Patent · US Expired

Hand-actuated rotatable toothbrush

US5186627A · kind A · utility

99Cited by
12References
47Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 3, 1991
Grant dateFeb 16, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 3, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA46B2200/1066
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A hand powered rotatable toothbrush is characterized by elements, such as tufts of brush bristles, positionally fixed to the brush head to frictionally engage tooth surfaces and thereby positionally stabilize the brush head so that a distal portion of the brush handle can be longitudinally reciprocated relative to the brush head. One or more rotatable brush members mounted on the brush head are operatively connected to the distal handle portion, as by a rack and pinion, to cause the brush members to be rotated in response to longitudinal handle reciprocation. In one embodiment the rotatable brush member cyclically rotates in opposite directions in response to back and forth linear motion of the handle. In another embodiment the rotation of the brush member is in the same direction, irrespective of the direction in which the handle moves.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.