Patent ID: 6453498
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
An electric toothbrush comprising:a housing incorporating an electric motor having a drive shaft that rotates about a longitudinal axis of the housing; a shank extending beyond one end of the housing generally in line with the longitudinal axis that supports a brush head at its remote end, the shank being pivotably supported intermediate its length adjacent the one end of the housing; and a mechanical coupling between the drive shaft and a near end of the shank arranged to cause both the near end and the brush head to move through a circular path as the drive shaft rotates, the mechanical coupling further comprising an eccentric cam mounted to the drive shaft and a cup that fits over and engages sides of the cam on the drive shaft, the cup mounted on the near end of the shank, the eccentric cam having a peripheral continuous channel that extends axially with respect to the longitudinal axis and the cup has a finger that engages in the channel so that when the drive shaft rotates the cup is urged backwards and forwards along the longitudinal axis.