Rotary toothbrush

• US 5,177,826 A
• Filed: 03/16/1990
• Issued: 01/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hegemann International Limited
• Original Assignee: Hagemann International
• Inventors: Vrignaud, Jean Louis, Gebhard, Albert W., Hegemann, Kenneth J., Roecker, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US07/495,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 15/22.1, 15/28, 15/29
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3427 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

A powered toothbrush is provided with a pair of disc-like rotary brushes mounted for rotation about a axis generally perpendicular to the length of the brush. The rotary brushes are in axially spaced relationship and are provided with inwardly directed bristles. Between the rotary brushes, upper and lower linear brushes are mounted above and below the axis of rotation for linear reciprocating motion generally perpendicular to that axis. The upper brush has upwardly directed bristles, and the linear brushes are mounted to the rotary brushes so as to be brought into reciprocal, linear movement when the rotary brushes are reciprocated angularly.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising;

a elongated main body;

a generally disc-shaped rotary brush having generally axially directed peripheral bristles;

axle means mounting said rotary brush to said main body for rotational movement about an axis which is transverse to the length of said body;

means at least partially disposed in said main body for providing reciprocating, rotary motion to said rotary brush;

a linear brush having bristles directed away from said axis; and

means for mounting said linear brush to said rotary brush so that said linear brush reciprocates linearly along the length of said body as said rotary brush reciprocates rotationally.

2. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a second linear brush having bristles directed away from said axis and oppositely to the bristles of the other linear brush, and means for mounting said second linear brush to said rotary brush so that said linear brush reciprocates linearly along the length of said body as said rotary brush reciprocates rotationally.

3. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 2, wherein said means for providing comprises a longitudinal arm mounted for reciprocal movement along the length of said body, said arm being connected at a first end to one of said linear brushes, said arm imparting linear motion to said one linear brush, the means for mounting said linear brush producing reciprocating rotary motion of the rotary brush.

4. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a guide arm projecting from the other of said linear brushes and means for retaining said guide arm in a fixed orientation for sliding movement relative to said longitudinal arm.

5. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a second generally disc-shaped rotary brush having peripheral bristles generally axially directed towards the other rotary brush;

second axle means mounting said second rotary brush for rotational movement about said axis;

said linear brush being also mounted to said second rotary brush so as to be reciprocated linearly when said rotary brushes experiences reciprocating rotary motion.

6. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for providing comprises a longitudinal arm mounted for reciprocal movement along the length of said body, said arm being connected at a first end to one of said linear brushes, said arm imparting linear motion to said one linear brush, the means for mounting said linear brush producing reciprocating rotary motion of the rotary brushes.

7. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 6, wherein said longitudinal arm is coupled at a second end to a linearly reciprocating drive shaft, said longitudinal arm having a tall, narrow width passageway extending thereinto from said second end and a laterally directed passageway extending therethrough at a distance away from said second end, a drive shaft having a forward portion dimensioned and shaped to be received in said tall, narrow passageway and to be substantially larger in height than the width of said passageway, said forward portion, terminating at a short distance rearward of said drive shaft, whereby said drive shaft may be inserted into said tall, narrow passageway and moved forward into said lateral passageway, wherein relative rotation between said longitudinal arm and said drive shaft causes said forward portion of said drive shaft to extend into said lateral passageway and to be captured therein.

8. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a second generally disc-shaped rotary brush having peripheral bristles generally axially directed towards the other rotary brush;

second axle means mounting said second rotary brush for rotational movement about said axis; and

means for mounting said linear brush to said second rotary brush so that said linear brush reciprocates linearly along the length of said body as said second rotary brush reciprocates rotationally.

9. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 8, wherein said means for providing comprises a longitudinal arm mounted for reciprocal movement along the length of said body, said arm being connected at a first end to said linear brush, said arm imparting linear motion to said one linear brush, the means for mounting said linear brush producing reciprocating rotary motion of the rotary brushes.

10. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing comprises a longitudinal arm mounted for reciprocal movement along the length of said body, said arm being connected at a first end to said linear brush said arm imparting linear motion to said linear brush, the means for mounting producing reciprocating rotary motion to the rotary brush.

11. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 10, wherein said longitudinal arm is coupled at a second end to a linearly reciprocating drive shaft, said longitudinal arm having a tall, narrow width passageway extending thereinto from said second end and a laterally directed passageway extending therethrough at a distance away from said second end, a drive shaft having a forward portion dimensioned and shaped to be received in said tall, narrow passageway and to be substantially larger in height than the width of said passageway, said forward portion, terminating at a short distance rearward of said drive shaft, whereby said drive shaft may be inserted into said tall, narrow passageway and moved forward into said lateral passageway, wherein relative rotation between said longitudinal arm and said drive shaft causes said forward portion of said drive shaft to extend into said lateral passageway and to be captured therein.

12. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 10, wherein said longitudinal arm is coupled at a second end to a linearly reciprocating drive shaft, said longitudinal arm having a pair of opposed arms projecting beyond its second end as an extension thereof, each opposed arm having a sloped surface facing the other opposed arm to form a gap between said opposed arms which tapers towards said second end, a drive shaft having a tapered end conforming generally in taper to the gap between said opposed arms, the tapered end of said drive shaft being too large to fit through said gap, the opposed arms separating to admit said tapered end when it is urged into said gap.

13. A toothbrush in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means defining a compartment in said toothbrush, a battery pack dimensioned and shaped to be slidably received in said compartment and means for releasably retaining said battery pack in said compartment.