Electric toothbrushes having a moving viewing surface

• US 20050091768A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Gall, Douglas A., Macaulay, Frank Delmar, Davics, Nicola Mills
• Granted Patent: US 7,007,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0087 Brushes with decoration on or in the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/00 Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
• 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 17/225 Handles or details thereof

Abstract

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having a motor disposed therein and a head having one or more moving bristle holders, wherein the one or more moving bristle holders are operatively connected to the motor. A neck disposed is between the handle and the head. The handle has a viewing window and a movable viewing surface disposed there beneath, wherein at least a portion of the viewing surface is visible through the window. The viewing surface is mechanically coupled to the motor so that rotational output of the motor causes movement of the viewing surface. The viewing surface may be directly or indirectly coupled to the motor.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle having a motor disposed therein;

a head having one or more moving bristle holders, wherein said one or more moving bristle holders are operatively connected to said motor;

a neck disposed between said handle and said head; and

wherein the handle has a viewing window and a movable viewing surface disposed there beneath, wherein at least a portion of said viewing surface is visible through said window; and

wherein said viewing surface is mechanically coupled to said motor so that rotational output of said motor causes movement of said viewing surface.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said viewing surface has one or images disposed thereon.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said viewing surface has between 2 and 8 images.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said viewing surface is attached to a first gear that is operatively coupled to said motor.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 4, wherein said first gear engages a second gear that is attached to said motor.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 5, wherein said first gear is operatively connected to a shaft and wherein said shaft is operatively coupled to said one or more moving bristle holders.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said viewing surface and said motor are magnetically coupled.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein said viewing surface is attached to a rotatable disk.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 8, wherein said disk has one or more driven magnets.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 9, wherein one or more driving magnets are disposed on a first gear that is operatively coupled to said motor, wherein said one or more driving magnets are magnetically coupled to said one or more driven magnets.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 10, wherein said first gear is operatively connected to a shaft and wherein said shaft is operatively coupled to said one or more moving bristle holders.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a switch that is electrically coupled to said motor and a power source, wherein closing of said switch energizes said motor thereby causing said viewing surface to rotate.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 12, wherein said viewing surface rotates one revolution for each revolution of said gear.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein said viewing window is disposed on an enlarged portion of said handle.