Abstract: An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The electric toothbrush includes a body having an or hollow region for retaining one or more motors, batteries, and drive mechanisms. The brush includes one or more bristle carriers. Each of the bristle carriers undergoes some type vement and is driven by the one or more motors and drive mechanisms. Various nations of movement of the bristle carriers are described. And, numerous drive train anisms are disclosed for achieving the noted motions.

Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush has a rotatable shaft with a cam preferably at a remote end of the shaft, which fits into a slot in a bristle holder. The holder is mounted for rotation in a toothbrush head. When the shaft rotates cam describes a circle and drivingly engages the slot to cause the holder to vibrate in a first brushing motion. A second bristle holder is also driven by the shaft, for a second kind of brushing motion. The second bristle holder is driven through and engagement with a portion of the remote end and/or with one or more additional cams or cam portions included on the shaft.

Abstract: A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has a handle with a motor disposed therein. The electric toothbrush also has a head which has a longitudinal axis, and a neck disposed between the head and handle. The head has a first bristle holder and a second bristle holder, each having a plurality of bristle tufts. The motor is operatively connected to the first bristle holder to oscillate the first bristle holder about a first axis passing through the first bristle holder generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head. The motor is also operatively connected to the second bristle holder to oscillate the second bristle holder about a second axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head. The second axis is at an end portion of the second bristle holder.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having a motor disposed therein and a head having one or more moving bristle holders, wherein the one or more moving bristle holders are operatively connected to the motor. A neck disposed is between the handle and the head. The handle has a viewing window and a movable viewing surface disposed there beneath, wherein at least a portion of the viewing surface is visible through the window. The viewing surface is mechanically coupled to the motor so that rotational output of the motor causes movement of the viewing surface. The viewing surface may be directly or indirectly coupled to the motor.

Abstract: A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has a handle with a motor disposed therein. The electric toothbrush also has a head which has a longitudinal axis, and a neck disposed between the head and handle. The head has a first bristle holder and a second bristle holder, each having a plurality of bristle tufts. The motor is operatively connected to the first bristle holder to oscillate the first bristle holder about a first axis passing through the first bristle holder generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head. The motor is also operatively connected to the second bristle holder to oscillate the second bristle holder about a second axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head. The second axis is at an end portion of the second bristle holder.

Abstract: A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has a handle with a motor disposed therein at a first end of the toothbrush. The toothbrush also has a head at a second end, the head having a longitudinal axis, the head also having a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts and a second bristle holder with a plurality of bristle tufts. The motor is operatively connected to the second bristle holder to move the second bristle holder in a side-to-side direction with respect to the head. The motor is also operatively connected to the first bristle holder to oscillate the first bristle holder about an axis passing through the first bristle holder and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head.

Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush has a rotatable shaft with a remote cam, which fits into a slot in a bristle holder. The holder is mounted for rotation in a toothbrush head. When the shaft rotates the remote end describes a circle and drivingly engages the slot to cause the holder to vibrate in a first brushing motion. A second bristle holder is driven by the first bristle holder, for a complimentary brushing motion. The second bristle holder is driven through and engagement with a pin or cam extending from the first bristle holder.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has an elongated body, a head, and a neck extending between the body and the head. A plurality of bristle carriers each having a plurality of bristle tufts are disposed on the head. An electric motor is operatively connected to a shaft, wherein operation of the electric motor moves the shaft in a reciprocating motion and wherein the shaft is operatively connected to at least one of the bristle carriers to move the bristle carriers.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush comprising an elongated body portion and a head including a static portion and a moving portion, a handle, and an angled shaft between the head and the handle. The portion of the toothbrush containing the head is detachably connected to the portion of the toothbrush containing the handle. A shaft within the head is selectively connectable to a mating shaft within the handle by a cooperating notch and peg assembly biased into a locking position by a spring member disposed to bias the head shaft into the desired position.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush comprising an elongated body portion and a head including a static portion and a moving portion, a handle, and an angled shaft between the head and the handle. The moving portion rotates or reciprocates about an axis normal to a longitudinal axis of the head. The moving portion can include stiff bristles and massaging tips and the static portion can include soft bristles and massaging tips. The elongated body portion is hollow and further includes a motor in the hollow portion, which is operatively connected to the moving portion for rotating or oscillating or reciprocating the moving portion. A battery is located within the hollow section for powering the motor. A switch is operatively connected to the motor to provide momentary and continuous operation of the toothbrush. A worm gear and a pair of step gears are located in the hollow portion. The motor is operatively connected to the worm gear and the step gears are operatively connected to the worm gear and to each other.

Abstract: A detachable head for use with an electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush has a handle with a motor disposed therein that is operatively connected to a shaft. The detachable head has an elongate body with a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end opposite said first end. The first end may be detachably coupled to the electric toothbrush. The detachable head has a first bristle holder with a first plurality of bristle tufts disposed thereon. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of the elongate body and can oscillate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The detachable head also has a a second bristle holder disposed between the first bristle holder and the first end. The second bristle holder has a top surface and a second plurality of bristle tufts that form an acute angle with the top surface of the second bristle holder.

Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush has a rotatable shaft with a cam preferably at a remote end of the shaft, which fits into a slot in a bristle holder. The holder is mounted for rotation in a toothbrush head. When the shaft rotates cam describes a circle and drivingly engages the slot to cause the holder to vibrate in a first brushing motion. A second bristle holder is also driven by the shaft, for a second kind of brushing motion. The second bristle holder is driven through and engagement with a portion of the remote end and/or with one or more additional cams or cam portions included on the shaft.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes an elongate body having a handle portion, a head portion having a longitudinal axis, and an elongate intermediate portion disposed between the handle portion and the head portion. The head portion has a first end that is located at a position furthest from the handle portion and a second end opposite the first end that is disposed adjacent the elongate intermediate portion. The head portion has moving bristles that are disposed in a moving portion that oscillates and a static portion that extends from adjacent the moving portion to the second end of the head portion. The moving portion is disposed at the first end of the head portion and the static portion has a plurality of static bristles arranged in plurality of tufts. A motor is disposed in the handle portion and a shaft extends from the second end of the head portion to beyond the plurality of tufts of static bristles.

Abstract: A hand held cleaning tool is powered by commonly available batteries. An output shaft of the tool includes an expandable coupling, such as, for example a set of swaging cams. Torque delivery arms radiate outward from the output shaft. For example, the torque delivery arms are carried by a hub. The hub is attached to the output shaft with a pin and acts to secure a power train to a housing of the tool. The torque delivery arms are received in slots or interdental spaces associated with a cleaning head. Torque is delivered to the cleaning head with a reduced stress concentration. The cleaning tool is associated with a compact stand. The stand can be incorporated into a housing of the tool. For example, a battery compartment door can include the stand. Alternatively, the stand can be a separable item. A separable stand can accommodate a plurality of cleaning heads.

Abstract: A hand held cleaning tool is powered by commonly available batteries. Preferably a momentary switch selectively delivers power from the batteries to a motor. An output shaft of the tool includes an expandable coupling, such as, for example a set of swaging cams. Torque delivery arms radiate outward from the output shaft. For example, the torque delivery arms are carried by a hub. The hub is attached to the output shaft with a pin. The hub also acts to secure a power train including the motor and output shaft to a housing of the cleaning tool. The torque delivery arms are received in slots or interdental spaces associated with a cleaning head. Torque is delivered to the cleaning head with a reduced stress concentration.

Abstract: A coin handling and sorting device includes a plurality of coin handling modules which are interconnectable by a user, as desired, to define a coin travel path. Each module is easily assembled by a user without use of tools. To facilitate assembly, bases, gears, retaining clips, and other components of different coin handling modules are interchangeable. The housing and other components of each module are assembled using a plurality of C-clips. Each module is typically manually operated to increase a user's interaction with the device. A clutch mechanism prevents accidental reverse operation of each module by a user. To facilitate interconnection of coin handling modules in any desired order, each has an inlet at a common height with other coin module inlets and an outlet at a common height with other coin module outlets. Each module also utilizes identical interchangeable modified spur/bevel gears that are shaped to accommodate co-planar engagement or angular displacement between engaged pairs.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided. The electric toothbrush includes a handle having an electric motor, a head, and a neck extending between the handle and the head. The head has first end disposed adjacent to the neck and a second end opposite the first end. The head has a first bristle holder with a plurality of bristles disposed therein and a second bristle holder having a plurality of bristles disposed therein. The first bristle holder is located at the second end of said head. A rotating shaft is operatively connected to the electric motor and to the first moving bristle holder to reciprocate the first moving bristle holder in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the head.

Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush has a rotatable shaft with a cam preferably at a remote end of the shaft, which fits into a slot in a bristle holder. The holder is mounted for rotation in a toothbrush head. When the shaft rotates cam describes a circle and drivingly engages the slot to cause the holder to vibrate in a first brushing motion. A second bristle holder is also driven by the shaft, for a second kind of brushing motion. The second bristle holder is driven through and engagement with a portion of the remote end and/or with one or more additional cams or cam portions included on the shaft.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush includes a head having a moving portion, a handle, and shaft between the head and the handle. A body portion is hollow and further includes a motor operative to generate motion for driving the moving portion. A battery is located within the hollow section for powering the motor. A first switch, operatively connected to the motor provides momentary operation of the toothbrush. Optionally, a second switch provides for continuous operation of the toothbrush. The first switch can be operated while the toothbrush is in a toothbrush package, such as, for example, a plastic blister pack. A consumer can momentarily observe the operation of the toothbrush before purchasing the toothbrush. The consumer cannot operate the second switch and is thereby prevented from leaving the toothbrush in a battery draining operational mode for extended periods of time.

Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush has a rotatable shaft with a remote cam, which fits into a slot in a bristle holder. The holder is mounted for rotation in a toothbrush head. When the shaft rotates the remote end describes a circle and drivingly engages the slot to cause the holder to vibrate in a first brushing motion. A second bristle holder is driven by the first bristle holder, for a complimentary brushing motion. The second bristle holder is driven through and engagement with a pin or cam extending from the first bristle holder.