Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B17/00—Accessories for brushes
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0003—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
  • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
  • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
  • A46B15/0016—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with enhancing means
  • A46B15/0036—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with enhancing means with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
  • A46B15/0087—Brushes with decoration on or in the handle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B5/00—Brush bodies; Handles integral with brushware
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V33/00—Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0005—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being of the fibre type
  • G02B6/0008—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being of the fibre type the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D33/00—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances
  • A45D33/26—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances combined with other objects
  • A45D33/32—Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling powdery toiletry or cosmetic substances combined with other objects with illuminating means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
  • A46B2200/10—For human or animal care
  • A46B2200/1066—Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
  • B65D2203/12—Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means

Definitions

• toothbrush purchases are often based on impulse decisions.
• the appearance of a toothbrush and/or its packaging can play a role in formulating that purchase decision.
• use of a toothbrush, particularly by juveniles can be enhanced if that brush has an attractive, novel appearance.
• 5,588,084 provides additional detail of the scintillation enhancement flours and wave-shifting dyes uniformly dissolved into the core material of the fiber and the cladding which serves to protect the core and enables the fiber to function as an "optical pipe" .
• the cladding has an index of refraction which is lower than that of the core so that the light rays are retained within the fiber's core and transported along its length to appear as visible light at the fiber ends. With scintillating fibers, the light emitted at the ends is gathered from ambient light entering the side of the fibers so that an LED and battery is not needed to generate the light emitted from the fiber ends.
• Another patent related to scintillating fibers is U.S. Patent No. 6,078,052 issued June 20, 2000.
• United States Patent No. 5,813,855 discloses an illuminated toothbrush wherein a powered light source in the toothbrush handle directs light toward cleaning elements or bristles in the toothbrush head.
• the bristles are illumi- nated by the light traveling from the source in the handle through the toothbrush handle and to the head. There it impinges on a roughened surface of the bristles embedded in the head. That light then glows from the ends of the bristles.
• Another lighted toothbrush is disclosed in U.S. Pat- ent No. 5,160,194 in which a battery operated light shines directly on the user's teeth.
• This invention utilizes scintillating fluorescent light collecting fibers to illuminate various consumer prod- ucts and packaging for such products.
• the light emanating from the ends of such fibers is used to attract attention of the consumers to the products contained in the packaging.
• the visible ends of the fibers appear to glow as if powered, e.g., by a battery operated bulb.
• these fibers do not use any powered light sources to produce this effect.
• the ambient light around the fibers is gathered through the sides of the fibers and is transmitted through the fibers like an optical pipe and emanates from the fiber end as a relatively bright light.
• One illustrated embodiment of this invention is a toothbrush with a transparent or translucent handle. Embedded within the handle are an array of scintillating fluores- cent light collecting fibers which terminate near the base of the cleaning elements or bristles in the toothbrush head. If the fibers terminate at the base of the bristles, the light from the fibers can be distributed through all of the bristles so that the bristles adopt a glow. If a pinpoint of light is preferred, the scintillating fluorescent light collecting fibers can be placed within the bristles so that they extend to or near the working surface of the bristles. This provides a bright light display within the bristles that draws the attention of potential consumers observing the toothbrush in the store.
• the light within the bristles also provides an appealing and novel appearance that would attract one to use the toothbrush, especially juveniles. Since regular use is the most important element of oral hygiene, the novelty of a lighted brush provides an important inducement and reminder for juveniles to use the toothbrush. Because the scintillating/collecting fibers are continuously collecting ambient light and displaying it through the fiber ends the novelty look of the bristles is always presented to the user or potential customer as long as there is some ambient light around the toothbrush.
• a package for the toothbrush preferably has a transparent or translucent portion generally corresponding to the area of the toothbrush containing the scintillating fluorescent light collecting fibers. This allows ambient light around the package to enter the fibers and causes them to emit light at the ends of the fiber. That light shines out of the transparent/translucent portion of the package to attract potential customers who might be shopping for a toothbrush.
• the ends of the scintillating fluorescent light collecting fibers can be placed at various points along the length of the toothbrush (other than in the head) to create novel points of light on the toothbrush body. That lighting pattern can also be used to attract potential consumers or users .
• the scintillating fluores- cent light collecting fibers can be embedded in the packaging of any number of consumer products, for example, a liquid soap dispenser or shampoo bottle. If that packaging material is translucent or transparent in the area of the fibers, ambient light will reach the fibers causing the ends of the fibers to emit light. That light can be used as an adjunct to graphics on the packaging, thereby attracting consumers and encouraging use after purchase. In all of these embodiments, different color lighting can be created by colored fibers, for example, using green, amber and red fibers.
• Figure 1 illustrates a prior art toothbrush 2 using a battery powered light 4 in which that light is transmitted to the embedded bristles via fibers 6, but not the fibers of this invention.
• Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a scintil- lating fluorescent light collecting fiber of this invention.
• Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush containing embedded fibers to illuminate the toothbrush bristles.
• Figure 4 is a top plan view of a toothbrush pack- age containing a fiber illuminated toothbrush.
• Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view in elevation showing scintillating fluorescent light collecting fibers embedded within the toothbrush bristles.
• Figure 6 is a top plan view of a powered toothbrush with the light collecting fibers in the handle.
• Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a liquid soap dispenser bottle with the scintillating fluorescent light collecting fibers illuminating ornamental features on the bottle.
• FIG 2 schematically illustrates a typical scin- tillating fluorescent light collecting fiber 10 ( “ scintillating fiber " ) .
• This scintillating fiber 10 collects light from many wavelengths, visible or not visible to the naked eye, along its length 12 and emits light at each end 14 of the fiber in the visible range. Thus, the light is always " on “ with this fiber and no powered light source is needed, for example, an LED and battery as has been used in the prior art such as the device disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,813,855 (See Figure 1).
• FIG 3 illustrates scintillating fibers 10 em- bedded in toothbrush 16. They extend from the handle 18 to head 20 of the toothbrush. At least some portion of the toothbrush 16 should be transparent or translucent to allow ambient light to reach the outer surface 12 of fibers 10. As illustrated in this Figure, one end 14 of fiber 10 termi- nates immediately adjacent the cleaning elements or bristles 22 mounted in head 20 of toothbrush 16. The cleaning elements 22 may be mounted or affixed to the head 20 of toothbrush 16 in a manner that light emitted from one end 14 of fiber 10 is transmitted through the cleaning elements 22 so that the light is readily seen by a potential consumer of the toothbrush 16 when passing the area where toothbrushes are sold.
• the lighted bristles 22 can form an attractive light pattern to encourage use of the toothbrush and thereby improve oral hygiene of potential users, particularly juveniles.
• fibers 10 can be treated with various chemicals to emit various light colors from their ends 14. This provides an addi- tional attraction for consumers and users.
• cleaning elements 22 Any suitable form of cleaning elements may be used as the cleaning elements 22 in the embodiment of Figure 3 of this invention.
• FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment for dis- playing the light gathered in scintillating fiber 10.
• the scintillating fiber 10 is bent within head 20 so that the end 14 of fiber 10 extends above the face 21 of the head 20 to a terminus at or about the working end 23 of cleaning elements 22.
• the ambient light gathered in fibers 10 is emitted as visible light from the ends 14 of scintillating fiber 10 at a point where the light is directly viewed by potential consumers or users.
• This embodiment provides a brighter, more direct light within the cleaning elements 22.
• the cleaning ele- ments themselves need not be transparent or translucent because they are not themselves transmitting light.
• a package 24 containing toothbrush 16 is illustrated in Figure 4. At least that portion 26 of the package 24 overlying fibers 10 in the toothbrush 16 should be trans- parent or translucent to allow ambient light to reach scintillating fibers 10 and allow viewing of the light emitted from ends 14 of the fibers 10. To facilitate discussion, Figure 4 is shown without cleaning elements 22 in place. Such elements would typically be arranged relative to fiber ends 14 on head 22 in a manner similar to that shown in Figures 3 or 5.
• cleaning elements is intended to be used in a generic sense which could include conventional fiber bristles or massage elements or other forms of cleaning elements such as elastomeric fingers or walls arranged in a circular cross-sectional shape or any type of desired shape including straight portions or sinusoidal portions. Where bristles are used, the bristles could be mounted to tuft blocks or sections by extending through suitable openings in the tuft blocks so that the base of the bristles is mounted within or below the tuft block.
• the specific illustra- tion of the cleaning elements is merely for exemplary purposes.
• the invention can be practiced with various combinations of the same or different cleaning element configurations (such as stapled or in-molded technology bristles, etc.) and/or with the same bristle or cleaning element mate- rials (such as nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, etc.)
• Figures 3 and 5 illustrate the cleaning elements to be generally perpendicular to the face of head 20, some or all of the cleaning elements 22 may be angled at various angles. It is thereby possible to select the combination of cleaning element configurations, materials and orientations to achieve specific intended results to deliver additional oral health benefits, like enhanced cleaning, tooth polishing, tooth whitening and/or massaging of the gums .
• Figure 6 illustrates a toothbrush 16A which includes a power driven movable disc or section 28 having ele- ents in the head 20 of toothbrush 16.
• the movable section 28 could be oscillated rotationally such as by using the type of drive mechanism shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,625,916, or could move in and out using the type of drive mechanism shown in U.S. Patent No. Re 35,941; all of the details of both patents are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
• the other types of drives referred to above could move section 28 in other manners and directions.
• Figure 6 shows movable section 28 to be at the one end of the head 20, the movable section (s) 28 could be lo- cated at any desired location on the head 20.
• the non-powered cleaning elements 22 in the Figure 6 embodiment can be lighted as described above.
• scintillating fibers 10 can be embedded in transparent or translucent portions of the handle 18A of powered toothbrush 16A to emit light from the ends 14 of scintillating fibers 10.
• a switch 30 can be used to regulate the powered features of the toothbrush 16A.
• the scintillating fibers 10 of this invention have wide application in a variety of consumer products.
• a liquid soap dispenser 32 is shown in Figure 7.
• the scintillating fibers 10 are embedded in translucent or transparent portions of the dispenser 32.
• At least one end 14 of fiber 10 is directed toward the sur- face of the dispenser. Visible light emitted from the end 14 of fiber 10 can be used to enhance decorative patterns contained in the side of container 32.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)
• Paper (AREA)
• Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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ID=32094108

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (7)

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• 2003
  • 2003-10-09 AU AU2003282767A patent/AU2003282767A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-10-09 MX MXPA05003764A patent/MXPA05003764A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-10-09 CA CA002502241A patent/CA2502241A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-10-09 CN CNA2003801052179A patent/CN1719994A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-10-09 KR KR1020057006161A patent/KR20050062607A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-10-09 EP EP03774652A patent/EP1558112A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-10-09 BR BR0315224-3A patent/BR0315224A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-10-09 RU RU2005114014/12A patent/RU2316243C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-10-09 WO PCT/US2003/031821 patent/WO2004033316A2/en active Application Filing
• 2005
  • 2005-04-11 US US11/103,366 patent/US20050229345A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (7)

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