Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Evert Alle Helfrich

Kevin Arnold Miller

Wolter F Benning

Pieter Johannes Bax

Theo Anjes Maria Ruijl

Gregory Russ Goddard

Johannes Hotze Bernhard De Vries

Sandor Gordijn

Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek

Chad Austin Brinckerhoff

Jelte Steur

Arif Veendijk

Chad Brinckherhoff

An actuator () for a personal care appliance () having an eccentric core () to preload the actuator () to prevent rattling caused by detrimental reactionary forces. The eccentric core () includes a pole assembly () radially extending from a spindlehaving at least a first set (-) and a second set (-) of pole members. The first set (-) has a greater length as measured from the center of the spindlethan the second set (-), reducing the magnet gap on one side of the spindle () to create an eccentric core and preload the actuator (). Alternatively, the preload can be mechanically created by a set of bearings () disposed within housing () of the actuator, where the bearings () have a centerline (A) offset from the principal axis (A) of the housing ().

Personal care device actuator with rattle mitigation

An actuator () for a personal care appliance () having an eccentric core () to preload the actuator () to prevent rattling caused by detrimental reactionary forces. The eccentric core () includes a pole assembly () radially extending from a spindle () having at least a first set (-) and a second set (-) of pole members. The first set (-) has a greater length as measured from the center of the spindle () than the second set (-), reducing the magnet gap on one side of the spindle () to create an eccentric core and preload the actuator (). Alternatively, the preload can be mechanically created by a set of bearings () disposed within housing () of the actuator (), where the bearings () have a centerline (A) offset from the principal axis (A) of the housing ().

The toothbrush includes a handle portion (or) and a brushhead portion (or) with a bristle set (or) at one end of the brushhead. At least one sensor (oris located either on the handle of the toothbrush or on the bristle set back plate () of the toothbrush. When the sensor is located on the handle of the toothbrush, the position of the brushhead is determined by a processor (or) relative to the inside or outside surfaces of the teeth on the basis of the temperature detected by the sensor, either the outside environmental temperature or the skin temperature of the user. When the sensor is located on the bristle set back plate, the determination is made on the basis of the position of the bristle set relative to the cheek of the user.

Position sensing toothbrush

The mouthpiece includes a mouthpiece carrier member () having upper and lower sections which are adapted to receive the upper and lower teeth of a user. The mouthpiece carrier member has several embodiments which include side members and an intermediate member or members connecting the two side members to define the two sections. A bristle field () is mounted on the mouthpiece carrier member for contact with the surfaces of the teeth. The mouthpiece carrier member is moved in such a manner to produce a bristle action which has a significant axial component, resulting in the bristle tufts moving toward the teeth, contacting the teeth and moving away from the teeth, producing cleaning action on the teeth.

System for axial bristle motion in a teeth cleaning mouthpiece

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Evert Alle Helfrich