SPRING MECHANISM FOR POWER DEVICE

• US 20150150664A1
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ranir LLC (Perrigo Company PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ranir LLC (Perrigo Company PLC)
• Inventors: Crossman, Scott P., Kollar, Kevin J., Blandino, Thomas P., Mehnert, John C., Wilke, Andrew P., Penrod, Mark A., Yost, Kevin G., Xiaoguo, Dai, Andrew, Michael A., Dieter, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,952,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3472 with combined movements of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18856 Oscillating to oscillating

Abstract

A spring mechanism for attaching to a power device drive unit includes a housing connectable to a portion of the power device and a shaft extending through the housing. One end of the shaft is coupled to a workpiece and a bottom member extends from the other end and is positioned adjacent the drive unit. The bottom member includes at least one of a ferromagnetic material and a permanent magnet. The bottom member, shaft and workpiece move upon actuation of the drive unit, and a spring extends laterally outwardly from the shaft between the shaft and the housing. The spring is affixed to one of the shaft and the housing, wherein the spring bends between a deformed position and a return position upon the movement of the bottom member.

Claims

1. A spring mechanism for a power device, the device including an electromagnet, the spring mechanism comprising:

a housing;

a shaft extending through the housing and having a first end coupled to a bottom member and a second end coupled to a bristle head;

at least one permanent magnet associated with the bottom member, the permanent magnet, bottom member, shaft and bristle head oscillating upon actuation of the electromagnet;

a spring extending between the shaft and the housing, the spring being affixed to one of the shaft and the housing; and

wherein the spring alternates between a deformed position and a return position during the oscillation of the permanent magnet.

2. The spring mechanism of claim 1 wherein said spring is a flat spring.

3. The spring mechanism of claim 2 wherein said flat spring is in a shape of one of a triangle or a rectangle.

4. The spring mechanism of claim 2 further comprising:

a drive shaft longitudinal axis; and

a flat spring bend axis,

wherein said flat spring bend axis is off-set from said drive shaft longitudinal axis.

5. The spring mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first end of said spring is fixed to said drive shaft during said spring alternation between said deformed position and said return position.

6. The spring mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second end of said spring is fixed to said housing during said spring alteration between said deformed position and said return position.

7. The spring mechanism of claim 1 wherein the drive operates at a reduced decibel level.

8. The spring mechanism of claim 1 wherein the electromagnets have a drive frequency between about 250 Hz and about 275 Hz.

9. A spring mechanism for attaching to a power device, the device including a drive unit capable of being actuated by a user, the spring mechanism comprising:

a housing connectable to a portion of the power device;

a shaft extending through the housing and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end coupled to a workpiece;

a bottom member including at least one of a ferromagnetic material and a permanent magnet, the bottom member connected to the first end of the shaft and positioned adjacent the drive unit, wherein the bottom member, shaft and workpiece move upon actuation of the drive unit; and

a spring extending laterally outwardly from the shaft, the spring extending between the shaft and the housing, the spring affixed to one of the shaft and the housing, wherein the spring bends between a deformed position and a return position during the movement of the bottom member.

10. The spring mechanism of claim 9 wherein the bottom member extends laterally outwardly from the first end of the shaft, such that the one of the ferromagnetic material and the permanent magnet are offset from the shaft.

11. The spring mechanism of claim 10 wherein the spring extends outwardly from the shaft in the same direction as the bottom member.

12. The spring mechanism of claim 9 wherein the spring bends about a bend axis as the bottom member moves, causing the shaft to move about an arcuate path such that the workpiece experiences a degree of rotation.

13. The spring mechanism of claim 12 wherein the bend axis is offset from the shaft.

14. The spring mechanism of claim 13 wherein the bend axis is positioned between the shaft and the housing.

15. The spring mechanism of claim 14 wherein the spring is affixed to both the housing and the shaft.

16. The spring mechanism of claim 9, wherein the housing defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the shaft is positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

17. The spring mechanism of claim 9 wherein the workpiece include a neck aligned with the shaft, a head extending from the neck, and bristles extending laterally outwardly from the head.

18. A spring mechanism for attachment to a drive unit for an electric toothbrush, the spring mechanism providing a workpiece connected to the drive unit with a desired workpiece motion, the spring mechanism comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end and an opening extending through the housing and through the first end and the second end, the first end including an attachment portion for attaching the housing to the drive unit, the housing defining a longitudinal length extending through the housing from the first end to the second end;

a shaft extending through said housing from said first end to said second end, a portion of said shaft extending through said opening;

a toothbrush head connected to one end of said shaft;

a bottom member spaced from the toothbrush head and extending laterally outwardly from the shaft, the bottom member including at least one of a permanent magnet and a ferromagnetic material; and

a spring extending from the shaft between the bottom member and the toothbrush head, the spring extending from the shaft to the housing;

wherein movement of the bottom member causes oscillatory movement of the spring and the toothbrush head, wherein the spring bends about a bending axis spaced from the shaft.

19. The spring mechanism of claim 18 wherein the spring is connected to the shaft and the housing, and wherein the bending axis is spaced between the shaft and the housing.

20. The spring mechanism of claim 19 including an overmold portion molded over a portion of the shaft, the spring connected to the overmold portion.