STRUCTURE FOR COUPLING TOOTHBRUSH HEAD TO ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH HANDLE
This document discloses a toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush. The toothbrush head includes a brush section having a plurality of bristles attached thereon, a base having an opening for receiving a drive shaft of an electric toothbrush, and a stem section. The stem section has a sidewall that surrounds a cavity for receiving the driveshaft. The brush section, base, and stem section are formed as a single piece.
1 . A toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush, the toothbrush head comprising:
a brush section having a plurality of bristles attached thereon;
a base having an opening for receiving a drive shaft of an electric toothbrush; and
a stem section connecting the base and brush section, the stem section comprising:
a cavity for receiving the driveshaft,
a stem channel extending from the cavity to the brush section, and
a cylindrical sidewall that surrounds the cavity for receiving the driveshaft and the stem channel, and
a first ledge;
wherein:
the cavity is in communication with the opening,
the cavity transitions into the stem channel at the ledge, and
the brush section, base, and stem section are formed as a single piece.
2 . The toothbrush head of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sidewall varies in thickness along its length from the brush section to the base.
3 . The toothbrush head of claim 1 , wherein the ledge is positioned to contact a portion of the drive shaft when the toothbrush head is installed on the electric toothbrush.
4 . The toothbrush head of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the sidewall is greater at a portion closer to the base than a thickness of the sidewall at a portion closer to the brush section.
5 . The toothbrush head of claim 4 , wherein the stem channel comprises a cylindrical cavity having substantially parallel sides.
6 . The toothbrush head of claim 1 , wherein the stem channel comprises a cylindrical cavity having substantially parallel sides.
7 . The toothbrush head of claim 1 , wherein the stem channel is tapered.
8 . The toothbrush head of claim 7 , wherein a first area of the stem channel near the cavity is relatively wider than a second area of the stem channel near the brush section.
9 . The toothbrush head of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sidewall further comprises a ridge extending into the cavity configured to engage with the driveshaft when the driveshaft is inserted into the cavity.
10 . The toothbrush head of claim 1 , further comprising a second ledge disposed within the opening, wherein the second ledge is positioned to contact a portion of a handle of the electric toothbrush when the toothbrush head is installed on the electric toothbrush.
11 . An electric toothbrush comprising:
a toothbrush handle comprising a driveshaft; and
a toothbrush head comprising:
a brush section having a plurality of bristles attached thereon;
a base having an opening for receiving the drive shaft; and
a stem section connecting the base and brush section, the stem section comprising:
a cavity for receiving the driveshaft,
a stem channel extending from the cavity to the brush section,
a cylindrical sidewall that surrounds the cavity for receiving the driveshaft and the stem channel, and
a ledge;
wherein:
the cavity is in communication with the opening,
the cavity transitions into the stem channel at the ledge, and
the brush section, base, and stem section are formed as a single piece.
12 . The toothbrush head of claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical sidewall varies in thickness along its length from the brush section to the base.
13 . The toothbrush head of claim 11 , wherein the ledge is positioned to contact a portion of the handle when the toothbrush head is installed on the handle.
14 . The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein a thickness of the sidewall is greater at a portion closer to the base than a thickness of the sidewall at a portion closer to the brush section.
15 . The toothbrush of claim 14 , wherein the stem channel comprises a cylindrical cavity having substantially parallel sides.
16 . The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the stem channel comprises a cylindrical cavity having substantially parallel sides.
17 . The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the stem channel is tapered.
18 . The toothbrush of claim 17 , wherein a first area of the stem channel near the cavity is relatively wider than a second area of the stem channel near the brush section.
19 . The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical sidewall further comprises a ridge extending into the cavity configured to engage with the driveshaft.
20 . The toothbrush of claim 11 , further comprising a second ledge disposed within the opening, wherein the second ledge is positioned to contact a portion of the handle.