Toothbrush and process for producing the same

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric toothbrush ( 10 ) having a rechargeable energy store ( 24 ) that is arranged in an inner space ( 36 ) in the body ( 12 ) of the toothbrush ( 10 ). The inner space ( 36 ) is sealed by a primary sealing element ( 56 ) against splash water and other detrimental influences. At least one contact element ( 28 ) for an external power supply unit ( 46 ) produces an electrically conductive connection to the energy store ( 24 ). The contact element is located either within the inner space ( 36 ), it being possible for the primary sealing element ( 56 ) to be removed for charging purposes, or outside the inner space ( 36 ), in which case it is optionally protected by an additional secondary sealing element ( 76 ). The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.

1 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a body including a handle region, a head region and a neck region located between the handle region and the head region, the body comprising a first housing part, a second housing part and an inner space, the handle region being formed by the first and/or second housing part, the first and second housing parts being movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position,   functional components which are arranged, at least in part, within the body and comprise an electrically operated functional unit, an electric energy store and at least one contact element, the at least one contact element being formed to produce an electrically conductive connection to a corresponding further contact element located outside the body, and   sealing means for sealing the inner space at least against splash water when the first and second housing parts are in the closed position,   wherein the energy store and the at least one contact element are arranged in the inner space of the body and the inner space is closable and openable at least to the extent where the at least one contact element is accessible for the corresponding further contact element from the outside when the first and second housing parts are in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second housing part is a closure which closes off the inner space. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and/or second housing part is displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second housing parts are connected to one another by screw means. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the screw means comprise a thread with a distance-limiting means. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a switch interacting with the second housing part to deactivate the functional unit when the first and second housing parts are in the open position. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switch comprises the contact element and a part which is movable relative to the contact element, the part being connected in an electrically conductive manner to the contact element in the closed position of the first and second housing parts. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact element and the energy store are arranged at a carrier unit forming an energy store subassembly. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush according to  claim 8 , wherein the energy store subassembly has the size of a conventional battery. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush according to  claim 8 , further comprising snap-action means for connecting the carrier unit to the body. 
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the first housing part is permanently connected to the second housing part. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shield arranged in a region of the contact element to shield the functional components, with the exception of the contact element, against splash water in the open position of the first and second housing parts. 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact element is oriented such that the electrically conductive connection to a corresponding further contact element located outside the body is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush. 
     
     
         14 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact element is oriented such that the electrically conductive connection to a corresponding further contact element located outside the body is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toothbrush. 
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional unit is deactivated when the contact element and the further contact element are in a conductive connection. 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one structure-forming hard component and at least one soft component. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one hard component is chosen from the group consisting of polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, polyester, polyamide, and polypropylene, and the at least one soft component is a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         18 . The toothbrush according to  claim 11 , comprising a separating plane defined between the first and second housing part, the contact element being arranged in the immediate vicinity of the separating plane. 
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically operated functional unit is a vibration device that causes the brush head to vibrate. 
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically operated functional unit is a drive that oscillates the head part. 
     
     
         21 . The toothbrush according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically operated functional unit is a music or light emitting device. 
     
     
         22 . A sales unit comprising a toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush is arranged in a pack with the at least one contact element of the toothbrush visible from outside the pack. 
     
     
         23 . A sales unit comprising a toothbrush as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush is arranged in a pack in which the sealing means is displayed in the open state. 
     
     
         24 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a body including a handle region, a head region and a neck region located between the handle region and the head region;   functional components which are arranged, at least in part, within the body and comprise an electrically operated functional unit, an electrical supply device for the functional unit and at least one contact element, the at least one contact element being formed to produce an electrically conductive connection to a corresponding further contact element located outside the body, the body defining an inner space, and the electrical supply device being arranged in the inner space of the body;   a primary sealing element that seals the inner space to prevent the electrical supply device from coming into contact with splash water and other foreign matter; and   a secondary sealing element that seals the at least one contact element during use of the toothbrush to prevent the contact element from coming into contact with splash water, the secondary sealing element being movable, at least in part, to render the at least one contact element accessible from outside for the corresponding further contact element.   
     
     
         25 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising a switch cooperating with the contact element and decoupling the functional unit when the contact element and the further contact element are in a conductive connection. 
     
     
         26 . A toothbrush, comprising:
 a body including a handle region, a head region and a neck region located between the handle region and the head region, the body comprising a first housing part, a second housing part and an inner space, the handle region being formed by the first and/or second housing part, the first and second housing parts being movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position;   functional components that are arranged, at least in part, within the body and comprise an electrically operated functional unit, an electrical supply device for the functional unit and at least one contact element, the at least one contact element being formed to produce an electrically conductive connection to a corresponding further contact element located outside the body;   sealing means for sealing the inner space at least against splash water when the first and second housing parts are in the closed position; and   a switch that interacts with the second housing part to deactivate the functional unit when the first and second housing parts are in the open position,   wherein at least the electrical supply device is arranged in the inner space of the body, the inner space being closable and openable at least to the extent where the at least one contact element is accessible for the corresponding further contact element from the outside when the first and second housing parts are in the open position.   
     
     
         27 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising a primary sealing element for permanently closing the inner space, the at least one contact element being arranged outside the inner space. 
     
     
         28 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the at least one contact element is arranged within a cutout in the brush body so that the at least one contact element is offset inwardly relative to the outer surface of the brush body. 
     
     
         29 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the cutout is oriented away from a water flow path along which water on the toothbrush flows when the toothbrush is placed in a set down position after usage. 
     
     
         30 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the shape of the cutout is adapted to the shape of a further contact element of a power supply unit for the electrical supply device. 
     
     
         31 . The toothbrush as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising a secondary sealing element which can be displaced, pivoted, removed or pierced. 
     
     
         32 . A sales unit comprising a toothbrush as claimed in  claim 27 , further comprising a secondary sealing element which can be displaced, pivoted, removed or pierced, wherein the toothbrush is arranged in a pack displaying one of the primary and secondary sealing elements in the open state. 
     
     
         33 . An electrically operated personal-care device having a body defining a handle region and a head region and having functional components that are arranged, at least in part, within the body and comprise an electrically operated functional unit and an electrical supply device for the functional unit, the electrical supply device having an energy store, the body comprising a first housing part and a second housing part, the second housing part forming a closure and being connectable to the first housing part, the first and second housing part enclosing an inner space that houses the energy store, wherein the closure comprises a switch for switching the functional unit on or off, an inner, cylindrical first part comprising a hard plastic component and all of the electrical components of the closure, a sleeve-like second part consisting of a hard plastic component ring which surrounds the cylindrical first part, and a soft plastic component switching membrane integrally molded with the closure which allows the switch to be pressed, wherein the first part and the second part of the closure are permanently connected to one another by snap-action, welding or gluing. 
     
     
         34 . An electrically operated personal-care device having a body defining a handle region and a head region, and having functional components that are arranged, at least in part, within the body and comprise an electrically operated functional unit and an electrical supply device for the functional unit, the electrical supply device having or being connectable to an energy store, the body comprising a first housing part containing the electrically operated functional unit and a second housing part forming a closure and connectable to the first housing part, the first and the second housing parts enclosing an inner space for housing the energy store, whereby an electrically conductive connection between the functional unit and the electrical supply device is interrupted in an open state of the closure, the device further including a primary on/off switching element located in the first housing part and switching the electrically operated functional unit between ON and OFF states and a secondary on/off switching element located in the second housing part and serving to activate an alternative operating state of the functional unit by a change of a voltage. 
     
     
         35 . The personal-care device according to  claim 34 , further comprising a Schottky diode for producing the alternative operating state.