Flosser with motor integrated with vibrating head
A power toothbrush including a handle and a brush head with bristles. In one embodiment, the toothbrush includes vibratory means for causing the brush head and the bristles to vibrate, and vibration isolation means for reducing the transfer of vibrations from the vibratory means to the handle. The vibratory means can include an eccentric motor positioned in the brush head or the brush shaft of the toothbrush. Vibration dampening material can be included in the vibration isolation means to reduce the transfer of vibrations to the handle.
This application claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. 119, of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/261,515 entitled “Toothbrush with Motor Integrated with Vibrating Head,” filed Jan. 12, 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a powered toothbrush, and more specifically relates to a powered toothbrush having a vibrating toothbrush head isolated from the main handle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTypically, electric toothbrushes include a motor in the handle which drives a motion-creating mechanism, which in turn causes the toothbrush head to vibrate during use. The vibration of the head enhances the cleaning of one's teeth.
Often times, however, the vibration caused by the motor not only vibrates the brush head, but also vibrates the handle. Some users are annoyed by large vibrations of the handle. In addition, excessive vibration of the handle is an indication of an inefficient drive system which expends energy to drive not only the brush head but also the handle.
It is with these shortcomings in mind that embodiments of the invention have been developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of one embodiment of the invention, disclosed herein is a toothbrush which includes a handle, a brush shaft, a brush head with bristles, vibratory means for causing the brush head and the bristles to vibrate, and vibration isolation means for reducing the transfer of vibrations from the vibratory means to the handle.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a toothbrush includes a vibratory source (i.e., a motor) located in or near the brush head, and in order to reduce vibrations in the handle of a toothbrush, the portion of the toothbrush which contains the vibratory source is vibrationally isolated from the rest of the structure of the toothbrush.
In one embodiment, the brush head and brush shaft are vibrationally isolated from the handle by positioning the vibration isolation means between the vibratory means and the handle. In this embodiment, the vibratory means can be located anywhere along the brush shaft, or in the brush head.
In another embodiment, the vibratory source is located inside the brush head such that the vibratory source and brush head are vibrationally isolated from the brush shaft and the handle. Alternatively, the vibratory source is located inside the brush head such that the vibratory source and brush head are vibrationally isolated from the brush shaft and handle by locating an isolation structure at the brush shaft/handle intersection.
In addition, the brush shaft, which generally extends between the handle and the brush head, could be a flexible member which forms the vibration isolation structure between the brush head and motor from the shaft.
In one embodiment, the motor is driven by electricity supplied from a battery positioned in the handle. The battery can be replaceable or rechargeable. Wires may run from the battery through the handle, through an on/off switch, through the brush shaft, and to the location where the motor is located in order to supply the motor with electricity.
The features, utilities and advantages of the various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Disclosed herein, in one embodiment, is a toothbrush with vibratory means that cause the toothbrush head to vibrate, and a vibration isolation structure for isolating from the toothbrush handle the vibrations caused by the vibratory means.
Generally and as shown in the example of
Referring now to
As shown in
In
Referring to FIGS. 4, 6-7, depending on the type of end cap 6 used, the interior walls of the handle 4 adjacent the bottom end 8 may include detents or threads for releasably securing the end cap to the bottom end of the handle. The front face of handle 4 may also include either an opening or a depressed area 90. The opening or depressed area may act as a recessed area adapted to a user's thumb, or may be configured as a control button for the device in another embodiment.
As illustrated in
More specifically, open upper end 26 of handle 4 is attached to brush shaft 12 through motor shaft 28. Isolation structure 18 is formed at the region between open top end 26 of handle 4 and bottom end 44 of motor shaft 28.
In
Motor shaft 28 is received within brush shaft 12. Motor shaft 28 is generally long and cylindrical in shape with a cylindrical cavity or bare 42 extending from one end 44 to the other 46 (
Bottom end 44 of motor shaft 28 is adapted to be attached to open top end 26 of handle 4. Bottom end 44 of motor shaft 28 defines axially extending fingers 60 that help engage bottom end 44 of motor shaft 28 with handle 4. As shown in
As shown in
Since brush shaft 12 covers motor shaft 28, and in combination is attached as described above to handle 4, by keying motor shaft 28 to handle 4 the proper orientation of toothbrush 2 with respect to handle 4 is obtained. Protrusion 86 on handle 4 extends axially from side 88 of handle 4 where a thumb depression/on-off button 90 may be formed.
As mentioned above, a flange 56 is formed on motor shaft 28 above the innermost O-ring 50. Flange 56 is contacted by bottom 33 of brush shaft 12 (see
Referring to
In one embodiment, the inner diameter of handle housing 4 abruptly increases to form a shoulder 68. When each of the overhangs 62 on the respective fingers 60 passes shoulder 68, the fingers 60 flex outwardly to their natural positions. If motor shaft 28 is moved in a direction to try to extract it from handle housing 4, overhang 62 on each of the flexible fingers 60 engages shoulder 68 and thus retains motor shaft 28 in handle housing 4. Overhang 62 is however not large enough to withstand any substantial force, and if a sufficient extraction force is applied to motor shaft 28, the motor shaft can be withdrawn from handle housing 4 since the extraction force could overcome the contact between overhang 62 of shoulder 68 and thus force flexible fingers 60 to flex inwardly and allow motor shaft 28 to be extracted. Nonetheless, overhang 62 and shoulder 68 do engage sufficiently to keep and retain motor shaft 28 in handle housing 4 under normal use conditions. In one embodiment, overhang 62 on each flexible finger 60 acts as a side wall for the O-ring groove 52 formed at first end 44 of motor shaft 28.
Generally, with respect to the positioning of vibratory means 24 in toothbrush 2, in one embodiment vibratory means 24 is positioned close to brush head 14, and possibly even in brush head 14, to maximize the effect of the vibratory means's vibrating motion. As shown in
In one embodiment, vibratory means 24 includes an eccentric motor which rotates an off center weight attached thereto. One motor which may be used for creating the vibration is a Jinglong Co. model OTL-6CL or equivalent. The OTL-6CL model is generally a 1.3V DC motor. However, any motor suitable for creating vibration that has a small enough size and can be powered by a battery the size of an AA battery or the like could be used. Off-center weight motor 24 provides a magnitude of tip motion (approximately 0.02 inches in the x and y directions) for brushing purposes, in one example.
In one embodiment, the vibrations generated by the vibratory means selected may cause the brush head to vibrate in a substantially orbital motion. However, in other embodiments, the vibrations generated by the vibratory means selected may cause the brush head to vibrate in any type of motion suitable for cleaning teeth including axial, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and circular motions.
As illustrated in
In
The purpose of isolation joint structure 18 is to reduce, modify, minimize, or attenuate the amount of vibration felt in handle 4 when motor 24 is vibrating in brush shaft 12 (or elsewhere) and causing bristles 16 to move. Isolation joint 18 between motor shaft 28 and handle 4 can include several different vibration dampening and elimination structures. Any type of isolation joint 18 that accomplishes this is contemplated by this invention, and could include a single or multiple cylindrical bushings 70 spacing brush shaft 12 from handle housing 4, such as that shown in
In
In another embodiment in
In another embodiment illustrated in
Referring to another embodiment in
In
In
In
In addition to the embodiments described above, additional embodiments including optional features are contemplated. Examples of such features are discussed in greater detail below.
As particularly illustrated in
In any of the above isolation joint structures 18, or any other contemplated by this invention, the portion of toothbrush 2 which includes motor 24 (i.e., motor shaft 28/brush shaft 12) can move with respect to the other portion of toothbrush 2 from which it is isolated. The movement of the motor-including portion can be in a twisting manner, a vibrating manner, an orbital manner, a rotational manner, or any other type of motion helpful for cleaning teeth.
In one embodiment, the vibratory means 24 is positioned as close to brush head 14 as possible. Such positioning helps, even without an isolation joint 18 between vibratory means 24 and handle 4, to more efficiently drive brush head 14 and only residually drive handle 4. In this example, isolation joint 18 increases the effectiveness of positioning vibratory means 24 near or in brush head 14. When the placement of vibratory means is as close to brush head 14 as possible, the location of isolation joint 18 need only be on the handle 4 side of the vibratory means placement. In other words, isolation joint 18 may be located between vibratory means and handle 4. Thus, isolation joint 18 could be closer to brush head 14 than to handle 4, in one embodiment.
The end cap may also include an on/off switch for actuating the device.
Electrically conductive parts 126 and top battery contact 130 are assembled into housing 124 which may be fixed in handle 132. Battery carrier 122 holds lower contact strip 128 axially, but not rotationally fixed, into housing 132. The limits of rotation of housing 132/battery carrier 122 assembly are fixed by a radially protruding rib 140 that is received by a corresponding groove in housing 132. Similarly an axially protruding bump 144 formed on a flexible portion of battery carrier 122 is received by either of two corresponding grooves in housing 132. Each of these grooves the rotational assembly (of 122 and 132) in one of two operating positions. Bump 144 and the flexible portion of the area surrounding bump 144 allows the assembly to “snap” from one operating position to the second operating position providing a positive tactile click as battery carrier 122 is rotated. When this occurs the top contact 126 is brought into physical and electrical contact with the bottom contact strip 128 which is in direct communication with a bottom (−) terminal of a battery. This action causes a complete electrical path from a top (+) terminal of a battery to top contact 130 through motor wires 74 back through contact strips 126, 128 causing motor 24 to operate.
A positive seal is achieved with O-ring 156 sealing between housing 132 and the inside diameter of housing 132 which provides a drip proof feature that prevents moisture from running down handle 132 and accumulating or running into the internal cavity of the device.
As shown in
All directional references used herein (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise, etc.) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example, and changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A flosser, comprising:
- a handle;
- a shaft operatively attached to the handle;
- a flossing element operatively attached to the shaft;
- a motive source comprising an off-center weight, the off-center weight at least partially located within the shaft; wherein
- the motive source is operative to move the flossing element.
2. The flosser of claim 1, wherein the flossing element is removably coupled to the shaft.
3. The flosser of claim 2, further comprising a securing structure formed on the shaft, the securing structure accepting the flossing element.
4. The flosser of claim 1, the motive source further comprising:
- a motor;
- a motor shaft operatively attached to the motor and the off-center weight; wherein
- the motor shaft is at least partially located within the shaft.
5. The flosser of claim 4, further comprising a power source located within the handle and attached to the motive source to supply power thereto.
6. The flosser of claim 1, further comprising an end cap removably attached to a first end of the handle, the end cap covering a cavity formed by the handle and housing the power source.
7. The flosser of claim 1, further comprising a vibration isolation means disposed between a portion of the motive source at least partially located within the shaft and the handle.
8. The flosser of claim 7, wherein:
- the flossing element comprises a tip attached to the shaft; and
- the off-center weight is positioned adjacent the tip.
9. A flosser, comprising:
- a handle;
- a flosser shaft affixed to the handle;
- a flossing element operatively attached to the shaft;
- a motive source comprising an off-center weight and a motor; wherein
- the off-center weight is located within the shaft and operative to impart a motion to the flossing element.
10. The flosser of claim 9, further comprising a motor shaft at least partially disposed within the flosser shaft, the motor shaft operatively connecting the flossing element to the motor.
11. The flosser of claim 10, wherein:
- the off-center weight is operatively attached to the motor and disposed adjacent the flossing element; and
- the off-center weight induces vibrations in the flossing element to impart the motion to the flossing element.
12. The flosser of claim 9, further comprising a vibration isolation means disposed between a portion of the motive source at least partially located within the shaft and the handle.
13. The flosser of claim 12, the vibration isolation means comprising an o-ring.
14. The flosser of claim 13, wherein the o-ring is disposed between the motor shaft and flosser shaft.
15. The flosser of claim 9, further comprising a recessed area formed on the handle, the recessed area comprising a control button to control operation of the flosser.
16. The flosser of claim 9, wherein the flosser shaft narrows as the flosser shaft extends away from the handle.
17. A flosser, comprising:
- a handle;
- a flossing shaft operatively attached to the handle;
- an attachment feature formed on the flossing shaft;
- a flossing element removably affixed to the flossing shaft by means of the attachment feature;
- a motor;
- an off-center weight operatively attached to the motor and housed within the flossing shaft; wherein
- the motor rotates the off-center weight to produce a vibration, the vibration imparting a motion to the flossing element.
18. The flosser of claim 17, wherein the atttachment feature axially retains the bottom of the flossing element in the flosser shaft.
19. The flosser of claim 17, further comprising a vibration damping structure reducing the transfer of virations from the motor to the handle.
20. The flosser of claim 19, wherein the vibration damping structure comprises an o-ring.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 1, 2005
Inventors: Joe Cacka (Berthoud, CO), Howell Chiles (Fort Collins, CO)
Application Number: 11/021,914