Electric toothbrushes and packages containing same

Abstract

An actuator assembly for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes a positionable member accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. The actuator assembly further includes a spring member retained within the interior of the toothbrush body which urges a cam member against the underside of the positionable member. The positionable member defines an aperture extending through its midsection within which is disposed a depressible member. The depressible member has an outer end which is also accessible along the outer surface of the toothbrush body. Upon pressing the depressible member, the cam member and spring are urged against an electrical circuit provided within the body of the toothbrush which is used to selectively operate a motor and drive mechanism to move one or more sets of bristles. The actuator assembly additionally includes a feature of providing a raised region along an outer surface of the positionable member which guards against accidental or unintentional depressing of the depressible member.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An electric toothbrush comprising: 
 a body having a handle, a head, and a neck extending between said handle and said head, said body defining a hollow interior region within said body;    at least one bristle holder disposed along said head;    a motor, power source, and drive mechanism adapted to move said at least one bristle holder upon actuation, said motor, said power source, and said drive mechanism disposed in said hollow interior region of said body; and    an actuator assembly adapted to activate said motor and thereby move said at least one bristle holder, said actuator assembly including: 
 (i) a positionable member having an outer face accessible along an outer surface of said body of said toothbrush, said positionable member also having an oppositely directed base, said outer face having a raised region that extends outwardly from said base and which defines an aperture extending through said member from said outer face to said base,  
 (ii) a spring member disposed within said hollow interior region of said body and proximate to said positionable member, said spring member having a first end engaged to said body of said toothbrush and a second free end opposite from said first end,  
 (iii) a depressible member disposed in said aperture defined in said raised region of said positionable member, said depressible member having an outer end accessible along an outer surface of said body of said toothbrush and an interior end opposite from said outer end, said interior end disposed within said hollow interior region of said body, and  
 (iv) a cam member engaged with said spring member and movable therewith, said cam member having a cam surface directed towards said base of said positionable member and said interior end of said depressible member.  
   
     
     
         2 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a guide member disposed between said positionable member and said cam member, said guide member defining an aperture within which is disposed said depressible member.  
 
     
     
         3 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 2  wherein said depressible member includes a retaining ring disposed between said outer end and said interior end of said depressible member.  
     
     
         4 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said interior end of said depressible member is in contact with said cam surface.  
     
     
         5 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein spring member urges said cam member toward said base face of said positionable member.  
     
     
         6 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said interior end of said depressible member has a distal most tip that contacts said cam surface of said cam member.  
     
     
         7 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 6  wherein said distal most tip of said depressible member has a semicircular cross section.  
     
     
         8 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein said positionable member and said depressible member may be linearly displaced along said body of said toothbrush.  
     
     
         9 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 8  wherein said positionable member and said depressible member may be linearly displaced in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said toothbrush body.  
     
     
         10 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 8  wherein said depressible member is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of displacement of said positionable member.  
     
     
         11 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 10  wherein said depressible member is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said toothbrush body.  
     
     
         12 . An electric toothbrush comprising a housing, a movable bristle assembly generally retained along an end of said housing, an electric motor and drive mechanism disposed within said housing for moving said bristle assembly, and an actuator accessible along said housing for selectively operating said electric motor, said drive mechanism, and said bristle assembly, said actuator including: 
 a member positionable between at least two positions along said housing of said toothbrush, said member having an outer surface and an oppositely directed base face, said member defining an aperture extending between said outer surface and said base face;    a spring and cam assembly disposed within said housing of said toothbrush and proximate said base face of said member, said spring and cam assembly providing a cam surface directed towards said member; and    a depressible member disposed in said aperture defined in said member, said depressible member having an outer end accessible along said housing of said toothbrush and an interior end contacting said cam surface.    
     
     
         13 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 12  wherein said member includes a raised region along said outer surface.  
     
     
         14 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 13  wherein said raised region generally extends adjacent said aperture defined in said member.  
     
     
         15 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 14  wherein said raised region extends entirely around an entrance to said aperture.  
     
     
         16 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 13  wherein said raised region extends outward from said housing of said toothbrush a distance that is equal to or greater than the maximum distance of the outer end of said depressible member from said housing.  
     
     
         17 . An actuator assembly adapted for use with and incorporation within an electric toothbrush, said actuator assembly comprising: 
 a linearly positionable member adapted for placement along an outer region of said toothbrush, said member having an outer face and an oppositely directed base face, said member defining an aperture extending through said member between said outer face and said base face, said member further having a raised region adjacent said aperture;    a depressible member moveably retained within said aperture defined in said positionable member, said depressible member having an outer end and an opposite inner end;    a spring and cam assembly disposed along said base face of said positionable member and adapted for securing within said toothbrush, said spring and cam assembly having a cam surface that contacts said inner end of said depressible member and urges said outer end of said depressible member outward from said outer face of said positionable member; and    wherein said raised region of said positionable member extends outward from said outer face a distance that is equal to or greater than the distance which said outer end of said depressible member extends from said outer face.    
     
     
         18 . The actuator assembly of  claim 17  wherein said raised region extends entirely around an opening to said aperture in said outer face of said positionable member.  
     
     
         19 . The actuator assembly of  claim 17  wherein said spring and cam assembly urges said outer end of said depressible member outward and away from said outer face of said positionable member.  
     
     
         20 . The actuator assembly of  claim 17  further comprising a guide member disposed between said positionable member and said spring and cam assembly, said guide member defining an aperture within which is disposed said depressible member.  
     
     
         21 . A packaged electric toothbrush, comprising: 
 a package having a cover, a back, and cavity defined therebetween;    an electric toothbrush disposed within said cavity of said package, said electric toothbrush having a housing, a neck, and head, wherein said housing has a motor and a power source for energizing said motor, said motor operatively connected to a movable bristle holder disposed on said head;    said electric toothbrush having a first movable member, said first movable member being movable along said housing between a first position and a second position, wherein said electric toothbrush is energized when said first movable member is in said second position; and    said first movable member having a second movable member slideably disposed therein, wherein said second movable member is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of said first movable member, wherein said electric toothbrush is energized by depressing said second movable member when said first movable member is in said first position.    
     
     
         22 . The packaged toothbrush of  claim 21  wherein said first movable member defines an aperture within which said second movable member is slideably disposed.  
     
     
         23 . The packaged toothbrush of  claim 22  wherein said first movable member includes an outwardly extending raised region disposed adjacent said second movable member.  
     
     
         24 . The packaged toothbrush of  claim 21  wherein said toothbrush further includes a spring and cam assembly disposed in said housing of said toothbrush that in conjunction with the positions of said first and second movable members, controls energizing of said motor.