Abstract:
A powered toothbrush assembly ( 100 ) includes an outer housing ( 102, 104 ), a brush head ( 106 ) and a fluid nozzle ( 138 ) adjacent the brush head ( 106 ), an inner housing ( 122 ) disposed within the outer housing ( 102,104 ) and having a motor ( 130 ) which is in operative engagement with the brush head ( 106 ) to impart motion to the brush head ( 106 ) and a pump mechanism ( 134 ) disposed within the inner housing ( 122 ). The outer housing ( 102,104 ) and the inner housing ( 122 ) define a chamber ( 142 ) therebetween for accommodating a fluid. The pump mechanism ( 134 ) includes a pump housing ( 156 ) having a pump inlet ( 168 ) dimensioned to permit entry of the fluid from the chamber ( 142 ) and a pump outlet ( 172 ) for permitting exit of the fluid from the pump housing ( 156 ), a pump ( 170 ) for imparting energy to the fluid entering the pump inlet ( 168 ) and directing the fluid to the pump outlet ( 172 ) and a conduit ( 180 ) in fluid communication with the pump outlet ( 172 ) and the fluid nozzle ( 138 ) for directing the fluid to the fluid nozzle ( 138 ) for release under pressure therefrom.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a toothbrush, and, in particular, relates to an electric or battery operated toothbrush having fluid jet capabilities. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Various toothbrush devices are commonly known in the art including manual toothbrushes and electrical/battery operated toothbrushes. Examples of such toothbrushes are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.: 6,735,804, 6,597,000 Des. 456,608 and Des. 457,000, the entire contents of each disclosure being incorporated by reference herein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention relates to further improvements in electrical or battery operated toothbrush assemblies. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a powered toothbrush assembly includes an outer housing, a brush head and a fluid nozzle adjacent the brush head, an inner housing disposed within the outer housing and having a motor which is in operative engagement with the brush head to impart motion to the brush head and a pump mechanism disposed within the inner housing. The outer housing and the inner housing define a chamber therebetween for accommodating a fluid. The pump mechanism includes a pump housing having a pump inlet dimensioned to permit entry of the fluid from the chamber and a pump outlet for permitting exit of the fluid from the pump housing, a pump for imparting energy to the fluid entering the pump inlet and directing the fluid to the pump outlet and a conduit in fluid communication with the pump outlet and the fluid nozzle for directing the fluid to the fluid nozzle for release under pressure therefrom. 
         [0006]    The pump mechanism may be operable in a first mode of operation for directing air passing through an air inlet adjacent the pump housing and fluidly couplable with the conduit to the fluid nozzle and a second mode of operation for directing the fluid in liquid form contained within the chamber to the fluid nozzle. 
         [0007]    A manually activated actuator may be mounted to the outer housing. The actuator is movable between a first condition corresponding to the first mode of operation of the pump mechanism and a second condition corresponding to the second mode of operation of the pump mechanism. 
         [0008]    A drive mechanism may be associated with the pump mechanism. The drive mechanism is in operative engagement with the motor to impart motion to the brush head. The drive mechanism may includes a cam member in operative engagement with the motor, an elongated drive member operatively coupled to the cam member and adapted for reciprocal movement upon movement of the cam member, at least one drive gear operatively coupled to the drive member and adapted for reciprocal movement therewith and wherein the brush head includes a plurality of individual bristles. Each bristle may have a bristle gear adapted to cooperatively engage the at least one drive gear, whereby movement of the drive gears causes corresponding rotational movement of the bristle gears and the bristles. 
         [0009]    The powered toothbrush may include a liquid check valve adjacent the pump outlet. The liquid check valve is dimensioned to prevent retrograde liquid flow. An air check valve may be adjacent the air inlet, and dimensioned to prevent liquid flow through the air inlet. A pressure valve may be in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and dimensioned to open upon achieving a predetermined pressure in the fluid conduit, to thereby permit release of the liquid into the fluid chamber. 
         [0010]    A manually activated power switch may be provided to power the motor. A power source may be in electrical communication with the pump. The power source may include a rechargeable battery. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure arc described hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of the toothbrush with fluid jet assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view with parts separated of the toothbrush assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view with portions of the main housing removed illustrating the inner housing; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view with portions of the inner housing removed illustrating components of the motor and the drive mechanism; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of the toothbrush assembly; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are perspective views of the drive and pump mechanisms of the toothbrush assembly; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are perspective views of the water pump and associated components of the toothbrush assembly; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 11-13  are views of the water pump illustrating stages of operation of the toothbrush assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar components throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1-2  illustrate the toothbrush with fluid/water jet assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Toothbrush assembly  100  is electrically or battery operated and has a driven bristle head with fluid jet capabilities for mouth cleansing and food particle removal. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-2 , toothbrush assembly  100  includes outer main housing  102 , top housing  104  coupled to the main housing  102  and brush head  106 , these components constituting the outer housing of the toothbrush assembly  100 . Although shown as separate units adapted for releasable connection to each other, main housing  102 , top housing  104 , and brush head  106  may be a single monolithic or integral housing unit. Toothbrush assembly  100  further includes a manually activated power or on/off switch  108  and a fluid jet or manually activated fluid actuator  110  with on/off capabilities. 
         [0022]    The remaining external components of toothbrush assembly  100  include decorative cover  112  for mounting to main housing  102 , light or LED cover  114  for enclosing a light mounted within main housing  102  and fluid or liquid tank cover  116 . Fluid tank cover  116  is releasably mountable to main housing  102  and permits access to an internal fluid chamber to permit the operator to supply the fluid chamber with fluid. A socket  118  with electrical contacts is disposed on the lower surface of main housing  102 . A release lock  120  is provided to permit release of the top housing  104  and/or brush head  106 . The release lock  120  may be any known locking mechanism selected to releasably connect the components. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-6 , the interior of toothbrush assembly  100  will be discussed. Toothbrush assembly  100  includes internal or inner housing  122  which is fluid proof or tight and accommodates the functional components of the toothbrush assembly  100 . Inner housing  122  includes, or has mounted therein, induction charging coil  124 , rechargeable battery  126  in electrical connection with the induction coil  124  and lamp or LED  128  which is exposed through a lens or cover within the inner housing  122 . Inner housing  122  further encloses motor  130 , a drive or cam mechanism  132 , a pump mechanism  134  associated with the drive mechanism  132 , a conduit  130  in fluid communication with the pump mechanism  134  and with a jet nozzle  138  disposed adjacent rotary bristle head  140 . Motor  130  may be any dc motor suitable for its intended purpose of driving a small appliance, or may be an ac motor. The components of the drive mechanism  132  and the pump mechanism  134  will be discussed in detail hereinbelow. 
         [0024]      100211  Outer housing  102 ,  104  and inner housing  122  define an internal chamber  142  therebetween when assembled. Internal chamber  142  is for accommodating fluids, e.g., liquids having antiseptic qualities or the like, or even water, to be supplied to, and distributed by pump mechanism  134 . Tank cover  116  permits access to internal chamber  142  to permit the operator to supply the chamber  142  with the desired fluid. Sealing rings or gaskets  144 ,  146  are disposed on the upper and lower areas of inner housing  122  and engage the internal wall of housings  102 ,  104  in sealed relation therewith to prevent ingress or egress of fluids relative to the internal chamber  142 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7-8  in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , cam or drive mechanism  132  will be described. In one embodiment, drive mechanism  132  includes pinion gear  148  mounted to the output or spindle of motor  130 , crown gear  150  in intermeshing relation with the pinion gear  148 , and drive crank shaft  152  connected to crown gear  150 . The longitudinal axis of the drive crank shaft  152  may be offset from the axis about which the crown gear  150  (e.g., an eccentric gear) rotates and may be connected to the crown gear  150  through an appropriate bearing or the like. Accordingly, rotational movement of pinion gear  148  occurring during operation of motor  130  will cause crown gear  150  to rotate, which, in turn effects drive crank shaft  152  to move in a reciprocal longitudinal motion (in the direction of arrows “k”) with respect to the axis of the crank shaft  152 . Drive crank shaft  152  is connected to stainless steel actuator rod  154  which extends through an opening in water pump housing  156 . 
         [0026]    Referring again to  FIGS. 5-7 , actuator rod  154  may be connected to another rod element  158  (preferably, plastic) which extends within brush head  106 . Rod element  158  preferably includes at least one or a pair of opposed racks  160  which interact with gears  162  attached to bristles  164 . Reciprocal longitudinal movement of racks  160  during corresponding reciprocal longitudinal movement of rod element  158  causes gears  162  to rotate in corresponding clockwise and counterclockwise directional movements, which in turn, causes bristles  164  to also oscillate or rotate in similar manner. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-10 , in conjunction with  FIGS. 7-8 , pump mechanism  134  will be discussed. Pump mechanism  134  includes pump housing  156  which at least partially receives water pump crank shaft  166 . Pump housing  156  permits entry and exit of fluids from internal chamber  142 . Specifically, pump housing  156  includes fluid inlet port  168  which is fluidly couplable with internal chamber  142  to permit entry and passage of fluid during activation of pump mechanism  134 . Within pump housing  156  and attached to pump crank shaft  166  is pump or piston  170  which drives the fluid through fluid outlet port  172  during operation of the pump mechanism  156 . 
         [0028]    Pump mechanism  134  is actuated through motor  130  which drives crown gear  150  as discussed hereinabove. The longitudinal axis of the pump crank shaft  166  may be offset from the axis about which the crown gear  150  rotates and may be connected to the crown gear  150  through an appropriate bearing or the like. Accordingly, rotational movement of crown gear  150  will effect pump crank shaft  166  to move in a reciprocal longitudinal motion (in the direction of arrows “m”) with respect to the axis of the pump crank shaft  166 . Piston  170  may be pivotally coupled to pump crank shaft  166  and will maintain its vertical orientation through its confinement within pump housing  156 , but will oscillate in an up/down direction during movement of the pump crank shaft  166 . In general, movement of piston  170  will drive the fluid received within fluid inlet port  168  from internal chamber  142  through fluid outlet port  172 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-10 , further details of pump mechanism  134  will be discussed. Pump mechanism  134  includes a plurality of valves or checks to ensure proper operation of the pump mechanism  134  and/or of the toothbrush assembly  100 . In one embodiment, pump housing  156  includes a number of housing components which accommodate various valves or checks to ensure appropriate delivery of fluids and to prevent the potential buildup of fluid pressure which may otherwise have a detrimental effect on the motor and its components. Pump housing  156  includes top, middle and bottom housings  156   a ,  156   b ,  156   c , which are assembled together to form a single unit. A valve and sealing member  174  is mounted between bottom and middle housings  156   c ,  156   b . Valve and sealing member  174  may be a gasket member or the like and may be fabricated from a suitable elastomeric material or any other suitable material. Valve and sealing member  174  includes a plurality of slits, openings or apertures which may be dimensioned and adapted to function as valves (e.g., to open, close or partially open) in response to pressure (e.g., both, positive or negative). In one embodiment, valve and sealing member  174  includes water inlet valve  176  adjacent or in line with fluid inlet port  168 , check valve  178  adjacent to or in line with fluid conduit  180  of fluid exit port  172  of the pump housing  156  and over pressure valve  182  for opening in the event a blockage exists within fluid conduit  136  leading to jet nozzle  138  or within the jet nozzle  138  itself. Upon opening of the over pressure valve  182  fluid will be deposited back into internal chamber  142 . Over pressure valve  182  may be controlled via spring  186 , which engages the lower surface of the valve  182 . The constant force of spring  186  may be selected to permit release of valve  182  when a predetermined pressure is achieved within fluid conduit  136 . The threshold level is chosen to avoid pressure build up and potential damage to the component parts. A check valve  188  is in fluid communication with the air intake channel or conduit  190  within each of pump housings  156   a ,  156   b ,  156   c.    
         [0030]    Operation of the toothbrush assembly  100  will now be discussed. With reference to  FIG. 11 , in a first mode of operation with the power on via actuation of switch  108  and fluid actuator  110  in the off position essentially maintaining air intake channel  190  in the open position as depicted in  FIG. 11 , air will flow through pump mechanism  134  along path “a” and exit fluid outlet port  172  for dispensing through fluid conduit  136  and out jet nozzle  138 . Simultaneously therewith, drive mechanism  132  will be actuated to rotate bristles  164  in the aforedescribed manner. In the second stage of operation depicted in  FIG. 12 , fluid actuator  110  is depressed or activated, which closes air intake channel  190 . Thus, fluid or liquid is received from internal chamber  142  within fluid inlet port  168 , passing through water inlet valve  176  ( FIG. 10 ) which opens to permit passage of the fluid into the pump housing  134  through fluid channel or conduit  180  and out fluid exit port  172  of the pump housing  156 . The fluid path is identified by arrow “f”. The fluid is pumped under pressure via piston  170  and through conduit  130  to exit jet nozzle  138  in bristle head  140 . In this capacity, the jet nozzle  138  may be used to provide additional cleansing capacities or remove debris from the teeth. During the second stage of operation, check valve  178  prevents retrograde movement of the fluid back into the internal chamber  142 . Also, during this stage or phase of the operation, the fluid is prevented from entering air channel  190  by way of air check valve  188 . During operation, in the event there is blockage within jet nozzle  138  or fluid conduit  136 , pressure valve  182  may be activated or released against spring  186  to permit exit of the fluids back into the internal chamber  142 , thereby minimizing the potential of increased pressure in the pump mechanism  134 , which, may otherwise damage the components of the pump. Pressure valve  182  may be spring activated having spring  186  dimensioned to release or compress upon achieving a predetermined pressure within conduit  136 . 
         [0031]    As indicated hereinabove, the various check valves may be slit, gasket zero closure valves adapted to open or close in response to pressure differential. Valves may be defined within an elastomeric component or may be incorporated as an integral component in check valve. One skilled in the art may readily determine the 
         [0032]    Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above description, disclosure, and figures should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. It is to be understood, therefore, that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.