Electric toothbrushes

Abstract

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having an electric motor, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head. The head has first end disposed adjacent to the neck and a second end opposite the first end. The head has a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of said head. A rotating shaft is operatively connected to the electric motor and to the first moving bristle holder to reciprocate the first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the head.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electric toothbrush, comprising: 
 a handle having an electric motor;    a head;    a neck extending between said handle and said head, said head having a first end disposed adjacent to said neck and a second end opposite said first end, said head having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein, wherein said first moving bristle holder is located at said second end of said head; and    a rotating shaft operatively connected to said electric motor and to said first moving bristle holder to reciprocate said first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said head.    
     
     
         2 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said bristles of said second bristle holder are static.  
     
     
         3 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said first bristle holder has a plurality of cam followers that depend from said first bristle holder and operatively engage a cam on said rotating shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said second bristle holder is located at said first end of said head.  
     
     
         5 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said cam followers are offset from a longitudinal axis of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         6 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , said head further comprising a plurality of slots for guiding said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         7 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 6 , wherein said slots are formed in said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         8 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 5 , wherein said cam followers are disposed near the middle of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         9 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 6 , said head further comprises a plurality of fingers that engage said plurality of slots.  
     
     
         10 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said fingers depend from said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         11 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said second bristle holder is movable.  
     
     
         12 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said movement is selected from the group consisting of reciprocation, pivoting, and vertical pulsating motion.  
     
     
         13 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein said rotating shaft engages said second bristle holder.  
     
     
         14 . An electric toothbrush, comprising: 
 a handle having an electric motor;    a head;    a neck extending between said handle and said head, said head having a first end disposed adjacent to said neck and a second end opposite said first end, said head having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein, wherein said first moving bristle holder is located at said second end of said head; and    a rotating shaft operatively connected to said electric motor and to said first moving bristle holder to reciprocate said first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said head, said head further comprising a plurality of slots for guiding said first bristle holder.    
     
     
         15 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein said bristles of said second bristle holder are static.  
     
     
         16 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein said first bristle holder has a plurality of cam followers that depend from said first bristle holder and operatively engage a cam on said rotating shaft.  
     
     
         17 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein said cam followers are offset from a longitudinal axis of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         18 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein said cam followers are disposed near the middle of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         19 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein said slots are formed in said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         20 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein said head further comprises a plurality of fingers that engage said plurality of slots.  
     
     
         21 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein said second bristle holder is movable.  
     
     
         22 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein said rotating shaft engages said second bristle holder.