The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 18, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1996
Bernhard Boland, Frankfurt, DE;
Werner Haczek, Idstein, DE;
Braun Aktiengesellschaft, , DE;
Abstract
An electrically powered dental cleansing apparatus in which a cleansing implement is coupled to a drive sleeve and adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis. The coupling is effected by a resilient member, in particular a spring which includes a slip coupling and/or a buffer zone. Under normal conditions, the slip coupling provides a non-rotative connection between the drive sleeve and the cleansing implement. However, in the event of the cleansing implement seizing in an interproximal space, for example, the slip coupling will slip, thus avoiding potential damage. The buffer zone acts to prevent displacement of the cleansing implement--although intended by the user--in cases where, for example, the cleansing implement is positioned against a tooth surface rather than against an interproximal space.