Abstract: A coupling section for coupling a handle of a personal-care implement and a replaceable attachment tool includes a drive shaft having a free end terminating in a bushing; a first magnetic coupling element mounted adjacent to the bushing; a tolerance-compensation element having a through-hole sized to receive the drive shaft therethrough and mounted adjacent to the bushing. The free end of the drive shaft is disposed in the bushing so that there is a space between an inner surface of the bushing and an outer surface of the drive shaft's portion disposed therein, so that a position of the drive shaft can be adjusted inside the bushing during assembly. The tolerance-compensation element, which at least partially encircles the drive shaft, is affixed to the drive shaft and to the bushing. A handle of the personal-care implement and a process of making the handle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coupling section for coupling a handle of a personal-care implement and a replaceable attachment tool includes a cap, a bushing mounted inside the cap, a drive shaft having a free end terminating in the bushing, a first magnetic coupling element mounted in the cap, and an elastic magnet seal disposed between the first magnetic coupling element and the bushing. The magnet seal is structured and configured to flex in at least a direction along the longitudinal axis of the bushing, thereby providing at least longitudinal tolerance compensation for the drive shaft relative to the first magnetic coupling element.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush having bristle driven pulsation includes a brush head having a bristle holder and bristle tufts attached to the bristle holder. The bristle tufts and corresponding bristles are disposed at a perpendicular and/or a non-perpendicular angle with respect to a mounting surface of the brush head. The electric toothbrush also includes an electric toothbrush handle removably attached to the brush head. The electric toothbrush handle includes a linear motor configured to drive the bristle holder via a gearing structure coupled to the linear motor and the bristle holder. The linear motor causes the bristle holder to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise at a rotation frequency which exceeds a rotation frequency threshold (e.g., 100 Hz, 120 Hz, etc.). The linear motor also causes the brush head to vibrate in a direction toward and away from a contact surface in synchronization with the rotation of the bristles.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device having a handle and a treatment head pivotably connected to the handle. A sensor for measuring a measurement variable is fixedly secured with respect to one of the handle and the treatment head. A sensor cooperation unit having a sensor permanent magnet for defining or influencing the measurement variable in dependence on the relative position of the sensor and the sensor-cooperation unit. The sensor-cooperation unit is fixedly secured with respect to the other one of the handle and the treatment head. A spring unit defines a rest position of the treatment head when no treatment force is applied on the treatment head. The spring unit has at least a first rod-like spring element with a height and a width and extending along a longitudinal extension direction of the handle. A width-to-height ratio of the at least first rod-like spring element is from 1.0 to 3.33.

Abstract: An oral-care implement has a handle containing an electric battery and a motor. The motor's shaft is connected to a motion transmitter to drive a treatment head having at least one functional element. The implement has a pressure-control system including a microcontroller configured to detect a stimulus to energize the motor, set a baseline current, and repeatedly execute an overpressure-detection control loop comprising: measuring an instantaneous current draw, adding an increment value to or subtract a decrement value from the baseline current, thereby generating a dynamically adjusted baseline current, determining whether a difference between the instantaneous current draw and the dynamically adjusted baseline current exceeds a threshold, thereby detecting an occurrence of overpressure, and causing the implement to perform a corrective action in response to the detected overpressure.

Abstract: A method for controlling overpressure in an electric oral-care implement having a treatment head with at least one functional element driven by a motor. The method includes detecting a stimulus to energize the motor, setting a baseline current, and repeatedly execute an overpressure-detection control loop, said loop including measuring the motor's instantaneous current draw, adding an increment value to the baseline current or subtracting a decrement value from the baseline current thereby generating a dynamically adjusted baseline current, determining whether a difference between the instantaneous current draw and the dynamically adjusted baseline current exceeds a threshold thereby detecting an occurrence of overpressure, and performing a corrective action in response to the detected occurrence of overpressure.

Abstract: An oral care device attachment for being coupled to a drive shaft of an oral care device handle, the attachment including: an outer attachment tube having a coupling end that is intended for being secured at the oral care device handle; a carrier mounted for driven motion at the outer attachment tube; a motion transmitter disposed inside of the outer attachment tube; where a spring is arranged that the motion transmitter is biased into a position towards the coupling end of the outer attachment tube.

Abstract: An oral care device attachment for being coupled to a drive shaft of an oral care device handle, the attachment including: an outer attachment tube having a coupling end that is intended for being secured at the oral care device handle; a carrier mounted for driven motion at the outer attachment tube; a motion transmitter disposed inside of the outer attachment tube; where a spring is arranged that the motion transmitter is biased into a position towards the coupling end of the outer attachment tube.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle and a treatment head pivotably connected with the handle. Applying a treatment force against the treatment head causes a pivoting of the treatment head relative to the handle. A sensor, such as, e.g., a Hall sensor, fixedly secured with respect to one of the handle and the treatment head, measures a measurement variable. A sensor cooperation unit defines or influences the measurement variable in dependence on the relative position of the sensor and the sensor cooperation unit, such e.g., as a sensor permanent magnet, fixedly secured relative to one of the handle and the treatment head. A spring unit defines a rest position of the treatment head when no treatment force is applied. The spring unit has a first spring constant in the treatment direction and a second spring constant in a lateral direction, the second spring constant being at least about two times higher than the first spring constant.

Abstract: A method of gluing a first metal part to a second part includes the steps of providing a first metal part such as a steel part, and the second part such as a second metal part, treating a surface portion of the first metal part intended for being glued to the second part with laser pulses so that a surface layer of the first metal part across the surface portion is removed, preferably by ablation, while applying laser pulses to the surface portion of the first metal part also applying a pressurized air or gas stream to the surface portion, applying an adhesive to at least the surface portion of the first metal part and/or to a surface of the second part, and gluing the first metal part and the second part together.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a drive unit having a support, a stator fixedly mounted at the support, and an armature spring-mounted at the support for driven linear oscillating motion along a first longitudinal direction parallel to or coinciding with an x-axis of an x-y-z coordinate system. The armature has a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xa, ya, za], and a drive shaft fixedly coupled with the armature and having a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xd, yd, zd]. A first treatment head assembly, detachably connected to the drive shaft, has a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xt1, yt1, zt1]. A secondary mass element, spring-mounted at the support for essentially linear oscillating motion along the first longitudinal direction, has a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xm, ym, zm].

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle and a treatment head pivotably connected with the handle. Applying a treatment force against the treatment head causes a pivoting of the treatment head relative to the handle. A sensor, such as, e.g., a Hall sensor, fixedly secured with respect to one of the handle and the treatment head, measures a measurement variable. A sensor cooperation unit defines or influences the measurement variable in dependence on the relative position of the sensor and the sensor cooperation unit, such e.g., as a sensor permanent magnet, fixedly secured relative to one of the handle and the treatment head. A spring unit defines a rest position of the treatment head when no treatment force is applied. The spring unit has a first spring constant in the treatment direction and a second spring constant in a lateral direction, the second spring constant being at least about two times higher than the first spring constant.

Abstract: An oral care device attachment for being coupled to an oral care device handle having an essentially cylindrical drive shaft coupling end. The attachment has an outer attachment tube having a coupling end for being detachably secured at a housing of the device handle. A carrier is mounted for driven motion at the outer attachment tube. A motion transmitter is disposed inside the outer attachment tube and has a first end coupled with the carrier and a second end arranged for coupling with the essentially cylindrical drive shaft coupling end. The second end has a coupling unit having a top plate and at least one at least partly deformable and essentially cylindrical wall element extending from the top plate, or at least two elastic or deflectable wall elements extending from the top plate, respectively.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle and a treatment head pivotably connected with the handle. Applying a treatment force against the treatment head causes a pivoting of the treatment head relative to the handle. A sensor, such as, e.g., a Hall sensor, fixedly secured with respect to one of the handle and the treatment head, measures a measurement variable. A sensor cooperation unit defines or influences the measurement variable in dependence on the relative position of the sensor and the sensor cooperation unit, such e.g., as a sensor permanent magnet, fixedly secured relative to one of the handle and the treatment head. A spring unit defines a rest position of the treatment head when no treatment force is applied. The spring unit has a first spring constant in the treatment direction and a second spring constant in a lateral direction, the second spring constant being at least about two times higher than the first spring constant.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle and a treatment head pivotably connected with the handle. Applying a treatment force against the treatment head causes a pivoting of the treatment head relative to the handle. A sensor, such as, e.g., a Hall sensor, fixedly secured with respect to one of the handle and the treatment head, measures a measurement variable. A sensor cooperation unit defines or influences the measurement variable in dependence on the relative position of the sensor and the sensor cooperation unit, such e.g., as a sensor permanent magnet, fixedly secured relative to one of the handle and the treatment head. A spring unit defines a rest position of the treatment head when no treatment force is applied. The spring unit has a first spring constant in the treatment direction and a second spring constant in a lateral direction, the second spring constant being at least about two times higher than the first spring constant.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle, a treatment head, and a motor carrier disposed in the handle. The motor is pivot-mounted against at least one spring element arranged between the handle and the motor carrier. The motor has a stator portion fixedly mounted at the motor carrier and an armature portion spring mounted at the motor carrier to allow a motion relative to the motor carrier. The armature portion is coupled with a drive shaft connected with the treatment head for transferring motion thereto, wherein an external treatment force acting on the brush head leads to pivoting of the motor carrier relative to the handle. The motor has a motor permanent magnet and a coil for providing an alternating electromagnetic field interacting therewith to excite an oscillating motion of the drive shaft.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush having bristle driven pulsation includes a brush head having a bristle holder and bristle tufts attached to the bristle holder. The bristle tufts and corresponding bristles are disposed at a perpendicular and/or a non-perpendicular angle with respect to a mounting surface of the brush head. The electric toothbrush also includes an electric toothbrush handle removably attached to the brush head. The electric toothbrush handle includes a linear motor configured to drive the bristle holder via a gearing structure coupled to the linear motor and the bristle holder. The linear motor causes the bristle holder to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise at a rotation frequency which exceeds a rotation frequency threshold (e.g., 100 Hz, 120 Hz, etc.). The linear motor also causes the brush head to vibrate in a direction toward and away from a contact surface in synchronization with the rotation of the bristles.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush having bristle driven pulsation includes a brush head having a bristle holder and bristle tufts attached to the bristle holder. The bristle tufts and corresponding bristles are disposed at a perpendicular and/or a non-perpendicular angle with respect to a mounting surface of the brush head. The electric toothbrush also includes an electric toothbrush handle removably attached to the brush head. The electric toothbrush handle includes a linear motor configured to drive the bristle holder via a gearing structure coupled to the linear motor and the bristle holder. The linear motor causes the bristle holder to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise at a rotation frequency which exceeds a rotation frequency threshold (e.g., 100 Hz, 120 Hz, etc.). The linear motor also causes the brush head to vibrate in a direction toward and away from a contact surface in synchronization with the rotation of the bristles.

Abstract: An electrically driven device includes an electric motor with a drive shaft having a first rotary axis and a drive pin eccentrically thereto, and a driven shaft having a second rotary axis and mounted for pivoting motion. The driven shaft is coupled to the drive shaft by a scotch yoke mechanism, converting a rotary motion of the drive shaft into a reciprocating pivoting motion of the driven shaft. The scotch yoke mechanism includes a cross slider having a sliding support extending perpendicular to the first rotary axis and receiving the drive pin either directly or by a sliding block having a bearing receiving the pin. The cross slider is axially guided to move in an axial direction perpendicular to the first rotary axis and to the extension of the sliding support. The driven shaft is coupled to the cross slider by a pivotable crank arm, thereby converting a rotary motion of the drive shaft into a reciprocating motion of the driven shaft.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a drive unit having a support, a stator fixedly mounted at the support, and an armature spring-mounted at the support for driven linear oscillating motion along a first longitudinal direction parallel to or coinciding with an x-axis of an x-y-z coordinate system. The armature has a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xa, ya, za], and a drive shaft fixedly coupled with the armature and having a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xd, yd, zd]. A first treatment head assembly, detachably connected to the drive shaft, has a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xt1, yt1, zt1]. A secondary mass element, spring-mounted at the support for essentially linear oscillating motion along the first longitudinal direction, has a center of gravity located in rest at a coordinate [xm, ym, zm].