Abstract: Means for driving bristle carrying shafts (21, 22) of a toothbrush comprise a four-lobed cam (33) which is driven by means of an electric motor (30). At opposite sides, the cam is contacted by rollers (34, 35), which are connected to the bristle carrying shafts through arms (25, 26). The rollers are pressed against the cam by means of a spring (27) interconnecting the arms. During operation, a rotation of the cam leads to opposite reciprocating displacements of the rollers. These displacements lead to opposite reciprocating rotations of the bristle carrying shafts about their longitudinal central axes, through the arms. Consequently, bristles which are arranged at an end of the bristle carrying shafts are rotated in opposite rotational directions, in a reciprocating manner. As the number of lobes of the cam is four, the bristles are rotated at a frequency which is four times the frequency at which the cam is rotated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for shaving hairs growing from skin (27). The device comprises a base portion (3) having a grip (5). The device further comprises a shaving head (7) which carries at least one cutting member (9, 11) having at least one cutting edge (13, 15). The device has an actuator (35) for effecting a periodical motion (P) of the cutting member relative to the base portion in order to improve the cutting action of the cutting member. According to the invention, the shaving head (7) is pivotable relative to the base portion (3) about a pivot axis (25), and the periodical motion (P) of the cutting member (9, 11) is a periodical motion relative to the shaving head. As a result, the position and orientation of the shaving head relative to the skin (27) are less dependent on the manner in which the user holds the device (1) in his hand and positions the device relative to the skin.