Motorized toothbrush tip having inner and other heads counter around different axes

• US 8,302,238 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: East Coast Medical & Dental Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: East Coast Medical & Dental Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Biro, Ladislau, Cohen, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/460,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 15/28, 15 211- 224
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• 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

Abstract

A toothbrush tip for a motorized toothbrush with a first brush head and a second brush head. The second brush head encircles the first brush head. The first and second brush heads has different axes of rotation. The first and second brush heads are driven by an elongated shaft. The shaft engages the second brush head. Interactive gear teeth associated with each first and second brush heads allows the first and second brush heads to rotate at opposite direction, upon being driven by the shaft.

Claims

1. A brush tip for a motorized toothbrush, comprising:

a housing having a first opening defining a first axis of rotation, a second opening defining a second axis of rotation different from said first axis of rotation, and a cavity;

a first brush head supported by said housing in said first opening for rotation about said first axis of rotation;

a second brush head supported by said housing in said second opening for rotation about said second axis of rotation, said second brush head encircling said first brush head;

means for counter rotating said first and second brush heads around said first and second axes of rotation, respectively; and

an elongated shaft supported by said housing in said cavity for rotation about a shaft axis, engaging said second brush head to drive said first and second brush heads.

2. The brush tip of claim 1 wherein said first brush head comprises a generally cylindrical body.

3. The brush tip of claim 2 wherein said generally cylindrical body having first and second planar surfaces, a first set of cleaning members extending from said first planar surface, and a centrally and axially extending pin extending from said second planar surface for inserting into said first opening of said housing.

4. The brush tip of claim 3 wherein said generally cylindrical body further having a curve side wall, and along a portion of said curve side wall is a plurality of elongated gear teeth having axes parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical body.

5. The brush tip of claim 2 wherein said generally cylindrical body further having a curve side wall and said second brush head comprises a generally elliptic cylindrical body having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first brush head nests therein and said elliptical aperture having a concave side wall, said counter rotating means comprises:

a first set of gear teeth along a portion of said curve side wall of said cylindrical body having axes parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical body; and

a second set of gear teeth along a portion of said concave side wall of said elliptic cylindrical body having axes parallel to the central axis of said elliptic cylindrical body;

wherein said first and second sets of gear teeth interact with each other.

6. The brush tip of claim 1 wherein said second brush head comprises a generally elliptic cylindrical body having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first brush head nests therein.

7. The brush tip of claim 6 wherein said generally elliptic cylindrical body having first and second planar surfaces and a convex side wall, a second set of cleaning members extending from said first planar surface, and a perpendicularly pin extending from said second planar surface near said convex side wall on the major semi-axis of said elliptic cylindrical body for inserting into said second opening of said housing.

8. The brush tip of claim 7 wherein said generally elliptic cylindrical body further having a crank engaging element extending from said convex side wall along the major semi-axis of the elliptic cylindrical body for receiving said elongated shaft, and said crank engaging element being supported by said housing in said cavity.

9. The brush tip of claim 8 wherein said generally elliptic cylindrical body further having a concave side wall in said elliptical aperture, and along a portion of said concave side wall is a plurality of elongated gear teeth having axes parallel to the central axis of said elliptic cylindrical body.

10. The brush tip of claim 8 wherein said elongated shaft having a distal end with a crank member for engaging said crank engaging element of said second brush head.

11. The brush tip of claim 8 wherein said crank engaging element comprises a pair of arms.

12. The brush tip of claim 11 wherein said elongated shaft having an enlarged distal end with a crank member extending therefrom for engaging between said pair of arms of said crank engaging element, said crank member having a central axis displaced at a predetermined acute angle from the central axis of said shaft, with the distal end of said crank member directed towards, but not intersecting with the central axis of said shaft.

13. The brush tip of claim 8 wherein said crank engaging element comprises a cam ball.

14. The brush tip of claim 13 wherein said elongated shaft having a crank member at its distal end for receiving said cam ball, said crank member comprises a U-shape body having a channel for receiving said cam ball.

15. The brush tip of claim 7 wherein said cleaning member is selected from the group consisting of bristle, tuft of bristles and rubber-like extension.

16. The brush tip of claim 1 wherein said counter rotating means further comprising means for accelerating said first and second brush heads at equal angular acceleration.

17. The brush tip of claim 16 wherein said first brush head comprises a generally cylindrical body and said second brush head comprises a generally elliptic cylindrical body having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first brush head nests therein, said generally cylindrical body further having a curve side wall and said generally elliptic cylindrical body further having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first brush head nests therein and said elliptical aperture having a concave side wall, said counter rotating means comprises:

a first set of gear teeth along a portion of said curve side wall of said cylindrical body having axes parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical body; and

a second set of gear teeth along a portion of said concave side wall of said elliptic cylindrical body having axes parallel to the central axis of said elliptic cylindrical body;

wherein said first and second sets of gear teeth having equal pitch circle radii and interact with each other.

18. The brush tip of claim 1 wherein said counter rotating means further comprising means for accelerating said first and second brush heads at different angular acceleration.

19. The brush tip of claim 18 wherein said first brush head comprises a generally cylindrical body and said second brush head comprises a generally elliptic cylindrical body having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first brush head nests therein, said generally cylindrical body further having a curve side wall and said generally elliptic cylindrical body further having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first brush head nests therein and said elliptical aperture having a concave side wall, said counter rotating means comprises:

a first set of gear teeth along a portion of said curve side wall of said cylindrical body having axes parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical body; and

a second set of gear teeth along a portion of said concave side wall of said elliptic cylindrical body having axes parallel to the central axis of said elliptic cylindrical body;

wherein said first and second sets of gear teeth having different pitch circle radii and interact with each other.

20. The brush tip of claim 1 wherein said elongated shaft having a distal end with a crank member for engaging said second brush head.

21. The brush tip of claim 1 further comprising a first set of cleaning members extending from said first brush head, distal ends of said first set of cleaning members forming a circular pattern and a second set of cleaning members extending from said second brush head, distal ends of said second set of cleaning members forming a non-circular pattern.

22. The brush tip of claim 21 wherein said distal ends of said second set of cleaning members forming an elliptical pattern.

23. The brush tip of claim 21 wherein said first and second sets of cleaning members extending substantially vertically from said first and second brush heads, respectively.

24. The brush tip of claim 21 wherein said first and second sets of cleaning members extending from said first and second brush heads, respectively, at an angle.

25. The brush tip of claim 21 wherein said first set of cleaning members extending substantially vertically from said first brush head and said second set of cleaning members extending from said second brush head at an angle away from said first brush head.

26. The brush tip of claim 21 wherein said cleaning member is selected from the group consisting of bristle, tuft of bristles and rubber-like extension.

27. The brush tip of claim 1 further comprising a cover that correspondingly mates with said housing for enclosing said elongated shaft.

28. The brush tip of claim 1 further comprising means for retaining said first brush head in said first opening of said housing while allowing said first brush head to freely rotate about said first axis of rotation.

29. The brush tip of claim 1 further comprising means for retaining said second brush head in said second opening of said housing while allowing said second brush head to freely rotate about said second axis of rotation.

30. The brush tip of claim 1 wherein said housing further having a curve groove, further comprising a third brush head supported by said housing in said curve groove, and said second brush head further encircling said third brush head.

31. The brush tip of claim 30 wherein said second brush head comprises a generally elliptic cylindrical body having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first brush head nests therein and a generally rectangular opening where said third brush head nests therein.

32. The brush tip of claim 31 further comprising means for moving said third brush head along said curve groove and for pivoting said third brush head towards and away from said generally central and elliptical aperture of said generally elliptic cylindrical body.

33. The brush tip of claim 32 wherein said third brush head having a generally rectangular prism shape tapered body, and said moving and pivoting means comprises a pair of channels on opposite walls of said generally rectangular opening, a pin extending from a lower surface of said body of said third brush head for engaging said curve groove of said housing, and a protrusion extending from each of the opposite side walls of said body of said third brush head for engaging said pair of channels on the opposite walls of said generally rectangular opening.

34. The brush tip of claim 30 wherein said third brush head having a third set of cleaning members extending therefrom.

35. The brush tip of claim 34 wherein said cleaning member is selected from the group consisting of bristle, tuft of bristles and rubber-like extension.

36. The brush tip of claim 1 wherein said cleaning member is selected from the group consisting of bristle, tuft of bristles and rubber-like extension.

37. A brush tip for a motorized toothbrush, comprising:

a housing having a first opening defining a first axis of rotation, a second opening defining a second axis of rotation different from said first axis of rotation, and a cavity;

a first brush head supported by said housing in said first opening for rotation about said first axis of rotation, said first brush head comprises a generally cylindrical body having a curve side wall, along a portion of said curve side wall is a first set of elongated gear teeth having axes parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical body;

a second brush head supported by said housing in said second opening for rotation about said second axis of rotation, said second brush head encircling said first brush head, said second brush head comprises a generally elliptic cylindrical body having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first rush head nests therein and a concave side wall in said elliptical aperture, along a portion of said concave side wall is a second set of elongated gear teeth having axes parallel to the central axis of said elliptic cylindrical body; and

an elongated shaft supported by said housing in said cavity for rotation about a shaft axis, engaging said second brush head to drive said first and second brush heads;

wherein each of said first and second set of gear teeth having equal pitch circle radii and interact with each to counter-rotate and accelerate said first and second brush heads at equal angular acceleration.

38. A brush tip for a motorized toothbrush, comprising:

a housing having a first opening defining a first axis of rotation, a second opening defining a second axis of rotation different from said first axis of rotation, and a cavity;

a first brush head supported by said housing in said first opening for rotation about said first axis of rotation, said first brush head comprises a generally cylindrical body having a curve side wall, along a portion of said curve side wall is a first set of elongated gear teeth having axes parallel to the central axis of said cylindrical body;

a second brush head supported by said housing in said second opening for rotation about said second axis of rotation, said second brush head encircling said first brush head, said second brush head comprises a generally elliptic cylindrical body having a generally central and elliptical aperture where said first rush head nests therein and a concave side wall in said elliptical aperture, along a portion of said concave side wall is a second set of elongated gear teeth having axes parallel to the central axis of said elliptic cylindrical body; and

an elongated shaft supported by said housing in said cavity for rotation about a shaft axis, engaging said second brush head to drive said first and second brush heads;

wherein each of said first and second set of gear teeth having different pitch circle radii and interact with each to counter-rotate and accelerate said first and second brush heads at different angular acceleration.

39. A brush tip for a motorized toothbrush having a toothbrush motor, comprising:

a first set of cleaning members extending from a first brush head, distal ends of said first set of cleaning members forming a circular pattern;

a second set of cleaning members extending from a second brush head, distal ends of said second set of cleaning members forming a non-circular pattern, said second brush head encircling said first brush head; and

means for counter-rotating said first set of cleaning members about a first axis of rotation and said second set of cleaning members about a second axis of rotation different from said first axis of rotation, in response to motion produced by said toothbrush motor.

40. The brush tip of claim 39, wherein said motorized toothbrush having a shaft that produces oscillating rotational motion about said shaft, and wherein said counter-rotating means transmits said motion to said first and second sets of cleaning members.

41. The brush tip of claim 39 wherein said counter-rotating means further comprising means for accelerating said first and second sets of cleaning members at equal angular acceleration.

42. The brush tip of claim 39 wherein said counter-rotating means further comprising means for accelerating said first and second sets of cleaning members at different angular acceleration.

43. The brush tip of claim 39 wherein said cleaning member is selected from the group consisting of bristle, tuft of bristles and rubber-like extension.