Toothbrush system

• US 5,301,381 A
• Filed: 12/07/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Managed Care Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Klupt
• Inventors: Klupt, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS JR, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US07/986,560
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 15/22.1, 15/22.2, 15/28, 15/29, 433/216
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/06 connected to supply pipe or to other external supply means A46B11/0003 and A46B11/0006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/04 with reservoir or other means for supplying substances
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/224 Electrical recharging arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/28 with rinsing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/36 with rinsing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries

Abstract

A toothbrush system is provided which includes a handle member (14) which defines an internal handle chamber (22) for containment therein of a cleansing liquid container (28). The handle member (14) is coupled to a head housing (24) which has bristles (20) extending from it. The bristles (20) are displaceably oscillated about a central axis (16) and simultaneously are rotated about an axis which extends in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction (18) and is responsive to the oscillating displacement of the bristles (20). A mechanism is provided for delivering a liquid from the handle (14) through the head member (12) and external the toothbrush system adjacent the bristles (20). In this manner, there is provided pulsating liquid flow from the toothbrush system with a combined rotation and oscillation of the toothbrush bristles (20) in a plurality of planes.

Claims

1. A toothbrush system comprising:

(a) a handle member defining an internal handle chamber containing a liquid, said handle member extending in a longitudinal direction;

(b) a longitudinally extended head member defining a stationary head housing having bristles extending therethrough;

(c) means for displaceably oscillating said bristles with respect to said stationary head housing about a central axis of said head member and said handle member defined by said longitudinal direction;

(d) means for rotating said bristles about an axis extending normal said longitudinal direction responsive to said displaceable oscillation of said bristles; and

,

(e) means for delivering said liquid contained in said handle member from said handle member through an interior of said head member and through said head housing adjacent said bristles, said means for displaceably oscillating said bristles, said means for rotating said bristles, and said means for delivering said liquid including drive means having motor means mounted within said internal handle chamber for displaceably oscillating said bristles, rotating said bristles, and delivering said liquid external said head housing.

2. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 1 including a liquid container mounted within said internal handle chamber for dispensing said liquid responsive to actuation of said motor means.

3. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 2 where said liquid container is a flexible bellows, said means for delivering said liquid including a longitudinally directed head flow passageway formed in said head member in fluid communication with said flexible bellows.

4. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 3 where said means for delivering said liquid includes means for pulsating said liquid passing through said head member responsive to actuation of said drive means.

5. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 4 where said means for pulsating said liquid includes;

(a) a first liquid conduit in fluid communication with said liquid container at a first end thereof;

(b) a second liquid conduit in fluid communication with said head flow passageway;

(c) a one-way valve member mounted on a second end of said first liquid conduit; and

,

(d) means for actuating said one-way valve for providing liquid flow from said first liquid conduit to said second liquid conduit responsive to actuation of said drive means.

6. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 5 where said means for actuating said one-way valve includes:

(a) a piston chamber in fluid communication with said second liquid conduit and said one-way valve;

(b) a linearly and reversibly displaceable piston member coupled to said drive means for creating a pressure differential between said piston chamber and said first liquid conduit for providing liquid flow from said first liquid conduit into said second liquid conduit.

7. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for delivering said liquid includes means for converting a rotational displacement of said drive means to a linear and reversible displacement of said piston member.

8. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 7 where said means for converting said rotational displacement of said drive means to said linear and reversible displacement of said piston member includes:

(a) a longitudinally directed fork member having opposing fork member sidewalls defining a longitudinally directed fork slot;

(b) a fork pin member slidable within said fork slot; and

,

(c) means for displacing said fork pin member responsive to actuation of said drive means.

9. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 8 where said means for displacing said fork pin member includes:

(a) a first bevel gear mounted on a longitudinally extending shaft of said motor;

(b) a second bevel gear in mating engagement with said first bevel gear for rotation of said second bevel gear about a second bevel gear axis normal to said longitudinal direction, said fork pin member mounted to said second bevel gear and extending in a direction substantially parallel to said second bevel gear axis.

10. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 9 where said piston member is mounted to one of said opposing fork member sidewalls and extending transverse thereto for linear reversible displacement into said piston chamber responsive to a displacement of said fork pin member.

11. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 8 where said drive means for displaceably oscillating said bristles includes:

(a) a longitudinally directed head shaft member coupled to said bristles and said fork member;

(b) means for converting said displacement of said fork member to an oscillating rotative displacement of said longitudinally directed head shaft member about said central axis.

12. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 11 where said means for converting said displacement of said fork member includes a ball joint member for coupling of said fork member and said head shaft.

13. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 11 where said means for rotating bristles about an axis substantially normal to said longitudinal direction includes:

(a) a bristle head member having bristles extending from a first end thereof;

(b) a bristle pinion gear mounted on a second end of said bristle head member, said bristle head member being displaceable within a slot formed through said head housing; and

,

(c) a stationary head rack gear for mating engagement with said bristle pinion gear, said head rack gear being rigidly coupled to said head housing.

14. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 13 including bristle head member bearing means providing for rotation of said bristle head member responsive to said displaceable oscillation of said bristles.

15. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 14 wherein said means for delivering said liquid includes a longitudinally directed head shaft conduit extending in said longitudinal direction and coupled in fluid communication to said second liquid conduit.

16. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 15 where said head shaft conduit is in fluid communication with a plurality of branch conduits passing through said bristle head member for passage of said liquid therethrough.

17. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 16 where said bristle head member is rotatably displaceable with respect to a respective branch conduit.

18. The toothbrush system as recited in claim 2 including:

(a) an external reservoir for storing said liquid;

(b) means for filling said liquid container responsive to a coupling of said toothbrush handle member to said reservoir.