward the toothbrush hairs from an ultraviolet lamp at the inside of the subsidiary head as the vertex, so that the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp installed at the inside of the main head portion toward the subsidiary head are equivalently distributed to the toothbrush hairs.

Also, at least one among antibiotic minute powder such as silver, gold, titanium dioxide, carbon, pearl powder is coated on the outer surface of the optical fiber.

And, light emission type exposing grooves are formed with a constant distance on the outer circumference of the optical fibers embedded toward the toothbrush hairs so that the ultraviolet rays is exposed to the outside of a toothbrush body passed by the Optical fibers.

Preferably, in a toothbrush comprising a head portion with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a user in which an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, the

1 toothbrush with a sterilized function comprises the toothbrush hairs formed by optical fibers whereby the ultraviolet ray's applied from an end of the ultraviolet lamp is directly irradiated to a contact position of the toothbrush hairs through the other hand of the ultraviolet lamp.

Also, preferably, in a toothbrush comprising a subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted is combined with a main head in order to be rotated by a driving apparatus and an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, a toothbrush with a sterilized function comprises plural optical fibers in which ends thereof are positioned at the ultraviolet lamp and the other ends thereof are positioned at the main head so that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is transmitted and irradiated toward a subsidiary head with a transparent material.

Preferably, in a toothbrush comprising a head portion with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a user in which an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, a toothbrush with a sterilized function comprises a subsidiary head with an elastic material, the subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs is transplanted is combined with the head portion and the switch member is constructed by a rod which is installed at an inside space of the head portion as the lower portion of the subsidiary head and operated upwardly and elastically by an elastic member.

Also, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs by optical fibers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. Ia is an outlined perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Ib is a perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to a modified example of the fir,st embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 2a and 2b are outlined cross-sectional views showing the state that optical fiber is installed at a head portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an outlined cross-sectional ,view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. '

Fig. 8a is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8b is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to a modified example of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. Ia is an outlined perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the first embodiment of the present invention and Fig. Ib is a perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figs. Ia and Ib, a toothbrush according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a head portion 11 with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion 12 for grasping by a user, a power member 13 and a switch member 14 installed at the inside of the handle portion 12, an ultraviolet lamp 15 light-emitted by the power applied by the power member 13 according to the input operation of the switch member 14, plural optical fibers 17 in which ends thereof are positioned at the ultraviolet lamp, the other ends thereof are positioned at the head portion 11 and the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is transmitted and irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs 19.

The power member 13, for example, is constructed by a coin shaped battery and the power member 13, the switch member 14 and an ultraviolet lamp 15 are constructed by a single module type and installed in simple at an installation groove (not shown) formed at the inside of the handle portion.

Also, a connection member 18 is equipped at a portion in which the ultraviolet lamp 15 and a bundle of optical fibers 17 are contacted with each other and the ends of the ultraviolet lamp 15 and the optical fibers 17 are inserted and connected with each other.

Preferably, as shown in an enlarge portion of Fig. Ia, a color plate 18a having several colors is inserted into the inside of the connection member so that the beam applied from the ultraviolet lamp 15 and irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs 19 by the medium of optical fibers 17 is represented with various colors.

And, the optical fiber 17 has a general structure in which a core 17a made of a glass material and the like is positioned at the inside center thereof and a cladding layer 17b is covered on the outer surface thereof. Also, as shown in the enlarged portion B of Fig. Ib (a strand of plural optical fibers is enlarged at the enlarged portion B), light emission type exposing grooves 17c are formed with a constant distance at the cladding layer 17b which corresponds to the outer circumference of the optical fibers 17 embedded toward the toothbrush hairs 19.

Like this, in case that the light emission type exposing grooves 17c are formed with a constant distance on the optical fiber 17, the ultraviolet rays is exposed with a constant distance through a toothbrush body, so that the appearance of the toothbrush is shined splendidly by the emitted ultraviolet rays, the marketability is enhanced and simultaneously a sterilized function at the circumference of the toothbrush body is performed.

On the other hand, one or more material among antibiotic minute powder (preferably, nano powder) such as silver, gold, titanium dioxide, carbon, pearl powder is coated on¹ the outer surface of the optical fiber 17 in order to increase double the antibiosis.

Figs. 2a and 2b are outlined cross-sectional views showing the state that optical fiber is installed at a head portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2a, the optical fibers 17 are arranged with a constant distance on a head portion 11 as the lower side of the toothbrush hairs.

According this, a sterilized function is activated at the lower end portions and the neighborhood of the toothbrush hairs 19 by the ultraviolet rays 'emitted from the ends of the optical fibers installed with a constant distance.

And, as shown in Fig. 2b, the optical fibers are exposed upwardly through the head portion 11 with a short length as compared with the length of the toothbrush hair. According this, since the optical fibers 17 are more closely positioned with the toothbrush hairs 19, a sterilized function of the toothbrush hairs is reinforced, and when brushing one's teeth, since the exposed optical fibers are positioned closely to the teeth, a sterilized function within the inside of the mouth is also performed by the ultraviolet rays. On the other hand, preferably, at the structure that the optical fibers

17 are exposed toward the toothbrush hairs 19, a safety member 19a for notifying the abrasion of the toothbrush hairs to a user is further equipped in order to prevent a direct contact between the teeth and the optical fibers due to the abrasion of the toothbrush hairs and the like. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, same reference numbers will be numbered at the same or similar portions as compared with the first embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 3, in the toothbrush comprising a handle portion 12 and a head portion 20, the head portion 20 comprises a subsidiary head 22 in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted and a main head portion 21 in which the subsidiary head is detachably mounted thereon. The other ends of the plural optical fibers are arranged at the main head portion 21 so that the ultraviolet rays emitted and transmitted from an ultraviolet lamp 15 is irradiated toward the subsidiary head 22.

And, at a combination structure of the main head portion 21 and the subsidiary head 22, as shown in a drawing, although a protrusion formed at the lower portion of the subsidiary head 22 is combined with a groove formed at the main head portion, the combination structure is not limited to the above structure and various detachable combination structures are possible.

Fig. 4 is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, a subsidiary head 32 in which toothbrush hairs 19 are transplanted is detachably combined with a main head portion 31. Plural optical fibers 17 are arranged with a radial shape toward the toothbrush hairs from an ultraviolet lamp 15 at the inside of the subsidiary head 32 as the vertex, so that the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp 15 installed at the inside of the main head portion 31 toward the subsidiary head 32 are equivalently distributed to the toothbrush hairs 19.

Like this, when the optical fibers 17 are arranged with a radial shape at the inside of the subsidiary head 32, the ultraviolet rays of the ultraviolet lamp 15 are evenly diffused and a smooth sterilized function is performed.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, a handle portion 42 and a head portion 41 are separately formed and then combined with each other. An ultraviolet lamp 15 is installed within an end of the handle portion 42, optical fibers 17 are installed within the head port 41 and the ultraviolet lamp 15 and the optical fibers 17 are connected with each other by a connection member 18.

The handle potion 42 and the head portion 41 are combined with an insertion combination type or a screw combination type and an O -ring 43 for sealing is installed at the connection portion.

Fig. 6 is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 6, in a toothbrush comprising a head portion 51 with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs 19 are transplanted and a handle portion 52 for grasping by a user, an ultraviolet lamp 15 is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, the toothbrush comprises the ultraviolet lamp 15 installed at the inside space of the head portion 51 and the toothbrush hairs 19 formed by optical fibers, so that the ultraviolet rays applied from an end of the ultraviolet lamp 15 is directly irradiated to a contact position of the toothbrush hairs through the other hand of the ultraviolet lamp.

And, a color plate 53 is installed between the ultraviolet lamp 15 and the optical fiber so that the light-beam is irradiated toward the other end of the optical fiber with various colors.

Fig. 7 is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 7, in a toothbrush with a sterilized function, a subsidiary head 62 in which toothbrush hairs 19 are transplanted is combined with a main head 61 in order to be rotated by a driving apparatus 63 and an ultraviolet lamp 15 is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and plural optical fibers 17 in which ends thereof are positioned at the ultraviolet lamp 15 and the other ends thereof are positioned at the main head 61 so that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 15 is transmitted and irradiated toward a subsidiary head 52 with a transparent material.

Although various driving mechanisms may be applied to the driving apparatus 63, as shown in the accompanying drawing, a rotation force is transmitted from a driving motor (not shown) by the medium of a shaft 63a and the subsidiary head 62 is combined with a follower shaft 63a and rotated by the rotation force transmitted through a bevel gear 63b.

And, as shown in Fig. 7, a color plate 64 is installed at the lower surface of the subsidiary head 62 so that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the optical fiber 17 arranged at the main board 61 are represented with i various colors.

Fig. 8a is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 8b is an outlined cross-sectional view showing a toothbrush with a sterilized function according to a modi ified example of I the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

A toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention comprises a head portion 71 with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a user, a power member 13 formed within the head portion 71, an ultraviolet lamp 15 light-emitted by the power applied from the power member 13 and a switch member 73 for switching the power from the power member 13 to the ultraviolet lamp 15. A subsidiary head 72 with an elastic material in which toothbrush hairs 19 are transplanted is combined with the head portion 71 and the switch member .73 is constructed by a rod 73a which is installed at an inside space of the head portion 71 as the lower portion of the subsidiary head 72 and operated upwardly and elastically by an elastic member 73b. The subsidiary head 73 with an arc shape is made of the silicon material having the flexibility and when the compressed force is applied to the toothbrush hairs 19 by a user, the subsidiary head is moved downwardly and the rod 73a are also moved downwardly. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8b, ends of the optical fibers are positioned to a side of an ultraviolet lamp 15 and the other ends thereof are positioned toward a side of the toothbrush hairs 19 so that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs 19. According this, according to the seventh embodiment, in the structure of the toothbrush with a sterilized function, since the sterilized apparatus is constructed at the only inside space of the head portion, the structure is simple. Also, the switch for driving the ultraviolet lamp is, not a manual switch driven by manual, automatically operated when a user contacts the toothbrush 19 with teeth and then the sterilized apparatus is operated, the user's convenience is enhanced.

In the toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the seventh embodiment, the toothbrush further comprises a sound generating member electrically connected to the power member so that when using the toothbrush, the melody is outputted without a separate pressing operation. The operation according to the embodiments of the present invention is as follows.

According to the toothbrush with a sterilized function according to each embodiment, by the manipulation signals of a user, the power from the power member is applied to an ultraviolet lamp and the ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted. The ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp is not directly irradiated to the toothbrush hairs, the ultraviolet rays are transmitted exactly to a side of the toothbrush hairs by the medium of optical fibers. The ends of the optical fibers are positioned at the ultraviolet lamp and the other ends of the optical fibers are positioned at the toothbrush hairs.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As discussed earlier, according to the toothbrush with a sterilized function in accordance with the present invention, there are several advantages that the effect of the sterilized function is increased and since the ultraviolet rays is irradiated through optical fibers, the appearance thereof is beautiful and an entertainment function is equipped to the toothbrush so that the marketability is enhanced.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, o'r equivalences of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a toothbrush comprising a head portion with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a user in which an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, the toothbrush with a sterilized function comprising plural optical fibers in which ends thereof are closely positioned at the ultraviolet lamp, the other ends thereof are positioned at the head portion and the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is transmitted and irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs.

2. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein the optical fibers are arranged with a constant distance on a head portion as the lower side of the toothbrush hairs.

3. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein the optical fibers are exposed upwardly through the head portion with a short length as compared with the length of the toothbrush hair.

4. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet lamp and the optical fibers are connected with each other by a connection member.

5. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein a color plate with plural colors is installed between the ultraviolet lamp and the optical fibers so that the ultraviolet rays with various colors is irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs.

6. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein the head portion comprises a subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted and a main head portion in which the subsidiary head is detachably mounted thereon, and the other ends of the plural optical fibers are arranged at the main head portion so that the ultraviolet rays is irradiated toward the subsidiary head.

7. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein a handle portion and a head portion are separately formed and then combined with each other, an ultraviolet lamp is installed within an end of the handle portion, optical fibers are installed within the head port and the ultraviolet lamp and the optical fibers are connected with each other by a connection member.

8. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein a subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted is combined with detachably a main head portion, plural optical fibers are arranged with a radial shape toward the toothbrush hairs from an ultraviolet lamp at the inside of the subsidiary head as the vertex, so that the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp installed at the inside of the main head portion toward the subsidiary head are equivalently distributed to the toothbrush hairs.

9. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein at least one among antibiotic minute powder such as silver, gold, titanium dioxide, carbon, pearl powder is coated on the outer surface of the optical fiber.

10. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 1, wherein light emission type exposing grooves are formed with a constant distance on the outer circumference of the optical fibers embedded toward the toothbrush hairs so that the ultraviolet rays is exposed to the outside of a toothbrush body passed by the optical fibers.

11. In a toothbrush comprising a head portion with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a user in which an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, the toothbrush with a sterilized function comprising the toothbrush hairs formed by optical fibers whereby the ultraviolet rays applied from an end of the ultraviolet lamp is directly irradiated to a contact position of the toothbrush hairs through the other hand of the ultraviolet lamp.

12. In a toothbrush comprising a subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted is combined with a main head in order to be rotated by a driving apparatus and an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, a toothbrush with ^j a sterilized function comprising plural optical fibers in which ends thereof are positioned at the ultraviolet lamp and the other ends thereof are 'positioned at the main head so that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is transmitted and irradiated toward a subsidiary head with a transparent material.

13. In a toothbrush comprising a head portion with a transparent material in which toothbrush hairs are transplanted, a handle portion for grasping by a user in which an ultraviolet lamp is light-emitted by the power applied from a power member according to the input operation of a switch member and a sterilized function is performed, a toothbrush with a sterilized function comprising a subsidiary head with an elastic material, wherein the subsidiary head in which toothbrush hairs is transplanted is combined with the head portion and the switch member is constructed by a rod which is installed at an inside space of the head portion as the lower portion of the subsidiary head and operated upwardly and elastically by an elastic member.

14. The toothbrush with a sterilized function according to the claim 13, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is irradiated toward the toothbrush hairs by optical fibers.