Complex motion toothbrush
First Claim
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1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:
- a handle at a first end of the toothbrush having a motor disposed therein;
a head at a second end of the toothbrush, the head having a longitudinal axis, the head having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts and a second bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts; and
a rotatable shaft operatively connected to the motor and having a longitudinal axis and a cam, wherein the cam engages the second bristle holder to move the second bristle holder in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft, and wherein the rotatable shaft engages the first bristle holder to oscillate or rotate the first bristle holder about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft, and wherein the second bristle holder moves in a direction general parallel with the axis of the first bristle holder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrically driven toothbrush has a rotatable shaft with a cam preferably at a remote end of the shaft, which fits into a slot in a bristle holder. The holder is mounted for rotation in a toothbrush head. When the shaft rotates cam describes a circle and drivingly engages the slot to cause the holder to vibrate in a first brushing motion. A second bristle holder is also driven by the shaft, for a second kind of brushing motion. The second bristle holder is driven through and engagement with a portion of the remote end and/or with one or more additional cams or cam portions included on the shaft.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:
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a handle at a first end of the toothbrush having a motor disposed therein;
a head at a second end of the toothbrush, the head having a longitudinal axis, the head having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts and a second bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts; and
a rotatable shaft operatively connected to the motor and having a longitudinal axis and a cam, wherein the cam engages the second bristle holder to move the second bristle holder in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft, and wherein the rotatable shaft engages the first bristle holder to oscillate or rotate the first bristle holder about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft, and wherein the second bristle holder moves in a direction general parallel with the axis of the first bristle holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electric toothbrush, comprising:
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a handle at a first end of the toothbrush having a motor disposed wherein;
a head at a second end of the toothbrush, the head having a longitudinal axis, the head having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts and a second bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts; and
a rotatable shaft operatively connected to the motor and having a longitudinal axis and a cam, wherein the cam engages a cam contact surface of the second bristle holder to move the second bristle holder in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft and wherein the rotatable shaft engages the first bristle holder to oscillate or rotate the first bristle holder about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft, and wherein the second bristle holder reciprocates in a direction generally parallel with the axis of the first bristle holder. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electric toothbrush head assembly adapted for coupling to a handle having an electric motor, the head assembly comprising:
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a head having a first end adapted for coupling to the handle, and a second end opposite from the first end, the head having a longitudinal axis, the head having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts and a second bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts; and
a rotatable shaft operatively connected to the motor and having a longitudinal axis and a cam, wherein the cam engages a cam contact surface of the second bristle holder to move the second bristle holder in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft and wherein the rotatable shaft engages the first bristle holder to oscillate or rotate the first bristle holder about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft, and wherein the second bristle holder moves in a direction generally parallel with the axis of the first bristle holder. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification