Electric toothbrushes

Abstract

An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has an elongated body including a handle, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head. A first bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles and a second bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles are disposed on the head and each of the first and second bristle carriers have an opening. An electric motor is operatively connected to a shaft, wherein operation of the electric motor moves the shaft in an orbital motion and wherein the shaft is operatively connected to the first and second bristle carriers to move the first and second bristle carriers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electric toothbrush, comprising: 
 an elongated body including a handle, a head, and a neck extending between said handle and said head;    a first bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles and a second bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles, wherein said first and second bristle carriers are disposed on said head; and    an electric motor disposed in said body and operatively connected to a shaft, wherein operation of said electric motor moves said shaft in an orbital motion and wherein said shaft is operatively connected to said first and second bristle carriers to move said first and second bristle carriers.    
     
     
         2 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said head has a first distal-most end, wherein said first bristle carrier is located at said first end and said second bristle carrier is located between said first bristle carrier and said handle.  
     
     
         3 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein said first bristle carrier oscillates about an axis generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said head.  
     
     
         4 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 3 , wherein said second bristle carrier reciprocates along an axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said head.  
     
     
         5 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein said first bristle carrier pivots about an axis extending in the same general direction as said longitudinal axis of said head.  
     
     
         6 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 2 , wherein said first bristle carrier is fixedly connected to said shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said head further comprises static bristles.  
     
     
         8 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second bristle carriers each have a collar extending there from, wherein each collar has an aperture that operatively engages said shaft.  
     
     
         9 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 8 , wherein said collar of said first bristle carrier is located at the rearward-most portion of said first bristle carrier.  
     
     
         10 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 9 , wherein said collar of said second bristle carrier is located near the center of said second bristle carrier.  
     
     
         11 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said openings comprise an elastomeric material at top and bottom portions of said openings.  
     
     
         12 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a third bristle carrier that is operatively connected to said shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said second bristle carrier surrounds said first bristle carrier.  
     
     
         14 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot member disposed between said motor and said head that engages said shaft.  
     
     
         15 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 12 , wherein said pivot member is a ball and socket.  
     
     
         16 . The electric toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein said second bristle carrier reciprocates along a longitudinal axis of said head.