Multi-motion toothbrush

• US 7,225,494 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Patrick W., Gall, Douglas A., Chan, John Geoffrey, Blaustein, Lawrence A., Ping, Wang
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/208,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/224, 15/28, 15/29
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor

Abstract

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having a motor disposed therein, a head having a longitudinal axis, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. First and second bristle holders are associated with the head. The first bristle holder oscillates or rotates. The second bristle holder is reciprocates in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the head but does not rotate or oscillate. The motor is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle having a motor disposed therein;

a drive system operatively connected to said motor, said drive system comprising

a shaft with a longitudinal axis and configured to reciprocate along its longitudinal axis and an arm extending from an end of the shaft in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of said shaft;

a head having a longitudinal axis which extends in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of said shaft;

a neck disposed between said handle and said head;

a first bristle holder operatively connected to said arm to oscillate or rotate; and

a second bristle holder operatively connected to said shaft to reciprocate in generally the same direction as said longitudinal axis of said head but not to rotate or oscillate; and

wherein said second bristle holder comprises a row of bristle tufts oriented generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said head.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said second bristle holder is disposed between said first bristle holder and said handle.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said first bristle holder and said second bristle holder do not physically contact each other.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein said shaft is coupled to said second bristle holder, and wherein said arm is coupled to said first bristle holder.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said transverse row is arcuate, and wherein said first bristle holder is generally circular, such that said transverse row partially wraps around said first bristle holder.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises a pin, wherein said pin operatively connects said shaft and said second bristle holder.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of said second bristle holder contacts a top surface of said head.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein said head defines an aperture and said second bristle holder comprises a depending element which depends from said bottom surface of said second bristle holder, and wherein said depending element is received through said aperture of said head.

9. An electric toothbrush comprising:

a handle having a motor disposed therein;

a drive system operatively connected to said motor, said drive system comprising

a shaft with a longitudinal axis, wherein said shaft reciprocates;

a head having a longitudinal axis;

a neck disposed between said handle and said head;

a first bristle holder associated with said head which oscillates or rotates;

a second bristle holder associated with said head which reciprocates in generally the same direction as said longitudinal axis of said head but does not rotate or oscillate, wherein said second bristle holder further comprises a first T-shaped block which depends from a bottom surface of said second bristle holder, wherein said T-shaped block slideably engages a first pair of projections of said head to guide the movement of said second bristle holder, wherein said drive system is operatively connected to said first and second bristle holders; and

wherein said second bristle holder comprises a row of bristle tufts oriented generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said head.

10. A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush, said detachable head comprising:

an elongate body comprising a drive system with a shaft with a longitudinal axis and an arm extending from an end of the shaft in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the shaft, a head having a longitudinal axis which extends in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of said shaft, and a first end opposite a second end, wherein said first end may be detachably coupled to the electric toothbrush, said shaft configured to reciprocate along its longitudinal axis;

a first bristle holder comprising a first plurality of bristle tufts, wherein said first bristle holder is operatively connected to said arm of said drive system to oscillate said first bristle holder about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said head;

a second bristle holder comprising a second plurality of bristle tufts, wherein said second bristle holder is operatively connected to said shaft of said drive system to reciprocate said second bristle holder in generally the same direction as said longitudinal axis of said head, wherein said second bristle holder does not rotate or oscillate;

wherein a bottom surface of said second bristle holder contacts a top surface of said head; and

wherein said head comprises an aperture and said second bristle holder comprises a depending element which depends from said bottom surface of said second bristle holder, and wherein said depending element is received through said aperture of said head.

11. The detachable head of claim 10, wherein a bottom surface of said first bristle holder contacts said top surface of said head.

12. The detachable head of claim 10, wherein said second bristle holder comprises a row of bristle tufts generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said head.

13. The detachable head of claim 12, wherein said generally transverse row is arcuate, and wherein said first bristle holder is generally circular, such that said generally transverse row partially wraps around said first bristle holder.

14. The detachable head of claim 13, wherein said second bristle holder is disposed between said first bristle holder and said first end.

15. The detachable head of claim 13, wherein said first bristle holder and said second bristle holder do not physically contact other.

16. The detachable head of claim 10, wherein said shaft is coupled to said second bristle holder and said arm is coupled to said first bristle holder.

17. A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush, said detachable head comprising:

an elongate body comprising a head, a drive system, and a first end opposite a second end, wherein said first end may be detachably coupled to the electric toothbrush, said head having a longitudinal axis;

a first bristle holder comprising a first plurality of bristle tufts, wherein said first bristle holder is operatively connected to said drive system to oscillate said first bristle holder about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a second bristle holder comprising a second plurality of bristle tufts, wherein said second bristle holder is operatively connected to said drive system to reciprocate said second bristle holder in generally the same direction as said longitudinal axis of said head, wherein said second bristle holder does not rotate or oscillate; and

said drive system comprising a shaft configured to reciprocate along a longitudinal axis in generally the same direction at the longitudinal axis of said head and an arm extending from an end of the shaft, wherein said arm generally extends in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said head, and wherein said shaft is coupled to said second bristle holder and said arm is coupled to said first bristle holder.

18. The detachable head of claim 17, wherein a bottom surface of said first bristle holder and a bottom surface of said second bristle holder contact a top surface of said head, and wherein said head comprises an aperture and said second bristle holder comprises a depending element which depends from said bottom surface of said second bristle holder, and wherein said depending element is received through said aperture of said head.

19. The detachable head of claim 18, wherein said second bristle holder comprises a row of bristle tufts generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said head.

20. The detachable head of claim 19, wherein said generally transverse row is arcuate, and wherein said first bristle holder is generally circular, such that said generally transverse row partially wraps around said first bristle holder, and wherein said second bristle holder is disposed between said first bristle holder and said first end.