Automatic electric toothbrush

• US 20030000032A1
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FKA Distributing Co. LLC
• Original Assignee: Homedics (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lev, Mordechai
• Granted Patent: US 6,792,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• 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

Abstract

An electric, motorized toothbrush includes a switch that has an “automatic” position. The “automatic” mode provides for intermittent motorized operation, which is dependent upon application of an external force. Various embodiments allow for the force to be exerted either on the toothbrush handle, such as when it is gripped by the user, or on the brush head itself—e.g., when the brush head contacts the user'"'"'s teeth. A substantially hollow housing allows for placement of battery, motor, gears, and linkages to facilitate motorized movement of the brush head.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush comprising:

a substantially hollow body having a head portion and a handle portion connected by a neck portion;

a motor located within the handle portion;

a first switch located within the handle portion having an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position prevents operation of the motor and the closed position facilitates automatic operation of the motor;

a moveable brush head having a plurality of bristles;

a drive assembly operatively connected between the motor and the moveable brush head; and

a second switch located within the body, wherein actuating the second switch causes operation of the motor when the first switch is in the closed position, and wherein the second switch is automatically closed when the toothbrush is used by an operator.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the second switch comprises a pair of contact plates located substantially within the neck portion, and wherein a force imparted to the moveable brush head in use, causes the contact plates to electrically connect, thereby actuating the second switch.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle portion includes a compressible area.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the second switch comprises a magnet, a magnetic plate, and a non-magnetic plate, all located under the compressible area of the handle portion, and wherein compressing the compressible area actuates the second switch by moving the magnet in close proximity to the magnetic plate, thereby causing the magnetic plate to electrically connect with the non-magnetic plate.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the second switch comprises a magnet and a Hall effect sensor located under the compressible area of the handle portion, and wherein compressing the compressible area actuates the second switch by moving the magnet in close proximity to the Hall effect sensor, thereby causing current to flow through the Hall effect sensor.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the second switch comprises a pair of contact plates located under the compressible area of the handle portion, and wherein compressing the compressible area actuates the second switch by causing the contact plates to electrically connect.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the compressible area comprises a rigid portion surrounded by a non-rigid portion.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the compressible area comprises a non-rigid material.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the second switch comprises a sensing device, a part of which is located on the outside of the handle portion, and wherein the second switch is actuated by the presence of the user'"'"'s hand on the handle portion.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 9, wherein the sensing device is a capacitive sensor.

11. An electric toothbrush comprising:

a substantially hollow body having a head portion and a handle portion connected by a neck portion;

a motor located within the handle portion;

a first switch located within the handle portion having an open position, a first closed position and a second closed position, wherein the open position prevents operation of the motor, the first closed position facilitates automatic operation of the motor, and the second closed position causes the motor to operate continuously;

a moveable brush head having a plurality of bristles;

a drive assembly operatively connected between the motor and the moveable brush head; and

a second switch located within the body, wherein actuating the second switch causes operation of the motor when the first switch is in the first closed position, and wherein the second switch is automatically closed when the tooth brush is used by an operator.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the second switch comprises a pair of contact plates located substantially within the neck portion, and wherein a force imparted to the moveable brush head in use, causes the contact plates to electrically connect, thereby actuating the second switch.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the handle portion includes a compressible area.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the second switch comprises a magnet, a magnetic plate, and a non-magnetic plate, all located under the compressible area of the handle portion, and wherein compressing the compressible area actuates the second switch by moving the magnet in close proximity to the magnetic plate, thereby causing the magnetic plate to electrically connect with the non-magnetic plate.

15. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the second switch comprises a magnet and a Hall effect sensor located under the compressible area of the handle portion, and wherein compressing the compressible area actuates the second switch by moving the magnet in close proximity to the Hall effect sensor, thereby causing current to flow through the Hall effect sensor.

16. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the second switch comprises a pair of contact plates located under the compressible area of the handle portion, and wherein compressing the compressible area actuates the second switch by causing the contact plates to electrically connect.

17. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the compressible area comprises a rigid portion surrounded by a non-rigid portion.

18. The electric toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the compressible area comprises a non-rigid material.

19. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the second switch comprises a sensing device, a part of which is located on the outside of the handle portion, and wherein the second switch is actuated by the presence of the user'"'"'s hand on the handle portion.

20. The electric toothbrush of claim 19, wherein the sensing device is a capacitive sensor.