US3196299A - Portable electric unit for toothbrush or the like - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1965 Filed July 5, 1965 H. KOTT PORTABLE ELECTRIC UNIT FOR TOOTHBRUSH OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Herbe/"f INVNQT?? July 20, 1965 H. KOT-r v 3,196,299

' PORTABLE ELECTRIC UNIT FOR TooTHBRUsH 0R THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN R Her-eff Kogf 19 7' TURA/EVS United States Patent O 3,196,299 PGR'IABLE ELECTRIC UNET FR TIHBRUSH R THE LIKE Herbert Katt, River Edge, NJ., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Water bury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed .Iuiy 5, i963, Ser. No. 293,@32 13 Claims. (Qi. 31u-Q51) The present invention relates to a power actuator to which a toothbrush may be releasably attached to cause vibratory or oscillatory movement of the toothbrush to thereby provide movement of the brush to effect proper brushing of a use-rs teeth and/or gums.

While it has heretofore been proposed to provide toothbrushes with a vibratory or oscillatory motion by means of electrical or mechanical power, such devices have not been found to be completely satisfactory. These devices have generally been intended to be used by more than one person with each persons toothbrush being capable of being easily attached and removed from the device. Where such devices required a specific connection on the toothbrush handle to enable attachment to the device, there has generally been less variety of toothbrushes available to enable a user to select the most desirable toothbrush, as to bristle hardness, brush contour, handle color, etc. than the variety of toothbrushes available with manually graspable handles. A user accordingly had been deprived of being able to have a suflicient selection of brushes from which to choose that one most desirable to him. Furthermore, wherein such vibratory devices are to be used by more than one person, it has been found that each person has been unable to have the device produce the degree or amplitude of movement of the toothbrush that each person individually desired for proper brushing action.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a power operated actuator for xirl-toothbrush in which a toothbrush having a handle of the usual rounded rectangular cross-sectional shape for manual grasping may be employed, thereby permitting a user to attach the same toothbrush in the device which he had been using for manual brushing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power actuator for a toothbrush which has an adjustment that enables the user to quickly and efficiently set the degree or amplitude of movement of the toothbrush.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a power actuator for a toothbrush which is electrically operated and may employ either a battery rechargeable by the usual household current or with minor changes utilize conventional dry cells.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide ya power actuator for a toothbrush which achieves the above-noted objects and which is relatively economical to manufacture, composed essentially of few parts and durable in use.

In carrying out the present invention a feature thereof resides in the provision of an adjustment whereby the degree or amplitude of vibration of a toothbrush may be adjusted by each user to that found most preferable. As disclosed hereinafter in the specilically described embodiment, an electric motor having an eccentric weight is secured to a motor support with the support being resiliently mounted on a handle portion that is grasped by the user in such a manner that the motor support is capable of moving with respect to the handle portion. The motor support carries on the end opposite the motor carrying part a toothbrush such that movement of the motor support causes the oscillation of the brush. To control the amplitude of the oscillations, the present in- ICC vention utilizes a resilient mounting of the motor support on the handle portion and enables the user to control the rigidity of the resilient mounting. Thus by increasing the rigidity of the mounting the degree of amplitude of movement of the toothbrush can be decreased while by increasing the resilience of the mounting the amplitude may be increased.

Another feature of the present invention provides for enabling a toothbrush having the conventional handle that is elongate and substantially rectangular in cross-section to be quickly and easily secured to the motor support. This is achieved according to the present invention by the use of a pair of chuck jaws having parallel sides, with the sides of the jaws being movable toward and away from each other upon movement of an easily grasped member. Thus by utilizing the member the jaws may be opened and closed to thereby release or clamp respectively a toothbrush handle of conventional construction to the power actuator.

Gther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

FEGURE 1l is an elevation of the power actuator for a toothbrush of the present invention having a toothbrush secured thereto.

FG. 2 is an axial section, somewhat enlarged, of the power actuator.

PEG. 3 is a top view of the power actuator shown in FG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a section taizen on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an elevation of the bottom portion of the power actuator for a toothbrush of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electrical components of one embodiment of the power actuator of the present invention.

FIG, 9 is an electrical schematic diagram ot electrical components, a `further embodiment, wherein rechargeable batteries are employed in place of dry cells.

FIG. l0 is a partial vertical section similar to FIG. 2 of the embodiment of the power actuator for a toothbrush that utilizes rechargeable batteries.

FIG. d1 is .a section taken on the line 1li-ll of vtFlG. l0.

FIG. l2 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. l0.

FIG. 13 is a bottom View of the embodiment of the power actuator for a toothbrush shown in FIG. l0.

Referring to the drawing, the power actuator for a toothbrush of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral Ztl and, as shown in FIG. l, has a toothbrush 2l releasably secured thereto so that the actuator may impart oscillatory movement to the toothbrush. The actuator 2li is formed to provide a tubular handle by an enclosed bottom part Z2, a hollowlower casing 23 and a hollowupper casing 24 that are secured together. Additionally, forming the exterior of the actuator is a vibratoryamplitude adjusting nut 25 and a toothbrushhandle clamping nut 26. Preferably, as will be hereinafter appreciated, thebottom part 22 is only releasably secured to thelower casing 23 with thecasings 23 and 24 being permanently joined together and each of these parts is formed to the shape shown of plastic material.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is positioned within the upper casing 24 a DC.electric motor 27 of the rotary type that has at its lower end an eccentric weight 2S such that rotational movement caused by the motor rotates the eccentric weight to produce vibrations. The motor is rigidly secured in a motor support 2.9 which is preferably formed of plastic to the shape shown to provide a lower Dcylindrical recess 30 and an upper cylindrical recess 3l, the recesses being defined bycylindrical walls 32 and 33 respectively. Themotor 27 is secured in thelower recess 30, as by for example a press t between the exterior of the motor and the interior surface of the wall 32.

In accordance with the present invention, themotor support 29 is resiliently mounted on theupper casing 24 for vibratory movement with respect thereto so that the vibrations of thesupport 29 caused by themotor 27 andweight 28 are transmitted to thetoothbrush 22 that is releasably held in the upper recess Si. The resilient mounting includes a somewhatspiral spring 34 having oneend 35 secured in a flange 3o formed in the motor support between the upper and lower recess and itsother end 37 is secured in an internalannular rib 38 formed at the upper portion of theupper casing 24. With this construction it will be appreciated that themotor support 29 is only spring mounted in thecasing 24 and hence may move with respect thereto against the action of thespring 34.

For enabling the adjustment of the vibratory movement of the motor support and hence the amplitude of vibration of the toothbrush 2l, an outer portion of thewall 33 is threaded as at 39 for threading engagement with an internally threaded portion 4@ of the adjustingnut 25. Thenut 25 further has an end portion 4l that abuts anend 42 of thecasing 24. In addition, positioned between the nut and the upper casing and themotor support 29 is a resilient rubber sleeve 43 that provides an elastic pivot between the motor support and theupper casing 24. With this structure of mounting the motor support, it will be appreciated that amplitude of vibration may be adjusted by manipulation of theadjustment nut 25. Thus if the nut is turned so that thespring 34 is compressed, i.e., in effect moves the motor housing outwardly or upwardly from the casing, then the rigidity of the spring is increased which resists the oscillation of the motor support produced by the rotatingeccentric weight 28. The maximum outward movement is limited by a snap ring 39a secured on thewall 33. On the other hand, rotation of thenut 24 in the opposite direction, which in eifect enables thespring 34 to pull the motor support within the casing, increases the resilience of thespring 34 thereby permitting the motor support to vibrate with a larger amplitude. Thetoothbrush 21 that is releasably secured to theactuator 20 is of conventional type having a handle 2in of substantially rectangular cross-section which is inserted within the upper recess 3l and is grasped by a pair ofjaws 44 and 45 that have a connecting bight portion 4o. The, jaws are moved with respect to each other to open and close by moving them in and out of therecess 31 so that a flaringexterior surface 47 and 48 of thejaws 44 and 45 respectively abuts and is moved by the end 4 9 of thewall 33. The jaws are normally biased to open position by thebight portion 45. For maintaining the jaws in position and to facilitate the movement thereof, thecollet nut 26 is formed with a threadedportion 50 that threadedly engages a threaded portion l on thewall 33. In addition, the collet nut has an inwardly directedannular tongue 52 that cooperates withgrooves 53 and 54 formed in the chuck jaws. Accordingly, by rotative movement of the collet nut, the jaws are moved in and out of theupper recess 31 to effect their movement toward and away from each other respectively. It will ybe appreciated that the interior surface of thechuck jaws 44a and 45a are planar or iiat in the embodiment shown and thus they may grasp the sides of a conventional toothbrush handle having the usual rectangular cross-section with the remainder of the handle being positioned in therecess 31. Thus the electric toothbrush of the present invention may utilize presently available toothbrushes that have handles designed for hand grasping.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2,

theelectric motor 27 is powered by a pair ofdry cells 55 or non-chargeable batteries confined within thelower casing 23 byribs 23a having the shape shown. To this end, alead 57 extends from the motor through a connecting clip 5S to one end of thebattery 55 while the other end of thebattery 55 engages a conductingrivet 59 secured in adisk 60 forming a part of thebottom part 22. The adjacent end of thebattery 56 is also in engagement with a contact rivet el secured to thedisk 60 while the upper end of thebattery 56 is connected to a connecting clip 63E which in turn, through acap 63 formed in the upper part of thelower casing 23, connects to a lead 64 to the other side of themotor 27.

Positioned within thebottom part 22 is a manually operable switch for controlling the conduction of current between themotor 27 and thebatteries 55 and 55. The switch includes apivot pin 65 secured to thedisk 60 and which pivots anarm 66 having aknob portion 67 extending through anaperture 68 formed in the bottom part for enabling manipulation thereof by a user. The contact rivet 6l has secured thereto aresilient conductor 69 having the shape shown that has anend 69a positioned in alignment with the end of thecontact rivet 59. Theend 6% is normally biased away from thecontact rivet 59 and movement thereof to cause electrical engagement therebetween is effected by acam surface 70 formed on thearm 66 that forces theend 69a against thecontact rivet 59. With thearm 66 in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6, the cam surface 7i) permits theend 69a to be away from thecontact rivet 59.

As shown in FIG. 2, thebottom part 22 is preferably molded of plastic material to have arcuate threads 71 that cooperate witharcuate threads 72 formed in thelower casing 23 to thereby only releasably secure the bottom part to the lower casing and thus permit changing of thedry cells 55 and 56. In addition, the bottom part has adisk 73 that closes olf the bottom part.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 through 13 inclusive the power for supplying the motor instead of being from dry cells is from a battery that is capable of being recharged by ordinary household electric current.

The only change necessary in the heretofore described structure of a power actuator is to substitute the lower casing shown in FIGS. 9 through 13 for the lower casing and bottom part shown in the previously described embodiment. Referring to the electrical schematic diagrams, FIGS. 8 and 9, FIG. 8 of the lirst described embodiment discloses a motor placed in series with the dry cells and the switch. In the embodiment using the rechargeable batteries, hereinafter generally indicated by thereference numeral 74, themotor 27 is also placed in series with aswitch 75 andrechargeable battery 76. In addition, there is provided a one-Way valve 77 connected to oneterminal 78 with the switch being connected to another terminal 79. According to the present invention theterminals 7S and 79 are adapted to be connected to a source of household current and thereby effect charging of thebattery 76.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. l0, the lower casing is generally indicated by thereference numeral 80 and is hollow to contain therechargeable battery 76. The lower end of thebattery 76 is supported by and in electrical engagement with abracket 81 mounted on a supporting disk 82 with the batterys upper end baring against aspring 83 that abuts a closing plate 84 integrally formed with thelower casing 80. The supporting disk 82 has theterminals 73 and 79 secured therein to extend downwardly with the terminal 79 being connected to thebracket 81, the latter being electrically connected to the lower end of the battery. In addition the one-way valve 7'7 is connected to theother terminal 78 and to acommon junction 85, while motor leads 86 and 87 extend through the closingplate 84 to be secured to a contact rivet 8S and thecommon junction 85 respectively. The

E d supporting disk 82 further has connected thereto a contact rivet S9 connected to thebracket 81 and extending beneath the Supporting disk and a pivot pin 9) on which a switch actuating arm 91 is mounted. The arm 91 has acam surface 92 which, as in the previously described embodiment, engages aflexible conductor 93 having one portion secured to thecontact rivet 88 while itsother end 94 is movable by thecam surface 92 into and out of engagement with theContact rivet 89. Enclosing the bottom of the lower casing is a circular plate 9S having anopening 96 through which an electric plug (not shown) may extend to be in electrical contact with theterminals 78 and 79. Additionally, the switch arm has ayportion 97 that extends from the casing for manipulation by the user. v

In accordance with the present invention the switch arm torestalls the energizing of the motor from the battery whenever the terminals have an electric plug connected thereto for energizing the battery. Accordingly the switch arm is formed to have anabutment 98 that partially encircles, as shown by the dotted line position of the switch arm in FIG. 12, the terminal 78 when the switch arm is in the motor energizing position. Thus if a plug is connected to the terminals the switch arm cannot be moved to its motor energizing position while if the motor is energized, a plug cannot be secured to the terminals.

lt will accordingly be appreciated that there has been disclosed a power actuator for a toothbrush which pro- Vides for the control of the amplitude of vibration of a toothbrush carried thereby. In addition, the power actuator is so constructed and arranged that it is capable of receiving the normal conventional toothbrush handle and to grasp the same and cause it to be vibrated by the power actuator. The power actuator may utilize either dry cells, as in the rst described embodiment, or it may use rechargeable batteries, as described in the second embodiment. In both embodiments, however, the only change is in the lower casing which does not require alteration of the other parts so that in both ernbodiments many parts are common and hence may be economically manufactured.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1, A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motor means is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle for vibratory movement' with respect thereto, means for adjusting the amplitude of vibratory movement and toothbrush handle grasping means carried by said motor support whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

2. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motor means is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle for vibratory movement with respect thereto, means for adjusting the degree of resilience of said support to thereby provide adjustment of the amplitude of vibratory movement and toothbrush handle grasping means carried by said motor support whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

3. The invention as dened in claim 2 in which the adjustment means includes a member mounted for movement with respect to the motor support and having at least a portion located outside of the handle to be manually accessible.

4. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motor means is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle for vibratory movement with respect thereto and including a spring connected between the motor support and the handle, means for adjusting the degree of resilience of said support by varying the tension of said spring to thereby provide adjustment of the amplitude of vibratory movement and toothbrush handle grasping means carried by said motor support whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

5. The invention as dened in claim 4 in which the resilient mounting means of the motor support further includes a resilient member positioned between the handle and the motor support.

6. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motor means is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle for vibratory movement with respect thereto and including a spring connected between the motor support and the handle and a resilient member positioned between the handle and the motor support, means for adjusting the degree of resilience of said support and including a manually movable nut engaging the motor support and the handle for moving the motor support with respect to the handle to thereby provide adjustment of the amplitude of vibratory movement by varying the tension of said spring and toothbrush handle grasping means carried by said motor support whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

7. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support having a portion extending within the handle to which said motor is secured and a projecting portion extending beyond the handle, a pair of jaws carried by said portion, adjusting means engaging the jaws and motor support for moving the jaws to grasp a toothbrush handle positioned therebetween, and means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle tor vibratory movement with respect thereto whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

S. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support having a portion extending within the handle to which said motor is secured and a projecting portion extending beyond the handle and having a wall portion deiining a substantially deep recess, and having a pair of jaws carried by said portion, said jaws being positioned adjacent the opening of the recess and having planar faces for engaging opposite side portions of a toothbrush handle extending into the recess, adjusting means engaging the jaws and motor support for moving the jaws to grasp the toothbrush handle portion positioned therebetween, and means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle for vibratory movement with respect thereto whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

9. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support having a portion extending within the handle to which said motor is secured and a projecting portion extending beyond the handle, a pair of jaws carried by said portion, adjusting means engaging the jaws and motor support for moving the jaws to grasp a toothbrush handle positioned therebetween, and means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle for vibratory movement with respect thereto whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which each jaw has a ilaring portion engaging the end of the wall and the adjustable means for moving the jaws causes said end to engage the flaring portion to effect grasping movement of the jaws.

11. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle, electric motor vibrating means in'said handle and adapted upon energization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motor means is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle for vibratory movement with respect thereto, toothbrush handle grasping means carried by said motor support, said handle including a lower casing, a battery positioned with said casing and connected to the motor means to supply electrical energy thereto, a xed contact and a movable contact inseries circuit with said battery and motor and a pivoted switch arm for effecting electrical connections between said fixed and movable contacts.

12. The invention as defined in claim ll in which the battery is of the rechargeable type, a pair of terminals electrically connected thereto and adapted to be connected to a source of electircal energy for recharging the battery and meansfor preventing electrical connection between said xed and movable contacts when the battery is being recharged.

13. The invention as dened inclaim 11 in which the battery is of the rechargeable type, a pair of terminals electrically connected thereto and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and an abutment on said switch arm movable in the contact closing position to partially encircle at least one of said terminals.

No references cited.

ORIS L. RADER, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A POWER ACTUATOR FOR A TOOTHBRUSH COMPRISING A HOLLOW TUBULAR HANDLE ELECTRIC MOTOR VIBRATING MEANS IN SAID HANDLE AND ADAPTED UPON ENERGIZATION TO PRODUCE VIBRATIONS, A MOTOR SUPPORT TO WHICH SAID MOTOR MEANS IS SECURED MEANS RESILIENTLY MOUNTING THE MOTOR SUPPORT ON SAID HANDLE FOR VIBRATORY MOEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE AMPLITUDE OF VIBRATORY

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