Electric toothbrush

• US 20050081315A1
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mei K.I. Kwong
• Original Assignee: Mei K.I. Kwong
• Inventors: Kwong, Mei Ki
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder

Abstract

An electric toothbrush has a neck extending in a longitudinal direction, a head at a remote end of the neck, a handle at a proximal end of the neck, an electric motor located within the handle, and a tuft block mounted to the head in a manner allowing pivotal oscillation about a tuft block axis that is normal to the longitudinal direction of the neck. A primary rocker arm extends longitudinally within the handle and/or neck and pivots about a primary rocker arm axis that is parallel to the tuft block axis. A proximal end of the primary rocker arm is driven by the electric motor. A secondary rocker arm extends longitudinally within the neck and pivots about a secondary rocker arm axis that is parallel to the tuft block axis. A distal end of the secondary rocker arm drives the tuft block and a proximal end of the secondary rocker arm is driven by the primary rocker arm.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a neck extending in a longitudinal direction of the toothbrush,

a head at a remote end of the neck,

a handle at a proximal end of the neck,

an electric motor located within the handle,

a tuft block mounted to the head in a manner allowing pivotal oscillation thereof about a tuft block axis substantially normal to the longitudinal direction of the neck,

a primary rocker arm extending longitudinally within the handle and/or neck and pivoting about a primary rocker arm axis substantially parallel to the tuft block axis, a proximal end of the primary rocker arm being driven by the electric motor, and

a secondary rocker arm extending longitudinally within the neck and pivoting about a secondary rocker arm axis substantially parallel to the tuft block axis, a distal end of the secondary rocker arm driving the tuft block and a proximal end of the secondary rocker arm being driven by the primary rocker arm.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the tuft block comprises a recess socket and the secondary rocker arm has at its distal end a ball received within the recess socket.

3. Electric toothbrush of claim 2 wherein the recess socket is a slot extending in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the top block.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 1 further comprising a coupling between the motor and the primary rocker arm, the coupling having an eccentric boss received within a slot at the proximal end of the primary rocker arm.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 1 further comprising a flexible seal surrounding the primary rocker arm.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the primary and secondary rocker arms are interconnected by a pivot pin.