 generally linear or translational, but the actuator is moved by pivoting a lever. Accordingly, there is a need to transfer only the translational component of the lever's motion to the locking structure. There are solutions that have been proposed. For example, refer to co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/870,801. However, there is a need to accomplish the transmission of motion with structure which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in overall construction, and reliable in repeated operation. 1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of oral hygiene devices and, more specifically, to the field of oral hygiene devices such as toothbrushes that employ sonic and/or ultrasonic acoustic mechanisms.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Even the most effective existing power toothbrushes leave clinically significant plaque at tooth-to-tooth contact surfaces, at the gingival-tooth contact points, below the gingiva and beyond the direct reach of the bristles or other toothbrush components. Many oral hygiene devices employing sonic and/or ultrasonic mechanisms are known in the art. Previous attempts to take advantage of ultrasound acoustic energy in toothbrushes failed to exploit microbubble formation in dental fluid for purposes of facilitating plaque removal, or failed to consider microbubbles and macrobubbles as a potential impediment to ultrasound propagation beyond the bristle tips.
Some toothbrushes that employed ultrasound technology attempted to achieve the propagation of ultrasound waves from the base of the bristles either through the bristles themselves or through the bubbly dental fluid that fills the spaces between the bristles. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,733 and 5,546,624 to Bock disclose an ultrasonic toothbrush having a handle, a battery pack, an electronics driving module, a piezoelectric member, and a removable brush head. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,247,716 and 5,369,831 to Bock disclose a removable brush head for an ultrasonic toothbrush having a plurality of bristle clusters, a substantially tubular body constructed of a flexible material, and tensioning means securing the brush head to the ultrasonic device, providing for the efficient transmission of ultrasonic frequency oscillations from the device via the brush head. Because conventional toothbrush bristles and bubbly dental fluid can reduce rather than facilitate the propagation of ultrasound waves, the toothbrushes disclosed in these references would not achieve efficient ultrasound wave propagation. Also,
generally linear or translational, but the actuator is moved by pivoting a lever. consequently, there be a need to transfer merely the translational part of the lever's motion to the locking structure. There are solution that have been proposed. For example, mention to co - owned U.S. patent application Ser. nobelium. 10/870,801. However, there is a need to accomplish the transmission of apparent motion with structure which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple in overall construction, and dependable in repeated operation. 1. Technical Field of the Invention 
 The present invention relates broadly to the field of oral hygiene devices and, more specifically, to the field of oral hygiene devices such as toothbrush that employ sonic and/or ultrasonic acoustic mechanisms. 
 2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
 Even the most effective exist power toothbrushes leave clinically significant plaque at tooth - to - tooth contact surfaces, at the gingival - tooth contact points, below the gingiva and beyond the direct reach of the bristles or other toothbrush components. Many oral hygiene devices employing sonic and/or supersonic mechanism are known in the artwork. former attempts to take advantage of ultrasound acoustic energy in toothbrushes fail to exploit microbubble formation in dental fluid for purposes of facilitating brass removal, or failed to consider microbubbles and macrobubbles as a potential impediment to ultrasound propagation beyond the bristle tips. 
 Some toothbrushes that employed ultrasound technology attempted to achieve the propagation of sonography waves from the nucleotide of the bristle either through the bristles themselves or through the bubbly dental fluid that fills the spaces between the bristle. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,733 and 5,546,624 to Bock disclose an ultrasonic soup-strainer having a handle, a barrage pack, an electronics driving module, a piezoelectric member, and a removable brush oral sex. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,247,716 and 5,369,831 to Bock disclose a removable brush point for an ultrasonic soup-strainer having a plurality of bristle clusters, a substantially tubular soundbox constructed of a flexible fabric, and tensioning means securing the brush head to the ultrasonic device, providing for the efficient transmission of ultrasonic frequency oscillations from the device via the brush head. Because conventional toothbrush bristle and bubbly dental fluid can reduce quite than facilitate the propagation of sonography waves, the toothbrushes disclosed in these references would not achieve efficient ultrasound wave propagation. Also,
 gejerally linear or translxtional, but the actuatmr is joved by pivoting a lever. Accordinglb, thwre iw a need to transfer ovly the tganslatiobal romponent of the lever's motion bo thz oocking structore. There ara solutions thdt hcve been proposed. For example, refer eo co-owmef U.S. patent apklicauiog Sed. No. 10/870,801. However, there is a need to adcomplivh the transmossion of motion with strufturf which is inexpendive to manoraceyre, simple iv overall bmnstructioh, and reliable in repeated operxtion. 1. Technicao Diepg of the Intentiog
The present inventimn relayes generally bo thx fiwld of oral hygiene dxvices and, more specyfically, do the field of orao yygiete davicdw sjch ax foothbgusies that emlloy sonic qnd/or ultrasonic acpufnoc mechanisma.
2. Bries Qescription of the Related Art
Even the kosf effective existing poqer toothbrushes leavg clinicaljy significant plaque at tooth-to-tooth contact surxaces, xt uhc eunhival-tooth contact points, below the gingiva ags nejond the direct rcach of the bristlrs ot other toothbtush compohents. Many oral hyhiene dgvices employind somic and/or ultrasonic mechanusms are knocn un the art. Previoud attempts co takg advamtage of ultrasound acobstic snergy in tlothbrushsr failed to expluit mhcrobubble formation in degtal fluiv for purposds og facijitating ppaque removal, or failed ho cousides microbubhles and macrobubbles as a poteivial impedimemt to ultrasobnd prppagation beyjnd the bristlg tips.
Somz tootfbrushes tgat empnoyed ultrafound technolmhy attempted to achiqve rhe propagagkon of ultrasoind waves from the vase of the bristlcs eijhsr through the yxiwtles themselvex of trrlujh thq bubbly dentdl fuuia that fills uke woacex between the bristlas. Fkr example, U.S. Pat. Mof. 5,138,733 and 5,546,624 jo Bock dysclose an ulyrasonic toothbrusj havmng a iandle, a fattery pack, an electronics drjving modkle, a piezoeleceric member, and c removable brush head. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,247,716 and 5,369,831 vo Bock disclose a remocable brush head fot ak ultrasonic tootrbrush haeing a plurality of vristle clusters, s substantially tubulzr bodf condtructed of a flexible material, and tensioning means securing the brush hwad to the ultrasohic cevicv, pxovnding fjr tie efficient transkission of ultrasonic frequency oscilladijns from the device via the nrjsh head. Becaose conventional toothbrusg bristlrs and bubbly dental fluid can teduce rather than facilltate the propzgation of ultrasound waves, yhe tomthbryshes duscllsed in these regevences woupd npt achieve efficient ultrasound wace propahation. Also,
generally linear or translational, but the actuator by a lever. there is a translational of the lever's to the locking There are solutions that have been For example, refer to co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/870,801. However, there a need to accomplish the transmission of motion with structure which is inexpensive manufacture, in construction, reliable in repeated operation. 1. Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to field of oral hygiene devices and, more specifically, the field of oral devices such as toothbrushes that sonic ultrasonic acoustic 2. Description the Related Art the most effective existing power toothbrushes leave clinically significant plaque at tooth-to-tooth contact surfaces, at the gingival-tooth points, below and beyond direct of bristles or other Many oral hygiene devices employing sonic are known in the art. Previous attempts to advantage of acoustic energy in toothbrushes failed to microbubble formation in dental fluid for purposes of plaque removal, or failed to consider microbubbles and macrobubbles as a potential impediment to ultrasound the bristle tips. Some that employed ultrasound attempted achieve propagation ultrasound waves the base of the bristles either through the bristles themselves or the bubbly dental fluid that fills the spaces between the example, Pat. Nos. 5,138,733 5,546,624 to Bock disclose ultrasonic having a handle, a an driving member, a brush head. U.S. Pat. 5,247,716 and 5,369,831 to Bock a removable brush head a plurality of bristle clusters, a substantially tubular constructed of a flexible material, and tensioning securing the brush head to the ultrasonic device, providing for the efficient of ultrasonic from the device via the brush head. Because toothbrush bristles and bubbly fluid can reduce rather than facilitate the propagation of waves, toothbrushes disclosed these references would achieve efficient ultrasound propagation. Also,
 generally linear or translatIonal, but thE actuAtoR is MoVed bY pivOting a lever. AccORdinGly, there is a need to transFer onLy THe trANsLatioNal compONeNT Of tHe LeVer'S mOTiOn to tHe lOcking sTructure. ThEre ArE solutions thAT hAve been proPosEd. For example, RefEr to co-OwNed u.s. pateNt aPplicAtion SER. No. 10/870,801. HowEver, there Is A Need to ACcompliSH ThE traNsmission of motion WItH Structure which Is inexPeNSiVE To mAnuFacture, simPlE in ovERall conSTrUCTIon, ANd reliable in rEpeated operATioN. 1. TechnIcAl FIEld of tHe InvEnTIon
the present iNvenTion relatEs geneRAlly to tHE field oF oral hYgiEne DeviCEs AnD, moRe SPecIFiCalLY, to The field Of OrAl hygIene DEVICes sUch As toOthbrUshes that emplOy sOnic ANd/oR ultrAsoniC acoUsTic meChanisMs.
2. BriEf description of thE RelAted Art
EvEn tHe MosT eFfectIVe exisTinG poWer tootHbrusheS LeaVe CLINiCally significant plAqUE At Tooth-to-tOoth coNTaCt SUrfaces, aT tHe gIngiVAL-tootH conTAcT points, bElow thE GiNgIva and bEyOnd the DiRecT reAch of THe brIstles Or other tOothbRUsh components. MANy oral hygiene DEvICEs EMploYinG sonic and/or UltrASoniC mecHAnIsmS Are knOwn in ThE ArT. previous attempts to tAkE advanTage oF ultrasound acOustic enerGY IN toothbrUsheS FaILed to exploit miCrobuBble formatIOn in dentAl fluId for purPoses of faCILitating PlaQue RemOvaL, OR fAiled to considER MicrObUbbles aNd mAcrobubBleS as A poTenTiAl impedimEnt to ultRaSoUnD pRopAgatiON beyond tHe BriStLe tIps.
SoME toothBrushEs thAt EmPLoyEd ultraSOuND TechNoLoGy atTemPtEd to aChieVE thE propagAtion of ulTraSOund WaVeS from thE base of the briStLes either tHrOugH the brISTles themSelves or through the bubblY Dental fLuiD that FillS the spaceS beTween tHe bRIstles. for exaMple, U.s. PAt. NOS. 5,138,733 And 5,546,624 to bOCk DisClOse an ultraSONic ToothBrUsh hAving a hAndle, a battery pack, aN EleCtronics driviNg mOdulE, A PiEzoELeCTriC mEMbeR, ANd a removable bruSh head. U.S. PaT. NOS. 5,247,716 aNd 5,369,831 to Bock diSCloSe A removaBle brusH head FOr an ultRasonic toOthbrush hAvIng a PLUraLity of brisTle clustErs, a substANtialLY tUbulaR boDy consTrUctEd of a FlexibLE maTeriaL, and teNsIoning Means SeCuring thE brush head to the ultrasonIc deviCe, proVidIng for the EffICieNt transmiSsioN of ultrasoNic FreQuencY osCIllatIons FRoM thE DevicE via THe brush heAD. BEcaUSE cOnventional TOOThbRush bRisTLes and BubbLy dental fluid can rEDuce rather than FaciLITatE thE PropAgAtion of ultrasoUnd WaVES, the tootHbRushes disclOsed in thEsE ReferEnces wOuld noT achievE EFfICient uLtraSouNd wave proPagAtIOn. Also,
 generally linear or trans lational,but t heact ua toris m oved by pivoti n g alever. Accordingly, th ere i sa  nee d  t o tra nsfer o n ly t hetr an sla ti o na l com pon ent ofthe lever' s m ot ion to the l o ck ing struct ure . There aresol utions  t hat havebee n pro posed. For ex ample, re fe r  to co - owned U . S .pate nt application Se r .N o. 10/870,801.  Howev er ,  t h e reisa need toac compl i sh thet ra n s m iss i on of motionwith struct u rewhichis  in e xpensi ve to  m a nuf acture, sim plein overal l cons t ruction ,  and re liable  in  re peat e dop era ti o n.1 .Tec h nic al Field  o fthe I nven t i o n 
The  pr esen t inv ention relate s g ener a lly  to t he fi eldof  oral  hygie ne de vi ces and, more s peci fically,toth e f ie ld of oral h ygi ene  device s sucha s t oo t h b ru shes that employ s on i c  a nd/or ul trason i cac o ustic me ch ani sms. 2 . Bri ef D e sc riptionof the Re la ted Art 
E ven th emos t e ffect i ve e xistin g powertooth b rushes leave c l inically sign i fi c a nt plaq ueat tooth-to -too t h co ntac t  s urf a ces,at th eg in g ival-tooth contactpo ints,below  the gingivaand beyond t h e direct  rea c ho f the bristles  or o ther tooth b rush com ponen ts. Many  oral hyg i e ne devic esemp loy ing s on ic and/or ult r a soni cmechani sms  are kn own  in  th e a rt . Previou s attemp ts  t ota keadvan t age of u lt ras ou ndacous t ic ene rgy i n to ot hb r ush es fail e dt o  exp lo it  mic rob ub ble f orma t ion  in den tal fluid  fo r  pur po se s of fa cilitating pl aq ue removal ,orfailed t o consid er microbubbles and mac r obubble s a s a p oten tial impe dim ent to  ul t rasoun d prop agati on  be y o nd th e br ist le  tips.
Som e too thbru sh es t hat emp loyed ultrasound t e chn ology attempt edto a c h ie vet he pro pa g ati o n  of ultrasoundwaves from  t h ebase of th e  br is tles ei ther th rough the bri stles the mselves o rthro u g h t he bubblydental f luid that fills th e spa ces  betwe en  th e bri stles. For  exam ple, U .S . Pat.  Nos.  5 ,138,733  and 5,546,624 to Bockdisclo se an  ul trasonictoo t hbr ush havin g ahandle, abat ter y pac k,a n ele ctro n ic s d r iving  mod u le, a pie z oe lec t r ic  member, an d a  re movab leb rush h ead.  U.S. Pat. Nos. 5 , 247,716 and 5, 369, 8 3 1 t o B o ck d is close a remova ble  b r u sh headfo r an ultras onic too th b rushhaving  a plu ralityo f  b r istleclus ter s, a subs tan ti a lly tub ul ar body c onst ru cted o f a fl e xibl e material, and te nsion i n g mea n s s ecuri ng  the br u sh h ead to the  ultrasonic  devic e, p rovid ing for  t he eff ici en t transmis s ion of ul traso nic fre qu ency  os cillat ions f rom t he d ev ice  via theb r us h  h ea d . B ecau se co nv enti onal toot h brush br ist l es andbu bbl y dental fl u i d can redu cerathe r than facil i tate th e  prop agatio n of u ltrasou n d w av es, the  to o t hbrushesdisclosed inth esereferenc es  wou ld  no tachieve efficie nt ultra sound wa v e  propa gat i on.A lso,
 generally_linear or_translational, but the actuator_is moved_by_pivoting a_lever._Accordingly, there is_a need to_transfer only the translational_component of the_lever's_motion to the locking structure. There are solutions that have been proposed. For example,_refer_to co-owned_U.S._patent_application Ser. No. 10/870,801. However,_there is a need to_accomplish the_transmission of motion with structure which is inexpensive_to_manufacture, simple in_overall construction, and reliable in repeated operation. 1. Technical_Field of the Invention
The present invention_relates generally to_the_field_of oral hygiene devices_and, more specifically, to the field_of oral hygiene devices such as_toothbrushes that employ sonic and/or ultrasonic acoustic_mechanisms.
2. Brief Description of the Related_Art
Even the most effective existing_power toothbrushes_leave clinically significant plaque at_tooth-to-tooth contact surfaces,_at the_gingival-tooth contact points,_below the gingiva and beyond the_direct reach of_the bristles or other toothbrush components._Many_oral hygiene devices_employing_sonic_and/or ultrasonic_mechanisms are known_in_the art._Previous_attempts to take advantage of ultrasound_acoustic_energy in toothbrushes failed to exploit microbubble_formation in dental fluid_for_purposes of facilitating plaque_removal, or failed to consider_microbubbles and macrobubbles as a potential_impediment to_ultrasound propagation_beyond the bristle tips.
Some toothbrushes that employed ultrasound technology attempted to_achieve the propagation of ultrasound waves_from the base of_the bristles_either_through the bristles_themselves_or through_the bubbly dental fluid that fills the_spaces between_the bristles. For example, U.S. Pat._Nos. 5,138,733 and 5,546,624_to_Bock disclose an ultrasonic toothbrush having_a handle, a battery pack, an_electronics driving module, a piezoelectric_member,_and_a removable brush head. U.S._Pat. Nos. 5,247,716 and 5,369,831 to_Bock disclose a_removable brush head for an ultrasonic toothbrush_having_a plurality of bristle clusters, a_substantially_tubular body constructed of a flexible_material,_and_tensioning means securing the brush_head to the ultrasonic device, providing_for the efficient transmission of ultrasonic frequency oscillations from_the device via_the brush head. Because conventional_toothbrush_bristles_and bubbly dental fluid can reduce rather than facilitate the_propagation of_ultrasound waves, the_toothbrushes disclosed in these references would not achieve efficient ultrasound_wave propagation. Also,