Flosser with motor integrated with vibrating head

Abstract

A power toothbrush including a handle and a brush head with bristles. In one embodiment, the toothbrush includes vibratory means for causing the brush head and the bristles to vibrate, and vibration isolation means for reducing the transfer of vibrations from the vibratory means to the handle. The vibratory means can include an eccentric motor positioned in the brush head or the brush shaft of the toothbrush. Vibration dampening material can be included in the vibration isolation means to reduce the transfer of vibrations to the handle.

1 . A flosser, comprising: 
 a handle;    a shaft operatively attached to the handle;    a flossing element operatively attached to the shaft;    a motive source comprising an off-center weight, the off-center weight at least partially located within the shaft; wherein    the motive source is operative to move the flossing element.    
   
   
       2 . The flosser of  claim 1 , wherein the flossing element is removably coupled to the shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The flosser of  claim 2 , further comprising a securing structure formed on the shaft, the securing structure accepting the flossing element.  
   
   
       4 . The flosser of  claim 1 , the motive source further comprising: 
 a motor;    a motor shaft operatively attached to the motor and the off-center weight; wherein    the motor shaft is at least partially located within the shaft.    
   
   
       5 . The flosser of  claim 4 , further comprising a power source located within the handle and attached to the motive source to supply power thereto.  
   
   
       6 . The flosser of  claim 1 , further comprising an end cap removably attached to a first end of the handle, the end cap covering a cavity formed by the handle and housing the power source.  
   
   
       7 . The flosser of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration isolation means disposed between a portion of the motive source at least partially located within the shaft and the handle.  
   
   
       8 . The flosser of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the flossing element comprises a tip attached to the shaft; and    the off-center weight is positioned adjacent the tip.    
   
   
       9 . A flosser, comprising: 
 a handle;    a flosser shaft affixed to the handle;    a flossing element operatively attached to the shaft;    a motive source comprising an off-center weight and a motor; wherein    the off-center weight is located within the shaft and operative to impart a motion to the flossing element.    
   
   
       10 . The flosser of  claim 9 , further comprising a motor shaft at least partially disposed within the flosser shaft, the motor shaft operatively connecting the flossing element to the motor.  
   
   
       11 . The flosser of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the off-center weight is operatively attached to the motor and disposed adjacent the flossing element; and    the off-center weight induces vibrations in the flossing element to impart the motion to the flossing element.    
   
   
       12 . The flosser of  claim 9 , further comprising a vibration isolation means disposed between a portion of the motive source at least partially located within the shaft and the handle.  
   
   
       13 . The flosser of  claim 12 , the vibration isolation means comprising an o-ring.  
   
   
       14 . The flosser of  claim 13 , wherein the o-ring is disposed between the motor shaft and flosser shaft.  
   
   
       15 . The flosser of  claim 9 , further comprising a recessed area formed on the handle, the recessed area comprising a control button to control operation of the flosser.  
   
   
       16 . The flosser of  claim 9 , wherein the flosser shaft narrows as the flosser shaft extends away from the handle.  
   
   
       17 . A flosser, comprising: 
 a handle;    a flossing shaft operatively attached to the handle;    an attachment feature formed on the flossing shaft;    a flossing element removably affixed to the flossing shaft by means of the attachment feature;    a motor;    an off-center weight operatively attached to the motor and housed within the flossing shaft; wherein    the motor rotates the off-center weight to produce a vibration, the vibration imparting a motion to the flossing element.    
   
   
       18 . The flosser of  claim 17 , wherein the atttachment feature axially retains the bottom of the flossing element in the flosser shaft.  
   
   
       19 . The flosser of  claim 17 , further comprising a vibration damping structure reducing the transfer of virations from the motor to the handle.  
   
   
       20 . The flosser of  claim 19 , wherein the vibration damping structure comprises an o-ring.