Toothbrush with Kinetic Plate

Abstract

A powered toothbrush is provided and includes a handle portion having a neck formed at one end and a head coupled to neck. The head includes a first carrier that is coupled to the head and is operatively connected to a first drive for moving the first carrier in a first direction. The first carrier has bristles, elastomeric cleaning members, or a combination thereof extending outwardly therefrom. The head also includes a second carrier that is coupled to the head and is in selective engagement with a protrusion extending in a recess defined by the first carrier to impart movement in a second direction. The second carrier has bristles, elastomeric cleaning members or a combination thereof extending outwardly therefrom, in an exemplary embodiment, the first carrier oscillates in a rotational direction and the second carrier moves in a direction parallel to the head.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . A powered toothbrush comprising: a handle portion having a neck formed at one end; and a head coupled to neck, the head further including: a first carrier coupled to the head and operatively connected to a first drive feature for moving the first carrier in a first direction, the first carrier having at least one of a plurality of bristles and an elastomeric cleaning member extending outwardly therefrom; and a second carrier coupled to head at a first location, the second carrier being an elastomeric member in selective contact with the first carrier at a second location such that movement of the first carrier imparts movement to the second carrier, the second carrier having at least one of bristles and an elastomeric cleaning member extending outwardly from an upper surface thereof; wherein the second carrier is an elastomeric body disposed proximate to the first carrier, the second carrier having at least one surface that faces the first carrier and the first carrier including an edge that selectively contacts the at least one surface when the first carrier moves in the first direction, resulting in the second carrier being moved in the second direction. 
   
   
       33 - 38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . The powered toothbrush as defined in claim  38 , wherein a first end of the second carrier faces the first carrier, the at least one surface being a lateral section of the first end and the edge of the first carrier that selectively contacts the at least one surface is in the form of an extension protruding outwardly from the first carrier. 
   
   
       40 . A powered toothbrush comprising: a handle portion being formed with a neck at one end thereof; and a head coupled to the neck, the head further including: a base; a first carrier coupled to the base and operatively connected to a first drive feature for moving the first carrier in a first direction, the first carrier having at least one of a plurality of bristles and an elastomeric cleaning member extending outwardly therefrom; and a second carrier coupled to the base, the second carrier having at least one of bristles and an elastomeric cleaning member extending outwardly therefrom, the second carrier engaging the first carrier so that the movement of the first carrier in the first direction is translated into movement of the second carrier in a second direction; wherein said second carrier engages said first carrier in accordance with a recess defined by the second carrier at a location which faces the first carrier and a member coupled to said first carrier that is received into the recess. 
   
   
       41 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 40 , wherein the recess is formed in an end wall that faces the first carrier arid the member comprises a protrusion that extends outwardly from the first carrier. 
   
   
       42 . The powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 41 , wherein protrusion is formed of a rigid material and the second carrier is formed of an elastomeric material to permit movement of the first carrier to be translated into movement of the second carrier through movement of the protrusion.