US2002017474A1PendingUtilityA1

Electric toothbrush

46
Priority: Sep 30, 1998Filed: May 22, 2001Published: Feb 14, 2002
Est. expirySep 30, 2018(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Lawrence A. BlausteinJohn R. NottinghamJohn OsherJohn W. SpirkDouglas A. Gall
A61C 19/02A61C 17/221A61C 17/26A61C 17/22A61C 17/349B29L 2031/425A61C 17/3436A61C 17/34A61C 2204/002
46
PatentIndex Score
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An electric toothbrush includes a head having a moving portion, a handle, and shaft between the head and the handle. An body portion is hollow and further includes a motor operative to generate motion for driving the moving portion. A battery is located within the hollow section for powering the motor. A First switch, operatively connected to the motor provides momentary operation of the toothbrush. Optionally, a second switch provides for continuous operation of the toothbrush. The first switch can be operated while the toothbrush is in a toothbrush package, such as, for example, a plastic blister pack. A consumer can momentarily observe the operation of the toothbrush before purchasing the toothbrush. The consumer cannot operate the second switch and is thereby prevented from leaving the toothbrush in a battery draining operational mode for extended periods of time.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
Having thus described the invention, the invention is claimed:  
     
         1 . An electric toothbrush comprising: 
 packaging for containing the toothbrush;    an body portion having a first end, and a hollow portion;    a head located at said first end, wherein said head includes a moving portion, wherein said moving portion comprises at least one of bristles and massaging tips;    a motor located within said hollow portion of said body portion, said motor operative to generate motion for driving the moving portion;    a switch which is operably connected to said motor, wherein said switch can be actuated in a first manner to provide momentary operation of said toothbrush even when said toothbrush is within said packaging.    
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 1  wherein said switch is depressed to provide the momentary operation.  
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 1  wherein said switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.  
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a second switch actuated in a second manner to provide continuous operation of said toothbrush when said toothbrush is removed from said packaging.  
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 4  wherein said second switch is actuated by sliding a switching member from a first position to a second position.  
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 4  wherein the second switch is actuated by depressing a switching member, wherein a first depression of the switching member closes a contact and a second depression of the switching member opens the contact.  
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 4  wherein the second switch is actuated by depressing one of a first switching member and a second switching member, wherein depressing the first switching member closes a contact and depressing the second switching member opens the contact.  
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 4  wherein the second switch is actuated by rotating a switching member from a first position to a second position.  
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 4  wherein said second switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.  
     
     
         10 . An electric toothbrush operative to aid a user in cleaning teeth, the electric toothbrush comprising: 
 an elongated body having a handle portion, and a moving portion;    a motor disposed in the handle portion and operative to drive the moving portion;    a switch operative to connect the motor to a power source only while the switch is held in a closed position by the user.    
     
     
         11 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  wherein the first switch comprises a momentary switch.  
     
     
         12 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  wherein the first switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.  
     
     
         13 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  wherein the first switch comprises a push button switch.  
     
     
         14 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  further including a second switch operative to connect the motor to a power source when the second switch is placed in a closed position, the second switch further operative to remain in the closed position even after the switch is release by the user.  
     
     
         15 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14  wherein the second switch comprises a toggle switch.  
     
     
         16 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14  wherein the second switch comprises an electronic switching circuit.  
     
     
         17 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14  wherein the second switch comprises a push button switch.  
     
     
         18 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14  wherein the second switch comprises an alternate acting push button switch.  
     
     
         19 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14  wherein the second switch comprises an rotary switch.  
     
     
         20 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a reciprocating manner.  
     
     
         21 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in an oscillatory manner.  
     
     
         22 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a rotational manner.  
     
     
         22 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a figure eight pattern.  
     
     
         23 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  further comprising a driving means operative to drive the moving portion in a wiping motion.  
     
     
         24 . An electric toothbrush comprising: 
 an elongated body portion having opposed first and second ends, a hollow portion and a longitudinal axis;    a head attached to said first end;    a moving portion within the head;    a motor located within said hollow portion of said elongated body portion;    a momentary switch operative to connect the motor to a power source;    a gear located in said hollow portion, wherein said motor is operatively connected to said gear;    a plurality of swivel arms, wherein one swivel arm is pivotably connected to said gear; and    a shaft operatively connected to the one swivel arm and disposed for translating movement in a back and forth manner to the moving portion.    
     
     
         25 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 a non-momentary switch operative to connect the motor to a power source.  
 
     
     
         26 . An electric toothbrush comprising: 
 an elongated body portion having opposed first and second ends, a hollow portion and a longitudinal axis;    a head attached to said first end;    a motor located within said hollow portion of said elongated body portion;    a momentary switch operative to connect the motor to a power source;    a first gear and a second gear located in said hollow portion, wherein said motor is operatively connected to said first gear, and said first gear is connected to said second gear;    first, second and third swivel arms, wherein said first swivel arm is connected to said second gear, said second swivel arm is pivotably connected to said first swivel arm, and said third swivel arm moves in a back and forth manner generally along said longitudinal axis ; and    a shaft operatively connected to said second swivel arm at a shaft first end and operatively connected to said third swivel arm at a shaft second end;    wherein said head further comprises static massaging tips and a moving portion, wherein said third swivel arm is connected to said moving portion.    
     
     
         27 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 a non-momentary switch operative to connect the motor to a power source.  
 
     
     
         28 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20  wherein said moving portion rotates about an axis normal to said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         29 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20  wherein said moving portion oscillates about an axis normal to said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         30 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20  wherein said first gear rotates about said longitudinal axis and said second gear rotates about an axis generally normal to said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         31 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20  further including a swivel arm connected between said one swivel arm and said shaft.

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