Rotary electric toothbrush

• US 4,827,552 A
• Filed: 03/14/1988
• Issued: 05/09/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Professional Dental Technologies Incorporated A Corporation OFNV
• Original Assignee: Better Health Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Shaw, Richard J., Bojar, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US07/167,800
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 15/23, 15/24, 15/28, 15/29, 433/124, 433/125, 433/131, 433/133
• US Class Current: 15/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries

Abstract

Disclosure is made of an invention for a rotary electric toothbrush, of a head segment demountably attached to a body segment, and the head segment having a gear train in the top of the head segment such that the angle between the center line of the end brush and the drive shaft can be from 70° to 90° and a rechargeable battery and motor is contained in the body segment. The head segment is mounted on the body segment by means of raised buttons of the body segment fitting in dimples of the head segment.

Claims

1. An electric rotary toothbrush driven by a rechargeable battery wherein the improvement comprises:

a--a head segment and

b--a gear train in top of said head segment and

c--said gear train comprised of a drive gear attached to a drive shaft in said top of said head segment and

d--a crown gear meshing with said drive gear and

e--the hub of said crown gear fitting over and attached to a driven shaft

f--said driven shaft mounted on bearings in the top of head segment housing and

g--said driven shaft mounted at an angle of less than 90°

as measured from said driven shaft of head segment

h--said driven shaft having a splined end and

i--an end brush mounted on said splined end of said driven shaft, and

j--said head segment demountably attached to a body segment by means of raised buttons in said body segment meshing with dimples in said head segment and

k--a male splined section on said drive shaft of said head segment fitting into a female inner splined section of a power drive shaft and

l--electricial rechargeable power source and electric motor drive in said body segment to actuate said driven shaft in said head segment.

2. An electric rotary toothbrush driven by a rechargeable battery wherein the improvement comprises:

a--a head segment and

b--a speed reduction gear train in the top of said head segment

c--and said speed reduction gear train comprised of a drive gear attached to a drive shaft in said head segment and

d--a crown gear meshing with said drive gear and the

e--hub of said crown gear attached to and fitting around a driven shaft at 80°

angle between said shafts

f--and said driven shaft mounted on bearings in the top of said head segment housing and

g--said driven shaft having a splined end and

h--an end brush mounted on said splined end of said driven shaft and

i--said head segment demountably attached to a body section by means of raised buttons on said body segment fitting in dimples of the head segment and

j--a male splined section on driven shaft of head segment fitting into a female inner splined section of power drive shaft and

k--electrical rechargeable power source and an electric motor drive in said body segment

l--to actuate said drive shaft.

3. An electric rotary toothbrush driven by a rechargeable battery wherein the improvement comprises:

a--a head segment (2) and

b--a gear train in said head segment (2) to attain an angle of 80°

between a brush drive shaft (19) and driven shaft (7) in said head segment by means of

c--a gear train comprised of a drive gear (6) attached to said driven shaft (7) in said head segment (2) and

d--a crown gear (14) meshing with said drive gear (6) and

e--the hub of said crown gear (14) fitting over and attached to said brush drive shaft (19) and

f--said brush drive shaft (19) mounted in said head segment and

g--said brush drive shaft (19) mounted at said angle of 80°

, as measured from driven shaft (7) of head segment and

h--a spline section (16) of shaft (19) and

i--an end brush (20) mounted on said spline section (16) of brush drive shaft 19 and

j--said head segment (2) demountably attached to body segment (3) by means of raised buttons (30) in said body segment meshing with dimples (29) in said head segment and

k--a male connector end (5) of driven shaft (7) of said head segment fitting into female inner splined section (4) of power drive shaft (8) and

l--electrical rechargeable power source, or battery pack (10) and electric drive motor (9) in said body segment (3) to actuate said drive shaft and said driven shaft (7) in said head segment.

4. An electric rotary toothbrush driven by a rechargeable battery wherein the improvement comprises:

a--a head segment and

b--a speed reduction gear train in said head segment and

c--said speed reduction gear train comprised of a driven gear attached to a driven shaft in said head segment to attain an angle of 80°

between a brush drive shaft and driven shaft in said head segment by means of

d--a crown gear meshing with said driven gear and the hub of said crown gear attached to and fitting around said brush drive shaft and

e--said brush drive shaft mounted on bearings in said head segment housing and

f--said brush drive shaft having a splined end and

g--and end brush mounted on said splined end of said brush drive shaft and

h--said head segment is demountably attached to body drive segment of toothbrush by means of raised buttons on the said body drive segment fitting in dimples of said head segment and

i--a male splined section on the driven shaft of said head segment fitting into a female inner splined section of the power drive shaft of said body drive segment and

j--electrical rechargeable power source and an electric motor drive in said body drive segment to actuate said drive shaft and

k--said brush drive shaft mounted at said angle of 80°

from driven shaft of head segment.