Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Brushing
Patent
1992-05-01
1994-05-17
Gerrity, Stephen F.
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Brushing
15 221, 74 25, 74 42, 433131, 601 53, A46B 1302
Patent
active
053116330
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electric power driven toothbrush with an electric motor disposed in a handle section and driving, through a driving mechanism and a translating device driven thereby, in an oscillatory manner a rotary toothbrush section, in which the driving mechanism is configured as a four-bar linkage including a crank adapted to be driven by means of the electric motor, the crank driving in an oscillatory manner at least indirectly a drive shaft of the toothbrush section by a means of a link and through a rocker.
A toothbrush of this type is already known from CH 384539 A. For one thing, however, the special configuration of the crank mechanism disclosed therein involves a large size which is undesirable in particular for toothbrushes. The crank is of the overhung type, that is, supported at only one end, involving an additional increase in size. For another thing, the crank bearing is subjected to major wear during operation of the toothbrush. Moreover, in this configuration of crank mechanism which is encapsulated in the housing to protect it from external influence, the problem exists of supplying the bearings with sufficient lubricating agents.
A further electric power driven toothbrush is known from EP 0 054 043 B1. Through an output shaft and a planetary gear train, the electric motor drives a toothbrush section drive shaft arranged in a sleeve-type shank. For this purpose, the drive shaft has at its output end an eccentrically disposed pin which is rotated by the drive shaft and is guided in a slotted guide of a drive member for the toothbrush section, the axis of which intersects angularly the axis of the drive shaft. The revolving motion of the pin causes rotation in alternating direction or oscillation of the drive member for the toothbrush section. Such a conversion of the rotary motion of the electric motor into an oscillating motion of the brush section allows, however, only a very small angle of rotation, because the slotted guide should be at a correspondingly large distance from the axis of the rotation of the toothbrush section for reducing the frictional resistances. The more closely the slotted guide approaches the axis of rotation of the toothbrush section, the higher become the frictional resistances, thus also increasing the noise developing in the operation of the toothbrush. The relatively large frictional resistance of the pin guided in the slotted guide also produces significant wear, resulting in a relatively short service life of the driving elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
EP 0 110 327 A2 discloses an electric power driven toothbrush vibrating in oscillating fashion, in which the angle of oscillation is adjustable to various values. The toothbrush includes in particular a train of spur gears driven by the electric motor.
From U.S. Pat. No. 3,106,732 A a toothbrush becomes apparent having a rotary brush head arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush and rotatable by means of an angular driving mechanism.
GB 369 600 A discloses a toothbrush whose rotary brush head is arranged at right angles to the brush longitudinal axis of the toothbrush, the brush portion being a push fit on an output shaft and suitable for coupling engagement therewith.
FR 2 368 854 A discloses an electric power driven toothbrush vibrating in oscillating fashion, the oscillation assuming values in the range of between 55 and 66 Hertz.
By contrast, it is an object of the present invention to maintain a space-saving arrangement of the four-bar linkage in the housing of the toothbrush and to prolong the service like of the four-bar linkage.
This object is accomplished in that the crank is configured as an eccentric disk and the link as a connecting rod, and that the connecting rod includes a bearing eye receiving the eccentric disk in a rotatable relationship thereto, the eccentric disk having extending therethrough a spindle rotatably carried in a bearing block and in a bearing plate. A space-saving arrangement of the four-bar linkage in
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Volmer, Getriebetechinik, pp. 136-139.
Gassner Gustav
Herzog Karl
Braun Aktiengesellschaft
Gerrity Stephen F.
Graham Gary K.
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