Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush has a brush holder that is arranged to rotationally vibrate and carry a number of bristles interspaced with arcuate membranes. The membranes serve to aid cleaning of the teeth and to polish the teeth surfaces during use of the toothbrush.

Abstract: A child's toothbrush includes a handle in the form of a child-safe, ventilated toy, such as a rocket or a vehicle, and contains a removable child-safe vehicle, figurine, other toy or sundry product therein, and wherein a toothbrush head may be detachable from the handle.

Abstract: A drive system for imparting motion to a treating implement such as a toothbrush or the like includes a cam rotatably driven around an axis of rotation by a motor. The cam has a closed loop cam track eccentric to the axis of rotation. A control member is disposed between the cam and the treating implement head. The control member has a control slot extending completely through the control member. A pivot member is located between the control member and the treating implement head. The drive system further includes a drive shaft with its drive end freely mounted in the cam track. The drive shaft extends through the control slot and through the pivot member with its driven end operatively connected to the drive connection of the implement head. As a result, when the cam member is rotated the direction of movement of the drive shaft is controlled by the drive shaft being confined for sliding movement in the control slot. The drive shaft is still capable of rotating because of its free mounting in the cam track.

Abstract: A powered toothbrush include a head containing a rotating or oscillating first bristle carrier and also containing a second bristle carrier movably connected to the head, which second bristle carrier may include elastomeric walls for enhanced cleaning and may include a weakened section to permit it to at least partially collapse during a brushing motion.

Abstract: A toothbrush (10) is disclosed with soft fingers (16) mounted on the toothbrush head (14). During use of the tooth-brush the fingers move laterally relative to the axis of the tooth-brush thereby improving the tooth cleaning and gum massaging performance of the toothbrush. The lateral movement of the fingers is accomplished by relatively stiff ribs (24) which physically interconnect the fingers to flexible portions of the toothbrush head. The ribs translate flexure of the head into the lateral movement of the fingers.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head having a bristle carrying surface formed from a thin resilient flexible dome shaped membrane. An air space is located between the base of the head and the membrane so that the membrane is capable of flexing to alter its original shape during use of the toothbrush and then recover to the original shape randomly during use. In a further practice of the invention the head and/or handle have elastomeric portions at least partially surrounding an open area. These portions are readily deflectable under pressure during use to improve handling of the toothbrush and orientation of the cleaning elements. Alternatively the toothbrush includes a longitudinal hinge collinear with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush head so as to separate the head into a pair of side by side longitudinal sections, each of which has outwardly extending cleaning elements.

Abstract: A head for use with a toothbrush and method for forming the same, comprising an outer perimeter portion formed of a rigid material. The rigid material is adapted to allow the head to be sonically welded. The head also comprises a tuft field positioned within the outer perimeter portion. The tuft field is formed of a flexible elastomer. The tuft field defines one or more apertures to receive one or more bristle tufts. The head is sonically welded into place in the toothbrush.