Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush system

• US 9,144,477 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sokol, Gary L., Luettgen, Harold A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/581,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/28, 151/671, 310/68.B, 310/79, 310/81, 433/25, 433/86, 433/103, 433/114, 433/118, 433/119, 433/216, 318/119, 318/139, 601/142
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights

Abstract

A sonic toothbrush system includes an electric motor, a brush shaft, and a drive assembly. The electric motor includes a drive shaft. When the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates until the motor is caused to stop. The drive assembly is coupled between the drive shaft and the brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush head supported on an end of the brush shaft.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising

a handle;

a brush head having a first end connected to the handle and a plurality of bristles positioned on a second end opposite the first end;

a motor received within the handle;

a brush shaft connected to the brush head and connected to the motor; and

a linkage coupled between the motor and the brush shaft, the linkage comprising

a coupler having a first end operably coupled to the brush shaft and a second end; and

an eccentric pin connected to the motor and rotationally received at least partially within the second end of the coupler, the eccentric pin having a first axis axially aligned with an output axis of the motor and a second axis axially offset from the output axis of the motor.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the coupler is connected to the brush shaft on a first side and connected to the eccentric pin on a second side opposite the first side.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a power source housed within the handle and electrically connected with the motor.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a bracket to which the motor is attached and to which the brush shaft is rotationally mounted.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the motor rotates at a speed of between 12,000 rpm and 18,000 rpm.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising

a first bearing receiving the brush shaft and positioned adjacent a first end of the brush shaft;

and

a second bearing receiving the brush shaft and positioned near a midpoint of the brush shaft.

7. The toothbrush of claim 6, further comprising an isolator damper substantially surrounding the brush shaft adjacent the first bearing to vibrationally isolate the linkage and the brush shaft from the handle.

8. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the eccentric pin includes a cam portion having a center of mass offset from the output axis.

9. The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the cam portion includes a pivot axis offset from and parallel to the first axis of the eccentric pin.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein rotation of the eccentric pin by the motor causes the coupler to oscillate about an axis of the coupler.

11. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the brush shaft oscillates about a longitudinal axis of the brush shaft.

12. The toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal axis of brush shaft is aligned with an axis parallel to, but offset from, the output axis.

13. A cleaning device providing oscillating motion comprising

a handle member;

a cleaning attachment connected to the handle member and having a plurality of cleaning members;

a drive system housed within the handle member and having a drive axis;

an output shaft housed within the handle member and having a distal end coupled to the cleaning attachment and a proximal end; and

a coupling member having a first end coupled to the proximal end of the output shaft and a second end; and

an eccentric member secured to the drive system and rotationally received within the second end of the coupling member, the eccentric member having a first portion axially aligned with the drive axis and a second portion axially offset from the drive axis.

14. The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the drive axis is axially offset from a shaft axis of the output shaft.

15. The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the output shaft oscillates between 200 and 300 cycles per second.

16. The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the first portion of the eccentric member is secured to the drive system.