Electric toothbrush

• US 20040143917A1
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nordica International AB
• Original Assignee: Nordica International AB
• Inventors: Ek, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/475,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143917A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• 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 has an electric motor (11) and a mechanical coupling arrangement to convert rotary motion of the motor into rotational oscillations of a brush head 21. The mechanical coupling includes a skewed peripheral flange (16) on a shaft (12) that is rotated by the motor. A follower (17) is constrained to move backwards and forwards in plane parallel to a longitudinal axis (A) of the toothbrush. The follower is driven backwards and forwards by the flange (16) in use. The follower is rigidly connected to a brush drive shaft (20) that is pivotable connected to the brush head (13) at one side of its rotational axis.

Claims

4. An electric toothbrush according to claim 3, characterized in that the brush head drive shaft (20) extends along the longitudinal axis (A) and is cranked on its remote and away from the longitudinal axis (A).

5. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that the track comprises a flange (16) mounted on the drive shaft (12).

6. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, characterized in that the flange (16) is integrally formed with the drive shaft.

7. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that a second brush head (25) is rotatably mounted to the shank (14) beyond the said brush head (13) and that a pivoted drive link (27) connects the two heads together, which link (27) oscillates the second brush head (25) when the said brush head (13) oscillates.

8. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that the second brush head (25) is rotatable about an axis that is inclined by a few degrees to the transverse axis of said brush head (13).