Patent US3577579A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3577579A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric toothbrush
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-10-29
•
Granted: 1971-05-04
•
Expires: 1989-10-29
Abstract
Abstract An electric cordless toothbrushing device having a power handle with a drive shaft extending from one end thereof and a toothbrush attachment which is securable to the remote end of said shaft. The power handle includes a battery-powered motor which by means of a motion-converting mechanism drives the shaft so that the rotary power of the motor is translated to an orbital motion at the toothbrush attachment. An improved electric switch is provided to control the energization of the motor.
Inventors
- 👤 John P Duve
- 👤 Douglas E Beck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00; A61C17/16; A61C17/22; A61C17/32; A61C17/34; A61C17/3409; A61C17/3472; A61C17/3418; A61C17/3445; A61C2204/00; A61C2204/002; B; B29; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/42; B29L2031/425; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/1804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An electric toothbrushing device comprising an elongated housing containing an electric motor, a drive shaft extending from said housing and lying along a given axis, the remote end of said shaft adapted for carrying a toothbrush attachment, bearing means in said housing supporting said shaft for longitudinal movement along said axis and for pivotal movement with respect to said axis, motion-converting means disposed within said housing connecting said motor with said shaft so that the rotary motion from said motor causes said toothbrush attachment to move with an orbital motion wherein said shaft simultaneously moves longitudinally and pivotally with respect to its axis, said motion-converting means including a member supported for rotation on an axis parallel to and spaced from the shaft axis, saId member being rotated by said motor and having an eccentric offset from the axis of rotation of said member, a fork attached to said shaft and disposed at an angle less than ninety degrees to the shaft axis, said fork being connected to said eccentric so that the rotation of said member causes said eccentric to both oscillate said fork and to reciprocate said fork for producing an orbital motion at said toothbrush attachment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An electric toothbrushing device comprising an elongated housing containing an electric motor, a drive shaft extending from said housing and lying along a given axis, the remote end of said shaft adapted for carrying a toothbrush attachment, bearing means in said housing supporting said shaft for longitudinal movement along said axis and for pivotal movement with respect to said axis, motion-converting means disposed within said housing connecting said motor with said shaft so that the rotary motion from said motor causes said toothbrush attachment to move with an orbital motion wherein said shaft simultaneously moves longitudinally and pivotally with respect to its axis, said motion-converting means including a member supported for rotation on an axis parallel to and spaced from the shaft axis, saId member being rotated by said motor and having an eccentric offset from the axis of rotation of said member, a fork attached to said shaft and disposed at an angle less than ninety degrees to the shaft axis, said fork being connected to said eccentric so that the rotation of said member causes said eccentric to both oscillate said fork and to reciprocate said fork for producing an orbital motion at said toothbrush attachment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The electric toothbrushing device of claim 1 wherein said fork is formed with a radially extending longitudinal slot, said eccentric being disposed in said slot, said eccentric formed with means engaging opposite sides of said fork whereby the circular movement of said eccentric forces said fork to simultaneously oscillate and reciprocate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electric toothbrushing device of claim 2 wherein said eccentric means includes two spaced annular shoulders which engage said fork in rolling contact at opposite sides of said slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electric toothbrush comprising a housing from one end of which extends a drive shaft, the remote end of said shaft formed to carry a toothbrush attachment, a motor in said housing rotating an eccentric, a fork rigidly secured to said shaft and connected to said eccentric, means supporting said eccentric and preventing linear movement thereof in a direction parallel to said shaft, said fork including first surface means engaging said eccentric so that the rotation of said eccentric causes said shaft to oscillate, and second surface means angularly engaging said eccentric so that the rotation of said eccentric causes said shaft to reciprocate whereby the rotation of said eccentric causes said toothbrush attachment to have an orbital movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electric toothbrush comprising a housing from one end of which extends a drive shaft, the remote end of said shaft formed to carry a toothbrush attachment, a motor in said housing rotating an eccentric, a fork rigidly secured to said shaft and connected to said eccentric, means supporting said eccentric and preventing linear movement thereof in a direction parallel to said shaft, said fork including first surface means engaging said eccentric so that the rotation of said eccentric causes said shaft to oscillate, and second surface means angularly engaging said eccentric so that the rotation of said eccentric causes said shaft to reciprocate whereby the rotation of said eccentric causes said toothbrush attachment to have an orbital movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The electric toothbrush of claim 4 wherein said fork defines a slot into which said eccentric extends, said eccentric formed with opposed spaced chamfers which engage said fork second surface means at opposite sides of said slot, said second surface means lying in planes which are angularly disposed with respect to said eccentric chamfers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electric toothbrush of claim 5 including bearing means supporting said shaft for oscillation and reciprocation with respect to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electric toothbrush of claim 6 wherein said motor includes an end bracket which supports said bearing means and a pin on which said eccentric is rotatably mounted, said pin being parallel to said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
159 words
An electric toothbrush comprising a housing in which an electric motor is positioned, a drive shaft extending from one end of said housing and on which a toothbrush attachment is mountable, said shaft being supported by spaced aligned bearings for oscillation and longitudinal reciprocation, an arm secured to said shaft between said bearings and extending away from the axis of said shaft, eccentric means mounted in said housing for rotation by said motor, means preventing linear movement of said eccentric means in a direction parallel to the axis of said shaft, said arm having surface means inclined with respect to the direction of the axis of said shaft, said arm engaging said eccentric means so that the rotation thereof causes said shaft to oscillate, and said arm surface means engaging said eccentric in such a manner that the rotation thereof causes said shaft to reciprocate whereby the movement of said shaft imparts an orbital movement to said toothbrush attachment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
159 words
An electric toothbrush comprising a housing in which an electric motor is positioned, a drive shaft extending from one end of said housing and on which a toothbrush attachment is mountable, said shaft being supported by spaced aligned bearings for oscillation and longitudinal reciprocation, an arm secured to said shaft between said bearings and extending away from the axis of said shaft, eccentric means mounted in said housing for rotation by said motor, means preventing linear movement of said eccentric means in a direction parallel to the axis of said shaft, said arm having surface means inclined with respect to the direction of the axis of said shaft, said arm engaging said eccentric means so that the rotation thereof causes said shaft to oscillate, and said arm surface means engaging said eccentric in such a manner that the rotation thereof causes said shaft to reciprocate whereby the movement of said shaft imparts an orbital movement to said toothbrush attachment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electric toothbrush of claim 8 wherein said eccentric means includes a gear portion, a pinion mounted to said motor and engaging said gear portion for rotating said eccentric means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electric toothbrush of claim 8 wherein said arm surface means includes two flat surfaces which are parallel and spaced in the direction of the shaft axis, said eccentric means having contact means for simultaneously engaging both said surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electric toothbrush of claim 9 wherein said contact means is in rolling engagement with said flat surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electric toothBrush of claim 11 wherein said arm has a slot with parallel internal surfaces which engage said eccentric means in a rolling engagement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-03 | 1974-11-02 | 1975-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-03 | 1978-11-02 | 1979-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-03 | 1982-11-02 | 1983-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |