BRUSHHEAD FOR A POWER TOOTHBRUSH WITH A TWO POSITION COUPLING ASSEMBLY

• US 20180049854A1
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Published: 02/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: HALL, SCOTT E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,603,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/042 Clip or snap connection for bristle carriers
• 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 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle

Abstract

The replaceable brushhead, used for a power toothbrush, includes a neck portion (22) having a hollow part located at a proximal end thereof. The brushhead assembly includes a bristle portion (18) at a distal end of the neck portion. A connecting assembly (20) is positioned within the hollow portion of the neck, the connecting assembly having two distinct, mechanically stable, positions. In the first position, the connecting assembly has a first physical arrangement in which the brushhead assembly is conveniently removable or insertable onto an output shaft (16) from a handle portion of the power toothbrush. In the second position, the connecting assembly has a second physical arrangement, in which a portion of the connecting assembly makes physical contact with the output shaft such that the force or torque produced by the output shaft in operation is transferred to the brushhead assembly for movement thereof.

Claims

1. A replaceable brushhead assembly for a power toothbrush having a handle portion and an output shaft for driving the brushhead, comprising:

a neck portion having a hollow part at a proximal end thereof;

a bristle portion at a distal end of the neck portion; and

a connecting assembly positionable within the hollow part of the neck portion, the connecting assembly having at least two distinct, different physical positions, including a first distinct physical position, and a second distinct physical position

wherein the connecting assembly snaps between the first and second distinct physical positions, depending upon the relative positions of the connecting assembly, the output shaft and the neck of the brushhead assembly; and

wherein the connecting assembly comprises (i) a spring part (ii) two legs which extend downwardly from opposing ends of the spring part, having protuberances at the lower ends thereof which mate with detents on the output shaft in response to the connecting assembly being in its second distinct physical position.

2. The brushhead assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring part is disposed at an angle of 90°

with respect to each of the two legs in response to the connecting assembly being in its first or second distinct physical position.

3. A replaceable brushhead assembly for a power toothbrush having a handle portion and an output shaft for driving the brushhead, comprising:

a neck portion having a hollow part at a proximal end thereof;

a bristle portion at a distal end of the neck portion; and

a connecting assembly (90) positionable within the hollow part of the neck portion, the connecting assembly having at least two distinct, different physical positions, including a first distinct physical position, and a second distinct physical position

wherein the connecting assembly snaps between the first and second distinct physical positions, depending upon the relative positions of the connecting assembly, the output shaft and the neck of the brushhead assembly; and

wherein the connecting assembly (90) comprises (i) a cylindrical upper member (92) having a top portion (94) and two depending leg members (96, 98) which extend-downwardly from opposing ends of the upper part (92), the cylindrical upper member connected by a spring (100) or other member to the inner part of the neck portion; and

(ii) a coupling assembly having an upper flat plate portion (102) having a central opening therethrough, a lower flat plate portion (104) having a central opening therethrough, two springed elements (106, 108) having protruding portions (110, 112),—

which mate with detents (114, 116) on opposite sides of the output shaft in response to the connecting assembly being in its second distinct physical position.