Powered toothbrush

• US 7,386,905 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Gatzemeyer, John J., Eliav, Eyal
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/733,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20070174978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/224, 15/28, 15/29, 601/142, D41/01
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0075 Brushes with an additional massage device
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/06 Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3472 with combined movements of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

A powered toothbrush include a head containing a rotating or oscillating first bristle carrier and also containing a second bristle carrier movably connected to the head, which second bristle carrier may include elastomeric walls for enhanced cleaning and may include a weakened section to permit it to at least partially collapse during a brushing motion.

Claims

1. A powered toothbrush comprising:

a handle portion having a neck formed at one end and a drive;

a head coupled to the neck, the head including (i) a base (ii) at least one bristle portion extending outward, (iii) a pivotal movable part; and

(iv) a rotatable movable part including the bristle portion, the rotatable movable part being coupled to the drive for movement and rotatable movable part being movable about a vertical axis extending upwardly from the base;

the pivotal movable part being resiliently mounted for movement relative to the base about an axis extending generally parallel with respect to the base, the pivotal movable part including (i) a platform having an upper face, and (ii) at least one elastomeric member upstanding on the upper face, and the platform including an elastomeric web extend downwardly and along the axis for said movement, the bristle portion and elastomeric member being adapted to contact teeth and gums.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the base gradually narrows to a generally convex end at a rear end of the base in a direction towards the other end of the handle portion.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the at least one elastomeric member is curved with respect to the axis.

4. The toothbrush of claim 3 wherein the at least one elastomeric member extends at least partially in a lateral direction along the platform.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the at least one elastomeric member is positioned along a perimeter portion of the platform.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the at least one elastomeric member comprises elastomeric portions disposed on a perimeter of the platform and a bristle portion is arranged between the elastomeric portions.

7. The toothbrush of claim 6 wherein the elastomeric portions are generally linear.

8. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the base includes an opening and the pivotal movable part includes at least one stem received into the opening, the stem including portions that extend laterally beyond the opening to hold the pivotal movable part to the base.

9. The toothbrush of claim 8 wherein the stem and opening are generally aligned along the longitudinal axis of the head.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the rotatable moveable part is provided with only a plurality of bristle portions for contacting the teeth and gums.

11. A powered toothbrush comprising:

a handle portion having a neck formed at one end and a drive mechanism;

a head coupled to the neck, the head including (i) a base and (ii) a movable part;

the base having a longitudinal axis and an upper surface to which the movable part is attached; and

the movable part being mounted for freeform pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base and including (i) a platform having a second upper face, (ii) at least one cleaning element extending outward from the second upper face, and (iii) an elastomeric tongue extending in a direction opposite to the cleaning element for receipt in an opening in the base, the elastomeric tongue including portions that extend laterally beyond the opening.

12. The toothbrush of claim 11 wherein the at least one cleaning element is an elastomeric member extending outward from the second upper face.

13. The toothbrush of claim 12 wherein the at least one elastomeric member is formed as an imperforate, elongate wall with an upper edge having a generally uniform height from the second upper face.

14. The toothbrush of claim 13 wherein the at least one elastomeric wall is curved.

15. The toothbrush of claim 12 wherein the at least one elastomeric member is positioned along a perimeter portion of the platform.

16. The toothbrush of claim 12 further including a bristles on the upper face of the base.

17. The toothbrush of claim 11 wherein the head further comprises a second movable part rotatable about an axis extending outward from the upper surface.