Motorized toothbrush

Abstract

A motorized toothbrush comprising a motor disposed within an interior chamber of a handle member. A drive shaft is in communication with the motor, its distal end having a drive gear thereon. A brush head is secured to the handle member, having three brush assemblies disposed therein, each brush assembly including a base gear disposed within the cover, and a bristle block disposed above the cover. Each of the base gears are engaged with the adjacent base gears of the other brush assemblies, and the drive gear is engaged with the first base gear. When the motor rotates the drive shaft, the first base gear rotates the first bristle block in a first direction, which causes counter-rotation of the second base gear and bristle block, which causes the third base gear and bristle block to rotate in the first direction.

1 . A motorized toothbrush comprising:
 a handle member comprising an interior chamber;   a motor disposed within the interior chamber;   a drive shaft comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in communication with the motor, and wherein the second end comprises a drive gear; and   a brush head comprising:
 a cover adapted for securing to the handle member proximate to the drive shaft, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of openings for accommodating brush assemblies; 
 a first brush assembly comprising a first base gear secured to a first bristle block, wherein the first base gear is disposed within the cover, wherein the first bristle block is disposed external to the cover, and wherein the first base gear is engaged with the drive gear of the drive shaft; 
 a second brush assembly comprising a second base gear secured to a second bristle block, wherein the second base gear is disposed within the cover, wherein the second bristle block is disposed external to the cover, and wherein the second base gear is engaged with the first base gear of the first brush assembly; and 
 a third brush assembly comprising a third base gear secured to a third bristle block, wherein the third base gear is disposed within the cover, wherein the third bristle block is disposed external to the cover, and wherein the third base gear is engaged with the second base gear of the second brush assembly, 
   wherein the motor imparts motion to the drive shaft, which transfers motion to the first base gear to cause rotation of the first brush assembly in a first direction, wherein the first base gear transfers motion to the second base gear to cause rotation of the second brush assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the second base gear transfers motion to the third base gear to cause rotation of the third brush assembly in the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the brush head further comprises at least one additional base gear engaged with the first base gear, the second base gear, the third base gear, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source disposed within the interior chamber for providing power to the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch in communication with the motor, wherein the switch selectively causes the motor to rotate the drive shaft in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, thereby enabling rotation of the brush assemblies in a selected direction. 
     
     
         5 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the handle, the cover, or combinations thereof, further comprise a chamber containing a liquid, a gas, or combinations thereof, in communication with the brush assemblies for providing the liquid, the gas, or combinations thereof to the bristle blocks during use. 
     
     
         6 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a cam assembly disposed about the drive shaft for providing non-rotational motion to the brush head. 
     
     
         7 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 6 , wherein the cam assembly comprises a first portion secured to the drive shaft and configured for rotational movement concurrent with the drive shaft, a second portion slidably movable along the drive shaft and configured for axial movement when engaged by the first portion, and a biasing member in communication with the second portion and the brush head for transmitting axial movement of the second portion to the brush head and biasing the second portion to engage the first portion. 
     
     
         8 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the brush head is pivotably mounted to the drive shaft for enabling horizontal pivoting of the brush head, vertical pivoting of the brush head, rotational pivoting of the brush head, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the first bristle block comprises a first angled top surface having an angle ranging from 20 degrees to 30 degrees, wherein the second bristle block comprises a second angled top surface having an angle ranging from 15 degrees to 25 degrees, and wherein the third bristle block comprises a third angled top surface having an angle ranging from 20 degrees to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . A method for cleaning teeth comprising the steps of:
 providing a brush head comprising a first brush assembly comprising a first base gear secured to a first bristle block, a second brush assembly comprising a second base gear secured to a second bristle block and engaged with the first base gear of the first brush assembly, and a third brush assembly comprising a third base gear secured to a third bristle block and engaged with the second base gear of the second brush assembly;   positioning the brush head such that at least one of the bristle blocks is in contact with at least one tooth; and   applying rotational force to the first base gear, thereby rotating the first bristle block in a first direction, wherein the first base gear transfers motion to the second base gear to cause rotation of the first brush assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the second base gear transfers motion to the third base gear to cause rotation of the third brush assembly in the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of applying rotational force to the first base gear comprises actuating a motor in communication with the first base gear. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of applying non-rotational force to the brush head, thereby axially moving the brush head, laterally moving the brush head, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of applying non-rotational force to the first base gear comprises actuating a motor in communication with a cam assembly comprising a first portion configured for rotational movement, a second portion slidably configured for axial movement when engaged by the first portion, and a biasing member in communication with the second portion and the brush head for transmitting axial movement of the second portion to the brush head and biasing the second portion to engage the first portion, thereby causing engagement between the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of selectively reversing the rotational force applied to the first base gear, thereby rotating the first bristle block in the second direction, thereby rotating the second bristle block in the first direction, and thereby rotating the third bristle block in the second direction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a liquid, a gas, or combinations thereof, to the brush head during use. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of providing the liquid, the gas, or combinations thereof, comprises transmitting the liquid, the gas, or combinations thereof, from an enclosed chamber in communication with the brush head. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of horizontally pivoting the brush head during use, vertically pivoting the brush head during use, rotationally pivoting the brush head during use, or combinations thereof, using a pivotable connection between the brush head and a handle. 
     
     
         18 . A motorized toothbrush comprising:
 a handle member comprising an interior chamber;   a motor disposed within the interior chamber;   a drive shaft comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in communication with the motor, and wherein the second end comprises a drive gear; and   a brush head comprising:
 a cover adapted for securing to the handle member proximate to the drive shaft, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of openings for accommodating brush assemblies; 
 a first brush assembly comprising a first base gear secured to a first bristle block, wherein the first base gear is disposed within the cover, wherein the first bristle block is disposed external to the cover, and wherein the first base gear is engaged with the drive gear of the drive shaft; 
 a second base gear disposed within the cover and engaged with the first base gear; 
 a second brush assembly comprising a third base gear secured to a second bristle block, wherein the third base gear is disposed within the cover, wherein the second bristle block is disposed external to the cover, and wherein the third base gear is engaged with the second base gear; 
 a fourth base gear disposed within the cover and engaged with the third base gear; 
 a third brush assembly comprising a fifth base gear secured to a third bristle block, wherein the fifth base gear is disposed within the cover, wherein the third bristle block is disposed external to the cover, and wherein the fifth base gear is engaged with the fourth base gear, 
   wherein the motor imparts motion to the drive shaft, which transfers motion to the first base gear to cause rotation of the first brush assembly in a selected direction, wherein the first base gear transfers motion to the second base gear, wherein the second base gear transfers motion to the third base gear to cause rotation of the second brush assembly in the selected direction, wherein the third base gear transfers motion to the fourth base gear, and wherein the fourth base gear transfers motion to the fifth base gear to cause rotation of the third brush assembly in the selected direction.   
     
     
         19 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 18 , further comprising a switch in communication with the motor, wherein the switch selectively causes the motor to rotate the drive shaft in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, thereby enabling selective rotation of the brush assemblies in a first selected direction or a second selected direction opposite the first selected direction. 
     
     
         20 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 18 , wherein the brush head is pivotably mounted to the drive shaft for enabling horizontal pivoting of the brush head, vertical pivoting of the brush head, rotational pivoting of the brush head, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 18 , further comprising a power source disposed within the interior chamber for providing power to the motor. 
     
     
         22 . The motorized toothbrush of  claim 18 , wherein the first bristle block comprises a first angled top surface having an angle ranging from 20 degrees to 30 degrees, wherein the second bristle block comprises a second angled top surface having an angle ranging from 15 degrees to 25 degrees, and wherein the third bristle block comprises a third angled top surface having an angle ranging from 20 degrees to 30 degrees.