Rotary electric toothbrush with stroke-type bristle movement

US5974615A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Braun Corporation · DE

Inventors

• Armin Schwarz-Hartmann · Wendelsheim, DE
• Karl Herzog · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Peter Hilfinger · Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 1996
• Grant date: Nov 2, 1999
• Expiry date: Oct 28, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T74/1804
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An electric toothbrush (1) is described which incorporates a handle (2) and a brush attachment (3). The handle (2) houses an electric motor (8). Protruding from the handle (2) is a shaft (20), which is coupled to the electric motor (8). The brush attachment (3) can be mounted on the handle (2). The brush attachment (3) supports a bristle head (26) which can be coupled to the shaft (20), and from which protrude a multiplicity of bristles (4). In the operating mode, the bristle head (26) describes a rotary motion (49) and a stroke motion (50), with the frequency of the stroke movement (50) being higher, and preferably substantially higher, than the frequency of the rotary movement (49.) The stroke movement (50) provides a poking action of the bristles (4), which serves to loosen plaque from dental surfaces. The rotary movement (49) serves to wipe away plaque loosened from the dental surfaces.