Electric toothbrush with linear oscillator

• US 7,328,474 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Ltd (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Hiroki, Yamada, Tomio, Nishinaka, Takahiro, Yabuuchi, Hidekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US10/340,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 310/15, 310/17, 310/12, 310/81, 310/20, 310/23, 310/180, 310/181, 310/36, 15/221, 15/222
• US Class Current: 15/22.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3445 Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/104 the inertia member being resiliently mounted F16F7/1022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/16 with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system

Abstract

An electric toothbrush includes a drive part, a driver, a brush part and a vibration-absorber. The drive part includes a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable and a brush part detachably attached to one end of the drive shaft. The driver is configured to apply reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft. The vibration-absorber is connected to the drive shaft via a second spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft. A weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a weight of the drive part is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush comprising;

a drive part comprising;

a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable; and

a brush part detachably attached to one end of the drive shaft;

a driver configured to apply reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorber connected to the drive shaft via a spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft; and

an outer case housing the drive shaft, the driver, and the vibration-absorber,

wherein the vibration-absorber is provided within an open area that extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the outer case.

2. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the driver comprises;

a plunger fixed to the drive shaft;

first and second permanent magnets provided to provide magnetic power to the plunger; and

a coil provided between the first and second permanent magnets and facing the plunger.

3. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the electric toothbrush comprises;

first and second bearing supports to support the drive shaft;

a second spring provided between the first bearing support and the drive shaft; and

a third spring provided between the vibration-absorber and the second bearing support.

4. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the outer case includes at least one projection projected inwardly to hold the driver.

5. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a weight of the drive part is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.

6. An electric toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein the weight ratio is substantially equal to 1.0.

7. A brushing device, comprising;

a brush part;

a movable part including a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable;

a driver configured to apply reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorber connected to the drive shaft via a spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft; and

an outer case housing the drive shaft, the driver, and the vibration-absorber,

wherein the vibration-absorber is provided within an open area that extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the outer case.

8. A brushing device according to claim 7, wherein the driver comprises;

a plunger fixed to the drive shaft;

first and second permanent magnets provided to provide magnetic power to the plunger; and

a coil provided between the first and second permanent magnets and facing the plunger.

9. A brushing device according to claim 7, further comprising;

first and second bearing supports to support the drive shaft;

a second spring provided between the first bearing support and the drive shaft; and

a third spring provided between the vibration-absorber and the second bearing support.

10. A brushing device according to claim 7, wherein the outer case includes at least one projection projected inwardly to hold the driver.

11. A brushing device according to claim 7, wherein a weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a sum of a weight of the movable part and a weight of the brush part attached to one end of the drive shaft is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.

12. A brushing device according to claim 11, wherein the weight ratio is substantially equal to 1.0.

13. A brushing apparatus comprising;

a brush part;

a movable part including a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable;

driver means for applying reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorber connected to the drive shaft via a spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft; and

an outer case housing the drive shaft, the driver means, and the vibration-absorber,

wherein the vibration-absorber is provided within an open area that extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the outer case.

14. A brushing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a sum of a weight of the movable part and a weight of the brush part attached to one end of the drive shaft is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.

15. An electric toothbrush comprising;

a drive part comprising;

a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable; and

a brush part detachably attached to one end of the drive shaft;

a driver configured to apply reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorber connected to the drive shaft via a spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft;

a pedestal configured to hold at least a portion of the driver;

a bearing configured to support an end of the drive shaft; and

a projection engaged with the pedestal to provide an open space between the pedestal and the bearing within which the vibration-absorber is provided.

16. An electric toothbrush according to claim 15, further comprising a case in which the drive shaft, pedestal, and vibration-absorber are housed, wherein the open space extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the case.

17. An electric toothbrush according to claim 15, wherein a weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a weight of the drive part is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.

18. A brushing device comprising;

a brush part;

a movable part including a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable;

a driver configured to apply reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorber connected to the drive shaft via a spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft;

a pedestal configured to hold at least a portion of the driver;

a bearing configured to support an end of the drive shaft; and

a projection engaged with the pedestal to provide an open space between the pedestal and the bearing within which the vibration-absorber is provided.

19. A brushing device according to claim 18, further comprising a case in which the drive shaft, pedestal, and vibration-absorber are housed, wherein the open space extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the case.

20. A brushing device according to claim 18, wherein a weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a sum of a weight of the movable part and a weight of the brush part attached to one end of the drive shaft is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.

21. A brushing apparatus comprising;

a brush part;

a movable part including a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable;

driver means for applying reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorber connected to the drive shaft via a spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft, a pedestal configured to hold at least a portion of the driver means;

a bearing configured to support an end of the drive shaft; and

a projection engaged with the pedestal to provide an open space between the pedestal and the bearing within which the vibration-absorber is provided.

22. A brushing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a case in which the drive shaft, pedestal, and vibration-absorber are housed, wherein the open space extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the case.

23. A brushing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a sum of a weight of the movable part and a weight of the brush part attached to one end of the drive shaft is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.

24. A brushing apparatus comprising;

a brush unit attached to an end of a drive shaft;

a driving unit configured to move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorbing unit configured to absorb vibrations caused by the movement of the drive shaft;

a pedestal configured to hold at least a portion of the driving unit;

a bearing configured to support an end of the drive shaft; and

a projection engaged with the pedestal to provide an open space between the pedestal and the bearing within which the vibration-absorbing unit is provided.

25. A brushing apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a case in which the drive shaft, pedestal, and vibration-absorbing unit are housed, wherein the open space extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the case.

26. A brushing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorbing unit to a sum of a weight of the brush and driving units is from 0.9 to 1.1.

27. A brushing apparatus comprising:

a brush unit attached to an end of a drive shaft;

a driving unit configured to move the drive shaft;

a vibration-absorbing unit configured to absorb vibrations caused by the movement of the drive shaft; and

an outer case housing the drive shaft, the driving unit, and the vibration-absorbing unit,

wherein the vibration-absorbing unit is provided within an open area that extends from the drive shaft to an inner surface of the outer case, and

wherein a ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorbing unit to a sum of a weight of the brush and driving units is from 0.9 to 1.1.