Vibrating toothbrush

Abstract

A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviate weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage.

Claims

1. An oral care implement comprising: a body formed of rigid material and extending from a proximal end to a distal end along an axis; a mechanical vibratory device located in the body and circumferentially surrounded by the rigid material, the mechanical vibratory device including a motor and an eccentric weight and configured to generate vibrations; the body having a first axial portion located between the motor and the proximal end, a second axial portion located between the motor and the distal end, and a third axial portion axially aligned with the motor, wherein the eccentric weight is located in the second axial portion of the body; and the body comprising a vibration-reducing section, at least a portion of the vibration-reducing section being located on the third axial portion of the body and comprising an elastomeric material exposed on an outer surface of the body; wherein the rigid material of the body extends continuously from the proximal end to the distal end.

2. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the vibration-reducing section of the body is axially aligned with the motor.

3. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the vibration-reducing section is formed by at least a portion of the third axial portion of the body having a reduced thickness.

4. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the vibration-reducing section is formed by at least a portion of the third axial portion of the body having a reduced transverse cross-sectional area.

5. The oral care implement according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises: a head; a handle; and a neck disposed between the head and the handle.

6. The oral care implement according to claim 5 wherein the mechanical vibratory device is located in the neck and the vibration reducing section of the body is located along the neck.

7. An oral care implement comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis, an axial portion of the body comprising a cylindrical wall constructed of a hard plastic that circumferentially surrounds the longitudinal axis so as to form a cavity in the axial portion; a vibration-generating device positioned within the cavity; and the cylindrical wall having a section of reduced thickness for reducing transmission of vibrations in a first axial direction and an elastomeric material exposed on an outer surface of the body; wherein the hard plastic of the body extends continuously from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end being at opposing ends of the body along the longitudinal axis.

8. The oral care implement according to claim 7, wherein the section of reduced thickness defines a void that is filled with the elastomeric material.

9. The oral care implement according to claim 7 wherein the vibration-generating device comprises a motor and an eccentric weight, and wherein the section of reduced thickness is axially aligned with the motor.

10. An oral care implement comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis, a first axial region of the body formed by a cylindrical wall constructed of a hard plastic that circumferentially surrounds the longitudinal axis so as to form a cavity in the first axial region, a second axial region of the body located on a first side of the first axial region and a third axial region of the body located on a second side of the first axial region; a vibration-generating device positioned within the cavity, and the cylindrical wall having a section of reduced thickness and an elastomeric material exposed on an outer surface of the cylindrical wall; wherein the hard plastic of the body extends continuously from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end being at opposing ends of the body along the longitudinal axis.

11. The toothbrush in accordance with claim 10, wherein the vibration-generating device further comprises a power element and a vibratory element, the vibratory element positioned closer to the second axial region of the body than the power element, and wherein the section of reduced thickness is axially aligned with the power element.

12. The toothbrush in accordance with claim 10, wherein the section of reduced thickness reduces a transverse cross-section of the body by 10% to 50%.

13. The toothbrush in accordance with claim 10, wherein the section of reduced thickness is formed by a depression formed into the outer surface of the cylindrical wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a toothbrush of the present invention;

(2) FIGS. 2A and 2B are sides views of alternative embodiments of the invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

(4) FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The vibrating toothbrush of FIGS. 1-4 generally comprises a handle 1, a cleaning head 2 usually having cleaning elements 12, and a neck 3 disposed between the head 2 and the handle 1. While the cleaning head 2 illustrates bristles 12, other cleaning elements of various size, cross-section, material, etc., such as rubber elements, elastomeric elements, polishing elements, abrasive elements, floss-like cleaning elements, etc., may be used. The head 2 and neck 3 are usually formed of a relatively stiff material, such as polypropylene (PP), although other materials may be used. However, such material is also relatively elastic such that the neck and head can vibrate during use.

(6) The neck 3 contains a mechanical vibratory device 5 that preferably includes a motor 10 and a vibratory element such as an eccentric weight 9 connected thereto by a shaft 11. By methods well known in the art, the vibratory device 5 can be connected to a power source such as an electrical power source (e.g., a battery or batteries (not shown)) accommodated in the handle 1 via electrical connections 8 provided in the neck 3, and activated by a switch (not shown). Alternatively, the power source can be located outside of the toothbrush, such as with direct current via a wall socket connection. In addition, the neck 3 can be formed as a unitary structure with the head 2 and handle 1 such as by injection molding or the like, or it can be separable from the handle 1 (not shown) preferably along location 4.

(7) The mechanical vibratory device 5 produces vibrations in the head 2 through rotation of the eccentric weight 9 about the shaft 11. The motor 10 and eccentric weight 9 are preferably accommodated in a structural housing 15, which is preferably positioned in the neck 3 adjacent the head 2. The vibrations produced occur nearest the eccentric weight 9, which is positioned closer to the head 2 than the motor 10, which is closer to the handle 1 than the head 2. As noted above, the neck 3 is preferably made of an elastic material which facilitates the transmission of the vibrations from the weight 9 to the head 2. Of course, the mechanical vibratory device 5 can be positioned in a location that is not adjacent the head 2 as shown, as long as there are means to transmit the generated vibrations to the head 2.

(8) In order to reduce the transmission of vibrations below the eccentric weight 9 or toward the handle 1, the neck construction is altered adjacent or below the eccentric weight 9 to further isolate the vibrations in the head 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the cross-section of the neck 3 is thinned along an exterior section 20 to reduce the amount of neck material below the eccentric weight 9, which in turn reduces the capacity of the neck material to transmit vibrations to the handle 1, and which in turn isolates a majority of the vibrations in the head 2. Structural support for the thinned neck region 20 is provided by the housing 15 of the mechanical vibratory device 5. In other words, the housing 15 reinforces the neck 3 along the thinned region 20. As a result of the thinned neck region 20, a noticeable increase in head vibration is achieved and transmission of vibrations to the handle 1 is minimized, all without sacrificing structural neck strength along the thinned neck region 20. In this embodiment, it is preferable to position the thinned region 20 between the weight 9 and the base 7 of the motor 10, and more preferably along the housing 15, with the motor 10 and/or housing 15 providing structural support for the reduced neck cross section.

(9) FIG. 2A illustrates an alternative embodiment, wherein material is removed along an interior section 22 of the neck 3 to create one or more void spaces. The interior section 22 would not be visible to the casual observer as the outer neck wall 24 would appear to be uninterrupted. While it is preferred that the interior section 22 exist as a void with the highest vibration dampening capacity, such section may be filled with a dampening material if desired. Again, the mechanical vibratory device 5 and/or housing 15 provide the structural support for the neck 3 around the interior section 22.

(10) FIG. 2B illustrates an alternative embodiment, wherein neck material is removed along an exterior section 26 of the neck 3 to create one or more void spaces. Such exterior section can extend between the housing 15 and an outer wall of the neck 3. While it is preferred that the exterior section 26 exist as a void with the highest vibration dampening capacity, such section may be filled with a dampening material if desired. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-2B, the neck, by virtue of the sections 20, 22 or 26, is reduced in cross-section by a magnitude of preferably 5%-90%, and more preferably 10%-50%. This translates into a significant reduction in the transmission of vibrations to the handle, with a significant increase in the isolation of such vibrations in the head.

(11) In FIGS. 3 and 4, one (FIG. 3) or more (FIG. 4) void regions 28, 30 are created along the sides of the neck 3 and preferably, although not necessarily, filled with dampening material 13. The dampening material 13 has a capacity to transmit vibrations that is less than the transmission capacity of the original neck material. For example, the neck material could be formed from PP, while the one or more void regions, which can be created by strategically removing the PP neck material, can be filled with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Again, the mechanical vibratory device 5 and/or housing 15 provide the structural support for the neck 3 around the void regions 28, 30.

(12) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, for example, the rear of the neck wall can be lined with a dampening material 13 such as TPE along the entire neck region 30, while the sides and front are formed of PP. In such embodiment, the TPE provides a dampening benefit by virtue of its material properties, but its extension beyond the boundaries of the mechanical vibratory device 5 and/or housing 15 do not create a vibration-isolating effect. Instead, additional PP neck portions 28 that are removed and retained as voids or substituted with TPE, act to isolate the vibrations from the device 5 in the head 2, and further reduce the transmission of such vibrations to the handle 1. If filled with TPE, these additional neck portions 28 would preferably constitute forward extensions of the dampening material 13 lining the rear of the neck wall.

(13) In the embodiment of FIG. 4, void regions 28, 30 are provided on both sides of the neck 3 below the weight 9 and are preferably filled with a material 13 having a capacity to transmit vibrations that is less than the capacity to transmit vibrations of the original neck material. A bridge 14 of neck material is defined between the regions 28, 30, to structurally connect head 2 to the handle 1. Again, the mechanical vibratory device 5 and/or housing 15 provide the structural support around the void regions 28, 30.