Electric toothbrush

• US 6,564,940 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Gall, Douglas A., Spirk, John W., Blaustein, Lawrence A., Nottingham, John R., Osher, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/28, 15D/IG.10, 200/1.B, 200/43.16, 200/43.18, 200/318, 200/318.1, 200/318.2, 206/320, 206/362.2, 206/470
• US Class Current: 206/362.2
• 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 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/02 Protective casings, e.g. boxes for instruments; Bags A61C5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/425 Toothbrush

Abstract

An electric toothbrush includes a head having a moving portion, a handle, and shaft between the head and the handle. A body portion is hollow and further includes a motor operative to generate motion for driving the moving portion. A battery is located within the hollow section for powering the motor. A first switch, operatively connected to the motor provides momentary operation of the toothbrush. Optionally, a second switch provides for continuous operation of the toothbrush. The first switch can be operated while the toothbrush is in a toothbrush package, such as, for example, a plastic blister pack. A consumer can momentarily observe the operation of the toothbrush before purchasing the toothbrush. The consumer cannot operate the second switch and is thereby prevented from leaving the toothbrush in a battery draining operational mode for extended periods of time.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush comprising:

packaging for containing the toothbrush;

a body portion having a first end, and a hollow portion;

a head located at said first end, wherein said head includes a moving portion, wherein said moving portion comprises at least one of bristles and massaging tips;

a motor located within said hollow portion of said body portion, said motor operative to generate motion for driving the moving portion;

a first switch which is operably connected to said motor, wherein said switch can be actuated in a first manner to provide momentary operation of said toothbrush even when said toothbrush is within said packaging and a second switch actuated in a second manner to provide continuous operation of said toothbrush when said toothbrush is removed from said packaging.

2. The toothbrush as defined in claim 1 wherein said first switch is depressed to provide the momentary operation.

3. The toothbrush as defined in claim 1 wherein said first switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.

4. The toothbrush as defined in claim 1 wherein said second switch is actuated by sliding a switching member from a first position to a second position.

5. The toothbrush as defined in claim 1 wherein the second switch is actuated by depressing a switching member, wherein a first depression of the switching member closes a contact and a second depression of the switching member opens the contact.

6. The toothbrush as defined in claim 1 wherein the second switch is actuated by depressing one of a first switching member and a second switching member, wherein depressing the first switching member closes a contact and depressing the second switching member opens the contact.

7. The toothbrush as defined in claim 1 wherein the second switch is actuated by rotating a switching member from a first position to a second position.

8. The toothbrush as defined in claim 1 wherein said second switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.

9. An electric toothbrush operative to aid a user in cleaning teeth, the electric toothbrush comprising:

an elongated body having a handle portion, and a moving portion;

a motor disposed in the handle portion and operative to drive the moving portion;

a first switch operative to connect the motor to a power source only while the switch is held in a closed position by the user and a second switch operative to connect the motor to a power source when the second switch is placed in a closed position, the second switch further operative to remain in the closed position even after the switch is released by the user.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the first switch comprises a momentary switch.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the first switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the first switch comprises a push button switch.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the second switch comprises a toggle switch.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the second switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.

15. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the second switch comprises a push button switch.

16. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the second switch comprises an alternate acting push button switch.

17. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein the second switch comprises a rotary switch.

18. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a reciprocating manner.

19. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in an oscillatory manner.

20. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a rotational manner.

21. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a figure eight pattern.

22. The electric toothbrush of claim 9 further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a wiping motion.

23. An electric toothbrush comprising:

an elongated body portion having opposed first and second ends, a hollow portion and a longitudinal axis;

a head attached to said first end;

a moving portion within the head;

a motor located within said hollow portion of said elongated body portion;

a momentary switch and a non-momentary switch, both operative to connect the motor to a power source;

a gear located in said hollow portion, wherein said motor is operatively connected to said gear;

a plurality of swivel arms, wherein one swivel arm is pivotably connected to said gear; and

a shaft operatively connected to the one swivel arm and disposed for translating movement in a back and forth manner to the moving portion.

24. An electric toothbrush comprising:

an elongated body portion having opposed first and second ends, a hollow portion and a longitudinal axis;

a head attached to said first end;

a motor located within said hollow portion of said elongated body portion;

a momentary switch and a non-momentary switch, both operative to connect the motor to a power source;

a first gear and a second gear located in said hollow portion, wherein said motor is operatively connected to said first gear, and said first gear is connected to said second gear;

first, second and third swivel arms, wherein said first swivel arm is connected to said second gear, said second swivel arm is pivotably connected to said first swivel arm, and said third swivel arm moves in a back and forth manner generally along said longitudinal axis; and

a shaft operatively connected to said second swivel arm at a shaft first end and operatively connected to said third swivel arm at a shaft second end;

wherein said head further comprises static massaging tips and a moving portion, wherein said third swivel arm is connected to said moving portion.

25. The electric toothbrush of claim 24 wherein said moving portion rotates about an axis normal to said longitudinal axis.

26. The electric toothbrush of claim 24 wherein said moving portion oscillates about an axis normal to said longitudinal axis.

27. The electric toothbrush of claim 24 wherein said first gear rotates about said longitudinal axis and said second gear rotates about an axis generally normal to said longitudinal axis.

28. The electric toothbrush of claim 24 further including a swivel arm connected between said one swivel arm and said shaft.