Power toothbrush with actuator in the brushhead
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsPieter Johannes Bax, Johannes Hotze Bernhard De Vries
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power toothbrush includes a small electromagnetic actuator positioned within the brushhead for driving a brushhead assembly which includes a brushhead portion with bristles extending therefrom. The actuator includes a fixed lower element and a moveable upper element, with the lower and upper elements each having curved roller contacting portions at opposing ends thereof. Roller members are positioned between the roller contacting portions of the upper and lower members. At least one coil is mounted on the lower element, responsive to an alternating current energizing signal. Further, at least two permanent magnet assemblies are positioned on the upper element, having alternating polarity positions.
Claims17
A power toothbrush with an electromagnetic actuator comprising:
- a handle;
- a brushhead assembly including a brushhead member with bristles extending therefrom;
- a brushhead assembly actuator which includes a lower element having curved contacting portions at spaced locations along a length thereof and an upper element spaced apart from the lower element and having curved contacting portions at spaced locations along a length thereof which are in registry with the curved contacting portions of the lower element;
- at least one actuator coil mounted on the lower element between the curved contacting portions of the lower and upper elements;
- a power assembly for energizing the at least one actuator coil with an alternating current signal;
- at least two permanent magnet assemblies positioned between the curved contacting portions on the upper element, wherein successive permanent magnet assemblies of the at least two permanent magnet assemblies are arranged with successive opposing polarities;
- and
- roller members captured between the curved contacting portions of the upper and lower elements, wherein the at least one actuator coil and the at least two permanent magnet assemblies are arranged such that an application of an alternating current signal to the at least one actuator coil results in reciprocal movement of the upper element and the brushhead assembly for cleaning of the teeth.
A power toothbrush, comprising:
- a handle;
- a brushhead assembly including a brushhead member with bristles extending therefrom;
- a brushhead actuator which comprises a spring mass system including a non-moving stator lower member and a moving upper member, the upper and lower members including spaced curved portions which are in registry;
- two roller members, each roller member captured between a curved portion of the upper member and the lower member;
- and
- a driving assembly for moving the upper member back and forth on the roller members, producing an oscillating action of the brushhead assembly and the bristles for cleaning of teeth.
A personal care appliance, comprising:
- a handle;
- a workpiece assembly including an end effector for accomplishing a personal care function;
- a workpiece assembly actuator which comprises a spring mass system including a non-moving stator lower member and a moving upper member, the upper and lower members including space curved portions which are in registry;
- two roller members, each roller member captured between a curved portion of the upper member and the lower member;
- and
- a driving assembly for moving the upper member back and forth on the roller members, producing an oscillating action of the end effector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.