Motorized reusable toothbrush

• US 20020039720A1
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alvin J. Marx
• Original Assignee: Alvin J. Marx
• Inventors: Tarlow, Kenneth A., Marx, Alvin J.
• Application Number:
  US10/003,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20020039720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor

Abstract

A motorized, reusable toothbrush and method of using the same. The toothbrush includes a housing with a handle portion, a neck portion and a head portion. At least one of the portions is constructed of a polymeric material, the housing being a one-piece unit. A brush head is rotatably and detachably mounted to the head portion, the brush head having ultra-soft bristles, and a variable, high speed motor being provided for effecting rotation of the brush head. The neck portion has a bend generally within a range of 110° and 130° relative to the handle portion for orienting the brush head generally at a right angle for engagement of a user'"'"'s teeth. A fixed drive shaft and gear assembly couples the motor to the brush head for effecting rotation thereof. A replaceable, alkaline-based DC power source is provided for operation of the motor, power control being effected by a variable speed power control device which actuates rotation of the brush head in at least two power settings.

Claims

1. A motorized, reusable toothbrush which comprises:

a housing with a handle portion, a neck portion and a head portion, at least one of the portions being constructed of a polymeric material, the housing being a sealed one-piece unit;

a brush head rotatably and detachably mounted to the head portion, the brush head having ultra-soft bristles, and the neck portion having a bend generally within a range of 11020 and 130°

relative to the handle portion for orienting the brush head generally at a right angle to a user'"'"'s teeth;

a variable, high speed motor for effecting rotation of the brush head, a fixed drive shaft and gear assembly coupling the motor to the brush head for effecting rotation thereof;

a replaceable, alkaline-based DC power source for operation of the motor; and

a variable speed power control device for actuating rotation of the brush head in at least two power settings.

2. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the power control device includes a gear reducer for effecting a first brush head speed.

3. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the power control device includes a gear reducer for effecting a second brush head speed.

4. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the tip of the brush head is less then about 1 cm in diameter.

5. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the two power settings correspond to the first brush head speed and a second brush head speed.

6. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the power source is at least a 3 volt alkaline battery.

7. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the brush head is cone-shaped.

8. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the brush head has a concave profile.

9. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the neck portion is adjustably flexible for positioning the brush head in a selected orientation relative to the handle portion.

10. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 1 wherein the handle portion is shaped and sized so as to fit the contour of a hand.

11. A motorized, reusable toothbrush which comprises:

a housing with a handle portion, a neck portion and a head portion, at least one of the portions being constructed of a polymeric material, the housing being a sealed one-piece unit;

a concave profiled brush head rotatably and detachably mounted to the head portion, the brush head having ultra-soft bristles, and the neck portion having a bend generally within a range of 110° and

130°

relative to the handle portion for orienting the brush head generally at a right angle to a user'"'"'s teeth;

a variable, high speed motor for effecting rotation of the brush head, a fixed drive shaft and gear assembly coupling the motor to the brush head for effecting rotation thereof;

a replaceable, alkaline-based DC power source for operation of the motor; and

a variable speed power control device for actuating rotation of the brush head in at least two power settings, the power control device including a variable gear reducer for effecting first and second brush head speeds.

12. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 11 wherein the tip of the brush head is less than about 1 cm in diameter.

13. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 11 wherein the power source is about 9 volt alkaline-based battery.

14. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 11 wherein the brush head is detachably secured to the head portion.

15. The motorized toothbrush set forth in claim 11 wherein the handle portion is shaped and sized so as to fit the contour of a hand.

16. A method of cleaning a user'"'"'s teeth using a motorized, reusable toothbrush, which comprises the steps of:

(i) inserting a head portion of the toothbrush in the user'"'"'s mouth, the toothbrush comprising a housing with the head portion, a handle portion and a neck portion, at least one of the portions being constructed of a polymeric material, the housing being a sealed one-piece unit, a brush head rotatably and detachably mounted to the head portion, the brush head having ultra-soft bristles, and the neck portion having a bend generally within a range of 110° and

130°

relative to the handle portion for orienting the brush head generally at a right angle to a user'"'"'s teeth;

(ii) engaging a high speed motor in the handle portion for effecting rotation of the brush head at a selected speed, a fixed drive shaft and gear assembly coupling the motor to the brush head for effecting rotation thereof, and a replaceable, alkaline-based DC power source for operating the motor, engagement being effected using a variable speed power control device for actuating rotation of the brush head in at least two power settings;

(iii) placing the rotating brush head in contact with at least one of the user'"'"'s teeth for a selected time;

(iv) removing the head portion from the user'"'"'s mouth; and

(v) disengaging the high speed motor.

17. A method of cleaning a user'"'"'s teeth using a motorized, reusable toothbrush which includes a housing with a head portion, a handle portion and a neck portion, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) engaging a high speed motor in a handle portion of the toothbrush for effecting rotation of a brush head in the head portion of the toothbrush at a selected speed, at least one of the portions being constructed of a polymeric material, the housing being a sealed one-piece unit, a fixed drive shaft and gear assembly coupling the motor to the brush head for effecting rotation thereof; and

a replaceable, alkaline-based DC power source for operating the motor, engagement being effected using a variable speed power control device for actuating rotation of the brush head in at least two power settings;

(ii) inserting the head portion of the toothbrush in the user'"'"'s mouth, the brush head rotatably and detachably mounted to the head portion, the brush head having ultra-soft bristles, and the neck portion having a bend generally within a range of 110° and

130°

relative to the handle portion for orienting the brush head generally at a right angle to the user'"'"'s teeth;

(iii) placing the rotating brush head in contact with at least one of the user'"'"'s teeth for a selected time;

(iv) disengaging the high speed motor; and

(v) removing the brush head from the user'"'"'s mouth.

18. A motorized, reusable toothbrush assembly which comprises a brush head rotatably and detachably mounted to the head portion, the brush head having ultra-soft bristles, a variable, high speed motor for effecting rotation of the brush head, a replaceable, alkaline-based DC power source for operation of the motor, and a variable speed power control device for actuating rotation of the brush head, the assembly being a sealed one-piece unit.

19. A motorized, reusable toothbrush assembly which comprises a brush head rotatably and detachably mounted to the head portion, a variable, high speed motor for effecting rotation of the brush head, a replaceable, alkaline-based DC power source for operation of the motor with battery life indicator, a variable speed power control device for actuating rotation of the brush head, the assembly being a sealed one-piece unit.