Abstract:
A toothbrush head that includes a main body portion and a generally cylindrical connection member extending downwardly and defining an axis. The connection member includes bottom, outer and inner surfaces and a central opening. The connection member also includes a first lower protrusion that includes first and second inclined surfaces extending inwardly from the inner surface, a first slot defined in the bottom surface and the inner surface, a first lower notch defined in the inner surface, and a first opening defined in the inner surface above the first lower protrusion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/274,222, filed Oct. 14, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connection system, and more particularly to a system for connecting an electric toothbrush handle and head. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     After a certain amount of use, the brush heads on electric toothbrushes often wear out and need to be replaced. A connection system for connecting a new head to the handle that is easy for a consumer to use is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a toothbrush head that includes a main body portion and a generally cylindrical connection member extending downwardly from the main body portion. The connection member defines an axis and includes a bottom surface, an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a central opening, a first lower protrusion includes first and second inclined surfaces extending inwardly from the inner surface, a first slot defined in the bottom surface and the inner surface, a first lower notch defined in the inner surface, and a first opening defined in the inner surface above the first lower protrusion. The first slot and the first lower notch are disposed on opposite sides of the first lower protrusion. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush that includes a handle and head. The handle includes a main body portion and a neck extending upwardly from the main body portion. The neck includes first upper and lower tabs and a first lug positioned between the first upper and lower tabs. The neck also includes second upper and lower tabs and a second lug positioned between the second upper and lower tabs. The head includes a main body portion and a generally cylindrical connection member extending downwardly and defining an axis. The connection member includes bottom, outer and inner surfaces and a central opening. The connection member also includes a first lower protrusion that includes first and second inclined surfaces extending inwardly from the inner surface, a first slot defined in the bottom surface and the inner surface, a first lower notch defined in the inner surface, and a first opening defined in the inner surface above the first lower protrusion. The first slot and the first lower notch are disposed on opposite sides of the first lower protrusion, the first lower tab is positioned in the first lower notch and the first lug is positioned in the first opening. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting a first object to a second object. The method includes the steps of providing a first object that includes a main body portion and a neck extending upwardly from the main body portion, and providing a second object that includes a main body portion and a generally cylindrical connection member extending downwardly therefrom. The neck includes a first upper tab, a first lower tab and a first lug positioned between the first upper tab and first lower tab. The neck also includes a second upper tab, a second lower tab and a second lug positioned between the second upper tab and second lower tab. The connection member defines an axis and includes a bottom surface, an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a central opening, a first lower protrusion that includes first and second inclined surfaces extending inwardly from the inner surface, a first slot defined in the bottom surface and the inner surface, a first lower notch defined in the inner surface, and a first opening defined in the inner surface above the first lower protrusion. The first slot and the first lower notch are disposed on opposite sides of the first lower protrusion. The method further includes positioning the second object on the first object such that the neck is received in the central opening and the first lug is received in the first slot, and rotating the first object to a position where the first lower tab is positioned in the first lower notch and the first lug is positioned in the first opening. In a preferred embodiment, the first object is an electric toothbrush handle and the second object is an electric toothbrush head. 
     The invention, together with additional features and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electric toothbrush having a handle and head removably connected to one another in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the handle neck of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a detailed view of the back of the handle neck of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1  showing the lug and tabs; 
         FIG. 3B  is a detailed view of the front of the handle neck of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1  showing the lug and tabs; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the inside of the bottom of the brush head of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the inside of the bottom of the brush head of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a bottom plan view of the brush head of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brush head taken along line  6 B— 6 B of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brush head taken along line  6 C— 6 C of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the brush head of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the head and handle on the electric toothbrush of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments. 
     Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the-disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments. 
     The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks: The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. 
     Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein. Nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussed herein is illustrative only, and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. 
     Without intent to further limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control. 
     It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “upper,” “lower,” “side,” “short,” “long,” “up,” “down,” and “below” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to the drawings, which are for purposes of illustrating the present invention and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIGS. 1-9  show an electric toothbrush  10  having a handle  12  and head  14  that are connected by a connection  16 . It will be understood that the electrical components of the handle and the components for transmitting motion (e.g., rotational motion) to the toothbrush head and bristles are known. Therefore, a discussion of these components will be omitted. However, it should be understood that when the head  14  is docked with the handle  12 , internal components on each come into mechanical communication, which allows the power supplied by the electrical components to rotate the bristles. 
     It should be further understood that the connection system described herein can be used for connecting any two objects and is not limited to an electric toothbrush. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment, the toothbrush  10  includes the head  14 , a ring  18 , and the handle  12 , which includes a main body portion  19  with a neck  20 , for receiving or docking with the head  14 . Generally, the head  14  docks with the neck  20  via a twisting or rotating motion and the interaction of the components on the head  14  and neck  20  retain the head  14  in place. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-9 , the connection  16  includes a front connection assembly  22   a  and a rear connection assembly  22   b . It will be understood that the components associated with the front connection assembly  22   a  are all labeled with an “a” and the corresponding components associated with the rear connection assembly  22   b  are labeled with a “b.” It will be further understood that, in a preferred embodiment, the only difference between the front and rear connection assemblies is the size of certain components (described below). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-3B , the neck  20  includes front and rear lugs  24   a  and  24   b , which each include upper tabs  26   a  and  26   b  and lower tabs  28   a  and  28   b  associated therewith. In a preferred embodiment, each of the lugs  24   a  and  24   b  include a bevel  29   a  and  29   b.    
     As is shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , head  14  includes a main body portion  30  with a connection member  32  extending downwardly therefrom. The connection member  32  includes an outer surface  32   a , an inner surface  32   b , a bottom surface  32   b  and a central opening  33 , which is sized to receive neck  20 . The connection member  32  also includes front and rear slots  34   a  and  34   b  which are sized to receive front and rear lugs  22   a  and  22   b , respectively. The connection member  32  further includes front and rear openings  36   a  and  36   b , front and rear upper protrusions  38   a  and  38   b , front and rear lower protrusions  40   a  and  40   b , front and rear upper notches  42   a  and  42   b , front and rear lower notches  44   a  and  44   b  and front and rear abutment surfaces  46   a  and  46   b.    
     It will be understood that the front and rear connection assemblies  22   a  and  22   b  connect in substantially the same way. Therefore, to simplify the description of the establishment of the connection, only the front connection assembly  22   a  will be described. This description also applies to the rear connection assembly  22   b . In use, to establish the connection  16 , the neck  20  is inserted into central opening such that slot  34   a  is aligned with lug  24   a . Lug  24   a  is therefore received in slot  31   a  in a generally axial direction. At this point, the upper surface of lugs  24  should abut surface  46   a  (however, it does not have to). 
     Next, the head  14  is twisted or rotated in a clockwise direction and the inclined surfaces on upper and lower protrusions  38   a  and  40   a  contact upper and lower tabs  26   a  and  28   a . In another embodiment, the rotation can be counter-clockwise. As a result of the material that comprises the portion of the connection meniber  32  where the upper and lower protrusions  38   a  and  40   a  are disposed and the inclined surface, the upper and lower protrusions  38   a  and  40   a  flex outwardly to move passed the upper and lower tabs  26   a  and  28   a , which results in the upper and lower tabs  26   a  and  28   a  seating/positioned in upper and lower notches  42   a  and  44   a . Also, lug  24   a  is seated/positioned in opening  36   a . It will be understood that bevel  29   a  is included to help position lug  24   a  properly during the twisting action. Bevel  29   a  contacts lower protrusion  40   a  and moves lug  24   a  upwardly if needed to properly seat lug  24   a  in opening  36   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , slot  34   a  has a greater diameter or is deeper than upper and lower notches  42   a  and  44   a . This helps hold the head  14  in place after being connected to the handle  12 . 
     To undock the head  14  from neck  20  the head  14  is rotated counter-clockwise until lug  24   a  is positioned in slot  34   a  and then the head  14  is moved in a generally axial direction. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the connection member  32  includes a circumferential channel  48  defined in the outside surface  32   a  thereof for receiving the ring  18 . Preferably, the circumferential channel  48  includes notches that receive protrusions on the inner diameter of the ring  18  and that prevent the ring  18  from rotating. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the front and rear lugs  24   a  and  24   b  and the corresponding front and rear slots  34   a  and  34   b  are sized such that head  14  cannot be installed backwards. As is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , front lug  24   a  has a greater length dimension than rear lug  24   b . And, as shown in  FIG. 6 , front slot  34   a  has a greater width dimension than rear slot  34   b . With this arrangement, front lug  24   a  will not fit in rear slot  34   b , thus preventing accidentally placing the head  14  on backwards. 
     It will be understood that modifications can be made to the connection  16  and the components thereof. For example, the front connection assembly or the rear connection assembly can be omitted. Only one set of tabs, protrusions, and notches (either upper or lower) can be present and the other omitted. The bevels can be omitted. Openings  36   a  and  36   b  do not have to extend through the connection member, but can instead be troughs or the like. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The above-detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of and examples for the disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges. 
     Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Aspects of the disclosure can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure. 
     Accordingly, although exemplary enibodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that all the terms used herein are descriptive rather than limiting, and that many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.