Mechanical toothbrush and the like

July 31, 1962

F. WEPFER

3,046,584

MECHANICAL TOOTHBRUSH AND THE LIKE

Filed Nov. Z, 1960

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US3046584A_D0001.tif" />

July 31, 1962

F. WEPFER

3,046,584

MECHANICAL TOOTHBRUSH AND THE LIKE

Filed Nov. 2, 1960

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3046584A_D0002.tif" />

3,046,584

Patented July 31,1962

United States Patent Office

3,046,584

MECHANICAL TOOTHBRUSH AND THE LIKE Federico Wepfer, 2935 Virrey Loreto St, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Filed Nov. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 66,761

Claims. (Cl. 15—22) .

The present invention refers to a mechanical toothbrush and the like implement such as gum massage brushes and although reference will mainly be made to toothbrushes, it is hereby understood that the expression “toothbrush” does not expressly limit the invention thereto.

The correct cleaning of the teeth requires that the bristles of the conventional toothbrush are moved up and down from the roots to the tips of the teeth and not sidewise along the rows, as is usually done. If the conventional toothbrush is correctly used, after a rather short period of usage the bundles of bristles spray apart rendering the device inoperative, particularly in view of the fact that generally an excessive pressure is applied on the toothbrush. In many-cases the excessive pressure may even harm the gum.

It has been thought that if the user is able to carry out the conventional incorrect movement along the row of the teeth and at the same time the toothbrush is mechanically driven so as to rotate with a reciprocating movement about the longitudinal axis of the handle, that an almost perfect result is achieved and particularly the different interstices are thoroughly cleaned. In addition, the bristles of the toothbrush of the present invention are substantially radially arranged with regard to the center of rotation, so that the free ends of the bristle define a substantially semicylindrical surface whereby it is assured that during the cleaning action all bristle tips-willsubstantially enter in contact with the surfaces of the teeth to be cleaned.

It may be added that with the toothbrush, according to the present invention, a thorough cleaning of the teeth may be carried out at considerable less time than using the conventional type of toothbrush.

According to the present invention, the handle is divided into a main handle portion having preferably an electric motor for driving with a reciprocating rotary movement a shaft projecting out of said main handle and on which a stem-like connecting member integral with a brush or similar member is removably mounted. Thus, the main handle may be used as a permanent unit and the stem-like connecting member and brush or the like may be replaced by another unit when worn out.

In order to facilitate the comprehension of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example to several specific embodiments in relationship to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanized toothbrush, according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially in section of the toothbrush.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a detail showing the coupling of the stem-like connecting member with the main handle.

FIG. 4 is a cross section through line IV—IV of FIG. 2, but showing the rack in the uppermost position.

FIG. 5 is a similar view as FIG. 4, and showing the rack in an intermediate position.

FIG. 6 is a cross section through line VI—VI of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a schematic lay-out of another mechanical driving arrangement.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a gum massaging implement.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modification of the square coupling end.

As may be appreciated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toothbrush according to the present invention consists of a 5 main holder 1 and a removable stem-like connecting member 2 integral with a brush 3.

The main holder 1 consists of a semicylindrical housing 4 and a semicylindrical cover member 5 (FIG. 1) which when linked together define the rear portion of 10 the main holder 1 which in its front portion is provided with a partition 6.

The main holder 1 further comprises a tapered front portion 7 ending in a cylindrical discharge member 8 having a tubular axial bearing projection 9 (see also 15 FIG. 3).

An electric motor 10 is mounted in a suitable support 11 integral with the semicylindrical housing 4. The electric motor 10 comprises a driving shaft 12 having a pinion 13 meshing with an intermediate gear 14 mounted 20 on an intermediate shaft 15 supported by a bearing 16 integral with the semicylindrical housing 4. The intermediate shaft 15 further supports an intermediate pinion 17 meshing with a second gear 18 mounted on a-second shaft 19, rotatably supported in a second bearing 20 25 again integral with the semicylindrical housing 4. The second shaft 19 further supports a disc 21 to which a connecting rod 22 is pivoted by means of pivot pin 23 (see.also FIG. 4). A rack 24 is slidably arranged in a channelled guide 25 (see -also FIG. 1) and pivoted by 30 means of a second pivot pin 26 to the other end of the connecting rod 22. The teeth 27 of the rack 24 are directed towards an open side of the channelled guide 25 so as to mesh with a rack pinion 28 mounted on a toothbrush driving shaft 29. The toothbrush driving 35 shaft 29 passes through the partition 6 and the tapered front portion 7 to finally project out of the tubular axial bearing projection 9 in form of a square coupling end 30.

The toothbrush driving shaft 29 is mounted on a pair of bearings 31, 32, of which bearing 31 is arranged in 40 the tip portion of the tapered front portion 7 (FIG. 3), while the bearing 32 is mounted within the tubular axial bearing projection 9.

A switch 33 is interconnected in one of a pair of feeding cables 34 which project out of the rear portion of 45 the main holder 1. The feeding cables 34 are to- be connected to an electric current supply source (not shown) which when switch 33 established the connection will feed the electric motor Iff.

A discharge disc 35 is mounted on the toothbrush 50 driving shaft 29, within the cylindrical discharge member 8 and in front of a circle of discharge holes 36.

The stem-like connecting member 2 forms in its front - portion the back 2' of the bristles defining the brush 3, and in its rear portion a cup-like end 2 which may be 55 mounted on the tubular axial bearing projection 9 in such a way as to cover the latter and the square coupling end 30 -will thus enter a square blind perforation 37, whereby the stem-like connecting member 2 is coupled to the square coupling end 30.

θθ If desired, as shown in FIG. 9, the square coupling end 30 may be provided with a resilient clutching band member 38, in which event the square blind perforation 37 would have to be provided with a suitable depression 39, such as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, whereby a 65 better coupling is achieved, as will be readily understood by anybody skilled in the art.

The bristles 40 of the brush 3, as may be appreciated in FIG. 6, are substantially somewhat radially arranged so that the free tips of said bristles 40 define an arc of 70 substantially semicylindrical shape.

As to the operation of the toothbrush according to the present invention, it will be understood that upon rotating

3,048,584 the driving shaft 12, due to the transmission of the pinions and gears 13, 14, 17, 18, the disc 21 will likewise rotate and said rotary movement will be transformed into a reciprocating rotary movement by means of the connecting rod 22, as will be readily appreciated by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, the rack 24 will carry out an up and downward movement within the guide 25 and therefore the rack pinion 28 will carry out a reciprocating rotary movement and transmit the latter to the toothbrush driving shaft 29, whereby the desired movement of the brush 3 is achieved.

Since it might be possible that some water leaks during use through the bearing 32 and may run along the toothbrush driving shaft 29, the discharge disc 35 will act as a barrier for said water and conduce it towards the periphery of said disc 35, whereby the water will bs deposited on the inner wall of the cylindrical discharge member 8 and gradually discharged through the discharge holes 36. Thus, it is assured that no water will enter the driving compartment.

It may be added, that at least one of the gears or pinion should be made of an electricity insulating material, so that it is assured that no current is conducted towards the square coupling end 30.

Instead of using a brush 3, other implements may be provided, such as shown in FIG. 8, wherein a gum massage device 41 is shown, usually made of rubber or resilient plastic material.

Although the driving arrangement just described is the preferred one, it will be obvious that many other types of arrangements could be used. For instance, in FIG. 7 the toothbrush driving shaft 29 is connected to a disc 42 which may be directly driven by the shaft 12 of the electric motor 10 through a crank 43 and connecting rod 44 which are pivoted together by pivot pin 45 and the crank 43 in turn is eccentrically pivoted by pivot pin 46 to the disc 42.