AU5185601A - Electric toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

P/00/Oi 128/5/91 Regulaion 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to :-us ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH The present invention relates generally to electric toothbrushes and more particularly to a toothbrush having a power driven rotary brush in which the direction of rotation of the brush is automatically controlled depending on whether the top or the bottom teeth are being brushed in order to brush any food debris present on the teeth and gums in a direction away from the gums.

According to dentists, the proper way to brush one's teeth is to press a tooth brush with the bristle side resting on the gums and then moving the brush in a direction away from gums and onto teeth. In this manner, any food residue or debris that is present on the teeth and gums will be moved away from the gums. If the brush movement is reversed, i.e. in the direction from the teeth to the gums, the food residue or debris will be forced into the gap that exists between the gums and teeth, resulting in the formation of unwanted plaque.

Most of the electric toothbrushes that are 20 oresently in use have a bristle part which is reciprocated through a short arc about the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. Such a reciprocating movement is quice effective in cleaning some areas of the teeth, but -he reciprocating movement is not suitable for cleaning other S 25 areas, such as the area near the gumline and the area -c* the gums adjacent to the cheek. A rotary brush is recognized as being a better cleaner than a reciprocating brush, but the rocary brush also has a number of disadvantages which detract from its suitability for use as S'. 30 a toothbrush. For example, a rotary brush when rotated one direction only, has a tendency to drive food particles and debris between the teeth the gumline when the brush is rotating in a direction towards the gums.

Attempts have been made in the past to create a motorized rotary toothbrush to .control the direction or 2 rotation of the crush. However, all such devices utilize a switching device that is operated by the users' fincers or hands outside of the mouth.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 2,279,982 to Glynn discloses a toothbrush in which the user has to put the edge of guard against the gums to control the rotation of the brush in a direction away from gums to teeth. The user controls the switching of the brush rotation by pressing the guard against the gums by turning the handle which is located outside of the mouth. If the handle is turned in the wrong direction by the user, until the guard touches any other object, such as the crown of a tooth, the brush will brush in the wrong direction from the tooth towards the gums. Moreover, since the guard of the Glynn tocthbrush rests against the gums it is inherently unstable due to the slippery nature of the gums.

No means is taught in Glynn for keeping the toothbrush stable during the brushing of the teeth.

S: U.S. Patent No. 3,512,201 to Taylor discloses a 20 motorized toothbrush having a reciprocal and rotary motion in which the direction of brush rotation is determined by :urr.ing the cap of the brush with the thumb and inde:-: fincer outside cf the mouth.

Patent No. 3,661,018 to Keefer et r l.

discloses an electric toothbrush in which the direction of brush rotation :s determined by sliding-. three-pcsitcon switch (47) mounted on the brush handle outside of the mouth and is controlled by the user's finger.

U.S. Patent No. 3,S29,922 to Koblanskv disclcses an S 30 electric tocthbrush in which the switching of the dreic of brush rotatzon is activated by the movement of auarc (46) which is at all times spring-loaded to one position as shown in Ficures 3 and 6 of the patent. When the guard i(4.

is at its normal resting position, the toothbrush Koblansky will always turn in one predetermined direction.

Movement of guard (46) by touching a part of the mouth, such as the cheek or gums, causes the reversal of the brush rotation. However, since :he guard (46) is spring-loaded such that without any outside force it will always return to its loaced, natural position, it is possible for the brush of Koblansky to rotate in an undesired direction such as away from the teeth and toward the gumline. Moreover, there is no teaching in Koblansky for keeping the toothbrush stable during the brushing of the teeth.

U.S. Patent No. 4,149,291 to Stoltz discloses a toothbrush in which the direction of the brushing stroke is controlled by a switch that is mounted on the handle to be finger operated by the user outside the mouth. To use the Stoltz tootbrush properly the user would require training and runs the risk of brushing in the wrong direction.

U.S. Patent No. 4,225,994 to Stoltz discloses a toothbrush wherein the direction of brushing is changed by the movement of the handle section relative to the housing of the toothbrush. To use the Stoltz brush properly, the user requires training and runs the risk of brushing the Steeth in the wrong directions.

U.S Patent No. 4,335,480 to Liu discloses a toothbrush wherein in order to change the direction of brushing, the user must manually activate switch (18i which is mounted on the handle outside of the mouth. To use the Liu brush properly, the user requires training and runs the risk of brushing the teeth in the wrong direction.

U.S. Patent No. 4,397,055 to Cuchiara discloses S. toothbrush wherein in order to change the direcion f S 30 brushing, the user must manually operate th electrica switch (11) mounted on the exterior of the toothbrusn housing located outside of the mouth. To use the Cuchiara brush properly, the user requires training and runs the risk of brushing the teeth in the wrong direction.

U.S. Paten No. 4,845,796 to Mosley discloses a toothbrush wherein in order to contror the Cirecion of brushing the user must manually control switches '32] mounted on the handle outside of the mouth. To use the Mosley toothbrush properly, the user requires training and runs the risk of brushing in the wrong direction.

Therefore, there is a need for a motorized toothbrush having a rotating brush in which the directron of brush rotation is controlled automatically depending on whether the upper or lower teeth are being brushed.

The toothbrush of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of conventional motorized toothbrushes by providing a power driven rotary brush in which the direction of rotation of the brush is automatically controlled depending on whether the top or the bottom teeth are being brushed in order to brush any food debris present on the teeth and cums in a direction away from the cums.

The toothbrush of the present invention utiizes a direction controller that is placed inside the mourh 20 between the tou and bottom teeth. The direction controller :controls the direction of brush rotation and serves stabilize the toothbrush relative to the teeth durino the brushing operation. The movement of the dIrectn controller operares a reversing switch to chance mhe direction of rotation of the rotary brush as requirc brush in a direction away from the Lums and towards teeth. It is not necessary to remove the toothbrush from t* the mouth in order to change the direction of rotation an' d n the cleaning action is substantially continuous once -h toothbrush has been inserted in the mouth.

The position of the direction conroller rel o the teeth is changed by movement of the toothbrush within the mouth to brush the upper teeth or lower teeth.

The switching is "automatic" without the need of manual' operating a switch. The rotation cf the brush may be controlled by a bi-directional motor havinc a swltchino mechanism :o change the direction of rotaticn. Such a switch is activated by the movement of the direction controller. Alternatively, it is appreciated that a sin.gle direction motor may be used to rotate the brush and a gearing assembly having a reverse gear may be used to alter direction of the rotation of the brush. The movement of the direction controller can shift the gears directly to change the direction of brush rotation.

During use of the toothbrush of the presen: invention, the user puts the toothbrush into the user' mouth with the direction controller placed between the upper teeth and lower teeth. When the user oushes the toothbrush upwards toward the roof of the mouth, keeoinc the direction controller between teeth, the brush rotates in the direction from the gums to the teeth. When the user wants to brush the lower teeth, the brush is lowered toward the lower teeth, keeping the direction controller between the teeth. The rotation of the brush stops when the direction controller is in a horizontal position between 20 upper and lower teeth. To brush the crown of teeth, the controller can either be placed towards the cheek or placed inside the mouth cavity.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an elecmr.: toothbrush in accordance with the present invention.

9 25 FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illus:ratinc electrical components, motor, and gear--assembly for e electric toothbrush of the present invention wit te direction controller in a horizontal neutral position and the rotary brush in the resting position.

30 FIG. 2B is a scher.tatic diagram illustrating the interaction between the direction controller and tne reversing switch of the electric toothbrush of the present inventicn with the rotary brush shown in the ooeration position for cleaning the upper teeth of a person.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram illustratinc :he inzeracticn between the direction controller and the reversing switch of the electric toothbrush of the present invention with the rotary brush shown in the operation position for cleaning the lower teeth of a person.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of the rotary brush of the electric toothbrush of the present invention shown in place next to the teeth of a patient with the direction controller in the neutral position and the rotary brush in the restins position.

FIG. 4 is a selectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of the rotary brush of the electric toothbrush of the present invention shown in use with the teeth of a patient with the direction controller in the operating position to clean the upper teeth of a patien: with the rotary brush rotating in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 o. of FIG. 1 of the rotary brush of the electric toothbrush o the present invention shown in use with the teeth of a 20 patLent with the direction controller in the operatina position to clean the lower teeth of a patient with the rotary brush rotating in the direczion of arrow A.

he following description includes the bes:t r.

presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in-a---imiting sense, but made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

Referring to Fig. there is shown an elecri 30 tocthbrush 10 consisting of nandle 12, stem 14, brush guard 16 and rotary brush 18. Handle 12 and stem 14 preferably are formed into an intearal unit made of durable molded plastic. The electric toothbrush 10 may be sectioned into half units and held together, after inserton of internal parts, by conventional snap fit locking arrangements and the like known in the art. Handle 12 contains a reversible electrical motor 2C (see Fig. 2A) powered by electrical energy source 22. The electrical energy source 22 may be a replaceable or re-chargeable battery, however it must be understood that i- is within the contemplation of this invention that the electrical energy source 22 may be a rectified alternating current power source such as conventional 120v, 60hz residential power. The power may be brought to the electric tooth brush 1C by way of an electrical cable connected to a conventional wall socket and rectified using conventional circuitry known in the art.

The electrical energy source 22 is electrically coupled to motor 20 through reversing switch 24. To be further described later, the reversing switch 24 may assume three independent positions namely; a neutral switch position as shown in Fig. 2A, where the motcr 20 is electrically decoupled from the electrical energy source 22; a first switch position as shown in Fig. 2B, where the 20 positive terminal and the negative terminal of energy source 22 are electrically coupled to motor terminals 26 and 28 respectively, to cause the motor 20 ct rotate in a first rotational direction; and a second switch position as shown in Fig. 2C, where the positive terminal S 25 and the necative terminal of electrical enercv source 22 are elecrically coucied to motor erminals and 26 respectively, to cause :he motorr--2C to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to the frst rotational direction.

As shown in schematic form in Fig 2A, gear assembly 32 transfers rotation and torque from the motor shaft 30 to rotary brush drive shaft 34 (hereinafter shaft 34) Gear assembly 22 functions as a reducing gear and comprises gears 36, 38, 40 and 42 in a straight tooth spur gear arrangement. Gear 36 mounted on motor shaft 3C engages gear 38 which in turn engages gear 40 which in turn engages gear 42 that is mounted on shaft 34 by any one cf conventional technicues. The diameter ratios of gears 36 and 39, and gears 42 and 40 are preferably in the range of 3:1, thereby providing an overall rotational speed reduction from motor shaft 30 to shaft 34 of 9:1, with a corresponding increase in torque from motor shaft 30 to shaft 34 of 9:1. In this manner high speed low torcue motors may be advantageously geared down to provide adequate torque for proper low power operation of the electric toothbrush 10. It is to be understood that other gear ratios and gearing configurations may be suitable to achieve low power high torque operation.

As noted in Fig. 1, rotary toothbrush 18, which is located within brush guard 16, is mounted on shaft 34.

Brush 18 is generally cylindrically shaped and extends between brush guard ends 44 and 46. The brush guard 16 is partially open so as to partially surround the brush li thereby exposing sufficient brush surface for proper engagement with teeth to be cleaned. The brush cuard 16 serves to prevent the brush 18 from contacting the inner cheek of the mouth when the electric toothbrush 10 is oriented in the mouth for cleaning teeth. Brush 13 may be fixedly mounted on shaft 34, preferably by a cress fi c by keying techniques known in the art.

Brush guard edge 46 also serves as an alignmen: 25 bearing surface having an annular bearing surface through which shaft 34 extends so as to provide support fr Sbrush 13 as it is urged against teeth tc be cleaned. The shaft 34 is journaled in the bearing surface 48 and there'b maintains rotation of brush 16 about a fixed axis rotation defined by shaft 34.

A direction controller 50 is rotatably mounted ov-er shaft 34 between brush guard edge 46 and reversing .witch 24. Direction controller 50 includes a hollow essentiall, cylindrical por:ion 52 through which shaft 34 extends. The distal end of direction controller 50 may be mounted on guard edge 46 using any one of known techniques. Cor example, the inward facing surface of guard edge 46 may include a protruding annular shoulder for seating a mating annular recess in the distal end of the direction controller 50 in a rotational slip fit arrangement. The cylindrical portion 52 extends through seem 14 and is mounted at its proximal end to reversing switch 24. The direction controller 50 includes a ledge 54 which extends in close proximity along the length of brush outer edge 56.

The ledge 54 is designed to fit between the upper and lower teeth of a person and makes contact with the crowns 62, 66 of the teeth. The contact of the ledge 54 with the crowns 62, 66 cause the ledge 54 to be urged in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, respectively. In addition to controlling the direction of the brush rotation, the ledge 54 functions to stabilize the brush 18 relative to the teeth, as the ledge 54 is held in place between the crowns 62, 66 of the top and bottom teeth of the user. Switch 24 orovides a slicht resistance :o movement such that ledce 54 remains fixed in position unless urged in either a S 20 clockwise or counter clockwise rotation as the case may be.

'With reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, movement of the direction controller 50 may be appreciated. As shown .n Fig. 3, the ledge 54, while in the neutral position, extends horizontally between the crowns 62 of upper teet 25 58 and the crowns 66 of lower teeth 60. In such positicn the reversing switch 24 electrically disconnects the mozcr from the energy source 22. Accordinaly, motor 20 _s deenergized and brush 18 does not rotate;.

As shown in Fig. 4, the electric toothbrush 1 is moved upward, relative to the neutral position, when it is desired tc brush upper teeth 56. In doing so, ledge 54 contacts the crowns 62 of upper teeth 58 thereby urging :he "ledge 54 in a counter clockwise rotaticn against the slight resistance of switch 24 placing it in a first position (see Fig. 2B), thereby energizing motor 20 so as to cause brush 18 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction. As shown in Fig. 3, rotation of the brush 18 in a counter clockwise direction causes contaminants tc be brushed away from the gums 64, insuring that such contaminants are not brushed under the gums 64 but rather away from the gums.

Similarly and as shown in Fig. 5, the electric toothbrush 10 is moved downward, relative to the neutral position, when it is desired to brush lower teeth 60. In doing so ledge 54 contacts the crowns 66 of lower teeth thereby urging the ledge 54 in a clockwise rotation to place switch 24 in a second position (see Fig. 2C), thereby causing motor 20 to be energized so as to cause brush 18 to rotate in a clockwise direction. In doing so contaminants are brushed away from gums 68 insuring that such contaminants are not brushed under gums 68. Although not shown, it should be appreciated that when brushing teeth 58 and 60, brush guard 16 prevents brush 18 from contactina the inner check portion of the mouth. -Thus, the ledge 54 provides the necessary feed back to the electric toothbrush to control the direction of rotation of the brush 18.

Turning now to Figs. 2A-C, the interaction between the direction controller 50 and switch 24, to control the 20 direction of rotation of motor 10, may be understood. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 2A, the ledge 54 is shown in the neutral position. The direction controller cylindrical portion 52 is coupled (shown in dotted lines) to a pair of electrical contacts 70 and 72. In such position contacts 7 25 and 72 are restricted to makinc electrical contact wit.

contact pads 71 and 73 respectivel,._ contact pads 71 a S. 73 are coupled to energy source positive terminal and the negative terminal respectively) In such oositicr an open circuit exists between energy source 22 and motor 20 and motor 20 remains de-enercized.

As previously described when the electric toothbrush 10 is moved upward to brush upper teeth 58, the ledge 54 moves in a counter clockwise direction thereby bringing electrical contacts 70 and 72 into electrical contact pads 74 and 76 respectively. Accordingly, the energy source positive terminal is electrically coupled 11 to motor terminal 26 through an electrical path that includes contact pad 71, electrical contact 70 and contact pad 74. Similarly the energy source negative terminal is electricallv coupled to motor terminal 28 throuch an electrical path that includes contact pad 73, electrical contact 72 and contact pad 76. At this polarity setting motor 20 rotates to cause brush 18 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction.

Similarly when the electric toothbrush 10 is moved downward to brush lower teeth 60, the ledge 54 moves in a clockwise direction thereby bringing electrical contacts and 72 into electrical contact with contact pads 78 and respectively. Accordingly, the energy source positive terminal is electrically coupled to motor terminal 28 through an electrical path that includes contact pad 71, electrical contact 71 and contact pad 78. Similarly, the energy source negative terminal is electrically coupled to motor terminal 26 through an electrical path that includes contact pad 73, electrical contact 72 and contact 20 pad 80. At this polarity settig the motor 20 rotates to cause the brush 18 to rotate in a clockwise direction.

Preferably, the electrical contacts and contact pads may be constructed of or coated with a non-corrosive metal so as to withstand arcing.

25 As an alternative to the embodiment of the electrtoothbrush described above, the .reversing switch 24 ma comprise an external magnet that is linked to the direction controller 50 used to activate the motor 20. In this alternative embodiment, the external magnet rides on the surface of the handle 12 and two macnetic-reed switches are placed inside the handle 12. The macnetic-reed switches are oriented inside the handle 12 such that when the direction controller 50 moves the external magnet to the proximity of one magnetic-reed switch, the motor 20 turns in one direction. When the direction controller 50 moves the external magnet to the proximity of the other magnetic-reed switch, the motcr 20 turns in the other direction. When the external magnet is oriented between the two magnetic-reed switches, none of the magnetic switches is activated and the motor 20 stops. The use of an external magnet on the surface of the handle 12 enhances the water-proofing of the electric toothbrush 10 as the magnetic-reed switches may be sealed within the handle 12.

It is appreciated that instead of utilizing a bi-directional motor, the motor may be unidirectional and the direction of brush rotation may be altered by a gear assembly having forward and reverse gears known in the art. The engagement of the reverse gear of such a gear assembly would be controlled by the position of the direction controller 50. For example, the position of the direction controller 50 can be used to shift the reverse and forward gears of the gear train inside the handle to change the brush's direction of rotation.

While the invention herein has been described by means of specific 1embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

"Ccmprises/ccmprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or canomponents but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

*o

Claims (10)

1. An electric toothbrush (10) comprising: a housing (12); a bi-directional electric motor (20) mounted within the housing the motor (20) having a motor shaft axially disposed within the housing, the direction of rotation of the shaft (30) being dependent upon the polarity of electrical energy supplied to the motor a source (22) of electrical energy contained within the housing (12); a multi-position electrical reversing switch (24) electrically coupled between the motor (20) and the source (22) of electrical energy, the reversing switch (24) adapted for reversing the polarity of electrical energy supplied to the motor (20) such that when the reversing switch (24) is in a first position the motor shaft rotates in a first direction and when the reversing switch S.. is in a second position the motor shaft (30) rotates 20 in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a rotary brush (18)rotatably mounted at a distal end of the housing the brush (18) being mechanically coupled to the motor shaft and a direction controller (50) coupled to the reversing 25 switch the controller (50) having a portion (54) oo configured to make contact with the crowns (62, 66) of teeth when the electric toothbrush is brought into proximity with the teeth to be cleaned, the controller ~moveable between at least first and second positions thereby moving the reversing switch (24) between first and second positions, respectively, the controller :disposed adjacent the rotary brush (18) such that when the electric toothbrush (10) is. brought into proximity with upper teeth (58) to be cleaned the controller (50) is brought into contact with the crowns (62) of such upper teeth (58) and is thereby moved to a first position to cause rotation of the motor shaft (30) in a first direction and when the electric toothbrush (10) is brought into proximity with lower teeth (60) to be cleaned the controller (50) is brought into contact with the crowns 14 (66) of such lower teeth (60) and is thereby moved to the second position to cause rotation of the motor shaft in the second direction.

2. The electric toothbrush (10) of claim 1 wherein the reversing switch (24) further comprises a neutral position wherein the motor (20) is electrically disconnected from the source (22) of electrical energy and wherein the controller (50) includes a neutral position such that when the controller (50) is moved to the neutral position the motor (20) is thereby de-energized.

3. The electric toothbrush (10) of claim 1 wherein the housing (12) comprises a brush guard (16) in proximity to and partially surrounding the rotary brush (18) to prevent the rotary brush (18) from contacting an inner region of the mouth when the electric toothbrush (10) is inserted in the mouth and oriented for cleaning- teeth.

4. The electric toothbrush (10) of claim 3 wherein the brush guard (16) includes an alignment bearing surface (46) to provide rotational support for the rotary brush (18) and 20 for maintaining rotation of the rotary brush (18) about a fixed axis of rotation.

5. The electric toothbrush (10) of claim 1 further comprising a gear assembly (32) coupled between the motor shaft (30) and the rotary brush the gear assembly 25 (32) having a gear ratio for reducing the rotational speed and increasing the torque of the rotary brush (18) relative 0•04 to the motor shaft S.6. An electric toothbrush (10) comprising: °ooo handle (12); a reversible motor (20) mounted within the handle (12); a brush guard (16) and stem housing (14) extending from the handle (12); a rotary brush drive shaft (24) mounted within the brush guard (16) and stem housing (14) and rotatable about an axis of rotation, the rotary brush drive shaft (34) connected at one end thereof to the motor a rotary brush (18) mounted at the other end of the rotary brush drive shaft (34) for rotation about the axis of rotation; and a moveable direction controller (50) disposed adjacent the rotary brush the direction controller electrically coupled to the motor (20) and adapted for reversing the rotation of the motor the direction controller (50) having a ledge portion (54) adapted for contact with a crown portion of teeth so that when in use and the ledge portion (54) is urged against the crown portion (62) of upper teeth (58) the brush (18) rotates in a first direction and when the ledge portion (54) is urged against the crown portion (66) of lower teeth (60) the brush rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

7. The electric toothbrush (10) of claim 6 wherein the brush guard (16) and stem housing (14) comprises an alignment bearing surface (46) and the rotary brush drive shaft (34) is journaled in the bearing surface (46) to provide rotational support for the rotary brush (18) and to maintain rotation of the rotary brush (18) about the axis S of rotation. 20 8. The electric toothbrush (10) of claim 6 further comprising a gear assembly (32) coupled between the motor and the rotary brush drive shaft (34)

9. The electric toothbrush (10) of claim 8 wherein the gear assembly (32) comprises a gear arrangement (36, 38) 25 for reducing the speed and increasing the torque of the "'-rotary brush drive shaft (34) relative to the motor The electric toothbrush2(10) of claim 9 wherein the direction controller (50) extends within the brush guard (16) and stem housing (14) between the brush guard (16) and the motor the direction controller having a hollow portion for receiving the rotary brush drive shaft (34)which extends therethrough. :drive shaft (34)*which extends therethrough. 16

11. An electric toothbrush comprising: a handle; a bi-directional electrical motor mounted within the handle; electrical energy means for energizing the motor; switch means for reversibly coupling the motor to the electrical energy means; drive shaft means coupled to the motor; rotary brush means coupled to the drive' shaft means for rotation about an axis of rotation; *5 direction means coupled to the switc- means for .controlling the direction of rotation of the motor and therefore the rotation of the rotary brush means, the direction means further for contacting upper and lower teeth such that when the direction means is urged against upper teeth, rotation of the rotary brush means is in a first direction and when the direction means is urged 20 against lower teeth, rotation of the rotary brush means is in a second direction.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 11 comprising gear means coupled between the drive shaft means and the motor for decreasing the speed and increasing the torque of the drive shaft means relative to the motor.

13. An electric toothbrush comprising: a handle; a motor mounted within the handle; a brush guard and stem housing extending from the handle; DATED this 12th day of June 2001 VONTECHS LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN. VIC. 3122.