Electro-polymer motor

• US 9,370,409 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Jungnickel, Uwe, Heil, Benedikt
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenau, Derek
• Application Number:
  US13/705,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 31032301-32321, 310/328
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0006 with a controlling brush technique device, e.g. stroke movement measuring device
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0008 with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• 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 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3418 Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3463 Translation along the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3472 with combined movements of the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/10 producing rotary motion, e.g. rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices

Abstract

An electro-polymer motor comprising a fixed member and a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end is presented. The first actuator comprises a polymer positioned between two electrodes. The electrodes are in communication with a power supply. The motor also comprises a driven member comprising a first leg and a second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by an axis. The driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator. The motor also comprises a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the second leg of the driven member. The compressible member is spaced apart from the first actuator. The first actuator elongates after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a head;

a handle connected to the head;

a power supply; and

a motor, the motor including a fixed member;

a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end, the first actuator comprising a polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with a power supply;

a driven member comprising a body having cylindrical shape with a cylindrical shaped aperture disposed therethrough, wherein the driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator; and

wherein the body is disposed longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the motor and the aperture is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis; and

a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the body of the driven member, the compressible member spaced apart from the first actuator;

wherein the first actuator changes length after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member.

2. An electric toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising:

a head having a cleaning surface;

a handle connected to the head and having a power supply and a motor, wherein the motor comprises;

a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the handle and a second end, the first actuator comprises a pre-strained polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with the power supply;

a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the handle and a second end and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first actuator, the compressible member comprises a pre-strained polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with the power supply;

a driven member comprising a first leg, a second leg and a shaft bearing positioned between and connected to the first leg and the second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by a first angle across the shaft bearing, the first leg connected to the second end of the first actuator and the second leg connected to the second end of the compressible member; and

a shaft in communication with the shaft bearing of the driven member;

wherein the first and second actuators elongate in response to an applied voltage from the power supply to oscillate, pulsate and/or linearly move the driven member and the shaft.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 2, further comprising a cleaning attachment in communication with the shaft.

4. The toothbrush according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning attachment is replaceable.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the power supply alternates power to the first actuator and the compressible member resulting in the shaft oscillating.

6. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the power supply supplies substantially concurrent power to the first actuator and the compressible member resulting in the shaft pulsating.

7. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein when the power supply alternates power to the first actuator and the compressible member, the shaft oscillates, and when the power supply supplies substantially concurrent power to the first actuator and the compressible member, the shaft pulsates.

8. The toothbrush according to claim 7, further comprising a switch to select the type of power supplied to the first actuator and the compressible member.

9. The toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the power supply switches between the type of power supplied to the first actuator and the compressible member based on a time duration.

10. The toothbrush according to claim 2, further comprises a front bearing connected to the handle and the driven member and encompasses the shaft such that the front bearing serves as a pivot point for the shaft.

11. The toothbrush according to claim 10, further comprises a back bearing flexible about the shaft and flexibly mounted to the handle to permit an alternative or superimposing pivoting motion by the shaft about the front bearing.

12. The toothbrush of claim 10 further comprises the front bearing flexible about the shaft and flexibly mounted to the handle to permit an alternative or superimposing pivoting motion by the shaft about a back bearing.