Powered toothbrush

• US 7,900,309 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Gatzemeyer, John J., Jimenez, Eduardo
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US12/198,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20080313830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 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 17/349 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 handle with a neck portion extending from the handle, comprising:

a head connected to said neck portion, said head having an exposed outer surface;

a first tuft block mounted to said head, said first tuft block having a first array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of said head;

a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for rotating said first tuft block about a rotational axis that is generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head;

a second tuft block mounted to said head closer to the neck portion than said first tuft block, said second tuft block having a second array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface;

a second drive member operatively connected to said second tuft block for moving said second tuft block in a direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head; and

a third tuft block stationarily mounted to said head closer to said neck portion than either of said first and second tuft blocks, said third tuft block having a third array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of the head;

a drive mechanism operably coupled to said first and second drive members; and

wherein said drive mechanism comprises a motor and a drive shaft.

2. The powered toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said second tuft block oscillates in an in and out direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of the head.

3. The powered toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said first drive member and said second drive member are part of the same drive mechanism.

4. The powered toothbrush of claim 3, wherein said first, second and third arrays of bristles can be of various lengths.

5. The powered toothbrush of claim 3, wherein said first, second and third arrays of bristles can be of various colors.

6. The powered toothbrush of claim 3, wherein said first, second and third arrays of bristles can be of various stiffness.

7. A powered toothbrush having a handle with a neck portion extending from the handle, comprising:

a head connected to said neck portion, said head having an exposed outer surface;

a first tuft block mounted to said head, said first tuft block having a first array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of said head;

a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for rotating said first tuft block about a rotational axis that is generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head;

a second tuft block mounted to said head closer to the neck portion than said first tuft block, said second tuft block having a second array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface;

a second drive member operatively connected to said second tuft block for moving said second tuft block in a direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head;

a third tuft block stationarily mounted to said head closer to said neck portion than either of said first and second tuft blocks, said third tuft block having a third array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of the head; and

a drive shaft with a longitudinal axis wherein said first and second drive members are portions of said drive shaft that are eccentric with respect to said longitudinal axis.

8. The powered toothbrush of claim 7, wherein said first drive member is a distal portion of said drive shaft and wherein said second drive member is an intermediate portion of said drive shaft positioned closer to said neck portion than said distal portion.

9. The powered toothbrush of claim 8, wherein said distal portion of said drive shaft is rotationally mounted in an axial slot in said first tuft block and wherein said intermediate portion of said drive shaft is rotationally mounted in an axial slot in said second tuft block.