Dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush

• US 6,902,337 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Youti Kuo
• Original Assignee: Youti Kuo
• Inventors: Kuo, Youti
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/873,434
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 401/187, 401/188.R, 401/270, 401/278, 401/279, 15/23, 15/24, 15/28, 15/29, 433/84, 433/85, 433/89, 433/118, 433/122, 433/131
• US Class Current: 401/188.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/32 reciprocating or oscillating
• 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 17/36 with rinsing means

Abstract

A dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush using a replaceable dual-channel brush head. The dual-channel brush head has a first channel for housing a drive shaft for bristle oscillation and a second channel for dispensing the dentifrice material. The brush head is mounted on the dual-channel connector of the brush handle which contains a drive mechanism and a pumping mechanism that dispenses dentifrice material from a cartridge in the handle. A manual dispensing configuration uses an external rubber button and an electrical dispensing configuration uses a rotary solenoid for actuating an internal rubber button that applies pumping pressure to the dentifrice material. The latter benefits arthritis sufferers, as no external squeezing action is required.

Claims

1. A dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush comprising:

a. a handle having a motor, a reservoir for storing dentifrice material and a pumping means for pumping dentifrice material from the reservoir;

b. a replaceable dual-channel brush head having;

i. a platform with top and bottom surfaces and a post which extends from the top surface;

ii. a dual-channel neck having a top end connected to said platform, said dual-channel neck having a first flow channel and a first drive-shaft channel housing first drive shaft;

iii. a first rotary bristle unit having a side wall with a notch and being freely mounted on said post and driven by the first drive shaft;

iv. a second bristle unit attached to said platform having a spout opening in communication with the first flow channel;

c. a dual-channel connector extending from the handle having a second flow channel and a second drive-shaft channel housing a second drive shaft, said second drive shaft being connected to the motor and detachably engaged with the first drive shaft, and said second flow channel being detachably engaged with the first flow channel and in communication with the reservoir;

d. means for imparting an oscillating motion to the first rotary bristle unit through the engagement of the first drive shaft with the second drive shaft.

2. The dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush of claim 1 in which the means for imparting an oscillating motion to the first brush unit comprises a pivotal cam linkage having a cylindrical rod mateable with the notch in the side wall of said first bristle unit and being in communication with the first drive shaft.

3. The dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush of claim 2 wherein said pivotal cam linkage being driven by an offset cylindrical rod connected to the first drive shaft.

4. The dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush of claim 1 in which said pumping means includes an elastic, compressible button for supplying a pumping force for dispensing the dentifrice material to the spout opening.

5. The dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush of claim 4 in which the elastic, compressible button is pressed by an actuator when an electric switch is activated and said elastic and compressible button is released from the actuator when the electric switch is deactivated.

6. The dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush of claim 4 in which said pumping means includes an one-way valve, said valve is forced to close when the elastic, compressible button is depressed and the valve is forced to open when the button is released.

7. The dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said first rotary bristle unit including an annular groove positioned on inner surface of a split bushing wall, and said post having a protruding split annular rim for engaging with said annular groove with clearance for free rotation of said first rotary bristle unit.

8. The dentifrice dispensing electrical toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said reservoir is a replaceable cartridge having a moveable piston in sliding contact with the inner wall of the cartridge.