US3909867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic pressure driven rotary toothbrush
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-09-13
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A rotary toothbrush comprises a hand held housing and a toothbrush interchangeably mounted on a rotary shaft journalled in the housing. The housing has a chamber wherein a turbine wheel is mounted for rotating the shaft when water under pressure is supplied to the housing chamber. A manually operable control is mounted on the housing to drive the wheel in either direction or to stop it, and a water ejector means in the housing chamber causes a pressure reduction in the chamber between the turbine wheel and a water outlet for facilitating drainage of water. Channels in the shaft supply rinsing water from the housing chamber to the brush.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunnar Hogsell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00; A61C17/16; A61C17/22; A61C17/24; A61C17/30; A61C17/02; A61C17/032; A61C17/26; A61C17/28; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S415/00; Y10S415/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A rotary toothbrush comprising a housing shaped to be hand gripped and an interchangeable brush means, a motor means operable by hydraulic pressure mounted in the housing, a rotary shaft means operably associated with the motor means for rotation about the axis of the shaft means, the shaft means projecting from the housing and the brush means being detachably mounted thereon, the housing defining chamber means, an inlet for water under pressure and a water outlet, whereby water supplied under pressure through the inlet and flowing through the housing chamber means operates the motor means and rotates the shaft means, water flow control means arranged to control the water flow for blocking it from the motor means, rotating the shaft means in a first direction and reversing the rotational direction, channel means in the rotary shaft means and the brush means in communication with the chamber means for receiving rinsing water therefrom and conveying it to the brush means, and means causing a pressure reduction in the housing chamber means between the motor means and the water outlet for assisting drainage of waste water from the motor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A rotary toothbrush comprising a housing shaped to be hand gripped and an interchangeable brush means, a motor means operable by hydraulic pressure mounted in the housing, a rotary shaft means operably associated with the motor means for rotation about the axis of the shaft means, the shaft means projecting from the housing and the brush means being detachably mounted thereon, the housing defining chamber means, an inlet for water under pressure and a water outlet, whereby water supplied under pressure through the inlet and flowing through the housing chamber means operates the motor means and rotates the shaft means, water flow control means arranged to control the water flow for blocking it from the motor means, rotating the shaft means in a first direction and reversing the rotational direction, channel means in the rotary shaft means and the brush means in communication with the chamber means for receiving rinsing water therefrom and conveying it to the brush means, and means causing a pressure reduction in the housing chamber means between the motor means and the water outlet for assisting drainage of waste water from the motor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic pressure operable motor means comprises a turbine wheel having a plurality of vanes and arranged for rotation in reversible direction, a shaft extending through the housing, the turbine wheel being keyed to the shaft for rotating the shaft in the direction of wheel rotation, and a gearing interconnecting the shaft to the shaft means whereon the brush means is detachably mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 2, further comprising a bearing plate adjacent the turbine wheel, the bearing plate being fixedly mounted in the housing and having two diagonally opposite ports obliquely inclined in opposite directions towards the vanes of the turbine wheel, and the water flow control means comprising a valve means having at least one port and means for moving the valve port out of communication with the bearing plate ports and into selective communication with a respective one of the bearing plate ports for blocking the motor means and rotating the shaft means in the reversible directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The rotAry toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the water flow control means further comprises a control rod slidably mounted in a transverse bore in the housing, the rod having opposite ends projecting from the housing, and transmission means interconnecting the control rod to the valve means for moving the valve port in response to sliding of the control rod in the bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 4, further comprising snap means associated with the rod and the bore for resiliently retaining the rod in a selected one of three positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 3, further comprising spring means pressing the valve means against the bearing plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The rotary toothbrush of cliam 2, wherein the gearing comprises a planetary gear having three planetary gear wheels rotatably mounted in a section of the shaft means, a gearing portion on the turbine shaft and a gearing portion on the interior wall of the housing, the planetary gear wheels meshing with the gearing portions whereby rotation of the turbine shaft is transmitted to the shaft means for rotation thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The rotary toothbrush of cliam 2, wherein the gearing comprises a planetary gear having three planetary gear wheels rotatably mounted in a section of the shaft means, a gearing portion on the turbine shaft and a gearing portion on the interior wall of the housing, the planetary gear wheels meshing with the gearing portions whereby rotation of the turbine shaft is transmitted to the shaft means for rotation thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the turbine shaft is axially displaceably journaled in coaxial bores in the bearing plate and the shaft means section, the turbine shaft having an end projecting from the shaft means section into the channel means in the rotary shaft means, and the turbine shaft end carries a conical valve part whereby axial displacement of the turbine shaft opens and closes the channel means for flow of rinsing water to the brush means and shutting off the rinsing water flow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 8, further comprising means for controlling the axial displacement of the turbine shaft, the displacement control means including a set screw threadedly mounted in the housing coaxially with the turbine shaft, a stop pin on the screw, a compression spring around the stop pin and a ball held between the compression spring and the opposite end of the turbine shaft, the stop pin and ball being coaxial with the turbine shaft, axial play being permitted between the ball and the opposite turbine shaft end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 8, further comprising a bushing fixedly mounted in the housing between the shaft means section and the turbine wheel, the bushing having an end face defining a bore through which the turbine shaft extends, the bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the turbine shaft, the rotary shaft means being axially displaceably journaled in the housing, and axially spaced projections on the shaft means section and the bushing end face for locking engagement upon axial movement of the shaft means in one direction whereby rotation of the shaft means is prevented and disengagement upon axial movement of the shaft means in the opposite direction whereby the shaft means is free to rotate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 7, further comprising a floating anti-friction washer mounted between the shaft means section and the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a support for the brush means, the shaft means having a conical end and the support having a conforming conical recess to receive the support on the shaft means end, and means for detachably holding the support on the shaft means end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 12, further comprising a protective shield for the brush means, the protective shield being detachably mounted on the housing, and a fork-shaped clamping means connecting the shield to the support for free rotation of the shield in respect of, and removal from, the support.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
129 words
The rotary toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a water supply and removal tubing attached to the housing inlet and outlet, the tubing including an inner tube connected to the inlet for supplying water under pressure to the housing chamber means, the chamber means including a first chamber adjacent the inlet, a second chamber wherein the motor means is arranged, a port connecting the first and second chamBers, and a third chamber wherein the rotary shaft means is arranged, the second and third chambers being in communication, the channel means comprising a lateral bore in the rotary shaft means in communication with the third chamber for receiving rinsing water from the third chamber, and the tubing including an outer tube connected to the outlet for removal of waste water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
the rotary toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the means causing the pressure reduction comprises a channel connecting the first chamber to the water outlet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3046585A
Cited
US3553758A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |