Brush Section For An Electric Toothbrush

Abstract

A brush section for use with an electric toothbrush includes a movable contact element holder and a fixed contact element holder. The movable contact element holder is driven to move relative to the fixed contact element holder by an electric drive in a handle section which is coupled to the movable contact element holder. The risk of oral mucosa being pinched by the movement is minimized by any one of several methods, such as for example reducing the width of the gap between the two holders, adding a cover member, reducing the movement of the movable contact element holder, and the like. In addition, a low profile brush section is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning section for an electrical toothbrush having a motor, the cleaning section comprising:
 a head portion and a movable contact element holder having a range of motion relative to the head portion, wherein the movable contact element holder is structured to receive a drive motion from the motor via a drive mechanism comprising a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis, the drive shaft being structured to translate a motion generated by the motor to the movable contact element holder; and   movable contact elements supported within the movable contact element holder;   wherein a portion of the movable contact element holder is exposed on a back side of the cleaning section.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning section of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed portion of the movable contact element holder comprises a mucosa cleaning or massaging surface configuration. 
     
     
         3 . A cleaning section for an electrical toothbrush having a motor, the cleaning section comprising:
 a head portion and a movable contact element holder having a range of motion relative to the head portion, wherein the movable contact element holder is structured to receive a drive motion from the motor via a drive mechanism comprising a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis, the drive shaft being structured to translate a motion generated by the motor to the movable contact element holder; and   movable contact elements supported within the movable contact element holder, such that the movable contact elements extend upwardly through apertures disposed in the head portion;   wherein, as the movable contact element holder moves through the range of motion, at least a lower fifty percent of the height of the movable contact elements remains within vertical envelopes defined by the apertures.   
     
     
         4 . The cleaning section of  claim 3 , wherein at least a lower seventy-five percent of the height of the movable contact elements remains within the vertical envelopes defined by the apertures.