Abstract: An apparatus for generating a rotary reciprocating motion comprises an input shaft which is driven with unidirectional rotation and an output shaft for delivering reciprocating rotary motion. A first magnetic or ferromagnetic ring is disposed about a rotation axis fixed to the input shaft and a second magnetic or ferromagnetic ring is disposed about the rotation axis fixed to the output shaft. At least one is formed as an arrangement of permanent magnets. The first and second rings are disposed one within the other around the rotation axis. The magnetic coupling between the rings in combination with the effect of an output load results in the desired reciprocating motion of the output shaft.

Abstract: A personal care cleaning device (10) including a housing (12), a resonant drive actuator (20), which includes a rotor (24) having a first moment of inertia (Jr) and a stator (22) having a second moment of inertia (Js); a first plurality of leaf spring elements (60) having a first spring constant (krh), each leaf spring element of the first plurality of leaf spring elements (60) being connected the housing (12) and to the rotor (24) such that each leaf spring element of the first plurality of leaf springs elements (60) extends radially from the rotor (24) to the housing (12), each leaf spring element of the second plurality of leaf spring elements (62) being connected to the housing (12) and engaging with the stator (22), wherein the ratio of the first (krh) and second (ksh) spring constants is sufficiently similar to the ratio of the first (Jr) and second moments (Js) of inertia such that there is substantially no resulting torque transmitted to the housing (12) during operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a rotary reciprocating motion comprises an input shaft which is driven with unidirectional rotation and an output shaft for delivering reciprocating rotary motion. A first magnetic or ferromagnetic ring is disposed about a rotation axis fixed to the input shaft and a second magnetic or ferromagnetic ring is disposed about the rotation axis fixed to the output shaft. At least one is formed as an arrangement of permanent magnets. The first and second rings are disposed one within the other around the rotation axis. The magnetic coupling between the rings in combination with the effect of an output load results in the desired reciprocating motion of the output shaft.

Abstract: A personal care appliance (10) comprises a handle (12), an attachment (14), and a controller (16). The handle (12) includes an actuator (20) and drive shaft (22). The attachment (14) has a body (30) with a principal axis (32) extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, wherein the proximal end couples to the drive shaft. The attachment (14) further includes a mass-spring identifiable assembly (40) having at least one identifiable resonant frequency in response to a given excitation, wherein the at least one identifiable resonant frequency comprises a resonant frequency selected from at least two different resonant frequencies. The controller (16) is configured to control the attachment (14), via the actuator (20), over a predefined range of frequencies that includes the given excitation.

Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.

Abstract: A personal care cleaning device (10) including a housing (12), a resonant drive actuator (20), which includes a rotor (24) having a first moment of inertia (Jr) and a stator (22) having a second moment of inertia (Js); a first plurality of leaf spring elements (60) having a first spring constant (krh), each leaf spring element of the first plurality of leaf spring elements (60) being connected the housing (12) and to the rotor (24) such that each leaf spring element of the first plurality of leaf springs elements (60) extends radially from the rotor (24) to the housing (12), each leaf spring element of the second plurality of leaf spring elements (62) being connected to the housing (12) and engaging with the stator (22), wherein the ratio of the first (krh) and second (ksh) spring constants is sufficiently similar to the ratio of the first (Jr) and second moments (Js) of inertia such that there is substantially no resulting torque transmitted to the housing (12) during operation.

Abstract: A power toothbrush having a vibration compensation system, the toothbrush including a toothbrush housing (72), and an actuator which includes a stator (74) having a first moment of inertia and a rotor (76) having a second moment of inertia, at the end of said rotor is mounted a bristle member. A first spring element (86) having a first spring constant connects the stator to the housing, while a second spring element (88) having a second spring constant connects the rotor to the housing, wherein the ratio of the first and second spring constants is substantially the same as the ratio of the first and second moments of inertia.

Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.

Abstract: An actuator (52) for a personal care appliance (50) comprises a housing (54), a spindle (64), a tangential actuator portion (70), and an axial actuator portion (72). The tangential actuator portion (70) includes first and second magnet and pole assemblies (76,78) that define a tangential spring function of the tangential actuator portion. The axial actuator portion (72) includes third and fourth magnet and pole assemblies (90,92) that define an axial spring function of the axial actuator portion. At least one of (i) the first and second magnet and pole assemblies (76,78) of the tangential actuator portion (70) and (ii) third and fourth magnet and pole assemblies (90,92) of the axial actuator portion are configured to enhance a corresponding spring function of the axial actuator portion or tangential actuator portion, respectively.

Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.

Abstract: Actuator for a personal care appliance comprising a housing, a spindle, a tangential actuator portion, an axial actuator portion, and a controller. The tangential actuator portion comprises a first magnet and pole assembly having a first sequence of individual grouped magnet segments spaced apart within the housing in a first radial orientation and polarity order, and a first pole assembly of pole members in a first radial configuration about the spindle, a second magnet and pole assembly having a second sequence of individual grouped magnet segments spaced apart within the housing in a second radial orientation and polarity order, and a second pole assembly of pole members in a second radial configuration about the spindle, and an electromagnetic coil disposed about the spindle in-between the first and second magnet and pole assemblies. The tangential actuator portion rotationally displaces the spindle with respect to the housing about a principal axis.

Abstract: A personal care appliance (10) comprises a handle (12), an attachment (14), and a controller (16). The handle (12) includes an actuator (20) and drive shaft (22). The attachment (14) has a body (30) with a principal axis (32) extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, wherein the proximal end couples to the drive shaft. The attachment (14) further includes a mass-spring identifiable assembly (40) having at least one identifiable resonant frequency in response to a given excitation, wherein the at least one identifiable resonant frequency comprises a resonant frequency selected from at least two different resonant frequencies. The controller (16) is configured to control the attachment (14), via the actuator(20), over a predefined range of frequencies that includes the given excitation.

Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.

Abstract: Actuator for a personal care appliance comprising a housing, a spindle, a tangential actuator portion, an axial actuator portion, and a controller. The tangential actuator portion comprises a first magnet and pole assembly having a first sequence of individual grouped magnet segments spaced apart within the housing in a first radial orientation and polarity order, and a first pole assembly of pole members in a first radial configuration about the spindle, a second magnet and pole assembly having a second sequence of individual grouped magnet segments spaced apart within the housing in a second radial orientation and polarity order, and a second pole assembly of pole members in a second radial configuration about the spindle, and an electromagnetic coil disposed about the spindle in-between the first and second magnet and pole assemblies. The tangential actuator portion rotationally displaces the spindle with respect to the housing about a principal axis.

Abstract: An actuator (52) for a personal care appliance (50) comprises a housing (54), a spindle (64), a tangential actuator portion (70), and an axial actuator portion (72). The tangential actuator portion (70) includes first and second magnet and pole assemblies (76,78) that define a tangential spring function of the tangential actuator portion. The axial actuator portion (72) includes third and fourth magnet and pole assemblies (90,92) that define an axial spring function of the axial actuator portion. At least one of (i) the first and second magnet and pole assemblies (76,78) of the tangential actuator portion (70) and (ii) third and fourth magnet and pole assemblies (90,92) of the axial actuator portion are configured to enhance a corresponding spring function of the axial actuator portion or tangential actuator portion, respectively.

Abstract: The toothbrush includes a handle portion (12 or 55) and a brushhead portion (14 or 57) with a bristle set (20 or 53) at one end of the brushhead. At least one sensor (16 or 56 is located either on the handle of the toothbrush or on the bristle set back plate (54) of the toothbrush. When the sensor is located on the handle of the toothbrush, the position of the brushhead is determined by a processor (44 or 58) relative to the inside or outside surfaces of the teeth on the basis of the temperature detected by the sensor, either the outside environmental temperature or the skin temperature of the user. When the sensor is located on the bristle set back plate, the determination is made on the basis of the position of the bristle set relative to the cheek of the user.

Abstract: The toothbrush includes a handle portion (12 or 55) and a brushhead portion (14 or 57) with a bristle set (20 or 53) at one end of the brushhead. At least one sensor (16 or 56 is located either on the handle of the toothbrush or on the bristle set back plate (54) of the toothbrush. When the sensor is located on the handle of the toothbrush, the position of the brushhead is determined by a processor (44 or 58) relative to the inside or outside surfaces of the teeth on the basis of the temperature detected by the sensor, either the outside environmental temperature or the skin temperature of the user. When the sensor is located on the bristle set back plate, the determination is made on the basis of the position of the bristle set relative to the cheek of the user.

Abstract: The toothbrush includes a handle portion (12 or 55) and a brushhead portion (14 or 57) with a bristle set (20 or 53) at one end of the brushhead. At least one sensor (16 or 56 is located either on the handle of the toothbrush or on the bristle set back plate (54) of the toothbrush. When the sensor is located on the handle of the toothbrush, the position of the brushhead is determined by a processor (44 or 58) relative to the inside or outside surfaces of the teeth on the basis of the temperature detected by the sensor, either the outside environmental temperature or the skin temperature of the user. When the sensor is located on the bristle set back plate, the determination is made on the basis of the position of the bristle set relative to the cheek of the user.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator system which includes a case (10) and a spindle (22) which extends through the case comprising a magnetizable material such as iron. The actuator further includes a pair of permanent magnet assemblies (14, 16) positioned fixedly within the casing with a longitudinal space there between, wherein the permanent magnet assemblies comprise an alternating plurality of north pole/south magnet sections (18) which extend longitudinally or circumferentially of the actuator. The actuator further includes a coil winding (24) which surrounds the spindle, positioned between the two permanent magnet assemblies. Magnetic pole assemblies (28, 30) attached to the spindle are positioned within the volume encompassed by the permanent magnet assemblies, such that an alternating drive signal produces an oscillating action of the spindle of desired frequency and amplitude.

Abstract: A bottle warmer and mixing apparatus comprises a mixing unit (50) arranged to agitate a bottle (3) to mix contents therein. A heating unit is arranged to heat the contents of the bottle. The heating unit is at least partially decoupled from the agitation generated by the mixing unit (50).