HK1067977A1 - Illuminated toothbrush and method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

A toothbrush with a handle having a base, a body, and a head. The body having a first section and a second section forming an oblique angle. A projector of a beam of light located within the handle. The toothbrush having at least one bristle attached to the head. The toothbrush having a grip attached the toothbrush. The method further including the step of engaging the projector of a beam of light. The method still further including the step of utilizing the toothbrush while the projector of a light beam is activated.

Description

Illuminated toothbrush and method of use

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an illuminated toothbrush and a method of using the illuminated toothbrush.

Background

There is a need for illumination in the design and use of toothbrushes.

In the design of illuminated toothbrush handles, there is a need to increase the amount of light directed to the user to a maximum amount.

There is also a need in the design of toothbrush handles to indicate to the user the time increments for brushing.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, in response to the above-identified needs in the art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a light beam emitter in a toothbrush handle that illuminates the handle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush handle that maximizes the amount of light emitted, reflected and refracted within the handle toward the user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a timing circuit so that the user can determine the elapsed time while brushing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel device to encourage the user to brush their teeth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is simple to use and inexpensive. The above object is achieved by a toothbrush comprising: a handle having a base portion, a handle body and a head portion; a power source; a light beam emitter connected to the power supply; a plurality of tufts of bristles attached to the head; the method is characterized in that: the shank body is made of a clear material and has a first portion and a second portion forming an angle of inclination, the first portion having a cavity therein; the beam emitter is located within the chamber; a handle connected to the base portion; a switch located between the power source and the beam emitter, the switch for causing the beam emitter to emit a beam, the switch being a resilient member attached to the base portion; a timing circuit coupled to the beam emitter, the timing circuit capable of limiting operation of the beam emitter to a predetermined period of time; a plurality of metal flakes embedded in the clear material of the shank, the metal flakes being capable of reflecting light beams in a plurality of directions, whereby light beams from the light beam emitters will pass through the clear material and will be reflected by the metal flakes out of the clear material in a plurality of directions.

The above objects are also achieved by a method of using a toothbrush comprising: a handle having a base portion, a handle body and a head portion; a power source; a light beam emitter connected to the power supply; and a plurality of tufts of bristles attached to the head; the method is characterized in that: the handle is made of clear material and has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion form an inclination angle therebetween; forming a chamber within the first portion; disposing the beam emitter in the chamber; attaching a handle to the base portion; employing a switch between said power source and said beam emitter, said switch for causing said beam emitter to emit a beam, said switch being a resilient element attached to said base portion; employing a timing circuit in communication with the beam emitter, the timing circuit capable of limiting operation of the beam emitter to a predetermined period of time; a plurality of foils are embedded in the clear material of the shank, the foils being capable of reflecting a beam in a plurality of directions, whereby a beam from the beam emitter will pass through the clear material and will be reflected by the foils out of the clear material in a plurality of directions.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush showing the transmission, reflection and refraction paths of a light beam emitted by a light beam emitter

Fig. 2 is a front view of the toothbrush of fig. 1 showing the brush face of the toothbrush.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the toothbrush of FIG. 1 showing the non-brushing side of the toothbrush.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the toothbrush of fig. 1 showing the chamber preferably located adjacent the non-brushing side.

Figure 5 is a top view of the toothbrush with the handle removed, exposing the base portion of the toothbrush and the lighting circuit located therein.

Figure 6 is an exploded top plan view of the toothbrush handle, base section and lower portion of the handle showing the arrangement of the lighting circuit in the handle.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the base portion of fig. 6 showing the recess for receiving the positive conductor.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lighting circuit without the power supply.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the lighting circuit.

Fig. 11 is a top perspective view of the lighting circuit.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of an illumination circuit.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates an illuminated toothbrush of the present invention which includes a handle 12, an illumination circuit 14, a brush 16 and a handle 18.

The stem 12 has a base portion 20, a stem body 21, and a head 26. The shank body has a first portion 22 and a second portion 24. The handle 12 is made of a hard clear plastic. Alternatively, the handle 12 may be a colored plastic. Alternatively, the handle 12 may be translucent plastic. Alternatively, the handle 12 may be made of plastic with the addition of the foil 90.

Handle 12 is formed by an injection molding process. The plastic in liquid form is injected into a two-part mold. Liquid plastic is injected into the mold and can subsequently solidify in the mold. When the mold is opened, it produces a handle having a brush face 28 and a non-brush face 30. At the intersection of the two faces 28, 30 is a ridge 32. The ridges 32 are surface features created by an injection molding process. The ridge 32 does not extend into the interior of the shank 12 but is present on the surface of the shank. The injection molding process for constructing handle 12 is conventional and does not form a part of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 5, 6 and 8, the stem 12 has a stem base portion 20. The base portion 20 is generally cylindrical and has a circumferential groove or cavity 44 therein. The circumferential groove has a centerline. Base portion 20 has an outer surface 34, an inner surface 36, a first end 38, and a second end 40. Three annular rings 42 are provided on the outer surface 34 of the base portion 20. The annular ring 42 provides a ledge for retaining the handle 18.

The inner surface 36 defines a cavity 44. The inner surface 36 has a first groove 46 and a second groove 48. The cavity 44 provides a receiving cavity for the lighting circuit 14. The first and second recesses 46, 48 provide a guide for the positioning of the lighting circuit 14 within the base portion 20.

Chamber 50 extends within portion 22. The chamber 50 has a first end 52 and a second end 54. The chamber 50 is generally cylindrical. The first end 52 is rounded and provides a transition between the air-filled chamber 50 and the plastic first portion 22. Air is naturally present in the chamber when assembled after the stem is manufactured. Alternatively, the chamber may be filled with a material in a separate process from the shank forming process.

The second end 54 of the chamber 50 communicates with the first end 38 of the base portion 20. The first part chamber 50 is eccentrically aligned with the base 20. As shown in fig. 8, the first section chamber 50 is eccentrically aligned with the base section 20 to allow the beam emitter or lighting element 60 to emit a light beam 104 that propagates through the first section 22 and strikes the interface 114 of the second section 24 and the atmosphere. At this interface, beam 106 reflects toward crown 26 and beam 108 refracts toward the atmosphere.

The first portion chamber 50 is also positioned in eccentric alignment with the base portion 20 as it is ergonomically designed in the first portion 22 to fit the user's grip. In this mechanics design, the brush face 28 of the first portion 22 is contoured, while the non-brush face 30 of the first portion 22 is flat. In addition, the brush face 28 of the first portion 22 intersects the second portion 24 at a greater angle than the non-brush face 30 intersects the second portion 24. In other words, the lighting circuit 14 extends within the first portion 22 generally parallel to the centerline of the base member 20, but the brush face 28 of the first portion 22 is angled toward the interior point where the first portion 22 meets the second portion 24, and the non-brush face 30 portion of the first portion 22 is also angled toward the point where the first portion 22 meets the second portion 24. Thus, in order for the first portion cavity 50 to extend furthest within the first portion 22 of the shank 12, the first portion cavity 50 must be closer to the non-brush face 30 of the first portion 22.

The lighting circuit 14 has a lighting element or light beam emitter 60, a resistor 62, a timing circuit 64, and a power supply 66. These components are connected by conductors. These conductors provide structural functionality. The lighting element conductors 68 provide a support structure for the lighting element 60 to extend a distance away from the timing circuit 64. The negative conductor 70 is a spring that presses against the power source 66. A positive conductor 72 extends from the timing circuit 64 to envelope the three cells. While the positive conductor 72 is sized to fit within the first and second recesses 46, 48 of the base section 20, the positive conductor 72 is also sized to stabilize the lighting circuit within the base section 20.

The lighting element 60 in this embodiment is a Light Emitting Diode (LED). Alternatively, the lighting element 60 may be an incandescent light bulb. Alternatively, lighting element 60 may be any other device known in the art that provides illumination.

The power supply 66 is a miniature button cell battery model G3-ACNB. Three cells are placed in series in the base portion 20. The timing circuit operates to illuminate the illumination element 60 for approximately 60 seconds. The illumination element 60 may also control the illumination element 60 to flash intermittently during the ignition. Alternatively, the illumination element 60 may remain continuously illuminated.

The brush 16 has bristles 80. The bristles 80 have a first end 82 and a second end 84. The second ends 84 of the bristles are embedded in the head 26 of the handle 20. The bristles 80 are made of a transparent plastic material. The bristles 80 light up as light propagates from lighting element 60 through first portion 22 and second portion 24 to strike the bristles. Some of the light striking the bristles 80 may be reflected through the bristles 80 and spread out of the bristles 80. The brush 16 is made from a series of individual bristles 80.

The handle 18 is made of an elastic material. The handle 18 also functions as a switch. As shown in fig. 7, the handle 18 has an extension or switch 74 of resilient material. The extension 74 pushes the positive metal conductor 72 into contact with the power source 66. Alternatively, the extension 74 may push the power source 66 into contact with the positive metal conductor 72. In this manner, the extension 74 urges the lighting circuit 14 from the non-illuminated position to the illuminated position. The handle 18 is secured to the base section 20 by engaging an annular ring 42 on the outer surface 34 of the base section 20. An adhesive 88 is interposed between the first portion 22 and the handle 18 to maintain the handle 18 in tight engagement with the first portion 22.

The handle 18 is made of an elastic material. Alternatively, the handle 18 may be made of a hard material having a resilient portion that is used to engage the positive conductor 72 and compress the power source 66.

In operation, the illuminated toothbrush 10 used by the user indicates the length of the time duration. The user holds handle 12 in his or her hand with the surface of bristles 80 with bristles 80 resting against his or her teeth and turns on illumination circuit switch 74. The illumination element 60 begins to blink intermittently in an on/off fashion. The lighting element 60 flashes for a period of about 60 seconds. The handle is designed to direct light toward the user in a variety of ways so that the user can accurately determine the brushing time.

Light beam 100 is emitted from illumination device 14 and propagates through first partial chamber 50. The beam 100 strikes the first part chamber and the first part interface 112 and the beam 102 is partially reflected off this interface, while the beam 104 is refracted into the first chamber. The light beam 104 propagates through the first portion 22 and strikes the interface 114 of the second portion 24 and the atmosphere. The light beam 106 reflects from the interface 144 toward the head 26, and the light beam 108 refracts toward the atmosphere. The light beam 106 then strikes the interface of the head 26 and bristles 80, where it is partially reflected and refracted.

Alternatively, the handle may have metal blocks or sheets embedded in a hard plastic. The angle of reflection on the sheet is equal to the angle of incidence. These metal blocks 90 may be glittering. In operation, as shown in FIG. 1, light will be directed at the slug 90 at an angle of incidence and the reflected beam 110 will be directed at an angle of reflection.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and size of parts and equivalents as may be conceived or reduced to practice in accordance with the circumstances may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (4)

1. A toothbrush, comprising:

a handle having a base portion, a handle body and a head portion;

a power source;

a light beam emitter connected to the power supply;

a plurality of tufts of bristles attached to the head;

the method is characterized in that:

the shank body is made of a clear material and has a first portion and a second portion forming an angle of inclination, the first portion having a cavity therein;

the beam emitter is located within the chamber;

a handle connected to the base portion;

a switch located between the power source and the beam emitter, the switch for causing the beam emitter to emit a beam, the switch being a resilient member attached to the base portion;

a timing circuit coupled to the beam emitter, the timing circuit capable of limiting operation of the beam emitter to a predetermined period of time;

a plurality of metal flakes embedded in the clear material of the shank, the metal flakes being capable of reflecting light beams in a plurality of directions, whereby light beams from the light beam emitters will pass through the clear material and will be reflected by the metal flakes out of the clear material in a plurality of directions.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the head is also made of a clear material and the light beam from the light beam emitter passes through the clear material of the head.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle is elongated and includes first and second opposite ends, the head being located at the first end, and the switch being located at the second end of the handle.

4. A method of using a toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising: a handle having a base portion, a handle body and a head portion; a power source; a light beam emitter connected to the power supply; and a plurality of tufts of bristles attached to the head; the method is characterized in that:

the handle is made of clear material and has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion form an inclination angle therebetween;

forming a chamber within the first portion;

disposing the beam emitter in the chamber;

attaching a handle to the base portion;

employing a switch between said power source and said beam emitter, said switch for causing said beam emitter to emit a beam, said switch being a resilient element attached to said base portion;

employing a timing circuit in communication with the beam emitter, the timing circuit capable of limiting operation of the beam emitter to a predetermined period of time;

a plurality of foils are embedded in the clear material of the shank, the foils being capable of reflecting a beam in a plurality of directions, whereby a beam from the beam emitter will pass through the clear material and will be reflected by the foils out of the clear material in a plurality of directions.