Brush section for an electric toothbrush

• US 6,588,042 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruan GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bruan GmbH
• Inventors: Reick, Hansjörg, Fritsch, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US10/002,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 15/28, 15/221, 15/222, 15/223, 15/224, 15/23, 15/29, 15/24, 403/313, 403/314, 403/326, 403/374, 403/377
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• 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 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• 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: Y10T 403/5786 Split
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5793 including member wedging or camming means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/60 Biased catch or latch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7077 for telescoping members

Abstract

The invention is directed to a brush section (2) for an electric toothbrush (1), having a carrier tube (4) to which is fitted a bristle carrier (5) comprising a plurality of bristles (6). The carrier tube (4) is adapted to plug onto a mount (7) of a hand piece (3) of the electric toothbrush (1). Provision is made for spring elements (14) arranged between the carrier tube (4) and the mount (7). Noises and vibrations are thereby reduced when the electric toothbrush (1) is in the activated condition.

Claims

1. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a drive shaft and a mount, the mount being not rigidly connected to the drive shaft, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube having a major longitudinal axis to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said carrier tube being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush,

said bristle carrier being movable relative the carrier tube,

wherein at least one elongate shoulder made of a plastics material forms a spring element arranged between the carrier tube and the mount,

said elongate shoulder being attached to the brush section and disposed on an inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and having, along a length of said elongate shoulder, an average height in a radially inward direction protruding inwards from the adjacent inwardly directed tube surface, and wherein the elongate shoulder'"'"'s length along the longitudinal axis is substantially greater than its average height so as to define a distributed abutment surface area for contacting the mount.

2. The brush section of claim 1 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

3. The brush section of claim 1, wherein the spring element is deflectable relative the carrier tube upon plugging the brush section onto the mount.

4. The brush section of claim 1, wherein the carrier tube is adapted to surround the mount in a radial direction.

5. The brush section of claim 1, wherein the at least one elongate shoulder comprises at least two elongate shoulders disposed on respective radially inwardly directed surfaces.

6. The brush section of claim 1, wherein the elongate shoulder plastics material comprises an elastic material.

7. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a drive shaft and a mount, the mount being not rigidly connected to the drive shaft, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube having a major longitudinal axis to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said carrier tube being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush,

wherein at least one elongate shoulder made of a plastics material forms a spring element arranged between the carrier tube and the mount,

said elongate shoulder being attached to the brush section and disposed on an inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and having, along a length of said elongate shoulder, an average height in a radially inward direction protruding inwards from the adjacent inwardly directed tube surface, and wherein the elongate shoulder'"'"'s length along the longitudinal axis is substantially greater than its average height so as to define a distributed abutment surface area for contacting the mount, and

further comprising a sleeve on which is disposed the spring element, said sleeve being adapted to plug into the carrier tube.

8. The brush section of claim 7, wherein the elongate shoulder is molded with the sleeve.

9. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a drive shaft and a mount, the mount being not rigidly connected to the drive shaft, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube having a major longitudinal axis to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said carrier tube being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush,

wherein at least one elongate shoulder made of a plastics material forms a spring element arranged between the carrier tube and the mount,

said elongate shoulder being attached to the brush section and disposed on an inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and having, along a length of said elongate shoulder, an average height in a radially inward direction protruding inwards from the adjacent inwardly directed tube surface, and wherein the elongate shoulder'"'"'s length along the longitudinal axis is substantially greater than its average height so as to define a distributed abutment surface area for contacting the mount, and

wherein the elongate shoulder is configured as a sleeve received within the carrier tube.

10. A brush section for an electric toothbrush having an output drive shaft and a hand piece, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being moveable with respect to said mount, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said bristle carrier being movable relative the carrier tube, and further comprising a longitudinal axle movably disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region having inwardly directed side surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces of said mount,

said base region having a mount-receiving recess partially defined by said inwardly directed surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region including a resilient latch member disposed on a portion of said inwardly directed side surfaces and projecting into the recess and partially occluding entry therein of the mount,

said latch member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount into said recess translationally along its extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis so as to bias the latch member between said carrier tube and said mount in contacting relationship with said outwardly directed surfaces of said mount to frictionally engage said brush section on said mount.

11. The brush section of claim 10, wherein said recess has an entrance, and said latch has latch camming structure facing the entrance and that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding mount structure to facilitate deflection of said latch.

12. The brush section of claim 10, wherein the latch is constructed as a cantilever beam.

13. The brush section of claim 10, wherein the latch member is more resilient than the carrier tube.

14. The brush section of claim 10, wherein, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, the inwardly directed surfaces of the brush section define a shape which is not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis, and the inwardly directed surfaces of the brush section cooperate with the outwardly directed surfaces of the mount to attach said brush section to said mount at the predetermined orientation.

15. The brush section of claim 10, wherein the latch member is disposed on the carrier tube.

16. The brush section of claim 10 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

17. The brush section of claim 10, wherein the carrier tube is adapted to surround the mount in a radial direction.

18. The brush section of claim 10 wherein the base region has at least two said latch members disposed on respective inwardly directed surfaces.

19. The brush section of claim 18, wherein the latch member comprises an elastic material.

20. A brush section for an electric toothbrush having an output drive shaft and a hand piece, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being moveable with respect to said mount, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region having inwardly directed side surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces of said mount,

said base region having a mount-receiving recess partially defined by said inwardly directed surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region including a resilient latch member disposed on a portion of said inwardly directed side surfaces and projecting into the recess and partially occluding entry therein of the mount,

said latch member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount into said recess translationally along its extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis so as to bias the latch member between said carrier tube and said mount in contacting relationship with said outwardly directed surfaces of said mount to frictionally engage said brush section on said mount, and

wherein the bristle carrier is rotatable relative the carrier tube, and further comprising a longitudinal axle rotationally disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft during the translational movement of the mount into the recess along the connection axis.

21. A brush section for an electric toothbrush having an output drive shaft and a hand piece, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being moveable with respect to said mount, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region having inwardly directed side surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces of said mount,

said base region having a mount-receiving recess partially defined by said inwardly directed surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region including a resilient latch member disposed on a portion of said inwardly directed side surfaces and projecting into the recess and partially occluding entry therein of the mount,

said latch member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount into said recess translationally along its extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis so as to bias the latch member between said carrier tube and said mount in contacting relationship with said outwardly directed surfaces of said mount to frictionally engage said brush section on said mount, and

further comprising a sleeve on which is disposed the latch member, said sleeve being adapted to plug into the carrier tube.

22. The brush section of claim 21, wherein the elongate shoulder is molded with the sleeve.

23. The brush section of claim 21, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises at least one shoulder forming said latch member, said at least one shoulder having a bend that curves in the direction of the mount.

24. The brush section of claim 21, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube is made of a plastics material.

25. A brush section for an electric toothbrush having an output drive shaft and a hand piece, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being moveable with respect to said mount, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region having inwardly directed side surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces of said mount,

said base region having a mount-receiving recess partially defined by said inwardly directed surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region including a resilient latch member disposed on a portion of said inwardly directed side surfaces and projecting into the recess and partially occluding entry therein of the mount,

said latch member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount into said recess translationally along its extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis so as to bias the latch member between said carrier tube and said mount in contacting relationship with said outwardly directed surfaces of said mount to frictionally engage said brush section on said mount, and

wherein the latch member is configured as a sleeve received within the carrier tube.

26. A replaceable brush section for an electrical toothbrush having a hand piece and an output drive shaft movably disposed therein, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being movable with respect to said mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, the bristle carrier being rotatable relative the carrier tube,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region being at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region radially directed lateral surfaces mating in confronting relationship with opposing said radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount,

wherein the base region of the carrier tube has, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount thereby permitting the brush section base region to be attached to the mount at only a certain angular orientation about the extension axis,

a longitudinal axle displaceably disposed within the carrier tube, said axle disposed parallel the connection axis and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft during translational movement of the mount into mating relationship with the base region along the connection axis, and

at least one resilient member attached to said brush section and formed along a portion of said radially directed lateral surfaces of said base region and having a transverse extent transverse the carrier tube connection axis,

said resilient member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount towards mating relationship with said base region translationally along the mount extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis,

wherein the resilient member is arranged between at least one said radially directed surface of said base region and at least one said confronting radially directed surface of said mount so that in a deflected condition of loading on the resilient member, the resilient member bears against said mount surface to secure the carrier tube from inadvertent motion relative the mount during operation of the toothbrush, whereby a force tending to pull the brush section in a direction away from the mount is hindered by the resilient member.

27. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the resilient member is disposed on a wall of the carrier tube.

28. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the resilient member is deflectable relative an outerwall surface of the carrier tube.

29. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the resilient member is deflectable relative an innerwall surface of the carrier tube.

30. The brush section of claim 26 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

31. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said resilient member is elongate.

32. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said resilient member has camming structure facing in a direction at least partially away from the bristle carrier and that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding mount structure to facilitate deflection of said resilient member.

33. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the at least one resilient member comprises at least two resilient members located on respective radially inwardly directed surfaces.

34. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the resilient member is defined adjacent a region of a reduced wall thickness formed in the carrier tube.

35. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the resilient member is defined by a localized region of a wall of the brush section having a thickness differing from a wall thickness of a remaining portion of the brush section more remote from the resilient member.

36. The brush section of claim 35, wherein the differing wall thickness is a reduced thickness.

37. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the resilient member is integrally molded with the carrier tube.

38. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the resilient member has a radially directed free surface defining a distributed area contact face adapted to make distributed area contact generally parallel the longitudinal axle with a generally smooth surface of the radially directed lateral surface of the mount.

39. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said longitudinal axle is rotationally disposed within the carrier tube.

40. The brush section of claim 26, wherein the brush section longitudinal axle is disposed for oscillatory rotational motion within the carrier tube to effect oscillatory rotational motion of said bristle carrier.

41. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said plurality of bristles are grouped into a plurality of bristle tufts, said plurality of bristle tufts being distributed over a face of said bristle carrier, each said tuft comprising a respective portion of said plurality of bristles, and said bristle carrier and said plurality of tufts rotatable in unison relative the carrier tube.

42. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said carrier tube is adapted to receive the output drive shaft, said output shaft extending outwards from said hand piece and protruding therefrom.

43. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said carrier tube radially surrounds said mount when attached thereto.

44. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said carrier tube is made of a plastics material.

45. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said longitudinal axle is adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft, said longitudinal axle being rotatable relative the carrier tube and the hand piece mount.

46. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said base region radially directed lateral surfaces are inwardly directed, and said corresponding radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount are outwardly directed.

47. The brush section of claim 26, wherein

said carrier tube defines a tube peripheral end face which is axially directed and located most remote from a bristle carrier end of the tube, said base region being adjacent and inward of said end face in a direction extending towards the bristle carrier,

said longitudinal axle has a coupling end remote from the bristle carrier, said coupling end being disposed, in an axial direction, inward of the tube peripheral end face, and said resilient member is spaced, in an axial direction, inward of the tube peripheral end face, said resilient member comprising an elastic material.

48. The brush section of claim 26, wherein said resilient member extends longitudinally parallel the carrier tube connection axis.

49. A replaceable brush section for an electrical toothbrush having a hand piece and an output drive shaft movably disposed therein, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being movable with respect to said mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, the bristle carrier being rotatable relative the carrier tube,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region being at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region radially directed lateral surfaces mating in confronting relationship with opposing said radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount,

wherein the base region of the carrier tube has, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount thereby permitting the brush section base region to be attached to the mount at only a certain angular orientation about the extension axis,

a longitudinal axle displaceably disposed within the carrier tube, said axle disposed parallel the connection axis and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft during translational movement of the mount into mating relationship with the base region along the connection axis, and

at least one resilient member formed along a portion of said radially directed lateral surfaces of said base region and having a transverse extent transverse the carrier tube connection axis,

said resilient member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount towards mating relationship with said base region translationally along the mount extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis,

wherein the resilient member is arranged between at least one said radially directed surface of said base region and at least one said confronting radially directed surface of said mount so that in a deflected condition of loading on the resilient member, the resilient member bears against said mount surface to secure the carrier tube from inadvertent motion relative the mount during operation of the toothbrush, whereby a force tending to pull the brush section in a direction away from the mount is hindered by the resilient member, and

further comprising a sleeve on which is disposed the at least one resilient member, said sleeve adapted to be inserted onto the carrier tube.

50. The brush section of claim 49, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises at least one shoulder forming said at least one resilient member, said at least one shoulder having a camming surface extending in the direction of the mount.

51. The brush section of claim 49, wherein said sleeve is made of a plastics material.

52. The brush section of claim 51, wherein said resilient member is molded integrally with the sleeve.

53. The brush section of claim 51, wherein the resilient member is made of elastic material molded with the sleeve.

54. The brush section of claim 49, wherein the resilient member is defined adjacent a region of a reduced wall thickness formed in the sleeve.

55. A replaceable brush section for an electrical toothbrush having a hand piece and an output drive shaft movably disposed therein, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being movable with respect to said mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, the bristle carrier being rotatable relative the carrier tube,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region being at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region radially directed lateral surfaces mating in confronting relationship with opposing said radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount,

wherein the base region of the carrier tube has, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount thereby permitting the brush section base region to be attached to the mount at only a certain angular orientation about the extension axis,

a longitudinal axle displaceably disposed within the carrier tube, said axle disposed parallel the connection axis and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft during translational movement of the mount into mating relationship with the base region along the connection axis, and

at least one resilient member formed along a portion of said radially directed lateral surfaces of said base region and having a transverse extent transverse the carrier tube connection axis,

said resilient member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount towards mating relationship with said base region translationally along the mount extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis,

wherein the resilient member is arranged between at least one said radially directed surface of said base region and at least one said confronting radially directed surface of said mount so that in a deflected condition of loading on the resilient member, the resilient member bears against said mount surface to secure the carrier tube from inadvertent motion relative the mount during operation of the toothbrush, whereby a force tending to pull the brush section in a direction away from the mount is hindered by the resilient member, and

wherein the resilient member is constructed as a cantilever beam member.

56. The brush section of claim 55, wherein the cantilever beam member is defined between two slots formed in the brush section one on either side of the beam.

57. The brush section of claim 55, wherein said resilient cantilever beam has camming structure facing in a direction at least partially away from the bristle carrier and that is shaped and positioned to interact with corresponding mount structure to facilitate deflection of said cantilever beam.

58. A replaceable brush section for an electrical toothbrush having a hand piece and an output drive shaft movably disposed therein, said hand piece having a mount for receiving said brush section, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being movable with respect to said mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, the bristle carrier being rotatable relative the carrier tube,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to be removably and fixedly attached to the mount of the toothbrush hand piece by movement of said carrier tube along a tube connection axis toward said mount,

said base region being at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces and longitudinally extending along said tube connection axis,

said base region radially directed lateral surfaces mating in confronting relationship with opposing said radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount,

wherein the base region of the carrier tube has, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount thereby permitting the brush section base region to be attached to the mount at only a certain angular orientation about the extension axis,

a longitudinal axle displaceably disposed within the carrier tube, said axle disposed parallel the connection axis and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft during translational movement of the mount into mating relationship with the base region along the connection axis, and

at least one resilient member formed along a portion of said radially directed lateral surfaces of said base region and having a transverse extent transverse the carrier tube connection axis,

said resilient member being deflectable relative said carrier tube by movement of said mount towards mating relationship with said base region translationally along the mount extension axis aligned with the tube connection axis,

wherein the resilient member is arranged between at least one said radially directed surface of said base region and at least one said confronting radially directed surface of said mount so that in a deflected condition of loading on the resilient member, the resilient member bears against said mount surface to secure the carrier tube from inadvertent motion relative the mount during operation of the toothbrush, whereby a force tending to pull the brush section in a direction away from the mount is hindered by the resilient member, and

wherein the resilient member is configured as a sleeve received within the carrier tube.

59. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a rotary drive shaft and a mount adapted to receive said brush section, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said bristle carrier rotatable relative the carrier tube,

a longitudinal axle rotationally disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the rotary drive shaft of the hand piece,

said carrier tube having a base region adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece,

wherein at least one spring element is fitted to the brush section and is flexible within the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount, and

wherein the base region of the carrier tube has, as seen in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axle, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axle and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount whereby the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount.

60. The brush section of claim 59, wherein the at least one spring element is deflectable relative the carrier tube upon plugging the brush section onto the mount.

61. The brush section of claim 59, wherein the at least one spring element is disposed on the carrier tube.

62. The brush section of claim 59 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

63. The brush section of claim 59, wherein the carrier tube is adapted to surround the mount in a radial direction.

64. The brush section of claim 59, wherein said plurality of bristles are grouped into a plurality of bristle tufts, said plurality of bristle tufts being distributed over a face of said bristle carrier, each said tuft comprising a respective portion of said plurality of bristles, and said bristle carrier and said plurality of tufts rotatable in unison relative the carrier tube.

65. The brush section of claim 59, wherein the brush section longitudinal axle is disposed for oscillatory rotational motion within the carrier tube to effect oscillatory rotational motion of said bristle carrier.

66. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a rotary drive shaft, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said bristle carrier rotatable relative the carrier tube,

a longitudinal axle rotationally disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the rotary drive shaft of the hand piece, and

said carrier tube being adapted to plug onto a mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush, wherein at least one spring element is fitted to the brush section and is flexible within the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount, and

further comprising a sleeve on which is disposed the at least one spring element, said sleeve being adapted to plug into the carrier tube.

67. The brush section of claim 66, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises at least one shoulder forming said at least one spring element, said at least one shoulder having a bend extending in the direction of the mount.

68. The brush section of claim 66, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises a plastics material.

69. The brush section of claim 66, wherein the at least one spring element is made of elastic material molded with the sleeve.

70. The brush section of claim 66, wherein the at least one spring element is deflectable relative the carrier tube upon plugging the brush section onto the mount.

71. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a rotary drive shaft, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said bristle carrier rotatable relative the carrier tube,

a longitudinal axle rotationally disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the rotary drive shaft of the hand piece, and

said carrier tube being adapted to plug onto a mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush, wherein at least one spring element is fitted to the brush section and is flexible within the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount, and

wherein the at least one spring element is configured as a cantilever beam member.

72. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a rotary drive shaft, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles, said bristle carrier rotatable relative the carrier tube,

a longitudinal axle rotationally disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the rotary drive shaft of the hand piece, and

said carrier tube being adapted to plug onto a mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush, wherein at least one spring element is fitted to the brush section and is flexible within the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount, and

wherein the at least one spring element is configured as a sleeve received within the carrier tube.

73. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a housing defining a mount that is stationary in operation relative the housing and an output drive shaft that moves relative the mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and having a base region adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush such that said carrier tube is stationary in operation relative the housing,

said bristle carrier being movable relative the carrier tube, and further comprising a longitudinal axle movably disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft,

wherein at least one spring element is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and is flexibly attached to the brush section to thus frictionally engage the carrier tube to the mount inhibiting relative movement therebetween during operation of the toothbrush, and

wherein the base region of the carrier tube has, as seen in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axle, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axle and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount whereby the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount.

74. The brush section of claim 73, wherein the at least one spring element is disposed on the carrier tube.

75. The brush section of claims 73, wherein the at least one spring element is deflectable relative the carrier tube upon plugging the brush section onto the mount.

76. The brush section of claim 73, wherein the at least one spring element is configured as a cantilever beam.

77. The brush section of claim 73 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

78. The brush section of claim 73, wherein the at least one spring element is attached to said brush section.

79. The brush section of claim 73, wherein the carrier tube is adapted to surround the mount in a radial direction.

80. The brush section of claim 73, wherein a brush section longitudinal axle is disposed for oscillatory rotational motion within the carrier tube to effect oscillatory rotational motion of said bristle carrier.

81. The brush section of claim 73, wherein said plurality of bristles are grouped into a plurality of bristle tufts, said plurality of bristle tufts being distributed over a face of said bristle carrier, each said tuft comprising a respective portion of said plurality of bristles, and said bristle carrier and said plurality of tufts rotatable in unison relative the carrier tube.

82. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a housing defining a mount that is stationary in operation relative the housing, said brush section comprising a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush such that said carrier tube is stationary in operation relative the housing, and wherein at least one spring element is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and is flexibly attached to the brush section to thus frictionally engage the carrier tube to the mount inhibiting relative movement therebetween during operation of the toothbrush and the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount, and

further comprising a sleeve on which is disposed the at least one spring element, said sleeve being adapted to plug into the carrier tube.

83. The brush section of claim 82, wherein the resilient element is made of elastic material molded with the sleeve.

84. The brush section of claim 82, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises at least one shoulder forming said at least one spring element, said at least one shoulder having a bend extending in the direction of the mount.

85. The brush section of claim 82, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises a plastics material.

86. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a housing defining a mount that is stationary in operation relative the housing, said brush section comprising a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece of the electric toothbrush such that said carrier tube is stationary in operation relative the housing, and wherein at least one spring element is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and is flexibly attached to the brush section to thus frictionally engage the carrier tube to the mount inhibiting relative movement therebetween during operation of the toothbrush and the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount, and

wherein the at least one spring element is configured as a sleeve received within the carrier tube.

87. A brush section for an electric toothbrush band piece having a mount and an output drive shaft extending through said mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and said carrier tube having a base region adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece, said carrier tube having a longitudinally extending tube connection axis,

wherein at least one spring element is attached to the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and bears against the mount inhibiting a driving motion of the extending end of the output drive shaft which causes bristle carrier rotation from causing motion of the carrier tube, and

wherein the base region of the carrier tube has, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount whereby the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount.

88. The brush section of claim 87, wherein the at least one spring is flexibly attached to the brush section.

89. The brush section of claim 87, wherein the at least one spring element is deflectable relative the carrier tube upon plugging the brush section onto the mount.

90. The brush section of claim 87, wherein the at least one spring element is disposed on the carrier tube.

91. The brush section of claim 87 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

92. The brush section of claim 87, wherein the carrier tube is adapted to surround the mount in a radial direction.

93. The brush section of claim 87, wherein the brush section longitudinal axle is disposed for oscillatory rotational motion within the carrier tube to effect oscillatory rotational motion of said bristle carrier.

94. The brush section of claim 87, wherein said plurality of bristles are grouped into a plurality of bristle tufts, said plurality of bristle tufts being distributed over a face of said bristle carrier, each said tuft comprising a respective portion of said plurality of bristles, and said bristle carrier and said plurality of tufts rotatable in unison relative the carrier tube.

95. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a mount and an output drive shaft extending through said mount, said brush section comprising a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece, wherein at least one spring element is attached to the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and bears against the mount inhibiting a driving motion of the extending end of the output drive shaft which causes bristle carrier rotation from causing motion of the carrier tube and the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount, and

further comprising a sleeve on which is disposed the at least one spring element, said sleeve being adapted to plug into the carrier tube.

96. The brush section of claim 95, wherein the at least one spring is made of elastic material molded with the sleeve.

97. The brush section of claim 95, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises at least one shoulder forming said at least one spring element, said at least one shoulder having a bend extending in the direction of the mount.

98. The brush section of claim 95, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises a plastics material.

99. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a mount and an output drive shaft extending through said mount, said brush section comprising a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece, wherein at least one spring element is attached to the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and bears against the mount inhibiting a driving motion of the extending end of the output drive shaft which causes bristle carrier rotation from causing motion of the carrier tube and the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount, and

wherein the at least one spring element is configured as a sleeve received within the carrier tube.

100. A brush section for an electric toothbrush having a hand piece defining a mount for receiving said brush section and having an output drive shaft, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being movable with respect to said mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and having a base region adapted to removably and fixedly plug onto the mount of the hand piece,

said bristle carrier being movable relative the carrier tube, and further comprising a longitudinal axle movably disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft,

the base region having inwardly directed side surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces of the mount,

wherein the inwardly directed surfaces of the brush section tube have, as seen in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axle, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the longitudinal axle and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount to attach said brush section to said mount at a predetermined angular orientation about the extension axis, and

wherein at least one spring element is attached to the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and frictionally engages the carrier tube to the mount inhibiting relative movement therebetween during operation of the toothbrush.

101. The brush section of claim 100, wherein the at least one spring element is deflectable relative the carrier tube upon plugging the brush section onto the mount.

102. The brush section of claim 100, wherein the at least one spring element is disposed on the carrier tube.

103. The brush section of claim 100, wherein the at least one spring element is provided on at least one of the hand piece and the mount.

104. The brush section of claim 100 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

105. The brush section of claim 100, wherein the at least one spring element is attached to said brush section.

106. The brush section of claim 100, wherein the carrier tube is adapted to surround the mount in a radial direction.

107. The brush section of claim 100, wherein the brush section further comprises a longitudinal axle disposed for oscillatory rotational motion within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier to effect oscillatory rotational motion of said bristle carrier.

108. The brush section of claim 100, wherein said plurality of bristles are grouped into a plurality of bristle tufts, said plurality of bristle tufts being distributed over a face of said bristle carrier, each said tuft comprising a respective portion of said plurality of bristles, and said bristle carrier and said plurality of tufts rotatable in unison relative the carrier tube.

109. A brush section for an electric toothbrush having a hand piece defining a mount for receiving said brush section and having an output drive shaft, said mount extending from the hand piece along an extension axis, and said output drive shaft being movable with respect to said mount, said mount having a brush section-receiving portion at least partially defined by radially directed lateral surfaces of said mount, said brush-section receiving portion having in cross-section a first shape, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and having a base region adapted to removably and fixedly plug onto the mount of the hand piece, said carrier tube having a longitudinally extending tube connection axis,

the base region having inwardly directed side surfaces for mating with outwardly directed surfaces of the mount,

wherein the inwardly directed surfaces of the brush section tube have, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis and adapted to cooperate with said first shape of said brush section-receiving portion of the mount to attach said brush section to said mount at a predetermined angular orientation about the extension axis,

wherein at least one spring element is attached to the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and a confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and frictionally engages the carrier tube to the mount inhibiting relative movement therebetween during operation of the toothbrush, and

further comprising a sleeve on which is disposed the at least one spring element, said sleeve being adapted to plug into the carrier tube.

110. The brush section of claim 109, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises at least one shoulder forming said at least one spring element, said at least one shoulder having a bend extending in the direction of the mount.

111. The brush section of claim 109, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the carrier tube comprises a plastics material.

112. A brush section for an electric toothbrush hand piece having a housing defining a mount having a radially outwardly directed surface and an output drive shaft extending from the hand piece and being moveable with respect to the mount, said brush section comprising

a carrier tube to which is fitted a bristle carrier comprising a plurality of bristles and being adapted to plug onto the mount of the hand piece,

said bristle carrier being movable relative the carrier tube,

wherein at least one resilient spring element is attached to the brush section and is arranged between a radially inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube and the confronting radially outwardly directed surface of the mount and frictionally engages the carrier tube to the mount inhibiting relative movement therebetween during operation of the toothbrush, and

the inwardly directed surface of the carrier tube is rotationally asymmetric such that the plugged-on carrier tube is non-rotatable relative the mount.

113. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the spring element resiliently latches the carrier tube to the mount.

114. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the spring element is constructed as a cantilever beam.

115. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the spring element is made of a plastics material.

116. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the at least one spring element is disposed on a wall of the carrier tube.

117. The brush section of claim 112 in combination with an electric toothbrush hand piece.

118. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the at least one spring element is attached to said brush section.

119. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the drive shaft extends through the mount and the carrier tube is adapted to surround the mount in a radial direction.

120. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the bristle carrier is rotatable relative the carrier tube, and further comprising a longitudinal axle rotationally disposed within the carrier tube and drivingly connected to the bristle carrier and adapted to be coupled to the hand piece output drive shaft when the carrier tube is plugged onto the mount.

121. The brush section of claim 120, wherein the brush section longitudinal axle is disposed for oscillatory rotational motion within the carrier tube to effect oscillatory rotational motion of said bristle carrier.

122. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the spring element has a radially inwardly directed free surface defining a distributed area contact face adapted to make distributed area contact, generally parallel a longitudinal axis of the carrier tube, with a generally smooth surface of the radially outwardly directed lateral surface of the mount.

123. The brush section of claim 112, wherein said plurality of bristles are grouped into a plurality of bristle tufts, said plurality of bristle tufts being distributed over a face of said bristle carrier, each said tuft comprising a respective portion of said plurality of bristles, and said bristle carrier and said plurality of tufts rotatable in unison relative the carrier tube.

124. The brush section of claim 112, wherein the carrier tube has a longitudinally extending tube connection axis and the inwardly directed surfaces of the brush section have, as seen in a plane transverse to the tube connection axis, a cross-sectional shape not rotationally symmetric about the tube connection axis to thereby cooperate with the outwardly directed surfaces to attach said brush section to said mount at a predetermined orientation.