Oral care device

• US 6,453,497 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Wang, Ben, Chiang, Casper Wein-Tien, Yang, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/526,678
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/224, 15/24, 15/25, 15/29, 152/01, 152/03, 152/052, 134/6
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0006 with a controlling brush technique device, e.g. stroke movement measuring device
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/10 Adjustable supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0046 Dental lasers surgical lasers A61B18/20; working by laser beam in general B23K26/00; lasers per se H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/00 Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses instruments acting like a sandblast machine A61C3/025; tooth polishing discs or holders therefor A61C3/06; devices for cleaning between the teeth A61C15/00; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/02 Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets or comprising liquid medication combined with receptacles for spittle A61C17/14; combined with power-driven cleaning or polishing devices A61C17/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3427 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3445 Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

An oral care device includes a handle, a head extending from the handle, and one or more oral care elements extending from the head. The device also includes a drive for engaging a base portion of each of the one or more oral care elements and for positioning each oral care element relative to that portion of the head from which the oral care element projects based on the motion of the oral care device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each oral care element is a tuft of one or more bristles.

Claims

1. An oral care device, comprising:

a handle;

a head extending from the handle;

one or more oral care elements extending from the head; and

a drive for engaging a base portion of each of the one or more oral care elements and for positioning each said oral care element relative to that portion of the head from which the oral care element projects based on the motion of the oral care device, wherein each oral care element is positioned to be angled towards a direction of motion of the oral care device.

2. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more oral care elements is a tuft of one or more bristles.

3. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more oral care elements is a nozzle for dispensing water, ultrasonic energy, an anti-bacterial laser or an anti-bacterial gas.

4. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein the drive includes a motion sensor for sensing motion of the oral care device and a microprocessor for receiving information from the motion sensor and using this information to control operation of the drive.

5. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein the positioning of each oral care element changes its angle relative to that portion of the head from which the oral care element projects.

6. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein each oral care element is positioned at or near the commencement of motion of the oral care device in said direction.

7. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein the direction of motion is substantially parallel to a long axis of the handle.

8. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein each oral care element is movable to a position which is angled by about 17 degrees to about 20 degrees from a line which extends in a perpendicular direction from that portion of the head from which each oral care element projects.

9. An oral care device, comprising:

a handle;

a head extending from the handle;

one or more oral care elements extending from the head; and

means for engaging a base portion of each of the one or more oral care elements and for positioning each said oral care element relative to that portion of the head from which the oral care element projects based on the motion of the oral care device.

10. A method of adjusting an oral care device as it is being used, comprising the steps of:

providing an oral care device having a handle, a head extending from the handle, one or more oral care elements extending from the head, and a drive which engages a base portion of each of the one or more oral care elements;

automatically sensing the motion of the oral care device; and

automatically adjusting the position of each said oral care element relative to that portion of the head from which the oral care element projects based on the motion of the oral care device to achieve enhanced oral care.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step changes the angle of each oral care element relative to that portion of the head from which the oral care element projects.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step positions each oral care element to be angled towards a direction of motion of the oral care device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the adjusting step positions each oral care element at or near the commencement of motion of the oral care device in said direction.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the direction of motion is substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the handle.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting step moves each oral care element to a position which is angled by about 17 degrees to about 20 degrees from a line which extends in a perpendicular direction from that portion of the head from which each oral care element projects.