Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Brushing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-28
2002-02-19
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Brushing
C015S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06347425
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrically powered toothbrushes and more particularly to such toothbrushes having a head which provides a three dimensional reciprocating side-to-side and rocking up-and-down motion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional electric toothbrushes having generally cylindrical brush heads operate by means of a direct current motor, wherein the rotational motion of the motor is translated into a two dimensional, typically, rotationally clockwise and counterclockwise reciprocating movement. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,620, the unidirectional, axial motion of the drive shaft of a direct current motor, can initially be converted into a circular motion by means of a pinion and crown gear assembly. The circular motion can then be translated into a reciprocating motion to correspondingly drive the brush head by means of attaching to the crown gear a crank arm and clevis assembly. This is a complex mechanism, which is relatively costly to produce and has a high potential for mechanical failure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,916 discloses a simplified electric toothbrush drive mechanism, wherein the end of the drive shaft is in the form of an elbow, i.e. bent away from and partially back toward its own longitudinal axis, and disposed within a slot in a cylindrical brush head; which slot is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical brush head. As the drive shaft rotates unidirectionally, the elbow will describe a corresponding unidirectional circle about the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, traveling up and down relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical brush head, such that it drivingly engages the side edges of the slot to cause the cylindrical brush head to reciprocate side-to-side in two dimensions. Such a two dimensional reciprocating action limits the duration of contact between the bristle tufts and the three dimensional dentiture of the user, limiting the cleaning efficacy of the toothbrush.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,558 discloses a powered toothbrush head having a three dimensional motion, wherein the bristle ends rotate in a cone shape for enhanced cleaning. To achieve this three dimensional cone shaped rotation, U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,558 utilizes a complex mechanism involving two bearing pins (one transverse to the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush and the other angled thereto), a contrate gear and pinion assembly, and a tapered disk. Such a complex mechanism has the same failings as in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,620, discussed above, i.e. costly to produce and with a high potential for mechanical failure.
There is an ongoing need in the art for an electric toothbrush having a simplified mechanism and that provides a three dimensional head motion to conform the bristles more closely to the teeth for enhanced cleaning thereof.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a mechanically simplified electrically powered toothbrush having an elongated body with a head at one end and a handle at the other; the head containing a socket having curved sides; the socket containing a bristle carrier orbitally disposed therein; the bristle carrier having an upper surface with a plurality of bristle tufts extending therefrom and sides with a curvature corresponding to the curved sides of the socket; the bristle carrier being provided with a boring in the sides thereof; the handle being arranged to contain a rotational driving means with a drive shaft extending therefrom and ending in a end which is displaced from the central longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and is drivingly engaged in the boring; whereby, upon rotation of the drive shaft the bristle carrier is driven by the end in a three dimensional, reciprocating side-to-side and rocking up-and-down motion within the socket. This three dimensional movement of the toothbrush head increases contact between the bristles and the three dimensional surfaces of the teeth for enhanced cleaning thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1255028 (1918-01-01), Leonard et al.
patent: D223945 (1972-06-01), Bousquet
patent: 4156620 (1979-05-01), Clemens
patent: 4479516 (1984-10-01), Hunter
patent: 5173983 (1992-12-01), Le
patent: 5416942 (1995-05-01), Baldacci et al.
patent: 5504961 (1996-04-01), Yang
patent: 5625916 (1997-05-01), McDougall
patent: 5862558 (1999-01-01), Hilfinger et al.
patent: 5867856 (1999-02-01), Herzog
patent: 5974613 (1999-11-01), Herzog
patent: 6092252 (2000-07-01), Fisher et al.
Fattori Joseph
Waguespack Kenneth
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Goldfine Henry S.
Till Terrence R.
LandOfFree
Powered toothbrush having three dimensional rotational head... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Powered toothbrush having three dimensional rotational head..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Powered toothbrush having three dimensional rotational head... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2954956