Abstract:
A power toothbrush device (100) including a brush head member (104) having bristles and a drivetrain assembly (400, 800) having a drivetrain shaft (124, 824) configured to drive the brush head member. The drivetrain assembly includes a resonator (410, 810) configured to rotate about a central axis (A) to move the bristles in a first movement pattern; a resilient member (420, 820); a magnet (700A, 700B, 830A, 830B) connected with the resonator; and a conductor (710A, 710B, 840A, 840B). As the resonator rotates and the magnet moves toward the conductor in a first direction, a force is generated upon the magnet in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and the force generated upon the magnet thereby causes a rotation of the resilient member about a second axis that is different than the central axis.
Abstract:
A brush head (112, 212, 312, 412) for attachment to a shaft (118, 218, 318, 418) of an oral care device (400), the brush head (112, 212, 312, 412) comprising: a neck (114, 214, 314) having a working head (116, 216, 316, 416), the neck being configured to transmit oscillations from the shaft to the working head; and a spring (102, 202, 302) captive within the neck, wherein upon insertion of the shaft into the assembled brush head, the spring provides a retention force for retaining the brush head on the shaft, characterised in that the spring is in direct mechanical contact with the neck and the shaft.
Abstract:
El invento consiste en un cepillo dental eléctrico provisto de un movimiento de vaivén longitudinal o también denominado axial, que se presenta en el extremo activo de sus penachos de cerdas, o filamentos de nylon, sin que el extremo o punta del cepillo provoque golpeteos potencialmente traumáticos, que representen un riesgo indeseado, como ocurre hasta ahora según arte previo existente
Abstract:
An actuator (52) for a personal care appliance (50) comprises a housing(54), a spindle(64), a tangential actuator portion(70), and an axial actuator portion(72). The tangential actuator portion (70) includes first and second magnet and pole assemblies (76,78) that define a tangential spring function of the tangential actuator portion. The axial actuator portion (72) includes third and fourth magnet and pole assemblies (90,92) that define an axial spring function of the axial actuator portion. At least one of (i) the first and second magnet and pole assemblies (76,78) of the tangential actuator portion (70) and (ii) third and fourth magnet and pole assemblies (90,92) of the axial actuator portion are configured to enhance a corresponding spring function of the axial actuator portion or tangential actuator portion, respectively.
Abstract:
An adaptive system for a personal care appliance, such as a power toothbrush, having a workpiece which is driven through an amplitude of motion by a drive mechanism which includes a stator member includes a circuit (13) for measuring average electrical current through the stator member and stored information (19) in the personal care appliance which relates the average current values through the stator during operation of the device to corresponding amplitude of motion of the workpiece. A processor (17) utilizing a stored program adjusts the operating frequency to produce a stator current value which correlates to the desired amplitude of motion of the workpiece.
Abstract:
The system changes frequency of the toothbrush to adjust the amplitude of motion of the brush portion of the toothbrush. The change in frequency occurs either manually or automatically. In the manual embodiment, the user, via a switch and internal circuitry, can adjust the operating frequency of the toothbrush which results in a change of amplitude to a value which is most comfortable to the user. In the automatic mode, the resonant frequency of the toothbrush is determined upon initiation of the operation of the toothbrush. The resonant frequency value is then offset by a selected amount, usually higher than the resonant frequency; this offset frequency is the operating frequency of the toothbrush.
Abstract:
A hybrid design between manual and electric toothbrush technology with a mechanical rotation or manual brushing action. Brush or polishing units on the toothbrush head are rotated and counter rotated many times when activated by a spring loaded lever but when the lever is locked, the toothbrush allows a conventional manual operation. Permutations of rotary or rectangular brush or polishing units can be used on the same head. The brush units consist of bristle clusters surrounded by a ring of elastomeric nodes suspended over a cavity which moulds to teeth contours. The brush unit design is also shown applied to a manual toothbrush handle. The force applied to the lever allows variable rotation, and when slowly rotating, the bristles on the brush units can search into deep contours of teeth and gum surfaces especially at difficult to reach rear corners of teeth, rather than skipping over them at high speed.
Abstract:
A hybrid design between manual and electric toothbrush technology with a mechanical rotation or manual brushing action. Brush or polishing units on the toothbrush head are rotated and counter rotated many times when activated by a spring loaded lever but when the lever is locked, the toothbrush allows a conventional manual operation. Permutations of rotary or rectangular brush or polishing units can be used on the same head. The brush units consist of bristle clusters surrounded by a ring of elastomeric nodes suspended over a cavity which moulds to teeth contours. The brush unit design is also shown applied to a manual toothbrush handle. The force applied to the lever allows variable rotation, and when slowly rotating, the bristles on the brush units can search into deep contours of teeth and gum surfaces especially at difficult to reach rear corners of teeth, rather than skipping over them at high speed.
Abstract:
The drive system drives a brushhead at a driving frequency. The drive system includes a frequency modulation system which changes. the driving frequency about a center frequency in such a manner, with selected frequency deviation and modulation frequency, which interacts with the resonance of the brushhead to produce a change of amplitude in the movement of the brushhead within a range of 5-30%.