US3562566A - Power operated toothbrush producing either oscillatory or reciprocatory motions - Google Patents

Power operated toothbrush producing either oscillatory or reciprocatory motions Download PDF

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US3562566A
US3562566A US616646A US3562566DA US3562566A US 3562566 A US3562566 A US 3562566A US 616646 A US616646 A US 616646A US 3562566D A US3562566D A US 3562566DA US 3562566 A US3562566 A US 3562566A
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eccentrics
casing
rotary
specified
longitudinal axis
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US616646A
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Paul J Kircher
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CBS Corp
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Westinghouse Electric Corp
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61CDENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/16Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
    • A61C17/22Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
    • A61C17/32Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating
    • A61C17/34Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor
    • A61C17/3409Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor characterized by the movement of the brush body
    • A61C17/3472Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor characterized by the movement of the brush body with combined movements of the brush body
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02KDYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/06Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02KDYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/14Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans
    • H02K7/145Hand-held machine tool
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61CDENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/16Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
    • A61C17/22Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
    • A61C17/32Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating
    • A61C17/34Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor
    • A61C17/3409Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor characterized by the movement of the brush body
    • A61C17/3418Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61CDENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C17/00Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
    • A61C17/16Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
    • A61C17/22Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
    • A61C17/32Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating
    • A61C17/34Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor
    • A61C17/3409Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor characterized by the movement of the brush body
    • A61C17/3445Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61CDENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
    • A61C2204/00Features not otherwise provided for
    • A61C2204/002Features not otherwise provided for using batteries
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/18Mechanical movements
    • Y10T74/18056Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating
    • Y10T74/18296Cam and slide

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A power operated toothbrush capable of providing two distinct modes of operation.
  • An electrically reversible motor unit including an output shaft imparts movement to mode generating mechanism which produces either oscillato- 7 Claims 6 Drawing Figs ry or reciprocatory motion depending on the polarity of the U.S.Cl 310/80, motor unit which is controlled by means of a double-pole, 310/50, 310/75, 310/83; 74/55 double-throw switch supported in the outer wall ofa casing of Int. Cl H02k 7/06 a size, shape and weight making it suitable for being handheld Field of Search 310/80,79, and for housing the mode generating mechanism and the 75, 50, 47, 83; 74/55 power unit.
  • This invention relates, in general, to domestic appliances and, more particularly, to power operated toothbrushes.
  • power operated toothbrushes can be purchased in accordance with ones preference as to motion, it is possible to satisfy all the members of a single family but only at the additional expense of buying a second, or even a third power toothbrush, if the preferences of all the members of the family do not coincide.
  • a single user may desire two separate power units if he brushes, for example, different portions of his teeth and gingival areas in different directions or by applying different motions thereto.
  • a more particular object of this invention is to provide, in a power handle for toothbrushes, mechanism for imparting different motions to the brush thereof as desired by the user.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved mechanism capable of producing dual motion, which mechanism is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.
  • a casing of the size, shape and weight making it suitable for being handheld.
  • a carriage having a shank rotatably supported thereby and with an end thereof extending through an opening in the above-mentioned end of the casing.
  • a post member for supporting a toothbrush is affixed to the protruding end of the shank.
  • a pair of hinge members having one end attached to the carriage and the other end secured adjacent opposite sidewall portions of the casing interior serve to support the frame for translational or reciprocating movement along or about the longitudinal axis of the casing.
  • the frame is provided with a slot the longitudinal axis of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing.
  • a first eccentric mounted for rotation within this slot imparts the above-mentioned motion to the frame end, consequently, to the brush.
  • a bracket attached to the shank at its end remote from the post member is provided with a slot the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing.
  • a second eccentric mounted for rotation within the lastmentioned slot and supported by the shaft supporting the first eccentric effects rotation of the shank and, in turn, the post member and toothbrush about the longitudinal axis of the casing.
  • a conventional toothbrush motor which may be energized by means of a battery or by means of household power supply which has been suitably stepped down and rectified to provide approximately 1.5 VDC.
  • the rotor of the motor has affixed thereto an output pinion which meshes with an idler gear adapted for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor and supported on a common shaft with the two eccentrics and intermediate thereof.
  • a shuttle bar having a noncircular cross section is supported within a similarly shaped bore in the idler gear.
  • the shuttle bar is beveled at both ends thereof so that it either engages ratchet teeth provided in one of the eccentrics or is moved by the teeth, depending on the direction of rotation of the idler gear.
  • Each of the eccentrics is provided with ratchet teeth so as to act in a similar manner depending on rotation of the idler gear.
  • the motor which is energized through a double-pole, double-throw switch which serves to reverse the polarity of the motor and thereby direction of rotation of the idler gear to ultimately transmit motion to one or the other of the eccentrics thereby effecting reciprocating or oscillating movement of the toothbrush.
  • FIG. I is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a power handle representing the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of the device shown in FIG. 1, but rotated clockwise relative to the position shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged and exploded perspective view of the motion producing mechanism of the power handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, including broken away portions, taken on the line lV-IV of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 4, but illustrating the relative orientations of the same elements for a different mode of operation;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of FIG. 2.
  • reference character 10 designates generally a power handle, made from any suitable material, for example, plastic.
  • the handle I0 comprises a hollow casing 11 which is longitudinally tapered from the bottom to the top thereof.
  • the casing 11 is provided with an opening 12 at the top thereof and has an opening 13 at the bottom thereof through which a dual motion producing mechanism generally indicated at 14 may be inserted.
  • Supported within the casing l l subadjacent the mechanism 14 are a conventional DC motor 16 and a rechargeable battery 17. It will be understood that other power sources, for example, hydraulic or mechanical, in lieu of the motor 16 may be utilized.
  • a snap-on end cap 18 may be put in place.
  • the power handle 10 is provided with a double-throw, double-pole rotary switch 19 (see FIGS. 2 and 6).
  • the switch 19 comprises an actuator knob 21, made from any suitable material, for example, plastic, which cooperates with a contact carrier member 22 the underside 23 of which carries spaced apart electrical conductors 24 and 25 having terminal portions 26 and 27, respectively, extending to opposite sides of the underside 23.
  • the knob 21 and the carrier 22 are mated by means of a tongue 28 and a groove 29 through apertures 31 and 32 in the casing I0 and an electrically nonconducting frame member 33.
  • an O-ring seal 30 is disposed intermediate a portion of the knob 21 and the casing 11.
  • a pair of electrical conductors 37 and 38 secured to the frame member 33 comprise, respectively, finger portions 39 and 40 which rest intennediate the conductors 24 and 25 when the switch 21 is in the OFF position.
  • Each of the fingers 39 and 40 is adapted to contact either of the conductors 24 or 25 depending on the direction of rotation of the knob 21 (i.e. either clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6).
  • the electrical conductors 36 and 38 also comprise terminal portions 41 and 42', respectively, to which electrical leads 43 and 44 are connected.
  • the leads 43 and 44 are ultimately, although not shown, connected to the negative and positive sides of the battery 17. respectively.
  • the output shaft 46 of the motor 16 will rotate counterclockwise, or as viewed in FIG. 3. when the knob 21 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6 or clockwise as viewed from the left of FIG. 2. In this position the finger 39 engages the conductor 29 and the finger 40 engages the contact 24. Reverse rotation of the knob. of course. will reverse the polarity of the motor 16 thus producing clockwise rotation of the shaft 46 as viewed in FIG. 3.
  • a carriage 47 Supported within the casing 10, adjacent the opening 12. is a carriage 47. best shown in FIG. 3.
  • the carriage 47 is supported for translational movement along this longitudinal axis of the casing by means of a pair of hinges 48 and 49 (see FIG. 2).
  • corresponding ends 50 and 50 of the hinges 48 and 49 are captivated in suitable slots 51 and 52 provided, respectively, in the frame member 33 and a similar frame member 53, the frame members being disposed adjacent opposed portions of the interior of the casing 11.
  • Opposite ends 54 and 56 of the hinge members are attached to opposite sides of the carriage 47.
  • the ends 54 ad 56 of the hinges are provided withsubstantially semicircular recesses 57, only are shown (see FIG. 3).
  • Each of the recesses 57 serves as one-half of a journal for receiving bearing surfaces or annular bosses 58 and 59 of a shank 61.
  • the other half of the journal is provided by block members 62 and 63 having substantially semicircular recesses 64 (only one shown in FIG. 3).
  • the block members are secured to the ends 54 and 56 by means of pin members 66.
  • the shank 61 is rotatably supported in the journals provided by the semicircular recesses 57 and 64 and an end 67 thereof extends through the opening 12 and has affixed thereto a post member 68 adapted to carry a toothbrush indicated at 69.
  • the lower end 70 of the shank 61 is received in a bracket 71 and is rigidly affixed thereto.
  • the bracket 71 is provided with an elongated slot 72 (see particularly FIGS. 1 and 3) the longitudinal axis of which extends in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the casing 10.
  • the carriage 47 has an elongated slot 73 the longitudinal axis of which as can plainly be seen in FIG. 3 is in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding axis of the slot 72.
  • the slots 72 and 73 are adapted to receive, respectively, eccentrics 74 and 75 provided with elongated bores 76 and 77 for rotatably mounting thereof on a shaft 78 which is supported above the motor 16 by means of a shaft support member 79 attached to the top thereof.
  • the idler gear is mounted for rotation on the shaft 78 intermediate the eccentrics 74 and 75 .
  • the idler gear has an elongated substantially square bore 84 therethrough for receiving a shuttle bar 86 having a substantially square configuration in cross section.
  • the bar 86 has ends 87 and 88 which are beveled at approximately 45 angles.
  • the eccentrics 74 and 75 are provided with sets 89 and 90 of ratchet or saw-shaped teeth which cooperate with the beveled ends 87 and 88 to transfer motion from the pinion 83 to either the eccentric 74 or the eccentric 75 depending on the direction of rotation of the idler gear 81 which, in turn, depends on the direction of rotation of the pinion.
  • the pinion 83 will rotate CCW (so as viewed in FIG. 3) when the switch 19 is rotated CCW as viewed in FIG. 6.
  • the idler gear will rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 and CCW as viewed from the right of FIGS. 4 and 5 in which case the end 88 of the shuttle bar 86 will effect rotation of the eccentric 75 which, in turn, effects reciprocating movement of the carriage 47 and, therefore, of the brush 69.
  • This reciprocating movement represents a first mode of operation.
  • the interaction of the end 87 with the teeth 89 will produce a camming effect therebetween which will insure shifting of the shuttle bar to the position shown in FIG. 5 in the event that it was initially in the position shown in FIG. 4.
  • a flexible apron or sealing gasket 92 FIG. I) provided with an aperture 93 is held in place across the opening 12 by means of a retainer ring 94 which is snapped in place after the gasket 92 is installed.
  • the post member 68 fits tightly in the aperture 93 to prevent water leakage into the casing 10.
  • a power handle for a toothbrush comprising:
  • toothbrush support means protruding from one end of said casing
  • said mode imparting means comprising a first member for providing translational movement along the longitudinal axis of said casing and a second member for providing oscillatory movement about said longitudinal axis with said support means affixed to one of said members;
  • first and second eccentrics mounted within said casing on a common shaft for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and wherein each of said first and second member is provided with an elongated slot for receiving one of said eccentrics and the longitudinal axis of which lie in perpendicular planes;
  • said power means comprises an electric motor having a pinion affixed to the output shaft thereof and positioned so that it engages gear teeth provided on said rotary means.
  • said means for selectively effecting one mode of operation or the other comprises a double-pole, double-throw switch operatively connected to said motor reversing polarity thereof.

Abstract

A power operated toothbrush capable of providing two distinct modes of operation. An electrically reversible motor unit including an output shaft imparts movement to mode generating mechanism which produces either oscillatory or reciprocatory motion depending on the polarity of the motor unit which is controlled by means of a double-pole, double-throw switch supported in the outer wall of a casing of a size, shape and weight making it suitable for being handheld and for housing the mode generating mechanism and the power unit.

Description

United States Patent a corporation of Pennsylvania POWER OPERATED TOOTI-IBRUSI-I PRODUCING EITHER OSCILLATORY OR RECIPROCATORY MOTIONS Primary Examiner-Milton O. Hirshfield Assistant ExaminerR. Skudy Attorneys-F. H. Henson, Ralph T. French and B. B. Sklar, Jr.
ABSTRACT: A power operated toothbrush capable of providing two distinct modes of operation. An electrically reversible motor unit including an output shaft imparts movement to mode generating mechanism which produces either oscillato- 7 Claims 6 Drawing Figs ry or reciprocatory motion depending on the polarity of the U.S.Cl 310/80, motor unit which is controlled by means of a double-pole, 310/50, 310/75, 310/83; 74/55 double-throw switch supported in the outer wall ofa casing of Int. Cl H02k 7/06 a size, shape and weight making it suitable for being handheld Field of Search 310/80,79, and for housing the mode generating mechanism and the 75, 50, 47, 83; 74/55 power unit.
LI; o 68 I I PATENTEU FEB 9 I971 SHEET 2 BF 2 POWER OPERATED TOOTHBRUSH PRODUCING EITHER OSCILLATORY OR RECIPROCATORY MOTIONS This invention relates, in general, to domestic appliances and, more particularly, to power operated toothbrushes.
In order to facilitate hygienic care of the teeth and gingival areas, a variety of power operated devices have been developed and are currently available to the consumer. The variety of such devices can be attributed to the long existing controversy as to the efficacy of one brushing motion versus another. The most generally accepted of these devices employ mechanisms for imparting either pure oscillatory or pure reciprocatory motion to the toothbrush, acceptance being with laymen and dentists alike.
Normally, only one or the other of the above-mentioned motions is produced by any one power unit, The one known exception to this is found in a power operated toothbrush which produces simultaneous oscillatory and reciprocatory motion. It will be apparent that this combination of motions neither satisfies the advocate of pure oscillatory motion nor the advocate of pure reciprocatory motion.
Since power operated toothbrushes can be purchased in accordance with ones preference as to motion, it is possible to satisfy all the members of a single family but only at the additional expense of buying a second, or even a third power toothbrush, if the preferences of all the members of the family do not coincide. For that matter, a single user may desire two separate power units if he brushes, for example, different portions of his teeth and gingival areas in different directions or by applying different motions thereto.
It is, accordingly, the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved power handle for toothbrushes.
A more particular object of this invention is to provide, in a power handle for toothbrushes, mechanism for imparting different motions to the brush thereof as desired by the user.
Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved mechanism capable of producing dual motion, which mechanism is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.
Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished by providing a casing of the size, shape and weight making it suitable for being handheld. Supported within the casing, adjacent one end thereof, is a carriage having a shank rotatably supported thereby and with an end thereof extending through an opening in the above-mentioned end of the casing. A post member for supporting a toothbrush is affixed to the protruding end of the shank. A pair of hinge members having one end attached to the carriage and the other end secured adjacent opposite sidewall portions of the casing interior serve to support the frame for translational or reciprocating movement along or about the longitudinal axis of the casing. The frame is provided with a slot the longitudinal axis of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing. A first eccentric mounted for rotation within this slot imparts the above-mentioned motion to the frame end, consequently, to the brush.
A bracket attached to the shank at its end remote from the post member is provided with a slot the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing.
A second eccentric mounted for rotation within the lastmentioned slot and supported by the shaft supporting the first eccentric effects rotation of the shank and, in turn, the post member and toothbrush about the longitudinal axis of the casing. 1
Supported within the casing below the above discussed motion imparting mechanism is a conventional toothbrush motor which may be energized by means of a battery or by means of household power supply which has been suitably stepped down and rectified to provide approximately 1.5 VDC. The rotor of the motor has affixed thereto an output pinion which meshes with an idler gear adapted for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor and supported on a common shaft with the two eccentrics and intermediate thereof. A shuttle bar having a noncircular cross section is supported within a similarly shaped bore in the idler gear. The shuttle bar is beveled at both ends thereof so that it either engages ratchet teeth provided in one of the eccentrics or is moved by the teeth, depending on the direction of rotation of the idler gear. Each of the eccentrics is provided with ratchet teeth so as to act in a similar manner depending on rotation of the idler gear.
The motor which is energized through a double-pole, double-throw switch which serves to reverse the polarity of the motor and thereby direction of rotation of the idler gear to ultimately transmit motion to one or the other of the eccentrics thereby effecting reciprocating or oscillating movement of the toothbrush.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when considered in view of the following description, reference being had with respect to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. I is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a power handle representing the invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of the device shown in FIG. 1, but rotated clockwise relative to the position shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged and exploded perspective view of the motion producing mechanism of the power handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, including broken away portions, taken on the line lV-IV of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 4, but illustrating the relative orientations of the same elements for a different mode of operation; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of FIG. 2.
Referring now to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates generally a power handle, made from any suitable material, for example, plastic. The handle I0 comprises a hollow casing 11 which is longitudinally tapered from the bottom to the top thereof. The casing 11 is provided with an opening 12 at the top thereof and has an opening 13 at the bottom thereof through which a dual motion producing mechanism generally indicated at 14 may be inserted. Supported within the casing l l subadjacent the mechanism 14 are a conventional DC motor 16 and a rechargeable battery 17. It will be understood that other power sources, for example, hydraulic or mechanical, in lieu of the motor 16 may be utilized. Once all of the components adapted to be housed in the casing 11 have been inserted a snap-on end cap 18 may be put in place.
The power handle 10 is provided with a double-throw, double-pole rotary switch 19 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The switch 19 comprises an actuator knob 21, made from any suitable material, for example, plastic, which cooperates with a contact carrier member 22 the underside 23 of which carries spaced apart electrical conductors 24 and 25 having terminal portions 26 and 27, respectively, extending to opposite sides of the underside 23.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the knob 21 and the carrier 22 are mated by means of a tongue 28 and a groove 29 through apertures 31 and 32 in the casing I0 and an electrically nonconducting frame member 33. To prevent leakage into the casing 11 an O-ring seal 30 is disposed intermediate a portion of the knob 21 and the casing 11. Affixed to the terminals 26 and 27, as by soldering, are electrical leads 34 and 36 which are ultimately, although not shown, connected to the motor 16 in a conventional manner. A pair of electrical conductors 37 and 38 secured to the frame member 33 comprise, respectively, finger portions 39 and 40 which rest intennediate the conductors 24 and 25 when the switch 21 is in the OFF position. Each of the fingers 39 and 40 is adapted to contact either of the conductors 24 or 25 depending on the direction of rotation of the knob 21 (i.e. either clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6). The electrical conductors 36 and 38 also comprise terminal portions 41 and 42', respectively, to which electrical leads 43 and 44 are connected. The leads 43 and 44 are ultimately, although not shown, connected to the negative and positive sides of the battery 17. respectively. With the leads connected as discussed. the output shaft 46 of the motor 16 will rotate counterclockwise, or as viewed in FIG. 3. when the knob 21 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6 or clockwise as viewed from the left of FIG. 2. In this position the finger 39 engages the conductor 29 and the finger 40 engages the contact 24. Reverse rotation of the knob. of course. will reverse the polarity of the motor 16 thus producing clockwise rotation of the shaft 46 as viewed in FIG. 3.
Supported within the casing 10, adjacent the opening 12. is a carriage 47. best shown in FIG. 3. The carriage 47 is supported for translational movement along this longitudinal axis of the casing by means of a pair of hinges 48 and 49 (see FIG. 2). To this end corresponding ends 50 and 50 of the hinges 48 and 49 are captivated in suitable slots 51 and 52 provided, respectively, in the frame member 33 and a similar frame member 53, the frame members being disposed adjacent opposed portions of the interior of the casing 11. Opposite ends 54 and 56 of the hinge members are attached to opposite sides of the carriage 47. v
The ends 54 ad 56 of the hinges are provided withsubstantially semicircular recesses 57, only are shown (see FIG. 3). Each of the recesses 57 serves as one-half of a journal for receiving bearing surfaces or annular bosses 58 and 59 of a shank 61. The other half of the journal is provided by block members 62 and 63 having substantially semicircular recesses 64 (only one shown in FIG. 3). The block members are secured to the ends 54 and 56 by means of pin members 66.
The shank 61 is rotatably supported in the journals provided by the semicircular recesses 57 and 64 and an end 67 thereof extends through the opening 12 and has affixed thereto a post member 68 adapted to carry a toothbrush indicated at 69. The lower end 70 of the shank 61 is received in a bracket 71 and is rigidly affixed thereto. The bracket 71 is provided with an elongated slot 72 (see particularly FIGS. 1 and 3) the longitudinal axis of which extends in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the casing 10.
The carriage 47 has an elongated slot 73 the longitudinal axis of which as can plainly be seen in FIG. 3 is in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding axis of the slot 72.
The slots 72 and 73 are adapted to receive, respectively, eccentrics 74 and 75 provided with elongated bores 76 and 77 for rotatably mounting thereof on a shaft 78 which is supported above the motor 16 by means of a shaft support member 79 attached to the top thereof.
Mounted for rotation on the shaft 78 intermediate the eccentrics 74 and 75 is an idler gear 81 provided with teeth 82 adapted to mesh with a prior gear 83 affixed to the motor shaft 46 and to thereby be driven either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the direction of rotation of the pinion 83. The idler gear has an elongated substantially square bore 84 therethrough for receiving a shuttle bar 86 having a substantially square configuration in cross section. The bar 86 has ends 87 and 88 which are beveled at approximately 45 angles. The eccentrics 74 and 75 are provided with sets 89 and 90 of ratchet or saw-shaped teeth which cooperate with the beveled ends 87 and 88 to transfer motion from the pinion 83 to either the eccentric 74 or the eccentric 75 depending on the direction of rotation of the idler gear 81 which, in turn, depends on the direction of rotation of the pinion.
As noted hereinbefore with respect to the switch 19 the pinion 83 will rotate CCW (so as viewed in FIG. 3) when the switch 19 is rotated CCW as viewed in FIG. 6. In this instance the idler gear will rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 and CCW as viewed from the right of FIGS. 4 and 5 in which case the end 88 of the shuttle bar 86 will effect rotation of the eccentric 75 which, in turn, effects reciprocating movement of the carriage 47 and, therefore, of the brush 69. This reciprocating movement represents a first mode of operation. The interaction of the end 87 with the teeth 89 will produce a camming effect therebetween which will insure shifting of the shuttle bar to the position shown in FIG. 5 in the event that it was initially in the position shown in FIG. 4. It should be apparent that exactly the reverse will take place if the switch 21 is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6. In this position the polarity of the motor 16 will be reversed, the result being to effect rotation of the bracket 71 to produce oscillatory or a second mode of operation to the brush 69 while the carriage 47 has no effect on the movement of the brush 69.
A flexible apron or sealing gasket 92 FIG. I) provided with an aperture 93 is held in place across the opening 12 by means of a retainer ring 94 which is snapped in place after the gasket 92 is installed. The post member 68 fits tightly in the aperture 93 to prevent water leakage into the casing 10.
Since numerous changes may be made in the abovedescribed apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
I claim:
1. A power handle for a toothbrush comprising:
a hollow casing;
toothbrush support means protruding from one end of said casing;
means connected to said support means and mounted within said casing for imparting first and second modes of operation to a toothbrush mounted on said support means, said mode imparting means comprising a first member for providing translational movement along the longitudinal axis of said casing and a second member for providing oscillatory movement about said longitudinal axis with said support means affixed to one of said members;
first and second eccentrics mounted within said casing on a common shaft for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and wherein each of said first and second member is provided with an elongated slot for receiving one of said eccentrics and the longitudinal axis of which lie in perpendicular planes;
power means operatively connected to said mode imparting means; and
means for selectively effecting one mode of operation or the other when said power means is energized.
2. Structure as specified in claim 1, including rotary means carried by said common shaft intermediate said eccentrics, means carried by said rotary means for effecting rotation of one of said eccentrics when said rotary means rotates in a first direction and for effecting rotation of the other of said eccentrics when said rotary means moves in the reverse direction.
3. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said eccentrics are provided with sets of sawteeth on the faces thereof adjacent said rotary means and wherein said means carried by said rotary means comprises an element adapted to be automatically moved into and out of engagement with one or the other of the sets of sawteeth.
4. Structure as specified in claim 3, wherein the inclined surfaces of the teeth of one of said sets extend in opposite direction from the inclined surfaces of the other of said sets of teeth and wherein said element carried by said rotary means has beveled ends the inclined surfaces of which extend in opposite directions whereby one of said beveled ends engages the teeth of one of said eccentrics to thereby rotate said one of said eccentrics when said rotary means moves in said first direction and said element is shifted by cam action so that the other of said beveled ends engages the other of said eccentrics when said rotary means moves in the opposite direction to thereby effect rotation of the other of said eccentrics.
5. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein said power means comprises an electric motor having a pinion affixed to the output shaft thereof and positioned so that it engages gear teeth provided on said rotary means.
6. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein said means for selectively effecting one mode of operation or the other comprises a double-pole, double-throw switch operatively connected to said motor reversing polarity thereof.
7 Structure as specified in claim 6, wherein said switch is rotary.

Claims (7)

1. A power handle for a toothbrush comprising: a hollow casing; toothbrush support means protruding from one end of said casing; means connected to said support means and mounted within said casing for imparting first and second modes of operation to a toothbrush mounted on said support means, said mode imparting means comprising a first member for providing translational movement along the longitudinal axis of said casing and a second member for providing oscillatory movement about said longitudinal axis with said support means affixed to one of said members; first and second eccentrics mounted within said casing on a common shaft for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and wherein each of said first and second member is provided with an elongated slot for receiving one of said eccentrics and the longitudinal axis of which lie in perpendicular planes; power means operatively connected to said mode imparting means; and means for selectively effecting one mode of operation or the other when said power means is energized.
2. Structure as specified in claim 1, including rotary means carried by said common shaft intermediate said eccentrics, means carried by said rotary means for effecting rotation of one of said eccentrics when said rotary means rotates in a first direction and for effecting rotation of the other of said eccentrics when said rotary means moves in the reverse direction.
3. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said eccentrics are provided with sets of sawteeth on the faces thereof adjacent said rotary means and wherein said means carried by said rotary means comprises an element adapted to be automatically moved into and out of engagement with one or the other of the sets of sawteeth.
4. Structure as specified in claim 3, wherein the inclined surfaces of the teeth of one of said sets extend in opposite direction from the inclined surfaces of the other of said sets of teeth and wherein said element carried by said rotary means has beveled ends the inclined surfaces of which extend in opposite directions whereby one of said beveled ends engages the teeth of one of said eccentrics to thereby rotate said one of said eccentrics when said rotary means moves in said first direction and said element is shifted by cam action so that the other of said beveled ends engages the other of said eccentrics when said rotary means moves in the opposite direction to thereby effect rotation of the other of said eccentrics.
5. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein said power means comprises an electric motor having a pinion affixed to the output shaft thereof and positioned so that it engages gear teeth provided on said rotary means.
6. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein said means for selectively effecting one mode of operation or the other comprises a double-pole, double-throw switch operatively connected to said motor reversing polarity thereof.
7. Structure as specified in claim 6, wherein said switch is rotary.
US616646A 1967-02-16 1967-02-16 Power operated toothbrush producing either oscillatory or reciprocatory motions Expired - Lifetime US3562566A (en)

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Cited By (29)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2401631A1 (en) * 1977-09-01 1979-03-30 Toshio Moriyama ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
US4318446A (en) * 1978-10-10 1982-03-09 Caterpillar Tractor Co. Linear motion impactor device
US4458374A (en) * 1981-04-06 1984-07-10 Hiroshi Hukuba Electric tooth brush holder
US4756202A (en) * 1986-02-21 1988-07-12 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Transmission gearing
US5077855A (en) * 1990-06-05 1992-01-07 Emilio Ambasz Motor-driven toothbrush
US5253382A (en) * 1992-08-31 1993-10-19 Janos Beny Power operated toothbrush
US5383242A (en) * 1992-01-08 1995-01-24 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Electric toothbrush
US5435034A (en) * 1993-07-28 1995-07-25 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Electric toothbrush
US5465444A (en) * 1992-07-31 1995-11-14 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Electric toothbrush
US5471102A (en) * 1994-05-09 1995-11-28 Becker; Gregory R. Reciprocating shaft device
USD380069S (en) * 1995-10-23 1997-06-17 Waxing Corporation Of America, Inc. Detailing polisher
US5664634A (en) * 1995-10-23 1997-09-09 Waxing Corporation Of America, Inc. Power tool
US5689850A (en) * 1994-12-30 1997-11-25 Eureka Technologies Innovation Engineering (1987) Ltd. Accessory device for toothbrushes
US5822821A (en) * 1996-01-12 1998-10-20 Pentalpha Enterprises Ltd. Electric toothbrush
US5974614A (en) * 1998-03-02 1999-11-02 Ross; Keith B. Triple brush gum blaster
US6581233B1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2003-06-24 Perfect Steam Appliance Ltd. Electrically operable toothbrush
US20040068811A1 (en) * 1998-12-31 2004-04-15 Jacqueline Fulop Manual and electronic orthodontic toothbrushes
US20040068809A1 (en) * 2002-10-15 2004-04-15 Shixing Weng Vibratory electric toothbrush
US20040237678A1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2004-12-02 Lagaly Michael Anthony Bearing structure for a reciprocating shaft in a reciprocating saw
EP1886774A1 (en) * 2006-08-11 2008-02-13 Izumi Products Company Locking device for an electric shaver
US20080271271A1 (en) * 2002-06-11 2008-11-06 John Geoffrey Chan Modular electric toothbrushes
US20090100948A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-04-23 Takashi Ushiku Rectilinear-motion actuator
US20100132140A1 (en) * 2007-04-11 2010-06-03 Jean Diamond A toothbrush
US20180087632A1 (en) * 2016-09-28 2018-03-29 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US20200093638A1 (en) * 2015-01-30 2020-03-26 James M. Rynerson Instruments For Removing Debris From An Eye
US10622866B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-04-14 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10704660B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-07-07 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10808810B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-10-20 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10840767B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-11-17 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device

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US3196299A (en) * 1963-07-05 1965-07-20 Scovill Manufacturing Co Portable electric unit for toothbrush or the like
US3379906A (en) * 1965-08-27 1968-04-23 Sunbeam Corp Electric appliance with selective motion conversion means

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US2648787A (en) * 1950-06-24 1953-08-11 Jr Charles B Smithson Motor-driven toothbrush
US3196299A (en) * 1963-07-05 1965-07-20 Scovill Manufacturing Co Portable electric unit for toothbrush or the like
US3379906A (en) * 1965-08-27 1968-04-23 Sunbeam Corp Electric appliance with selective motion conversion means

Cited By (38)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2401631A1 (en) * 1977-09-01 1979-03-30 Toshio Moriyama ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
US4318446A (en) * 1978-10-10 1982-03-09 Caterpillar Tractor Co. Linear motion impactor device
US4458374A (en) * 1981-04-06 1984-07-10 Hiroshi Hukuba Electric tooth brush holder
US4756202A (en) * 1986-02-21 1988-07-12 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Transmission gearing
US5077855A (en) * 1990-06-05 1992-01-07 Emilio Ambasz Motor-driven toothbrush
US5383242A (en) * 1992-01-08 1995-01-24 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Electric toothbrush
US5465444A (en) * 1992-07-31 1995-11-14 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Electric toothbrush
US5253382A (en) * 1992-08-31 1993-10-19 Janos Beny Power operated toothbrush
WO1994005230A1 (en) * 1992-08-31 1994-03-17 Janos Beny Power operated toothbrush
US5435034A (en) * 1993-07-28 1995-07-25 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Electric toothbrush
US5471102A (en) * 1994-05-09 1995-11-28 Becker; Gregory R. Reciprocating shaft device
US5689850A (en) * 1994-12-30 1997-11-25 Eureka Technologies Innovation Engineering (1987) Ltd. Accessory device for toothbrushes
USD380069S (en) * 1995-10-23 1997-06-17 Waxing Corporation Of America, Inc. Detailing polisher
US5664634A (en) * 1995-10-23 1997-09-09 Waxing Corporation Of America, Inc. Power tool
US5822821A (en) * 1996-01-12 1998-10-20 Pentalpha Enterprises Ltd. Electric toothbrush
US5974614A (en) * 1998-03-02 1999-11-02 Ross; Keith B. Triple brush gum blaster
US20040068811A1 (en) * 1998-12-31 2004-04-15 Jacqueline Fulop Manual and electronic orthodontic toothbrushes
US20080041174A1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2008-02-21 Michael Lagaly Bearing Structure for a Reciprocating Shaft in a Reciprocating Saw
US8141444B2 (en) 1999-06-04 2012-03-27 Black & Decker Inc. Bearing structure for a reciprocating shaft in a reciprocating saw
US20040237678A1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2004-12-02 Lagaly Michael Anthony Bearing structure for a reciprocating shaft in a reciprocating saw
US7246533B2 (en) * 1999-06-04 2007-07-24 Black & Decker Inc. Reciprocating counterweight structure for a reciprocating saw
US6581233B1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2003-06-24 Perfect Steam Appliance Ltd. Electrically operable toothbrush
US20080271271A1 (en) * 2002-06-11 2008-11-06 John Geoffrey Chan Modular electric toothbrushes
US20040068809A1 (en) * 2002-10-15 2004-04-15 Shixing Weng Vibratory electric toothbrush
US6813794B2 (en) * 2002-10-15 2004-11-09 Shixing Weng Vibratory electric toothbrush
US8136249B2 (en) 2006-08-11 2012-03-20 Izumi Products Company Locking device
EP1886774A1 (en) * 2006-08-11 2008-02-13 Izumi Products Company Locking device for an electric shaver
US20080052883A1 (en) * 2006-08-11 2008-03-06 Izumi Products Company Locking device
US8516641B2 (en) * 2007-04-11 2013-08-27 Jean Diamond Toothbrush
US20100132140A1 (en) * 2007-04-11 2010-06-03 Jean Diamond A toothbrush
US20090100948A1 (en) * 2007-10-19 2009-04-23 Takashi Ushiku Rectilinear-motion actuator
US20200093638A1 (en) * 2015-01-30 2020-03-26 James M. Rynerson Instruments For Removing Debris From An Eye
US20180087632A1 (en) * 2016-09-28 2018-03-29 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10502291B2 (en) * 2016-09-28 2019-12-10 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10622866B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-04-14 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10704660B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-07-07 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10808810B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-10-20 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device
US10840767B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-11-17 Braun Gmbh Electrically driven device

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