Complex motion toothbrush

• US 6,928,685 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Brown, Patrick W., Gall, Douglas A., Blaustein, Lawrence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/896,540
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/224, 15/28
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor

Abstract

A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has a handle with a motor disposed therein that is operatively connected to a shaft. The detachable head has an elongate body with a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end opposite said first end. The first end may be detachably coupled to the electric toothbrush. The detachable head has a first bristle holder with a first plurality of bristle tufts disposed thereon. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of the elongate body and can oscillate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The detachable head also has a a second bristle holder disposed between the first bristle holder and the first end. The second bristle holder has a top surface and a second plurality of bristle tufts that form an acute angle with the top surface of the second bristle holder.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle at a first end of the toothbrush having a motor disposed therein;

a shaft operatively connected to the motor;

a head at a second end of the toothbrush, the head having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, and the head comprising a first bristle holder oriented at the distal end, the first bristle holder comprising a first plurality of bristle tufts, the head also comprising a second bristle holder oriented between the first bristle holder and the handle of the toothbrush, the second bristle holder comprising a second plurality of bristle tufts; and

wherein the first bristle holder oscillates about a first axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head, and wherein the second bristle holder oscillates solely about a second axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head, such that the first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the second bristle holder is moveably mounted to the head with a pivot.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the pivot is at a midpoint along a length of sidewalls of the second bristle holder.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the pivot is at least partially supported by sidewalls of the head and oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 4, wherein the pivot is anchored in the sidewalls of the head.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 5, wherein the pivot is a pin.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a portion of the shaft rotates.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein a portion of the shaft passes under the second axis.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 8, wherein a portion of the shaft passes under about the full length of the second bristle holder.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 9, wherein the first bristle holder is driven by a remote-most end of the shaft.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the shaft comprises at least one cam for moving the second bristle holder and at least one cam for moving the first bristle holder.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the second bristle holder comprises at least one cam surface for contacting one or more cams on the shaft.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a compartment for holding at least one battery.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts forms an acute angle with a top surface of the second bristle holder.

15. The electric toothbrush of claim 14, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction toward the first end of the toothbrush.

16. The electric toothbrush of claim 15, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a lateral direction away from the longitudinal axis of the head.

17. The electric toothbrush of claim 15, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction toward the second end of the toothbrush.

18. The electric toothbrush of claim 17, wherein the second bristle holder comprises a row of at least four bristle tufts oriented along each side of the second bristle holder.

19. The electric toothbrush of claim 18, wherein at least one of the bristle tufts comprises massaging bristles.

20. The electric toothbrush of claim 18, wherein a row of at least three bristle tufts span across a middle section of the second bristle holder generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head.

21. The electric toothbrush of claim 17, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the first plurality of bristle tufts is shorter than at least one other bristle tuft of the first plurality of bristle tufts.

22. The electric toothbrush of claim 21, wherein several of the first plurality of bristle tufts forms an inner ring of bristle tufts and several of the first plurality of bristle tufts form an outer ring of bristle tufts.

23. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle at a first end of the toothbrush having a motor disposed therein;

a shaft operatively connected to the motor;

a head at a second end of the toothbrush, the head having sidewalls, a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the head comprising a first bristle holder oriented at the distal end of the head, the first bristle holder comprising a top surface and a first plurality of bristle tufts, the head also comprising a second bristle holder oriented between the first bristle holder and the handle of the toothbrush, the second bristle holder comprising a top surface, sidewalls, and a second plurality of bristle tufts, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts forms an acute angle with the top surface of the second bristle holder, wherein the second bristle holder is moveably mounted to the head with a pivot, wherein the pivot is at a midpoint along a length of the sidewalls of the second bristle holder, and wherein the pivot is at least partially supported by the sidewalls of the head and oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head; and

wherein the first bristle holder oscillates or rotates about a first axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head, wherein the second bristle holder oscillates solely about a second axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head, wherein the first axis intersects with the top surface of the first bristle holder and wherein the second axis is in-line with the pivot and is generally perpendicular to the first axis.

24. The electric toothbrush of claim 23, wherein the pivot is anchored in the sidewalls of the head.

25. The electric toothbrush of claim 24, wherein the pivot is a pin.

26. The electric toothbrush of claim 23, wherein a portion of the shaft rotates.

27. The electric toothbrush of claim 26, wherein a portion of the shaft passes under the second axis.

28. The electric toothbrush of claim 27, wherein a portion of the shaft passes under about the full length of the second bristle holder.

29. The electric toothbrush of claim 27, wherein the shaft comprises at least one cam for moving the second bristle holder.

30. The electric toothbrush of claim 29, wherein the second bristle holder comprises at least one cam surface for contacting the cam on the shaft.

31. The electric toothbrush of claim 27, wherein the first bristle holder is driven by a remote-most end of the shaft.

32. The electric toothbrush of claim 23, wherein the handle comprises a compartment for holding at least one battery.

33. The electric toothbrush of claim 23, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction toward the first end of the toothbrush.

34. The electric toothbrush of claim 33, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a lateral direction away from the longitudinal axis of the head.

35. The electric toothbrush of claim 33, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction toward the second end of the toothbrush.

36. The electric toothbrush of claim 35, wherein the second bristle holder comprises a row of at least four bristle tufts oriented along each side of the second bristle holder.

37. The electric toothbrush of claim 36, wherein at least one of the bristle tufts comprises massaging bristles.

38. The electric toothbrush of claim 36, wherein a row of at least three bristle tufts span across a middle section of the second bristle holder generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head.

39. The electric toothbrush of claim 35, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the first plurality of bristle tufts is shorter than at least one other bristle tuft of the first plurality of bristle tufts.

40. The electric toothbrush of claim 39, wherein several of the first plurality of bristle tufts forms an inner ring of bristle tufts and several of the first plurality of bristle tufts form an outer ring of bristle tufts.

41. A replaceable head for an electric toothbrush, the replaceable head comprising:

a distal end and a connecting end;

a shaft portion;

a longitudinal axis;

a first bristle holder oriented at the distal end of the replaceable head, the first bristle holder comprising a top surface and a first plurality of bristle tufts; and

a second bristle holder oriented between the first bristle holder and the connecting end of the replaceable head, the second bristle holder comprising a top surface, sidewalls, and a second plurality of bristle tufts, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts forms an acute angle with the top surface of the second bristle holder, wherein the second bristle holder is moveably mounted to the replaceable head with a pivot, wherein the pivot is at a midpoint along a length of the sidewalls of the second bristle holder, and wherein the pivot is at least partially supported by sidewalls of the replaceable head and oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the replaceable head;

wherein the first bristle holder oscillates or rotates about a first axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the replaceable head and wherein the second bristle holder oscillates solely about a second axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the replaceable head, wherein the first axis intersects through the top surface of the first bristle holder and wherein the second axis is in-line with the pivot and intersects the sidewalls of the second bristle holder such that the first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis, and wherein a portion of the shaft portion passes under the second axis.

42. The electric toothbrush of claim 41, wherein the pivot is anchored in the sidewalls of the replaceable head.

43. The electric toothbrush of claim 41, wherein a portion of the shaft portion rotates.

44. The electric toothbrush of claim 43, wherein a portion of the shaft portion passes under about the full length of the second bristle holder.

45. The electric toothbrush of claim 44, wherein the shaft portion comprises at least one cam for moving the second bristle holder.

46. The electric toothbrush of claim 44, wherein the first bristle holder is driven by a remote-most end of the shaft portion.

47. The electric toothbrush of claim 46, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction toward the connecting end of the replaceable head.

48. The electric toothbrush of claim 47, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a lateral direction away from the longitudinal axis of the replaceable head.

49. The electric toothbrush of claim 48, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the second plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction toward the distal end of the replaceable head.

50. The electric toothbrush of claim 49, wherein the second bristle holder comprises a row of at least four bristle tufts oriented along each side of the second bristle holder, generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the replaceable head.

51. The electric toothbrush of claim 50, wherein at least one of the bristle tufts comprises massaging bristles.

52. The electric toothbrush of claim 51, wherein a row of at least three bristle tufts span across a middle section of the second bristle holder generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head.

53. The electric toothbrush of claim 50, wherein at least one bristle tuft of the first plurality of bristle tufts is shorter than at least one other bristle tuft of the first plurality of bristle tufts.