CN101731836A

CN101731836A - Musical toothbrush and method of use

Info

Publication number: CN101731836A
Application number: CN200910130633A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·南达
Original assignee: FRESH Inc DR
Current assignee: Ranir LLC
Priority date: 2008-11-10
Filing date: 2009-03-20
Publication date: 2010-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-20
Also published as: CN101731836B

Abstract

A toothbrush with a handle having a base, a body, and a head. A projector of sound or music and/or light located within the handle. The toothbrush having at least one bristle attached to the head. The toothbrush having a switch and a control circuit. The control circuit configured to activate the projector of sound or music and/or light after the switch is depressed. The switch passing through and being in sealing engagement with the handle.

Description

Musical toothbrush and using method thereof

The cross reference of related application

The application is the U.S. Patent application of submitting on November 10th, 2,008 12/267,853 part continuation application, this U.S. Patent application 12/267,853 enjoy the U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/986 that is filed on November 8th, 2007 under 35U.S.C.119 § (e), 558 rights and interests, the full content of these two parts of applications is incorporated herein by reference, and as the part of this specification.

Technical field

The present invention relates to oral hygiene, more specifically, relate to toothbrush.

Background technology

In order to ensure suitable MC, the dentist advises brushing teeth every day more than once, and each brushing time was at least 2 to 3 minutes.Although this suggestion is arranged, the adult generally can't brush teeth 2 to 3 minutes.This problem is even more serious concerning children, because children have the notorious short attention span, and often regards loaded down with trivial details thing as brushing teeth.Therefore, generally need a kind of equipment to encourage people, especially children to brush teeth more continually and can continue the longer time at every turn.Be illustrated in submitted on January 24th, 2003 and in the open 2004-0143920 of laid-open U.S. Patents on July 29th, 2004, its full content comes combination by reference in this.

U.S. Patent Publication 2004-0143920 has described the toothbrush that has handle, and handle has bottom, main body and head.These toothbrushes are by flicker in one definite period or keep the luminous user of helping to carry out brushing teeth of sufficient time.Therefore the user is encouraged and brushes teeth and keep brushing teeth when toothbrush is luminous.Because mentioned above, this is particularly advantageous to children.

The applicant has recognized the need to a kind of musical toothbrush or can sound and improve the toothbrush that light is sent in design simultaneously, need brush teeth the time how long to notify the user.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, in one embodiment, toothbrush comprises handle with first end and second end and the head that is connected to handle first end, and head has a plurality of bristles.The handle lid is connected to second end of handle.Loudspeaker is arranged in the handle.Toothbrush also comprises power supply, printed circuit board (PCB) (PCB) and microchip.Microchip is connected on the PCB.Be provided with switch in the handle so that switch it contacts with PCB when being pressed, and do not contact when not being pressed with PCB.Control circuit is configured such that switch finishes the loop with contacting of PCB, and initiates sending of sound or music and/or light in the setting-up time section.

The toothbrush of another embodiment disclosed by the invention comprises the waterproof spacing body that is arranged in the handle and peripheral part of switch, can not enter in the handle from the zone around the switch to guarantee water.

In certain embodiments, toothbrush comprises handle with first end and second end and the head that is connected to handle first end, and head has a plurality of bristles.Loudspeaker is arranged in the handle.Light source is arranged in the handle.Toothbrush also comprises power supply, PCB and microchip.Microchip is connected on the PCB.Be provided with switch in the handle so that switch it contacts with PCB when being pressed, and do not contact when not being pressed with PCB.Control circuit is configured such that switch finishes the loop with contacting of PCB, and beginning is luminous and begin to sound from loudspeaker or music in the setting-up time section.

Have any one toothbrush disclosed above, it also comprises microchip aspect another.Microchip can and can easily be pulled down from the loudspeaker separation, so that toothbrush can use different microchips.For example, each microchip can be programmed alternative sounds or music.Therefore, control circuit can be finished the loop and start microchip, definite sound or the music of sending from loudspeaker of this microchip.

Aforesaid target can realize that also toothbrush has handle and this handle has bottom, main body and head by toothbrush.Main body comprises the cavity that is positioned at wherein.Be used to sound or the loudspeaker of music is arranged in this cavity.Toothbrush has at least one and is connected to bristle on the head.Toothbrush has the handle lid that is connected on the bottom.

Aforesaid target can also realize by the method for using toothbrush.This method is used has the toothbrush that handle and sound send circuit.Toothbrush handles has bottom, main body and head.Toothbrush sound sends circuit to have and is used for sounding or the loudspeaker of music, and it is connected on the switch.Toothbrush sound sends circuit and also has the microchip that the programming that is connected on the loudspeaker has sound or music.This method comprises presses switch to finish the step that sound sends circuit.This method comprises that also the loudspeaker that activates in the toothbrush is to sound or the step of music.This method also comprises the step of using toothbrush when loudspeaker activates.

In certain embodiments, toothbrush can comprise: have the handle of first end and second end, and the head that is connected to first end of described handle, described head comprises a plurality of bristles.Described toothbrush comprises that also the handle of second end that is connected to described handle covers, is arranged at the interior loudspeaker of described handle, is arranged at the interior power supply of described handle, is arranged at printed circuit board, switch and control circuit in the described handle.Contact print circuit board when switch is pressed, and the circuit board of not contact print when not depressed.Control circuit is disposed for making contacting between printed circuit board (PCB) and the switch to finish the loop, and initiates micropkonic activation in the setting-up time section.

The switch of some embodiment comprises: the button that passes handle and sealing gasket.Sealing gasket seals described switch and described handle, makes water can not pass described handle from described button and enter in the described handle that described sealing gasket comprises metal forming.

Among some embodiment, toothbrush comprises: longitudinally the handle that extends of axis, be connected to described handle the bottom the handle lid, be connected to the brush of the brush end of described handle; This toothbrush also comprises: light-emitting component, power supply, control circuit, switch; And control circuit, it is configured to make that activating described switch finishes the loop, and initiates to activate described light-emitting component in the setting-up time section.Wherein said switch comprises: the button and the sealing gasket that pass described handle.Described sealing gasket forms sealed engagement between described switch and described handle, make water can not pass described handle from described button and enter in the described handle that described sealing gasket comprises metal forming.Described toothbrush also comprises loudspeaker.

Toothbrush also comprises handle, the longitudinal axis that it has first end, second end and extends between it; Be connected to the head of first end of described handle, described head comprises a plurality of bristles; Be connected to the actuated piece of described handle; Be arranged on the light-emitting component in the described handle; Be arranged to almost fixed the power supply of described handle inside; And control circuit.This toothbrush also has with other settings and in the feature of relative position.Wherein, the actuated piece of some embodiment is fixed at two ends places, and be configured at the place, centre flexible so that when not being pressed described actuated piece and described handle sealed engagement.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of the toothbrush of prior art.

Fig. 2 is the decomposition plan view of the bottom of toothbrush handle, bottom and toothbrush handles, has shown the layout of the illuminating circuit in toothbrush handles.

Fig. 3 is the decomposition diagram of toothbrush handles, switch and waterproof spacing body.

Fig. 4 is the decomposition diagram that toothbrush handles and sound send circuit.

Fig. 5 is the decomposition diagram that toothbrush handles, handle lid and bristle that sound sends circuit are installed.

Fig. 6 has shown the front view and the side view of waterproof spacing body.

Fig. 7 has shown the front view and the cross-sectional view of switch.

Fig. 8 has shown vertical view, side view and the front view of toothbrush handles.

Fig. 9 has shown vertical view, side view and the front view of toothbrush handles lid.

Figure 10 is that sound sends embodiment of circuit.

Figure 11 has shown another aspect of the present invention, and its toothbrush is configured to comprise the luminous circuit that sends.

Figure 12 is having of an embodiment of the anterior perspective view that the toothbrush of button is installed.

Figure 13 is having of another embodiment of the anterior perspective view that the toothbrush of button is installed.

Figure 14 is having of another embodiment of the anterior perspective view that the toothbrush of button is installed.

Figure 15 is the decomposition diagram of the toothbrush of another embodiment.

The specific embodiment

Fig. 1 has shown the light emitting toothbrush 10 of prior art, and it comprises handle 12, illuminating circuit 14, brush 16 and handle 18.

As shown in Figure 1, handle 12 comprises bottom 20, main body 21 and head 26.Main body 21 has first 22 and second portion 24.Handle 12 can be formed by hard, transparent plastics.In a kind of configuration, handle 12 can be a colored plastic.In the another kind configuration, handle 12 can be a translucent plastic.

Toothbrush handles 12 can form by injection molding technology.In this embodiment, the plastics under the liquid form can be injection molding to enter and have in the two-part mould.Liquid plastics can be injection molding and enter in the mould, allows then to solidify therein.When mould was opened, its formation had the handle of brush side 28 and non-brush side 30.The intersection of these both

sides

28,30 can be a spine 32.Spine 32 can be the surface with the characteristic that is produced by injection molding technology.In the configuration that demonstrates, spine 32 does not extend to handle 12 inside, but is present on the surface.

Brush 16 can have bristle 80.Bristle 80 can have first end 82 and second end 84.Bristle second end 84 can embed in the head 26 of handle 20.

As shown in Figure 2, handle bottom 20 has opening 38 and recess (cavity) 50.Illuminating circuit 14 is partly packed in the recess 50 and is partly packed into basic in the handle 18 of hollow.Cavity (chamber) 50 can extend in part 22.The shape of cavity 50 can be a substantial cylindrical.

Continuation is referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, because first 22 is designed to meet user's grasping from ergonomics, first's cavity 50 also can be set to and bottom 20 eccentric alignment.In the design of ergonomics, the brush side 28 of first 22 is endowed shaped form and the non-brush side 30 of first 22 is straight.In addition, the brush side 28 of first 22 with arrive than non-brush side 30 bigger angles second portion 24 a bit.In other words, illuminating circuit 14 extends in first 22 with the center line almost parallel ground of base section (base member) 20, but the brush side 28 of first 22 tilts towards the meet inboard point at place of first 22 and second portion 24, and the non-brush side 30 of first 22 is also towards the meet some inclination at place of first 22 and second portion 24.Like this, can extend into farthest in the first 22 of handle 12 for making first's cavity 50, first's cavity 50 preferably is arranged to the non-brush side 30 of close first 22.

Beginning from Fig. 3 is the embodiment of toothbrush, and it can have sound/light and sends circuit as shown in the figure.Except increasing symbol (' newly), identical in the reference number of parts and the aforesaid configuration.When (') when symbol occurred, it was identical with above-mentioned parts or roughly similar to can be understood as its indication parts.

Fig. 3 has shown that the top has the toothbrush 10 ' of non-brush side 30 '.Handle 12 ' has bottom 20 ', and it is gone up in non-brush side 30 ' and forms to hold the activated equipment that sound sends the parts of circuit 40 and is used for active circuit 40.Use waterproof spacing body (waterproof wall) 44 to cover the switch 42 that is arranged in the switch resettlement section 62.

Fig. 4 has shown that sound sends the structure of circuit.The contact element 46 that has hole 70 is arranged on the post 72.Battery 48 is fit in the battery container portion 64.Battery 48, switch 42, waterproof spacing body 44 and contact element 46 are by printed circuit board (PCB) (PCB) 50 and screw 74 fix in position.Screw 74 screws in the post 72.The microchip (not shown) is connected on the PCB.Loudspeaker 52 also is arranged in the handle 12 '.

Fig. 5 has shown inner handle, handle lid 54 and the bristle 80 ' that sound sends circuit 40 that be equipped with.Fig. 8 has shown toothbrush handles 12 ' view more specifically.Fig. 9 has shown toothbrush handles lid 54 view more specifically.

Fig. 6-7 shows waterproof spacing body 44 and switch 42 respectively in greater detail.As shown in the figure, waterproof spacing body 44 comprises packing ring 45 and contact site 47.Contact site 47 can be made by many different materials.The contact site 47 of preferred embodiment is a metal forming.The circuit 40 of contact site 47 on can circuit plates perhaps plays the effect that sound and/or light send order of initiating.Packing ring 45 is preferably made by the flexible material of for example rubber or soft plastics.As shown in the figure, contact site 47 is thinner than packing ring 45.In certain embodiments, contact site 47 also can have identical thickness or be thicker than packing ring 45 with packing ring 45.

Switch 42 as shown in the figure has button 41 and protuberance 43.When the user pressed the button 41, protuberance 43 can engage the contact site 47 on the waterproof spacing body 44, thereby the light and/or the sound of initiating circuit 40 send order.

Waterproof spacing body 44 is the opening in enclosed switch 42 and the switch resettlement section 62 advantageously, and switch 42 is outstanding so that water can not enter in the toothbrush 12 ' by this opening.Toothbrush uses in the environment of water is arranged usually, just becomes extremely important thereby therefore make water can not enter toothbrush for any sealing of leading to the hole of toothbrush outside.The local there that may cause light in the toothbrush or sound to send the short circuit of circuit potentially at water is even more important.

Do not have waterproof spacing body 44 among some embodiment.Rely on close fit parts, glue or other feature that plays sealing or seal effect to guarantee that water can not enter in the toothbrush among some embodiment.

Sound as shown in figure 10 sends circuit 40 can have loudspeaker 52, resistance 62, timing circuit 64 and power supply 66.Timing circuit 64 can comprise microchip.The microchip programming has distinct sound or music.After switch 42 was pressed, sound that this is unique or music were sent by loudspeaker 52, sent circuit 40 thereby finish sound.PCB 50 and microchip preferably are arranged at the outer place of handle 12 ', are preferably located in the contiguous below of handle lid 54, so that it can easily be installed by fixing aforesaid screw 74.In a large amount of production, toothbrush 10 ' is made by such mode and be had different microchips, and different microchip has different music song or acoustic pattern.That is, can produce a large amount of toothbrushes and wherein every toothbrush have roughly same or identical part.In order to produce the toothbrush that has different music or acoustic pattern, different pcb boards or the microchip that has different music programs or an acoustic pattern can be added in the toothbrush.By such mode, can save into the production line that this locality produces the toothbrush that has multiple music or acoustic pattern.

Timing circuit 64 preferably possesses and activates the about 60 seconds function of loudspeaker 52.Timing circuit 64 also can be preferably as control loudspeaker 52 to sound discontinuously in its engaged time period.In certain embodiments, loudspeaker 52 can keep and/or continuously sounding at longer or shorter time sounding.In the embodiment that demonstrates, make circuit finish the loop by closed electric switch 42 and come active circuit.

Switch 42 can be made by flexible material.Alternatively, switch 42 also can be made by hard material, but it has and can be used for engaging PCB 50 to connect the flexible portion that sound sends circuit 40.

In the operation, the user uses the musical toothbrush persistence length of 10 ' Lai instruction times.Hold toothbrush handles 12 ' in user's hand, and make the bristle 80 ' face of bristle 80 ' face tooth, and connect switch 42.Loudspeaker 52 beginnings are sounded discontinuously with open/close form.52 continuous about 60 seconds times of sounding of loudspeaker.Handle be designed to can be in many ways with sound guidance to the user, so that the user can accurately obtain time of brushing teeth.It is constant that the frequency of sounding can keep, and also can change.In certain embodiments, frequency can be along with 60 seconds and increase around.In certain embodiments, it is constant that frequency can keep in first period, increases in the time at second end then.In an example, frequency can keep constant about 45 seconds, and then remaining 15 seconds increase.In a further embodiment, can use the different time intervals, for example two equal periods, each is long 30 seconds.

In certain embodiments, circuit can also comprise lamp.In certain embodiments, this lamp can substitute loudspeaker 52.Can be with sending light with aforesaid loudspeaker 52 and the similar mode of sound.For example, when toothbrush had lamp and loudspeaker simultaneously, light can be with identical or different frequency scintillations as sound.In certain embodiments, when playing music or when sound sent with certain frequency, it is constant that light can keep.

As can be seen, toothbrush can be constructed with the illuminating circuit 14 that is installed in the handle 12 ' among Figure 11.Though do not illustrate in the drawings, toothbrush can have the loudspeaker and the microchip of installation, makes toothbrush can play music or sound and luminous.Illuminating circuit 14 can comprise light emitting diode (LED) 90, battery 48, the first battery contact site 94, the second battery contact site 96 and connector 92.Connector can be simple electric connector, PCB or timing circuit.

Referring now to Figure 15, the toothbrush 10 of another embodiment is described ".As shown in the figure, toothbrush 10 " comprise that the light that has two lamps 90, battery 48,

contact site

94,96, electric wire 53 and connector 92 sends circuit 14 '.The toothbrush 10 that illustrates " also comprise cover 51, button 63, bearing (standoff) 61 and switch 59.In certain embodiments, connector 92 comprises PCB and has resistance 57 and microchip 55.

Button 63 partly extends through toothbrush 10 " sidewall in opening.The expose portion of button 63 can be pressed, thereby presses switch 59 to initiate sending order by the light and/or the sound of circuit 14 ' control.Though not shown, toothbrush 10 " also can comprise loudspeaker.Button 63 can be fixed on the toothbrush at the place, two ends, so that button 63 can still provide enough sealings so that water does not enter in the toothbrush simultaneously at place, centre crooked (deflect).In certain embodiments, button 63 is fixed to toothbrush 10 with sealed engagement " on.In certain embodiments, as long as button 63 is not pressed, button 63 can with toothbrush 10 " sealed engagement.In certain embodiments, when button is pressed, toothbrush 10 " and button 63 can to form not be the sealing that engages fully yet, but enough seal toothbrush 10 " so that water can not enter in the toothbrush.In certain embodiments, negligiblely be not sufficient to cause the water yield of short circuit can enter toothbrush 10 " in.Advantageously, such embodiment can control production cost when enough sealings are provided.

Figure 12-14 has shown the toothbrush of alternative, and it has and is used to activate the activation mechanism that install front portion that sound sends circuit 40.This mechanism can comprise different equipment, hereinafter shows and describes wherein some examples.

Figure 12 has shown the toothbrush 410 of an embodiment, and it has sound and sends part 40 and activate mechanism 468.Mechanism 468 can comprise contact jaw 470 and button 472.Button 472 can comprise the wire netting 474 that surrounds contact stud 470, thereby and button 472 activate sound and send circuit 40 and activate loudspeaker as described above.Net 474 can send sound in circuit 40 packs into, activates sound and sends circuit 40 by contacting with electrically conductive inner surface, perhaps the conductive surface that supporting can active circuit 40.Net 474 can replace with spring, flexible link or aforesaid any other suitable device.

Figure 13 has shown the toothbrush 510 of another embodiment, and it has anterior activation mechanism of installing.Mechanism can comprise push-button switch equipment (push button device) 568, and as known in the art, push-button switch equipment 568 has button 572 and switchgear 574.Push-button switch equipment 568 can cause sound to send circuit 40 activation loudspeakers.Switchgear 574 can activate by action button 572, no matter button 572 is flexible or is rigidly connected on the switchgear 574.In case be operated, push-button switch equipment 568 can active circuits, and later operation can be ignored up to timer by circuit and finishes a circulation.This operation can be among any embodiment of this description.

Figure 14 has shown the toothbrush 610 of another embodiment, and wherein loudspeaker sends circuit 40 by sound and sounds or music.Circuit 40 can start regularly circulation under receiving from the signal of activated equipment 668.In the embodiment that describes, activated equipment 668 comprises that bottom 670 contacts terminal 672 with two.When the generation electricity was led between the terminal 672, contact terminal 672 can active circuit 40.In one embodiment, circuit 40 and terminal 672 can be configured to allow two terminals 672 to contact with people's skin causing guided missile to take place, thus active circuit 40.In non-limiting instance, people's palm is held toothbrush can active circuit, and perhaps pressing finger or thumb can active circuit 40 to touch two terminals 672.With the water of the existence of two terminal 672 Continuous Contact also can active circuit 40.

Though described some embodiment, feature and example in this, those skilled in the art is to be understood that the disclosure shows and many aspects of the method and apparatus of description can differently make up and/or improve to form additional embodiments.For example, do not breaking away under the spirit of the present invention, above showing and any parts of the toothbrush described can use separately or together use with other parts.In addition, will be appreciated that in the method for this description and can carry out, and/or cooperate the optional equipment of expectation with different orders.This type of alternative and/or to the use of said method and equipment, and it is carried out conspicuous change and its congener mean and comprise within the scope of the invention.Therefore, scope of the present invention is not limited by above-mentioned certain embodiments, and it is by determining the just reading of claim afterwards.

Claims

1. toothbrush comprises:

Handle with first end and second end;

Be connected to the head of first end of described handle, described head comprises a plurality of bristles;

Be connected to the handle lid of second end of described handle;

Be arranged at the loudspeaker in the described handle;

Be arranged at the power supply in the described handle;

Be arranged at the printed circuit board (PCB) in the described handle;

Switch, described switch contacts described printed circuit board (PCB) when being pressed, but described switch does not contact described printed circuit board (PCB) when it is not pressed; And

Control circuit, it is configured to make the contact between described switch and the described printed circuit board (PCB) to finish the loop, and initiates to activate described loudspeaker in the setting-up time section,

Wherein said switch comprises:

Pass the button of described handle; And

Sealing gasket, it seals described button and described handle, makes water can not pass described handle from described button and enter in the described handle that described sealing gasket comprises metal forming.

2. toothbrush according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described setting-up time section is about 60 seconds.

3. toothbrush comprises:

The handle of axis extension longitudinally;

Be connected to the handle lid of the bottom of described handle;

Be connected to the brush of the brush end of described handle;

Light-emitting component;

Power supply;

Control circuit;

Switch; And

Control circuit, it is configured to make that activating described switch finishes the loop, and initiates to activate described light-emitting component in the setting-up time section,

Wherein said switch comprises:

Pass the button of described handle; And

Sealing gasket, it forms sealed engagement between described switch and described handle, make water can not pass described handle from described button and enter in the described handle that described sealing gasket comprises metal forming.

4. toothbrush according to claim 3 is characterized in that described toothbrush also comprises loudspeaker.

5. toothbrush according to claim 4 is characterized in that described light-emitting component also comprises LED.

6. toothbrush comprises:

Handle, the longitudinal axis that it has first end, second end and extends between it;

Be connected to the actuated piece of described handle;

Be arranged on the light-emitting component in the described handle;

Be arranged to almost fixed the power supply of described handle inside; And

Control circuit

Wherein, described actuated piece is fixed at two ends places, and be configured at the place, centre flexible so that when not being pressed described actuated piece and described handle sealed engagement.

7. toothbrush according to claim 6 is characterized in that described actuated piece comprises push-button switch.

8. toothbrush according to claim 6 is characterized in that described actuated piece comprises flexible contact surface.

9. toothbrush according to claim 6 is characterized in that described actuated piece comprises a pair of electrical contacts.