Electronic toothbrush

• US 8,413,285 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kunita, Tomohiro, Kishimoto, Suehisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, ANDREW ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/735,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 151/05, 151/671, 15/221, 601/21, 601/20, 601/79, 607/79, 604/20
• US Class Current: 15/105
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0022 with an electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0024 with means generating ions
• 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 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof

Abstract

The electronic toothbrush (10) includes a brush head (20) having an implantation area where bristles (22) for brushing of teeth are fixed and a handle (21) configured to carry the brush head (20). The brush head (20) includes a brush electrode exposed on its surface. The brush electrode includes a first electrode (23) located in the implantation area where the bristles (22) are fixed and a second electrode (242) located in a non-implantation area where no bristles (22) are fixed. The handle (30) includes a handle electrode (32) exposed on its surface. The handle (30) is configured to house a power source (35) for applying a voltage between the handle electrode (32) and each of the first electrode (23) and the second electrode (242). The bristles (22) are fixed directly to the first electrode (24).

Claims

1. An electronic toothbrush comprising:

a brush head having an implantation area where bristles for brushing of teeth are fixed; and

a handle configured to carry said brush head,

wherein said brush head includes a brush electrode exposed on its surface,

said handle including a handle electrode exposed on its surface, and

said handle being configured to house a power source for applying a voltage between said brush electrode and said handle electrode, and

wherein said brush electrode includes a first electrode located in said implantation area and a second electrode located in a non-implantation area where no bristles are fixed,

said bristles being fixed to a front surface of said brush head,

said first electrode being embedded in said brush head,

said first electrode including;

a first exposure portion exposed on said front surface of said brush head; and

a second exposure portion exposed on a side surface or a rear surface of said brush head, and

said bristles being fixed directly to said first exposure portion of said first electrode.

2. An electronic toothbrush as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said first electrode includes a protrusion extending from the surface of said brush head, and

said bristles being fixed directly to said protrusion.

3. An electronic toothbrush as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power source includes a first pole to be electrically connected to said brush electrode and a second pole to be electrically connected to said handle electrode, said handle including a projection for attaching said brush head to said handle, said projection having electrical conductivity and being electrically connected to said first pole of said power source housed in said handle, said brush head including a conductor having electrical conductivity and being configured to electrically connect said projection to said brush electrode, and said conductor being formed integrally with said brush electrode as well as a terminal connector provided with a recess shaped to receive said projection.

4. An electronic toothbrush as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power source includes a first pole to be electrically connected to said brush electrode and a second pole to be electrically connected to said handle electrode, said handle including a projection for attaching said brush head to said handle, said projection having electrical conductivity and being electrically connected to said first pole of said power source housed in said handle, and said brush head including a terminal connector provided with a recess shaped to receive said projection, a conductor configured to electrically connect said projection received in said recess to said brush electrode, and a brush body supporting said terminal portion and said conductor.