1. Field of the Invention
The present inventions relate to dental hygiene and, more particularly, to toothbrushes.
2. Description of the Related Art
To ensure proper oral care, dentists recommend that we brush our teeth more than once a day for at least two to three minutes each time. Despite this recommendation, the average adult person does not brush his or her teeth for two to three minutes. This problem is worse with children, who have notoriously short attention spans and often view brushing their teeth as a chore. Accordingly, there is a general need for a device that encourages people, especially children, to brush their teeth more often and for longer periods of time. See e.g., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004-0143920, filed Jan. 24, 2003 and published on Jul. 29, 2004, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004-0143920 describes a toothbrush with a handle having a base, a body, and a head. These toothbrushes help the user to brush for a sufficient period of time by flashing or remaining otherwise illuminated for an established time. The user is encouraged to brush and remain brushing while the toothbrush is lighted. This is especially useful for children for the reasons explained above.
One aspect of the present invention is that there may exist drawbacks and shortcomings to using light to help the user know how long to brush his or her teeth. For example, it may be difficult for the user to see the light when the toothbrush is in the mouth. It may be difficult to see when the light turns off in a well lit bathroom. There also exist many people who have difficulty seeing but who also could use some encouragement to brush more often and for longer periods of time. Applicant has recognized that a need exists for a musical toothbrush or one that projects sound instead of or together with light to inform the user how long they should brush.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is a toothbrush comprising a handle having a first end and a second end and a head coupled to the first end of the handle, the head comprising a plurality of bristles. A handle cover is coupled to the second end of the handle. A loudspeaker is positioned in the handle. The tooth brush also includes a power source, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a microchip. The microchip is attached to the PCB. A switch is positioned in the handle such that when the switch is pressed the switch contacts the PCB but does not contact the PCB when it is not pressed. A control circuit configured such that contact between the switch the PCB completes a circuit and initiates the sound or music projection from the loudspeaker for a set period of time.
Another aspect of the present invention is a toothbrush as disclosed including a waterproof wall positioned in the handle and surrounding part of the switch to ensure that water does not enter the handle from the area around the switch.
Another aspect of the present invention is a toothbrush comprising a handle having a first end and a second end and a head coupled to the first end of the handle, the head comprising a plurality of bristles. A loudspeaker is positioned in the handle. A light source is positioned in the handle. The tooth brush also includes a power source, a PCB, and a microchip. The microchip is attached to the PCB. A switch is positioned in the handle such that when the switch is pressed the switch contacts the PCB but does not contact the PCB when it is not pressed. A control circuit configured such that contact between the switch the PCB completes a circuit and initiates illumination and sound or music projection from the loudspeaker for a set period of time.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a toothbrush as in any of the previously disclosed aspects wherein the toothbrush further comprises a microchip. The microchip can be separate from the loudspeaker and easily removable so that one toothbrush can utilize different microchips. Each microchip could, for example, be programmed with different sounds or music. Thus, the control circuit would complete the circuit and initiate the microchip which would determine the sound or music to be projected from the loudspeaker.
The foregoing objects may also be achieved by a toothbrush having a handle having a base, a body, and a head. The body having a chamber therein. A loudspeaker for projecting sound or music located within the chamber. The toothbrush having at least one bristle attached to the head. The toothbrush having a handle cover attached to the base.
The foregoing objects may still further be achieved by a method of using a toothbrush. The method uses a toothbrush having a handle and a sound projection circuit. The toothbrush handle having a base, a body, and a head. The toothbrush sound projection circuit having a loudspeaker to project sound or music connected to a switch. The toothbrush sound projection circuit may further have a microchip programmed with sound or music connected to a loudspeaker. The method including the step of pressing the switch for completing the sound projection circuit. The method further including the step of activating a loudspeaker within the toothbrush to project sound or music. The method still further including the step of utilizing the toothbrush while the loudspeaker is activated.
As shown in
The toothbrush handle 12 can be formed through an injection molding process. In such an embodiment, plastic in a liquid form can be injected into a mold having two sections. Liquid plastic can be injected into the mold where it is then allowed to solidify. When the mold is opened it creates a handle having a brush side 28 and a non-brush side 30. At the intersection of these two sides 28, 30 can be a ridge 32. The ridge 32 can be a surface characteristic resulting from the injection molding process. In the illustrated arrangement, the ridge 32 does not extend inside the handle 12 but exists on the surface. The injection molding process in constructing of the toothbrush handle 12 is conventional and does not form a part of the present invention.
The brush 16 can have a bristle 80. The bristle 80 can have a first end 82 and a second end 84. The bristle second end 84 can be embedded in the head 26 of the handle 20.
The handle base 20 has an opening 38 and a cavity 50, see
Continuing to look at
The sound project circuit 40, as shown in
The timing circuit 64 preferably can function to activate the loudspeaker 52 for approximately 60 seconds. The timing circuit 64 also preferably can serve to control the loudspeaker 60 to project a sound intermittently for the time period in which it is engaged. In some embodiments, the loudspeaker 52 may stay on continuously and/or sound for a longer or shorter period of time. In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit is activated by closing an electrical switch 42 to complete a circuit.
The switch 42 can be made of a flexible material. Alternatively, the switch 42 may be of a hard material but have a flexible portion that may be used to engage the PCB 50 to connect the sound projection circuit 40.
In operation, the musical toothbrush 10′ is used by a user to indicate the duration of an amount of time. The user grips the toothbrush handle 12′ in their hand with the bristle 80′ surface with the bristle 80′ against their teeth and engages the switch 42. The loudspeaker 52 begins to project sound intermittently in an on/off fashion. The loudspeaker 52 continues to sound for a period of approximately 60 seconds. The handle is designed to direct sound to the user in multiple ways so that the user may be accurately apprised of brushing time. The frequency of sound can remain constant, or vary in frequency. In some embodiments, the frequency can increase as the time approaches 60 seconds. In some embodiments, the frequency can remain constant through a first period of time, and increase in frequency in a second period of time. In one example, the frequency can remain constant for approximately 45 seconds; then increase for the remaining 15 seconds. In other embodiments, different time intervals can be used, such as, for example, two even periods of thirty seconds each.
As can be seen in
Although certain embodiments, features, and examples have been described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many aspects of the methods and devices shown and described in the present disclosure may be differently combined and/or modified to form still further embodiments. For example, any one component of the toothbrushes shown and described above can be used alone or with other components without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Additionally, it will be recognized that the methods described herein may be practiced in different sequences, and/or with additional devices as desired. Such alternative embodiments and/or uses of the methods and devices described above and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/986,558, filed Nov. 8, 2007. The above-mentioned provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and made a part of this specification.
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