Structure for Coupling Toothbrush Head to Electric Toothbrush Handle
This document also discloses a toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush. The head includes a base having an opening for receiving a drive shaft of an electric toothbrush. The head also includes a coupling member having a cylindrical sidewall that surrounds a cavity for receiving the drive shaft. The coupling member is disposed within the base and there is a gap between a bottom surface of the base and a bottom surface of the coupling member.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush, the toothbrush head comprising:
a base having an opening for receiving a drive shaft of an electric toothbrush; and
a coupling section, wherein the coupling section comprises a cylindrical sidewall that surrounds a cavity for receiving the drive shaft, the cylindrical sidewall having at least two apertures therethrough; and
wherein the coupling section is disposed within the base and there is a gap between a bottom surface of the base and a bottom surface of the coupling section; and
wherein the coupling section does not extend outside of the base.
22 . The toothbrush head of claim 21 , wherein the coupling section further comprises a resilient wall between the apertures.
23 . The toothbrush head of claim 21 , wherein the coupling section further comprises a plurality of teeth disposed on an inside surface of the cylindrical sidewall, the teeth extending into the cavity along a longitudinal axis of the coupling member.
24 . The toothbrush head of claim 21 , wherein cylindrical sidewall comprises a ridge extending into the cavity and configured to engage with the drive shaft when the drive shaft is inserted into the cavity.
25 . The toothbrush head of claim 24 , wherein the ridge extending into the cavity is disposed on a portion of the cylindrical sidewall adjacent to a depression that is on the exterior of the coupling member.
26 . The toothbrush head of claim 21 , wherein the gap is a distance of at least 10% of a length of the coupling section along its longitudinal axis.
27 . The toothbrush head of claim 21 , wherein the gap is a distance that is between 5% and 75% of a length of the coupling section along its longitudinal axis.
28 . The toothbrush head of claim 21 , wherein the coupling section further comprises a mounting portion and the mounting portion is engaged with the base.
29 . The toothbrush head of claim 28 , wherein:
the mounting portion of the coupling section comprises a circumferential ridge;
the base further comprises a circumferential groove; and
the circumferential ridge is engaged with the circumferential groove.
30 . The toothbrush head of claim 28 , wherein:
the mounting portion of the coupling section comprises a circumferential groove;
the base further comprises a circumferential ridge; and
the circumferential ridge is engaged with the circumferential groove.
31 . A toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush, the toothbrush head comprising:
a base having an opening for receiving a drive shaft of an electric toothbrush; and
a coupling section, wherein the coupling member comprises a cylindrical sidewall and a resilient wall, the resilient wall being disposed between and separated from the cylindrical sidewall by at least two apertures;
wherein the coupling section is disposed within the base and there is a gap between a bottom surface of the base and a bottom surface of the coupling member; and
wherein the coupling section does not extend outside of the base.
32 . The toothbrush head of claim 31 , wherein the resilient wall comprises a ridge extending into the cavity and configured to engage with the drive shaft when the drive shaft is inserted into the cavity.
33 . The toothbrush head of claim 31 , wherein the coupling section further comprises a plurality of teeth disposed on an inside surface of the resilient wall, the teeth extending into the cavity along a longitudinal axis of the coupling section.
34 . The toothbrush head of claim 31 , wherein the gap is a distance that is between 5% and 75% of a length of the coupling section along its longitudinal axis.
35 . The toothbrush head of claim 31 , wherein the gap is a distance that is between 25 and 50% of a length of the coupling section along its longitudinal axis.
36 . The toothbrush head of claim 31 , wherein the gap is a distance of at least 10% of a length of the coupling section along its longitudinal axis.
37 . The toothbrush head of claim 31 , wherein the coupling section further comprises a mounting portion and the mounting portion is engaged with the base.
38 . The toothbrush head of claim 37 , wherein:
the mounting portion of the coupling section comprises a circumferential ridge;
the base further comprises a circumferential groove; and
the circumferential ridge is engaged with the circumferential groove.
39 . The toothbrush head of claim 37 , wherein:
the mounting portion of the coupling section comprises a circumferential groove;
the base further comprises a circumferential ridge; and
the circumferential ridge is engaged with the circumferential groove.