Powered Toothbrush with Multi-Action Movement
AssigneeColgate-Palmolive Company
InventorsDouglas J. Hohlbein, Al Sprosta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered toothbrush includes a handle having a neck. A head is mounted to the neck and has a first portion and a second portion. A plurality of tuft blocks is mounted to the second portion, with each tuft block having a tooth cleaning element. At least one projection is positioned on one of the first and second portions, each projection engaging one of the tuft blocks and pivoting the tuft block with respect to the second portion. A drive assembly is operably connected to one of the first and second portions to drive the one of the first and second portions in an oscillating manner.
Claims20
A powered toothbrush comprising:
- a handle having a neck;
- a head mounted to the neck and having a first portion and a second portion;
- a plurality of tuft blocks mounted to the second portion, each tuft block having a tooth cleaning element;
- at least one projection on one of the first and second portions, each projection engaging one of the tuft blocks and pivoting the tuft block with respect to the second portion;
- and
- a drive assembly operably connected to one of the first and second portions to drive the one of the first and second portions in an oscillating manner.
The powered toothbrush of claim 4, wherein the first portion includes an axially extending post and the second portion includes a central recess, the post being received in the central recess.
A powered toothbrush comprising:
- a handle having a neck;
- a head mounted to the neck and having a first portion having a plurality of slots formed in an upper surface thereof and a second portion abutting the upper surface of the first portion;
- a plurality of tuft blocks pivotally mounted to the second portion, each tuft block having a guide pin extending from a lower surface thereof, each guide pin being received in a corresponding slot in the first portion;
- a slot formed in one of the first portion and the second portion;
- a drive assembly having a rotatable shaft with a remote-most end having an offset portion received in the slot to move the one of the first portion and the second portion in an oscillating manner.
A powered toothbrush comprising:
- a handle having a neck;
- a head mounted to the neck and having a base portion having a plurality of curved slots formed in an upper surface thereof and a second portion abutting the upper surface of the fixed portion, the second portion including a plurality of notches about its peripheral edge, an aperture extending through the second portion from each notch to a lower surface of the second portion;
- a plurality of tuft blocks, each tuft block pivotally mounted in a notch in the second portion, each tuft block having a guide pin extending from a lower surface thereof, each guide pin extending through an aperture in the second portion and being received in a corresponding slot in the base portion;
- a drive assembly comprising a power source, and a motor having a shaft with an offset portion, the offset portion engaging the second portion to move the second portion in an oscillating manner such that the tuft blocks pivot in a radially extending plane with respect to the second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.