Oscillatory System For A Motorized Drive Unit

• US 20130025080A1
• Filed: 10/02/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Jungnickel, Uwe, Heil, Benedikt
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• 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 17/3472 with combined movements of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/027 Planar, e.g. in sheet form; leaf springs

Abstract

An oscillatory system for a motorized drive unit for the generation of a rotary oscillatory movement is provided. The system includes a first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component, the components capable of oscillating relative to one another around an axis of oscillation; and at least two elongate spring elements, each spring element having a first fastening point and a second fastening point spaced apart from one another. The spring elements are elastic in the direction of the rotary oscillatory movement. For each spring element the first fastening point is connected to the first oscillatory component and the second fastening point is connected to the second oscillatory component such that the spring elements intersect at the axis of oscillation, the axis of oscillation having an angle of intersection different from 0 degrees.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a battery;

an electromagnetic drive element connected to the battery, the electromagnetic drive element having an output axle;

an oscillatory system, the system including a first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component, the components capable of oscillating relative to one another around an axis of oscillation; and

at least two elongate spring elements, each spring element having a first fastening point and a second fastening point spaced apart from one another, wherein the spring elements are leaf springs having surfaces that are elastic in a direction parallel to the axis of oscillation; and

further wherein for each spring element the first fastening point is connected to the first oscillatory component and the second fastening point is connected to the second oscillatory component such that the spring elements intersect at the axis of oscillation, the axis of oscillation having an angle of intersection different from 0 degrees; and

a brush head;

wherein the first oscillatory component is connected to the electromagnetic drive element resulting in a rotary oscillatory movement of the brush head; and

wherein the second oscillatory component is connected to the output axle resulting in a translatory oscillatory movement of the brush head.

2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the leaf springs are made of sheet metal.

3. The electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the leaf springs are formed from a common sheet metal part.

4. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component are made of plastic.

5. The electric toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component are formed as injection molded parts.

6. The electric toothbrush according to claim 5. wherein the at least two spring elements are partly overmolded with the first and second oscillatory components such that the spring elements and the oscillatory components are fixedly connected to one another.

7. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the angle of intersection is 90 degrees.

8. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the angle of intersection is not equal to 90 degrees.

9. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the at least two spring elements are profiled.

10. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the leaf springs are parallel to a respective plane which includes the axis of oscillation.

11. The electric toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the leaf springs include ends that are angled such that the ends are perpendicular to the axis of oscillation.

12. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic drive element is an electric motor.