Electric toothbrushes and packages containing same

• US 7,723,629 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Church & Dwight Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Chan, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/825,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20080006549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/224, 15/28, 200/43.01, 200/43.11, 200/43.13, 200/43.16, 200/43.17, 200/43.18, 200/61.85, 200/518, 200/537, 200/547, 200/552, 200/573, 200/574, 200/329, 200/330, 200/332.1
• US Class Current: 200/332.1
• 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 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2202/00 Packaging for dental appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 15/102 comprising cam devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An actuator assembly and packaging feature for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes a positionable member accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. The actuator assembly further includes a spring member retained within the interior of the toothbrush body which urges a cam member against the underside of the positionable member. The positionable member defines an aperture extending through its midsection within which is disposed a depressible member. The depressible member has an outer end which is also accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. Upon pressing the depressible member, the cam member and spring are urged against an electrical circuit provided within the body of the toothbrush which is used to selectively operate a motor and drive mechanism to move one or more sets of bristles. The actuator assembly additionally includes a feature of providing a raised region along an outer surface of the positionable member which guards against accidental or unintentional depressing of the depressible member. The packaging feature relates to a member formed in a package cover that is suitably sized and positioned over the depressible member of the actuator so that the cover, when pressed, may momentarily activate the toothbrush within the package.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a housing, a neck, and head, wherein said housing has a motor and a power source for energizing said motor, said motor operatively connected to a movable bristle holder disposed on said head;

a first movable member movable along said housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the electric toothbrush is energized when said first movable member is in said second position;

said first movable member having a second movable member slideably disposed therein, wherein said second movable member is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of said first movable member, wherein said electric toothbrush is energized by depressing said second movable member when said first movable member is in said first position; and

wherein an outer face of said first movable member extends outwardly from said housing a distance sufficient to preclude unintentional depressing of said second movable member.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said first movable member includes a raised region along said outer surface.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said raised region generally extends adjacent an aperture defined in said first movable member.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein said raised region extends entirely around an entrance to said aperture.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said raised region extends outward from said housing of the toothbrush a distance that is equal to or greater than the maximum distance of the outer end of said second movable member from said housing.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed within said housing proximate said first movable member, said spring having a first end engaged to said housing and a second free end opposite from said first end.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 6, further comprising a cam that engages said spring and is movable therewith.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein said spring urges said cam toward said first movable member.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, further comprising a guide member disposed between said first movable member and said cam, said guide member defining a second aperture within which is disposed said second movable member.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said second movable member includes a retaining ring disposed between said outer end and said interior end of said second movable member.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said first movable member and said second movable member may be linearly displaced in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said housing.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said second movable member is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of displacement of said first movable member.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said first movable member extends outward from said housing of the toothbrush a distance that is equal to or greater than the maximum distance of the outer end of said second movable member from said housing.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein said first movable member defines an aperture within which the outer end of said second movable member extends.