Handheld devices and related methods

• US 8,956,258 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2014
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher C. Sappenfield
• Original Assignee: Christopher C. Sappenfield
• Inventors: Sappenfield, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US14/187,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20140166701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 359 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 475/221
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/16 Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/20 involving more than two intermeshing members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/0813 with only one input shaft differentials for four wheel drive vehicles B60K17/346
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19121 Concentric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19642 Directly cooperating gears

Abstract

The invention relates to devices including rotary units and rotary mechanisms that are suitable for use in numerous applications. Rotary units typically include rotational components that are configured to rotate. In some embodiments, for example, multiple rotary units are assembled in rotary mechanisms such that neighboring pairs of rotational components counter-rotate or contra-rotate relative to one another during operation of the rotary mechanisms. Rotational components generally include one or more implements that are structured to perform or effect one or more types of work as the rotational components rotate relative to one another in a given rotary mechanism. In certain embodiments, implements are configured to rotate and/or to effect the movement of other components as rotational components rotate.

Claims

1. A handheld device, comprising:

a head portion comprising at least one rotary mechanism that comprises at least two rotational components, wherein at least a first rotational component is configured to rotate at least partially around a first rotational axis, wherein at least a second rotational component is configured to rotate at least partially around a second rotational axis, and wherein at least one of the rotational components comprises at least one surface that is configured to rotate substantially perpendicular to the at least one of rotational axes, which surface comprises at least one implement;

at least one drive mechanism component or portion thereof that operably engages, or is configured to operably engage, at least the rotary mechanism, which drive mechanism component or portion thereof is configured to effect rotation of at least the first rotational component at least partially around the first rotational axis in a first direction and the second rotational component at least partially around the second rotational axis in a second direction; and

,

a handle portion operably connected or connectable to the head portion.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the first and second rotational components are configured to rotate substantially non-concentric relative to one another.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, comprising more than two rotational components, wherein neighboring pairs of rotational components are configured to rotate at least partially around the rotational axes in directions that are substantially opposite one another.

4. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the first and second rotational components each comprise at least one gear component, wherein the gear component of the first rotational component operably engages the gear component of the second rotational component.

5. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof comprises at least one chain of meshed gear components.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein at least part of the drive mechanism component or portion thereof is detachable from at least another part of the drive mechanism component or portion thereof and/or the rotary mechanism.

7. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof is configured to oscillate at least one of the rotational components.

8. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof comprises at least one shaft component that operably engages at least the rotary mechanism or a portion thereof.

9. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof is configured to effect reversible rotation of at least one of the rotational components at least partially around at least one of the rotational axes.

10. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism component or portion thereof comprises at least one gear component.

11. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the handle portion comprises at least part of the drive mechanism component or portion thereof.

12. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the head and handle portions are detachable from one another.

13. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the implement comprises at least one cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of:

a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, an irregular n-sided polygon, and a regular n-sided polygon.

14. The handheld device of claim 1, comprising at least one sanitizing component configured to sanitize at least part of the head and/or handle portion.

15. A tooth brushing device or a cleaning device comprising the handheld device of claim 1.

16. The handheld device of claim 1, comprising:

at least one opening disposed at least proximal to the head portion;

at least one conduit that is configured to communicate with the opening and at least one material source and/or at least one material destination; and

,

at least one conveyance mechanism that is configured to convey at least one material to and/or from the material source and/or the material destination through the opening.

17. The handheld device of claim 16, wherein the head and/or handle portion comprises at least one housing that comprises and/or houses at least a portion of the opening, the conduit, and/or the conveyance mechanism.

18. The handheld device of claim 16, wherein the material source and/or the material destination is disposed external to the head and/or handle portion.

19. The handheld device of claim 16, wherein the material source and/or the material destination comprises at least one material container that is configured to contain at least one material, which material container is disposed at least proximal to the handle portion.

20. The handheld device of claim 16, wherein the material container and the handle portion are detachable from one another.