Electric toothbrush comprising an electrically powered element

• US 20050050659A1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Wang, Ping, Ghosh, Chanchal Kumar, Chan, John Geoffrey, Pinyayev, Aleksey Mikhailovich, Kovacs, Stephen Andras, Morrision, Lowen Robert Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/888,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.100
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• 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 17/222 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49113 the connectors connecting different bonding areas on the semiconductor or solid-state body to a common bonding area outside the body, e.g. converging wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

A toothbrush having an electrically powered element disposed on a head of an electric toothbrush. The electrically powered element can be a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode. Further the electrically powered element can serve as a pin and/or axis of motion for a movable bristle holder positioned along the face of the brush head.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush comprising:

(a) a handle, a head, and a neck extending between said handle and said head, said handle defining a hollow interior region, said electric toothbrush having a longitudinal axis;

(b) said head comprising at least one electrically powered element;

(c) at least one movable bristle holder disposed on said head; and

(d) a motor disposed in said hollow interior region defined in said handle, wherein said motor is operatively connected to said movable bristle holder by a drive shaft.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said at least one electrically powered element is a light emitting element.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said light emitting element is a light emitting diode.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said movable bristle holder is transparent.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said light emitting element further comprises a lens, wherein said lens comprises an elastomeric material, and wherein said lens extends above a bristle bearing surface of said movable bristle holder.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said movable bristle holder comprises an aperture into which said electrically powered element is disposed.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said movable bristle holder oscillates.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed within said movable bristle holder.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 8, wherein said electrically powered element is encircled by one or more rings of bristles.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 8, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed within a hollow pillar disposed on said head of said toothbrush.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 8, wherein said head comprises a region free of bristles, and wherein said region comprises said electrically powered element.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed in a center of said movable bristle holder.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 12, wherein said electrically powered element is a pin which is the axis for rotation of the movable bristle holder.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein said electrically powered element is a light emitting element comprising a lens, and wherein said lens is said pin which is the axis for rotation of the movable bristle holder.

15. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein at least one outer surface of said electrically powered element is coated with a material which reinforces said outer surface of said electrically powered element.

16. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein at least one outer surface of said electrically powered element is coated with a lubricant.

17. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed between two movable bristle holders.

18. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed at the distal end of said toothbrush.

19. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein two electrically powered elements are disposed on said head of said toothbrush.

20. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein at least one of said electrically powered elements is an ultra-sound emitting element.

21. A head portion of an electric toothbrush for connecting to a handle portion, said head portion comprising:

(a) an electrically powered element; and

(b) at least one movable bristle holder disposed on said head, wherein said electrically powered element is a pin which is an axis of rotation for said movable bristle holder.

22. A drive shaft for an electric toothbrush comprising:

said drive shaft extending between a motor and a movable bristle holder, wherein said drive shaft comprises at least one lateral displacement portion which bypasses an electrically powered element disposed on said toothbrush, and wherein said electrically powered element does not interfere with the motion of said drive shaft.

23. The drive shaft of claim 22, wherein said drive shaft comprises two of said lateral displacement portions and wherein said electrically powered element is disposed between said lateral displacement portions.

24. An electric toothbrush comprising:

(a) a head, comprising at least one movable bristle holder;

(b) a handle, having a motor disposed therein;

(c) a light emitting element; and

(d) a drive shaft operatively connecting said motor to said movable bristle holder, wherein at least a portion of said drive shaft is transparent.

25. The electric toothbrush of claim 24, wherein said light emitting element is disposed under said drive shaft, and wherein said transparent portion of said drive shaft is disposed above said light emitting element.

26. The electric toothbrush of claim 24, wherein a lens of said light emitting element is designed to receive said drive shaft as a portion of said lens

27. An electric toothbrush comprising:

(a) a head, comprising at least one movable bristle holder;

(b) a handle, having a motor disposed therein;

(c) an electrically powered element; and

(d) a drive shaft operatively connecting said motor to said movable bristle holder, wherein said drive shaft is disposed underneath said electrically powered element.

28. A drive shaft for an electric toothbrush comprising an electrically powered element, wherein said electrically powered element is disposed on said drive shaft.

29. An electric toothbrush comprising:

(a) a handle;

(b) a head;

(c) a light emitting element;

(d) a drive shaft, wherein said drive shaft is located between said light emitting element and a portion of said toothbrush from which light from said light emitting elements emits;

(e) and reflecting elements which reflect said light from said light emitting elements around said drive shaft and to said portion of said toothbrush from which said light emits.

30. A head portion of an electric toothbrush for connecting to a handle portion, said head portion comprising:

(a) an electrically powered element;

(b) at least one movable bristle holder; and

(c) at least one channel.

31. The electric toothbrush of claim 30, wherein said channels extend from a surface closest to said electrically powered element, and said channels extend to an outside surface of said movable bristle holder.

32. The electric toothbrush of claim 30, wherein said movable bristle holder is circular and oscillates.

33. The electric toothbrush of claim 30, wherein said electric toothbrush further comprises a second bristle holder, and wherein said channel is formed by a surface of said movable bristle holder and a surface of said second bristle holder.