Abstract: In a device that includes a vibrating mouthpiece, a source of vibratory movement is connected to a relatively large, relatively stationary mass, or anchor, so the equal and opposite vibrational momentum of the handpiece (plus large mass) results in very little vibrational amplitude of the handpiece-plus-mass, while the active mouthpiece has high vibrational amplitude. In an example, a mouthpiece which engages with a part of a dental arch, is actively cleaning, while a block on the other side of the dental arch acts to anchor the vibration source to the much larger mass of the user's jaw (and head). When the user's jaws grip the block, there will be very little vibration of the handpiece or the user's teeth-jaw-head mass and consequently, the mouthpiece will vibrate at a greater amplitude than it would without the anchor. This leads to greater efficiency of the device.

Abstract: The replaceable brushhead, used for a power toothbrush, includes a neck portion (22) having a hollow part located at a proximal end thereof. The brushhead assembly includes a bristle portion (18) at a distal end of the neck portion. A connecting assembly (20) is positioned within the hollow portion of the neck, the connecting assembly having two distinct, mechanically stable, positions. In the first position, the connecting assembly has a first physical arrangement in which the brushhead assembly is conveniently removable or insertable onto an output shaft (16) from a handle portion of the power toothbrush. In the second position, the connecting assembly has a second physical arrangement, in which a portion of the connecting assembly makes physical contact with the output shaft such that the force or torque produced by the output shaft in operation is transferred to the brushhead assembly for movement thereof.

Abstract: An attachment mountable to an electric toothbrush handle having a drive shaft comprises a neck member having an elongated body with a principal axis and a cavity; a slide member with an engagement surface; a guide sleeve member having a cavity, a first outer surface with an engagement opening, and a transition surface; and a collar member. The guide sleeve member, with slide member inserted within the engagement opening, is inserted within the neck member cavity. Insertion of the drive shaft into the collar member and guide sleeve member from a first radial position along an axis offset and parallel to the principal axis to a second radial position in-line with the principal axis, via the transition surface, results in the drive shaft being held in frictional contact with the engagement surface of the slide member to enable transfer of force/motion from the drive shaft to the neck member.

Abstract: The replaceable brushhead, used for a power toothbrush, includes a neck portion (22) having a hollow part located at a proximal end thereof. The brushhead assembly includes a bristle portion (18) at a distal end of the neck portion. A connecting assembly (20) is positioned within the hollow portion of the neck, the connecting assembly having two distinct, mechanically stable, positions. In the first position, the connecting assembly has a first physical arrangement in which the brushhead assembly is conveniently removable or insertable onto an output shaft (16) from a handle portion of the power toothbrush. In the second position, the connecting assembly has a second physical arrangement, in which a portion of the connecting assembly makes physical contact with the output shaft such that the force or torque produced by the output shaft in operation is transferred to the brushhead assembly for movement thereof.

Abstract: The replaceable brushhead, used for a power toothbrush, includes a neck portion (22) having a hollow part located at a proximal end thereof. The brushhead assembly includes a bristle portion (18) at a distal end of the neck portion. A connecting assembly (20) is positioned within the hollow portion of the neck, the connecting assembly having two distinct, mechanically stable, positions. In the first position, the connecting assembly has a first physical arrangement in which the brushhead assembly is conveniently removable or insertable onto an output shaft (16) from a handle portion of the power toothbrush. In the second position, the connecting assembly has a second physical arrangement, in which a portion of the connecting assembly makes physical contact with the output shaft such that the force or torque produced by the output shaft in operation is transferred to the brushhead assembly for movement thereof.

Abstract: An attachment 10 mountable to an electric toothbrush handle 62 having a drive shaft 60 comprises a neck member 16 having an elongated body 40 with a principal axis 42 and a cavity 44; a slide member 12 with an engagement surface 22; a guide sleeve member 14 having a cavity 84, a first outer surface 88 with an engagement opening 90, and a transition surface 92; and a collar member 18. The guide sleeve member, with slide member moveably inserted within the engagement opening, is moveably inserted within the neck member cavity. Insertion of the drive shaft into cavities of the collar member and guide sleeve member from (a) a first radial position along an axis offset and parallel to the principal axis to (b) a second radial position in-line with the principal axis, via the transition surface, results in the drive shaft being held in frictional contact with the engagement surface of the slide member to enable reliable transfer of force/motion from the drive shaft to the neck member.

Abstract: A nodal-mounted spring arrangement for an electronic toothbrush includes a V-shaped spring member secured at both ends so that it can operate in out-of-phase torsion mode along the axial dimension thereof. In one embodiment, the V-shaped spring member includes two extended end regions, which extend below a longitudinal edge of the middle portion of the V-spring. The free ends of the extended portions are joined by a flat cross-piece. This “closed end” region is present at both ends of the V-spring.

Abstract: The power toothbrush includes a handle (12), a brushhead (14) and a drive assembly (20) which includes a processor (22) for driving the brushhead at a selected frequency and amplitude. A miniature gyroscope (MEMS) (26) and an accelerometer (28) are mounted on the brushhead or on a portion of the drive assembly within the handle for detecting rotational velocity of the brushhead and orientation of the brushhead in the mouth during operation. Information from the gyroscope (rotational) and the accelerometer are then provided to the processor for determining amplitude of brushhead movement. The amplitude information is provided to the user, or can be further processed and fed back (30) to the drive assembly for control of brushhead movement.

Abstract: A V-spring member (18) for use in a driving system for a personal care appliance has regions (34, 36) at the ends of the spring which are large enough to support a contact with an end clamping assembly, the spring member including a cross-piece (40) extending between the longitudinal edges of the spring at the end regions, such that the ends of the spring member define a closed line. End clamping assemblies (16, 24) provided for such a V-spring member include a body portion (64) having a lower support portion (66) on which the V-spring is supported and a mating clamping member (88) positioned in registry with the support portion on top of the V-spring.

Abstract: A nodally mounted spring arrangement for a drive train which is used in an electronic toothbrush which includes a housing. A V shaped spring member (15) is secured at both ends thereof, wherein the spring member has a node point (30) along a ridge line, approximately halfway along the length of the spring member. A mounting plate (26) member is fixedly connected to the node point of the spring member and also fixedly connected to the housing of the toothbrush.

Abstract: The power toothbrush includes a handle (12) and a brushhead (18) having a conductive electrode sensing element (25) therein. The toothbrush includes a driver assembly (14) for the brushhead and a sensor system (28) for measuring the capacitance between the sensing element on/in the brushhead and an electronics ground (27) in the handle of the toothbrush. A microprocessor/controller (26) is programmed to determine whether the measured capacitance is above a threshold value, which indicates that the toothbrush is near or within the mouth of the user. The microprocessor actuates the driver assembly for operation of the toothbrush when the capacitance value is above the threshold value.

Abstract: The replaceable brushhead, used for a power toothbrush, includes a neck portion (22) having a hollow part located at a proximal end thereof. The brushhead assembly includes a bristle portion (18) at a distal end of the neck portion. A connecting assembly (20) is positioned within the hollow portion of the neck, the connecting assembly having two distinct, mechanically stable, positions. In the first position, the connecting assembly has a first physical arrangement in which the brushhead assembly is conveniently removable or insertable onto an output shaft (16) from a handle portion of the power toothbrush. In the second position, the connecting assembly has a second physical arrangement, in which a portion of the connecting assembly makes physical contact with the output shaft such that the force or torque produced by the output shaft in operation is transferred to the brushhead assembly for movement thereof.

Abstract: A nodally mounted spring arrangement for a drive train which is used in an electronic toothbrush which includes a housing. A V shaped spring member (15) is secured at both ends thereof, wherein the spring member has a node point (30) along a ridge line, approximately halfway along the of the spring member. A mounting plate (26) member is fixedly connected to the node point of the spring member and also fixedly connected to the housing of the toothbrush.

Abstract: The power toothbrush includes a handle (12), a brushhead (14) and a drive assembly (20) which includes a processor (22) for driving the brushhead at a selected frequency and amplitude. A miniature gyroscope (MEMS) (26) and an accelerometer (28) are mounted on the brushhead or on a portion of the drive assembly within the handle for detecting rotational velocity of the brushhead and orientation of the brushhead in the mouth during operation. Information from the gyroscope (rotational) and the accelerometer are then provided to the processor for determining amplitude of brushhead movement. The amplitude information is provided to the user, or can be further processed and fed back (30) to the drive assembly for control of brushhead movement.

Abstract: A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

Abstract: A V-spring member (18) for use in a driving system for a personal care appliance has regions (34, 36) at the ends of the spring which are large enough to support a contact with an end clamping assembly, the spring member including a cross-piece (40) extending between the longitudinal edges of the spring at the end regions, such that the ends of the spring member define a closed line. End clamping assemblies (16, 24) provided for such a V-spring member include a body portion (64) having a lower support portion (66) on which the V-spring is supported and a mating clamping member (88) positioned in registry with the support portion on top of the V-spring.

Abstract: A nodal-mounted spring arrangement for an electronic toothbrush includes a V-shaped spring member secured at both ends so that it can operate in out-of-phase torsion mode along the axial dimension thereof. A mounting plate is connected between a node point along the V-shaped spring member and the housing of the toothbrush. In one embodiment, the V-shaped spring member includes opposing slots on opposite sides of the node point, the slots extending in an axial direction, creating an integrated torsion bar node spring, while reducing stress in the vicinity of the nodal point.

Abstract: A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

Abstract: A nodal-mounted spring arrangement for an electronic toothbrush includes a V-shaped spring member secured at both ends so that it can operate in out-of-phase torsion mode along the axial dimension thereof. In one embodiment, the V-shaped spring member includes two extended end regions, which extend below a longitudinal edge of the middle portion of the V-spring. The free ends of the extended portions are joined by a flat cross-piece. This “closed end” region is present at both ends of the V-spring.

Abstract: The power toothbrush includes a handle (12) and a brushhead (18) having a conductive electrode sensing element (25) therein. The toothbrush includes a driver assembly (14) for the brushhead and a sensor system (28) for measuring the capacitance between the sensing element on/in the brushhead and an electronics ground (27) in the handle of the toothbrush. A microprocessor/controller (26) is programmed to determine whether the measured capacitance is above a threshold value, which indicates that the toothbrush is near or within the mouth of the user. The microprocessor actuates the driver assembly for operation of the toothbrush when the capacitance value is above the threshold value.