Modular electric toothbrushes

Abstract

An electric toothbrush having movable and static carriers which independently slidingly engage the receiving member of the toothbrush head within channels defined by the surfaces of the receiving member. Such carriers can be releasably removable to replace or exchange the carriers. Also disclosed is a toothbrush having a unique assembly utilizing a one-piece housing in combination with a movable bristle carrier that is engaged on a receiving member located at the distal end of the toothbrush, and a static carrier such as a brush head tip which is secured thereto. The unitary housing reduces the number of components of the toothbrush and decreases manufacturing costs. The static and movable carriers may be replaced with other carriers and allows a consumer to individually tailor the brush to provide a particular brushing configuration. An electric toothbrush having a particular assembly, bristle configuration, and drive mechanism is disclosed. The assembly, bristle configuration, and drive mechanism are such that operation of the brush is highly efficient and more economical than currently known toothbrushes. Specifically, an electric toothbrush is disclosed comprising a body, a head, and a neck extending therebetween. The head comprises a receiving member and several unique and preferred arrangements of static and movable carriers. The carriers can comprise bristles, and the static bristle carrier(s) can at least partially surround the collection of movable bristle carrier(s). A motor and drive train impart motion to the movable carrier(s).

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A low energy consumption electric toothbrush comprising: (a) a housing assembly including a brush head, a handle, and a neck extending between the brush head and the handle, the housing defining a hollow interior cavity; (b) a movable bristle carrier disposed on the brush head; (c) a motor providing a powered rotating shaft, a drive gear affixed to the shaft, and a power source in electrical communication with the motor and disposed in the hollow interior cavity, (d) a crown gear rotatably supported in the hollow interior cavity and oriented such that the axis of rotation of the crown gear is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the motor and the drive gear, the crown gear configured and engaged with the drive gear of the motor such that the crown gear completes one revolution for a number, from one to three, of revolutions of the motor, the crown gear including (i) a first cam member extending from a face of the crown gear, the first cam having a center offset from the axis of rotation of the crown gear and (ii) a second cam member extending from a face of the first cam member, the second cam member having an axis of rotation co-extensive with the axis of rotation of the crown gear; (e) a drive shaft having a first end and a second opposite end, the first end engaged with the first cam member and the second cam member of the crown gear, and the second end engaged with the movable bristle carrier; (f) a first plurality of bristles retained on the movable bristle carrier; (g) second plurality of stationary bristles retained on the at least one static bristle carrier; (h) wherein upon operation of the motor, the crown gear is rotated, thereby imparting a reciprocating motion to the drive shaft and to the movable bristle carrier disposed on the brush head.