Power toothbrush

• US 5,359,747 A
• Filed: 08/23/1993
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Precision Incorporated (Seiko Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Amakasu, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS JR, EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/110,606
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 15/22.1, 15/22.2, 15/22.4
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• 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

Abstract

A power toothbrush has a superior brushing effect achieved by a brush member which is given a reciprocal motion in the axial direction while at the same time the brush member itself is given a rotary motion and which has a simple construction and is of low cost. A drive shaft is mounted in a casing in such a way that it is free to move in the axial direction. The rotation of a drive motor mounted inside the casing is converted into a reciprocating motion and transmitted to the drive shaft by a first transmission mechanism. A rotary brush member is rotatably mounted on the end of an attachment connected to the drive shaft, and the reciprocating motion, in the axial direction, of the attachment is converted into a rotary motion and transmitted to the rotary brush member by a second transmission mechanism.

Claims

1. A power toothbrush comprising:

a case;

a drive motor operable to effect rotary motion mounted inside said case;

a drive shaft mounted inside said case in such a way that said drive shaft is free to move in an axial direction;

a first transmission mechanism for converting the rotary motion of said drive motor into a reciprocating motion and transmitting the reciprocating motion to said drive shaft;

an attachment carried by said drive shaft;

a rotary brush member mounted on said attachment; and

a second transmission mechanism for converting the reciprocating motion of said attachment in said axial direction into a rotary motion and transmitting this rotary motion to said rotary brush member.

2. A power toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said second transmission mechanism comprises:

a fixed shaft inside said case;

an extending bar mounted inside the attachment in such a way that said attachment is free to move relative to said extending bar, said extending bar being connected to said fixed shaft;

a pinion provided on a shaft of said rotary brush member; and

a rack on said extending bar, said rack meshing with said pinion.

3. A power toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein said drive shaft has a hollow portion, said fixed shaft passes coaxially through said hollow portion of said drive shaft.

4. A power toothbrush according to claim 3, further comprising a cover mounted inside said attachment, said cover covering the end of said fixed shaft and said drive shaft.

5. A power toothbrush which simultaneously provides a reciprocatory and rotary brushing action comprising:

a case;

a power driven means in said case comprising a reciprocable drive member reciprocable relative to said case;

a rotary brush means carried by said drive member and reciprocable with said drive member;

an elongated member fixed to said case and extending to a position juxtaposed to said rotary brush means; and

operable means on said elongated member and on said rotary brush means operably engaged to effect rotation of said rotary brush means as said reciprocable drive member effects reciprocation of said rotary brush means, whereby said rotary brush means simultaneously provides a reciprocatory and rotary brushing action.

6. A power toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said operable means comprises a rack and pinion gear, said pinion gear being on said rotary brush means, said rack being on said elongated member.

7. A power toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said power driven means comprises a drive shaft, a rotary motor and transmission means for converting the rotary motion of said rotary motor to reciprocating motion of said drive shaft.

8. A power toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein said drive shaft has a hollow portion, said elongated member extending through said hollow portion of said drive shaft.

9. A power toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein said power driven means comprises an attachment means having a hollow portion which extends outside of said case, said elongated member extending through said hollow portion of said attachment means.

10. A power toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein said elongated member comprises a fixed shaft fixed to said casing, an extending bar, and connecting means connecting said fixed shaft to said extending bar, said connecting means being disposed in said hollow portion of said attachment means.

11. A power toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein said attachment means has one end on which said rotary brush means is mounted and another end on which an adaptor is mounted, said adaptor being fixed to said drive shaft, said adaptor having a through hole through which said elongated member passes.