Toothbrush with a dual rotary brushing system

• US 5,864,911 A
• Filed: 09/27/1996
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dental Revolution, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Elisabeth Deleforges, Jean-Christophe Ferrer, Patrick Arnoux
• Inventors: Ferrer, Jean-Christophe, Arnoux, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US08/635,899
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 15/23, 15/24
• US Class Current: 15/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor

Abstract

The present invention provides a mechanical toothbrush with a dual rotary brushing system and comprising a handle-forming body and a head fixed to the handle, which head is provided with two adjacent contra-rotating brushes of cylindrical shape and having substantially parallel axes. Each of the two brushes is driven by a flexible shaft situated in the head and supported, at least at its distal end, by a respective bearing mounted on a support that enables the two brushes to move apart one away from the other, then urging the brushes towards the other by a return effect.

Claims

1. A mechanical toothbrush having a dual rotary brushing system comprising:

a body defining a handle, a head secured on said handle, a brush assembly consisting of two, adjacent counter-rotating brushes in said head, said brushes being cylindrical and having axes substantially parallel to one another,

flexible shafts respectively supporting said brushes,

drive means connected to one end of each flexible shaft to drive said shaft and the respective brush supported thereon in rotation, each said flexible shaft having a distal end, said head including first supports rotatably supporting the distal ends of both flexible shafts, and

further supports supporting said flexible shafts at locations spaced from said first supports, said first supports on said head being flexible to enable said flexible shafts to undergo flexing movement from an initial position in which said brushes are urged towards one another for contacting opposite surfaces of teeth being brushed to displaced positions to permit said brushes to move apart to accommodate teeth of varying thickness, the arrangement of said first supports and said flexible shafts causing the brushes to be urged towards one another to press against the opposite surfaces of the teeth being brushed as said brushes move up and down on said teeth.

2. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said brushes have outer surfaces which, during rotation, move towards one another at one side of the brushes and away from one another at an opposite side of the brushes, said head including a case surrounding said brushes at the side at which the outer surfaces of the brushes move away from one another during rotation, said outer surface of the brushes being exposed at the other side of the brushes at which the surfaces move towards one another during rotation, a U-shaped support member having a base fixed to said case and two flexible branches extending from said base and constituting said first supports for the distal ends of said flexible shafts, and bearings on said flexible branches rotatably supporting respective distal ends of said flexible shafts.

3. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said brushes have outer surfaces which, during rotation, move towards one another at one side of the brushes and away from one another at an opposite side of the brushes, said head including a case surrounding said brushes at the side at which the outer surfaces of the brushes move away from one another during rotation, said outer surface of the brushes being exposed at the other side of the brushes at which the surfaces move towards one another during rotation, said first supports comprising two deformable and resilient arms on said head situated on the side of said brushes which move away from one another during rotation of the brushes, and a bearing on each arm at a distal end thereof supporting the distal ends of the flexible shafts.

4. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the bearings supporting the distal ends of the flexible shafts each comprises a ball and socket joint including a hollow female socket and a ball engaged in said socket.

5. A mechanical toothbrush according to claims 4, wherein the ball and socket of each said ball and socket joint are separable from one another.

6. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein the balls of the ball and socket joints are secured to the distal ends of said flexible shafts and the sockets are secured to said first supports.

7. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said flexible shafts include portions which are inclined relative to one another.

8. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said shafts include portions in said head which are inclined relative to the axes of said cylindrical brushes.

9. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the brushes have bristles of varying lengths and diameters.

10. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the head includes nozzles enabling a liquid to be sprayed on the teeth.

11. A mechanical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the first supports which are flexible urge the brushes resiliently towards one another with a predetermined pressure.

12. A mechanical toothbrush according to claims 1, wherein the flexible shafts terminate at said one ends by respective endpieces, sleeves engaged with said endpieces and at least two gear wheels connected to said sleeves and driven by said drive means, said drive means including a motor in said handle, said head being mounted on said handle and being disconnectable therefrom.