Complex motion toothbrush

Abstract

A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has a handle with a motor disposed therein that is operatively connected to a shaft. The detachable head has an elongate body with a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end opposite said first end. The first end may be detachably coupled to the electric toothbrush. The detachable head has a first bristle holder with a first plurality of bristle tufts disposed thereon. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of the elongate body and can oscillate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The detachable head also has a a second bristle holder disposed between the first bristle holder and the first end. The second bristle holder has a top surface and a second plurality of bristle tufts that form an acute angle with the top surface of the second bristle holder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush, said electric toothbrush having a handle with a motor disposed therein that is operatively connected to a shaft, said detachable head comprising: 
 an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end opposite said first end, wherein said first end may be detachably coupled to the electric toothbrush;    a first bristle holder having a first plurality of bristle tufts disposed thereon, wherein said first bristle holder is located at said second end of said elongate body and wherein said first bristle holder can oscillate about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and    a second bristle holder disposed between said first bristle holder and said first end, said second bristle holder having a top surface and a second plurality of bristle tufts that form an acute angle with said top surface of said second bristle holder.    
     
     
         2 . The detachable head of  claim 1 , wherein said second plurality of bristle tufts extend in a direction toward said first end.  
     
     
         3 . The detachable head of  claim 2 , wherein said second bristle holder further comprises a third plurality of bristle tufts that form an acute angle with said top surface of said second bristle holder and extend in a direction away from said first end.  
     
     
         4 . The detachable head of  claim 3 , wherein said third plurality of bristle tufts comprise a first bristle tuft and a second bristle tuft adjacent said first bristle tuft, wherein said first bristle tuft is shorter than said second bristle tuft.  
     
     
         5 . The detachable head of  claim 4 , wherein said third plurality of bristle tufts further comprise a third bristle tuft disposed adjacent said second bristle tuft opposite said first bristle tuft, wherein said third bristle tuft is shorter than said second bristle tuft.  
     
     
         6 . The detachable head of  claim 5 , wherein said first bristle tuft and said third bristle tuft of said third plurality of bristle tufts have the same length.  
     
     
         7 . The detachable head of  claim 2 , wherein said second plurality of bristle tufts include two bristle tufts having the same length.  
     
     
         8 . The detachable head of  claim 2 , wherein said first plurality of bristle tufts includes a first tuft forming an acute angle with a top surface of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         9 . The detachable head of  claim 8 , wherein said first plurality of bristle tufts include a second bristle tuft forming an acute angle with said top surface of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         10 . The detachable head of  claim 9 , wherein said second bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction away from said first bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         11 . The detachable head of  claim 9 , wherein said second bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts extends in the same direction as said first bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         12 . The detachable head of  claim 9 , wherein said first bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts is shorter than said second bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         13 . The detachable head of  claim 9 , wherein said first plurality of bristle tufts further includes third and fourth bristle tufts disposed substantially perpendicular to said top surface of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         14 . The detachable head of  claim 13 , wherein said third and fourth bristle tufts of said first plurality of bristle tufts are shorter than said first tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         15 . The detachable head of  claim 1 , wherein said first bristle holder has a slot for receiving the shaft of the electric toothbrush.  
     
     
         16 . The detachable head of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the electric toothbrush can pass under said second bristle holder.  
     
     
         17 . The detachable head of  claim 1 , wherein said second bristle holder is movable.  
     
     
         18 . The detachable head of  claim 17 , wherein said second bristle holder can reciprocate.  
     
     
         19 . An electric toothbrush, comprising: 
 a handle with a motor disposed therein that is operatively connected to a shaft;    a head having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end opposite said first end, wherein said second end is at point furthest from said handle;    a first bristle holder disposed on said head having a first plurality of bristle tufts disposed thereon, wherein said first bristle holder is located at said second end of said head and wherein said first bristle holder is operatively connected to said shaft to oscillate said first bristle holder about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;    a second bristle holder disposed between said first bristle holder and said first end, said second bristle holder having a top surface and a second plurality of bristle tufts that form an acute angle with said top surface of said second bristle holder; and    a neck extending between said handle and said head.    
     
     
         20 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein said second plurality of bristle tufts extend in a direction toward said handle  
     
     
         21 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20 , wherein said head is detachable from the electric toothbrush.  
     
     
         22 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20 , wherein said second bristle holder further comprises a third plurality of bristle tufts that form an acute angle with said top surface of said second bristle holder and which extend in a direction away from said handle.  
     
     
         23 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 22 , wherein said third plurality of bristle tufts comprise a first bristle tuft and a second bristle tuft adjacent said first bristle tuft, wherein said first bristle tuft is shorter than said second bristle tuft.  
     
     
         24 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 23 , wherein said third plurality of bristle tufts further comprise a third bristle tuft disposed adjacent said second bristle tuft opposite said first bristle tuft, wherein said third bristle tuft is shorter than said second bristle tuft.  
     
     
         25 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 24 , wherein said first bristle tuft and said third bristle tuft of said third plurality of bristle tufts have the same length.  
     
     
         26 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20 , wherein said second plurality of bristle tufts include two bristle tufts having the same length.  
     
     
         27 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 20 , wherein said first plurality of bristle tufts include a first tuft forming an acute angle with a top surface of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         28 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein said first plurality of bristle tufts include a second bristle tuft forming an acute angle with said top surface of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         29 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 28 , wherein said second bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts extends in a direction away from said first bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         30 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 28 , wherein said second bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts extends in the same direction as said first bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         31 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 28 , wherein said first bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts is shorter than said second bristle tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         32 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 28 , wherein said first plurality of bristle tufts further includes third and fourth bristle tufts disposed substantially perpendicular to said surface of said first bristle holder.  
     
     
         33 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 32 , wherein said third and fourth bristle tufts of said first plurality of bristle tufts are shorter than said first tuft of said first plurality of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         34 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein said first bristle holder has a slot for receiving said shaft.  
     
     
         35 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein said shaft passes under said second bristle holder.  
     
     
         36 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein said second bristle holder is movable.  
     
     
         37 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 36 , wherein said second bristle holder reciprocates.  
     
     
         38 . A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush, said electric toothbrush having a handle with a motor disposed therein that is operatively connected to a shaft, said detachable head comprising: 
 an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end opposite said first end, wherein said first end may be detachably coupled to the electric toothbrush;    a first bristle holder having a first plurality of bristle tufts disposed thereon, wherein said first bristle holder is located at said second end of said elongate body and wherein said first bristle holder can oscillate about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and    a second bristle holder disposed between said first bristle holder and said first end, said second bristle holder having a top surface and first, second and third rows of bristle tufts, wherein said second row of bristle tufts is disposed between said first and third rows of rows of bristle tufts, said bristle tufts of said first, second, and third rows of bristle tufts forming an acute angle with said top surface of said second bristle holder, said bristle tufts of said first and third rows of bristle tufts extending in a direction toward said first end and said bristle tufts of said second row of bristle tufts extending in a direction toward said second end.    
     
     
         39 . The detachable head of  claim 38 , wherein said bristle tufts of said first, second and third rows have a length and wherein said length differs between adjacent bristle tufts within each of said first, second and third rows of bristle tufts.  
     
     
         40 . The detachable head of  claim 39 , wherein said bristle tufts of said first, second, and third rows have a cross-sectional area and wherein said cross-sectional area differs between adjacent bristle tufts within each of said first, second, and third rows of bristle tufts.