AU2010224516B2

AU2010224516B2 - Electric toothbrush and method of manufacturing an electric toothbrush

Info

Publication number: AU2010224516B2
Application number: AU2010224516A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Petra Ansari; Leo Faranda; Oliver Greve; Christian Junk; Uwe Tretrop
Original assignee: Braun GmbH
Current assignee: Braun GmbH
Priority date: 2009-03-20
Filing date: 2010-03-18
Publication date: 2014-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-18
Also published as: JP2012521787A; CA2755997A1; JP5551191B2; ATE555746T1; DK2229917T3; AU2010224516A1; WO2010106524A2; ES2386508T3; WO2010106524A3; CN102497834B; KR101242379B1; CN102497834A; KR20110128307A; EP2229917A1; CA2755997C; EP2229917B1

Abstract

The invention is directed to an electric toothbrush having a cleaning head, a handpiece and a neck arranged between the cleaning head and the handpiece, with the handpiece including a housing with a duty switch, an energy source, a drive unit, a control device and a light source. The light source is activatable by the control device on attainment of a predetermined operating status, and the light source is arranged in an upper region of the handpiece between the duty switch and the neck, with the light source being configured to emit a light with a radiant intensity of 50 to 2,500 μW/sr and/or a luminous intensity of 20 to 500 mcd.

Description

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH This invention relates to an electric toothbrush according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method of manufacturing such a toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes often have, in a housing section of the handpiece, a light source which is designed to notify the User about a certain operating status of the toothbrush. For example, it is disclosed to have an LED on the housing light up in order to indicate the charge status of a storage battery in the handpiece. WO 92/13499 discloses an electric toothbrush which has a light source in an upper region of the handpiece. The light source in this case is an LED which is fastened directly in the housing of the handpiece of the electric toothbrush. U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,961 discloses an electric toothbrush of the type initially referred to, which uses a plurality of LEDs in order to obtain an illumination around the circumference of the handpiece. Such a concept is very difficult to realize however in its mechanical, electrical and optical implementation. In a variant from U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,961 it is disclosed for the light sources to be activated when a certain application force is exerted on the brush head while brushing the teeth. From the company Braun there is also disclosed an electric toothbrush which has an external indicating device in order to visualize different operating statuses of the toothbrushes and their manipulation while cleaning the teeth. It equally provides an LCD on which a symbol appears and a light-emitting diode is activated as soon as a certain application pressure of the brush head is detected while cleaning the teeth. These devices for warning of too high an application pressure of the brush head on the teeth are intended to prevent the user from exerting an application pressure which is higher than that needed to remove plaque. However, a not insignificant group of users of electric toothbrushes clean their teeth at least in some areas with their eyes shut in order to relax during the cleaning. It has been shown that the disclosed possibilities of indicating operating statuses while cleaning the teeth go unnoticed by this group of users with closed eyes. Similarly, people with visual impairments are hardly able to perceive these visually indicated warnings of too high an application pressure. It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide an electric toothbrush of the type initially referred to which includes a visual display device that can be perceived readily while 2 cleaning the teeth even with the eyes closed and that is provided in vibration-proof and uncomplicated manner in the handpiece. Also, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing such a toothbrush. This aspect with regard to the electric toothbrush is provided with the features of claim 1. In this aspect, the present invention provides an electric toothbrush having a cleaning head, a handpiece and a neck arranged between the cleaning head and the handpiece, wherein the handpiece has a housing with a duty switch, an energy source, a drive unit, a control device and a light source, wherein the light source is activatable by the control device when a predefined operating state is reached, and wherein the light source is arranged in an upper area of the handpiece between the duty switch and the neck, wherein the light source is configured such that the light intensity emitted by the light source is 50 to 2,500 pW/sr and/or the luminous intensity is 20 to 500 mcd. By configuring the light source to emit a light with a radiant intensity of 50 to 2,500 tW/sr and/or a luminous intensity of 20 to 500 mcd it is ensured that the light source, positioned in an upper region of the handpiece, can still be clearly perceived when activated in all the usual handling positions while cleaning the teeth with said toothbrush, even with the eyes closed. The measured values refer to a measuring distance of 5 cm above the light source adjacent to the handpiece on the optical axis of the LED (see also FIG. 1). Disclosed toothbrushes emit with their LEDs a non-dazzling radiant intensity of 2 to 10 [LW/sr and a luminous intensity of 0.2. to 6 mcd under like measuring conditions. In an advantageous further aspect, the light source is configured such that the light source emits a radiant intensity of 150 to 2,000 pW/sr and/or a luminous intensity of 100 to 450 mcd (with any visible color of the light). These values refer likewise to the same measurement location for the radiant intensity and the luminous intensity. Such a configuration of the light source enables Optimum perception with the eyes closed. In another advantageous embodiment, the optical axis of the light source, in particular the LED, forms with the drive axis, in particular the drive shaft or the drive unit, an acute angle of preferably 00 to 80*, in particular 30* to 60', or more preferably 400 to 50*. A direction of illumination, which in most positions while cleaning the teeth faces the eye of the user and the cleaning head end of the toothbrush, is thus defined. In another embodiment, an LED and a light guide element are provided as the light source. In particular the provision of only a single LED, which acts in cooperation with a light guide element on the housing, affords an electrically and mechanically less elaborate construction which still enables light to be radiated in a relatively large area around the handpiece.

2a In another advantageous embodiment, the light source, in particular the LED, is arranged on the side of the housing opposite the duty switch. The duty switch - as a rule this is an ON/OFF switch or a pushbutton or a user control enabling different operating modes of the electric toothbrush to be activated - is preferably arranged on the same side of the electric toothbrush as the brush head.

WO 2010/106524 PCT/IB2010/051194 3 The LED or light source, by contrast, is arranged on the opposite side, that is, on the side facing away from the brush head. On the one hand this guarantees likewise better perception of the activation of the light source with the eyes closed and on the other hand it also permits better perception if the user cleans his or her teeth with open eyes in front of a mirror. In another advantageous embodiment, the light guide element is constructed to include a transparent or translucent plastic body. The separate construction of a light guide element as a plastic body, independent of an LED, not only results in advantageous fastening options for the light guide element and the LED, with which the electric leads of the LED are exposed to less vibration effects from the vibrating drive unit, it also allows a light guide element design which permits an ample solid angle of radiation from the light source on the handpiece. In another advantageous embodiment, the light guide element is constructed to include an elongated curved body, preferably in U-shape or banana shape. Such a geometrical configuration of the light guide element permits an advantageous transmission of the light into the light guide element so that said light is perceivable from several sides of the handpiece. The ability to detect the light source from several sides of the handpiece even when using the handpiece in the immediate vicinity of a user's face is desirable with the use of only a single LED, even if this cannot be achieved with a single LED alone, absent a light guide element. In another advantageous embodiment, the optical outer radiating body of the LED has a partly inwardly shaped contour. Such an outer contour forms a diffuse radiation surface on which the light emitted from the LED is diffused and radiated at a certain beam angle not only along the optical axis but also sideways, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. This permits a more efficient introduction and illumination of the light guide element into its sides. This effect can be intensified further if a region on the light guide element directly above the LED and in extension of its optical axis is less translucent than a region of the light guide element adjacent thereto. In another advantageous embodiment, the LED is fastened to an inner module of the handpiece. Advantageously, the LED is not fastened directly to the housing. Such fastening of the LED in a manner decoupled from the outer housing permits better mountability of the LED on the handpiece and enables the fastening to be decoupled in terms of vibrations from the drive unit, which on an electric toothbrush generally vibrates very intensively and is therefore liable to damage the electric connecting leads from the LED to a control device/printed circuit board.

WO 2010/106524 PCT/IB2010/051194 4 In another advantageous embodiment, the inner module includes a first and a second chassis part. The first chassis part accommodates the energy source, the drive unit and the control device. The second chassis part includes the LED and an electric lead to the LED. Such a design enables a more flexible mounting arrangement for the LED by a more flexible connection of the second chassis part to the inner module. This ensures that the electric lead to the LED is not damaged by the vibrations of the drive unit and in particular that the points of connection of the electric lead to the LED and to the control device remain unimpaired. In another advantageous embodiment, the second chassis part is mechanically and electrically connectable to an electric printed circuit board of the control device. Preferably, the second chassis part is mechanically connected directly to the electric printed circuit board of the control device by a snap-fit or latching connection, with the electric leads of the LED being secured to the electric printed circuit board in close proximity to electric contacts. The electrical connection is reliably made by soldering said electric lead of the LED to the electric printed circuit board. In another advantageous embodiment, the LED is fastened to a plastic injection molding, which is provided as the second chassis part. The plastic injection molding can be made, for example, of POM or some other hard plastics material. A soft plastics material can also be provided for this purpose. The plastic injection molding forms a flexible chassis part which flexibly absorbs any vibrations which may be introduced into the chassis part, without the LED or the electric leads suffering damage from the vibrations. In another advantageous embodiment, the second chassis part includes an annular clip embracing the drive unit to act as the upper, second fastener on the inner module. Hence the chassis part is preferably snap-fitted to the electric printed circuit board in the lower region in addition to being plugged in annular manner around the drive shaft in the upper region. This enables the chassis part to be flexibly mounted without the snap-fit connection in the lower region or the electrical soldered connection becoming detached by the vibrations. In another advantageous embodiment, the light source, in particular the light guide element, is bounded or laterally surrounded at the housing by a soft plastics material. Preferably, the light guide element is provided on the hard plastic body and laterally sealed by injection-molding soft plastics material around it. In particular an elastomer, for example a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), is a suitable soft plastics material.

5 The above-mentioned aspect of the invention is also provided by a method with the features of claim 15. In this aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electric toothbrush as described herein, comprising the manufacturing steps of: - injection molding a first plastic component of the housing; - mounting the light source or a light guide element on the first plastic component; - - injection molding a second plastic component of the housing adjacent to the light source or the light guide element. This method includes fabricating the housing of the handpiece first by injection molding using a first, preferably hard plastic component. The separately injection-molded light guide element is mounted on a supporting structure of the first plastic component of the housing. In a third step the thus prepared housing of the handpiece is placed hack into the injection mulct and a second plastic component, in particular a soft plastic component, is molded onto the housing. The edge of the light guide element is thus fully surrounded by the soft plastic component, i.e. the second plastic component. As a result, a sealed embedding of the light guide element in the housing is guaranteed. In an alternative embodiment, for manufacturing an electric toothbrush according to the preamble of claim 1, the first plastic component of the housing of the handpiece, preferably the hard plastic component, is injection molded. Then a second transparent or translucent component is molded as the light guide element onto the first component. In a third injection molding step, another plastic component is optionally molded as hard plastic or soft plastic onto the housing of the handpiece. This alternative embodiment, which is likewise claimable independently of the other features, may also include only two components. The aspect of the invention is provided in addition by a method with the features of claim 17. In this aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electric toothbrush as described herein, comprising the manufacturing steps of: - injection molding the housing including fitting a light guide element of the light source; - inserting into the housing an inner module with drive unit, energy source and an LED of the light source. This method comprises the following manufacturing steps: Manufacturing the housing with the light guide clement and inserting an inner module with a drive unit, an energy source and an LED into the housing. In this process, the inner Module is inserted into the tubular housing such that the LED is positioned beneath the light guide element so that the LED and the light guide element combine to form the light source. The housing is manufactured using the injection- 5a molding technique, with the light guide element having been mounted or, alternatively, molded on in an intermediate step. Such an approach enables the electric toothbrush to be assembled without either the LED or its electric leads being damaged. Further aspects, advantages, features and application possibilities of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that any feature described and/or represented by illustration, when used singularly or in any meaningful combination, forms the subject-matter of the present invention, also irrespective of their summary in the claims or their back-reference.

WO 2010/106524 PCT/IB2010/051194 6 In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of the electric toothbrush of the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inner module of the handpiece of the toothbrush of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second chassis part of the toothbrush of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the light source of the toothbrush of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the light source, taken along the line A-A of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the light emission behavior of the LED of the toothbrush of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of the handpiece housing and of the light guide element in a non-assembled state of the toothbrush of FIG. 1; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the handpiece housing with the light guide element of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 in an assembled state; FIG. 9 is a partial front view of the handpiece of the toothbrush of FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 during dental cleansing with the user's eyes closed and the light source activated; FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 in a second dental cleansing position with the user's eyes closes and the light source activated; and FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 in a third position with the user's eyes closed and the light source activated. FIG. 1 shows an electric toothbrush with a handpiece 1 which extends from a lower end to an adjoining neck 2 (see length of the handpiece X in FIG. 1). Plugged onto the handpiece 1 is an exchangeable replacement brush 4 which has a neck 2 and a cleaning head 3 on its upper end. The neck 2 extends over the length Y in FIG. 1. The handpiece 1 also has a duty switch 5 enabling the toothbrush to be switched on and off and, where applicable, to different operating modes. The duty switch 5 is arranged on the same side of the electric toothbrush as the cleaning head 3. Arranged on the handpiece 1 on the opposite side to the duty switch 5 and the cleaning WO 2010/106524 PCT/IB2010/051194 7 head 3 is a light source 6. The light source 6 is arranged in an upper region of the handpiece 1 directly adjacent to the replacement toothbrush 4 above the duty switch 5. FIG. 1 shows only the extension of the light source on the side illustrated and the side facing away from the duty switch. However, being symmetrically constructed, the light source 6 is provided likewise on the non illustrated, rear side of the toothbrush. The light source 6 comprises an LED 10, which is located in the interior of the handpiece 1 and itself does not project out of the handpiece. FIG. 1 shows in addition the optical axis 7 of the LED 10, which is inclined roughly at an angle of 450 relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit or its drive axis 8. The angle a can vary in a range from 0' to 80'. Hence a radiating direction of the light source is provided which extends away from the hand grasping the handpiece 1 towards the user's face. At the point of exit of the light emitted from the light source 6 along the optical axis 7 of the LED 10, a photometer 9 can be used to measure the radiant intensity and the luminous intensity at a distance z of 5 centimeters. In this embodiment it is possible to measure a luminous intensity of 330 mcd at the photometer position indicated in FIG. 1. The LED according to this embodiment emits light in the red wave length at 632 nm. The radiant intensity measured at the measuring point amounts with this embodiment to 1,600 pW/sr. Both the color of the luminous radiation emitted from the LED 10 and the luminous intensity and the radiant intensity can be varied (see the data claimed in connection with the range of variation options for luminous intensity and radiant intensity (and independently of each other)). The handpiece 1 comprises a hard plastic component 12 (shown in white in the Figure) and a soft plastic component made from TPE 11 (shown in gray in the Figure). The TPE component is molded on directly adjacent to the contour of the light source 6 so that the light source 6 is enclosed water-tight. FIG. 2 shows the inner module 14 which is inserted into the tubular housing 13 of the handpiece 1. The inner module 14 comprises a first chassis part 15 in which the energy source 17 (in this case in the form of a storage battery cell) and the drive unit 18 are received. The control device 19, in the form of an electric printed circuit board on which the electronic control of the toothbrush is provided, is not apparent from the illustration of FIG. 2 because said device is arranged on the rear, opposite side. Arranged on the upper end of the inner module 14 is the drive shaft 20 which is set in motion by the drive unit 18. The LED is fastened in the upper section of the second chassis part 16, with the electric connecting leads 21 between the LED 10 and the control device or printed circuit board 19 being fastened to the second chassis part by biasing means. The second chassis part includes an annular clip 22 which is fastened around the drive shaft 20 and its enclosure. The fastening of the second chassis part to only a lower section of the printed circuit WO 2010/106524 PCT/IB2010/051194 8 board 19 by a snap-fit connection and to the upper end by the annular clip 22 guarantees that the vibrations of the drive unit 18 are flexibly absorbed by the second chassis part and hence that the electric leads of the LED 10 and its connections to the printed circuit board 19 are not damaged. FIG. 3 shows the second chassis part 16 with the LED 10 and the electric leads 21 separate. The second chassis part 16 is a plastic injection molding, preferably made from POM, and includes in its lower section two clamping arms 23 with snap-fit lugs for fastening to the printed circuit board 19. Section 24 for fastening the LED is constructed to be particularly flexible in order to absorb vibrations channeled into the second chassis part 16. The annular clip 22 and the lower fastening to the printed circuit board 19 also contribute to vibration damping. In addition, the second chassis part 16 includes a plurality of recesses and is constructed as a slim frame for high intrinsic flexibility. Instead of the LED it is also possible to fasten other electric components to this more flexible second chassis part. Another function of the second chassis part is to guide the electric leads 21. It should be noted that the concept of a flexible second chassis part can be applied in such apparatuses wherever stationary circuits on moving supports are to be connected to other electric components and said components are separated from each other by, for example, vibration devices or oscillatory drives or stand under their influence. In this way, the electric components, mechanically decoupled from the drive modules, can be used for example to indicate device information by way of LEDs and displays or to transmit data. Use in other electric toothbrushes, shaving apparatuses or household appliances is likewise possible. FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the light source 6. The light source 6 is comprised of a light guide element 25 and the LED 10. The light guide element 25 is formed or fastened - as already set forth - in the housing 13 of the handpiece 1. The LED 10 is provided and fastened on the second chassis part 16 and hence on the inner module 14. The LED 10 is enclosed with little clearance by a mounting opening in the light guide element 25. After the inner module 14 is inserted into the handpiece housing 13, the LED is held in this mounting space of the light guide element 25. The light guide element 25 is of a generally U-shaped, elongated configuration but may also have a different extension which permits, preferably in a single-piece component, the coverage of at least one side of the handpiece housing across its width. In this case three sides of the handpiece housing are encompassed by the light guide element, with the light from the LED 10 being introduced into the light guide element 25 at the center point of the light guide element, which corresponds approximately to its axis of symmetry.

WO 2010/106524 PCT/IB2010/051194 9 FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the light guide element along the line A-A in the direction of the arrows - see FIG. 4. The LED 10 is enclosed by several sides of the light guide element 25 so that the introduction of light into the light guide element 25 is optimal. FIG. 6 shows schematically the emission of light from the LED 10. The upper end of the radiating body of the LED 10 is not shaped in an outwardly convex but an inwardly convex configuration. As a result, the light beams emitted from the LED upwards are diffused on this upper, inwardly convex surface in part sideways to the outside and also in part vertically upwards. The light beams are illustrated in FIG. 6 with several arrows. This design of the LED produces a better illumination of the light guide element also towards the lateral legs of the light guide element 25. FIG. 7 shows the housing 13 of the handpiece 1. Illustrated in FIG. 7 is the result after the first injection molding step. This tubular housing is formed solely by a hard plastic component such as PP. Shown above the housing part 12 is the still unfitted light guide element 25. FIG. 8 shows the the light guide element 25 as assembled with the hard plastic component 12 of the housing 13. After this step of fitting the light guide element to the hard plastic component of the housing, the latter is re-inserted into the injection mold and the soft plastic component 11 is molded onto the housing 13. In the process, the soft plastic 11 encloses the light guide element 25 on all its lateral contour lines for embedding it in the housing 13 in a sealed relationship. In this case the soft plastics material extends likewise over sections in the front region of the handle, with the housing section of the control button for the duty switch 5 being formed partly from the hard plastic component and partly from the soft plastic component using the two component injection-molding technique. In a first injection molding step the control button for the duty switch is injection molded resiliently with a tab 27 as a hard plastic part (see FIGS. 7 and 8), and in the second injection molding step said button is then filled with and embedded in the soft plastics material such that the tab 27 can be pressed in elastically yielding manner onto a switch located in the inner module 14. Also, the soft plastics material is used to provide a switching symbol. This obviates the need to provide an additional printing operation to illustrate the function of this control element. The configuration of this duty switch and its manufacture using the two-component injection molding technique are also claimable independently of the other features or in any other combination therewith.

10 FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 illustrate finally the use of the electric toothbrush by a user. Three positions of the electric toothbrush, which are normally adopted while cleaning the teeth, are shown by way of example. In all positions of toothbrush manipulation, the light source can he clearly perceived, even with the user's eyes closed, so that a warning signal to reduce the pressure on the teeth is perceivable by the user even when cleaning the teeth in a relaxed stance. Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or group thereof. The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush having a cleaning head, a handpiece and a neck arranged between the cleaning head and the handpiece, wherein the handpiece has a housing with a duty switch, an energy source, a drive unit, a control device and a light source, wherein the light source is activatable by the control device when a predefined operating state is reached, and wherein the light source is arranged in an upper area of the handpiece between the duty switch and the neck, wherein the light source is configured such that the light intensity emitted by the light source is 50 to 2,500 ltW/sr and/or the luminous intensity is 20 to 500 mcd.

2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the light source is configured such that the light emitted by the light source has a light intensity of 150 to 2,000 gW/sr and/or a luminous intensity of 100 to 450 mcd.

3. The electric toothbrush according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the optical axis of the light source forms with the drive axis of the drive unit an acute angle of 00 to 80*.

4. The electric toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a light source is provided in the form of an LED and a light guide element.

5. The electric toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source is arranged on the side of the housing opposite the duty switch.

6. The electric toothbrush according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the light guide element is in the form of a transparent or translucent plastic body.

7. The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the light guide element is in the form of an elongated curved body.

8. The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein an optical radiating body of the LED has a partly inwardly shaped contour.

9. The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the LED is fastened to an inner module of the handpiece and/or is detached from the housing. 12

10. The electric toothbrush according to claim 9, wherein the inner module includes a first and a second chassis part, wherein the first chassis part accommodates the energy source, the drive unit and the control device, and the second chassis part accommodates the LED and an electric lead to the LED.

11. The electric toothbrush according to claim 10, wherein the second chassis part is mechanically and electrically connectable to an electric printed circuit board of the control device.

12. The electric toothbrush according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the LED is fastened to a plastic injection molded part, which is provided as the second chassis part.

13. The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the second chassis part has an annular clip that embraces the drive unit and acts as an upper fastener on the inner module.

14. The electric toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source is bounded by a soft plastics material.

15. A method of manufacturing an electric toothbrush according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the manufacturing steps of: - injection molding a first plastic component of the housing; - mounting the light source or a light guide element on the first plastic component; - injection molding a second plastic component of the housing adjacent to the light source or the light guide element.

16. The method of manufacturing an electric toothbrush according to claim 15, wherein the first plastic component is injection molded in the form of a hard plastics material and the second plastic component in the form of a soft plastic material.

17. A method of manufacturing an electric toothbrush according to any one of claims I to 14, comprising the manufacturing steps of: - injection molding the housing including fitting a light guide element of the light source; 13 - inserting into the housing an inner module with drive unit, energy source and an LED of the light source.

18. An electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 14 manufactured by the method of any one of claims 15 to 17.

19. An electric toothbrush according to claim 1, substantially as herein described and/or illustrated with reference to the Figures.