Attachment section for an oral hygiene device

• US 9,226,808 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Utsch, Joern, Schaefer, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US13/557,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/23, 15/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder

Abstract

An attachment section suitable for connection to a handle section of an oral hygiene device is disclosed. The attachment section includes an attachment housing having a first coupling structure suitable for establishing a connection with a second coupling structure of the handle section; at least a functional element mounted at the attachment housing for driven movement; a motion transmitter extending in a cavity formed inside of the attachment housing, the motion transmitter being functionally connected on one end with the functional element; and a first magnetic coupling element arranged at another end of the motion transmitter, the first magnetic coupling element including at least a permanent magnet or a magnetizable element suitable for establishing a magnetic connection with a second magnetic coupling element provided in the handle section.

Claims

1. An attachment section suitable for connection to a handle section of an oral hygiene device, the attachment section comprising:

an attachment housing having a first coupling structure suitable for establishing a connection with a second coupling structure of the handle section;

at least a functional element mounted at the attachment housing for driven movement;

a motion transmitter extending in a cavity formed inside of the attachment housing, the motion transmitter having a first end connected to the functional element and a second end opposite to the first end; and

a first magnetic coupling element arranged at the second end of the motion transmitter, the first magnetic coupling element including at least a permanent magnet or a magnetizable element suitable for establishing a magnetic connection with a second magnetic coupling element provided in the handle section, and

wherein the first magnetic coupling element has a protective cover that covers at least a coupling side of the first magnetic coupling element that is intended for establishing the magnetic connection.

2. The attachment section according to claim 1, wherein the motion transmitter is arranged for linear oscillatory motion along a longitudinal direction and the functional element is arranged for an oscillatory motion different to the motion of the motion transmitter.

3. The attachment section according to claim 1, wherein the motion transmitter comprises a rod element.

4. The attachment section according claim 3, wherein the rod element is pivot-mounted at the functional element.

5. The attachment section according to claim 3, wherein the rod element is pivot-mounted at a holder element having a recess at least partly accommodating the first magnetic coupling element.

6. The attachment section according to claim 1, further comprising a centering structure intended for at least supporting the centering of the magnetic connection between the first and second magnetic coupling elements during an attachment process.

7. The attachment section according to claim 1, wherein the motion transmitter is mounted free of any return force elements.