Toothbrush with moveable head

Abstract

A toothbrush head assembly for use with an electric toothbrush power handle includes a housing having a longitudinal direction, an oscillating member which oscillates reciprocally in the longitudinal direction, and a brush which oscillates rotatably about a longitudinally extending axis. The brush preferably includes twin brushes. Several mechanisms translate the reciprocal motion of the oscillating member into rotational motion of the brush.

1 . A toothbrush head assembly for use with an electric toothbrush power handle, the assembly comprising:
 a housing having a longitudinal direction;   an oscillating member which is disposed in the housing and which oscillates reciprocally in the longitudinal direction; and   a brush which is mounted on the housing and which oscillates rotatably about a longitudinally extending axis.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one camming surface for facilitating translation of reciprocal motion of the oscillating member into rotational motion of the brush. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2  further comprising an actuator which moves transversely to the longitudinal direction in response to movement of the oscillating member. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the actuator is disposed between the brush and the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein the at least one camming surface is carried by one of the housing, the brush and the actuator. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein the oscillating member comprises a rod and a pair of arms connected to and extending outwardly from the rod and movable therewith. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the brush comprises first and second brush heads; and the arms are disposed respectively adjacent the two brush heads. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the at least one camming surface includes first and second camming surfaces; and the arms respectively slidably engage the first and second camming surfaces during longitudinal movement of the arms. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the oscillating member comprises first and second camming surfaces. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9  further comprising an actuator engageable with the first and second camming surfaces; and wherein the actuator is movable transversely to the longitudinal axis in response to oscillation of the oscillating member. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the actuator engages the brush. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a third camming surface which the actuator slidably engages. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a cover which is adjacent the brush and which the actuator slidably engages. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a pivoting member pivotally connected to the oscillating member. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14  further comprising an actuator movably connected to the pivoting member and movable transversely to the longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the actuator engages the brush. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein one of the actuator and the pivoting member defines an elongated opening; and further comprising a pivot carried by the other of the actuator and the pivoting member and disposed in the elongated opening. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 14  further comprising first and second pivots; wherein the pivoting member is pivotally connected to the oscillating member via the first pivot and pivotally connected to the housing via the second pivot. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 18  further comprising a third pivot and an actuator pivotally connected to the pivoting member via the third pivot. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a front and a rear defining therebetween the longitudinal direction; and the brush comprises first and second brush heads; and further comprising:
 a cover disposed adjacent the brush heads;   a first camming surface disposed between the first brush head and the cover; and   a second camming surface disposed between the second brush head and the cover;   wherein the first camming surface tapers forward and radially inwardly toward the axis; and the second camming surface tapers rearward and radially inwardly toward the axis.