Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Craig D Hanela

Richard Taylor

Scott E Hall

Joseph W Grez

Kevin Arnold Miller

Bruce E Taber

William E Bryant

Piet C J Van Rens

Jerry Wood

Jeffrey Raymond Gueble

Kurt Sadek

D I Stephan Leitner

Devin M Nelson

Andreas Loibnegger

Andreas Lolbneggar

Paul L W M Barten

Paulus L W M Barten

A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

Apparatus for converting side-to-side driving motion to rotational motion with a spring assembly and system for tuning the spring assembly

A first aspect of the disclosure concerns a driving assembly for a power toothbrush which includes a drive member, specifically an E-core electromagnet, a driven member which is responsive to the action of the drive member and a workpiece mounted on the distal end of the driven member. The drive assembly includes an interface registration member, to one end surface portion of which is secured the end face of E-core electromagnet, another portion of which is configured to produce a selected registration of the driven member and the driving assembly, and still another portion of which is configured to produce a selected registration of the interface member relative to the handle of the toothbrush. A second aspect of the disclosure concerns a split bobbin assembly for an electrical coil portion of an electromagnet in a power toothbrush. The split bobbin assembly includes a first portion which mates with a portion of the appliance which is exposed to the operating environment of the appliance and is made from a material which has sufficient chemical-resistant properties for tolerance of exposure to the environment. A second portion of the split bobbin is made from a material which is resistant to heat so as to withstand soldering of the electrical coil wires to the terminal pins positioned in a base part of the bobbin assembly. Connecting elements on the first and second portions join the two portions together.

Bobin assembly for a driving assembly used in a personal care appliance

Top loading internal assembly for a power toothbrush

The apparatus for converting side-to-side to rotational motion for a workpiece includes a spring assembly with a movable base mounting element which is driven in a slightly arcuate reciprocal side-to-side motion and a fixed mounting element spaced apart from the base element and mounted in the appliance so that it does not rotate or move in operation of the apparatus. A spring member, such as two planar leaf springs positioned at an angle to each other, is mounted between the movable base element and the fixed mounting element. A drive shaft member extends from the movable base element through the fixed mounting element and beyond. A workpiece such as a brushhead is mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft. The spring member is configured so that it is substantially less resistant to twisting action than bending action, such that the side-to-side motion of the base element results in rotation of the workpiece. A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

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North Bend, WA, United States of America

Craig D Hanela