Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Brushing
Patent
1990-06-12
1992-03-31
Roberts, Edward L.
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Brushing
15DIG1, 433125, 433130, A46B 1302
Patent
active
050995367
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush which provides improved brushing in gaps between teeth.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, several ways of brushing teeth have existed. One way of brushing is by manually brushing with a toothbrush (a so called hand brush), which has many hairs thereon. With this toothbrush, there are two major methods for effectively brushing teeth, one is a "Scraping Method" in which the toothbrush, whose tips of the hairs of the brush contact the user's teeth, is reciprocated. Another method is a "Bass Method" in which the toothbrush, whose tips of the hairs of the brush contact a bonder between the teeth and gums by inclining the head section of the toothbrush about 45 degrees, and vibratins the head back and forth.
Another known way of brushing teeth is with an electric toothbrush in which a hand brush is attached to a drive section having a motor therein so as to linearly reciprocate the brush.
When using the hand-held type of brush, despite the known effective methods for brushing teeth such as the Scraping Method, the Bass Method, etc., it is difficult to master these methods, and there is an individual difference in brushing technique so that all users cannot brush equally as well even when learning the same techniques. The number of people who cannot brush effectively far outnumber people who can brush well. It is especially difficult to remove food particles on teeth which are stuck in gaps between teeth, on borders between the teeth and gums and concave sections of teeth.
Electric toothbrushes are also known which can change between the Scraping Method and the Bass Method (e.g. Japanese Provisional Patent Publication (Kokai) Gazette No. 61-103404). In this electric toothbrush, however, rotary movement of a motor is converted to reciprocating movement, so that a large vibration is transmitted to a drive section and user the feels uncomfortable. Further, the brushing direction of the toothbrush is fixed, so that there are some portions of the mouth which are difficult to brush.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an electric toothbrush which can remove food particles stuck in gaps between the teeth and on borders between teeth and gums, and which can comfortably brushing directions, and whose head section is detachable from a main case for washing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric toothbrush having a built-in storage battery, which can be easily connected to charge-terminals without soldering.
The objects of the present invention are provided in an electric toothbrush comprising a motor in a main case and brushes driven by the motor, wherein the improvement comprises an intermediate case attached to a front end of the main case, the intermediate case includes an obtuse angle at a midsection thereof with respect to the axis of the main case, a head case is detachably provided at a front end of the intermediate case, a plurality of rotors are rotatably provided on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the head case, a plurality of gears are provided on outer circumferential faces of the rotors, respectively said gears being adjacent to and engaged with each other, brushes are provided on the rotors which project outward from a side wall of the head case, a first shaft is connected to the motor and inserted into an inner space of the intermediate case, a second shaft is rotatably held by the head case, one end of the second shaft being inserted into the inner space of the intermediate case, the second shaft being connected to the motor via a transmission system, and a gear provided at a remaining end of the second shaft is directly or indirectly engaged with the gears of the rotors.
The head case and intermediate case may be detachably assembled to each other by a bayonet engage system. The intermediate case may be detachable from the main case so as to place the brushes at a first position in which the brushes are p
REFERENCES:
patent: 2140307 (1938-12-01), Belaschk et al.
patent: 3757419 (1973-09-01), Hopkins
patent: 3939599 (1976-02-01), Henry et al.
Kabushiki Kaisha Izumi Seiki Seisakusho
Roberts Edward L.
LandOfFree
Electric toothbrush does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electric toothbrush, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electric toothbrush will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2249406