Top loading internal assembly for a power toothbrush

• US 7,122,921 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hall, Scott E., Hanela, Craig D., Taylor, Richard K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comas, Yahveh
• Application Number:
  US10/139,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 310/50, 310/36, 310/47, 15/221, 433/118, 433/119
• US Class Current: 310/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/07 with vibratory drive, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/16 Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/02 wound on non-magnetic supports, e.g. formers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1646 Armatures or stationary parts of magnetic circuit having permanent magnet

Abstract

A first aspect of the disclosure concerns a driving assembly for a power toothbrush which includes a drive member, specifically an E-core electromagnet, a driven member which is responsive to the action of the drive member and a workpiece mounted on the distal end of the driven member. The drive assembly includes an interface registration member, to one end surface portion of which is secured the end face of E-core electromagnet, another portion of which is configured to produce a selected registration of the driven member and the driving assembly, and still another portion of which is configured to produce a selected registration of the interface member relative to the handle of the toothbrush.

A second aspect of the disclosure concerns a split bobbin assembly for an electrical coil portion of an electromagnet in a power toothbrush. The split bobbin assembly includes a first portion which mates with a portion of the appliance which is exposed to the operating environment of the appliance and is made from a material which has sufficient chemical-resistant properties for tolerance of exposure to the environment. A second portion of the split bobbin is made from a material which is resistant to heat so as to withstand soldering of the electrical coil wires to the terminal pins positioned in a base part of the bobbin assembly. Connecting elements on the first and second portions join the two portions together.

Claims

1. A driving assembly for a small power appliance, comprising:

a drive member having a distal end portion, providing in operation a motion to a driven member assembly;

a driven member assembly, mechanically separate from the drive member except when connected by an interface member, the driven member assembly including a drive shaft with a workpiece at a distal end thereof, the drive shaft moving in response to the operation of the drive member;

and a single, unitary interface registration member, having a plurality of interface portions, wherein the interface member mechanically connects the drive member and the driven member assembly but does not drive the driven member assembly, wherein a first interface portion has directly connected thereto in a pre-established fixed relationship the distal end portion of said drive member and wherein the separate driven member assembly is removably received in a fixed relationship by the interface member at a second interface portion thereof, so that a reliable, fixed alignment between the drive member and the driven member assembly results, wherein the drive member is an electromagnet and the driven member assembly includes a driven element having a permanent magnet secured thereto at a rear end thereof, wherein cooperative interaction between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet produces motion of the driven element and the workpiece.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface element includes registration elements positioned around the exterior periphery thereof, adapted to fit into mating receiving portions on an interior surface of a handle housing at an open end thereof.

3. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driven member assembly is secured in a mounting member and wherein the mounting member includes registration elements thereon which fit into mating receiving portions on an interior surface of the interface element to align the mounting member and the driven member assembly.

4. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a toothbrush and the workpiece is a toothbrush brushhead.

5. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet includes a laminate core portion which is fixedly secured to a rear end surface of the interface element, and wherein a forward portion of the interface element has an interior cup-like portion into which a lower part of the driven element and the permanent magnet are located.