Brush section for an electronic toothbrush

• US 6,195,828 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Fritsch, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/425,262
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/28, 15/29, 15/224
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder

Abstract

The invention is directed to a brush section (1) for an electric toothbrush. The brush section (1) has a mounting tube (2) in which is accommodated an actuatable plug-on shaft (3) mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis (4), said shaft being equipped with a driving element (24) arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis (4). Further, the brush section (1) has a bristle carrier (8) mounted for rotation about a transverse axis (10) and equipped with a driven element (22) arranged eccentrically to the transverse axis (10) and coupled with the driving element (24). In this arrangement, a rotary movement (5) of the plug-on shaft (3) about the longitudinal axis (4) produces a rotary movement (25) of the bristle carrier (8) about the transverse axis (10. The plug-on shaft (3) and the bristle carrier (8) are braced against each other and/or against the mounting tube (2) by spring means. This prevents the occurrence of rattling noises in activated condition of the electric toothbrush.

Claims

1. A brush section for an electric toothbrush, comprising a mounting tube (2) in which is disposed an actuatable plug-on shaft (3) mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis (4), said shaft comprising a driving element (24) arranged about the longitudinal axis (4),

a bristle carrier (8) mounted for rotation about a transverse axis (10) and comprising a driven element (22) arranged about the transverse axis (10) and coupled with the driving element (24),

whereby a rotary movement of the plug-on shaft (3) about the longitudinal axis (4) produces a rotary movement of the bristle carrier (8) about the transverse axis (10), and

wherein the plug-on shaft (3) and the bristle carrier (8) are braced against each other.

2. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein the plug-on shaft (3), the bristle carrier (8), the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) are braced against each other.

3. The brush section according to claim 2, wherein the plug-on shaft (3), the bristle carrier (8), the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) further are braced against the mounting tube (2).

4. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein the plug-on shaft (3) and the bristle carrier (8) further are braced against the mounting tube (2).

5. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein the plug-on shaft (3), the bristle carrier (8), the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) are braced against the mounting tube (2).

6. The brush section according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 4, claim 5 or claim 3, wherein a biasing spring provides the bracing.

7. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein a helical compression spring (27) is held on the side of the driving element (24) remote from the driven element (22) and bearing against the plug-on shaft (3).

8. The brush section according to claim 7, wherein the helical compression spring (27) is held by an enlargement (28) of the driving element (24) or by a sleeve (33) press-fitted onto the driving element (24).

9. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein a helical compression spring (35) is arranged on the side of the driving element (24) close to the driven element (22) and bearing against the driven element (22) and the plug-on shaft (3).

10. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein a helical tension spring (37) is held on the side of the driving element (24) remote from the driven element (22) and on the plug-on shaft (3).

11. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) are fixedly joined together.

12. The brush section according to claim 1 in combination with an electric toothbrush, the brush section adapted to be coupled therewith.

13. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein the transverse axis extends at an angle of about 90°

to the longitudinal axis.

14. The brush section according to claim 1, wherein the driven element is arranged eccentrically to the transverse axis and the driving element is arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis.

15. A brush section for an electric toothbrush, comprising

a mounting tube (2) in which is disposed an actuatable plug-on shaft (3) mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis (4), said shaft comprising a driving element (24) arranged about the longitudinal axis (4),

a bristle carrier (8) mounted for rotation about a transverse axis (10) and comprising a driven element (22) arranged about the transverse axis (10) and coupled with the driving element (24),

whereby a rotary movement of the plug-on shaft (3) about the longitudinal axis (4) produces a rotary movement of the bristle carrier (8) about the transverse axis (10), and

wherein the plug-on shaft (3) and the bristle carrier (8) are braced against the mounting tube (2).

16. The brush section according to claim 15, wherein the plug-on shaft (3), the bristle carrier (8), the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) are braced against each other.

17. The brush section according to claim 15, wherein the plug-on shaft (3), the bristle carrier (8), the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) are braced against the mounting tube (2).

18. The brush section according to claim 16, wherein the plug-on shaft (3), the bristle carrier (8), the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) further are braced against the mounting tube (2).

19. The brush section according to any of claims 15 through 18, wherein a biasing spring provides the bracing.

20. The brush section according to claim 15 wherein a helical compression spring (27) is held on the side of the driving element (24) remote from the driven element (22) and bearing against the plug-on shaft (3).

21. The brush section according to claim 20, wherein the helical compression spring (27) is held by one of an enlargement (28) of the driving element (24) and a sleeve (33) press-fitted onto the driving element (24).

22. The brush section according to claim 15 wherein a helical compression spring (35) is arranged on the side of the driving element (24) close to the driven element (22) and bearing against the driven element (22) and the plug-on shaft (3).

23. The brush section according to claim 15, wherein a helical tension spring (37) is held on the side of the driving element (24) remote from the driven element (22) and on the plug-on shaft (3).

24. The brush section according to claim 15, wherein the driving element (24) and the driven element (22) are fixedly joined together.

25. The brush section according to claim 15 in combination with an electric toothbrush, the brush section adapted to be coupled therewith.

26. The brush section according to claim 15, wherein the transverse axis extends at an angle of about 90°

to the longitudinal axis.

27. The brush section according to claim 15 wherein the driven element is arranged eccentrically to the transverse axis and the driving element is arranged eccentrically to the longitudinal axis.