US20170013952A1

US20170013952A1 - Touch-control flashing toothbrush

Info

Publication number: US20170013952A1
Application number: US14/802,661
Authority: US
Inventors: Ming-Kuei Li
Original assignee: Shummi Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shummi Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-17
Filing date: 2015-07-17
Publication date: 2017-01-19
Also published as: EP3117739A1

Abstract

A touch-control flashing toothbrush comprises a hollow brush handle and a control circuit board. The hollow brush handle has a brush head at one end and a light-permeable handle member at another end. The control circuit board is arranged inside the hollow brush handle and includes a control circuit electrically connected with a light emitting element, two electric-conduction contacts, and a battery assembly. The battery assembly supplies power to the other elements. The electric-conduction contacts are exposed on the surface of the hollow brush handle. Once two electric-conduction contacts are touched simultaneously, voltage of the battery assembly is conducted to the control circuit. Then, the control circuit controls the light emitting element to emit light projecting to exterior through the light-permeable handle member. The touch-control flashing toothbrush is triggered to emit light by touch, interesting children and encouraging them to keep oral health.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toothbrush, particularly to a touch-control flashing toothbrush triggered by touch to emit flashing light.
Description of the Related Art
The toothbrush is an instrument for clean teeth, having bundles of bristles on the brush head. The toothbrush can reach the deep of the oral cavity where the fingers are hard to reach. The user normally adds toothpaste to the bristles to enhance the efficacy of the toothbrush.
At present, there are various types of toothbrushes available in the market, such as electric toothbrushes, collapsible toothbrushes, health care toothbrushes, disposable toothbrushes, and flashing toothbrushes, each of which has different sizes, shapes and bristle materials. The abovementioned toothbrushes respectively have different advantages and apply to different situations.
For example, the flashing toothbrush emits light to facilitate users to view the cleanness of the oral cavity and provides an amusing effect to lure children to clean teeth everyday. The flashing toothbrushes available in the market normally have a built-in electronic circuit board able to emit light, wherein a switch is used to turn on the light source. However, the conventional flashing toothbrushes have a disadvantage: their batteries are unlikely to replace because the batteries are sealed inside the brush handle.
Besides, the press buttons of the conventional flashing toothbrushes may malfunction after long-term usage because of abrasion or inappropriate operation. As the press button is unlikely to replace, the entire flashing toothbrush would be abandoned. Therefore, the conventional flashing toothbrushes still have room to improve in practicability and stability.
Accordingly, the present invention proposes a touch-control flashing toothbrush to overcome the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a touch-control flashing toothbrush, which is triggered to flash by touch, and which has an amusing effect encouraging children to keep their oral health persistently.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a touch-control flashing toothbrush, which is triggered to emit music by touch to lure children to brush their teeth and keep their oral health.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a touch-control flashing toothbrush, which can be triggered to flash without using a press button, whereby the flashing toothbrush is exempted from the conventional problem that overuse causes the damage of the press button and the malfunction of the flashing toothbrush, wherefore the present invention can decrease the maintenance cost of the flashing toothbrush and promote the durability of the flashing toothbrush.
To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the present invention proposes a touch-control flashing toothbrush, which comprises a hollow brush handle and a control circuit board. The front end of the hollow brush handle has a brush head. Another end of the hollow brush handle, which is opposite the brush head, has a light-permeable handle member. The control circuit board is arranged inside the light-permeable handle member. The control circuit board includes a control circuit. The control circuit board further includes a light emitting element, two electric-conduction contacts, and a battery assembly, which are all electrically connected with the control circuit. The battery assembly supplies power to the control circuit, the light emitting element and the electric-conduction contacts. The electric-conduction contacts are exposed on the surface of the hollow brush handle. Once the two electric-conduction contacts are touched simultaneously, the voltage of the battery assembly is conducted to the control circuit. Then, the control circuit controls the light emitting element to emit light projecting to the exterior through the light-permeable handle member.
Below, embodiments are described in detail to make easily understood the objectives, technical contents, characteristics and accomplishments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a touch-control flashing toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view schematically showing the touch-control flashing toothbrush according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the touch-control flashing toothbrush according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a cap of the touch-control flashing toothbrush according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a touch-control flashing toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing the touch-control flashing toothbrush according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Refer to FIGS. 1-3 for a first embodiment. The touch-control flashing toothbrush 1 of the present invention comprises a hollow brush handle 10 and a control circuit board 20. The front end of the hollow brush handle 10 has a brush head 12. Another end of the hollow brush handle 10, which is opposite the brush head 12, has a light-permeable handle member 14. The light-permeable handle member 14 has a plurality of light-permeable patterns 142. In one embodiment, the light-permeable patterns 142 are light-permeable patterned bumps. In one embodiment, the hollow brush handle 10 is sleeved by a brush handle protection shell 16 having a plurality of patterned holes 162 corresponding to the light-permeable patterned bumps; the light-permeable patterned bumps are expose to the patterned holes 162, and the hollow brush handle 10 set on brush handle protection shell 16, that was made by injection-molding. The control circuit board 20 is arranged inside the hollow brush handle 10.
The control circuit board 20 includes a control circuit 22. The control circuit board 20 further includes a light emitting element 24, an audio element 26, two electric-conduction contacts 28, and a battery assembly 29, which are all electrically connected with the control circuit 22. The battery assembly 29 further includes a battery accommodation bay 292 and at least one battery 294. The battery accommodation bay 292 has a positive contact and a negative contact respectively at two ends thereof The positive contact and the negative contact are respectively electrically connected with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery 294 to form a loop, whereby the battery assembly 29 can supply power to the control circuit 22, the light emitting element 24, the audio element 26, and two electric-conduction contacts 28.
The two electric-conduction contacts 28 are exposed on the surface of the hollow brush handle 10 and located at the rear end or lateral surface of the hollow brush handle 10. In one embodiment, the rear end of the hollow brush handle 10 has an opening 19; a cap 30 is used to cover the opening 19 and seal the hollow brush handle 10; the two electric-conduction contacts 28 are disposed at the cap 30. While the two electric-conduction contacts 28 are touched simultaneously, the battery assembly 29 transmits voltage to the control circuit 22. Then, the control circuit 22 controls the light emitting element 24 to emit light and controls the audio element 26 to emit music. In one embodiment, the light emitting element is a light emitting diode. Thereby, the light emitting element 24 provides light projecting to the exterior through the light-permeable handle member 14, and the audio element 26 provides music. Thus, the touch-control flashing toothbrush 1 of the present invention simultaneously generates light and music to interest children. In one embodiment, the rear end of the hollow brush handle 10 or at a lateral surface of hollow brush handle has a suction disc 18, whereby the touch-control flashing toothbrush 1 of the present invention can be stuck onto a plane. In one embodiment, the suction disc 18 is disposed at the cap 30, which is at the rear end of the hollow brush handle 10. Therefore, the touch-control flashing toothbrush 1 of the present invention would not be laid on a plane horizontally but can be stuck onto the plane vertically by the suction disc 22. Thus, the brush head 12 would not be polluted by the dirt on the plane.
Refer to FIG. 4 for the detailed structure of the cap 30 disposed at the opening 10 of the rear end of the hollow brush handle 10. The cap 30 includes an inner thread 32 and a positioning recess 34. The opening 19 of the hollow brush handle 10 has an outer thread 192, and the outer thread 192 has a positioning block 194. The cap 30 is engaged with the hollow brush handle 10 via screwing the outer thread 192 of the opening 19 into the inner thread 32 of the cap 30 until the positioning block 194 is press-fit into the positioning recess 34.
After the description of the overall structural design of the present invention, refer to FIG. 2 again for how the electric-conduction contacts 28 trigger the light emitting element 24 and the audio element 26. The electric-conduction contacts 28 are made of a conductive metallic material. While the two electric-conduction contacts 28 are touched by a human body or water simultaneously, the battery 294 and a control chip 222 of the control circuit 22 are electrically connected. Then, the control chip 222 controls the light emitting element 24 and the audio element 26 to operate. Thus, light and music is emitted out through the light-permeable handle member 14 of the hollow brush handle 10. Thereby, music and lighting patterns/flashing patterns are generated to attract the attention of children. In the present invention, the light-emitting element 24 may emit light in various modes. For example, the light-emitting element 24 emits light continuously for N seconds, or emits light intermittently (flashes). The lighting modes of the light-emitting element 24 can be programmed in the control circuit 22 according to the requirements of users. The present invention does not particularly limit the lighting modes of the light-emitting element 24.
Refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 for a second embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the opening 19 formed at the rear end of the hollow brush handle 10, the touch-control flashing toothbrush 1 of the present invention further comprises a side opening 15 on the lateral surface of the hollow brush handle 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a cover 40 covers the side opening 15. The cover 40 has a press-fit member 42, and the side opening 15 of the hollow brush handle 10 has an assembly member 152. Through the engagement of the press-fit member 42 and the assembly member 152, the cover 40 is secured to the hollow brush handle 10. Alternatively, the cover 40 may be joined with the hollow brush handle 10 by ultrasonic welding. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the light-permeable patterns 142 are formed on the cover 40. Different from the first embodiment where the two electric-conduction contacts 28 and the suction disc 18 are disposed at the cap 30, the second embodiment disposes the two electric-conduction contacts 28 and the suction disc 18 at the rear end of the hollow brush handle 10. While the two electric-conduction contacts 28 are touched simultaneously, the light emitting element 24 and the audio element 26 respectively provide light and music at the same time. Thereby, music and lighting patterns/flashing patterns are generated to attract the attention of children to the touch-control flashing toothbrush 1 of the present invention. The structure of the second embodiment is basically similar to that of the first embodiment except the installation of the cover 40 and the positions of the electric-conduction contacts 28, the suction disc 18 and the light-permeable patterns 142. Therefore, it will not repeat herein.
In conclusion, the present invention uses touch to trigger a flashing toothbrush to emit light and music, whereby lighting variation and music will interest children and encourage them to brush teeth daily and keep oral health persistently. Further, the touch-control flashing toothbrush 1 of the present invention is free of any press button and exempted from the conventional problem that repeated operations cause the press button to malfunction. Therefore, the present invention can decrease the maintenance cost of the flashing toothbrush and promote the durability of the flashing toothbrush.
The embodiments described above are only to exemplify the present invention but not to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modification or variation according to the characteristic or spirit of the present invention is to be also included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A touch-control flashing toothbrush comprising a hollow brush handle whose front end has a brush head and whose another end, which is opposite said brush head, has a light-permeable handle member; and

a control circuit board arranged inside said hollow brush handle, including a control circuit, said control circuit electrically connected with a light emitting element, two electric-conduction contacts and a battery assembly, wherein said two electric-conduction contacts are exposed on a surface of said hollow brush handle, and wherein while said two electric-conduction contacts are touched simultaneously, said battery assembly transmits voltage to said control circuit, whereafter said control circuit controls said light emitting element to emit light projecting to exterior through said light-permeable handle member.

2. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit board further includes an audio element electrically connected with said control circuit, and wherein while said two electric-conduction contacts are touched simultaneously, said battery assembly is electrically connected with said control circuit and transmits voltage to said control circuit, whereafter said control circuit controls said audio element to provide music.

3. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting element is a light emitting diode.

4. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a suction disc is disposed at a rear end of said hollow brush handle for attaching said touch-control flashing toothbrush onto a plane.

5. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a suction disc is disposed at a lateral surface of said hollow brush handle for attaching said touch-control flashing toothbrush onto a plane.

6. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of said hollow brush handle has an opening, and wherein a cap is installed in said opening.

7. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein said cap has an inner thread and a positioning recess, and wherein said opening of said hollow brush handle has an outer thread, and wherein said outer thread has a positioning block, and wherein said cap is engaged with said hollow brush handle via screwing said outer thread into said inner thread until said positioning block is press-fit to said positioning recess.

8. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said hollow brush handle has a side opening, and wherein a cover is installed in said side opening.

9. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein said cover has a press-fit member, and said side opening of said hollow brush handle has an assembly member, and wherein said cover is secured to said hollow brush handle through engagement of said press-fit member and said assembly member.

10. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein said cover is joined with said hollow brush handle by ultrasonic welding.

11. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said battery assembly further includes a battery accommodation bay and at least one battery, and wherein said battery accommodation bay has a positive contact and a negative contact respectively at two ends thereof, and wherein said positive contact and said negative contact are respectively electrically connected with a positive electrode and a negative electrode of said battery to form a loop.

12. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said light-permeable brush handle has a plurality of light-permeable patterns.

13. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 12, wherein said light-permeable patterns are light-permeable patterned bumps, and wherein said hollow brush handle is sleeved by a brush handle protection shell having a plurality of patterned holes corresponding to said light-permeable patterned bumps, and wherein said light-permeable patterned bumps are expose to said patterned holes.

14. The touch-control flashing toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein said two electric-conduction contacts are arranged at a rear end or a lateral surface of said hollow brush handle.