Electric toothbrush

• US 5,054,149 A
• Filed: 07/12/1989
• Issued: 10/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kok S. Si-Hoe, Tiong E. Ong
• Original Assignee: Kok S. Si-Hoe, Tiong E. Ong
• Inventors: Si-Hoe, Kok S., Ong, Tiong E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US07/378,806
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 15/28, 15/22 R, 15/23, 15/24, 15/29, 128/49, 128/62 A, 128/62 R, 74/70, 74/25, 433/131, 433/114, 433/118
• US Class Current: 15/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18056 Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18416 Rotary to alternating rotary

Abstract

An electric toothbrush comprises two main casings, a battery/motor casing and a brush drive casing, both casings being made of plastics material and one casing telescopically fitting over the other. The casing contains a battery, a motor and a motor shaft which carries the first gear of a reduction gear set which also comprises gears which drive a motor gear output shaft carrying a male coupling. The brush drive casing carries a brush head further reduction gearing and a brush drive shaft which carries a female coupling. When the couplings are mated telescopically, the male and female couplings connect so as to complete the drive to the toothbrush head. Preferably the toothbrush head is arranged to be driven in alternate directions, i.e., so as to have a reciprocal motion.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a first member including;

an electric motor having a rotary output shaft, a longitudinally elongated housing containing said motor and including a compartment for electric power storage battery means for powering said motor and a forward end of said housing configured for removable connection with a second member, a first mechanical power transmitting coupling element which is accessible at said end of said housing of said first member, and first mechanical power transmitting means operatively connecting said rotary output shaft with said first mechanical power transmitting coupling element; and

a second member including;

a longitudinally elongated casing, a holder for a brush head, said holder being mounted to said casing for reversing rotation about an axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing adjacent an outer end of said casing, a drive shaft journalled in said casing for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, said casing having a rear end configured for removable connection with said forward end of said first member, a second mechanical power transmitting means operatively connecting said holder with said drive shaft, and said drive shaft having a second mechanical power transmitting coupling element which is accessible at said rear end of said casing of said second member;

said forward end of said housing of said first member being removably connected with said rear end of said casing of said second member, and said first mechanical power transmitting coupling element being telescopically operatively removably coupled with said second mechanical power transmitting coupling element;

one of said first and second mechanical power transmitting means being arranged for converting a continuous unidirectional rotary input from the respective of said rotary output shaft and said drive shaft, into a periodically reversing rotary output about an axis of oscillation to the respective of said first mechanical power transmitting coupling element and said holder;

said one of said first and second mechanical power transmitting means being characterized by not reciprocating longitudinally of said axis of oscillation while rotating about said axis of oscillation;

said second mechanical power transmitting means comprising a quadrant gear mounted for alternate driving relation with two bevel gears arranged for being driven in rotationally opposite directions to one another by said quadrant gear about said axis of oscillation.

2. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a first member including;

an electric motor having a rotary output shaft, a longitudinally elongated housing containing said motor and including a compartment for electric power storage battery means for powering said motor and a forward end of said housing configured for removable connection with a second member, a first mechanical power transmitting coupling element which is accessible at said end of said housing of said first member, and first mechanical power transmitting means operatively connecting said rotary output shaft with said first mechanical power transmitting coupling element; and

a second member including;

a longitudinally elongated casing, a holder for a brush head, said holder being mounted to said casing for reversing rotation about an axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing adjacent an outer end of said casing, a drive shaft journalled in said casing for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, said casing having a rear end configured for removable connection with said forward end of said first member, a second mechanical power transmitting means operatively connecting said holder with said drive shaft, and said drive shaft having a second mechanical power transmitting coupling element which is accessible at said rear end of said casing of said second member;

said forward end of said housing of said first member being removably connected with said rear end of said casing of said second member, and said first mechanical power transmitting coupling element being telescopically operatively removably coupled with said second mechanical power transmitting coupling element;

one of said first and second mechanical power transmitting means being arranged for converting a continuous unidirectional rotary input from the respective of said rotary output shaft and said drive shaft, into a periodically reversing rotary output about an axis of oscillation to the respective of said first mechanical power transmitting coupling element and said holder;

said one of said first and second mechanical power transmitting means being characterized by not reciprocating longitudinally of said axis of oscillation while rotating about said axis of oscillation;

said first mechanical power transmitting means comprising two bevel gears each lacking teeth throughout an arc of predetermined angular extent and mounted for alternate driving relation with a crown gear wheel arranged for being driven in rotationally opposite directions alternately by respective ones of said bevel gears about said axis of oscillation.