Powered toothbrush

Abstract

A powered toothbrush include a head containing a rotating or oscillating first bristle carrier and also containing a second bristle carrier movably connected to said head, which second bristle carrier may include elastomeric walls for enhanced cleaning and may include a weakened section to permit it to at least partially collapse during a brushing motion to couture to the teeth in use for enhanced cleaning.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A powered toothbrush comprising: 
 a handle portion having a neck formed at one end;    a head coupled to the neck, the head having an outer surface and further including: 
 a first bristle carrier coupled to the head and operatively connected to a first drive feature for rotationally or oscillatingly moving the first carrier, the first bristle carrier having at least one set of bristles extending outwardly therefrom; and  
 a second bristle carrier coupled to the head, the second bristle carrier including a platform with upstanding elastomeric walls formed at first and second sides of the platform, the second bristle carrier having at least one set of bristles extending outwardly from an upper surface of the platform between the elastomeric walls.  
   
     
     
         2 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first bristle carrier oscillates in a direction parallel to an outer surface of the head.  
     
     
         3 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the upstanding elastomeric walls has a shape selected from the group consisting of: linear, butterfly wing, paddle, dragon teeth, wave, and opposing flaps.  
     
     
         4 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the platform is formed of one of a rigid material and/or an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         5 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one set of bristles of the second bristle carrier comprises a plurality of elastomeric fingers disposed between the upstanding elastomeric walls.  
     
     
         6 . A powered toothbrush comprising: 
 a handle portion having a neck formed at one end;    a head coupled to the neck, the head having an outer surface and further including: 
 a first bristle carrier coupled to the head and operatively connected to a first drive feature for rotationally or oscillatingly moving the first bristle carrier, the first bristle carrier having at least one set of bristles extending outwardly therefrom; and  
 a second bristle carrier coupled to the head, the second bristle carrier including a platform having at least one set of bristles extending outwardly from an upper surface thereof, the platform having at least one weakened section formed therein in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the head such that upon application of a force to the second bristle carrier, the platform at least partially collapses along the at least one weakened section resulting in movement of the at least one set of bristles.  
   
     
     
         7 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first bristle carrier oscillates in a direction that is parallel to an outer surface of the head.  
     
     
         8 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first bristle carrier oscillates in a back and forth manner.  
     
     
         9 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first bristle carrier is oscillated in a rotational direction.  
     
     
         10 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the second bristle carrier moves substantially in a direction perpendicular to an outer surface of the head when the force is applied thereto.  
     
     
         11 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor driven shaft having a drive end that drives the first bristle carrier.  
     
     
         12 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one weakened section comprises a groove formed in the platform.  
     
     
         13 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one weakened section extends substantially from a first end to a second end of the platform.  
     
     
         14 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one weakened section has at least one opening formed therealong, the at least one opening partitioning the at least one weakened section into two or more weakened sections.  
     
     
         15 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the platform is formed of a rigid and/or an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         16 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the second bristle carrier includes a first elastomeric wall formed along a first side of the platform and a second elastomeric wall formed along an opposing second side of the platform.  
     
     
         17 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the platform is attached to the head generally at the first and second sides of the platform.  
     
     
         18 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , wherein a shape of each of the first and second elastomeric walls is selected from the group consisting of: linear, butterfly wing, paddle, dragon teeth, wave, and opposing flaps.  
     
     
         19 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one weakened section comprises a plurality of weakened sections formed parallel to one another.  
     
     
         20 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of elastomeric cleaning members is formed between two weakened sections.  
     
     
         21 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of weakened sections are each in the form of a groove formed in the upper surface of the platform.  
     
     
         22 . A powered toothbrush comprising: 
 a handle portion having a neck formed at one end; and    a head coupled to the neck, the head having an outer surface and further including: 
 a first bristle carrier coupled to the head and operatively connected to a first drive feature for rotationally or oscillatingly moving the first bristle carrier, the first bristle carrier having at least one set of bristles extending outwardly therefrom; and  
 a second bristle carrier coupled to the head, the second bristle carrier having at least one set of bristles extending outwardly from an upper surface thereof, the second bristle carrier comprising: 
 a platform extending across the head, an upper surface of the platform supporting the at least one set of bristles; and  
 a web attached to and extending between the platform and the head.  
 
   
     
     
         23 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein both the platform and web are both formed of a rigid or elastomeric material, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the web is formed of an elastomeric material and the platform is formed of an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         25 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the web extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the head.  
     
     
         26 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the web extends substantially the length of the platform.  
     
     
         27 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the web has openings formed therealong resulting in the web being partitioned into a plurality of discrete sections.  
     
     
         28 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the platform includes at least two vertical elastomeric elements formed generally along the first and second sides of the platform.  
     
     
         29 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the vertical elastomeric elements comprise walls.  
     
     
         30 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the web is formed along a medial longitudinal axis of the platform.  
     
     
         31 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the handle portion includes recessed finger sections formed on opposite sides of the handle portion for providing a gripping area for holding the handle portion.  
     
     
         32 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 31 , wherein the recessed sections include roughened surfaces.