Toothbrush with movable head sections for enhanced oral care

• US 6,938,294 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, ECCO Design, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Gatzemeyer, John J., Eliav, Eyal, Fattori, Joseph Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Balsis, Shay L.
• Application Number:
  US10/198,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 15/222, 15/221, 15/28, 151/671
• US Class Current: 15/22.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3454 Translation along the axis perpendicular of the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3463 Translation along the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a powered toothbrush with two moving bristle bearing parts, the first such part is disc-shaped and rotates or oscillates back-and-forth, the second such part is coupled to the brush head by an elastomeric material, such that the second section can be moved either by the force of brushing or by selective engagement with the drive mechanism of the toothbrush.

Claims

1. A powered toothbrush comprising:

a handle portion having a neck formed at one end;

a head coupled to the neck, the head having a face on one side thereof, the head comprising;

a first moving part operatively connected to a drive mechanism for moving the first moving part in a first direction, the first moving part having at least one tooth care element extending outwardly therefrom; and

a second moving part comprising a carrier having at least one tooth care element extending outwardly therefrom and an elastomeric member having a recessed section, said recessed section receives and supports said carrier, and said elastomeric member couples the second moving part to a fixed portion of the head, whereby the second moving part will move in a second direction.

2. The powered toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the second moving part is in selective contact with a second drive feature for moving the second moving part in a direction different than the first direction.

3. The powered toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said second moving part is coupled to side walls of the head by said elastomeric element, such that the second moving part extends transversely therebetween, the second moving part being in selective contact with the drive mechanism for causing the second moving part to vibrate.

4. The powered toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said first moving part rotates or oscillates back and forth in a direction generally parallel to the face.

5. The powered toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the second moving part has a lower surface having one or more protrusions formed thereon, the one or more protrusions being selectively contacted by a second drive feature to impart movement to the second moving part.

6. The powered toothbrush of claim 5, wherein the movement imparted to the second moving part is such as to move the second moving part in an up and down manner with respect to the face.

7. A powered toothbrush comprising a head having an outer surface, said head comprising:

a fixed base portion,

a first movable member from which at least one tooth care element extends, said first movable member being movable relative to said fixed base portion in a first direction,

a second movable member comprising a carrier from which at least one tooth care element extends and an elastomeric member secured to said head, said elastomeric member extending beneath said carrier and forming a floating support platform for said carrier such that said carrier is movable relative to said fixed base section in a second direction; and

a drive member that contacts a portion of said elastomeric member for moving said second movable member and said carrier in said second direction.

8. The powered toothbrush according to claim 7 wherein said elastomeric member extends within an opening is said fixed base portion.

9. A powered toothbrush comprising a head having an outer surface, said head comprising:

a fixed base portion,

a first movable member from which at least one tooth care element extends, said first movable member being movable relative to said fixed base portion in a first direction, and

a second movable member comprising a carrier from which at least one tooth care element extends and an elastomeric member secured to said head, said elastomeric member includes a recessed portion that extends beneath said carrier and in which said carrier is positioned, said elastomeric member forms a floating support platform for said carrier such that said carrier is movable relative to said fixed base section in a second direction.