Electric toothbrush with in-use activation of bristles

• US 20040049867A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chaiphua Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Chiaphua Industries Limited
• Inventors: Hui, Fung Kut
• Application Number:
  US10/242,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049867A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3427 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

An electric toothbrush apparatus includes a longitudinal drive shaft, an in-use activated tuft block, at least a portion of which is movably associated with the apparatus, and having a bearing surface that is driven directly or indirectly by the drive shaft. The in-use activated tuft block will not oscillate until its bristles are pressed against the user'"'"'s teeth in use so as to close a gap behind the bearing surface.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal drive shaft,

an in-use activated tuft block, at least a portion of which is movably associated with the apparatus, and having a bearing surface that is driven directly or indirectly by the drive shaft only when a gap adjacent to the bearing surface is closed or substantially closed in use.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a primary tuft block driven by the drive shaft to move about a primary pivot axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the in-use activated tuft block is pivotally mounted to the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the in-use activated tuft block is mounted to pivot about a secondary pivot axis that extends in a direction that is different to the direction of the primary pivot axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the primary and secondary pivot axes extend substantially at right angles to one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the primary tuft block oscillates about the primary pivot axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the in-use activated tuft block oscillates about the secondary pivot axis in use.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the primary pivot axis extends substantially normally to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the secondary pivot axis extends in a direction across the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the drive shaft includes an eccentric distal end portion and the primary tuft block further includes a slot extending substantially parallel to the primary pivot axis and into which eccentric distal end portion is received.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said eccentric distal end portion bears against the bearing surface of the in-use activated tuft block when said gap is closed.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a housing within which the drive shaft is housed.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft has a driven proximal end remote from said distal end portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the driven end typically includes torque input means for receiving torque from a motor.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 being formed integrally with a toothbrush handle within which a motor and, battery are housed.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 being a replaceable attachment for attachment to a toothbrush handle within which a motor and battery are housed.

17. An electric toothbrush apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal drive shaft,

a primary tuft block driven by the drive shaft,

a secondary tuft block attached pivotally to the apparatus adjacent the primary tuft block and adapted to pivot passively in use.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the primary tuft block is driven by the draft shaft to move about a primary pivot axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the secondary tuft block is mounted to pivot about a secondary pivot axis that extends in a direction that is different to the direction of the primary pivot axis.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the primary and secondary pivot axes extend substantially at right angles to one another.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the primary tuft block oscillates about the primary pivot axis.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the primary pivot axis extends substantially normally to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the secondary pivot axis extends in a direction across the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the drive shaft includes an eccentric distal end portion and the primary tuft block further includes a slot extending substantially parallel to the primary pivot axis and into which an eccentric distal end portion of the drive shaft is received.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the drive shaft has a driven proximal end remote from said distal end portion.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the driven end typically includes torque input means for receiving torque from a motor.

27. The apparatus of claim 17 being formed integrally with a toothbrush handle within which a motor and battery are housed.

28. The apparatus of claim 17 being a replaceable attachment for attachment to a toothbrush handle within which a motor and battery are housed.