CN103190764A - Oral care appliance provided with customizable component - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an oral care appliance provided with a customizable component. The oral care appliance (100) described by the invention comprises an oral care area (101) and a main body used for grabbing the appliance, wherein the oral are area is provided with a cleaning component (111) for jointing oral cavity tissue; the main body comprises a handle (103) provided with a front part and a removable panel (203); the removable panel is transparent or semitransparent, and can further include design characteristics; and the panel can provide protection for a user preface surface (129) on one of surfaces of the handle, the user preface surface can be configured for receiving a user mark, and then removing the user mark and providing another mark. The invention further provides a method for marketing the oral care appliance and various characteristics of the oral care appliance provided with one or more theme panels (203).

Description

The oral care implement that has customizable element

The application is that the application number submitted on June 4th, 2008 is 200880129682.9, denomination of invention is divided an application for the application for a patent for invention of " oral care implement that has customizable element ".

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of oral care implement, relate to a kind of toothbrush with customizable element especially.

Background technology

The individual has the bad oral health of many forms, comprises decayed tooth, periodontal disease and unpleasant implication (halitosis).Decayed tooth and periodontal disease are caused by intraoral harmful bacteria usually.When the protein that exists in harmful bacterium and the saliva mixes, at tongue and soft tissue formation spot film.If do not remove spot, it can be attacked tooth and form the chamber.In addition, spot can be attacked intraoral soft tissue and cause gum disease, and this is the first cause of adult's loss of tooth.Many individuals (particularly children) often do not brush teeth or their tooth are carried out the between cog cleaning.These customs often are attributable to the individual and will brush teeth as the boring thing of few of enjoyment.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is relevant for a kind of oral care implement with customizable element.

On the one hand, described a kind of oral care implement, it has oral care region and is used for this utensil body of grasping, and oral care region has cleaning element to engage oral cavity tissue, and main body comprises handle, and handle has anterior and removable panel.Removable panel can be transparent or translucent and also can comprise design feature.Panel can be inscribed the note surface to the user on one of surface of handle protection is provided, and the user inscribes the note surface can be configured to receive user's mark, subsequently removable this user's mark and another mark is provided.

On the other hand, a kind of electronic oral care implement has been described, it has oral care region and is used for this utensil body of grasping and power supply, oral care region has cleaning element to engage oral cavity tissue, main body comprises handle, handle has removable panel, makes panel be electrically coupled to power supply when panel is in connection status.Power supply provides amusement and entertaining to vision and/or the power supply of audio frequency characteristics of panel to the user.

A kind of method of market oral care implement and panel has been described on the other hand.For example, the method can be implemented by following steps: expose main oral care implement for sale, expose a plurality of different panels, each panel is connected to this oral care implement removedly, allows the user to select at least one in the removable panel and provides oral care implement and selected panel to the user.Multiple modification is possible.

Understand following description in conjunction with the drawings, other characteristics of the present invention and advantage will become obvious.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are front perspective view and the rearviews such as an embodiment of the oral care implement of toothbrush;

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are respectively in the illustrative perspective view of the toothbrush of disassembly status and assembled state, and this toothbrush has handle, and handle is used for the printed matter of displaying format customization;

Fig. 5 is the illustrative bottom view of the toothbrush of Fig. 4 of intercepting along line 5-5;

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are the illustrative perspective view of another configuration toothbrush that is used for the printed matter of displaying format customization respectively at disassembly status and assembled state;

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are the illustrative perspective view of toothbrush of another configuration that is used for the printed matter of displaying format customization respectively at disassembly status and assembled state; And

Figure 10 A to Figure 10 C is the illustrative configuration of the method for the customizable toothbrush of marketing and/or its complementary panel.

The specific embodiment

In the following description, though about toothbrush (for example, a kind of oral care implement pattern) some embodiment is discussed, can be other personal care appliance pattern.For example, toothbrush can be used for personal hygiene, such as the MC purpose.In addition, should be appreciated that and under the situation that does not depart from scope of the present invention, can utilize other embodiment and can make the 26S Proteasome Structure and Function modification.

Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 illustrates a kind of oral care implement (such as toothbrush), substantially with Reference numeral 100 marks.Toothbrush 100 comprises head 101 and handle 103 substantially.

Handle 103 is substantially slender member, and its size makes user's grasping easily and handle toothbrush 100.Handle 103 can form by multiple difformity, length with multiple structure.In a kind of structure, handle 103 has the neck 105 of contiguous head 101 location.Neck 105 can be on the handle 103 at head 101 and usually by the narrow district between the handle portion of user's grasping.Yet neck 105 can be at head 101 and usually by the zone between the part of the handle of user's grasping.In another structure, handle 103 forms with head 101.Other connects configuration also is possible.

Head 101 can comprise oral care region, and oral care region comprises one or more cleaning of teeth elements 111.Term " cleaning of teeth element " or " cleaning element " comprise the structure of any common type or be applicable to contact by the part with tooth and gum as used herein provides oral health benefit (for example, cleaning of teeth, tooth polishing, dental whitening, massage, stimulation etc.).This cleaning of teeth element includes, but is not limited to: brushing cluster, and it can form has multiple different shape and size; And, the elastomer cleaning element, it can form has multiple different shape and size; Perhaps, the combination of brushing cluster and elastomer cleaning element.

In a kind of structure, one or more cleaning of teeth elements 111 are formed by a plurality of bristles.Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, cleaning of teeth element 111 is to have difform hair brush area, but should be appreciated that the multiple different configurations that can utilize oral care implement.One or more cleaning of teeth elements 111 can be connected to by known method on the head 101, are assemblied in the recess that forms in head 101 (Fig. 1) such as the front portion 107 along toothbrush 100.If need, head 101 also can be configured to separate with neck 105 or handle 103 and replaced by new head 101.

Fig. 3 to Fig. 5 illustrates the alternate configuration of toothbrush 100.In this structure, toothbrush 100 is configured to by providing visual design surface to be convenient to user's customizability.This visual design surface can comprise the printed matter of any kind, comprises figure, design, article, photo or other creation in tangible medium (such as the paper type form), for example, and the printed matter 900 that illustrates herein and be described as customizing.As by Fig. 3 to shown in Figure 5, in this configuration, have substantially that the handle 103 of rectangular cross sectional shape can comprise a plurality of sides substantially, be known as front 121, back 122, the left side 123 and the right side 124 substantially.For the ease of the outward appearance of oral care implement and the extensive customizability of the handle of toothbrush 100 especially, one or more sides of handle 103 can be configured to hold visual design surface.Therefore, on any handle be located at 103 in the above-mentioned type printed matter, and handle 103 also can form maintenance, protection and the printed matter 900 of the customization that is provided by the user is provided.

For the printed matter 900 that holds customization, at least one surface of panel 203 and handle 103 (for example, the front 121) are used in two opposite sides in abutting connection with the printed matter of this customization in order to keep, protect and/or show the printed matter of this customization.Visual design surface is the printed matter 900 of customization in illustrated embodiment, it can be seen from the outside of panel 203.Herein, the front 121 of handle 203 and panel 203 can utilize retention mechanism to snap together with the parts with these two complementations to keep together.In certain embodiments, the complementary size that causes the complementation of the external boundary of panel 203 and handle 103 fronts 21 to admit the area of coverage to be frictionally engaged can be used for causing the generation that is fastened and connected, as known.

Should be noted that panel 203 can be configured to have inner projection or otch.Such example is otch 950, shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.Even form otch 950 to allow the user at the control button 115 of the situation lower-pilot electric toothbrush that has connected panel 203, this is because control button passes this otch 950.Otch 950 is apertures, and it is configured to complementally surround this control button 115 in order to do not destroy the function of toothbrush 100.Because the big I of otch 950 is suitable for fitting snugly against around the control button 115, and can assist or carry out fully the function that panel 203 is remained to handle 203 fronts 121, therefore it also can be considered to retention mechanism in some configuration, panel 203 is remained to handle 203 fronts 121 for it so that the printed matter of displaying format customization 900, and the printed matter 900 of customization is depicted as at this has complementary otch 950 to allow near control button 115.Can use many other retention mechanisms, comprise male and female's component, snap-fastener, button or the threaded connection of any kind, as understanding in this area.

Fig. 5 is the illustrative bottom view of toothbrush and the embodiment that panel 203 engages with handle 103 fronts 121 is shown.Herein, panel 203 comprises a pair of arm 233, its handle 103 fronts 121 that complementally are shaped to be frictionally engaged.Herein, arm 233 is formed and the rigidity of material therefor (for example, the plastics of any kind of knowing in this area or other similar material) is provided to the fastening assembling of handle 103.Arm 233 remains to panel 203 on the handle 103 and to front 121, thereby guarantees that the printed matter 900 that customizes is fixed firmly on the toothbrush 100, and more particularly to handle 103.In addition, depend on concrete configuration, can form arm 233 or other retention mechanism and contact this printed matter and damage this printed matter potentially to prevent the particle (comprising moisture and moisture) from environment.For example, when panel 203 was connected on the handle 103 or engages with handle 103, the printed matter of customization was salable in the compartment of waterproof substantially.

In order to be easy to explain and understand, the complementary panel 203 (schematically illustrated at Fig. 3 as them) that handle 103 and being used for holds the printed matter 900 of customization can considered to be in disengaging or dismounting or storage location.On the contrary, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are respectively the handle 103 that is in position in joint, assembling or the use, the printed matter 900 of customization and perspective view and the sectional view of complementary panel 203.

For the ease of the printed matter 900 of displaying format customization, this printed matter must be set to this compartment shape complementarity, and wherein, it will be contained in the handle 203.Can buy or obtain in addition the printed matter of the customization that shape is suitable for showing in toothbrush handle.Perhaps, thus any printed matter can form suitable shape and size shows in the manner described.For example, panel 203 can be used as the template on the most external border of copying any printed matter.By this printed matter being cut and/or forming shape of template and size, in fact the user can dispose any printed matter with in the handle 103 that is arranged at toothbrush 100 in the medium of similar paper.This extreme operability allows described MC assembly to have the MC assembly that almost unlimited customizability makes the user to create to have desirable visual appearance, regardless of user's specific style, hobby, imagination or interest preference.

In addition, for the ease of observing the printed matter of user's customization, the panel at least a configuration is the transparent printed matter that can see this customization from the panel outside that makes.In other embodiments, panel can be translucent.Therefore, panel can comprise any material in the transparent material substantially as known in the art, comprises various plastics.Wherein, available material comprises acrylic acid (polymethyl methacrylate), butyrate (acetylbutyrylcellulose), Lexan (Merlon) and PETG (glycol-modified PET).Yet, can utilize the many transparent and/or trnaslucent materials of knowing in this area.These transparent/translucent materials (comprising plastics) can form and the global shape of handle 103 and the shape of the shape complementarity of the front 121 of handle 103 more specifically, so that can assembling complementally as described herein.In addition, panel 203 can comprise the transparent/translucent material, and it comprises the design that merges in the material, as known in the art.For example, multicolour pattern can be arranged at the pattern that makes in this transparent material in panel can be seen by the user, and characteristics, structure and mark on the panel sidepiece opposite with the user are still and can identify, can see and can read.In addition, consistent with various expection themes as herein described, be incorporated in mark and interested various other demonstrations of user that wherein mark can be sports team, famous person, TV, film or radio programs.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are respectively with the illustrative perspective view of the toothbrush of the visual design surface with another configuration shown in disassembly status and the assembled state.In this configuration, be convenient to user's customizability, because toothbrush 100 has handle 103, handle 103 has the visual design surface of inscribing surperficial 129 forms of note with the user, and it allows, and user writes, draws, tints, sketch, drawing or in addition mark is arranged on the toothbrush 100.Herein, handle 103 holds the user and inscribes note surface 129.

As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the user inscribes and remembers that surface 129 can be contained on handle 103 fronts 121.Therefore, the user inscribes the whole front 121 that note surface 129 can be the part of handle 103 fronts 121 or can be handle 103.Perhaps, but do not draw, the user inscribes that note surface 120 can form that whole handle 103 makes that the user can write, draws, tints, sketch, drawing or in addition the marking is arranged on any part of handle 103 or even whole toothbrush on, inscribe note surface 103 as long as the whole toothbrush except cleaning element 111 forms the user.In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, form the user and inscribe note surface 129 to form whole front 121 basically.Fig. 6 is illustrated in the handle 103 of disassembly status.At this disassembly status, the user can utilize that any instrument or utensil are write, draw, tinted, sketch, drawing or in addition mark is arranged at the user and inscribes on the note surface 129, can be formed the material that the user inscribes note surface 129 and receives as long as write fluid.

Therefore, the user inscribes note surface 129 and can be made by any material in the multiple material known in the art, and its reception is write, draws, tinted, sketch, drawing or in addition mark is arranged on the surface.For example, can use xerotripsis sheet material material to make the user can use the xerotripsis sign.In addition, at least a configuration, the user inscribes the note surface and can be made by one of following material: melmac, polyester coatings steel or glassed steel are similar to material used in xerotripsis or blank.Inscribe the note surface about this user, can use any writing surface and the writing implement that allow user's customization, editor's revision and/or wipe.User's marking instrument 999 shown in Figure 6 is to show that inscribing note surface 129 by the user at handle 103 writes and make the user customize an illustrative example of this handle.Certainly, can carry out user's customization of any other form, as long as consistent with form shown in this article and form as known in the art.

Because xerotripsis and other material usually water are wiped or the auxiliary reagent of wiping as causing, and it is wet that toothbrush usually becomes when brushing teeth, the user may not can preferably has the toothbrush 100 that the user who exposes fully in use inscribes the handle 103 on note surface, may make dirty or wipe owing to accumulating in water on the handle between the operating period because the user adds the custom indicia of handle 103 to, perhaps when user's grasps handle 103, make dirty.Therefore, can utilize removable clear covering 203 and its to be configured to when toothbrush 103 is in assembled state, protect this user to inscribe note surface 129, as shown in Figure 7.At assembled state, can see customized surface by the user, be protected other environmental factor of avoiding suffering user's grasping, water and/or depending on customized configuration basically or fully and destroy and inscribe mark itself on the note surface 129 the user.As described herein and such as known in the art, retention mechanism can be made so that with handle 103 and the size of panel 203 anti-sealing contacts this user and inscribes the note surface with other environmental key-element.Therefore, provide customizable and revisable handle 103, its protection that is subjected to panel 203 prevents from damaging or wiping.In addition, can be by removing panel 203 and wiping previous mark and utilize new mark to replace it and (for example, disassembly status setting and editor then) edit or change this customizable and revisable handle 103 fully.Then, in the time will using toothbrush 100, reconnect panel 203, handle 103 and toothbrush 100 are arranged to assembled state.

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are in disassembly status and assembled state respectively with the illustrative perspective view of the toothbrush of another configuration of the printed matter that is used for displaying format customization.Be similar to previously described configuration, illustrated toothbrush 100 can comprise panel 203, and panel 203 complementally disposes in order to be assembled together at assembling position with handle 103., be susceptible to a variety of theme panels 203 herein, make the user, for example children or sportsfan can collect a series of panels and use them in an alternating manner.For example, a series of panels 203 can comprise all personages from all-purpose card, make each panel 203 comprise the specific design of specific personage in the cartoon.According to user's needs, panel can use in an alternating manner according to user's needs, preference and amusement hope.Another illustrative example consistent with these principles is physical culture series panel 203.The sportsfan usually supports some team in the sports team in given city.For example, the sportsfan in Chicago can support the big sports team from Chicago.These teams can comprise Chicago Little Bear, Chicago bear, Chicago Bulls and Chicago blackhawk team.For from Washington, the people of D.C is like this equally.They can expect the national team of the red skin in Washington, Washington Wizards, Washington and capital, Washington panel team make based on 1 year when, the panel on toothbrush 100 will show different teams in these teams of support.Perhaps, can be similar to the mode of buying and exchange baseball or other physical culture switching card and make and/or exchange indivedual panels.Therefore, can be with toothbrush or do not pack and sell a series of panels with toothbrush, the configuration of toothbrush and size make panel 203 be suitable for being assembled on the toothbrush with complimentary fashion.Though in this article about above-mentioned examples show principle, can use any theme principle consistent with principle as herein described that amusement or art and creative expression are provided.

Figure 10 A to Figure 10 C is the illustrative configuration of the method for the customizable toothbrush 100 of marketing and/or its complementary panel 203.In Figure 10 A, the panel 203 and the illustrative packing of replacing head that comprise for electric toothbrush 100 are shown.Consistent with principle mentioned above, panel 203 can be configured to have in the multiple graphic designs of buyer's amusement, the painted or main body outward appearance any.Figure 10 B illustrates marketing and the sale of the relevant panel 203 with a series of themes of toothbrush 100.Therefore, the buyer selects the toothbrush type and can select from various wrapped complete panels 203 then.An illustrative external member is shown, and wherein this theme is based on the motion theme of position, for example, and Chicago sports team.Therefore, can make a kind of toothbrush 100 of particular type, but in fact it can depend on that by any user user's interest, position or style customize.Therefore, provide a kind of user the toothbrush of customization, still keep manufacturing cost lower simultaneously, because ordinary toothbrush is revised by user's identification and Selection Floater 203, panel 203 is assemblied on the toothbrush 100 with complimentary fashion.Equally, Figure 10 C illustrates with individual packaging marketing toothbrush 100 and user and inscribes note surface 129, and a plurality of different marking instruments 999, the user can use that these marking instruments 999 are write, draw, tinted, sketch, drawing or in addition mark is arranged at the user and inscribes on the note surface 103.In addition, as indicated above, the toothbrush 100 at least a configuration can be customized uniquely by the user.Utilize toothbrush 100 and customizable panel 203, the user can obtain or form any figure etc., that is, in the medium of similar paper, shape and size and toothbrush 100 and panel 203 complementations.In some cases, this can reach or can reach as any printed matter that panel forms required form and size by the other parts of using panel 206 or toothbrush 100 by the printed matter 900 of buying preformed customization.As described, existence is marketed or is sold described customizable toothbrush 100 for the several different methods of user's enjoyment and amusement.

Though described customization can be applicable to the oral care implement of any kind of especially or type, allow further to strengthen customizability by power supply such as the electronic dental treatment prodigiosin of electric toothbrush.For example, any in handle 103 and the various panel 203 can complementally be configured to hold electric connector, forms circuit and supplies power to panel 203 with permission such as electrical lead.Therefore, panel 203 can have illumination, audiovideo or other amusement characteristics that rely on electric power.Panel 203 can be configured to when they during at assembled state, they are powered, and when they were in disassembly status, they were not powered.In addition, panel can electric wiring make that toothbrush is powered when the control button 115 of toothbrush is in the enable possition, and the cleaning element motion, but also can be to panel power supply and energising.Therefore, panel 203 can show passage of scintillation light, animation, music and almost any other amusement stimulation.Therefore, can encourage the user of toothbrush to take time for MC, because exist amusement to encourage to prolong the use of this oral care implement.Or even, can form complicated senior oral care implement according to principle mentioned above, wherein panel 203 holds portable audio player, such as MP3 player or similar music player.Equally, LCD display can be contained in and make video image or audio ﹠ video image be shown on this oral care implement in this panel.Because many electric toothbrushes are inserted in the wall socket in the bathroom every now and then, this oral care implement can be effectively as vision or audio entertain mem source in the bathroom, show greatly some family or hotel in the bathroom, uses radio or TV people's shower, make up or carry out their other daily warming-up exercise in the mode of amusement is provided.

As discussed above, described aspect of the present invention with reference to any oral care implement, and also can have been put into practice particularly by manual toothbrush and the electric toothbrush of Tape movement cleaning of teeth element 111.Though each characteristics one of toothbrush 100 work to realize previous described advantage, the sub-portfolio that will be appreciated that indivedual characteristics and these characteristics can be used for obtaining some advantage in the aforementioned advantages and may not adopt all these characteristics.

Though described the present invention about present preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that many modification and the displacement that can have said system and technology.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present invention should be explained as described in the appended claims widely.

Claims (7)

1. electronic oral care implement, it comprises:

Oral care region, it has for the cleaning element that engages oral cavity tissue;

Be used for the described utensil body of grasping, described main body comprises the handle with removable panel; And

Power supply, wherein, described panel is electrically coupled to described power supply and is powered up by described power supply when described panel is in connection status, and described panel is not powered when described panel is in disassembly status.

2. electronic oral care implement according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described panel comprises user's interest characteristics, and when described panel was in described connection status, described user's interest characteristics were configured to by described power supply power supply.

3. electronic oral care implement according to claim 2 is characterized in that, described user's interest characteristics comprise at least one in illumination, the figure harmony characteristics.

4. electronic oral care implement according to claim 3 is characterized in that, described user's interest characteristics are associated with TV, radio, film or internet famous person's individual character.

5. electronic oral care implement according to claim 3 is characterized in that, described user's interest characteristics are associated with sports team.

6. electronic oral care implement according to claim 3 is characterized in that, described user's interest characteristics are one of lcd screen and portable music player.

7. electronic oral care implement according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described power supply is battery.

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