A method and an apparatus for performing a localization of a movable treatment device having an inertial sensor and configured to treat a target surface. A motion pattern recognition device discriminates between two or more motion patterns contained in a set of motion patterns. An interface provides at least one inertial sensor data from the inertial sensor to the motion pattern recognition device. At least one inertial sensor data represents a movement of the movable treatment device. A neural network is configured to receive the at least one inertial sensor data and to map the at least one inertial sensor data to at least one motion pattern contained in the set of motion patterns associated with one or more different zones of the target surface so that the mapping of the at least one inertial sensor data with the at least one motion pattern indicates an estimation of the location of the device with respect to at least one zone of the target surface.

The transmission according to the invention for an electric toothbrush serves for the transmission and reforming of a rotational movement provided by an electric motor into a particularly careful and effective cleaning movement of a cleaning element. The ratio of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of an output shaft and the longitudinal mid-axis of a drive shaft of the transmission and of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of a shaft driving a cam of the transmission and the longitudinal mid-axis of the cam amounts to at least 10:1.

A brush head assembly (100) comprising a sandwich assembly (200) comprising a flexible matrix (30) positioned between two layers of stiff or stiffer material (220), a plurality of bristle tufts (21), each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands, each bristle tuft having a proximal end (23) and a free end (25), a bristle tuft retention element (250) for each bristle tuft (21), the bristle tuft retention elements (250) connecting the proximal end of the bristle tufts (21) to the sandwich assembly.

The transmission according to the invention for an electric toothbrush serves for the transmission and reforming of a rotational movement provided by an electric motor into a particularly careful and effective cleaning movement of a cleaning element. The ratio of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of an output shaft and the longitudinal mid-axis of a drive shaft of the transmission and of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of a shaft driving a cam of the transmission and the longitudinal mid-axis of the cam amounts to at least 10:1.

An electrically driven device includes an electric motor with a drive shaft having a first rotary axis and a drive pin eccentrically thereto, and a driven shaft having a second rotary axis and mounted for pivoting motion. The driven shaft is coupled to the drive shaft by a scotch yoke mechanism, converting a rotary motion of the drive shaft into a reciprocating pivoting motion of the driven shaft. The scotch yoke mechanism includes a cross slider having a sliding support extending perpendicular to the first rotary axis and receiving the drive pin either directly or by a sliding block having a bearing receiving the pin. The cross slider is axially guided to move in an axial direction perpendicular to the first rotary axis and to the extension of the sliding support. The driven shaft is coupled to the cross slider by a pivotable crank arm, thereby converting a rotary motion of the drive shaft into a reciprocating motion of the driven shaft.

A teeth cleaning system, which provides improved coverage or brushing area. The system includes an actuated tray comprises brushing elements. The brushing elements may be positioned to engage the front, rear, and top surfaces of the upper and lower jaw teeth. The actuation may be configured to oscillate the tray in a lateral direction which may brush all the surfaces of teeth simultaneously. Some embodiments include a higher density of bristles which increases the effectiveness of brushing. In addition, aspects of the system reduce the time spent brushing teeth.

The transmission according to the invention for an electric toothbrush serves for the transmission and reforming of a rotational movement provided by an electric motor into a particularly careful and effective cleaning movement of a cleaning element. The ratio of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of an output shaft and the longitudinal mid-axis of a drive shaft of the transmission and of the distance between the longitudinal mid-axis of a shaft driving a cam of the transmission and the longitudinal mid-axis of the cam amounts to at least 10:1.

In some embodiments, an oral care implement includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a head disposed at the distal end of the elongate body, a plurality of bristles disposed at the head, a speaker, a sound chamber, and a water impermeable membrane. The speaker is disposed in the elongate body to emit sound corresponding to audio received from an audio source. Speakers disposed in a distance spaced from the proximal end of the elongate body and is configured to emit sound toward the proximal end of the elongate body. The sound chamber includes an elongate internal space extending from the first opening proximate the speaker the second proximate the proximal end of the elongate body. Sound emitted from the speaker passes through the sound chamber. The water impermeable membrane occludes the sound chamber between the speaker and the proximal end.

In some embodiments, a method of controlling an oral care implement having an audio output device and a movable oral cleaning element driven by a motor includes receiving a user instruction to commence a cleaning sequence; playing, via the audio output device, an audio instruction relating to oral cleaning; after completion of playing the audio instruction relating to oral cleaning, controlling the motor to drive the oral cleaning element; a predetermined time after operating the motor to drive the oral cleaning element, controlling the motor to stop driving the oral cleaning element; and at least in part in response to controlling the motor to stop driving the oral cleaning element, playing, via the audio output device, a recording containing praise.

Provided is an oral care implement (1), comprising: a body (100); a carrier (130) connected to the body (100) and movable relative to the body (100), the carrier carrying one or more cleaning elements (134); a carrier drive mechanism (200) operable to drive movement of the carrier (130) relative to the body (100); an auxiliary device (400); and an auxiliary device drive mechanism (600) that is selectively engagable with the carrier drive mechanism (200) during operation of the carrier drive mechanism, so as to selectively operate the auxiliary device (400) during movement of the carrier (130) relative to the body (100). Also provided is a method of operating the oral care implement (1), and a kit of parts for an oral care implement.