Combination motorized toothbrush and plaque removal device

• US 6,233,773 B1
• Filed: 08/21/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Supertooth, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hans J. Karge, Robert C. Wood
• Inventors: Karge, Hans J., Wood, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US09/138,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 15/24, 15/29, 601/162, 601/163, 601/165, 433/216
• US Class Current: 15/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/024 with constant liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/36 with rinsing means

Abstract

A combination motorized toothbrush and gum cleaning device which uniquely incorporates the best features of a motorized toothbrush and a pressurized fluid stream cleaning gum-cleaning system. A pump assembly and power source are housed in a plastic housing and a flexible hose leads from the pump to a hollow brush handle which contains a D.C. motor, a gear train terminating in an oscillating shaft and a pair of switches. A removable and replacable brush head assembly plugs onto the top of the brush head and the oscillating shaft causes the bristles of the brush head to oscillate. A hollow tube portion also is incorporated into the brush head assembly which delivers a high power stream of water or other fluid out the center of the brush head and can be directed towards the users gum line and between the users teeth.

Claims

1. A combination motorized tooth brush and gum cleaning device comprised of a fluid pump and pump housing, a water reservoir, a hollow toothbrush handle having within it a D.C. motor, a gear train assembly terminating in an oscillating shaft, a replaceable removable brush head assembly capable of fitting onto the top of said brush handle, said brush head assembly also containing a hollow tubular portion capable of carrying fluid to the center most portion of the bristle portion of the brush head, said brush handle connected to said pump housing by a hollow, flexible tube capable of carrying a fluid such as water from said pump to said brush handle and head assembly, said flexible tube also carrying two pairs of sheathed wires, one said pair connected from a power source located in said pump housing to a switch located in said brush handle for the purpose of turning on and off said D.C. motor, the other said pair of wires being connected from said power source to a second switch located in said handle for the purpose of turning on and off said pump.

2. A combination motorized toothbrush and gum cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water reservoir is removable and replaceable and can nest with said pump housing when not in use.

3. A combination motorized toothbrush and gum cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible hose stores out of sight in said pump housing.

4. A combination motorized toothbrush and gum cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pump housing also contains a micro-processor chip and a speaker so that a melody lasting approximately two minutes in length can be played for timing purposes.

5. A combination motorized toothbrush and gum cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water reservoir nests with said pump assembly and can be switched from a horizontal position to a vertical position for the purpose of taking up less counter space while in a storage position.

6. A toothbrush and gum cleaning device comprising:

a brush handle that has a top;

a brush head capable of fitting onto the top of the brush handle comprising;

a brush head body;

a brush on the brush head body, the brush having a plurality of bristles, and an outlet, positioned in a center portion of the brush bristles, for releasing a stream of fluid, the brush being capable of moving with respect to the brush head;

a hollow tubular portion capable of carrying fluid to the outlet;

a fluid pump;

a housing enclosing the pump therein;

a hollow flexible tube connecting the housing and the handle, wherein the tube is capable of carrying a fluid from the pump to the handle and the brush head;

wherein the brush handle further comprises a gear train assembly connected to a motor, terminating in a shaft and capable of moving the brush;

further comprising a means for supplying cower to the motor;

wherein the means for supplying power is a wire connection from a power source in the housing to the motor; and

wherein the flexible tube comprises two pairs of sheathed wires, one pair connected from a power source located in the housing to a switch located in the brush handle for the purpose of turning on and off the power supply means, the other pair of wires being connected from the power source to a second switch located in the handle for the purpose of turning on and off the pump.

7. A toothbrush and gum cleaning device comprising:

a brush handle that has a top;

a brush head capable of fitting onto the top of the brush handle comprising;

a brush head body;

a brush on the brush head body, the brush having a plurality of bristles, and an outlet, positioned in a center portion of the brush bristles, for releasing a stream of fluid, the brush being capable of moving with respect to the brush head;

a hollow tubular portion capable of carrying fluid to the outlet;

a fluid pump;

a housing enclosing the pump therein;

a hollow flexible tube connecting the housing and the handle, wherein the tube is capable of carrying a fluid from the pump to the handle and the brush head; and

further comprising a fluid reservoir that is removable and replaceable and can nest with the pump housing when not in use.

8. The toothbrush and gum cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the fluid reservoir is capable of being switched from a horizontal position to a vertical position for the purpose of taking up less counter space while in a storage position.

9. A toothbrush and gum cleaning device comprising:

a brush handle that has a top;

a brush head capable of fitting onto the top of the brush handle comprising;

a brush head body;

a brush on the brush head body, the brush having a plurality of bristles, and an outlet, positioned in a center portion of the brush bristles, for releasing a stream of fluid, the brush being capable of moving with respect to the brush head;

a hollow tubular portion capable of carrying fluid to the outlet;

a fluid pump;

a housing enclosing the pump therein;

a hollow flexible tube connecting the housing and the handle, wherein the tube is caoable of carrying a fluid from the pump to the handle and the brush head; and

wherein the housing further comprises a timer capable of informing the user as to the length of time of use of the cleaning device, the timer comprising a speaker and a micro-processor.

10. The combination motorized toothbrush and gum cleaning device comprising:

a fluid pump;

a pump housing;

a fluid reservoir;

a toothbrush handle;

a gear train assembly driven by a motor and terminating in an oscillating shaft;

a replaceable removable brush head assembly capable of fitting on top of the handle;

a hollow flexible tube connecting the pump housing and the handle, and capable of carrying a fluid from the pump to the handle and head assembly;

wherein the brush head assembly comprises a hollow tubular portion capable of carrying fluid to a center most portion of a bristle portion of the brush head; and

wherein the pump housing comprises a micro-processor chip and a speaker capable of playing a melody lasting approximately two minutes in length for timing purposes.