Powered toothbrush

• US 7,430,778 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Jimenez, Eduardo, Gatzemeyer, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US11/130,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20050204491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/28
• US Class Current: 15/22.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3445 Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3454 Translation along the axis perpendicular of the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3463 Translation along the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

The head of a powered toothbrush includes a first tuft block mounted for rotational oscillation about an axis generally perpendicular to the outer surface of the head, and a second tuft block having fixed bristles or bristles independently movable by being mounted on an elastomeric base. The second tuft block oscillates perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the head and in an in and out direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the head. A third stationary block may also be mounted on the head of the powered toothbrush. The bristles on the first, second, and third tuft blocks may be of various lengths, colors and stiffness, and may be mounted perpendicularly to or at an angle to the outer surface of the head.

Claims

1. A powered toothbrush having a head comprising a first member including at least one tooth cleaning element;

a second member movable relative to said first member and having at least one outwardly extending tooth cleaning element, said first and second members each being movable in a first direction that extends at an angle to a longitudinal axis of said head, said first member being movable in a second direction that extends at an angle to said first direction, said second member being movable in a third direction that extends at an angle to said first direction and is substantially opposite to the second direction;

a motor for imparting movement to said first and second members;

a first tuft block;

additional tooth cleaning elements that extend from said first tuft block and rotate relative to at least said first member;

a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block about an axis generally perpendicular to an exposed outer surface of said head; and

a second drive member operatively connected to said first and second members for moving said first and second members relative to said exposed outer surface of said head, wherein said first and second members each form a portion of a second tuft block and wherein said second drive member comprises an eccentric cam having a cam lobe provided thereon, the eccentric cam and the cam lobe being retained in a yoke located substantially adjacent to a central lower surface of said second tuft block.

2. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said first and second members move relative to said first tuft block during the operation of the motor.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said second tuft block includes a plurality of notches provided in a top surface thereof.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said second tuft block is positioned between said first tuft block and a third tuft block.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 4 wherein said first tuft block rotates relative to said first and second members and said third tuft block is stationary.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said motor is positioned within a body of said toothbrush.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said head is a vibrating head.

8. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein the at least one tooth cleaning element of one of said first and second members is rotatably movable relative to the at least one tooth cleaning element of the other of said first and second members.

9. The toothbrush according to claim 1 wherein said at least one tooth cleaning element of said first member includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements, and wherein said at least one tooth cleaning element of said second member includes a plurality of tooth cleaning elements.