Electric toothbrush with vibration

• US 5,651,157 A
• Filed: 09/17/1996
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rowenta Co.
• Original Assignee: Rowenta-Werke GmbH
• Inventors: Hahn, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/714,273
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 15/22.1, 15/22.2, 15/23, 15/24, 15/28, 15/29, 15/167.1, 433/216, 433/122, 433/123, 601/69, 601/141, 601/142, 601/67, 601/70, 601/68, 601/87, 132/322
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights

Abstract

An electric toothbrush having a handle with a cavity therein, a motor mounted in the cavity of the handle and having a rotatable shaft, a brush head, and a shaft arranged to connect the brush head to the handle. An eccentric weight is mounted to the motor shaft so as to rotate eccentrically when the motor shaft rotates so that the brush handle vibrates. A further weight is mounted to the shaft so as to be axially movable by a manipulator for adjusting vibration of the brush head.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle having a cavity therein;

a motor mounted in the cavity of the handle and having a rotatable motor shaft;

a brush head;

an elongated connecting shaft having a first end to which the brush head is connected, and a second end connected to the handle;

a weight eccentrically mounted on the motor shaft with respect to the motor shaft axis so as to rotate eccentrically when the motor shaft rotates so that the brush head vibrates;

a second weight mounted to the connecting shaft so as to be axially movable; and

manipulator means for moving the second weight.

2. An electric toothbrush as defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting shaft has a wall that defines an axially extending interior space, the connecting shaft wall having a slot therein, the second weight being mounted to the connecting shaft in the interior space and the manipulator means being connected to the second weight so as to extend through the slot.