Mechanically-driven toothbrush with improved brushing action

• US 20030208863A1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Green
• Original Assignee: Carl Green
• Inventors: Green, Carl
• Granted Patent: US 6,785,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7062 Clamped members

Abstract

A mechanically-driven toothbrush consists of a handle, which contains a driving motor with a conversion mechanism, and a toothbrush attachment removably connectable to the output shaft of the conversion mechanism. The handle with the conversion mechanism and the drive motor may comprise a standard, commercially produced unit with the output end of the conversion mechanism performing alternating rotary movements. The toothbrush attachment is made in the form of a conventional toothbrush head without any angular transmission. The tail of the head is connected with the output end of the conversion mechanism by a coupling, which has a locking element for engagement with an appropriate connection element on the output end of the conversion mechanism. The connection portion is covered by a protective sleeve that can be removably connected to the front end of the handle. In operation, the user moves the toothbrush up and down in the vertical directions of the teeth. Efficient removal of the plaque from the spaces between the teeth is achieved due to the fact that motions of the bristles imitate motions of a toothpick when the latter is used for poking the plaque from the intertooth spaces.

Claims

1. A mechanically-driven toothbrush with improved brushing action, comprising:

a handle which has a longitudinal axis and contains a drive motor with a conversion mechanism for converting rotation of said drive motor into reciprocating rotary motions, said conversion mechanism having an output shaft that is oriented in the direction parallel to said longitudinal axis and projects from said handle and performs said reciprocating rotary motions, and a toothbrush head with bristles; and

means for connecting said output shaft to said toothbrush head for transmitting said reciprocating rotary motions to said toothbrush head with rotation around an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis.

2. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said drive motor is an electric motor.

3. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said toothbrush head is connected to said output shaft via an disconnectable attachment.

4. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 3, wherein said output shaft has a first connection member, said disconnectable attachment comprising a coupling with a first locking member and with a second locking member, said toothbrush head having a second connection member, said first locking member being connectable to said first connection member of said output shaft, and said second locking member being connectable to said second connection member of said toothbrush head.

5. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 4, wherein said coupling comprises a sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface, said first locking member and said second locking member comprise snapping projections on said inner surface, and wherein said first connection member and said second connection member comprise recesses engageable with said snapping projections.

6. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 4, further comprising a protective sleeve, which covers said coupling and is connectable to said handle.

7. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 5, further comprising a protective sleeve, which covers said coupling and is connectable to said handle.

8. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said output shaft has connection member, said means for connecting said output shaft to said toothbrush head comprises a locking member for engagement with said connection means.

9. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 2, wherein said connection member comprises a recess on said output shaft, and wherein said locking member comprises a spring-loaded ball engageable with said recess.

10. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said output shaft to said toothbrush head is a portion of said toothbrush head which is made integrally with said output shaft.

11. The mechanically-driven toothbrush of claim 10, wherein said toothbrush is a disposable toothbrush.