Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush and water flosser
First Claim
1. A toothbrush with combined sonic brushing and water flossing attributes comprisingan electric motor including a drive shaft, wherein, when the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates in a single direction;
- a brush tip supporting a brush head on a distal end and defining a fluid conduit therein;
a drive assembly coupled between the drive shaft and the brush tip and configured to convert rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of the brush head whereby the brush tip pivots back and forth about a longitudinal axis of the brush tip;
a fluid passage configured to transport fluid from a fluid source external to the toothbrush to the fluid conduit in the brush tip, wherein a portion of the fluid passage is formed within and defined by a portion of the drive assembly located between the motor and the base of the brush tip;
a removable baes plate comprising a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage and configured to connect with the fluid source; and
a first valve positioned within the fluid passage, wherein the first valve closes the fluid passage when the base plate is removed from the toothbrush and opens the fluid passage when the base plate is connected to the toothbrush.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sonic toothbrush system including an electric motor, a brush shaft, a drive assembly, a fluid conduit connected to a pressurized, pulsed water source, and a water jet nozzle positioned on the brush head and connected to the fluid conduit. 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 brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush supported on an end of the brush shaft. The drive assembly further forms part of the fluid conduit to deliver a pulsed water stream to the jet nozzle.
918 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A toothbrush with combined sonic brushing and water flossing attributes comprising
an electric motor including a drive shaft, wherein, when the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates in a single direction; -
a brush tip supporting a brush head on a distal end and defining a fluid conduit therein; a drive assembly coupled between the drive shaft and the brush tip and configured to convert rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of the brush head whereby the brush tip pivots back and forth about a longitudinal axis of the brush tip; a fluid passage configured to transport fluid from a fluid source external to the toothbrush to the fluid conduit in the brush tip, wherein a portion of the fluid passage is formed within and defined by a portion of the drive assembly located between the motor and the base of the brush tip; a removable baes plate comprising a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage and configured to connect with the fluid source; and a first valve positioned within the fluid passage, wherein the first valve closes the fluid passage when the base plate is removed from the toothbrush and opens the fluid passage when the base plate is connected to the toothbrush. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A toothbrush with combined sonic brushing and water flossing attributes, comprising
an electric motor including a drive shaft, wherein, when the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates in a single direction; -
a brush tip supporting a brush head on a distal end and defining a fluid conduit therein; a drive assembly coupled between the drive shaft and the brush tip and configured to convert rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of the brush head whereby the brush tip pivots back and forth about a longitudinal axis of the brush tip, wherein the drive assembly comprises a coupler having a first end and a second end, and an eccentric cam connected to the drive shaft; a rocker arm that mechanically connects the coupler to the brush tip;
whereinthe first end of the coupler is operably coupled to the brush tip and the eccentric cam is rotationally received within the second end of the coupler; rotation of the drive shaft causes the eccentric cam to rotate within the second end; and rotation of the eccentric cam causes the coupler to oscillate; and a fluid passage configured to transport fluid from a fluid source external to the toothbrush to the fluid conduit in the brush tip, wherein a portion of the fluid passage is formed within the drive assembly, wherein the rocker arm further defines a cavity which forms the portion of the fluid passage that provides fluid communication between the fluid conduit in the brush tip and the fluid source external to the toothbrush. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A toothbrush with combined sonic brushing and water flossing attributes comprising
an electric motor including a drive shaft, wherein, when the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates in a single direction; -
a brush tip supporting a brush head on a distal end and defining a fluid conduit therein; a drive assembly coupled between the drive shaft and the brush tip and configured to convert rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of the brush head whereby the brush tip pivots back and forth about a longitudinal axis of the brush tip; a fluid passage configured to transport fluid from a fluid source external to the toothbrush to the fluid conduit in the brush tip; a removable base plate comprising a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage and configured for connection with the fluid source; and a first valve positioned within the fluid passage and configured to close the fluid passage when the base plate is removed from the toothbrush and configured to open when the base plate is connected to the toothbrush. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification