Work device shaft for the electric drive mechanism of a toothbrush

• US 5,213,434 A
• Filed: 11/08/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rowenta-Werke GmbH (SEB SA)
• Original Assignee: Rowenta-Werke GmbH (SEB SA)
• Inventors: Hahn, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HARRY CHONG HYUN
• Application Number:
  US07/789,367
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 15/167.1, 15/22.2, 15/22.1, 15/28, 403/122, 403/361, 403/289, 403/59, 403/287, 74/99 R, 74/108
• US Class Current: 403/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/10 Details of socket shapes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32057 Angular and linear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/51 including spaced, diverse connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18888 Reciprocating to or from oscillating

Abstract

A plug-in connector for an electric toothbrush drive mechanism, including an electric motor and a movement converter which is arranged between the motor and a plug-in shaft and sets the plug-in shaft in radial and longitudinal movement, the motor and converter being arranged in a housing, and the plug-in shaft, which is supported in a bottom surface of the housing, has a free end that penetrates the bottom surface, the plug-in connector is detachably connected with the housing and the plug-in shaft is engaged in an installed state with a connecting rod arranged on the inside of the plug-in connector, and an end of the connecting rod remote of the plug-in shaft is in a working connection with a radial drive, the connecting rod and radial drive being connected with one another by an elastically deformable spiral, and the connecting rod, spiral and radial drive being constructed so as to form one piece.

Claims

1. A plug-in connector for use with an electric toothbrush having a tooth treatment tool and a drive with a plug-in shaft for imparting to the tooth treatment tool longitudinal and radial movements, said plug-in connector comprising a radial drive for imparting radial movement to the tooth treatment tool;

and means for connecting the plug-in shaft of the toothbrush drive and said radial drive for converting a longitudinal movement of the plug-in shaft into a radial movement of said radial drive, said connecting means including a connecting rod attached, at one end thereof, to the plug-in shaft and, at another end thereof, to elastically deformable spiral means connected with said radial drive for converting the longitudinal movement of the plug-in shaft transmitted by said connecting rod to the radial movement of said radial drive, said connecting rod, said spiral means and radial drive being formed as an elastically deformable one-piece part.

2. A plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein said spiral means is formed as a spirally shaped end of said connecting rod embracing said radial drive.

3. A plug-in connector according to claim 1, further comprising a ball and socket joint for attaching said one end of said connecting rod to the plug-in shaft.