Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/02—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena
  • A61L2/08—Radiation
  • A61L2/10—Ultraviolet radiation

Definitions

• the present relates to a portable toothbrush sterilizer for efficiently keeping and sterilizing a toothbrush for cleaning up the teeth. More specifically, it relates to a portable toothbrush sterilizer having a built- in USB port, in which an electric power is supplied from a computer through a cable connected between the built-in USB port and a USB terminal of the computer, the bristle of' the toothbrush is sterilized by ultra-violet rays irradiated from a cold-cathode-type UV lamp, and the toothbrush is dried by an heating element.
• a toothbrush for cleaning up the teeth is simply kept mostly in any place and used for brushing when required, and it is well known that invisible bacteria are propagated in the bristle portion of a toothbrush during or after brushing due to moisture and remnants of foods, and therefore it is unhygienic. Also, because the toothbrush, which is frequently used many times a day, is not sanitarily cared in a proper way, it is likely to cause a disease from the pollution by the bacteria such as paradentitis from the toothbrush. It is known that cleanliness of the toothbrush can prevent, in some way, the opportunistic bacteria causing a disease such as pneumonia, hepatitis, bronchitis, and a flu, which easily attacks persons having a weaker immunity, as compared with healthy people.
• a disease such as pneumonia, hepatitis, bronchitis, and a flu
• opportunistic bacteria can be quickly disinfected by an artificial UV ray which has 64 times more intense sterilizing power than the sun light, and therefore, toothbrush sterilizers using a UV lamp have been developed recently.
• Hygiene at home is maintained by a special toothbrush sterilizer provided in the bathroom or washroom.
• a toothbrush is also provided at the office for brushing after a meal, but it is difficult to possess such a toothbrush sterilizer as the one used at home as described above, since the place such as an office is a public area and shared with other people.
• a conventional technology to solve the above problem is described in Korea Utility Model No. 190280, of which construction is described below. It comprises a case including a cover and having a body which keeps . a toothbrush therein, a filament type UV lamp for disinfecting the toothbrush, a power supply connected to the filament type UV lamp, and an operation switch for turning off/on the filament type UV lamp by connecting to the power supply, thereby enabling to carry and keep a toothbrush hygienically.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional UV sterilizing toothbrush case 10.
• the UV sterilizing toothbrush case 10 comprises a lower case 20 having a lower air path formed therein, a toothbrush receiving member assembled to the lower case 20 and provided with an UV ray outlet, an upper case 70 having an upper air path 75 formed therein and for closing the toothbrush receiving member, a UV lamp for sterilizing a toothbrush by radiating a UV ray when the upper case 70 is closed, and a UV ray emitting means for operating the UV ray lamp.
• the UV sterilizing toothbrush case 10 has an advantage in that the bristle portion of a toothbrush is sterilized by UV rays more efficiently by forming an air path 75 on the upper case 70 and the lower case 20 in order to remove moisture of the bristle portion of a toothbrush.
• the reference numeral 23 (not described) is a lower opening protrusion to open and close the upper case 70 by hand easily
• the reference numeral 73 (not described) is an upper opening protrusion to open and close the lower case 20 by hand easily.
• the above technological means is a dry by ventilation using the air path, therefore a perfect drying effect cannot be achieved.
• a filament-type UV lamp is employed so that the UV lamp has to be frequently replaced due to the short life span thereof.
• a common battery is used so that it must be regularly replaced.
• the present invention has been made in view of the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable toothbrush sterilizer having a built-in USB port, in which a power supply is enabled by a battery, or by connecting the built-in USB port to a USB terminal of a computer using a cable . It is another object of the invention to provide a portable toothbrush sterilizer enabling to disinfect , a toothbrush more efficiently in case of using in the place such as an office, in which, in case of supplying a power through the USB port, a ceramic heating element, which can not be used in case of a battery, is employed, thereby drying efficiently water stuck to the bristle portion of a toothbrush quickly.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a portable toothbrush sterilizer, in which a cold cathode- type UV lamp having a semi-permanent life span is used, instead of a filament UV lamp, thereby reducing the inconvenience and cost due to the replacement of the UV lamp.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a portable toothbrush sterilizer, in which a charging function can be carried out in case where it is connected to a computer using a USB port.
• the portable toothbrush sterilizer comprises: a portable toothbrush sterilizer including a USB port provided at one side face thereof for supplying an electric power by means of electrical connection to a computer, and a cold cathode- type UV lamp for sterilizing a toothbrush; and a USB cable for supplying a power by electrical connection between the USB port and a USB terminal of a computer.
• the portable toothbrush of the invention may further comprise a switching relay for sensing if a power is supplied by a USB port connected to the portable toothbrush sterilizer, and a ceramic heating element for removing moisture of the bristle portion of a toothbrush by operating only when a power is supplied through the USB port.
• the portable toothbrush sterilizer of the invention may further comprise a power supply means using a battery.
• the portable toothbrush sterilizer of the invention may further comprise an adaptor connector for a power supply.
• the portable toothbrush sterilizer of the invention comprises a power input for receiving a power, a switching relay for deciding whether or not to operate a ceramic heating element according to a power supply means, a power supply indicator indicating that the power is supplied, a reset switch for generating a reset signal of a sterilizing timer according to opening and closing of an upper and lower cases, a reset-signal generator for generating a reset signal according to switching of the reset switch, a sterilizing timer for setting a sterilizing time, a power switch for switching a power supply to a cold cathode-type UV lamp operator for the time set by the control of the sterilizing timer, an UV lamp operator for operating the cold cathode-type UV lamp with, the power supplied through the power switch, a cold cathode type UV lamp installed in the space where the toothbrush is kept and for generating UV rays, a sterilizing operation state indicator .
• the invention provides a portable toothbrush sterilizer having a built-in USB port, which is constructed to be supplied with a power supply from a USB terminal of a computer using a built-in USB port as a power supply method, thereby providing an effect of alleviating inconvenience owing to a frequent battery replacement.
• the computer is extensively used at home as well as at work, and the USB port is an international standard so that the portable sterilizer of the invention can be used at any place in the world using a computer and a cable, and thus many applications in (domestic and overseas are expected.
• a rechargeable battery is used so that a battery charging can be performed even after a sterilizing operation is finished, in case where a USB cable is connected, thereby reducing an economical burden, without necessity of purchasing batteries.
• a ceramic heating element which can not be used in case of a battery, is employed, thereby drying efficiently water stuck to the bristle portion of a toothbrush quickly, and thus enabling to disinfect a toothbrush more efficiently in case of using in the place such as an office.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional UV sterilizing toothbrush case
• FIG. 2 is a general perspective view of a portable toothbrush sterilizer according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates an internal perspective view of the portable toothbrush sterilizer according to the invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of the portable toothbrush sterilizer according to the invention
• FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electric circuit of the portable toothbrush sterilizer according to the invention
• FIG. 6 illustrates a portable toothbrush sterilizer according to the invention, where it is connected to a USB terminal of a computer
• FIG. 7 illustrates a portable toothbrush sterilizer according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portable toothbrush sterilizer having a built-in USB port according to the invention, including a USB cable for connection to the computer.
• the portable tooth brush sterilizer is denoted by a reference numeral 100.
• the portable toothbrush sterilizer 100 comprises a USB port 76 for connecting a USB cable, which is provided at one side of a lower case 20 of the portable toothbrush sterilizer 100.
• the portable toothbrush sterilizer 100 comprises a lower case 20 for housing a toothbrush, and an upper case 70 connected with the lower case 70 and including a ventilation passage 72, 73 provided therein.
• the lower case 20 is provided with an inner space for receiving a toothbrush to be UV-sterilized.
• a hinge protrusion 21 is formed in the outer side of the lower case 20, which is coupled with the upper case 70 by means of a hinge mechanism.
• a lower opening protrusion 23 is formed for easy opening and closing from the coupled state with- the upper case 70.
• a USB port 76 to which a USB cable is connected, is provided at one side thereof.
• the upper case 70 is provided with a hinge hole formed therein to be coupled with the lower case 20 by means of a hinge mechanism.
• An upper opening protrusion 74 for easy opening and closing from the coupling with the lower case 20 is formed on the middle portion of the opposite side which is coupled with the lower case 20 by a hinge mechanism.
• a first and second ventilation passages 72 and 73 are provided on the middle portion of the opposite side which is coupled with the lower case 20 by a hinge mechanism.
• the USB cable 300 comprises a connector 310 at one end thereof towards the portable toothbrush sterilizer for mating with the USB port 76 of the portable toothbrush sterilizer, and another connector 320 at the other end thereof towards the computer side for mating with a USB terminal of the computer.
• the USB port 76 is operated by receiving only a power from a USB terminal of a computer, and it is configured such that only 2 wires for a power supply are connected, without using all of the 4 wires, which are used for general purposes.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective internal view of the portable toothbrush sterilizer according to the invention, in which the upper case 70 opened by the upper opening protrusion 74 and the lower opening protrusion 23 is shown, and FIG.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of the portable toothbrush sterilizer according- to the invention.
• a toothbrush compartment 55 where the toothbrush 56 is safely disposed is formed in the inner face of the lower case 20, and a cold cathode-type UV lamp 50 for UV sterilization of the bristle portion of the toothbrush 56 is constructed frontward of the bristle portion of the toothbrush 56.
• a metallic plate 51 is constructed on the bottom face of the toothbrush compartment 55 where the bristle portion of a toothbrush 56 is disposed.
• the metallic plate 51 is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity such as Aluminum, and a ceramic heating element 52 is attached to underneath the metallic plate 51 by a bonding or an aluminum tape.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the electric circuit of the portable toothbrush sterilizer according to the invention.
• the electric circuit comprises a power input 200 receiving a power from the USB port or a battery, a switching relay 210 deciding whether or not to operate the ceramic heating element according to the power supply means, a power supply indicator 211 indicating that the power is supplied, a reset switch 214 for generating a reset signal of a sterilizing timer 216 according to opening and closing of the upper and lower cases 70, 20, a reset-signal generator 215 for generating a reset signal according to switching of the reset switch 214, a sterilizing timer 216 for setting a sterilizing time, a power switch 212 for switching a power supply to the cold cathode-type UV lamp operator 217 for the time set by the control of the sterilizing timer 216, an UV lamp operator 217 for operating the cold cathode-type UV lamp with the power supplied through the power switch 212, a cold cathode type UV lamp 218 installed in the space where the toothbrush is kept and for generating UV rays, a sterilizing operation state indicator 213 for displaying an operation
• the power input 200 is a portion to receive a power to be inputted from the USB port 76 or a battery, and the switching relay 210 has an adjusting function such that the ceramic heating element 220 operates in case where a power is inputted from the battery, and the ceramic heating element 220 does not operate in case where the power is inputted from the USB port 76.
• the sterilizing timer 216 starts to operate when a reset signal is generated and counts the established sterilizing time, thereby enabling the cold cathode-type UV lamp 218 to operate during the sterilizing time.
• the reset switch 214 operates according to the coupling or separating of the upper case 70 and the lower case 20, that is, by closing and opening of the toothbrush compartment of the portable toothbrush sterilizer.
• the reset signal generator 216 sends a reset signal to the sterilizing timer 216 when the upper case 70 and the lower case 20 are coupled.
• a process for sterilizing the toothbrush using the device constructed as above is described below, referring to FIG. 6.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the portable toothbrush sterilizer of the invention connected to a USB terminal of a computer, when in use. After finishing tooth brushing, the toothbrush is kept in the portable toothbrush sterilizer 100 connected to a computer by the USB cable 300, and a signal indicating that a toothbrush is kept by coupling the upper case 70 and the lower case 20 is sent.
• the cold cathode-type UV lamp 50 operates and sterilizes the bristle for the established time set by the sterilizing timer 216, and the ceramic heating element 52 for drying the toothbrush operates with a power supplied through the USB port 76, so that the toothbrush is dried and at the same time sterilized by UV rays, thereby removing the bacteria inhabiting the toothbrush.
• the sterilizing operation of the cold cathode- type UV lamp 50 and the drying operation of the ceramic heating element 52 are automatically finished after a certain period of time.
• the moisture evaporates through the ventilation passage 72, 73.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a portable toothbrush sterilizer according to another embodiment of the invention, in which an adapter connector 75 may be provided at one side face of the lower case 20 in order to receive a power or to charge, along with a power supply through the USB port or a battery.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=32389152

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (8)

• 2003
  • 2003-10-22 KR KR10-2003-0073953A patent/KR100423950B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2004
  • 2004-09-20 WO PCT/KR2004/002402 patent/WO2005037331A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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