Personal care device

• US 9,154,025 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Norbert, Schober, Uwe, Utsch, Joern, Kramp, Andreas, Ziegler, Frank, Heil, Benedikt, Hbner, Marlis
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/358,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20120151698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/224, 15/23, 15/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/10 wherein the alternate energisation and de-energisation of the single coil system is effected or controlled by movement of the armatures

Abstract

A personal care device having a handle having an engagement portion and a persona care attachment are described. The personal care attachment has a housing attached to the engagement portion and a contact element carrier. The contact element carrier is movably coupled to the housing. A plurality of contact elements is arranged on the contact element carrier, and wherein the personal care attachment is driven at a frequency of between about 150 Hz to about 175 Hz and has a sound intensity level of less than about 75 dB(A).

Claims

1. A personal care attachment comprising a drive member structured and configured for being movably coupled to a drive system that includes a reciprocating drive shaft, the personal care attachment comprising:

a housing; and

a contact element carrier rotatably coupled to the housing;

wherein the drive member is disposed within the housing, the drive member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an attachment element and the distal end comprising a connection coupled to the contact element carrier, wherein the attachment element comprises a permanent magnet or a magnetisable material; and

wherein in operation, when the drive member of the personal care attachment is coupled to the drive system including the reciprocating drive shaft causing oscillation of the contact element carrier, the contact element carrier oscillates about a rotational axis at a frequency of between about 150 Hz to about 175 Hz while causing a sound intensity level of less than about 75 dB(A).

2. The personal care attachment of claim 1, wherein the drive member has a cross section that can fit within the circumference of a circle having a 6 mm diameter.

3. The personal care attachment of claim 2, wherein the drive member has a Y cross section.

4. The personal care attachment of claim 2, wherein the drive member has a cruciform cross section.

5. The personal care attachment of claim 1, wherein the drive member has a resonance frequency of at least 200 Hz.

6. The personal care attachment of claim 1, wherein the drive member comprises reinforcement fibers.

7. The personal care attachment of claim 1, wherein the personal care attachment is a refill for a toothbrush.