Powered toothbrush

• US 20050204491A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Jimenez, Eduardo, Gatzemeyer, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,430,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.100
• 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 17/3445 Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3454 Translation along the axis perpendicular of the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3463 Translation along the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

The head of a powered toothbrush includes a first tuft block mounted for rotational oscillation about an axis generally perpendicular to the outer surface of the head, and a second tuft block having fixed bristles or bristles independently movable by being mounted on an elastomeric base. The second tuft block oscillates perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the head and in an in and out direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the head. A third stationary block may also be mounted on the head of the powered toothbrush. The bristles on the first, second, and third tuft blocks may be of various lengths, colors and stiffness, and may be mounted perpendicularly to or at an angle to the outer surface of the head.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A powered toothbrush having a handle with a neck portion extending from the handle, comprising:

a head connected to said neck portion, said head having an exposed outer surface;

a first tuft block mounted to said head, said first tuft block having a first array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of said head;

a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block about an axis generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head;

a second tuft block mounted to said head closer to the neck portion than said first tuft block, said second tuft block having a second array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface;

a second drive member operatively connected to said second tuft block for moving said second tuft block in a direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head; and

a third tuft block stationarily mounted to said head closer to said neck portion than either of said first and second tuft blocks, said third tuft block having a third array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of the head.

22. The powered toothbrush of claim 21, wherein said first tuft block is rotated in a rotational direction.

23. The powered toothbrush of claim 21, wherein said second tuft block oscillates in an in and out direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of the head.

24. The powered toothbrush of claim 21, wherein said first drive member and said second drive member are part of the same drive mechanism.

25. The powered toothbrush of claim 24, wherein said first, second and third arrays of bristles can be of various lengths.

26. The powered toothbrush of claim 24, wherein said first, second and third arrays of bristles can be of various colors.

27. The powered toothbrush of claim 24, wherein said first, second and third arrays of bristles can be of various stiffness.

28-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A powered toothbrush having a head comprising a first member including at least one outwardly extending tooth cleaning element and a second member movable relative to said first member and having at least one outwardly extending tooth cleaning element, said first and second members each being movable in a first direction that extends at an angle to a longitudinal axis of said head and a second direction that extends at an angle to said first direction, and a motor for imparting movement to said first and second members.

35. The toothbrush according to claim 34 further comprising additional tooth cleaning elements that rotate relative to at least said first movable member.

36. The toothbrush according to claim 35 further comprising a first tuft block from which the additional tooth cleaning elements extend.

37. The toothbrush according to claim 36 wherein said first and second members move relative to said first tuft block during the operation of the motor.

38. The toothbrush according to claim 36 further comprising a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block about an axis generally perpendicular to an exposed outer surface of said head;

and a second drive member operatively connected to said first and second members for moving said second first and second members relative to the exposed outer surface of said head.

39. The toothbrush according to claim 34 wherein said first and second members each form a portion of a tuft block.

40. The toothbrush according to claim 39 wherein said second drive structure comprises an eccentric cam having a cam lobe provided thereon, the eccentric cam and the cam lobe being retained in a yoke located substantially adjacent to a central lower surface of said tuft block.

41. The toothbrush according to claim 39 wherein said tuft block includes a plurality of notches provided in a top surface thereof.

42. The toothbrush according to claim 39 wherein said tuft block is positioned between a second tuft block and a third tuft block.

43. The toothbrush according to claim 42 wherein said second tuft block rotates relative to said first and second members and said third tuft block is stationary.

44. The toothbrush according to claim 34 wherein said motor is positioned within a body of said toothbrush.

45. The toothbrush according to claim 34 wherein said head is a vibrating head.

46. The toothbrush according to claim 34 wherein the at least one tooth cleaning element of one of said first and second members is rotatably movable relative to the at least one tooth cleaning element of the other of said first and second members.

47. The toothbrush according to claim 34 wherein said at least one tooth cleaning element of said first member includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements, and wherein said at least one tooth cleaning element of said second member includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements.