US2446955A - Rotary toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

1 :1 U Awn Aug. 10, 1948.

w. e. ROBEY ROTARY TOOTHBRUSH v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1945 a- 0, 1948. w. G. ROBEY 2,446,955

ROTARY TbOTHBRUSH Filed May 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I L:

IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE ROTARY TOOTHBRU'SH.

William G. Robey, Grafton, W. Va.

Application May 28, 1945,, Serial No.- 596,157

4 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to a. rotary toothbrush.

An object. of this invention is to provide an. improved rotary toothbrush embodying a resilient brush guard which may be shifted to expose a portion of the brush by contact of the latter with the teeth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary toothbrush embodying a handle having an electric motor disposed therein, with the motor connected to a switch structure having an opposed pair of switch buttons protruding from the handle, so that the motor may be operated by pressing either one or both of the buttons inwardly.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved coupling or clutch between the motor shaft and the brush shaft, so that the motor and/or brushmay be easily removed for servicing thereof.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts. as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in. the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an. embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall withe in thescope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a detailed plan View of a rotary toothbrush constructed according to an embodlment. of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on. the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuit embodied in this invention,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6 8 of Figure 3,

Figure? is a fragmentary sectional view taken. on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral Ill designates generally a housing of elongated corrfiguration which includes a lower housing member H having a removable upper housing member 12. The upper housing member I2 is detachably secured to the lower housing member l-ll' by means of a fastening member l3; The upper housing member l2 which comprises a cover is formed with a rabbeted marginal edge 14 engageable with a rabbeted marginal edge I5 formed in a cutout 16 in the lower housing, member H.

An electric motor generally designated as I? s mounted. within the housing it), being secured therein with one or more fastening members iii. The motor i? is a conventional electric motor which includes a frame l2 having a forwardly extending annulus 2'6 provided with threads The frame t9 has carried by the rear end thereof a pair of spaced contacts 22 and 23 with. which a pair of contact members 24 and 25-, carried by the rear end wall 26 of the housing, are adapted to engage. The contact members 26 and 2E project from therear wall 25 and are adapted to be engaged. by a connector 21', which includes a of conductors 23, for connection with a source of electric current supply.

The motor if also includes a shaft 2Z9 entending from theiorward end thereof with Which the rotary toothbrush, to be hereinafter described, is adapted to be detachably coupled. franc l1 includes an insulated annular member 35. formed with an annular groove 35-. A of substantially semicircular resilient switch memhere 32 and 33 are secured in the groove by fastening members 34 and 35 respectively. T e resilient or spring member 32 includes a contact 2L6 atone end. thereof which: is normally disposed in spaced relation toa contact 31, carried by the adiacentend of the springmember 33.

The spring member 33, at the opposite end thereof has a contact. 38 disposed inspacedrelation. to a contact 39 carried by the adjacent end'ofthe spring member 32'. The switch enibodying the two spring members 32 and 33 is inter" posed in a conductor 40, which is connected at one end. toone side of the motor ll, and at the other. end'i's connected. to spaced contact. 23. ifhe other side of the motor I T is connected by means of a conductor 4!" to spaced contact member 22. In order to provide a means whereby the h may be selectively closed. I have provided a p ir of oppositely disposed knobs G 2; and t3. The knob 47' is slidable in. a boss 44 carried by the cover or upper housing, member [2,. and. the knob 42 has extending from the inner side thereof, av

stem 45. which is slidable through a plate carriedby the inner end of the boss i i. A spring. 41 loosely engages. about the stem 3-5 and constantly urges the knob. or button outwardly. A split locking ring 48 is disposed about the inner end of the stem45 and engages against the inner side of'the plate 4'5.

The knob or button 43' is slidable in a boss 49 disposed diametrically from the boss 44 and has a; stem 50"extending from the inner side thereof. Th'estem ifl'issli'd'abl'e through a plate El carried' by the inner end of the boss 49, and a spring 52 constantly urges the knob or button 43 outwardly. A split locking ring 53 is carried by the inner end of the stem 59 and limits the outward movement of the stem and button under the tension of spring 52. Inward movement of either or both buttons 32 and 33 will effect closing of the electric circuit to the motor H.

The housing ID which is of insulated material has extending from the forward end thereof, a nipple 54 which is formed with exterior threads 55 at the inner or large end thereof. The nipple 54 is of tapered configuration and has extending from the forward end thereof a tubular member 56. A bearing sleeve 51 is loosely disposed in the sleeve 56, extending through the nipple 54, and has mounted on the inner end thereof a substantially conical member 58 formed with a threaded base 59 engaging the threads 2!. The tubular member 51 is formed with a bearing 66] at its outer end through which a brush shaft 6! rotatably engages. The brush shaft 6! is adapted to extend into a bore 62 formed in the motor shaft 29, and the brush shaft 6! is detachably coupled to the motor shaft 29 by means of a V-shaped coupling member 63 carried by a resilient bar M which is secured by a fastening member 65 to the shaft 29.

The shaft 29 is formed with an opening 56 through which the coupling member 63 loosely engages and the shaft 6! is formed With a V- shaped recess 6'! for receiving the coupling member 63. The forward end of the brush shaft 6i is provided with a head or anchoring member 68 which is embedded in a connector 69. The connector 69 engages the outer ends of the sleeve 56 and the bearing 51 and the connector 69 has also embedded therein the inner end of head It of a brush shank or stem H. The shank or stem H has mounted thereon a brush member '32 which is adapted to be engaged with the teeth for brushing the teeth upon operation of the motor ill.

A guard member generally designated as 13 engages partly about the brush l2 and includes a pair of parallel side wall members It and 75 which are connected together at their forward end by a forward wall 16 of arcuate configuration. A bottom wall H connects the side walls and forward end wall together and the bottom wall 'l'l has extending rearwardly therefrom an elongated supporting bar 18. The bar 78 is of resilient construction and has mounted thereon a nutll which is threaded on to a threaded part 80 formed at the rear end of the sleeve 56. When the brush is not in use, the brush and guard are adapted to be closed by means of an elongated cap 8| which is threaded at its rear end on the threads 55.

In the use and operation of this device, the cap 8! is removed and the connector 21 connected to a source of electric current supply. The brush 12 may then be extended in the mouth and pressure on the brush '52 will cause the guard H to swing outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. When the brush i2 is extended into the mouth either or both of the buttons or knobs 42 and 43 may be pressed inwardly, closing the electric circuit to the motor H and causing the brush 12 to be rotated.

When it is desired to remove the motor H from the housing It), the brush shaft M is pulled outwardly disconnecting the shaft from the motor shaft 29. The motor frame l9 may then movement relative to each other.

be released from the housing Ill by loosening fasremoved, the motor may be lifted from the hous mg.

This invention will provide an improved rotary toothbrush for cleaning the teeth which will provide a suitable guard for the gums or other portions of the mouth in order that the rotating brush will not injure such parts. The guard 73 being resiliently supported will permit contact of the brush '52 with the desired teeth and at the same time protect the adjacent portions of the mouth from injury by the rotating brush.

As shown in Figure 6, the rear end of brush shaft ti which engages in socket 62 is squared off, as at 82, for engagement in a square socket 83 formed in the adjacent end of motor shaft 29 so that the two shafts are thereby held against In this manner the clutch mamber 63 will be relieved of torsional strain and will serve only to hold the brush shaft against endwise movement.

The exact configuration illustrated is regarded as the optimum, but some of the desirable results inherent in this disclosure may be obtained by various slight modifications including some departure from the exact configuration shown, and it is therefore requested that the scope of the invention should be regarded as limited only by the terms of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a pair of elongated casing sections, of which one is the container and the other the cover, the container section being formed with a closure for both sections at one end of the casing, while both sections complementally provide a closure for the casing at its opposite end, the edges of the cover sections having a mortised fit over the edges of the container section, to completely close the container section, diametrically oppositely extending lugs formed upon the inner faces of said sections when assembled, pointing towards the center of the casing, an electric motor having diametrically oppositely arranged lugs abutting the lugs of the sections, and screws tapped into the lugs of said sections as well as into those of the motor to secure the motor concentrically inside of the casing, such that upon removal of the screw from one section, the motor can be removed together with the other section with the cover section, and whereby the presence of the motor inside of the casing serves to lock the two sections together,

2. In a device of the kind described, a motor casing of tubular formation and composed of two sections, one having a butt fit into the other and extending longitudinally therein, diametrically opposed lugs formed upon the inner surface of the sections of the casing, an electric motor extending concentrically inside of the casing, a contact member insulatedly connected at one end of the casing upon one section, a contact member carried by one end of the motor engaging the other contact member retractedly, and means for connecting the lugs of said sections remova'bly to said motor adapted not only to support the motor in a closed casing but to hold the two sectionsin clamped closed relation removably one from the other.

3.-In a device of the kind described, a motor casing, a motor supported concentrically therein and extending longitudinally therein, a pair of diametrically oppositely arranged push buttons carried by said casing movable interiorly thereof, means guiding said push buttons in movement, resilient means in opposition to which said push buttons move, and a pair of fixed and movable contacts arranged on said motor opposite to each push button, the parts of each set of contacts being engageable by one of said push buttons selectively.

4. As a new article of manufacture an electrical motor, a cylindrical grooved body carried by said motor, oppositely arranged spring metal strips of semicylindrical formation, each of which consists of a arcuate portion formed at one end with contact bead, and at its opposite end with an offset springy contact bead, the arcuate portions of said metal strips being respectively secured to diametrically opposite sides of the circular inner edge of the grooved body in such a manner that the four beads are substantially in diametrical alignment, the ofiset beads of the two strips being constrained to be located directly opposite and normally separated WILLIAM G. ROBEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 621,236 Farmer Mar. 14, 1899 1,593,763 Henderson July 27, 1926 1,833,967 Groff, Jr Dec. 1, 1931 2,264,033 Youhouse Nov. 25, 1941 2,314,117 Beckner Mar. 16, 1943

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