Powered toothbrush with vibrating section
First Claim
1. A powered toothbrush comprising a handle with a neck, a head mounted to said neck, said head having an exposed outer surface, a first tuft block mounted to a fixed section of said head, said first tuft block having bristles extending outwardly from said exposed outer surface, a first drive structure operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block in a plane generally parallel to said exposed outer surface, a second tuft block mounted within said fixed section of said head, at least a portion of said second tuft block being aligned with an opening in said exposed outer surface said second tuft block having bristles extending outwardly from said exposed outer surface, and said second tuft block being mounted for moving in a direction generally perpendicular to said exposed outer surface within said opening.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The head of a toothbrush includes a tuft block having bristles wherein the tuft block is moved in a direction parallel to the outer surface of the head. A second tuft block having bristles is a vibrating section which is moved in and out in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the head. If desired, the head may also include a fixed section with fixed bristles. The movement of the first tuft block may be an oscillating rotational movement.
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Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A powered toothbrush comprising a handle with a neck, a head mounted to said neck, said head having an exposed outer surface, a first tuft block mounted to a fixed section of said head, said first tuft block having bristles extending outwardly from said exposed outer surface, a first drive structure operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block in a plane generally parallel to said exposed outer surface, a second tuft block mounted within said fixed section of said head, at least a portion of said second tuft block being aligned with an opening in said exposed outer surface said second tuft block having bristles extending outwardly from said exposed outer surface, and said second tuft block being mounted for moving in a direction generally perpendicular to said exposed outer surface within said opening.
- 24. A powered toothbrush having a handle with a neck, a head mounted to said neck, said head having an exposed outer surface, a first tuft block mounted to a fixed section of said head, said first tuft block having bristles extending outwardly from said exposed outer surface, a first drive structure operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block in a plane generally parallel to said exposed outer surface, said fixed section of said head containing a plurality of fixed tufts of bristles extending from said exposed outer surface, a second tuft block mounted within and separate from said fixed section, at least a portion of said second tuft block being aligned with an opening in said exposed outer surface, said second tuft block having bristles extending outwardly from said exposed outer surface, said fixed tufts of bristles at least partially surrounding said second tuft block, and second drive structure operatively connected to said second tuft block for moving said second tuft block in a plane generally parallel to said outer surface and within said opening in said exposed outer surface.
Specification