Patent · US Expired

Electric toothbrush

US6189693A · kind A · utility

94Cited by
15References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 25, 1999
Grant dateFeb 20, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 25, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29L2031/425
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electric toothbrush comprising an elongated body portion and a head including a static portion and a circular portion, a handle, and an angled shaft between the head and the handle. The circular portion rotates or oscillates about an axis normal to a longitudinal axis of the head. The circular portion includes stiff bristles and the static portion includes soft bristles. The elongated body portion is hollow and further includes a motor in the hollow portion, which is operatively connected to the circular portion for rotating or oscillating the circular portion. A switch is operatively connected to the motor to provide momentary and continuous operation of the toothbrush. A worm gear and a pair of step gears are located in the hollow portion. The motor is operatively connected to the worm gear and the step gears are operatively connected to the worm gear and to each other. One of the step gears is offset with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion. A shaft which is operatively connected to the offset step gear and to a second end to the circular portion. A battery is located within the hollow section for powering the motor.

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