Patent Application
20180153298
An overused toothbrush can reduce the effectiveness of the toothbrush, can damage one's gums and teeth, and has the potential to spread unwanted bacteria. As such, it is well-known that a toothbrush must be disposed of and replaced. However, the tracking of when one will need to replace his or her toothbrush is often difficult.
Conventional toothbrushes with indicators to alert an operator that it is time for a replacement generally includes bristles that change color when the bristles wear away. However, these indicator bristles can be ineffective and unreliable, as the bristles may change color based on factors independent of usage. Other toothbrushes with indicators may include a motion sensor that triggers the activation of a circuit. Typically, the circuit has a preset number of times it can be activated and once the preset value is met, the toothbrush indicates to the user that it needs to be replaced. However, this mechanism is also unreliable, as the toothbrush may be moved even when it is not in use. Thus, this mechanism may lead to premature replacement of the toothbrush.
Exemplary embodiments described herein include a toothbrush. The toothbrush may include a head portion, a neck portion, and a handle portion. The neck portion may connect the head portion to the handle portion. The head portion may include one or more bristles. The handle portion may include an indicator assembly and may be ergonomic.
The indicator assembly may include an alert to indicate when the toothbrush is ready to be replaced. The alert may be audial or visual. In an exemplary embodiment, the alert is activated when the lifespan of the toothbrush is reached as determined by a tracked use time. The alert may also or alternatively indicate a desired use time for the toothbrush. For example, at each use, the toothbrush may provide an alert when the toothbrush has been in use for a requisite amount of time. The alert may include a light, sound, vibration, or combinations thereof. The alert may be the same alert as that used to track lifespan or may be a separate alert.
The indicator assembly may include two contacting surfaces that are separated in a non-use position and in contact in a use position or sometime during use. When in contact, the contacting surfaces may close a circuit that is used to track use time. In an exemplary embodiment, the contacting surfaces are configured to contact when a neck portion of the toothbrush is flexed.
The following detailed description illustrates by way of example, not by way of limitation, the principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of exemplary embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.
As used herein, the terms “about,” “substantially,” or “approximately” for any numerical values, ranges, shapes, distances, relative relationships, etc. indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.
As used herein, the term “acute” indicates any angle that is less than 90°. As used herein, the term “obtuse” indicates any angle that is greater than 90°.
As used herein, the terms “and” and “or” are interchangeable such that any recitation that provides a combination of elements may be used separately and any identified element may be used alone or may be used in combination such as including all elements or any sub-combination of elements.
Exemplary embodiments described herein include a toothbrush. The toothbrush may include a head portion, a neck portion, and a handle portion. The neck portion may connect the head portion to the handle portion. The head portion may include one or more bristles. The handle portion may include an indicator assembly and may be ergonomic.
Although embodiments of the invention may be described and illustrated herein in terms of a toothbrush with an indicator, it should be understood that embodiments of this invention are not so limited, but are additionally applicable to other devices requiring life tracking having a neck portion. Exemplary features disclosed herein may be used in any combination, such that features may be removed, duplicated, integrated, separated, etc.
The indicator assembly may include two contacting surfaces that are separated in a non-use position and in contact in a use position. When in contact, the contacting surfaces may close a circuit that is used to track use time. The tracked use time may be a set value associated with each use that is incremented when the contacting surface directly touch initially or touch for a threshold amount of time. The tracked use time may not be again incremented for a period of time regardless of the contact between the contacting surfaces for another threshold period of time, such as a time equivalent or approximate to the set value. The tracked use time may be an incremented or decremented counter tracking the number of uses of the toothbrush without an associated set value. The tracked use time may be a tracked time of actual direct touching between the contacting surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, the contacting surfaces are configured to contact when a neck portion of the toothbrush is flexed.
The indicator assembly may include an alert to indicate when the toothbrush is ready to be replaced. The alert may be audial or visual. In an exemplary embodiment, the alert is activated when the lifespan of the toothbrush is reached as determined by the tracked use time. In an exemplary embodiment, the alert includes a light that is a first color for use when the toothbrush can be in use and another color when the toothbrush should be replaced. The first color may include one or more colors to indicate a progression toward replacement. For example, a first color, such as green, may be used when the toothbrush is initially used until a midpoint in the toothbrush lifespan. The midpoint may be anywhere from the beginning to the end of use, and does not require an exact middle of lifespan. For example, the midpoint may be at ½, or may be at ⅔ or ¾ of the life span of the toothbrush. A second color, such as yellow or orange, may be used in the later part of the toothbrush lifespan. A third color, such a red, may be used when the toothbrush is at its useful lifespan and should be replaced. Other indicator combinations may be used, such as changing colors, intensity, on/off or flashing patterns, vibrations, or audial indicators as well.
The alert may also or alternatively indicate a desired use time for the toothbrush. For example, at each use, the toothbrush may provide an alert when the toothbrush has been in use for a requisite amount of time. The alert may include a light, sound, vibration, or combinations thereof. The alert may be the same alert as that used to track lifespan or may be a separate alert. In an exemplary embodiment, a light is illuminated when the brush is first in use and turns off after the requisite amount of time. The light may be the same as used to track lifespan, such that the illumination changes intensity, pattern, color, or combinations thereof to indicate when to change the toothbrush. The alert may also include a light, sound, or vibration starting or occurring at the end of the requisite amount of time.
In an exemplary embodiment, the indicator assembly includes a base plate 109, a circuit, and a lens 111. The circuit is defined by one or more contact plates, a light source 113, a circuit board 115, and a power source 117. The base plate 109 may connect the circuit together, thus the base plate 109 may connect the one or more contact plates, the light source 113, the circuit board 115, and the power source 117 together. The power source 117 may supply power to the light source 113, thereby causing the light source 113 to emit a light. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle 107 may have an interior cavity. The base plate 109 and the circuit may be located within the interior cavity. The handle 107 may be molded around the base plate and circuit.
In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more plates may be a first plate 119 and a second plate 121. As illustrated in
In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more plates may be planar. As shown in
As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the handle may be connected to the neck portion at an angle. The angle may be obtuse, as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the neck may be flexible. Therefore, as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment as illustrated in
In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second branches may be substantially non-linear. As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the neck may be flexible. Therefore, the head 103 may move relative to the handle 107 when the toothbrush is in operation. As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the circuit may further comprise a timer. The timer may regulate the power to the light source such that the power is supplied to the light source so long as the timer is still running. As such, once the timer has ended, the light source will cease to illuminate until the circuit is once again completed. For example, the timer may begin running when the neck flexes causing the head portion to move relative to the handle, causing the circuit to close and the light source to illuminate. The light source may continue to emit light until the timer stops. In this case, once the timer stops running, the light source will turn off. In an exemplary embodiment, the timer may be set to last approximately the amount of time necessary for an operator to brush his or her teeth. For example, the timer may be set to last approximately 2 minutes.
In an exemplary embodiment, the power source may provide power to the toothbrush. In an exemplary embodiment, the power source may comprise a battery. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery is rechargeable. The power source may also include A/C power, such as through a power cord.
In an exemplary embodiment, the light source may comprise a light emitting diode. In an exemplary embodiment, the light source may emit two colors. The light source may emit a first color when the toothbrush is not in need of replacement and a second color when the toothbrush needs to be replaced.
In an exemplary embodiment, the light source may emit three colors. The light source may emit a first color when the toothbrush is not in need of replacement and a second color when the toothbrush needs to be replaced. Additionally, the light source may emit a third color as a warning that the toothbrush may need to be replaced substantially soon. For example, the toothbrush may emit a first color, such as green, when the toothbrush is substantially new, a second color, such as red, when the toothbrush has neared the end of its life cycle and a third color, such as yellow, when the toothbrush is approximately halfway through its life cycle.
In an exemplary embodiment, the toothbrush may also comprise a counter. The counter may keep track of the number of times the indicator assembly has been activated. In an exemplary embodiment, the counter may alert the light source as to what color the light source should display. For example, the light source may display a certain color for a predetermined number of activations of the indicator assembly. Once that number exceeds the predetermined number of activations, the light source may display another color. In an exemplary embodiment, the light source may display the first color until the counter reaches 240, at which point the light source will display the third color until the counter reaches 480, at which point the light source will display the second color, notifying the user that a replacement toothbrush is necessary.
In an exemplary embodiment, the handle may be ergonomic. The handle may comprise multiple ridges on an outside surface in order to increase friction. The handle may comprise a soft portion in order to provide a more comfortable gripping portion. The handle may comprise a concave section that aids in the holding of the toothbrush.
In an exemplary embodiment, the head may comprise a first side and a second side. The first side may further comprise one or more sets of protrusions. The one or more sets of protrusions may be substantially vertical and may project away from the second side of the head. The one or more sets of protrusions may be bristle-like and/or peg-like. The one or more sets of protrusions may be substantially flexible. The second side may comprise one or more ridges. The one or more ridges may protrude substantially vertically away from the first side of the head. The one or more ridges may be substantially rigid, flexible, or a combination thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment, the toothbrush may be between 180-185 millimeters long. The head may be between 12 and 13 millimeters wide and between 22 and 24 millimeters long. The handle may taper. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle portion may include a widest portion that is 10-25 millimeters, such as 18-23 millimeters, and under 10 millimeters, such as 4-6 millimeters at is narrowest.
The lengths and measurements provided herein are exemplary only. For example, a heated bristle may have a heating component along the entire length of the bristle. The overall size of a brush may be reduced or enlarged such that the dimensions may scale for smaller and larger embodiments. The ranges are provided for simplicity and are meant to include every measurement, at least on a 0.001 increment between and inclusive of the identified endpoints. For example, a range of 0.001 to 0.004 would include each of 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, and any combination thereof.
Although embodiments of this invention have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of embodiments of this invention as defined by the appended claims. No single feature is considered essential or necessary to the invention. Instead, the invention includes exemplary features that may be used in one or more combinations are provided herein. The scope of the invention should be determined by the claims only, and not limited by the exemplary embodiments provided herein.
