Electron-motion toothbrush

• US 7,222,382 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joo A. Choi, Joo R.I. Choi
• Original Assignee: Joo A. Choi, Joo R.I. Choi
• Inventors: Choi, Joo A, Choi, Joo Ri
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/483,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 15/23
• US Class Current: 15/23
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

An electro-motion toothbrush includes a case containing a driving unit. First and second toothbrush support rods are flexible and rotated by the driving unit in directions opposite to each other. First and second toothbrush heads are connected to upper ends of the first and second toothbrush support rods, respectively. First and second toothbrush bristles are implanted along a lengthwise direction of the first and second toothbrush heads, interweave with each other, and not to cross each other during operation.

Claims

1. An electro-motion toothbrush comprising:

a case containing a driving unit, the driving unit including;

a power source,

first and second rotation gears which engage each other and are rotated by power from the power source, and

first and second rotation support shafts, connected to and activated through first ends fixed to the first and second rotation gears, respectively, and having second ends;

first and second toothbrush support rods which are flexible and rotated by the driving unit in directions opposite to each other, wherein the second ends of the first and second rotation support shafts are connected to the first and second toothbrush support rods, respectively;

first and second toothbrush heads connected to ends of the first and second toothbrush support rods, respectively;

first and second toothbrush bristles implanted along a lengthwise direction of the first and second toothbrush heads, which interweave with each other, and which do not cross each other during rotation of the first and second toothbrush support rods; and

an interval adjustment unit installed at the case and adjusting spacing between the first and second toothbrush support rods.

2. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interval adjustment unit comprises:

upper and lower plates respectively installed on opposite sides of the first and second rotation gears;

an interval adjustment portion located outside the ease for manipulation by a user;

an interval adjustment plate including a hook portion hooked by an end of the second rotation support shaft and, when the interval adjustment portion is manipulated, making the hook portion move the second rotation support shaft so that the spacing between the first and second toothbrush support rods is changed;

a movement guide groove in the lower plate guiding movement of the second rotation support shaft; and

an elastic member providing an elastic force to the second rotation support shaft to return the second rotation support shaft to an original position when the manipulation of the interval adjustment portion is completed.

3. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the interval adjustment unit further comprises a circular movement ball, at the lower surface of the upper plate and rotating, and into which the second rotation support shaft is inserted.

4. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first rotation gear is a drive gear receiving power directly from the power source and the second rotation gear is a driven gear rotating by being engaged with the first rotation gear.

5. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second rotation gears each have a trapezoidal profile, and pitch diameters of the first and second rotation gears vary according to directions of rotation shafts of the first and second rotation gears.

6. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, including:

a light emitting unit which emits light outside the case;

a human body detecting sensor detecting whether there is contact by a hand of a user, a light emitting switch turning the light emitting unit on and off, a speed control switch controlling rotation speed of the first and second toothbrush heads, and a rotation direction change switch changing the direction of rotation of the first and second toothbrush heads, attached at a side of the case;

a control which controls the power source and the light emitting unit in response to the human body detecting sensor, the light emitting switch, the speed control switch, and the rotation direction change switch; and

a power supply which supplies power to the power source and the light emitting unit according to the control of the control, located inside the case.

7. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light emitting switch, the speed control switch, and the rotation direction change switch are symmetrically located at opposite sides of the case.

8. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second toothbrush bristles are implanted in an at least one spiral row.

9. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light emitting unit which emits light outside the case.

10. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second toothbrush support rods are detachably coupled to the first and second rotation support shafts, respectively.

11. An electro-motion toothbrush comprising:

a case containing a driving unit;

first and second toothbrush support rods which are flexible and rotated by the driving unit in directions opposite to each other;

first and second toothbrush heads connected to ends of the first and second toothbrush support rods, respectively;

first and second toothbrush bristles implanted along a lengthwise direction of the first and second toothbrush heads, which interweave with each other, and which do not cross each other during rotation of the first and second toothbrush support rods; and

a cleaning guide plate including

first and second wing portions detachabty coupled to the first and second toothbrush heads with a predetermined clearance and encompassing a rear side of the first and second toothbrush bristles, respectively, to protect an inner cheek of a user when the first and second toothbrush bristles rotate, and

a coupling portion coupling the first and second wing portions for pivoting so that, when the toothbrush contacts an end of a tooth, the first and second wing portions pivot toward opposite sides of the tooth and the first and second toothbrush bristles access the opposite sides of the tooth.

12. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim, 11 including first and second toothbrush assemblies of the first and second toothbrush bristles implanted in the first and second toothbrush heads, respectively, which are similar to each other in upper and lower sides and are detachably coupled to the first and second toothbrush support rods, respectively.

13. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 11, further comprising

first and second coupling pins located at first ends of the first and second wing portions, in the lengthwise direction of the toothbrush heads, and first and second coupling grooves at second ends of the first and second wing portions complementarily coupled to the first and second coupling pins, respectively,

a first coupling portion coupling the first and second wing portions for pivoting when the first coupling pin located at the first wing portion is coupled to the second coupling groove located at the second wing portion, and

a second coupling portion coupling the first and second wing portions for pivoting when the second coupling pin located at the second wing portion is coupled to the first coupling groove located in the first wing portion, by rotating the first and second wing portions with respect to the first coupling portion in directions opposite to rotation directions of the first and second toothbrush heads.

14. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 13, including a plurality of protrusions and grooves at the rear surfaces of the first and second wing portions so that the first and second wing portions can engage each other when being rotated in directions opposite to the rotation directions of the first and second toothbrush heads, with respect to the first coupling portion.

15. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 11, further comprising first and second cover plates detachably installed at the first and second wing portions for pivoting, and separated a predetermined distance from the rear surfaces of the first and second wing portions, for selectively covering rear surfaces of the first and second wing portions.

16. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second toothbrush bristles are implanted in an at least one spiral row.

17. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a light emitting unit which emits light outside the case.

18. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 11, wherein the driving unit comprises:

a power source;

first and second rotation gears which engage each other and are rotated by power from the power source; and

first and second rotation support shafts, connected to and activated though first ends fixed to the first and second rotation gears, respectively, and having second ends connected to the first and second toothbrush support rods, respectively.

19. The etectro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first and second toothbrush support rods are detachably coupled to the first and second rotation support shafts, respectively.

20. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 18, including:

a light emitting unit which emits light outside the case;

a human body detecting sensor detecting whether there is contact by a hand of a user, a light emitting switch turning the light emitting unit on and off, a speed control switch controlling rotation speed of the first and second toothbrush heads, and a rotation direction change switch changing the direction of rotation of the first and second toothbrush heads, attached at a side of the case;

a control which controls the power source and the light emitting unit in response to the human body detecting sensor, the light emitting switch, the speed control switch, and the rotation direction change switch; and

a power supply which supplies power to the power source and the light emitting unit according to the control of the control, located inside the case.

21. The electro-motion toothbrush as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light emitting switch, the speed control switch, and the rotation direction change switch are symmetrically located at opposite sides of the case.