Electric toothbrush head

US8166601B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Braun Corporation · DE

Inventors

• William Brown · Peabody, US
• Thomas A. Christman · Lexington, US
• Georges Driesen · Neu-Anspach, DE
• Thomas Fritsch · Eppstein, DE
• Michael Roberts · Brookfield, US
• Armin Schwarz-Hartmann · Wendelsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 14, 2008
• Grant date: May 1, 2012
• Expiry date: Feb 28, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A46B2200/1066
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A head for an electric toothbrush includes a support member having a plurality of holes extending completely therethrough. A plurality of tufts of bristles each extends through one of the holes. A first brushing end of each tuft projects from a first side of the support member. Each tuft is prevented from being withdrawn from its hole when a tensile force is applied to the first end of each tuft along a long axis of the tuft. A resilient cushion is positioned adjacent a second side of the support member such that a second end of each tuft can contact the cushion. When a compressive force is applied to the first end of each tuft along the long axis of each tuft, each tuft can move in its hole in a first direction into the cushion. When the compressive force is removed the cushion causes each tuft to move in its hole in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.