Patent Publication Number: US-2009235471-A1

Title: Multi-positionable electronic toothbrush

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to brushes, and more particularly, to the manufacture and use of a multi-positionable electronic toothbrush configured to be a highly effective alternative to traditional electronic toothbrushes. 
     2. Background 
     Traditionally, people endeavoring to take advantage of the many benefits associated with good orally hygiene have availed themselves of electronic toothbrushes. With the advent of electronic toothbrushes, consumers have come to rely on an automatic scrubbing action of the brush bristles on the surface of teeth for the efficient removal of plaque. In a sense, all that is required from the user is the ability to move the electronic toothbrush around to various locations in their mouth, requiring very little dexterity and manipulation. Since the skill level that is needed to brush properly with an electric toothbrush is minimal, all a user typically does is focus on brushing for a recommended period. 
     Although a good electric toothbrush will probably clean more thoroughly and effectively than manual brushing, research indicates that electronic toothbrushes still have their shortcomings. For example, for the most effective method of plague removal, studies have concluded that the toothbrush head must be angled with respect to the toothbrush body. The angled structure, commonly known among manual toothbrushes, allows the user to reach behind otherwise difficult portions of the teeth. Certainly, if a person applies the same habits about how long they will when using an angled electric toothbrush rather than a manual one, the person will be able to attain the most effective and successful method of plague removal. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of a multi-positionable electronic toothbrush is disclosed. A multi-positionable electronic toothbrush includes a toothbrush body, and a brush head capable of operating at a plurality of angles with respect to said toothbrush body. 
     Another aspect of a multi-positionable electronic toothbrush is disclosed. A multi-positionable electronic toothbrush includes a flexible joint, a toothbrush body, a brush head operatively connected to said toothbrush body by said flexible joint, a button mounted to said toothbrush body, and a spring operatively connected between said flexible joint and said button. 
     A method for operating a multi-positionable electronic toothbrush is also disclosed. The method includes applying manual force to a brush head in relation to a toothbrush body, locking said brush head into a different operational angle from an initial position, and activating a button coupled to a spring mechanism thereby returning said brush head to said initial position. 
     These, as well as other objects, features and benefits will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a partial view of a multi-positionable electronic toothbrush; 
         FIG. 2A-2B  illustrates a cross section view along line B-B of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a detailed view of a retractor button; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a cross section view along line C-C of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates top and side perspective views of a retractor spring; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section view along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings are intended as a description of various embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a partial view of a multi-positionable electronic toothbrush. The multi-positionable electronic toothbrush  100  is comprised of a brush head  104  connected to a toothbrush body  106  via flexible drive mechanism  102  (hereinafter “flexible drive”). At its initial position, the multi-positionable electronic toothbrush  100  is capable of operating at zero degrees with respect to brush head  104  and toothbrush body  106 , wherein the brush head  104  and the toothbrush body  106  share a common axis. The brush head  104  may be replaceable by the user after prolonged use and the flexible drive  102  may either be incorporated into the replaceable brush head  104  portion or permanently affixed to the toothbrush body  106 . The flexible drive  102  may allow for the adjustability of the brush head  104  to any angle but typical operation may lie between 25-35 degrees. This adjustment in the operational axis may be implemented by utilizing a spring mechanism  108  that is placed laterally to the toothbrush body that encompasses the driving shaft. 
       FIG. 2A-2B  illustrates a cross section view along line B-B of  FIG. 1 . The flexible drive  102 , sometimes referred to as a flexible joint, resides within the toothbrush housing and serves to join the toothbrush body  106  and the brush head  104 . The flexible joint  102  allows for operation of the multi-positionable electronic toothbrush when the drive is bent at a second operational angle or second operational axis. Though the multi-positionable electronic toothbrush is herein described as operating at two angles, one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that this disclosure may readily be applied to a multi-positionable electronic toothbrush that operates at any plurality of operating axes. 
     The flexible drive  102  itself is comprised of a driving shaft  204  and a driven shaft  202  that are connected by a set of couplers  206 ,  208 , wherein, the coupled structure is held together by a plastic pins  210 . The transmission of rotational motion from the driving shaft  204  is a universal requirement. That is, the toothbrush body  106  may have an electric motor (not shown) that supplies the rotational energy necessary to control the rotational or vibration cleaning power of the cleaning bristles. The cleaning power is supplied via a driven shaft  202  extending axially about the brush head  104 . 
     The couplers  206 ,  208  are located 90° relative to each other and are affixed to one another by a four-sided cross structure. This design allows the multi-positionable electronic toothbrush to efficiently operate at its initial position and at at least one other operational angle without any degradation in cleaning power. In fact, it is precisely due to the additional angle that a user may be better able to remove plague buildup. The flexible drive  102  is also comprised of a set of bushings  212  as shown in  FIG. 2B . Both the driving shaft  204  and the driven shaft  202  are held in place by the bushings  212  so as to minimize the amount of movement the shafts  202 ,  204  experience. 
     The retractor button is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The spring mechanism  108  is comprised of a retractor button  300  and a spring  302 . The spring  302  is a U-shaped spring that straddles the driving shaft  204 . The U-shaped ends of the spring  302  may be screwed onto the flexible drive mechanism  102 . The opposite end of the affixed U-shaped ends is stowed away under the button  300 . The button  300  may contain a channel on the underside of the button  300  so as to allow for the sliding motion of the spring  302  substantially along the underside channel. 
     The button  300  is prevented from being ejected by a flange (not shown) that extends substantially about the circumference of the button  300 . As the brush head  104  is depressed downward to engage the second operational axis, the spring  302  is bent and slides toward the brush head  104 . The spring  302  slides within the confines of the button  300  via an underside channel. The sliding process of the spring  302  allows the spring  302  to clear the plastic ledge  304  and thus push the button  300  upward. The button  300  is thereby engaged in its up position since the spring  302  is unable to slide backwards as a result of the plastic ledge  304 . Since the spring  302  is now under a load, by pushing downward on the button  300  the spring  302  is disengaged and released. This process allows the spring  302  to slide backwards within the underside channel of the button  300 . As the spring  302  slides back to its initial position, the brush head  104  rotates back to its original straight position, i.e., zero degrees with respect to the toothbrush body  106 . 
     The retractor spring is shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of the substantially U-shaped spring  302   a  and also illustrates a side perspective view of the spring  302   b . As described above in detail, the spring  302  is a substantially U-shaped spring that may straddle the driving shaft  204  so as to remain clear of the rotational operation of the driving shaft  204 . The spring  302  may be a cantilever-type spring affixed to the flexible joint  102 . Although a cantilever-type spring is disclosed herein, any other type of spring capable of providing the substantially same function may be substituted without straying from the teachings disclosed. Additionally, the individual ends of the spring  302  may be screwed onto, or otherwise affixed to, the flexible drive mechanism  102 . 
     Upon placing the flexible drive  102  into an angled position, a user may continue to operate the multi-positionable electronic toothbrush  100  at a second operational angle or axis. At the instant the user likewise depresses the button  300 , the spring  302  will decompress and return the multi-positionable electronic toothbrush  100  to its original position. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section view along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . The spring  302  may be attached by screws onto the flexible drive mechanism  102  (as shown). The clearance necessary for the continuous operation of the driving shaft  204  is accomplished by the substantially u-shaped spring  302  that bestrides the driving shaft  204 . As one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate, one may use other attaching alternatives such as rivets, pins, bolts, or other fastening means to affix the spring  302  to the flexible drive mechanism  102 . 
     While the specification describes particular embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the present invention without departing from the inventive concept. Also, the previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”