Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush system
AssigneeWater Pik, Inc.
InventorsGary L. Sokol, Harold A. Luettgen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sonic toothbrush system includes an electric motor, a brush shaft, and a drive assembly. The electric motor includes a drive shaft. When the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates until the motor is caused to stop. The drive assembly is coupled between the drive shaft and the brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush head supported on an end of the brush shaft.
Claims18
A toothbrush comprising
- an electric motor including a drive shaft, wherein, when the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates until the motor is caused to stop;
- a brush shaft;
- and
- a drive assembly consisting of a bar linkage coupled between the drive shaft and the brush shaft, the bar linkage comprising
- a coupler having a first end operably coupled to the brush shaft and a second end;
- an eccentric pin rotationally received within the second end of the coupler, the eccentric pin having a rearward end shaft axially aligned with an axis of the drive shaft and a mid-portion axially offset from the axis of the drive shaft, wherein
- the rotation of the drive shaft causes the eccentric pin to rotate within the second end;
- and
- the rotation of the eccentric pin causes the coupler to oscillate to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into oscillation of a toothbrush head supported on an end of the brush shaft.
A toothbrush providing oscillating bristle motion comprising
- a continuously rotating drive system including a output shaft;
- a brush shaft;
- and
- a bar linkage between the drive system and the brush shaft, the bar linkage comprising
- a coupler having a first end operably coupled to the brush shaft and a second end;
- an eccentric pin rotationally received within the second end of the coupler, the eccentric pin having a rearward shaft axially aligned with the output shaft of the drive system and a mid-portion axially offset from output shaft of the drive system, wherein
- the rotation of the output shaft causes the eccentric pin to rotate within the second end;
- and
- the rotation of the eccentric pin causes the coupler to provide oscillating, sonic speed output motion to the brush shaft.
A method of designing a toothbrush having a continuously rotating drive system, a brush shaft, and a linkage between the drive system and the brush shaft, the method comprising
- performing a finite element analysis on the linkage;
- and
- determining a weight distribution in the linkage based upon the finite element analysis to position a center of mass of the linkage and impart a balance or a selected imbalance to the linkage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.