CN109793347B

CN109793347B - Oral care device

Info

Publication number: CN109793347B
Application number: CN201711153842.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 冈井隆英; 陈泉仲; 迈克尔·诺贝尔·布福
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 2017-11-17
Filing date: 2017-11-17
Publication date: 2023-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-17
Also published as: CN109793347A

Abstract

The present application relates to oral care devices. An oral care device includes an oral care implement and a tracking module detachably coupled to the oral care implement. The oral care implement includes a body having an inner surface defining an interior cavity. The tracking module may be coupled to the oral care implement by inserting a portion of the tracking module into the interior cavity of the body. The tracking module includes a coupling portion and an electronic portion that are coupled together to be fixed together in an axial direction but are free to rotate relative to each other. The tracking module may only be capable of being inserted into the interior cavity of the body in a single orientation. Further, while in the internal cavity, the electronic portion of the tracking module may be non-rotatable relative to the body, while the coupling portion of the tracking module remains rotatable relative to the body.

Description

Oral care device

Technical Field

The present application relates to an oral care device.

Background

Numerous appliances and devices for maintaining oral health are known. For example, manual and electric types of toothbrushes, flosses, dentifrices, applicators, medicaments, and the like are known to provide different benefits in the oral cavity. In addition, there are devices and methods for monitoring oral health. A new trend is to enable communication between the oral care implement and the display device so that the user can see and/or track his or her oral hygiene habits on the screen of the display device. However, such devices typically include after-market accessories for the oral care implement that include the necessary electronics and these after-market accessories are aesthetically undesirable. Alternatively, such devices may include electronic components built directly into the device, which is expensive for the consumer, as the user is required to replace the entire product when the brush head needs to be replaced. Thus, there is a need for an oral care implement of the type described herein that has aesthetics, is simple to use, is easy to handle by persons of all ages, and reduces consumer costs by enabling the consumer to reuse the electronics while replacing the cleaning portion that tends to wear out most quickly.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to an oral care device comprising an oral care implement and a tracking module detachably coupled to the oral care implement. The oral care implement includes a body having an inner surface defining an interior cavity. The tracking module may be coupled to the oral care implement by inserting a portion of the tracking module into the interior cavity of the body. The tracking module includes a coupling portion and an electronic portion that are coupled together to be fixed together in an axial direction but are free to rotate relative to each other. The tracking module may only be capable of being inserted into the interior cavity of the body in a single orientation. Further, while in the internal cavity, the electronic portion of the tracking module may be non-rotatable relative to the body, while the coupling portion of the tracking module remains rotatable relative to the body.

In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care device comprising: an oral care implement comprising a body having an interior cavity; a tracking module extending along a longitudinal axis, the tracking module comprising: a coupling portion configured to couple the tracking module to a body of an oral care implement; and an electronics portion including at least one sensor configured to measure at least one of a position, an orientation, and a movement of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement; wherein the electronic portion and the coupling portion are coupled together so as to be freely rotatable relative to each other about a longitudinal axis; and wherein the oral care device is changeable between: (1) The tracking module is coupled to an attached state of the oral care implement, wherein an electronic portion of the tracking module is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; a disassembled state completely separate from (2) the tracking module and the oral care implement

In another aspect, the invention may be an oral care device comprising: an oral care implement comprising a body having an interior cavity; a tracking module extending along a longitudinal axis, the tracking module comprising: a coupling portion configured to couple the tracking module to a body of an oral care implement; and an electronics portion including at least one sensor configured to measure at least one of a position, an orientation, and a movement of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement; wherein at least a portion of the tracking module is positioned within the interior cavity of the body of the oral care implement such that the electronic portion of the tracking module is non-rotatable relative to the body of the oral care implement and the coupling portion of the tracking module is rotatable relative to the body of the oral care implement to couple the tracking module to the body of the oral care implement.

In yet another embodiment, the invention can be a method of assembling an oral care device comprising an oral care implement and a tracking module that monitors oral care hygiene behavior of a user, the method comprising: providing an oral care implement comprising an interior cavity; providing a tracking module comprising a coupling portion and an electronic portion, the electronic portion comprising at least one sensor configured to measure at least one of a position, an orientation, and a movement of an oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement; inserting at least a portion of the electronics portion of the tracking module into the interior cavity of the oral care implement body, thereby preventing relative rotational movement between the electronics portion of the tracking module and the oral care implement body; and rotating the coupling portion of the tracking module relative to the electronic portion of the tracking module and relative to the body of the oral care implement to couple the tracking module to the oral care implement.

In another aspect, the invention may be an oral care device comprising: an oral care implement comprising a body having an interior cavity; a tracking module extending along a longitudinal axis, the tracking module comprising: a coupling portion configured to couple the tracking module to a body of an oral care implement; and an electronics portion including at least one sensor configured to measure at least one of a position, an orientation, and a movement of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement; wherein the oral care device is changeable between: (1) The tracking module is coupled to an attached state of the oral care implement, wherein an electronic portion of the tracking module is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; a disassembled state completely separate from (2) the tracking module and the oral care implement; and wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module can only be positioned within the interior cavity of the body in a single orientation relative to the body.

In yet another aspect, the invention may be an oral care device comprising: an oral care implement comprising a body having an interior cavity, the body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end; a tracking module, the tracking module comprising: a coupling portion configured to couple the tracking module to a body of an oral care implement; and an electronics portion including a power source and a printed circuit board having at least one sensor thereon configured to measure at least one of a position, an orientation, and a movement of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement; wherein the oral care device is changeable between: (1) The tracking module is coupled to an attached state of the oral care implement, wherein an electronic portion of the tracking module is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; a disassembled state completely separate from (2) the tracking module and the oral care implement; and wherein in the attached state, the printed circuit board is located near the proximal end of the body of the oral care implement and the power source is located between the printed circuit board and the distal end of the body of the oral care implement.

In another aspect, the invention may be an oral care device comprising: an oral care implement comprising a body having an inner surface defining an interior cavity, at least one protrusion extending from the inner surface into the interior cavity; a tracking module comprising a coupling portion configured to couple the tracking module to the body of the oral care implement, the coupling portion comprising a neck portion terminating at a lower distal edge and an upper distal edge, the upper distal edge formed by an upstanding wall extending upwardly from the lower distal edge; a notch formed into the upstanding wall and extending downwardly from the upper distal edge toward the lower distal edge, the notch dividing the upstanding wall into a first portion and a second portion; and wherein the oral care device is changeable between: (1) A disassembled state in which the tracking module is completely separated from the oral care implement; and (2) the tracking module is at least partially located within the interior cavity of the oral care implement and the tracking module is coupled to the attachment state of the oral care implement; and wherein in the attached state, the protrusion extending from the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement nests within the recess in the upstanding wall of the neck portion of the tracking module

In yet another embodiment, the present invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the body having an inner surface defining an interior cavity, the inner surface of the body having a first semicircular portion and a second semicircular portion that together form the inner surface of the body without overlapping; the inner surface of the body includes first, second, and third alignment features circumferentially spaced apart from one another along the inner surface of the body; and wherein the first alignment feature is positioned along a first semi-circular portion of the inner surface of the body and a majority of the second and third alignment features are positioned along a second semi-circular portion of the inner surface of the body.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the body having an inner surface defining an interior cavity and an opening at the proximal end; the inner surface of the body has a cross-sectional profile that includes: a first recess, a second recess, and a third recess; and a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel; and wherein the first recess and the second recess are separated by the first channel, the second recess and the third recess are separated by the second channel, and the third recess and the first recess are separated by the third channel.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an oral care device including an oral care implement and a tracking device according to one embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 is a front view of the oral care device of fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the oral care device of FIG. 1, with the power supply exploded from the base of the tracking module;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG. 3, wherein a power source is coupled to a base of the tracking module;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a tracking module of the oral care device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the tracking module of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view of the tracking module of FIG. 6, showing the coupling portion of the tracking module separated from the electronics portion of the tracking module;

fig. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX of fig. 6;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 in which the coupling portion of the tracking module is rotated relative to the electronics portion of the tracking module;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX of fig. 2;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the insertion of a tracking module into an interior cavity of an oral care implement;

fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the tracking module fully inserted within the interior cavity of the oral care implement prior to coupling the coupling portion of the tracking module to the oral care implement;

FIG. 13 is a close-up view of region XIII of FIG. 5, showing the tracking module coupled to the oral care implement, wherein the illumination source of the tracking module is illuminated;

fig. 14A-14C are front views of a proximal portion of the oral care device of fig. 1, showing a personalized ring with different visual features;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 6, showing an alternative embodiment of the tracking module;

fig. 16A-16B are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the oral care device of fig. 1, showing an oral care implement comprising a handle portion and a head detachable therefrom;

FIG. 17 is a schematic circuit diagram showing the electronic components of the tracking module and the external electronic device and communications therebetween;

fig. 18 is a front view of a tracking module of the oral care device of fig. 1;

FIG. 19A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXX-IXX of FIG. 2, with the coupling portion of the tracking module in a first angular position relative to the oral care implement;

FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXX-IXX of FIG. 2, with the coupling portion of the tracking module in a second angular position relative to the oral care implement; and

fig. 19C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXX-IXX of fig. 2, with the coupling portion of the tracking module in a third angular position relative to the oral care implement.

Detailed Description

The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

The description of the illustrative embodiments in accordance with the principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely for convenience of description and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Relative terms such as "lower," "upper," "horizontal," "vertical," "above," "below," "upward," "downward," "top" and "bottom" as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly," "upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figures in the discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Terms such as "attached," "connected," "coupled," "interconnected," and the like refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or stationary attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Furthermore, the features and benefits of the present invention are exemplified with reference to the exemplary embodiments. Thus, the invention obviously should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments showing some possible non-limiting combinations of features which may be present alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

The ranges used throughout are used as shorthand expressions for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be chosen as the end of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a conflict arises between a definition in this disclosure and a definition of the cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

The features of the present invention may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof. The computer programs described herein are not limited to any particular embodiment, and may be implemented in an operating system, an application program, a foreground or background process, a driver, or any combination thereof. The computer program may be executed on a single computer or server processor or on multiple computers or server processors.

The processor described herein may be any Central Processing Unit (CPU), microprocessor, microcontroller, computer or programmable device or circuitry configured to execute computer program instructions (e.g., code). The various processors may be embodied in any suitable type of computer and/or server hardware (e.g., a desktop, laptop, notebook, tablet, cellular telephone, etc.) and may include all conventional auxiliary components required to form a functional data processing device, including but not limited to buses, software and data storage (such as volatile and non-volatile memory), input/output devices, graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), removable data storage, and wired and/or wireless communication interface devices including Wi-Fi, bluetooth, LAN, etc.

Computer-executable instructions or programs (e.g., software or code) and data described herein may be programmed into and tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium accessible and retrievable by a corresponding processor as described herein, which, by executing instructions encoded in the medium, configure and direct the processor to perform the desired functions and processes. A device embodying a programmable processor configured as such non-transitory computer-executable instructions or programs may be referred to as a "programmable device" or "device", and a plurality of programmable devices in communication with each other may be referred to as a "programmable system". It should be noted that a non-transitory "computer-readable medium" as described herein may include, but is not limited to, any suitable volatile or non-volatile memory that is writable and/or readable by a processor operatively coupled to the medium, including Random Access Memory (RAM) and its various types, read-only memory (ROM) and its various types, USB flash memory, and magnetic or optical data storage devices (e.g., internal/external hard disk, floppy disk, tape CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, optical disk, ZIP ^TM Drive, blue-ray (Blu-ray) disc, and other devices.

In certain embodiments, the invention may be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses, such as processor-based data processing and communications systems or computer systems for practicing those processes. The present invention may also be embodied in the form of software or computer program code embodied in non-transitory computer readable storage media, which when downloaded and executed by a data processing and communication system or computer system, configures the processor to produce specific logic circuits configured to implement the processes.

First, referring to fig. 1 to 5 simultaneously, an oral care device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The oral care device 1000 generally includes an oral care implement 100 and a tracking module 200. The oral care implement 100 is used to clean the user's oral cavity (i.e., teeth, gums, and teeth) in a normal manner, and the tracking module 200 is used to track the user's brushing habits and/or generate data regarding the user's brushing habits, and/or transmit the data to external electronics where the data can be displayed on a display. The tracking module 200 may include a processor or other circuitry that makes the tracking module 200 a "smart" device. Thus, in some embodiments, the tracking module 200 may be considered an intelligent module. Alternatively, the tracking module 200 may include only a sensor and a transmitter to transmit data to an external device, and the external electronic device may cause the processor to perform a desired data process. The oral care implement 100 functions in a similar manner to a standard toothbrush except that the oral care implement also has a cavity for receiving the tracking module 200. In one embodiment, the tracking module includes all electronics associated with the oral care device 1000 that enable the oral care device 1000 to track a user's brushing habits and provide guidance and immediate feedback to the user.

The oral care implement 100 and the tracking module 200 are configured to be detachably coupled to one another. In particular, the oral care device 1000 may vary between: (1) An attached state as shown in fig. 1 and 2, wherein the tracking module 200 is coupled to an oral care implement; and (2) a disassembled state as shown in fig. 3 and 4, wherein the tracking module 200 is completely separated from the oral care implement 100. As will be appreciated from the following description, the oral care device 1000 can be easily and easily changed between an attached state and a detached state. When assembled, the tracking module 200 remains together as a single component, so attaching it to and separating it from the oral care implement 100 is a simple task that can be accomplished in a few seconds.

As will be discussed in greater detail below, in the exemplary embodiment, the tracking module 200 is coupled to the oral care implement 100 by inserting a portion of the tracking module 200 into an interior cavity of the oral care implement 100. Thus, with the oral care device 1000 in the attached state, a majority of the tracking module 200 is hidden from view because it is located within the interior cavity of the oral care implement 100. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, with the oral care device 1000 in an attached state, a portion of the tracking module 200 protrudes from an end of the oral care implement 100 to be exposed. This exposed portion of tracking module 200 may be used for some functional purpose (e.g., as a stand, as an indicator, etc.), as described in more detail below.

In some embodiments, the oral care implement 100 does not include any (i.e., does not include) electronic components. Thus, the oral care implement 100 does not include any switches, power supplies, circuitry, wiring, or the like. Instead, all of the electronic components associated with the oral care device 1000 are formed as part of the tracking module 200. The oral care implement 100 serves merely as a means for oral cleaning and a housing for housing the tracking module 200. This enables the oral care implement 100 to be replaced in a cost-effective manner, while the tracking module 200 may be reused with a replacement oral care implement 100. This is important because the electronic circuitry of the oral care device 1000 is the most expensive part of the oral care device, while enabling the tracking module 200 to be reused with a replacement oral care implement 100 results in reduced costs to the consumer. Furthermore, where the tracking module 200 stores data related to the oral hygiene habits of a particular user, the user's ability to continue to use the tracking module 200 even when the oral care tool 100 needs to be replaced increases the life of the oral care device 1000 and reduces the frustration that the consumer must "restart" a new tracking module 200 each time the oral care tool 100 needs to be replaced (i.e., every three months or so). Thus, if the oral care implement 100 needs replacement, the user can simply remove the tracking module 200 from the oral care implement 100 and discard the oral care implement 100, purchase a new oral care implement 100, attach the tracking module 200 to the new oral care implement 100, and continue to use the oral care implement 1000 with the new oral care implement 100 in the normal manner.

In an exemplary embodiment, the oral care implement 100 is a manual toothbrush. Accordingly, the present invention will be described herein in detail primarily with respect to manual toothbrushes. However, in certain other embodiments, the oral care implement 100 may take other forms, such as an electric toothbrush (such as a vibrating element including a motor to move the bristle carrier or vibrate the head or portion thereof), a tongue scraper, a gum and soft tissue cleaner, a tooth irrigator, an interproximal device (interdental device)), a tooth polisher, a special handle implement having tooth engaging elements (tooth engaging element), or any other type of implement commonly used for oral care. Furthermore, in all embodiments, the oral care implement 100 may not be an implement dedicated to oral care, but rather it may be an implement such as a deodorant application implement, a facial or body cleaning implement, a cosmetic application implement, a razor or shaving implement, a hairbrush, or the like. Accordingly, it should be understood that the concepts of the invention discussed herein may be applied to any type of personal care appliance unless a particular type of appliance is specified in the claims.

In the exemplary embodiment, oral care implement 100 generally includes a body 101 that includes a handle 110 and a head 120. The oral care implement 100 generally extends along a longitudinal axis A-A from a proximal end 103 to a distal end 104. Conceptually, the longitudinal axis A-A is a reference line that is substantially coextensive with the three-dimensional centerline of the body 101. Because the body 101 may be a non-linear structure in certain embodiments, the longitudinal axis A-A of the body 101 may also be non-linear in certain embodiments. However, the invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in certain other embodiments, the body 101 may have a simple linear arrangement and thus have a substantially linear longitudinal axis A-A.

The handle 110 is an elongated structure that provides a mechanism by which a user can hold and manipulate the oral care implement 100 during use. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle 110 is generally depicted as having various contours that provide comfort to the user. Of course, in all embodiments, the invention will not be so limited, and in certain other embodiments, the handle 110 may take on a variety of shapes, contours, and configurations, which are not limiting of the invention unless so indicated in the claims.

In an exemplary embodiment, the body 101, including the handle 110 and the head 120, is formed from a rigid plastic material such as, for example, but not limited to, polymers and copolymers of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, vinyl compounds, and polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate. Of course, the handle 110 may include an elastic material (such as a thermoplastic elastomer) as a grip cover that is molded over a portion or the entire handle 110 in order to enhance the grippability of the handle 110 during use. For example, the portion of the handle 110 that is typically gripped by the palm of a user's hand during use may be overmolded with a thermoplastic elastomer or other resilient material to further provide increased comfort to the user.

The head 120 of the oral care implement 100 is coupled to the handle 110 and includes a front surface 121, an opposing rear surface 122, and a circumferential surface extending between the front surface 121 and the rear surface 122. In an exemplary embodiment, the head 120 is integrally formed with the handle 110 as a single unitary structure using molding, milling, machining, or other suitable process. However, in other embodiments, the handle 110 and the head 120 may be formed as separate components that are operatively connected by any suitable technique known in the art, including but not limited to thermal or ultrasonic welding, a close-fitting assembly, a coupling sleeve, threaded engagement, adhesion, or fasteners at a later stage of the manufacturing process. In some embodiments, the head 120 can be detachable from the handle 110 (see, e.g., fig. 16A and 16B).

In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of tooth cleaning elements 115 extend from the front surface 121 of the head 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the tooth cleaning elements 115 are generally described. In certain embodiments, the precise structure, pattern, orientation, and materials of the tooth cleaning elements 115 are not limiting of the invention. Thus, the term "tooth cleaning elements" may be used herein to generally refer to any structure that may be used to clean, polish, or wipe teeth and/or soft oral tissue (e.g., tongue, cheek, gums, etc.) through opposing surface contact. Common examples of "tooth cleaning elements" include, but are not limited to, bristle tufts, filiform bristles, fibrous bristles, nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastomeric protrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof, and/or structures comprising such materials or combinations. Suitable elastomeric materials include any biocompatible elastomeric material suitable for use in an oral hygiene device. In order to provide optimal comfort and cleaning benefits, the elastomeric material of the tooth or soft tissue engaging element has hardness characteristics in the range of A8 to a25 shore hardness. One suitable elastomeric material is styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS corporation. However, SEBS materials from other manufacturers or other materials within and outside the proposed hardness range may also be used.

The tooth cleaning elements 115 of the present application can be attached to the head 120 in any manner known in the art. For example, staples/anchors, in-mold tufting (IMT) or anchor-free tufting (AFT) may be used to install cleaning elements/tooth engagement elements. In certain embodiments, the application may be practiced with various combinations of stapling, IMT, or AFT bristles. In AFT, a plate or membrane is secured to the brush head, such as by ultrasonic welding. Bristles extend through the plate or membrane. The free ends of the bristles on one side of the plate or membrane perform a cleaning function. The ends of the bristles on the other side of the plate or membrane are melted together by heating to anchor in place. Any suitable form of cleaning elements may be used in the broad practice of the application. Alternatively, the bristles could be mounted to tuft blocks or sections by extending through suitable openings in the tuft blocks so that the bristle base is mounted within or below the tuft block.

Although not shown here, in certain embodiments, a soft tissue cleanser may be coupled to or positioned on the rear surface 122 of the head 120 for cleaning gums, tongue, and other soft tissue surfaces within the mouth of a user. Examples of suitable soft tissue cleaners that may be used with the present application and positioned on the rear surface 122 of the head 120 are disclosed in U.S. patent No. 7,143,462 issued to the assignee of the present application at 12/5/2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In certain other embodiments, the soft tissue cleaner may include protrusions that may take the form of elongated ridges, nubs, or a combination thereof. Of course, the application will not be so limited, and in certain embodiments, the oral care implement 100 may not include any soft tissue cleaners.

As best shown in fig. 5, the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 includes an inner surface 105 and an outer surface 106. The inner surface 105 of the body 101 defines an interior cavity 107, which is a hollow space in which a portion of the tracking module 200 is located when the oral care device 1000 is in an attached state. The oral care implement 100 further includes an opening 108 at the proximal end 103 of the body 101 that forms a passageway into the interior cavity 107. Thus, as described in more detail below, the tracking module 200 may be placed into the interior cavity 107 by passing the tracking module 200 through the opening 108 at the proximal end 103 of the body 101 and into the interior cavity 107. The tracking module 200 may also be removed from the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 through the opening 108.

The tracking module 200 extends along a longitudinal axis B-B from a first end 201 to a second end 202. The tracking module 200 generally includes a coupling portion 210 and an electronics portion 250. The coupling portion 210 is a portion of the tracking module 200 that is configured to couple the tracking module 200 to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. The electronics portion 250 includes electronics associated with the oral care device 1000 for achieving a desired function. In one exemplary embodiment, the oral care device 1000 is intended to track the position, orientation, and/or movement of the oral care implement 100 as the user brushes his or her teeth, to provide real-time information about his or her teeth brushing habits and techniques, and/or to provide feedback to the user after the teeth are brushed. To enable such tracking of the position, orientation, and/or movement of the oral care implement 100, in the exemplary embodiment, the electronic portion 250 includes at least one sensor configured to measure the position, orientation, and movement of the oral care implement 100 when the tracking module 200 is coupled to the oral care implement 100. The sensor may then generate data indicative of the position, orientation, and/or movement of the oral care implement 100, and may transmit the data to an external electronic device, as described in more detail below with reference to fig. 17. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the tracking module 200 being configured to track the position, orientation, and/or movement of the oral care tool 100 in all embodiments, but in other embodiments that are alternatives or complements of those described herein, other functional targets and objectives may also be achieved by the tracking module 200.

Referring to fig. 17, an electronic schematic diagram of one exemplary embodiment of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is shown in operative communication with an external electronic device 300. The electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200 may include a processor 295, at least one sensor 296, a power supply 297, a wireless transmitter or transceiver 298, and an illumination source 299 that are operatively coupled together in a manner necessary to provide power to each component and to ensure that the processor 295 can receive instructions from and transmit instructions to each of the other components as needed. It should be understood that not all of these components are necessary in all embodiments. For example, illumination source 299 may be an optional component. Further, the processor 295 may be omitted and processing may occur within the external electronic device 300.

The at least one sensor 296 may be a single sensor or it may be a plurality of sensors in different embodiments. In particular, the tracking module 200 may include 9-axis sensors including a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, and a 3-axis magnetometer. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the tracking module 200 may include a 6-axis sensor or the like as desired. 6. The axis sensor may comprise a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope, or it may comprise a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis magnetometer, or it may comprise a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis magnetometer. Various combinations are possible so long as they enable the tracking module 200 to perform its function, which in the illustrated embodiment is to track the position, orientation, and/or movement of the oral care implement 100 within the user's mouth during brushing. Thus, for purposes of this disclosure, the at least one sensor 296 may be selected from the group consisting of: accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, and the at least one sensor 296 may include more than one of these components.

The transceiver 298 may be any device configured to allow communication between the tracking module 200 and another electronic device (i.e., the external electronic device 300). Thus, the transceiver may be a Bluetooth transceiver, wi-Fi, near Field Communication (NFC), GSM/UMTS, infrared wireless communication, satellite communication, wireless personal area network (Zigbee), and the like. In the exemplary embodiment, the communication between the tracking module 200 and the external electronic device 300 is wireless, but may be wired in other embodiments. The power supply 297 may be any source capable of powering other electronic components of the tracking module 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply 297 may be a battery, but the invention is not limited in all embodiments in this regard and the power supply 297 may take any other form readily understood by one skilled in the art.

As described herein, the oral care apparatus 1000, and more particularly the tracking module 200, is configured to communicate with external electronics 300. Such an external electronic device 300 may be a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone), a laptop, a tablet, a microcomputer with a communication device, or any other device having a display device for displaying information related to brushing activity or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, external electronic device 300 includes a processor 301, a transceiver 302 (or receiver), a power source 303, and a display 304, which are operably coupled together for proper operation of external electronic device 300. The external electronic device 300 may also include a memory that may be incorporated into the processor 301 or may be a separate component that is operatively coupled to the processor 301. The tracking module 200 may wirelessly communicate with the external electronic device 300 via a communication connection (which may be bluetooth in an exemplary implementation) between the transceiver 298 of the tracking module 200 and the transceiver 302 of the external electronic device 300.

In certain embodiments described herein, the tracking module 200 tracks the position, orientation, location, and/or movement of the oral care implement 100 during use. The sensor 296 of the tracking module 200 can generate data indicative of the position, orientation, location, and/or movement of the oral care implement 100 and transmit the data to the external electronic device 300 via its operative connection to the transceiver 298 (and possibly also to the processor 295) where the data can be displayed on the display 304 of the external electronic device 300. The display 304 may graphically show the position of the oral care implement 100 within the user's mouth in real time. The graphic can show areas of the oral cavity that have been brushed and areas that have not been brushed during a single oral care cleaning. The graphics may include games to encourage individuals to thoroughly brush their teeth at particular locations within the mouth for a particular duration, etc. in a particular brushing pattern. Thus, by placing the tracking module 200 in operative communication with the external electronic device 300, information about his or her brushing habits can be provided to the user during (in real-time or on-site) and after the brushing process is completed. The tracking module 200 and/or the external electronic device 300 (such as through a software application downloaded and stored on the external electronic device 300) can keep track of the user's brushing habits over time to provide the user with this information so that the user can adjust his or her brushing style as desired.

As described above, fig. 1 and 2 provide different views of an oral care device 1000 in an attached state. Fig. 3 provides a view of the oral care device 1000 in a disassembled state, with the power supply 297 also removed from the tracking module 200. Fig. 4 provides a view of the oral care device 1000 in a disassembled state, with the power supply 297 attached to the tracking module 200.

Referring simultaneously to fig. 6 to 8, structural details of the tracking module 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. The tracking module 200 includes a coupling portion 210 and an electronics portion 250, which are shown in a fully assembled form, but separated from each other in fig. 8. In an exemplary embodiment, the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 includes a first component 211 and a second component 215 coupled together. In some embodiments, each of the first and second parts 211, 215 of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 is formed of a transparent plastic material. Forming the coupling portion 210 from a transparent material allows light from the light source to be easily seen through the coupling portion 210 so that the light can be used as an indicator, as described in more detail below. However, in other embodiments, the first and second members 211, 215 may be formed of other materials and need not be transparent in all embodiments. Furthermore, although in the exemplary embodiment, the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 includes the first member 211 and the second member 215 as separate structures, the present invention is not limited thereto in all embodiments. Conversely, in alternative embodiments, the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 may be a single integral and monolithic component such that the first component 211 and the second component 215 of the coupling portion are a single portion.

The first member 211 forms an end cap having an outer surface 212 and an inner surface 213 that defines a cavity 214. When the first and second components 211, 215 are coupled together, the lower portion 216 of the second component 215 is located within the cavity 214 of the first component 211, and the neck portion 217 of the second component 215 extends from the first component 211. The neck portion 217 of the second part 215 of the tracking module 200 comprises an inner surface 218 defining a cavity 219 and an outer surface 220 having a first connection feature 221 thereon. The first connection feature 221 of the neck portion 217 of the second component 215 of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 facilitates coupling the tracking module 200 to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, as described more fully below. In the exemplary embodiment, first connection feature 221 includes threads. However, the invention is not so limited, and the first connecting feature 221 may take other forms as long as it is configured to couple with a connecting feature included by the body 101 of the oral care implement 100.

The coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 also includes a personalization ring 290. The personalized ring 290 is coupled to the top edge of the first component or end cap 211 of the tracking module 200. The personalization ring 290 may be detachably coupled to the first component 211 of the tracking module 200 such that it may be swapped out or exchanged to a different personalization ring 290, as discussed in more detail below with reference to fig. 14A-14C. The personalization ring 290 may be any color, pattern, texture, etc. that helps the user identify the tracking module 200 or oral care device 1000 that belongs to that particular user. The personalized ring 290 is exposed in the fully assembled oral care device 1000 (in an attached state) so that it is visible for identification purposes.

The electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200 includes a base 251 having an outer surface 252. The base 251 includes a first portion 253 that forms a first compartment 254 that holds a power supply 297 and a second portion 255 that forms a second compartment 256 that holds at least one sensor 296. More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, when a battery (such as an AA or AAA alkaline battery) is used as the power supply 297, the first compartment 254 is sized and shaped to receive the battery therein. However, the size of the first compartment 254 may be modified as desired such that it is configured to hold any desired power source. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, at least one sensor 296 is located on the printed circuit board 257, and at least one sensor 296 and all other necessary circuit components (i.e., processor 295, transceiver 298, illumination source 299, capacitors, diodes, resistors, integrated circuits, etc.) are mounted on the printed circuit board 257 in a conventional manner. The printed circuit board 257 is then held within the second compartment 256 formed by the second portion 255 of the chassis 251. The printed circuit board 257 may be removably positioned within the second compartment 256 by engagement between the slot of the second compartment 256 and an opposite edge of the printed circuit board 257. Alternatively, the printed circuit board 257 may be non-removably coupled to the base 251 within the second compartment 256 using an adhesive, soldering, or the like to securely hold the printed circuit board 257 in place within the second compartment 256.

The first electrical contact member 258 makes contact with a first terminal of the power source 297 and with a first electrical contact (not shown) on the printed circuit board 257. The second electrical contact member 259 makes contact with a second terminal of the power supply 297 and with a second electrical contact (not shown) on the printed circuit board 257. The first electrical contact element 258 and the second electrical contact element 259 are electrically isolated from each other. In this way, power from the power supply 297 is supplied to the printed circuit board 257 and electronic components thereon. Thus, the tracking module 200 is a self-contained unit that includes all the electronic circuitry necessary to perform the brushing tracking functions described herein, including a power source for powering the electronic circuitry.

The base 251 has a third portion 260 located between the first portion 252 and the second portion 255. In addition, base 251 has a locking feature 261 within third portion 260 of base 251 between first portion 252 and second portion 255 of base 251. The locking feature 261 facilitates coupling the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 to the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200, the details of which will be described below. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking feature 261 is an annular groove formed in the third portion 260 of the base 251. Of course, in all embodiments, the invention is not so limited, and in other embodiments, the locking feature 261 may be an annular ridge or the like.

The electronic portion 250 and the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 are coupled together in the following manner. First, a battery or other power source 297 is placed in the first compartment 254 and a printed circuit board 257 is placed in the second compartment 256. Next, the second portion 255 of the base 251, which is held in the second compartment 256, and the printed circuit board 257 are inserted into the cavity 219 of the neck 217 of the second component 215 of the coupling portion 210. The electronic portion 250 and the coupling portion 210 continue to translate toward each other in the axial direction until the locking feature 261 (i.e., the annular groove) of the base 251 aligns with the channel 222 formed into the outer surface 220 of the neck portion 217 of the second component 215 of the coupling portion 210.

Next, the locking element 270 is inserted through the channel 222 until the locking element 270 is at least partially nested within the annular groove of the locking feature 261. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking element 270 comprises a pin, and is a separate component from the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200. However, in other embodiments, the locking element 270 may be an integral part of the coupling portion 210 or the electronic portion 250. When the locking element 270 is nested within the annular groove of the locking feature 261 of the base 251 of the electronic portion 260, the locking element 270 remains engaged with the neck portion 217 of the second component 215 of the coupling portion 210. Thus, the locking element 270 is coupled to the neck portion 217 of the coupling portion 210 and nests within the annular groove of the locking feature 261 of the electronic portion 260. Thus, once the locking element 270 is inserted into the channel 222 and nested within the annular groove of the locking feature 261, the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 are substantially fixed relative to each other in the axial direction. Thus, the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 cannot be easily separated from each other without first disengaging the locking element 270 from the annular groove of the locking feature 261. However, when coupled together in this manner, electronics portion 250 and coupling portion 210 are free to rotate relative to one another about longitudinal axis B-B. The electronic portion 250 and the coupling portion 210 cannot move relative to each other in the axial direction.

The relative rotation between the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 is shown in fig. 9A and 9B. Fig. 9A shows the locking element 270 in place such that the curved portion 271 of the locking element 270 is located within the channel 222 of the neck portion 217 of the coupling portion 210 and the leg 272 of the locking element 270 extends into the opening 223 on the opposite side of the neck portion 217 of the coupling portion 210. In addition, the legs 272 nest within the annular groove of the locking feature 261. This manner of coupling the coupling portion 210 to the electronic portion 250 allows the two components to be free to rotate relative to one another about the longitudinal axis B-B. This is best illustrated by comparing fig. 9A with fig. 9B, wherein it can be seen that the coupling portion 210 rotates about the longitudinal axis B-B while the electronics portion 250 remains in the same rotational position. Even when kept coupled together due to the locking element 270, the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 can freely rotate relative to each other in both rotational directions. In other words, although the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 are free to rotate relative to each other (they may rotate 360 ° relative to each other), the coupling portion and the electronic portion 250 are substantially fixed relative to each other in the axial direction.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking feature 261 may be an integral part of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200, rather than a pin or some other type of component separate from the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200. For example, referring briefly to FIG. 15, an alternative embodiment of a portion of a tracking module 200a is shown in cross section. In this embodiment, the staples are omitted and the locking element 270a is instead formed as an annular flange as an integral part of the coupling portion 210 a. Thus, in this embodiment, the coupling portion 210a of the tracking module 200a is coupled to the electronics portion 250a of the tracking module 200a by a locking element 270a (i.e., an annular flange) that is nested within an annular recess of the locking feature 261 a. The third portion 260a of the base 251a may have an inclined surface 262a to facilitate coupling the coupling portion 210a to the electronic portion 250a. In particular, when the electronic portion 250a is inserted into the cavity 219a of the neck portion 217a, the neck portion 217a may flex outwardly as the locking element 270a travels along the inclined surface 262 a. Once coupled as shown in fig. 15, the coupling portion 210a and the electronic portion 250a are substantially fixed relative to each other in the axial direction. However, the engagement between the annular flange of the coupling portion 210a and the annular recess 261a of the electronic portion 250a enables the coupling portion 210a and the electronic portion 250a to freely rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis B-B of the tracking module 200 a.

In the main embodiment shown in fig. 6-8 and the alternative embodiment shown in fig. 15, the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 are coupled together so as to be substantially fixed relative to each other in the axial direction while being free to rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis B-B. Of course, other alternative embodiments are possible as long as the coupling portion 210 and the electronic portion 250 are coupled together so as to be free to rotate relative to each other about the axis of rotation while being substantially fixed relative to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis B-B. Thus, while grooves and ridges/protrusions are shown and described herein as being formed as one of the coupling portion 210 or the electronic portion 250, they may be interchanged in alternative embodiments. For example, the electronic portion 250 may have a flange that fits within a recess formed in the coupling portion 210 as an alternative to the embodiment shown in fig. 15.

By enabling the coupling portion 210 to freely rotate relative to the electronic portion 250, the electronic portion 250 can be maintained in a fixed rotational position in the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 while allowing the coupling portion 210 to rotate relative to the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module and relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. It is this structural feature that helps couple the tracking module 200 to the oral care implement 100 while ensuring that the electronic portion 250 remains in a particular orientation for consistent measurements, as described in more detail below with reference to fig. 11-13.

Referring also to fig. 6 and 18, the neck portion 217 of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 terminates in a lower distal edge 231 and an upper distal edge 232. Specifically, neck portion 217 includes an upstanding wall 233 extending from lower distal edge 231 to upper distal edge 232. Further, a notch 234 is formed in the upstanding wall 233 and extends from the upper distal edge 232 in a direction toward the lower distal edge 231. The recess 234 divides the upstanding wall 233 into a first portion 235 and a second portion 236. The recess 234 receives a protrusion of the oral care implement 100 to provide a tactile indication to a user that the tracking module 200 is fully coupled to the oral care implement 100, as discussed in detail below.

Referring also to fig. 19A-19C, a cross-sectional view of the oral care implement apparatus 1000 is provided at the location of the notch 234. Thus, fig. 19A-19C illustrate an oral care device 1000 having a tracking module 200 positioned within an interior cavity 107 of a body 101 of an oral care implement 100. As can be seen, there is a protrusion 199 extending from the inner surface 105 of the body 101 into the interior cavity 107. When the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 is rotated relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 as described above, at some point the upstanding wall 233 becomes axially aligned with the protrusion 199. The protrusion 199 then travels along the first portion 235 of the upstanding wall 233 until the protrusion 199 nests within the recess 234. This progression is shown in fig. 19A to 19C. Thus, the protrusion 199 travels along the first portion 234 of the upstanding wall 233 during rotation of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 until the protrusion 199 falls into the recess 234 and becomes nested within the recess, as shown in fig. 19C. In this regard, the first portion 234 of the upstanding wall 233 includes a sloped or chamfered surface 237 that aids in the process.

As a result of the interaction between the upstanding wall 233 of the tracking module 200 and the protrusion 199 of the oral care implement 100, a user-perceptible tactile event occurs when the tracking module 200 is fully coupled to the oral care implement 100. Specifically, as previously described, a user may couple the tracking module 200 to the oral care implement 100 by rotating the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. During this rotation, the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 moves axially within the internal cavity 107 of the body 101 until the protrusion 199 and the upstanding wall 233 are at the same axial height. At this point, the user will continue to rotate the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 relative to the body 101, but the user will be able to feel with his or her hand that the protrusion 199 is traveling along the first portion 235 of the upstanding wall 233 and then snapped into the recess 234. Thus, this provides the user with the following tactile indication: no further rotation of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 is required because the tracking module 200 is fully coupled to the oral care implement 100.

Referring now to fig. 10, a cross-section of an oral care device 1000 is shown in an attached state to show the interaction between the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 and the tracking module 200 that maintains the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 in a particular orientation relative to the body 101. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner surface 105 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 includes a plurality of alignment channels 109 formed therein. In the exemplary embodiment, three alignment channels 109 are formed into the inner surface 105 of the body 101. Of course, in other embodiments, more or less than three alignment channels 109 are possible. Further, in this embodiment, the base 251 of the electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200 includes a plurality of alignment ridges 265 protruding from the outer surface 252 thereof. In the exemplary embodiment, three alignment ridges 265 are shown, but in other embodiments more or less than three alignment ridges 265 are possible. Although in the exemplary embodiment the alignment channels 109 are formed into the inner surface 105 of the body 101 and the alignment ridges 265 protrude from the outer surface 252 of the base 251, the invention is not so limited and in other embodiments the alignment channels may be formed into the base 251 with corresponding alignment ridges protruding from the inner surface 105 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. Further, while the alignment channel 109 is shown as being formed directly into the inner surface 105 of the body 101, in other embodiments the oral care implement 100 may include an insert member positioned within the interior cavity 107, and the alignment channel 109 (or alignment ridge as the case may be) may be formed into the insert member.

The alignment ridge 265 of the base 251 is angularly/rotationally aligned with the alignment channel 109 in the interior surface 105 of the body 101 such that the alignment ridge 265 nests within the alignment channel 109 when the tracking module 200 is located within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101. Due to the angular position of the alignment channels 109 and alignment ridges 265, the tracking module 200 may be positioned within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 in only a single orientation and position relative to the body 101. Specifically, because there are three alignment ridges 265 and alignment channels 109, only one orientation with respect to the body 101 allows the tracking module 200 to be inserted into the interior cavity 107. Although three alignment ridges 265 and alignment channels 109 are shown in the exemplary embodiment, this may also be accomplished using one, two, or more than three of the alignment ridges 265 and alignment channels 109 and/or using other mechanical interlocking and mating features, such as any type of lock-to-key type mating relationship between features on the tracking module 200 and features on the inner surface 105 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. Furthermore, while in the exemplary embodiment the alignment ridge 265 is located on the tracking module 200 and the alignment channel 109 is formed into the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, in other embodiments this may be reversed.

In an exemplary embodiment, if the tracking module 200 is rotated in any direction and to any degree relative to the body, different from that shown in fig. 10, the alignment ridge 265 will not be aligned with the alignment channel 109 and will prevent insertion of the tracking module 200 into the interior cavity 109 in that direction. Thus, the tracking module 200 must be rotated relative to the body 101 until the alignment ridge 265 is precisely aligned with the alignment channel 109, and then the tracking module 200 may be translated into the interior cavity 107. In an exemplary embodiment, in a single orientation, at least one sensor 296 is aligned with tooth cleaning elements 115 and/or faces in the same direction as tooth cleaning elements 115.

In some embodiments, the invention described herein may be directed to the oral care implement 100 itself. Specifically, as described above, the oral care implement 100 may be sold as a "replacement" such that the tracking module 200 may be reused with a different oral care implement 100. When the tooth cleaning elements 115 become open and require replacement, the oral care implement 100 may need to be replaced. Alternatively, different oral care implements having different tooth cleaning element patterns and/or configurations may be desired when each achieves a different purpose (general cleaning, gentle cleaning of sensitive teeth/gums, abrasive or thorough cleaning, tooth whitening, etc.). Thus, in some embodiments, the oral care implement 100 itself may form the device of the present invention.

Still referring to fig. 10, the inner surface 105 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 includes a first semicircular portion 181 and a second semicircular portion 182 that together form the inner surface 105 of the body 101. The first and second semicircular portions 181 and 182 have interfaces that are positioned along a plane E-E that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the oral care implement 100 and centered between the front and rear surfaces 116 and 117 of the body 105. In other words, the plane E-E extends between the sides of the body 105 between the front surface 116 and the rear surface 117 of the body 105. Plane E-E divides the inner surface 105 of the body 101 into a first semicircular portion 181 and a second semicircular portion 182

Specifically, each of the first and second semicircular portions 181 and 182 of the body 101 forms a 180 ° portion of the inner surface 105 of the body 101 such that the first and second semicircular portions 181 and 182 of the body 101 collectively form an entire 360 ° of the inner surface 105 of the body 101. In this regard, the first and second semi-circular portions 181, 182 of the inner surface 105 of the body 101 do not overlap one another. The inner surface 105 of the body 101 includes a first alignment feature 183, a second alignment feature 184, and a third alignment feature 185. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first alignment feature 183, the second alignment feature 184, and the third alignment feature 185 comprises one of the channels 109 previously described. Of course, the invention is not so limited, and in other embodiments, each of the first alignment feature 183, the second alignment feature 184, and the third alignment feature 184 may be formed of ridges, ribs, protrusions, etc., so long as it ensures that the tracking module 200 is properly aligned when the tracking module 200 is inserted into the interior cavity 107 of the body 101, as described herein.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first alignment feature 183 is positioned along the first semicircular portion 181 of the inner surface 105 of the body 101 and the second and third alignment features 184, 185 are positioned along the second semicircular portion 182 of the inner surface 105 of the body 101. In an exemplary embodiment, the second alignment feature 184 and the third alignment feature 185 are positioned entirely along the second semi-circular portion 182 of the inner surface 105 of the body 101. In an alternative embodiment, a majority of the second alignment features 184 and the third alignment features 185 may be positioned along the second semi-circular portion 182. This means that more than half of the length of the second alignment feature 184 and the third alignment feature 185 will be positioned within the second semi-circular portion 182, while the remainder of the second alignment feature 184 and the third alignment feature 185 will be positioned within the first semi-circular portion 181.

In an exemplary embodiment, due to the location of the alignment features 183, 184, 185, the inner surface 105 of the body 101 is asymmetric about a plane E-E that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the body 101 and intersects the opposite side of the body 101. Further, the inner surface 105 of the body 101 may be symmetrical about a plane F-F that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the body 101 and intersects the front and rear surfaces 116, 117 of the body 101.

The structure of the inner surface 105 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 will now be described in terms of its transverse cross-sectional profile, as shown in fig. 10. Specifically, the inner surface 105 of the body 101 includes a first recess 191, a second recess 192, a third recess 193, a first channel 194, a second channel 195, and a third channel 196. The first recess 191 and the second recess 192 are separated by a first channel 194, the second recess 192 and the third recess 193 are separated by a second channel 195, and the third recess 193 and the first recess 191 are separated by a third channel 196. The first recess 191, the second recess 192, and the first channel 194 form the first semicircular portion 181 of the inner surface 105 of the body 101, and the third recess 193, the second channel 195, and the third channel 196 form the second semicircular portion 182 of the inner surface 105 of the body 101. In this embodiment, the third recess 193 is longer than each of the first and second recesses 191, 192 and thus forms a greater portion/percentage of the inner surface 105 of the body 101 than the first and second recesses 191, 192. As seen in fig. 10, the transverse cross-sectional profile of the inner surface 105 of the body 101 is asymmetric about a plane E-E parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the body 101 and intersecting the first and second transverse sides of the body 101, and symmetric about a plane F-F parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the body 101 and intersecting the front and rear surfaces 116, 117 of the body 101.

Once the tracking module 200 is positioned within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101, the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is prevented from rotating relative to the body 109 due to the engagement between the alignment ridge 265 of the base 251 of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 and the alignment channel 109 formed in the interior surface 105 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. Therefore, even if a person tries to rotate the electronic part 250 of the tracking module 200 with respect to the main body 101, it is impossible. Specifically, if an attempt is made to rotate the electronics portion 250 clockwise, the wall 266 of the first one of the alignment ridges 265 will engage the wall 118 of the first one of the alignment channels 109 to prevent the electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200 from rotating clockwise. If an attempt is made to rotate the electronics portion counter-clockwise, the wall 267 of the second of the alignment ridges 265 will engage the wall 119 of the second of the alignment channels 109 to prevent such counter-clockwise rotation of the electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200.

Thus, the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is configured to be positioned within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 in a single orientation. It is not possible to position the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 in any orientation other than the single orientation within the interior cavity 107. Furthermore, when the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is positioned within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101, it is not possible to rotate the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 relative to the body 101. Thus, the alignment channel 109 and the alignment ridge 265 operate to ensure proper alignment of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 and to maintain the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 in a single acceptable orientation. The alignment channel 109 and alignment ridge 265 may also be referred to herein as anti-rotation channels and anti-rotation ridges because they prevent rotation of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 when the tracking module 200 is located within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100.

Turning now to fig. 11-13, a method of assembling the oral care device 1000 by inserting the tracking module 200 into the interior cavity 107 of the oral care implement 100 and coupling the tracking module 200 to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 will be described. First, the alignment ridge 265 of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is aligned with the alignment channel 109 of the body 101. Next, the first end 202 of the tracking module 200 is inserted through the opening 108 in the proximal end 103 of the body 101 and into the internal cavity 107. The tracking module 200 is continued to move into the interior cavity 107 by translating the tracking module 200 relative to the body 101 in a direction along the longitudinal axis A-A until translation is no longer possible (see fig. 12).

As previously described, the outer surface 220 of the neck portion 217 of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 includes a first connection feature 221 thereon, which in the exemplary embodiment includes a first thread. Further, the inner surface 105 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 includes a second connection feature 111 thereon, which in the exemplary embodiment includes a second thread. The second connection feature 111 is located near the proximal end 103 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. In other words, the second thread is located near the opening 108 at the proximal end 103 of the body 101, wherein there is only a small space between the proximal end 103 and the beginning of the second thread. During insertion of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 into the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, the tracking module 200 can no longer be moved into the interior cavity 107 simply by translating the tracking module 200 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A-A as long as the first threads of the first connection feature 221 of the tracking module 200 abut the second threads of the second connection feature 111 of the body 101. The abutment between the first and second threads of the first and second connection features 221 and 111 is shown in fig. 12. .

Once translation of the tracking module 200 is stopped as described above, the alignment ridge 265 of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 nests within the alignment channel 109 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. Thus, when the tracking module 200 is in this position relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 (see fig. 12), the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is prevented from rotating relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. This is to ensure that the electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200, and more particularly the sensor thereon, remain in the proper predetermined orientation relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 throughout use.

At this point, during assembly, the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 rotates relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 (and relative to the electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200, as described herein, to prevent rotation thereof) to mate or engage the first threads of the first connection feature 221 with the second threads of the second connection feature 111. Specifically, the coupling portion 210 of the rotation tracking module 200 will automatically engage the first and second threads of the first and second connection features 221, 111 with one another, thereby coupling the tracking module 200 to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. Fig. 13 illustrates an oral care device 1000 having a tracking module 200 fully coupled to an oral care implement 100.

Whenever the tracking module 200 is coupled to the oral care implement 100, the sensor 296 is in exactly the same position and orientation relative to the body 101, and more specifically relative to the tooth cleaning elements 115. Specifically, the sensors 296 are at identical axial and circumferential positions. Thus, the sensor 296 is located in the exact same position at any time the tracking module 200 is coupled to the oral care implement 100. If an accelerometer and magnetometer are present, the accelerometer is always in exactly the same position and the magnetometer is always in exactly the same position when the tracking module 200 is coupled to the oral care implement. This is to ensure that the measurements made by those sensors 296 are consistent and accurate during each use of the oral care device 1000.

As previously described, when the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 is rotated relative to the body 101, the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is not and cannot rotate relative to the body 101. In contrast, the electronics portion 250 is held in place against rotation due to the interaction between the alignment ridge 265 and the alignment channel 109. Thus, when at least a portion of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is located within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 cannot rotate relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, while the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 can rotate relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 to couple the tracking module 200 to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. In other words, during rotation of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200, the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is inhibited from rotating relative to the body 101. Thus, during rotation of the coupling portion 210 to engage the first and second threads, the coupling portion 210 rotates relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 and relative to the electronic portion 250.

Although the first connection feature 221 and the second connection feature 111 are shown and described herein as threads, the invention is not so limited in all embodiments. Rather, other structural components may be used that allow the coupling portion 210 to rotate relative to the body 101 to cause the tracking module 200 to be coupled to the body 100. In particular, the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 and the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 may have other mating structures that interact and engage with each other when the coupling portion 210 is rotated relative to the body 101. For example, the protrusions on the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 may engage the notches on the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, such as by an interference fit. Rotation of the coupling portion 210 may not cause the tracking module 200 to translate into the cavity 107 (as with the threaded engagement in the exemplary embodiment), but it may instead simply lock the tracking module 200 in place. Variations to this are possible and will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

As described above, the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 can only be positioned within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 in a single orientation relative to the body 101. This is due to the location of the alignment ridge 265 on the base 251 and the alignment channel in the inner surface 105 of the body 101. It is important to keep the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 always in the same orientation relative to the body 101 to ensure that the measurements made by the sensors of the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 are consistent and accurate. In particular, in some embodiments, the tracking module 200 is configured to measure the position or orientation of the oral care implement 100 during brushing. If the sensor that is measuring the position or orientation of the oral care implement 100 can be in a different orientation relative to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, a different measurement will be sensed. Thus, each time the tracking module 200 is coupled to the body 101, the sensors must be oriented in the same manner to ensure consistency between measurements made by the sensors.

Referring to both fig. 5 and 13, in an exemplary embodiment, the printed circuit board 257 has a front surface 268 and an opposing rear surface 269. Electronic components including at least one sensor 296 are located on the front surface 268 of the printed circuit board 257. In an exemplary embodiment, the front surface 268 of the printed circuit board 257 and the front surface 121 of the head 120 (from which the tooth cleaning elements 115 extend) face in the same direction in a single and unique orientation in which the electronic portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is allowed to be placed within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101. Of course, other possibilities exist, such as the rear surface 269 of the printed circuit board 257 and the front surface 121 of the head 120 facing in the same direction. It may be important in some embodiments only that the printed circuit board 257, and thus the sensors thereon, be positioned within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 in the same orientation each time the tracking module 200 is coupled to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, regardless of the particular orientation.

When the oral care device 1000 is in the attached state as shown in fig. 5 and 13, the tracking module 200 is coupled to the oral care implement 100 with the printed circuit board 257 positioned adjacent the proximal end 103 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 and the power supply 297 located between the printed circuit board 257 and the distal end 104 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. Thus, the printed circuit board 257 and the sensor located thereon are located at (or proximate to) the proximal end 103 of the body 101. In an exemplary embodiment, the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 has a length L1 measured between the proximal end 103 and the distal end 104, and the printed circuit board 257 is located within the bottommost tenth of the length L1 of the body 101.

Such positioning of the printed circuit board 257, and particularly the at least one sensor 296, may be important in some embodiments to ensure that the sensor 296 can make accurate and consistent measurements. In the illustrated embodiment, the printed circuit board 257 is positioned within the cavity 220 of the neck portion 217 such that the printed circuit board 257 is aligned with the first connection feature 221. In other words, a plane C-C transverse to the longitudinal axis B-B of the tracking module 200 intersects the printed circuit board 257 and the first connection feature 221 (i.e., threads on the neck portion 217).

Further, in the exemplary embodiment, printed circuit board 257 protrudes beyond proximal end 103 of body 100. Thus, there is also a plane D-D transverse to the longitudinal axis B-B that intersects a portion of the printed circuit board 257, but not the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the illumination source 299 is positioned at a location on the printed circuit board 257 such that a plane intersecting the illumination source 299 that is transverse to the longitudinal axis B-B of the tracking module also does not intersect the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. Thus, a first portion of the printed circuit board 257 is located within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101, and a second portion of the printed circuit board 257 protrudes from the proximal end 103 of the body 101. In an exemplary embodiment, the second portion of the printed circuit board 257 includes an illumination source 299.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the end cap (i.e., first member 211) of coupling portion 210 has a frustoconical shape with a wider diameter at the bottom end than at the top end. When the tracking module 200 is coupled to the oral care implement 100, at least a portion of the electronics portion 250 of the tracking module 200 is located within the interior cavity 107 of the body 101 and at least a portion of the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 protrudes from the distal end 103 of the body 101. More specifically, the first part 211 of the coupling portion 210 protrudes from the distal end 103 of the body 101. By having a frustoconical shape as shown in fig. 5 and 13, the second member 211 of the coupling portion 210 is configured to maintain the oral care device 1000 in an upright position when the oral care device 1000 is in an attached state. In particular, if the bottom end of the first member 211 is placed on a horizontal surface, such as a table, sink, etc., the oral care device 1000 will remain vertically oriented with the longitudinal axis A-A extending perpendicular to the oral care implement 100 from the horizontal surface.

Further, as best shown in fig. 13, the outer surface 212 of the first member 211 of the coupling portion 210 is flush with the outer surface 106 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100. In some embodiments, the personalized ring 290 may be located near the proximal end 103 of the body 101, in which case the outer surface of the personalized ring 290 may be flush with the outer surface 106 of the body 101 of the oral care implement. This provides the oral care device 100 with a seamless appearance that is aesthetically pleasing and free of protrusions or portions that "stand out" outward to enhance comfort during handling and use.

Referring to fig. 13, in this embodiment, the illumination source 299 mentioned above with reference to fig. 17 is shown in an illuminated state. Because the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 is transparent, when the illumination source 299 is illuminated, it illuminates the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200. Because of the position of the circuit board 257 within the cavity 219 of the neck portion 217, the coupling portion 210 of the tracking module 200 will be illuminated when the illumination source 299 is illuminated. In certain embodiments, the illumination source 299 may include one or more LEDs. Alternatively, the illumination source 299 may be other objects than LEDs, such as OLEDs, incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps (such as compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs), halogen lamps, and the like. When illumination source 299 comprises one LED, it may be configured to illuminate in a plurality of different colors. When illumination source 299 comprises a plurality of LEDs, each LED may be configured to illuminate in a different color. For example, the illumination source 299 can illuminate in a first color to indicate bluetooth (or other wireless) connectivity with the external electronic device 300, a second color to indicate that the tracking module 200 is recording and/or otherwise tracking the brushing process, a third color to indicate battery status (i.e., low battery), and so forth. Thus, the illumination source 299 may be used as an indicator light to provide information to a user based on the color, flash pattern, brightness, etc., of the illumination source 299.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, bottom surface 224 of second member 215 of coupling portion 210 of tracking module 200 forms a lens for concentrating and/or scattering light generated by illumination source 299. By forming the bottom surface 224 of the second member 215 as a lens, light from the illumination source 299 may be directed in a desired manner to ensure that the light is readily visible to the user, thereby providing useful information to the user. As shown in fig. 13, illumination source 299 is placed directly adjacent to the lens to facilitate proper dispersion of light generated by illumination source 299.

Referring also to fig. 14A-14C, a portion of an oral care device 1000 is shown with different styles of personalized rings 290 a-290C. The personalized rings 290 a-290 c may have different colors, textures, patterns, materials, etc. As described above, the personalized rings 290 a-290 c may be removably coupled to the oral care device 1000, and more particularly to the tracking module 200. Thus, the user may swap out the personalized rings 290 a-290 c as needed to use the particular personalized ring 290 a-290 c that is most preferred by the user based on color, pattern, material, texture, theme, etc. The purpose of fig. 14A-14C is to illustrate that different personalization rings 290 can be attached to the oral care device 1000 to enable quick and easy identification of which oral care device 1000 belongs to which user.

Referring also to fig. 16A-16B, an alternative embodiment of an oral care device 1000a is shown. The oral care device 1000a is the same as the oral care device 1000 described above, except that in this embodiment, the body 101a includes a handle portion 110a and a head portion 120a that are detachable from one another. Thus, the head portion 120a in this embodiment is a replaceable head, such that the head portion 120a can be replaced without replacing the handle portion 110 a. The handle portion 110a and the head portion 120a may include features that help couple the two portions together.

The use of the oral care device 1000 will now be described. First, the user will ensure that the tracking module 200 has an operating power supply 297 (i.e., battery). Next, the tracking module 200 is inserted into the cavity 107 of the body 101 of the oral care implement 100, and the tracking module 200 is coupled to the body 101 of the oral care implement 100 in the manner described in detail above. The oral care device 1000 may be in this attached state throughout the use and between uses. Thus, the oral care device 1000 may be stored in an attached state. The only reason for changing the oral care device 1000 from the attached state to the detached state is to replace the power supply 297 of the tracking module 200 or to attach the tracking module 200 to another oral care implement 100 when the first oral care implement 100 needs to be replaced (an oral care implement should be replaced every three months due to splaying of bristles, etc.).

When a user wishes to use the oral care device 1000 for tooth cleaning, the user will pick up the oral care device 1000, apply a dentifrice or the like to the tooth cleaning elements 115, apply water to the tooth cleaning elements 115 as needed, and then insert the head 120 of the oral care implement 100 into the user's mouth. The user will then brush his teeth in the normal manner. The tracking module 200 may be configured to automatically power on upon detecting that the user is cleaning the oral cavity or brushing teeth. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, neither the oral care implement 100 nor the tracking module 200 has a power button. Instead, the tracking module 200 automatically turns on the power source when it detects that the oral care implement 100 is being used for tooth cleaning. Upon power-up, the tracking module 200, and more particularly, the one or more sensors 296 of the tracking module, will begin measuring the position, orientation, and/or movement of the oral care implement and generating data indicative of the position, orientation, and/or movement of the oral care implement. Of course, in other embodiments, the tracking module 200 may include a power button or the like to initiate activation thereof.

The tracking module 200 may be in operative communication with an external electronic device 300 as described herein. Thus, a user can open an application on the external electronic device 300 to initiate communication between the oral care apparatus 1000 and the external electronic device 300. This may be achieved by the user opening an application on a smartphone or the like. In such embodiments, once communication is established between the oral care apparatus 1000 and the external electronic device 300, data generated by the one or more sensors 296 of the tracking module 200 may be sent to the external electronic device 300. This data can then be used to provide real-time guidance and immediate feedback to the user regarding his or her brushing technique. The display of the external electronic device 300 may display a game or other visual representation of the user's brushing, to indicate to the user how effective he or she is brushing, which teeth/portions of the oral cavity have been brushed and not brushed, and to provide other information that the user may need to enhance their oral hygiene experience and encourage proper brushing.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An oral care apparatus, comprising:

an oral care implement comprising a body having an interior cavity;

a tracking module extending along a longitudinal axis, the tracking module comprising:

a coupling portion configured to couple the tracking module to the body of the oral care implement; and

an electronics portion comprising at least one sensor configured to measure at least one of a position, an orientation, and a movement of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement;

wherein the oral care device is changeable between: (1) The tracking module is coupled to an attached state of the oral care implement, wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; and (2) a detached state in which the tracking module is separated from the oral care implement;

Wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module is positionable within the interior cavity of the body in only a single orientation relative to the body; and

wherein in the attached state of the oral care implement, the coupling portion of the tracking module is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis and the electronics portion is configured to remain in the same rotational position;

wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module and the coupling portion of the tracking module are coupled together so as to be freely rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis while being fixed relative to each other in an axial direction; and

wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module comprises a base having an outer surface, and wherein the body of the oral care implement comprises an inner surface defining the interior cavity, and the base further comprises a plurality of alignment ridges formed in one of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement and a plurality of alignment channels formed in the other of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement, and wherein the plurality of alignment ridges of the one of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement nest within the plurality of alignment channels of the other of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement, wherein the plurality of alignment ridges and the plurality of alignment channels maintain the electronic portion of the tracking module in an upward orientation relative to the body of the oral care implement.

2. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module is prevented from being positioned within the interior cavity of the body of the oral care implement in any orientation relative to the body other than the single orientation.

3. The oral care device of claim 1, wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module is non-rotatable relative to the body when the electronic portion of the tracking module is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body.

4. The oral care apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in the attached state of the oral care implement, the coupling portion of the tracking module is rotatable relative to the body of the oral care implement and relative to the electronic portion of the tracking module.

5. The oral care apparatus according to claim 4 wherein rotating the coupling portion of the tracking module in a first rotational direction engages a first connection feature of the coupling portion of the tracking module with a second connection feature of the body of the oral care implement, and wherein rotating the coupling portion of the tracking module in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction disengages the first connection feature of the coupling portion of the tracking module from the second connection feature of the body of the oral care implement.

6. The oral care device of claim 5, wherein one of the first and second connection features comprises first threads and the other of the first and second connection features comprises second threads that mate with the first threads, the tracking module being coupled to the oral care implement by: at least a portion of the electronic portion of the tracking module is inserted into the internal cavity of the body and then the coupling portion of the tracking module is rotated relative to the body in the first rotational direction such that the first and second threads engage one another.

7. The oral care apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the coupling portion of the tracking module rotates relative to the electronic portion of the tracking module and the body of the oral care implement to couple the tracking module to the body of the oral care implement.

8. The oral care device of claim 1, further comprising:

the body of the oral care implement, the body comprising a handle and a head;

a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a front surface of the head;

The electronic portion of the tracking module, comprising: a printed circuit board having at least one sensor coupled thereto; and a power source operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being located on a front surface of the printed circuit board; and

wherein in the single orientation, the front surface of the printed circuit board and the front surface of the head face in the same direction.

9. An oral care apparatus, comprising:

an oral care implement comprising a body having an interior cavity, the body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;

a tracking module, comprising:

an electronics portion comprising a power source and a printed circuit board having at least one sensor thereon configured to measure at least one of a position, an orientation, and a movement of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement;

Wherein the oral care device is changeable between: (1) The tracking module is coupled to an attached state of the oral care implement, wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; and (2) a disassembled state in which the tracking module is completely separated from the oral care implement; and

wherein in the attached state, the printed circuit board is adjacent the proximal end of the body of the oral care implement and the power source is located between the printed circuit board and the distal end of the body of the oral care implement;

wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module comprises a base having an outer surface, and wherein the body of the oral care implement comprises an inner surface defining the interior cavity, and the base further comprises a plurality of alignment ridges formed in one of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement and a plurality of alignment channels formed in the other of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement, and wherein the plurality of alignment ridges of the one of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement nest within the plurality of alignment channels of the other of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement, wherein the plurality of alignment ridges and the plurality of alignment channels maintain the electronic portion of the tracking module in an upward orientation relative to the single oral care implement.

10. The oral care apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the body of the oral care implement extends along a length, and wherein the printed circuit board is located within a bottommost tenth of the length of the body.

11. The oral care device of claim 9, wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module comprises a base having: a first portion forming a first compartment holding the power supply; and a second portion forming a second compartment holding the printed circuit board.

12. The oral care device of claim 11, wherein the base of the electronics portion of the tracking module comprises an annular groove between the first portion and the second portion, and further comprising a locking element coupled to the coupling portion of the tracking module, the locking element at least partially nested within the annular groove of the base to prevent relative axial movement between the coupling portion of the tracking module and the electronics portion while allowing relative rotational movement between the coupling portion of the tracking module and the electronics portion.

13. The oral care device of claim 9, wherein the coupling portion of the tracking module comprises an end cap and a neck portion extending from the end cap, the neck portion having an inner surface defining a cavity, and wherein the printed circuit board of the electronic portion is located within the cavity of the neck portion of the coupling portion of the tracking module, wherein in the attached state the neck portion of the coupling portion of the tracking module is located within the inner cavity of the body of the oral care implement and the end cap of the coupling portion of the tracking module protrudes from the proximal end of the body of the oral care implement.

14. The oral care apparatus of claim 9, wherein the oral care implement is devoid of any electronic components.

15. The oral care apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the tracking module is configured to communicate with external electronics to send data indicative of at least one of the position, the orientation, and the movement of the oral care implement to the external electronics during brushing.

16. A tracking module for an oral care implement, the tracking module comprising:

A coupling portion configured to couple the tracking module to an oral care implement;

wherein the electronic portion and the coupling portion are coupled together so as to be rotatable relative to each other about a longitudinal axis of the tracking module;

wherein when the tracking module is coupled with the oral care implement, the coupling portion of the tracking module is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis and the electronics portion is configured to remain in the same rotational position;

wherein the electronic portion of the tracking module comprises a base having an outer surface, and wherein the body of the oral care implement comprises an inner surface defining an interior cavity, and the base further comprises a plurality of alignment ridges formed in one of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement and a plurality of alignment channels formed in the other of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement, and wherein the plurality of alignment ridges of the one of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement nest within the plurality of alignment channels of the other of the outer surface of the base or the inner surface of the body of the oral care implement when the tracking module is coupled to the oral care implement, wherein the plurality of alignment ridges and the plurality of alignment channels maintain the electronic portion of the tracking module in a single orientation relative to the body of the oral care implement.