Electric toothbrush

Patent 6000083 Issued on December 14, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 30, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Electric toothbrush
Patent #: 5590434
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Inventors

Assignee

Dr. Johns Products, Ltd.

Application

No. 163621 filed on 09/30/1998

US Classes:

15/28, Rotary disk15/22.1Handle mount

Examiners

Primary: Chin, Randall E.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Fay, Sharpe, Fagan, Minnich & McKee

International Class

A46B 013/02

Abstract

An electric toothbrush comprising an elongated body portion and a head including a static portion and a circular portion, a handle, and an angled shaft between the head and the handle. The circular portion rotates or oscillates about an axis normal to a longitudinal axis of the head. The circular portion includes stiff bristles and the static portion includes soft bristles. The stiff bristles are recessed with respect to the soft bristles. The elongated body portion is hollow and further includes a motor in the hollow portion, which is operatively connected to the circular portion for rotating or oscillating the circular portion. A switch is operatively connected to the motor to provide momentary and continuous operation of the toothbrush. A worm gear and a pair of step gears are located in the hollow portion. The motor is operatively connected to the worm gear and the step gears are operatively connected to the worm gear and to each other. One of the step gears is offset with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion. A shaft which is operatively connected to the offset step gear and to a second end to the circular portion. A battery is located within the hollow section for powering the motor.