Electric toothbrush

• US 20040074026A1
• Filed: 10/18/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Gall, Douglas A., Spirk, John W., Blaustein, Lawrence A., Nottingham, John R., Osher, John
• Application Number:
  US10/688,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/425 Toothbrush

Abstract

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes an elongate body having a handle portion, a head portion having a longitudinal axis, and an elongate intermediate portion disposed between the handle portion and the head portion. The head portion has a first end that is located at a position furthest from the handle portion and a second end opposite the first end that is disposed adjacent the elongate intermediate portion. The head portion has moving bristles that are disposed in a moving portion that oscillates and a static portion that extends from adjacent the moving portion to the second end of the head portion. The moving portion is disposed at the first end of the head portion and the static portion has a plurality of static bristles arranged in plurality of tufts. A motor is disposed in the handle portion and a shaft extends from the second end of the head portion to beyond the plurality of tufts of static bristles. The shaft is operatively connected to the motor and to the moving portion to cause the moving portion to oscillate about an axis approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of the head portion.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

an elongate body having a handle portion, a head portion having a longitudinal axis, and an elongate intermediate portion disposed between the handle portion and the head portion, the elongate intermediate portion having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the handle portion, the head portion including static and moving bristles, wherein the moving bristles are disposed in only a single moving portion that oscillates and at least some of the static bristles are disposed between the moving portion and the handle portion, the head portion and elongate intermediate portion being dimensioned for disposition in a human user'"'"'s mouth for brushing teeth; and

a motor disposed in the handle portion and operatively connected to the moving portion for moving the moving portion.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the moving portion is disposed at an end of the head portion that is located at a position furthest from the handle portion.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, further comprising a shaft that is operatively connected to the motor and to the moving portion to cause the moving portion to oscillate about an axis approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of the head portion.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the axis passes through the moving portion and the moving bristles are disposed on either side of the axis.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the shaft rotates.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the moving portion is circular and the moving bristles extend across the moving portion.

7. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

an elongate body having a handle portion, a head portion having a longitudinal axis, and an elongate intermediate portion disposed between the handle portion and the head portion, the elongate intermediate portion having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the handle portion, the head portion having a first end that is located at a position furthest from the handle portion and a second end opposite the first end that is disposed adjacent the elongate intermediate portion, the head portion having moving bristles that are disposed in a moving portion that oscillates and a static portion that extends from adjacent the moving portion to the second end of the head portion, wherein the moving portion is disposed at the first end of the head portion and the static portion has a plurality of static bristles arranged in plurality of tufts, wherein the head portion and elongate intermediate portion are dimensioned for disposition in a human user'"'"'s mouth for brushing teeth;

a motor disposed in the handle portion; and

a shaft that extends from the second end of the head portion to beyond the plurality of tufts of static bristles and which is operatively connected to the motor and to the moving portion to cause the moving portion to oscillate about an axis approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of the head portion.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the shaft is not operatively connected to another bristle-bearing moving portion between the static portion and the elongate intermediate portion.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the axis passes through the moving portion and the moving bristles are disposed on either side of the axis.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the shaft rotates.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the moving portion is circular and the moving bristles extend across the moving portion.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the plurality of tufts of static bristles extend from adjacent the moving portion to the second end of the head portion.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the head portion has a width normal to the longitudinal axis and the static portion has a width about equal to the width of the head portion.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the plurality of tufts of static bristles extend across the width of the static portion.

15. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the moving portion only oscillates.

16. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the shaft extends from the second end of the head portion to an edge of the static portion that is adjacent the moving portion.

17. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the shaft extends beyond all of the tufts of static bristles of the static portion.

18. An electric toothbrush comprising:

packaging for containing the toothbrush;

an elongated body portion having opposed first and second ends, a hollow portion and a longitudinal axis;

a head attached to said first end, wherein said head includes a moving portion;

a motor located within said hollow portion of said elongated body portion, said motor being configured to produce a moving motion for the moving portion;

a shaft operatively connected to said motor at a first end and to the moving portion at a second end;

a handle attached to said second end of said elongated body portion; and

a switch which is operably connected to said motor, wherein said switch is actuated in a first manner to provide momentary operation of said toothbrush when the toothbrush is within the packaging, and is actuated in a second manner to provide continuous operation of said toothbrush when the toothbrush is out of the packaging.

19. The toothbrush, as defined in claim 18, wherein when said switch is actuated in a first manner, the switch is depressed to provide the momentary operation.

20. The toothbrush, as defined in claim 18, wherein when said switch is actuated in a second manner, the switch is depressed and slid in a slot in said elongated body portion.