Accessories mount for an electric toothbrush

• US 6,766,548 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: Rowenta-Werke GmbH
• Inventors: Trocha, Harald, Lukas, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/629,607
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 151/764, 151/765, 132/322, 433/118, 433/119, 433/122, 433/123, 601/142, 606/161
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights

Abstract

An accessory mount for an electric toothbrush having a motor which is arranged in a handpiece for driving vibration-generating mechanism. The mount including an elongate protective cover attachable to the handpiece. The vibration-generating mechanism is arrangeable in an interior of the elongate protective cover. A sleeve is fitted onto the protective cover so as to cover the protective cover over at least part of its length.

Claims

1. An accessory mount for an electric toothbrush having a motor which is arranged completely within a handpiece for driving vibration-generating means that extends from the handpiece, comprising:

an elongate protective cover attachable to the handpiece and configured so as to have an elongate portion exterior the handpiece and so that the vibration-generating means are arrangeable in an interior of the elongate protective cover; and

a sleeve fitted onto the protective cover so as to cover the protective cover over at least part of its length, a dental accessory being mounted to the sleeve.

2. An accessory mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the sleeve covers the protective cover over substantially its entire length.

3. An accessory mount as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an elastic ring arranged to connect a bottom end of the protective cover to the handpiece.

4. An accessory mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the dental accessory is an accessory for cleaning an oral cavity, and further comprising attachment means at one end of the sleeve for removably attaching the sleeve to the protective cover, and-holding means at an opposite end of the sleeve for holding the accessory for cleaning an oral cavity.

5. An accessory mount as defined in claim 4, wherein the opposite end of the sleeve is oriented obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

6. An accessory mount as defined in claim 5, wherein the angle between an end region of the sleeve and the longitudinal axis is 8°

to 20°

.

7. An accessory mount as defined in claim 4, wherein the holding means includes a part which has a receiving opening for accommodating the accessories.

8. An accessory mount as defined in claim 7, wherein the receiving opening has a polygonal shape.

9. An accessory mount as defined in claim 8, wherein the opening is square.

10. An accessory mount as defined in claim 7, wherein the receiving opening has an uninterrupted perimeter.

11. An accessory mount as defined in claim 4, wherein the accessory is an oval brush.

12. An accessory mount as defined in claim 4, wherein the accessory is formed by a rotatable piece with a conical tip.

13. An accessory mount as defined in claim 4, wherein the accessory is a holder in which dental floss is secured.

14. An electric toothbrush comprising:

a hand piece;

vibration-generating means that extend from the handpiece;

a motor arranged completely within the handpiece for driving the vibration generating means; and

an accessory mount having an elongate protective cover releaseably attached to the handpiece so as to have an elongate portion exterior the handpiece and, the vibration generating means being arranged in an interior of the elongate protective cover, and a sleeve fitted onto the protective cover, so as to cover the protective cover over at least part of its length, a dental accessory being mounted to the sleeve.