Electric toothbrush comprising an electrically powered element

• US 7,748,070 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Chan, John Geoffrey, Kovacs, Stephen Andras, Morrision, Lowen Robert Jr., Wang, Ping, Ghosh, Chanchal Kumar, Pinyayev, Aleksey Mikhailovich
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/191,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/224, 15/23, 15/28, 433/29, 433/118, 433/119, 433/215, 433/216
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• 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 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49113 the connectors connecting different bonding areas on the semiconductor or solid-state body to a common bonding area outside the body, e.g. converging wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

An electric toothbrush having a handle, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head is disclosed. The handle has a hollow interior region having a motor and an electrical power source. The head includes an ultrasonic transducer and a bristle field. The ultrasonic transducer is in electrical communication with the electrical power source, and a shaft is operatively connected to the motor for moving the bristle field.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head;

the handle having a hollow interior region, the hollow interior region comprising a motor and an electrical power source;

the head comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a bristle field, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is in electrical communication with the electrical power source;

an ultrasonic horn extending from the ultrasonic transducer;

elastomeric walls which surround the ultrasonic horn; and

a shaft operatively connected to the motor for moving the bristle field.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a static bristle field surrounds the elastomeric walls.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the shaft is rotatable.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the head and neck are releasably attached to the handle.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the shaft is disposed at least in part within the neck.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristle field is attached to a movable bristle plate which oscillates.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting element.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the head comprises the light emitting element.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, further comprising a drain disposed adjacent the light emitting element.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the head comprises a moving portion and a static portion, and wherein the bristle field is disposed on the moving portion.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the shaft extends from the motor through the neck.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the shaft comprises a lateral displacement portion.