Electric toothbrush

• US 20030221269A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qingping Zhuan
• Original Assignee: Qingping Zhuan
• Inventors: Zhuan, Qingping
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards an electric toothbrush having a replaceable tuft assembly. The electric toothbrush comprises a main body, an electric motor mounted in the main body, a support member coupled to the main body, a tuft assembly which is releasably attachable to the support member and a transmission that is operatively connected to the electric motor to provide rotational motion to the tuft assembly. The support member has a first connection member and the tuft assembly has a second connection member. One of the connection members has an elongate body with a groove on its outer surface and the other connection member has at least one protrusion that is adapted to releasably engage the groove. In another aspect, the toothbrush may further comprise an adaptor that is releasably attachable to the tuft assembly.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a) a main body;

b) an electric motor mounted in said main body;

c) a support member coupled to said main body, said support member having a first connection member;

d) a tuft assembly releasably attachable to said support member, said tuft assembly having a second connection member; and

,

e) a transmission operatively connected to said electric motor, said transmission adapted to provide rotational motion to said tuft assembly;

wherein, one of said connection members has an elongate body with a groove on an outer surface thereof and the other of said connection members has at least one protrusion adapted to releasably engage said groove.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a cylindrical body having an inner channel with a rib on an inner surface thereof, said inner channel and said rib dimensioned to releasably engage said elongate body and allow for rotational movement of said tuft assembly.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said elongate body has a bore, and said at least one protrusion comprises a post and at least one prong having one rib, said post dimensioned to slidably engage said bore and said at least one prong being spaced apart from said post to releasaby engage said groove on said outer surface of said elongate body and allow for rotational movement of said tuft assembly.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein said elongate body has at least one guide groove on said outer surface for guiding said at least one prong when said connection members are attached and detached.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 4, wherein said elongate body has twice as many guide grooves as prongs.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said electric toothbrush further comprises an adaptor operatively coupled to said transmission and said tuft assembly, wherein said adaptor converts said rotational motion from said transmission to provide reciprocal rotational motion whereby said tuft assembly is urged to reciprocally rotate.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 6, wherein said adaptor comprises a slot, a neck and a head, and said tuft assembly further comprises an inner recess, wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the distal end of said transmission, and said inner recess is dimensioned to receive said neck and said head.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 6, wherein said adaptor comprises a slot and a first coupling member on an outer surface of said adaptor, and said tuft assembly further comprises an inner recess having a second coupling member dimensioned to releasably engage said first coupling member, wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the distal end of said transmission, and said inner recess is dimensioned to releasably receive said adaptor.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 8, wherein one of said coupling members is at least one groove and the other of said coupling members is at least one rib.

10. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a) a main body;

b) an electric motor mounted in said main body;

c) a support member coupled to said main body, said support member having a first connection member;

d) a tuft assembly releasably attachable to said support member, said tuft assembly having a second connection member;

e) a transmission operatively connected to said electric motor, said transmission adapted to provide rotational motion to said tuft assembly; and

,

f) an adaptor releasably connectable to said tuft assembly, said adaptor converting said rotational motion from said transmission to provide reciprocal rotational motion for urging said tuft assembly to reciprocally rotate, wherein, one of said connection members has an elongate body with a groove on an outer surface thereof and the other of said connection members has at least one protrusion adapted to releasably engage said groove.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 10, wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a cylindrical body having an inner channel with a rib on an inner surface thereof, said inner channel and said rib dimensioned to releasably engage said elongate body and allow for rotational movement of said tuft assembly.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 10, wherein said elongate body has a bore, and said at least one protrusion comprises a post and at least one prong having one rib, said post dimensioned to slidably engage said bore and said at least one prong being spaced apart from said post to releasaby engage said groove on said outer surface of said elongate body and allow for rotational movement of said tuft assembly.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 12, wherein said elongate body has at least one guide groove on said outer surface for guiding said at least one prong when said connection members are attached and detached.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein said elongate body has twice as many guide grooves as prongs.

15. The electric toothbrush of claim 10, wherein said adaptor comprises a slot, a neck and a head, and said tuft assembly further comprises an inner recess, wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the distal end of said transmission, and said inner recess is dimensioned to receive said neck and said head of said adaptor.

16. The electric toothbrush of claim 10, wherein said adaptor comprises a slot and a first coupling member on an outer surface of said adaptor, and said tuft assembly further comprises an inner recess having a second coupling member dimensioned to releasably engage said first coupling member, wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the distal end of said transmission, and said inner recess is dimensioned to releasably receive said adaptor.

17. The electric toothbrush of claim 16, wherein one of said coupling members is at least one groove and the other of said coupling members is at least one rib.

18. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a) a main body;

b) a tuft assembly rotatably coupled to said main body;

c) an electric motor mounted in said main body;

d) a transmission operatively connected to said electric motor, said transmission adapted to provide rotational motion to said tuft assembly; and

,

e) an adaptor pivotally connected to said tuft assembly, said adaptor also being slidably connected to said transmission, wherein said adaptor converts said rotational motion from said transmission to provide reciprocal rotational motion for urging said tuft assembly to reciprocally rotate.

19. The electric toothbrush of claim 18, wherein said transmission has a first end and an eccentric end, wherein said first end is coupled to said electric motor, and said eccentric end is in full alignment with said adaptor thereby imparting reciprocating motion to said tuft assembly.

20. The electric toothbrush of claim 18, wherein said adaptor comprises a slot, a neck and a head, and said tuft assembly further comprises an inner recess, wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the distal end of said transmission, and said inner recess is dimensioned to receive said neck and said head of said adaptor.

21. The electric toothbrush of claim 18, wherein said adaptor comprises a slot and a first coupling member on an outer surface of said adaptor, and said tuft assembly further comprises an inner recess having a second coupling member dimensioned to releasably engage said first coupling member, wherein said slot is dimensioned to receive the distal end of said transmission, and said inner recess is dimensioned to releasably receive said adaptor.

22. The electric toothbrush of claim 21, wherein one of said coupling members is at least one groove and the other of said coupling members is at least one rib.