Handle Mount Patents (Class 15/22.1)
  • Publication number: 20150020325
    Abstract: A replacement head for an oral care implement, such as a powered toothbrush, wherein the replacement head utilizes a specially designed structure for coupling the replacement head to an oral care implement body. In one embodiment, the invention can be a replacement head comprising: a head having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements mounted thereto; a tubular sleeve comprising a cavity for receiving a stem of the body, a proximal edge defining an opening into the cavity, and a distal end to which the head is coupled, the tubular sleeve comprising a locking tab for engaging an undercut surface of a locking section of a boss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicants: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Hideaki Yoshida, Takashi Torihama, Thomas Mintel, Joseph Fattori
  • Publication number: 20150020324
    Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with an oral hygiene implement having a neck section extending along a longitudinal direction and having a neck section housing surrounding a neck section cavity, a head section having a through hole therein extending through the head section along a through hole direction having an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction and having a head section housing surrounding the through hole, wherein the through hole defines a first and a second opening in the head section housing, and wherein a cap element separately made from the head section housing is connected with the head section housing to essentially cover the first opening and a carrier element separately made from the head section housing is arranged to cover the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Thomas Fritsch, Joern Utsch, Wolfgang Stegmann
  • Publication number: 20150013086
    Abstract: A cosmetic applicator system for mascara which is compatible with a wide variety of traditional mascara applicators and provides automated movement of the applicator to facilitate applying the mascara, Embodiments of the present invention may include an applicator system configured to receive and retain a wide variety of mascara applicators (e.g., brushes) and/or mascara container caps. The present invention may also include a motor which may provide all or a combination of rotation, oscillation, or vibration movement of the mascara applicator, and buttons or other means for actuating the motor, controlling the rotational direction of the motor, and the speed of the rotation, oscillation, or vibration. Alternatively, or in addition, cam surfaces are used to translate the rotation into oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher H.Y. Simonian, Jeannine NMI Simonian, Ian J. Fettes
  • Patent number: 8931129
    Abstract: Treatment device for treatment of the oral cavity and pharynx and/or the teeth, having a treatment head that can be removably fastened to a handpiece, and which has a head piece having a plurality of bristles and which has an electromechanical transducer in the head piece for producing a mechanical oscillation or waves to be transferred to a treatment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Emag AG
    Inventor: Bülent Emekci
  • Publication number: 20150007398
    Abstract: An oral hygiene implement attachable to a handle of an oral hygiene device is provided. The implement includes a housing; a functional element movably mounted at the housing such that it can be driven into a motion; a motion transmitter element coupled with the functional element; and an adhesive layer provided at the motion transmitter element for adhesively coupling the motion transmitter element with a drive shaft of the handle when being attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Schaefer, Daniel Dietzel
  • Patent number: 8918940
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a connection component configured to connect the apparatus to any one of a plurality of different apparatuses. A toothbrush may include at least one measurement component configured to measure a parameter of use of an oral care region, and a processor configured to change output of a first audio signal of a plurality of audio signals to a second audio signal of the plurality of audio signals based on the measured parameter. Another toothbrush may include a processor configured to receive first data from an external source component and output second data corresponding to the received first data to at least one output device in response, and the at least output device configured to output the second data from the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: John J. Gatzemeyer, Eduardo Jimenez, Robert Moskovich, Kenneth Waguespack, James Kemp, Douglas Hohlbein, Mary Horchos, Thomas Mintel
  • Publication number: 20140366288
    Abstract: The skin brush appliance includes a handle member with a replaceable brushhead assembly. The replaceable brushhead assembly includes a bristle portion which becomes worn in use to the point where it must be replaced to maintain performance of the appliance. An LED light is provided in the vicinity of the bristle portion which is controlled to come on when the bristle assembly is in need of replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: L'Oréal
    Inventors: Joseph Grez, Rachel Stroback, Scott Straka
  • Publication number: 20140366289
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush includes an inner case, made up of an inner case main body and a motor holder, mounted with various components including a motor; an outer case which interiorly accommodates the inner case and which acts as a portion the user grips with hand when brushing teeth; an eccentric shaft, configured by a shaft main body and an eccentric member, which center of gravity is arranged at a position shifted from a shaft center and which rotates by a drive force of the motor; and a vibration transmitting component for transmitting the vibration generated with the rotation of the eccentric shaft to a brush portion; where the vibration transmitting component is positioned with respect to the outer case by point contacting the inner wall surface of the outer case at a plurality of locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jun SHIMOYAMA, Yasutaka MURASE, Tadashi TONE, Yuji ASADA
  • Publication number: 20140352088
    Abstract: Provided is an oral care implement (1), comprising: a body (100); a carrier (130) connected to the body (100) and movable relative to the body (100), the carrier carrying one or more cleaning elements (134); a carrier drive mechanism (200) operable to drive movement of the carrier (130) relative to the body (100); an auxiliary device (400); and an auxiliary device drive mechanism (600) that is selectively engagable with the carrier drive mechanism (200) during operation of the carrier drive mechanism, so as to selectively operate the auxiliary device (400) during movement of the carrier (130) relative to the body (100). Also provided is a method of operating the oral care implement (1), and a kit of parts for an oral care implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Donghui Wu
  • Publication number: 20140352089
    Abstract: A brush head for a toothbrush with hunches of bristles inserted therein, wherein at least one of these bunches of bristles protrudes out of the bristle surface in a perpendicular fashion and at least one of these bunches is inclined, and is characterized in that the inclined bunches of bristles comprise cylindrical bristles, and in that at least some of the bunches which protrude in a perpendicular fashion comprise pointed bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Christine Garbers, Andre Brunella
  • Publication number: 20140352719
    Abstract: A toothbrush with secure grip and a method for brushing teeth are disclose, including picking up a toothbrush below the neck portion, a toothbrush head extending from one end of the neck portion, a round/octagon/oval shaped handle, and a grip handle extending from the other end of the neck portion, wherein the grip handle includes an array of gripping elements extending 360 degrees around the grip handle; and brushing a user's teeth and gum pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: ANDY THANG TRAN
  • Patent number: 8898843
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush includes a body portion, a portion of which is gripped by a user, and a brush part that is exchangeably attached to the body portion. The body portion includes a switch that is a contact-type sensor unit arranged on a portion that excludes the gripped portion, and that receives operations from the outside, and a control unit for controlling operations of the electric toothbrush in accordance with an operation received by the contact-type sensor unit. If a first operation is received by the contact-type sensor unit, the control unit outputs an indication that operations can be received for a certain time period, and if a second operation received by the contact-type sensor unit in the certain time period is an operation that corresponds to a predetermined operation pattern, the control unit controls operations of the electric toothbrush in accordance with the second operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuzo Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20140349246
    Abstract: An appliance body which includes a fluid delivery system providing a fluid flow to the appliance body and an exit for the fluid. A cavitation assembly is responsive to the fluid flow, and includes a constriction or obstruction member, wherein the flow rate to and through the cavitation assembly and the flow velocity and other factors results in a cavitation number in the range of 0.1 to 6, so that hydrodynamic cavitation is produced at the exit of the appliance for delivery to a treatment surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bethany Joyce Johnson, Tyler G. Kloster, Johannes Willem Tack
  • Patent number: 8887339
    Abstract: A toothbrush including a handle, a head and a moving mechanism, where the head includes a head base; and at least two bristles sets: two outer bristles sets and a middle bristles set located therebetween. The moving mechanism connects to the two outer bristles sets for rotating thereof in respect to a main axis of the toothbrush for shifting the bristle sets between at least two positions: an open position, in which the outer bristles sets are angularly shifted away from the main axis; and a closed position, in which the outer bristles sets not angularly shifted away from the main axis, wherein in the closed position the bristles of all bristles sets are more dense than in the other positions providing a substantially harder toothbrush thereby allowing a user to change hardness level of the toothbrush by changing the position of the outer bristles sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Moshe Barzel
  • Patent number: 8887338
    Abstract: Unique dental care devices, systems and methods for cleaning teeth and oral tissue comprises an oscillating tooth brush with dual opposing brush heads, adapted to clean teeth and sulcus area. The devices are capable of brushing a set of opposing upper and lower teeth of the mouth simultaneously. The devices, once inserted and positioned into the mouth to clean a pair or a set of opposing upper and lower teeth, can be maneuvered inside the mouth cavity from one side of the mouth to the other to clean all the teeth without requiring removal from the mouth and repositioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Balbir S. Brar
  • Publication number: 20140332028
    Abstract: A toothbrush with secure grip and a method for brushing teeth are disclose, including picking up a toothbrush below the neck portion, a toothbrush head extending from one end of the neck portion, a round/octagon/oval shaped handle, and a grip handle extending from the other end of the neck portion, wherein the grip handle includes an array of gripping elements extending 360 degrees around the grip handle; and brushing a user's teeth and gum pockets. Lights can be provided on the tooth brush to enhance the brushing effectiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: ANDY THANG TRAN
  • Patent number: 8875335
    Abstract: The power toothbrush includes a driving assembly which in turn includes a DC motor (14) and a battery. The DC motor has a rotating drive shaft (16), supported at its free end. The drive shaft has an eccentric portion (18). Mounted on the eccentric portion is a plastic sleeve (20) having an extending portion which engages one end of a spring member (38). The other end of the spring member is secured to a yoke (36) which is secured to a brushhead shaft (32). Rotation of the drive shaft results in the extending portion of the plastic sleeve, moving the spring between a compressed state and an extended state. The action of the DC motor excites the spring to produce an oscillating action of the brushhead shaft and a brushhead assembly (40) mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Tyler G. Kloster, Wolter F. Benning, Yu-Wen Chang
  • Publication number: 20140317861
    Abstract: An oral care implement having a head with a soft tissue cleaner disposed on a second side thereof. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head attached to the handle and having a first side and a second side; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements attached to the first side of the head; and a soft tissue cleaner disposed on the second side of the head, the soft tissue cleaner including a first portion comprising a plurality of projections and a second portion comprising a plurality of bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Moskovich, Douglas Hohlbein, Bruce Russell
  • Publication number: 20140310896
    Abstract: A cleaner assembly includes a main body having a first end with a handle portion and a second end with a removable cleaner head; a motor contained with in said main body; an actuator operatively associated with said motor; a rotational shaft operatively associated with said motor and with a rotational cleaner head support; and a cleaner head removably attached to said rotational shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: David Pender
  • Patent number: 8863344
    Abstract: The power toothbrush includes a handle (12) and a workpiece assembly (18) which includes a brushhead (20) at a forward end thereof. The toothbrush further includes a drive assembly (14) which includes a DC motor (26) having a rotating output shaft (41) and a mounting assembly (28) for flexibly mounting the motor to the handle. The drive assembly includes a torsion spring member (64), an eccentric member (52), a coupling member (44) for connecting the rotating output shaft of the motor to the rear end of the eccentric and a hub member (62) forward of the eccentric, wherein the other end of the eccentric extends to and is mounted to the hub member. The torsion spring extends between the motor mount and the hub member. In operation, the rotating eccentric excites a desired resonant mode in the torsion spring, resulting in a sweeping back and forth action of the workpiece assembly and the brushhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Tyler G. Kloster
  • Patent number: 8863343
    Abstract: An oral care apparatus is an apparatus for performing care on an oral cavity using a care member, and includes an accelerometer, a driving unit for vibrating the care member, and a vibration frequency detection unit for detecting a vibration frequency of the care member. The vibration frequency detection unit detects the vibration frequency based on the waveform of a signal outputted by the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Iwahori
  • Patent number: 8863346
    Abstract: The hands-free dental appliance includes upper and lower tray members (12, 14) for receiving the teeth of the user, the tray members having teeth contact members such as bristles. A power assembly (28) moves the tray member in a reciprocal manner, resulting in cleaning of the surfaces of the teeth by the bristles. A grounding system (30) with bite portions (32, 34, 36) for biting contact whereby the user's teeth grounds the appliance to the user's mouth structure, reacting both static and dynamic forces, the grounding system being either separate from the tray members or flexibly connected to the tray members, allowing the tray members to move and clean the teeth without the user having to hold or otherwise manipulate the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Patrick A. Headstrom, Tijn Pieter Lodewijk Huttenhuis, Jeffrey Daniel Allison, Lawrence David Azzano
  • Publication number: 20140304929
    Abstract: Oral utensils having at least one central protrusion are disclosed. The oral utensils are configured for modification of a gag reflex in a user of the oral utensil. The oral utensils may comprise a handle portion comprising at least one central protrusion and a first head portion comprising a dental tool, wherein the handle portion may be removably connected to the head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Heather Rechtin, Christopher Hawker, Jessica Moreland, Christopher Trunek
  • Patent number: 8856997
    Abstract: Embodiments are described wherein a system for brushing the teeth of a person comprises a master input device; a flexible teeth tray configured to at least partially encapsulate one or more of the teeth in a flexible substrate material, the flexible teeth tray comprising one or more vibratory transducers removably coupled to one or more brushing panels; and a controller operatively coupled to the master input device and the one or more vibratory transducers; wherein subject to an input from the master input device, the controller is configured to cause reciprocating brushing motion of the one or more brushing panels against a surface of the one or more encapsulated teeth, to clean the one or more teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Frederic H. Moll
  • Publication number: 20140298602
    Abstract: The mouthpiece appliance includes an assembly for receiving teeth (12) which includes a plurality of cleansing portions, typically two opposing side portions (14, 16) and an intermediate center portion (18). The brushing portions include bristle sections which are adapted to clean teeth. The appliance includes at least one DC motor assembly (26) with an output shaft with an eccentric mass of crankshaft (28). The appliance further includes a mechanical motor cover comprising a plurality of arm members which are arranged to connect the DC motor assembly to the cleansing portions of the appliance so that as the unbalanced weight on the output shaft rotates, movement of the cleansing portions, toward and away from the teeth or along the surfaces of the teeth occurs, producing cleansing of the teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: MARTINUS BERNARDUS STAPELBROEK, PATRICK A. HEADSTROM, FOKKE ROELOF VOORHORST, JELTE STEUR, ARIF VEENDIJK, GERT H. WESTRUP
  • Publication number: 20140298603
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHLIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Scott E. Hall
  • Patent number: 8839476
    Abstract: An oral care apparatus includes: a care member; an orientation detection unit; an area estimation unit; a light source that emits light having a predetermined wavelength to which plaque reacts; a photoelectric conversion unit that receives light and converts the received light into an electric signal; an image capture unit that causes the light source to irradiate the care area with light, and that obtains image data, based on the electric signal of light reflected from the care area that is converted by the photoelectric conversion unit; a plaque detection unit for detecting an amount of plaque in the care area, based on the image data obtained by the image capture unit; and a storage unit for storing, in a memory, the care area estimated by the area estimation unit and the amount of plaque in the care area detected by the plaque detection unit in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuma Adachi
  • Publication number: 20140259473
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Pieter Johannes Bax, Franciscus Jozef Bosman, Geert Hendrik Westrup
  • Publication number: 20140259472
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Marc Darrin Bovenkamp, Scott E. Hall, Jeffrey Michael Alexander
  • Publication number: 20140259470
    Abstract: A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviating weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Alan Vincent Sorrentino
  • Publication number: 20140259469
    Abstract: An electronically powered toothbrush. The toothbrush includes a brush head including a plurality of bristles, a motor, and an output shaft connected to the brush head and the motor. The output shaft is selectively rotated by the motor. The toothbrush further includes a bumper assembly connected to the output shaft and configured to conserve kinetic energy from the output shaft during rotation and reapply the kinetic energy to the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Garrigues, Harold A. Luettgen
  • Publication number: 20140259471
    Abstract: An oral care implement generates cavitation within the oral cavity. One or more cavitation cleaning elements may be located in the head area of the oral care implement. The cavitation cleaning element vibrates at a frequency that produces cavitation of fluids within the oral cavity. The oral care implement may include an elastomeric cavitation cleaning element. A cleaning element may be configured to vibratory release an oral care substance from a container; and a body for gripping the implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: James Herbert Kemp, Malcolm Williams
  • Publication number: 20140250612
    Abstract: A data transferring powered toothbrush is provided for use during oral health care activities carried out daily by a user. A powered toothbrush is provided including an orientation sensor that provides data relating toothbrush usage to various positions within the oral cavity. Further, the toothbrush comprises a data extractor that provides a means for transferring the data from the toothbrush to an external medium for viewing and manipulation. Further still, the powered toothbrush is comprised in a system including a data transfer medium (i.e. “smartphone”) and the Cloud, which allows for data transfer between multiple external mediums from the powered toothbrush. The system further allows for passive participation in social games with awards and incentives. The system and powered toothbrush further provide for active participation in brushing games to encourage proper brushing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Beam Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander D. Curry, Alex X. Frommeyer, Daniel E. Dykes
  • Publication number: 20140237741
    Abstract: A toothbrush includes a housing having a handle and a toothbrush head, a pump having a pump chamber and a pump impeller or pump gear arranged in the pump chamber, and a motor driving the impeller or pump gear. An input port and an output port are connected to the chamber, the impeller causing a flow of a working fluid through the output port when the impeller is driven by the motor and the working fluid is supplied through the input port. The pump chamber has a circumferential wall defining a transverse cross section, the output port being connected to the pump chamber through the circumferential wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Scott Amron
  • Patent number: 8813292
    Abstract: A brush head for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The brush head includes a bristle support having mounting means for the movable mounting of the bristle support and a plurality of bristle tufts arranged on the bristle support in at least one outer ring and one middle ring, the middle ring being nested within the outer ring and having a central area. The outer ring includes outer bristle tufts having an elongated tuft cross-section, which outer bristle tufts are mounted on opposing sides of the outer ring. The middle ring includes at least two middle bristle tufts that each have a cross-section that is smaller than the cross-section of the outer bristle tufts and a central area including at least one bristled section that consists of two center bristle tufts having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the middle bristle tufts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Georges Driesen, Michael Schmid, Norbert Schaefer, Hansjoerg Reick, Stefan Schamberg, Eva Susanne Thurnay, Rory McGarry
  • Publication number: 20140230169
    Abstract: A brush section for use with an electric toothbrush includes a relatively large brush head portion having a generally rectangular shape, although oblong, elliptical and other such shapes having a length to width aspect ration greater than 1 may be employed. The brush head portion is secured to a shaft portion of the brush section that may be configured to couple to a handle section. The handle section may include an electric drive including drive shaft, and the drive shaft may couple to the brush head via a coupling member positioned within the shaft portion. The electric drive may impart a rotary, oscillating rotary-oscillating or other suitable drive motion to the drive shaft that is, in turn, imparted upon the brush head by virtue of the coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Braun GmbH (a German Corporation)
    Inventors: Mark Edward Farrell, Christopher Charles Blain, Phillip Maurice Braun
  • Patent number: 8806691
    Abstract: The invention provides an electric toothbrush capable of changing a resonant frequency and vibration amplitude of an eccentric shaft. An electric toothbrush of the present invention includes a motor, an eccentric shaft with one end fixed to a rotation shaft of the motor, and a stemserving as a vibration transmitting component having a bearing for supporting the other end of the eccentric shaft for transmitting vibration generated in accordance with rotation of the eccentric shaft to a brush portion. In the electric toothbrush, the eccentric shaft is formed so that a gravity center position is movable at least in one direction among a direction in which a distance to a shaft center is changed and an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Iwahori, Akitoshi Miki, Jun Shimoyama, Takashi Torihama
  • Publication number: 20140224270
    Abstract: An artificial nail color changing system includes three sets of color containing elements, one for every basic color, composed of electromagnets which will repel natural magnets with colored fibers attached to it. The variable degree of deployment of the three sets of colored containing element will create the different hues. An electronic brush will contain a plurality of variable capacitors; their discharge will allow the different degrees of deployment of the color containing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Mario Luis Nunez
  • Publication number: 20140215732
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush including a handle, a head movable with respect to said handle, and a rotating working element having at least one brush located out of the geometric axis of said handle. The electric toothbrush further includes an electric motor for driving the working element in a rotary movement in a clockwise/counterclockwise direction, and a motor rotation direction switch coupled functionally with the head and the handle. The head and the handle are coupled with resilient technical means that enable, after exertion of the torque to the head, to rotate the head with respect to the handle into the left or right positions, where the motor rotation direction switch turns on the motor in the clockwise/counterclockwise rotation direction. After releasing said torque, the resilient technical means enable to maintain the head in a standby position relative to the handle, where the motor rotation direction switch turns off the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Sebastian Kiluk
  • Patent number: 8793830
    Abstract: A mouthpiece appliance includes an assembly for receiving teeth which includes cleansing portions, such as two opposing side portions and an intermediate center portion. The brushing portions include bristle sections which are adapted to clean teeth. The appliance also includes at least one DC motor assembly with an output shaft with an eccentric mass of crankshaft. The appliance further includes a mechanical motor cover including arm members which are arranged to connect the DC motor assembly to the cleansing portions of the appliance so that as the unbalanced weight on the output shaft rotates, movement of the cleansing portions, toward and away from the teeth or along the surfaces of the teeth occurs, producing cleansing of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek, Patrick A. Headstrom, Fokke Roelof Voorhorst, Jelte Steur, Arif Veendijk, Gert H. Westrup
  • Patent number: 8793829
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush capable of suppressing loss of vibration energy while suppressing the vibration of the portion a user grips with hand is provided. In an electric toothbrush including an inner case, made up of an inner case main body and a motor holder, mounted with various components including a motor; an outer case which interiorly accommodates the inner case and which acts as a portion the user grips with hand when brushing teeth; an eccentric shaft, configured by a shaft main body and an eccentric member, which center of gravity is arranged at a position shifted from a shaft center and which rotates by a drive force of the motor; and a vibration transmitting component for transmitting the vibration generated with the rotation of the eccentric shaft to a brush portion; where the vibration transmitting component is positioned with respect to the outer case by point contacting the inner wall surface of the outer case at a plurality of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Shimoyama, Yasutaka Murase, Tadashi Tone, Yuji Asada
  • Patent number: 8789227
    Abstract: Various operational mode arrangements of an electric toothbrush (10) include pre-programming a controller portion (16) of the electric toothbrush such that a single brushing event of approximately two minutes comprises automatically at least two different operating modes and specified times for each mode. Another operational mode includes the capability of operating the on/off button (20) of the toothbrush within a specified short time following termination of a normal brushing event to provide the user a specified additional time, e.g. 30 seconds of toothbrush action. A special toothbrush interface arrangement includes a display (80) which encourages children to maintain brushing for the full brushing period. This is accomplished through sequential illustration of the progress of an article from an initial state to a final desired state as the toothbrush is used for increasing portions of a full brushing time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijkle Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Charles B. Cook, Joseph W. Grez, Wolter F. Benning, Christopher Dabrowski, Rick Peterson, Gregg Heard, Martyn Gray Darnbrough Beedham, Hanne Caspersen
  • Patent number: 8789228
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a bristle for a toothbrush, said bristle being comprised of a plastic monofilament, with the preferably cloverleaf-shaped bristle body having several longitudinal ribs arranged in star shape and projecting laterally from a core section of the bristle body. The invention is also directed to a brush head for an electric toothbrush having at least one bristle tuft with at least one such bristle as well as to an electric toothbrush having such a brush head. According to the invention, the bristle of the type initially referred to is configured to be self-fanning in such a manner that the cleaning forces acting on the bristles during normal brushing cause the bristle to split open at its free end. As a result, the need to use complex splitting methods and corresponding splitting machines in the manufacture of the toothbrush can be obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Georges Driesen, Michael Schmid
  • Publication number: 20140202493
    Abstract: A device for providing elliptical path motion to skin or other surface. The device includes a motor, shaft, and a cam having at least one offset axis cam lobe for creating offset motion. A mounting bracket assembly that has a pair of arms associated with the motor can be moved by the cam in an elliptical path having X-axis, Y-axis and, in exemplary embodiments, Z-axis movement. The mounting bracket assembly may have two brackets, each being associated with an oscillating plate. Each oscillating plate may have a plurality of protrusions or tufts of bristles protruding therefrom. Elliptical movement of the oscillating plates creates offset elliptical motion of the protrusions associated with each oscillating plate. A fluid delivery system may be incorporated to provide fluid through the device. The device may be used for cleaning, stimulation or treatment of skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Newton Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Brian David Zelickson, Nathaniel Hayes Freeman, Kevin John Thompson, Michael Joseph Wayman, Shawn Michael Filipek, Alvin Sheldon Zelickson
  • Patent number: 8782841
    Abstract: The brushhead/handle interface includes a brushhead assembly (20) which has a brush member (26) for cleaning teeth. A driveshaft (14) extends from a handle portion (12) of the toothbrush (10), which is driven in an oscillating manner through a selected rotational angle. The driveshaft includes one or more contact regions (49). The coupling member includes an interface portion or portions (46) which are forced against the contact regions of the driveshaft by a single spring member when the driveshaft is inserted into the coupling member. The single spring (34) exerts a sufficient force on the interface portions of the coupling member against the contact regions of the driveshaft to produce both a reliable torque transfer between the driveshaft and the brushhead assembly and to maintain axial retention of the brushhead assembly on the driveshaft during operation of the toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Kyle Sale, Patrick A. Headstrom, Tyler G. Kloster
  • Publication number: 20140196227
    Abstract: A manually held electrically powered back brush with built in soap dispenser allows bathers to reach difficult hard to clean parts of their body. The brush has rotating brissles and a central orifice at the center of the brush. The orifice dispenses dosed liquid soap through the orifice as the bather uses it. The brush also has a central clip-on attachment which allows a solid soap plug to be held in place in the center of the brush and at the top of the device. The device has a battery pack which can be recharged with a household wall outlet. The device can also use disposable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Avi Cooper
  • Patent number: 8776298
    Abstract: A cleaning section of an oral hygiene device is disclosed. The cleaning section includes a cleaning element carrier mounted for oscillatory rotation around a carrier rotation axis; a gear unit arranged for being coupled to a drive shaft of a handle of the oral hygiene device, which drive shaft defines a drive shaft rotation axis in an attached state, and the gear unit further having an actuation element for transferring motion from the drive shaft to the cleaning element carrier during operation. The carrier rotation axis is parallel to the drive shaft rotation axis and is disposed at a distance to the drive shaft rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Fritsch, Ulrich Stoerkel
  • Patent number: 8776299
    Abstract: A toothbrush head that includes a main body portion and a generally cylindrical connection member extending downwardly and defining an axis. The connection member includes bottom, outer and inner surfaces and a central opening. The connection member also includes a first lower protrusion that includes first and second inclined surfaces extending inwardly from the inner surface, a first slot defined in the bottom surface and the inner surface, a first lower notch defined in the inner surface, and a first opening defined in the inner surface above the first lower protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Den-Mat Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald W. Haynes
  • Patent number: 8769754
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric toothbrush including a toothbrush plate having a cleaning brush installed thereon; a toothbrush head having a storage within which the toothbrush plate is stored; a toothbrush body that is connected to the toothbrush head and has a storage space formed therein; a flat type vibration motor that is disposed between the toothbrush plate and the toothbrush head; and a power supply unit that includes a power supply that is disposed in the storage space of the toothbrush body and supplies the vibration motor with power, a power supply switch connected to the power supply and a wire that is electrically connected to the vibration motor and the power supply switch and supplies the vibration motor with power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daegil Byeon
  • Patent number: 8769753
    Abstract: The appliance includes an appliance body (12) as well as a system for producing microbubbles (20) and a system for producing an ultrasound signal beam (22) in a frequency range which activates at least some of the microbubbles. The appliance includes at least one of the following: (a) an array of ultrasound transducer elements (40) which produce a plurality of ultrasound signal beams; (b) an amplitude modulation assembly (51) for modulating the amplitude of the ultrasound signal; and (c) a frequency modulation system (61) for changing the frequency of the ultrasound signals over a selected range, to impact a range of microbubble sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: John Douglas Fraser