Claims
- 1. An electric hygienic device operated from an a.c. electric supply having a frequency comprising:
- a tubular housing with a longitudinal axis;
- an electric motor disposed within said housing with a shaft which oscillates at an operative angle, the rate of oscillation of the shaft being dependent only on said frequency; and
- a switch assembly for varying said operative angle by varying the power supplied to said motor, said switch assembly including;
- a switching element slidably mounted on said housing for movement in parallel with said longitudinal axis and including a magnet; and
- a plurality of reed switches disposed within said housing, said reed switches each having a major axis, said reed switches being positioned adjacent to each other with said axes in parallel, and at an angle of 40.degree.-70.degree. with respect to said longitudinal axis said switching element being constructed and arranged to selectively activate said reed switches as it moves.
- 2. The device of claim 1 further comprising resistors selectively switched in series with said motor by said switching assembly.
- 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said reed switches are in series with said resistors and mounted on said motor, and wherein said switch assembly comprises a permanent magnet.
- 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said reed switches are coplanar and said magnet is oriented and positioned to generate a magnetic flux perpendicular to the plane of said reed switches.
- 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said magnet is made of an anisotropic material.
- 6. The device of claim 4 wherein said first predetermined angle is about 50.degree..
- 7. The device of claim 4 wherein said magnet has an axis of symmetry and said reed switches have gaps which are offset from said axis of symmetry by a predetermined amount.
- 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said reed switches have two opposed ends and said gaps are closer to one of said opposed ends.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 577,199, filed Feb. 6, 1984, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
577199 |
Feb 1984 |
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