Powered toothbrush
First Claim
1. A powered toothbrush having a handle with a neck portion extending from the handle, comprising:
- a head connected to said neck portion, said head having an exposed outer surface;
a first tuft block mounted to said head, said first tuft block having a first array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of said head;
a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block about an axis generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head;
a second tuft block mounted to said head, said second tuft block having a second array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface; and
a second drive member operatively connected to said second tuft block for moving said second tuft block in a direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The head of a powered toothbrush includes a first tuft block mounted for rotational oscillation about an axis generally perpendicular to the outer surface of the head, and a second tuft block having fixed bristles or bristles independently movable by being mounted on an elastomeric base. The second tuft block oscillates perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the head and in an in and out direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the head. A third stationary block may also be mounted on the head of the powered toothbrush. The bristles on the first, second, and third tuft blocks may be of various lengths, colors and stiffness, and may be mounted perpendicularly to or at an angle to the outer surface of the head.
36 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A powered toothbrush having a handle with a neck portion extending from the handle, comprising:
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a head connected to said neck portion, said head having an exposed outer surface;
a first tuft block mounted to said head, said first tuft block having a first array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of said head;
a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block about an axis generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head;
a second tuft block mounted to said head, said second tuft block having a second array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface; and
a second drive member operatively connected to said second tuft block for moving said second tuft block in a direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A powered toothbrush having a handle with a neck portion extending from the handle, comprising:
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a head connected to said neck portion, said head having an exposed outer surface;
a first tuft block mounted to said head, said first tuft block having a first array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of said head;
a first drive member operatively connected to said first tuft block for moving said first tuft block about an axis generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head;
a second tuft block mounted to said head closer to the neck portion than said first tuft block, said second tuft block having a second array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface;
a second drive member operatively connected to said second tuft block for moving said second tuft block in a direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head; and
a third tuft block stationarily mounted to said head closer to said neck portion than either of said first and second tuft blocks, said third tuft block having a third array of bristles extending outwardly from the exposed outer surface of the head. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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- 28. A powered toothbrush having a head end section comprising two separate moveable tuft blocks having arrays of toothbrush bristles extending from an exposed outer surface of said head end section wherein a first block of said tuft blocks is rotationally moveable and a second block of said tuft blocks moves in an in and out direction generally perpendicular to the exposed outer surface of said head end section.
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31. A powered toothbrush having a handle with a neck portion extending from the handle, comprising:
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a head connected to said neck portion, said head having an exposed outer surface;
at least one tuft block having an array of toothbrush bristles extending therefrom, wherein said tuft block has a plurality of notches formed therein;
with one of said notches being provided at a substantially central portion of said tuft block; and
a drive mechanism including means for flexing said notches so as to move said array of toothbrush bristles between a first rest position, wherein said array of toothbrush bristles extend generally perpendicular to said exposed outer surface of said head, to a second position, wherein said notches are flexed by said drive mechanism so that said array of bristles are forced laterally outwardly from their first rest position. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification