# US 8,739,344 B2 · Vibrating toothbrush > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,344 B2 - Document ID: US8739344B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/706,282 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2013-04-18 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-07-26 - Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Applicants: Colgate-Palmolive Company - Inventors: Alan Vincent Sorrentino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739344B2 ## CPC - A61C 17/3481: {Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights} - A46B 13/023: {with means for inducing vibration to the bristles} - A46B 15/0002: {Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process} - A61C 17/22: with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like (brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B) - A61C 17/225: {Handles or details thereof} - F16F 1/36: made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, {e.g. thermoplastic elastomers (spring units consisting of several springs F16F3/08)} - F16F 7/00: Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers (using fluid F16F5/00, F16F9/00; specific for rotary systems F16F15/10 {; belt tensioners F16H7/12}) - H02K 5/24: specially adapted for suppression or reduction of noise or vibrations - H02K 7/061: {using rotary unbalanced masses (for generating mechanical vibrations in general B06B1/16)} - A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) - B26B 19/3866: {Seals or dampers} - F16F 2224/025: Elastomers - F16F 2230/00: Purpose; Design features - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) ## Abstract A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviating weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toothbrush comprising: a) a head and a neck formed from a support of a first material having a first vibration transmission capacity, h) a mechanical vibrating device in the neck containing a power element and a vibratory element that are both housed within a housing having a length, and c) a vibration-reducing section situated along at least a portion of the length of the housing having a second vibration transmission capacity that is less than said first vibration transmission capacity, and wherein the vibration-reducing section comprises a depression or concavity formed into an inner surface of the neck. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the depression or concavity forms a void between the housing and a portion of the inner surface of the neck. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The toothbrush in accordance with claim 1, wherein the depression or concavity is filled with a dampening material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The toothbrush in accordance with claim 3, wherein the dampening material is an elastomer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The toothbrush in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a plurality of voids. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The toothbrush in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first material is polypropylene. ### Claim 7 A toothbrush comprising: a head; a neck coupled to the head, the neck having an inner surface that defines a cavity; a mechanical vibrating device positioned within the cavity and extending along a portion of a length of the neck; and a depression or concavity formed into the inner surface of the neck, at least a portion of the depression or concavity positioned along the portion of the length of the neck. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The toothbrush in accordance with claim 7 wherein the neck is formed of a hard plastic and the depression or concavity is filled with an elastomer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The toothbrush in accordance with claim 8 wherein the hard plastic is polypropylene. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The toothbrush according to claim 7 wherein the mechanical vibrating device comprises a motor and an eccentric.