Abstract: The toothbrush includes a handle portion and a brushhead assembly which comprises a head portion and a stem portion. The head portion includes a bellows-like acoustic action member for creating acoustic wave action as it moves in and out in response to an acoustic driving force. A drive system is located in the handle and includes an audio speaker-type assembly to create acoustic waves which are transmitted through a transmission line to the acoustic action member. The acoustic action member is driven toward and away from the teeth when the toothbrush is operatively positioned within the mouth. The action of the acoustic member is directly or indirectly coupled to the fluid in the mouth, producing a foam which couples shear forces between the acoustic action member and the teeth/gums to produce a desired cleaning/therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The toothbrush includes a handle portion and a brushhead assembly which comprises a head portion and a stem portion. The head portion includes a bellows-like acoustic action member for creating acoustic wave action as it moves in and out in response to an acoustic driving force. A drive system is located in the handle and includes an audio speaker-type assembly to create acoustic waves which are transmitted through a transmission line to the acoustic action member. The acoustic action member is driven toward and away from the teeth when the toothbrush is operatively positioned within the mouth. The action of the acoustic member is directly or indirectly coupled to the fluid in the mouth, producing a foam which couples shear forces between the acoustic action member and the teeth/gums to produce a desired cleaning/therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The system includes a plurality of joining assemblies (37, 38, 39) for removably attaching a driven member assembly (15) of the appliance to an appliance body portion (12), wherein the joining assemblies are separate from the torsional axis of the workpiece. The joining assemblies each include an extending pin member (43) on the appliance body and a receiving element (46) in the driven member assembly for receiving the extending pin member. A drive shaft (16) for the workpiece is connected to a head portion (24) of the driven member assembly by two springs (32, 34), wherein the extending pin member mates with the receiving element in such a manner that there is no lost motion of the workpiece during operation but also such that the driven member assembly is readily removable from the appliance body.

Abstract: The attachment system includes a brushhead assembly having a spring/carrier combination which comprises a spring assembly and a separate carrier assembly, adapted to mate as a combination with a receiving portion, in the form of a cup member, at the top of the handle of the toothbrush. The spring/carrier combination includes a slot which mates snugly with a vertical rib on the inside surface of the cup member, and further includes a portion which opposes the slot on the spring/carrier combination which mates snugly with a cut-out portion in the cup member, to prevent rotational movement of the brushhead relative to the handle. The spring/carrier assembly further includes two opposing spring finger elements, wherein the lower ends of the spring fingers fit into corresponding openings in opposing sides of the cup member when the spring/carrier assembly is operatively positioned in the cup member, tending to prevent translational movement of the brushhead relative to the handle.