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. 09, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 25, 2007
Gerrit Jan DE Jong, Irnsum, NL;
Michiel Allan Aurelius Schallig, Drachten, NL;
Hendrik Richard Jousma, Groningen, NL;
Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek, Rolde, NL;
Tyler G. Kloster, Snoqualmie, WA (US);
Scott E. Hall, Issaquah, WA (US);
Patrick A. Headstrom, Seattle, WA (US);
Gerrit Jan De Jong, Irnsum, NL;
Michiel Allan Aurelius Schallig, Drachten, NL;
Hendrik Richard Jousma, Groningen, NL;
Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek, Rolde, NL;
Tyler G. Kloster, Snoqualmie, WA (US);
Scott E. Hall, Issaquah, WA (US);
Patrick A. Headstrom, Seattle, WA (US);
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
A nodal-mounted spring arrangement for an electronic toothbrush includes a V-shaped spring member secured at both ends so that it can operate in out-of-phase torsion mode along the axial dimension thereof. A mounting plate is connected between a node point along the V-shaped spring member and the housing of the toothbrush. In one embodiment, the V-shaped spring member includes opposing slots on opposite sides of the node point, the slots extending in an axial direction, creating an integrated torsion bar node spring, while reducing stress in the vicinity of the nodal point. In another embodiment, a nodal assembly comprises a diamond shaped or round insert having an upper surface configured generally to fit flush with the lower surface of the V-shaped spring member, a V-block shaped or flat shim member which is configured to mate the upper surface of the V-shaped spring member and the node spring, and an attachment member, such as a screw and nut combination, which tightly connects the mounting plate, the shim, the V-shaped spring member and the insert.