STAND FOR ORAL CARE MEMBER

Abstract

 An oral care product stand according to the present disclosure holds an oral care product including a body extending in one direction, and an oral insertion part that is connected to the body so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and that is insertable into an oral cavity. The oral care product stand includes a stand body having a plurality of retainers each capable of holding a part to be held of the body. The retainers include at least one first retainer and a second retainer having a higher height than the first retainer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an oral care product stand.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] As disclosed in PTL 1 below, a toothbrush stand (an oral care product stand) having multiple retainers capable of holding respective toothbrushes (oral care products) has been conventionally proposed.

[0003] Here, the oral care product such as a toothbrush has an eccentric shape in which the tip of a brush or the like protrudes with respect to an axial center of a handle. This structure requires the toothbrush stand to be provided with the retainers at a distance to prevent brushes from interfering with each other due to rotation, and thus increasing the toothbrush stand in size.

[0004] PTL 1 discloses the toothbrush stand in which a toothbrush stands inclining outward with respect to the toothbrush stand in a state where the toothbrush is held by the toothbrush stand. This structure enables brushes of respective toothbrushes to be prevented from interfering with each other while suppressing an increase in size of the toothbrush stand.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0005] PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H09-028594

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Unfortunately, in the above-described conventional technique, since the toothbrush stands in a posture of inclining outward with respect to the toothbrush stand, and thus a tip part of the toothbrush protrudes outward of the toothbrush stand when the toothbrush is held by the toothbrush stand.

[0007] As described above, when the tip part of the toothbrush protrudes outward of the toothbrush stand, a space for the tip part of the toothbrush needs to be secured outside the toothbrush stand, and thus restricting a place for placing the toothbrush stand.

[0008] Thus, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an oral care product stand capable of further improving a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing oral care products from interfering with each other.

[0009] An oral care product stand according to an aspect of the present disclosure holds an oral care product including a body extending in one direction, and an oral insertion part that is connected to the body so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and that is insertable into an oral cavity. The oral care product stand includes a stand body having multiple retainers each capable of holding a part to be held of the body. The retainers include at least one first retainer and a second retainer having a higher height than the first retainer.

[0010] An oral care product stand according to another aspect of the present disclosure holds an oral care product including a body extending in one direction, and an oral insertion part that is connected to the body so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and that is insertable into an oral cavity. The oral care product stand includes a stand body having multiple retainers each capable of holding a part to be held of the body. The retainers are formed so as to allow the oral care product to be held in a state where a region where the oral insertion part can exist in plan view while the body is inclined with respect to a vertical direction falls within a region of the stand body.

[0011] The present disclosure enables providing an oral care product stand capable of further improving a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing oral care products from interfering with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] 

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an oral care product is held in an oral care product stand according to a first exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating a state before the oral care product according to the first exemplary embodiment is attached to an oral care device body.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the oral care product according to the first exemplary embodiment is attached to the oral care device body.

Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating the oral care product according to the first exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a relationship between the oral care product stand according to the first exemplary embodiment and the oral care product.

Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating a state in which the oral care product is held in the oral care product stand according to the first exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a side view illustrating a state before an oral care product according to a variation 1 is attached to the oral care device body.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the oral care product according to the variation 1 is attached to the oral care device body.

Fig. 9 is a side view illustrating an oral care product according to a variation 2.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an oral care product stand according to a second exemplary embodiment and the oral care product.

Fig. 11 is a plan view illustrating a state in which an oral care product is held in an oral care product stand according to a third exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a side view illustrating a state in which the oral care product is held in the oral care product stand according to the third exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating a relationship between the oral care product stand according to the third exemplary embodiment and the oral care product.

Fig. 14 is a side view illustrating a relationship between oral care products each of which has a brush and which are held by the oral care product stand according to the third exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a side view illustrating a relationship between oral care products each of which has a nozzle and which are held by the oral care product stand according to the third exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessarily detailed description is omitted in some cases. For example, a detailed description of already well-known matters or a redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted.

[0014] Note that the attached drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter as described in the appended claims.

(First exemplary embodiment)

[0015] As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, a first exemplary embodiment exemplifies attachment stand 10 capable of holding (installing) nozzle attachment (attachment: oral care product) 20 as an oral care product stand.

[0016] As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, nozzle attachment 20 is detachably attached to oral washing device body (oral care device body) 30. Nozzle attachment 20 is attached to oral washing device body 30 to cause liquid, such as water or washing water, pressurized by a pump (not illustrated) provided in oral washing device body 30, for example, to be jetted from nozzle 22 provided at the tip of nozzle attachment 20.

[0017] The pressurized liquid is jetted from nozzle 22 to wash an oral cavity of a user or the like in a state where nozzle 22 of nozzle attachment 20 attached to oral washing device body 30 faces the oral cavity.

[0018] As described above, nozzle attachment 20 and oral washing device body 30 according to the first exemplary embodiment are a device (oral care device) capable of washing an oral cavity of a user or the like by jetting pressurized liquid from nozzle 22.

[0019] The oral care device typically includes one oral washing device body 30 and multiple nozzle attachments 20. This structure allows each of roommates such as family members to have dedicated nozzle attachment 20 while one oral washing device body 30 is shared.

[0020] Attachment stand 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment is a stand for holding nozzle attachment 20 that is not attached to oral washing device body 30, such as when the oral care device is not used.

[0021] Thus, attachment stand 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment can hold four (multiple) nozzle attachments 20 in one stand.

[0022] Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 1, attachment stand 10 includes stand body 11. Stand body 11 can be made of a material such as synthetic resin, for example, and is formed in such a way that region R1 in plan view (contour in plan view) has a square shape (quadrangular shape) with rounded corners (see Fig. 5). Stand body 11 can be used while being placed on mounting surface 1 such as a washstand, for example (see Fig. 6).

[0023] Stand body 11 is formed with four (multiple) holding holes 121 each of which extends in a vertical direction and opens upward when stand body 11 is placed on mounting surface 1.

[0024] In the first exemplary embodiment, each of four holding holes 121 serves as retainer 12 capable of holding nozzle attachment 20. Specifically, four holding holes 121 (retainers 12) are each formed in a central part of corresponding one of four regions into which region R1 having a substantially square shape in plan view is divided.

[0025] Nozzle attachment 20 held in retainer 12 includes nozzle body (body) 21 extending in one direction, and nozzle (oral insertion part) 22 that is connected to nozzle body 21 so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and is insertable into an oral cavity.

[0026] Protrusion (part to be held) 23 of nozzle body 21 is inserted into holding hole 121. As a result, nozzle attachment 20 is held in stand body 11.

[0027] In the first exemplary embodiment, nozzle attachment 20 is attached to oral washing device body 30 by inserting protrusion 23 of nozzle body 21 into insertion hole (connection part) 31 of oral washing device body 30. That is, in the first exemplary embodiment, protrusion (part to be held) 23 of nozzle body 21 held in retainer 12 doubles as a part to be connected to insertion hole (connection part) 31 of oral washing device body (oral care device body) 30 (see Figs. 2 and 3).

[0028] In the first exemplary embodiment, nozzle attachment 20 is attached to nozzle body 30 by engaging engagement protrusion 31a formed in insertion hole 31 of oral washing device body 30 with engagement groove 23a formed in protrusion 23 of oral washing device body 21.

[0029] When nozzle attachment 20 is attached to oral washing device body 30, liquid flow path 20a formed in nozzle attachment 20 communicates with liquid discharge path 30a formed in oral washing device body 30 (see Fig. 3).

[0030] As described above, in the first exemplary embodiment, nozzle body 21 extends in the vertical direction (one direction) and nozzle 22 protrudes in the direction intersecting the vertical direction with regard to nozzle body 21, when nozzle attachment 20 is held in stand body 11.

[0031] At this time, nozzles 22 of respective nozzle attachments 20 may face each other, depending on a state of nozzle attachments 20 inserted into respective holding holes 121 adjacent to each other.

[0032] In the first exemplary embodiment, retainer 12 is configured to rotatably hold nozzle attachment 20, and when nozzle attachment 20 held in retainer 12 rotates, nozzles 22 of respective nozzle attachments 20 held in corresponding retainers 12 adjacent to each other may face each other.

[0033] Thus, when nozzle attachments 20 are moved downward in the vertical direction and held in respective retainers 12 to cause nozzles 22 to be positioned at the same height, a distance between two retainers 12 needs to be increased to prevent nozzles 22 adjacent to each other from interfering with each other.

[0034] When the distance between two retainers 12 is increased, attachment stand 10 increases in size in a horizontal direction, and thus restricting a placement position of attachment stand 10.

[0035] Thus, in the first exemplary embodiment, a degree of freedom of an installation place of attachment stand 10 is further improved, while nozzles 22 adjacent to each other are prevented from interfering with each other. Specifically, attachment stand 10 can be downsized in the horizontal direction while nozzles 22 adjacent to each other are prevented from interfering with each other.

[0036] In the first exemplary embodiment, stand body 11 includes base part 111 and protrusion 112 protruding with upper surface 112a positioned above upper surface 111a of base part 111.

[0037] Furthermore, in the first exemplary embodiment, stand body 11 is formed by integrally molding base part 111 and protrusion 112. Specifically, stand body 11 is formed in a shape in which protrusions 112 in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped are formed at two diagonal positions of base part 111 in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. That is, in stand body 11, two protrusions 112 are formed and aligned in one diagonal direction, and two parts with no protrusion 112 are formed and aligned in the other diagonal direction.

[0038] Holding hole 121 is formed at substantially central part of upper surface 112a of each of two protrusions 112. Holding hole 121 is formed at substantially central part of each of upper surfaces 111a, of base part 111, formed and aligned in the other diagonal direction.

[0039] Each of base parts 111 formed and aligned in the other diagonal direction has upper surface 111a with a substantially central part provided with holding hole 121.

[0040] Here, in the first exemplary embodiment, by bringing lower surface 21b formed at a lower part of nozzle body 21 into contact with upper surface 111a of base part 111, nozzle attachment 20 is restricted from being inserted into holding hole 121 formed at the substantially central part of upper surface 111a of base part 111. In contrast, in the first exemplary embodiment, by bringing lower surface 21b formed at a lower part of nozzle body 21 into contact with upper surface 112a of protrusion 112, nozzle attachment 20 is restricted from being inserted into holding hole 121 formed at the substantially central part of upper surface 112a of protrusion 112.

[0041] Upper surface 112a of protrusion 112 is positioned above upper surface 111a of base part 111.

[0042] Thus, nozzle attachment 20 held in retainer 12 formed in protrusion 112 is located above nozzle attachment 20 held in retainer 12 formed in base part 111.

[0043] This placement enables nozzle 22 of nozzle attachment 20 held in protrusion 112 and nozzle 22 of nozzle attachment 20 held in base part 111 to be positioned at heights different from each other.

[0044] The insertion of nozzle attachment 20 into holding hole 121 may be restricted by bottom surface 121a of holding hole 121. Then, multiple holding holes 121 may include holding holes 121 each having bottom surface 121a at a different height position. This structure also enables varying a height position of nozzle 22 of nozzle attachment 20.

[0045] As described above, in the first exemplary embodiment, retainer 12 includes first retainer 13 and second retainer 14 that is higher than first retainer 13. In the first exemplary embodiment, retainer 12 formed in base part 111 corresponds to first retainer 13, and retainer 12 formed in protrusion 112 corresponds to second retainer 14.

[0046] Distance p1 from center O1 of first retainer 13 to center O2 of second retainer 14 in plan view is set to be the shortest distance among multiple retainers 12. That is, two retainers 12 at the shortest distance in plan view serve as first retainer 13 and second retainer 14.

[0047] Distance p2 from center O1 of one first retainer 13 to center O1 of another first retainer 13 in plan view is set to be larger than distance p1 that is the shortest distance among multiple retainers 12. Furthermore, a distance from center O2 of one second retainer 14 to center O2 of another second retainer 14 in plan view is also set to be equal to distance p2.

[0048] That is, two retainers 12 separated from each other by more than the shortest distance (distance p1) in plan view are each configured to serve as first retainer 13 or second retainer 14.

[0049] Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 5, in the first exemplary embodiment, retainer 12 is formed in stand body 11 in such a way that region R2 where nozzle 22 can exist when retainer 12 holds nozzle attachment 20 falls within region R1 of stand body 11 in plan view.

[0050] This structure enables nozzle 22 to be prevented from protruding outward of stand body 11 (outside in the horizontal direction) regardless of a direction in which nozzle 22 protrudes when nozzle attachment 20 is held in retainer 12.

[0051] In the first exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 5, region R3 and region R4 partially overlap with each other in plan view. Here, region R3 is a region where nozzle 22 can exist when nozzle attachment 20 is held in first retainer 13. Region R4 is a region where nozzle 22 can exist when nozzle attachment 20 is held in second retainer 14 disposed at a position closest to first retainer 13 in which nozzle attachment 20 forming region R3 is disposed.

[0052] In the first exemplary embodiment, region R3 has a shape in which a truncated cone decreasing in diameter upward is disposed over a truncated cone decreasing in diameter downward, and region R3 is a region in the inside of a circle having center O1 of first retainer 13 as the center thereof in plan view (see Fig. 5). Similarly, region R4 has a shape in which a truncated cone decreasing in diameter upward is disposed over a truncated cone decreasing in diameter downward, and region R4 is a region in the inside of a circle having center O2 of second retainer 14 as the center thereof in plan view (see Fig. 5).

[0053] In other words, first retainer 13 and second retainer 14 are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p1 < 2 × b. Here, "b" is a width from center O3 of nozzle body 21 to the tip of nozzle 22 in a direction orthogonal to the one direction. "p1" is a distance from center O1 of first retainer 13 to center O2 of second retainer 14.

[0054] This structure enables the stand body to be downsized by disposing first retainer 13 and second retainer 14 at a distance at which nozzle attachments 20 (nozzles 22) interfere with each other when being held at the same height.

[0055] Furthermore, in the first exemplary embodiment, first retainer 13 and second retainer 14 are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of x > a (see Fig. 6) where "a" is a length of nozzle 22 in the one direction and "x" is a height difference between first retainer 13 and second retainer 14.

[0056] This structure enables nozzles 22 of respective nozzle attachments 20 to be more reliably prevented from interfering with each other.

[0057] First retainer 13 and second retainer 14 are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p1 > b + c. Here, "c" is a length from center O3 of nozzle body 21 to outer surface 21a (see Fig. 4).

[0058] This structure enables nozzle 22 of nozzle attachment 20 to be more reliably prevented from interfering with nozzle body 21 of adjacent nozzle attachment 20.

[0059] In the first exemplary embodiment, one first retainer 13 and another first retainer 13 are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p2 > 2 × b. In the first exemplary embodiment, one first retainer 13 and another first retainer 13 are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p2 > 2 × b. Here, "p2" is a distance from center O1 of one first retainer 13 to center O1 of another first retainer 13. In the first exemplary embodiment, "p2" is also a distance from center O2 of one second retainer 14 to center O2 of another second retainer 14.

[0060] This structure enables nozzle attachments 20 to be prevented from interfering with each other even when nozzle attachments 20 are held at the same height.

[0061] "d" included in Fig. 4 is a length in the one direction of a part of nozzle body 21, the part being positioned above an upper surface of stand body 11 (upper surface 111a of base part 111 or upper surface 112a of protrusion 112), when nozzle body 21 is held in retainer 12.

[0062] Attachment stand 10 with the structure described above enables further improvement in a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing nozzle attachments 20 from interfering with each other.

[0063] As the oral care product stand, an attachment stand capable of holding (installing) attachment (attachment: oral care product) 20A of an electric toothbrush can be used.

[0064] Figs. 7 and 8 each illustrate an example of attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush. Attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is detachably attached to electric toothbrush body (oral care device body) 30A.

[0065] Attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush includes body 21A extending in the one direction, and brush (oral insertion part) 22A that is connected to body 21A while protruding in a direction intersecting the one direction and is insertable into an oral cavity. By inserting vibrator (connection part) 31A formed to be able to vibrate in electric toothbrush body 30A into recess (part to be held) 23A of body 21A, attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush is attached to electric toothbrush body 30A. At this time, engagement protrusion 23aA formed in recess 23 A is engaged with engagement groove 31aA provided in vibrator 31A.

[0066] When a switch (not illustrated) is operated to turn on a power supply in a state where attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is attached to electric toothbrush body 30A, brush 22A vibrates in conjunction with vibration of vibrator 31A.

[0067] As described above, attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush and electric toothbrush body 30A illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 are a device (oral care device) capable of brushing teeth of a user or the like by electrically vibrating brush 22A.

[0068] The oral care device illustrated in Fig. 7 and 8 also includes one electric toothbrush body 30A and multiple attachments 20A of an electric toothbrush. That is, this configuration allows each of multiple persons to have dedicated attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush while one electric toothbrush body 30A is shared.

[0069] When an attachment stand for holding multiple attachments 20A of an electric toothbrushes is configured as with attachment stand 10 described above, the attachment stand enables further improvement in a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing attachments 20A of an electric toothbrush from interfering each other.

[0070] When attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is held in the attachment stand, a holding protrusion is preferably formed instead of holding hole 121 to allow the holding protrusion to function as a retainer. This structure enables recess (part to be held) 23A of body 21A held by the retainer to double as a part to be connected to vibrator (connection part) 31A of electric toothbrush body (oral care device body) 30A.

[0071] Alternatively, a holding hole formed in the stand body also can be used to function as a retainer as with attachment stand 10 described above. In this case, attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush is held in the attachment stand by inserting a lower end part of body 21A into the holding hole.

[0072] Multiple retainers can be formed in the attachment stand that holds multiple attachments 20A of an electric toothbrush so as to satisfy conditions as in attachment stand 10 described above.

[0073] Attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush has a length of brush 22A in the one direction, the length being indicated as "a", and a width from center O4 of body 21A to the tip of brush 22A in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, the width being indicated as "b". A length from center O4 of body 21A to outer surface 21aA is indicated as "c", and a length in the one direction of body 21A, i.e., a length in the one direction of a part of body 21A, the part being positioned above an upper surface of the stand body when attachment 20A is held in the retainer, is indicated as "d" (see Fig. 9).

[0074] A stand capable of holding (installing) toothbrush (oral care product) 20B also can be used as the oral care product stand.

[0075] Fig. 9 illustrates an example of toothbrush 20B. Toothbrush 20B illustrated in Fig. 9 includes handle (body) 21B extending in one direction, and brush (oral insertion part) 22B that is connected to handle 21B while protruding in a direction intersecting the one direction and is insertable into an oral cavity.

[0076] When a stand for holding multiple toothbrushes 20B is configured as with attachment stand 10 described above, the stand enables further improvement in a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing toothbrushes 20B from interfering each other.

[0077] When toothbrush 20B illustrated in Fig. 9 is held in the stand, lower end part (part to be held) 23B of the handle is inserted into a holding hole to hold toothbrush 20B in the stand. Thus, insertion of toothbrush 20B into the holding hole is restricted by a bottom surface of the holding hole.

[0078] Multiple retainers can be formed in the stand that holds multiple toothbrushes 20B to satisfy conditions as in attachment stand 10 described above.

[0079] Toothbrush 20B has a length of brush 22B in the one direction, the length being indicated as "a", and a width from center O5 of handle 21B to the tip of brush 22B in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, the width being indicated as "b". A length from center O5 of handle 21B to outer surface 21aB is indicated as "c", and a length in the one direction of a part of handle 21B, the part being positioned above an upper surface of a stand body when toothbrush 20B is held in each retainer, is indicated as "d".

(Second exemplary embodiment)

[0080] In the second exemplary embodiment, attachment stand 10C capable of holding (installing) nozzle attachment (attachment: oral care product) 20 is also exemplified as an oral care product stand.

[0081] Attachment stand 10C according to the second exemplary embodiment is basically and substantially similar in configuration to attachment stand 10 described in the first exemplary embodiment described above, and includes stand body 11C as illustrated in Fig. 10. Stand body 11C can be made of a material such as synthetic resin, for example, and is formed having a contour in plan view in a square shape (quadrangular shape) with rounded corners.

[0082] In the second exemplary embodiment, stand body 11C includes base part 111C that is in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and four (multiple) holding holes 121C extending in the vertical direction and opening upward when stand body 11C is placed on mounting surface 1. Four holding holes 121C each serve as retainer 12C capable of holding nozzle attachment 20.

[0083] That is, when protrusion (part to be held) 23 of nozzle body 21 is inserted into holding hole 121C, nozzle attachment 20 is held in stand body 11C. At this time, insertion of nozzle attachment 20 into holding hole 121 formed in base part 111C is restricted by bringing lower surface 21b formed in the lower part of nozzle body 21 into contact with upper surface 111aC of base part 111C.

[0084] Also in the second exemplary embodiment, attachment stand 10C can be downsized in the horizontal direction while nozzles 22 adjacent to each other are prevented from interfering with each other.

[0085] Specifically, stand body 11C is configured such that retainer 12C can be changed in height.

[0086] In the second exemplary embodiment, stand body 11C includes height raising part 112C in the shape of a block that is detachably attached to base part 111C. By attaching height raising part 112C to base part 111C, a part of an upper surface of stand body 11C (upper surface 112aC of height raising part 112C) is positioned above upper surface 111aC of base part 111C.

[0087] In the second exemplary embodiment, height raising part 112C in the shape of a block has a size of about 1/4 of that of base part 111C in plan view. Height raising part 112C includes holding hole 121C formed in a substantially central part of upper surface 112aC, and connection protrusion 112bC that is insertable into holding hole 121 formed in base part 111C.

[0088] When height raising parts 112C are attached to two respective holding holes 121C formed on a diagonal line of base part 111C, stand body 11C has a shape substantially similar to that of attachment stand 10 described in the first exemplary embodiment.

[0089] As described above, in the second exemplary embodiment, nozzles 22 of respective nozzle attachments 20 held in stand body 11C are different from each other in height position by attaching one or more height raising parts 112C to base part 111C.

[0090] Attaching multiple height raising parts 112C to the same position enables forming three or more stairsteps. For example, when height raising parts 112C different in number are attached to four respective holding holes 121C formed in base part 111C, stand body 11C can be formed in which four holding holes 121C are all different in height position.

[0091] One or more height raising parts 112C are attached to base part 111C. As a result, multiple retainers 12C formed in stand body 11C includes first retainer 13C and second retainer 14C having a higher height than first retainer 13C. In the second exemplary embodiment, retainer 12C formed in base part 111C corresponds to first retainer 13C, and retainer 12C formed in height raising part 112C corresponds to second retainer 14C.

[0092] Multiple retainers 12C (first retainer 13C and second retainer 14C) are formed in attachment stand 10C so as to satisfy conditions as in attachment stand 10 described above when one or more height raising parts 112C are attached. In the second exemplary embodiment, the conditions as in attachment stand 10 described above are satisfied, when one height raising part 112C is attached and when two height raising parts 112C are attached in a diagonal line.

[0093] This structure also enables further improvement in a degree of freedom of an installation place of while preventing nozzle attachments 20 from interfering with each other.

[0094] By allowing a protrusion of the stand body to be stretchable in the height direction by forming the protrusion in a shape of bellows, the stand body in which the retainer is variable in height can be provided.

(Third exemplary embodiment)

[0095] In the third exemplary embodiment, stand 10D capable of holding (installing) toothbrush (oral care product) 20B is exemplified as the oral care product stand.

[0096] As illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, stand 10D according to the third exemplary embodiment includes stand body 11D. Stand body 11D can be made of a material such as synthetic resin, for example, and is formed having a contour in plan view in a square shape (quadrangular shape) with rounded corners.

[0097] In the third exemplary embodiment, stand body 11D includes base part 111D that is in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Upper surface 111aD is provided with four (multiple) holding holes 121D opening upward. Four holding holes 121D each serve as retainer 12D capable of holding toothbrush 20B. In the third exemplary embodiment, insertion of toothbrush 20B into holding hole 121D is restricted by bottom surface 121aD of holding hole 121D.

[0098] In the third exemplary embodiment, holding hole 121D is formed so as to open upward in a state of being inclined with respect to the vertical direction when stand body 11D is placed on mounting surface 1.

[0099] By inserting lower end part 23B of handle 21B of toothbrush 20B into holding hole 121D, toothbrush 20B is held in retainer 12D in a state where handle 21B is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. In the third exemplary embodiment, when four toothbrushes 20B are held, toothbrushes 20B are disposed along four respective sides of stand body 11D.

[0100] Also in the third exemplary embodiment, improved is a degree of freedom of an installation place while brushes 22B adjacent to each other are prevented from interfering with each other. Specifically, stand 10D can be downsized in the horizontal direction while brushes 22B adjacent to each other are prevented from interfering with each other.

[0101] Specifically, when toothbrush 20B is held in retainer 12D, region R5 where brush (oral insertion part) 22B can exist in plan view falls within region R1 of stand body 11D (see Fig. 13).

[0102] In the third exemplary embodiment, region R5 where brush (oral insertion part) 22B can exist has a shape in which a circular cylinder is inclined along a side of stand body 11D, and the region R5 has a substantially elliptical shape in plan view.

[0103] This structure enables brush 22B to be prevented from protruding outward of stand body 11D (outside in the horizontal direction) regardless of a direction in which brush 22B protrudes, when toothbrush 20B held in retainer 12D.

[0104] In the third exemplary embodiment, retainers 12D adjacent to each other are disposed along corresponding sides of stand body 11D so as to satisfy a relationship of p1 < 2 × b. Here, "b" is a width from center O6 of handle 21B to the tip of brush 22B in the direction orthogonal to the one direction. "p1" is a distance from center O6 of one of retainers 12D adjacent to each other and disposed along corresponding sides of stand body 11D to center O6 of the other of retainers 12D.

[0105] This structure enables the stand body to be downsized by disposing two retainers 12D at a distance at which toothbrushes 20B (brushes 22B) interfere with each other when being inserted vertically and held at the same height.

[0106] At this time, two retainers 12D adjacent to each other in a diagonal line are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p2 > 2 × b. Here, "p2" is a distance from center O6 of one of retainers 12D adjacent to each other in the diagonal line to center O6 of the other of retainers 12D.

[0107] In the third exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 13, regions R5 adjacent to each other are prevented from overlapping with each other in plan view.

[0108] That is, even when toothbrush 20B held in retainer 12D rotates, brushes 22B are prevented from interfering with each other.

[0109] When the oral insertion part is a brush as in toothbrush 20B illustrated in the third exemplary embodiment or attachment 20A of an electric toothbrush illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, setting "a", "b", "d", and "θ1" to satisfy dcosθ1 + bsinθ1 < p1 + b and dcosθ1-bsinθ1 > b under the condition of p1 < 2 × b described above enables preventing regions R5 adjacent to each other from interfering with each other (see Fig. 14).

[0110] Here, "a" is a length of the oral insertion part (brush) in one direction, and "b" is a width from the center of the body to the tip of the oral insertion part (brush) in the direction orthogonal to the one direction. "d" is a length in one direction of a part of the body, the part being positioned above an upper surface of the retainer when the body is held in the retainer. "θ1" is an angle formed by the body and an upper surface of the base part.

[0111] Even when the oral insertion part is nozzle 22 as in nozzle attachment 20 illustrated in the first exemplary embodiment, setting "a", "b", "d", and "θ1" to satisfy dcosθ1 + bsinθ1 < p1 + b and dcosθ1 - bsinθ1 > b under the condition of p1 < 2 × b described above enables preventing regions R5 adjacent to each other from interfering with each other.

[0112] However, when the oral insertion part is nozzle 22, region R5 has a shape, in which a truncated cone decreasing in diameter upward is disposed over a truncated cone decreasing in diameter downward, instead of the shape of a circular cylinder.

[0113] Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 15, when largest ellipse E1 in one of regions R5 of respective nozzle attachments 20 adjacent to each other and straight line L1 close to ellipse E1 of the other of regions R5 are prevented from overlapping with each other when viewed along one side of stand body 11D, regions R5 adjacent to each other can be prevented from interfering with each other.

[0114] Specifically, setting "a", "b", "d", and "θ1" to satisfy d1 > e1 under the condition of p1 < 2 × b described above enables preventing regions R5 adjacent to each other from interfering with each other (see Fig. 15). Here, "e1" is a length from center O6 of ellipse E1 to contact point EP on ellipse E1, contact point EP being in contact with tangent L2 parallel to straight line L1. "d1" is a length from center O6 of ellipse E1 to intersection LP, intersection LP being defined as an intersection between a straight line passing through center O6 and contact point EP, and straight line L1 close to ellipse E1 of the other of regions R5.

[Operation and effect]

[0115] Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the oral care product stand described in each of the exemplary embodiments above and effect provided by the configuration will be described.

(1) The oral care product stand described in each of the exemplary embodiments above holds an oral care product including a body extending in one direction, and an oral insertion part that is connected to the body so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and that is insertable into an oral cavity. The oral care product stand includes a stand body having multiple retainers each capable of holding a part to be held of the body. The retainers include at least one first retainer and a second retainer having a higher height than the first retainer.

[0116] Holding oral care products in respective retainers different in height as described above enables preventing the oral care products from interfering with each other, even if the oral care products be disposed at a distance at which the oral care members held at the same height interfere with each other.

[0117] That is, the oral care product stand described in (1) enables further improvement in a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing oral care products from interfering with each other.

[0118] In the oral care product stand described in (1) above, each of the retainers may be formed in the stand body in such a way that a region where the oral insertion part can exist when the oral care product is held falls within a region of the stand body in plan view.

[0119] This structure prevents the oral insertion part of the oral care product from protruding outward of the stand body when the oral care product is held in each of the retainers, and thus enabling more reliable improvement in a degree of freedom of an installation place of the oral care product stand.

[0120] (3) The oral care product stand described in (1) or (2) above may be configured such that a region where the oral insertion part can exist when the oral care product is held in the first retainer partially overlaps with a region where the oral insertion part can exist when the oral care product is held in the second retainer disposed closest to the first retainer in plan view.

[0121] In the above structure, the first retainer and the second retainer are disposed at a distance at which the oral care products interfere with each other when being held at the same height, and the stand body can be downsized.

[0122] (4) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (3) above may be configured such that the plurality of retainers comprises three or more of the plurality of retainers. Two retainers at the shortest distance in plan view may serve as the first retainer and the second retainer. Two retainers separated from each other by more than the shortest distance in plan view may serve as the first retainer or the second retainer.

[0123] In the above structure, the stand body including three or more retainers with a simpler structure can be downsized.

[0124] (5) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (4) above may be configured such that the stand body is configured in such a way that the plurality of the retainers are variable in height.

[0125] By the above structure, the stand body having various shapes suitable for usage is provided.

[0126] (6) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (5) above may be configured such that the first retainer and the second retainer are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of x > a, where "a" is a length of the oral insertion part in one direction, and "x" is a height difference between the first retainer and the second retainer.

[0127] In the above structure, oral insertion parts of respective oral care products can be more reliably prevented from interfering with each other.

[0128] (7) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (6) above may be configured such that the first retainer and the second retainer are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p1 < 2 × b, where "b" is a width from the center of the body to the tip of the oral insertion part in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, and "p1" is a distance from the center of the first retainer to the center of the second retainer.

[0129] In the above structure, the stand body is downsized more reliably while preventing the oral care products from interfering with each other.

[0130] (8) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (7) above may be configured such that the first retainer and the second retainer are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p1 > b + c, where "b" is a width from the center of the body to the tip of the oral insertion part in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, "c" is a length from the center of the body to an outer surface of the body, and "p1" is a distance from the center of the first retainer to the center of the second retainer.

[0131] In the above structure, the oral insertion part of one of the oral care products adjacent to each other is prevented more reliably from interfering with the body part of another of the oral care products.

[0132] (9) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (8) above may be configured such that the stand body includes multiple first retainers. A primary retainer of the plurality of the first retainers and a secondary retainer of the plurality of the first retainers may be disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p2 > 2 × b, where "b" is a width from the center of the body to the tip of the oral insertion part in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, and "p2" is a distance from the center of the one of the first retainers to the center of the other of the first retainers.

[0133] In the above structure, oral care products can be prevented from interfering with each other even when the oral care products are held at the same height.

[0134] (10) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (9) above may be configured such that the oral care product is rotatably held in each of the retainers.

[0135] In the above structure, provided is an oral care product stand capable of further improving a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing oral care products from interfering with each other, the oral care product stand having a configuration in which the oral care products rotate while being held in the respective retainers. In the above structure, the oral care products can be more easily held in the respective retainers, or more easily taken out from the respective retainers.

[0136] (11) The oral care product stand described in any one of (1) to (10) above may be configured such that the oral care product is an attachment detachably attached to an oral care device body.

[0137] This configuration enables providing an oral care product stand capable of further improving a degree of freedom of its installation place while preventing attachments detachably attached to the oral care device body from interfering with each other.

[0138] (12) The oral care product stand described in (11) above may be configured such that a part to be connected to a connection part of the oral care device body of the attachment doubles as the part to be held.

[0139] As above, if the part to be connected to the connection part of the oral care device body of the attachment doubles as the part to be held, an oral care product stand dedicated to the attachment can be provided. The attachment does not need a part to be held that is provided separately from the part to be connected, so that the attachment can have a simple structure.

[0140] (13) The oral care product stand described in each of the exemplary embodiments above holds an oral care product including a body extending in one direction, and an oral insertion part that is connected to the body so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and that is insertable into an oral cavity.

[0141] The oral care product stand includes a stand body having multiple retainers each capable of holding a part to be held of the body.

[0142] The retainers are each formed so as to allow the oral care product to be held in a state where a region where the oral insertion part can exist in the plan view in a state where the body is inclined with respect to a vertical direction falls within a region of the stand body.

[0143] This structure above enables preventing the oral care products from interfering with each other even when the oral care products are disposed at a distance at which the oral care members interfere with each other when the body is held along the vertical direction.

[0144] That is, in the oral care product stand described in (13), a degree of freedom of its installation place is more improved while preventing oral care products from interfering with each other.

[0145] In addition, the oral care product is held in a state where the oral insertion part can fall within a region of the stand body in the plan view while the oral care product is inclined with respect to a vertical direction. As a result, the stand body can be downsized in its height direction.

[Others]

[0146] Although the content of the oral care product stand according to the present disclosure is described, the present disclosure is not limited to the description, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made.

[0147] For example, although each of the exemplary embodiments above exemplifies the attachment stand with the bottom surface in a quadrangular shape with rounded corners, the bottom surface of the attachment stand may have various shapes such as a circular shape and a triangular shape.

[0148] Specifications, such as shape, size, and layout, of the stand body, the retainer, and other details can be changed as appropriate.

[0149] As described above, the oral care product stand according to the present disclosure is capable of further improving a degree of freedom of its installation place, so that the oral care product stand can be used as a stand for placing various oral care products for cleaning and washing the inside of an oral cavity, such as an attachment of an electric toothbrush, a nozzle of an oral washer, and a toothbrush.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0150] 

10

attachment stand (oral care product stand)

11

stand body

12

retainer

13

first retainer

14

second retainer

10C

attachment stand (oral care product stand)

11C

stand body

111C

base part

12C

retainer

13C

first retainer

14C

second retainer

10D

stand (oral care product stand)

11D

stand body

12D

retainer

20

nozzle attachment (attachment: oral care product)

21

nozzle body (body)

21a

outer surface

22

nozzle (oral insertion part)

23

protrusion (part to be connected: part to be held)

20A

attachment of electric toothbrush (attachment: oral care product)

21A

body

21aA

outer surface

22A

brush (oral insertion part)

23A

recess (part to be connected: part to be held)

20B

toothbrush (oral care product)

21B

handle (body)

21aB

outer surface

22B

brush (oral insertion part)

23B

part to be held

30

oral washing device body (oral care device body)

31

insertion hole (connection part)

30A

electric toothbrush body (oral care device body)

31A

vibrator (connection part)

R1

region of stand body in plan view

R2

region where oral insertion part can exist when oral care product is held

R3

region where oral insertion part can exist when oral care product is held in first retainer

R4

region where oral insertion part can exist when oral care product is held in second retainer

a

length of oral insertion part in one direction

b

width in direction orthogonal to one direction from center of body to tip of oral insertion part

c

length from center to outer surface of body

p1

distance from center of first retainer to center of second retainer

p2

distance from center of one first retainer to center of another first retainer

x

height difference between first retainer and second retainer

Claims

1. An oral care product stand that holds an oral care product comprising a body extending in one direction, and an oral insertion part that is connected to the body so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and that is insertable into an oral cavity, the oral care product stand comprising:

a stand body having a plurality of retainers each capable of holding a part to be held of the body,

wherein

the plurality of retainers includes at least one first retainer and a second retainer having a higher height than the first retainer.

2. The oral care product stand according to Claim 1, wherein
each of the plurality of retainers is formed in the stand body in such a way that a region where the oral insertion part can exist when the oral care product is held falls within a region of the stand body in plan view.

3. The oral care product stand according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein
a region where the oral insertion part can exist when the oral care product is held in the first retainer partially overlaps with a region where the oral insertion part can exist when the oral care product is held in the second retainer disposed closest to the first retainer in plan view.

4. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein

the plurality of retainers comprises three or more of the plurality of retainers,

two retainers at a shortest distance in plan view serve as the first retainer and the second retainer, and

two retainers separated from each other by more than the shortest distance in plan view serves as the first retainer or the second retainer.

5. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein
the stand body is configured in such a way that the plurality of retainers are variable in height.

6. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein

the first retainer and the second retainer are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of x > a,

where

a is a length of the oral insertion part in the one direction, and

x is a height difference between the first retainer and the second retainer.

7. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein

the first retainer and the second retainer are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p1 < 2 × b,

where

b is a width from a center of the body to a tip of the oral insertion part in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, and

p1 is a distance from a center of the first retainer to a center of the second retainer.

8. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein

the first retainer and the second retainer are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p1 > b + c,

where

b is a width from the center of the body to the tip of the oral insertion part in a direction orthogonal to the one direction,

c is a length from the center of the body to an outer surface of the body, and

p1 is a distance from the center of the first retainer to the center of the second retainer.

9. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein

the at least one first retainer comprises a plurality of first retainers, and

a primary retainer of the plurality of the first retainers and a secondary retainer of the plurality of the first retainers are disposed so as to satisfy a relationship of p2 > 2 × b,

where

b is a width from the center of the body to the tip of the oral insertion part in a direction orthogonal to the one direction, and

p2 is a distance from a center of the primary retainer of the plurality of the first retainers to a center of the secondary of the plurality of the first retainers.

10. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein
the oral care product is rotatably held in each of the plurality of retainers.

11. The oral care product stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein
the oral care product is an attachment detachably attached to an oral care device body.

12. The oral care product stand according to Claim 11, wherein
a part to be connected to a connection part of the oral care device body of the attachment doubles as the part to be held.

13. An oral care product stand that holds an oral care product including a body extending in one direction, and an oral insertion part that is connected to the body so as to protrude in a direction intersecting the one direction and that is insertable into an oral cavity, the oral care product stand comprising:

a stand body having a plurality of retainers each capable of holding a part to be held of the body,

the plurality of retainers are each formed so as to allow the oral care product to be held in a state where a region where the oral insertion part can exist in the plan view while the body is inclined with respect to a vertical direction falls within a region of the stand body.

Drawing