Multi-motion toothbrush

• US 7,340,794 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Brown, Patrick W., Gall, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/414,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/224, 15/28, 15/29, 152/01
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3427 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3445 Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3472 with combined movements of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies

Abstract

An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The electric toothbrush includes a body having an interior hollow region for retaining one or more motors, batteries, and drive mechanisms. The toothbrush includes multiple bristle carriers. Each of the bristle carriers undergoes some type of movement and is driven by the one or more motors and drive mechanisms. Various combinations of movement of the bristle carriers are described. And, numerous drive train mechanisms are disclosed for achieving the noted motions.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle at a first end of the toothbrush having a motor disposed therein;

a head at a second end of the toothbrush, the head having a longitudinal axis, the head having a first bristle holder and a second bristle holder; and

wherein the motor is operatively connected to the second bristle holder to move the second bristle holder in a curvilinear motion along camming apertures, and wherein the motor is operatively connected to the first bristle holder to move the first bristle holder in a non-planar motion.

2. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the second bristle holder also moves in a non-planar motion.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the second bristle holder is disposed on a movable base which comprises an extension member extending within a hollow region of the head, wherein the member includes a plurality of laterally extending guides that are disposed in the camming apertures.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the toothbrush further comprises a reciprocating shaft operatively connected to the motor.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the first bristle holder is disposed on a movable base which comprises an extension member extending within a hollow region of the head, wherein the member includes a plurality of laterally extending guides that are disposed in the camming apertures.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a third bristle carrier is disposed between said first and second bristle carriers, and said third bristle carrier is stationary.