Patent ID: 7404226
Filing Date: 2008-07-29
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
1. An electric toothbrush comprising: a) a handle; b) a brush head comprising a head body and a plurality of bristles fixed to the head body; c) a reciprocating bar provided inside the handle; d) an actuator that moves the reciprocating bar back and forth; e) an actuator receiving recess provided inside the head body of the brush head, wherein the reciprocating bar is protruded from the handle and received in the actuator receiving recess; f) an engaging device that engages the brush head with the reciprocating bar so that the brush head moves relative to the reciprocating bar in either penetration mode or polishing mode; and g) a selection device that places the engaging device either in the penetration mode or the polishing mode; h) an electric power source; wherein the brush head moves together with the reciprocating bar in the polishing mode, wherein the brush head is free to move relative to the reciprocating bar within a predetermined distance in the penetration mode, wherein the longitudinal axis of the brush head is inclined from the longitudinal axis of the handle with a predetermined angle, wherein the handle comprises a connecting sleeve that is provided on the end of the handle that is adjacent to the brush head, wherein the selection device comprises: a) a selection sleeve that is provided between the handle and the brush head and surrounds the connecting sleeve; b) a selection protrusion that is provided inside the selection sleeve; and c) a selection groove that is provided on the connecting sleeve and receives the selection protrusion; wherein the selection groove comprises two angularly spaced mode recesses that keep the selection protrusion either in the polishing mode or the penetration mode.