Powered toothbrush with flexible head

Abstract

A toothbrush having a head with at least two movable members. The members flex inwardly and outwardly away from each other in a direction that is substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the brush handle. Force is transferred from one movable member to another to aid in this relative movement. Bristles extending from both movable members are brought into contact with the surface of teeth so that the tips are disposed at right angles thereto. In a first embodiment, two movable members are connected by an oscillating rod that flexes the members away from each other. In a second embodiment, a center section on the head nests within a perimeter section and a rotatable cam extends between the sections and flexes them inwardly and outwardly away from each other.

1 . A head for a powered toothbrush, said head comprising:
 a neck having a first end adapted to detachably engage a handle of the powered toothbrush;   a body extending outwardly from a second end of the neck, said body comprising:
 a first and a second head member that are movable relative to each other; wherein force from the first head member causes movement in the second head member and movement in the second head member causes movement in the first head member. 
   
   
   
       2 . The head for a powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a coupler rod operatively communicating with the first and second head members, and wherein force is transferred between the first and second head members via the coupler rod. 
   
   
       3 . The head for a powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , in which energy stored in one of the first and second head members is transferred to the other of the first and second head members to assist in the movement thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The head for a powered toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first head member is a perimeter section and the second head member is a center section; and the center section is positioned within the perimeter section. 
   
   
       5 . A powered toothbrush comprising:
 a handle;   a head extending outwardly from the handle and comprising a first and a second head member that are movable relative to each other; and wherein force from the first head member causes movement in the second head member and movement in the second head member causes movement in the first head member.   
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising a coupler rod operatively communicating with the first and second head members, and wherein force is transferred between the first and second head members via the coupler rod. 
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 5 , in which energy stored in one of the first and second head members is transferred to the other of the first and second head members to assist in the movement thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a motor and said coupler rod is operationally connected to said motor; and wherein said motor causes the coupler rod to rotate through at least a partial arc. 
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the motor causes the coupler rod to oscillate back and forth between a first and a second position. 
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the oscillatory movement causes the coupler rod to move through an arcuate path oriented at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the handle. 
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the coupler rod passes through a neutral position between said first and second positions; and when said coupler rod is in the neutral position, the first and second head members are coplanar with each other. 
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second head members are flexed in opposite directions relative to each other in response to movement of the coupler rod; and when the coupler rod is in the first position the first and second head members are oppositely flexed in a first orientation relative to each other; and when the coupler rod is in the second position the first and second head members are oppositely flexed in a second orientation relative to each other. 
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the coupler rod oscillates through a range of motion of between 10° and 65°. 
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the coupler rod is substantially T-shaped and includes a shaft that is longitudinally aligned with the handle of the toothbrush, and a leg disposed substantially at right angles to the shaft, and the leg engages the first head member at a first end and the second head member at a second end. 
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the first and second head member are movable relative to each other free of a frame. 
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first head section is a perimeter section and the second head member is a center section positioned within the perimeter section; and wherein said perimeter section and center section are movable relative to each other. 
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the perimeter section and center section move relative to each other perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. 
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising a coupler rod extending between the perimeter section and the center section, and wherein force is transferred between the perimeter and center sections via the coupler rod. 
   
   
       19 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the coupler rod includes a first and a second camming lobe, said first camming lobe engaging the perimeter section and said second camming lobe engaging the center section; and wherein the first and second camming lobes are offset relative to each other. 
   
   
       20 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising a motor operationally connected to the coupler rod to drive the same; and when the coupler rod is driven through a first range of motion the center section is flexed in a first direction relative to the perimeter section; and when the coupler rod is driven through a second range of motion, the center section is flexed in a second direction relative to the perimeter section. 
   
   
       21 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the center section is connected to the perimeter section along a single face disposed proximate an outer edge of the head of the toothbrush, and the center section further includes an interior end spaced a distance inwardly from the face and proximate a center region of the head of the toothbrush, and wherein the interior end of the center section is the component on the head that is flexed outwardly to the greatest degree. 
   
   
       22 . The toothbrush as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the perimeter and center sections are movable relative to each other free of a frame. 
   
   
       23 . A method of cleaning teeth comprising the steps of:
 activating a powered toothbrush to cause relative movement between at least two movable members on the head of the toothbrush, wherein the relative movement between the movable members is in a direction substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of a handle of the brush; and a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from the movable members are thereby caused to move in the direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the brush handle,   positioning the brush so that the tips of the bristles move into and out of contact with the surface of the teeth as the movable members are moved;   manipulating the brush until all particulate material is swept from the surface of the teeth by the bristles.