Brushing device with illumination features

• US 10,610,008 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2017
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wagner, Robert, Woodard, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US15/843,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 362 96
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0044 with light signalling means A46B15/0034, A46B15/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/0202 Hand-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/02 characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/00 Screens not covered by groups F21V1/00, F21V3/00, F21V7/00 or F21V9/00 characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/502
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0064 Health, life-saving or fire-fighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/10 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/18 annular; polygonal other than square or rectangular, e.g. for spotlights or for generating an axially symmetrical light beam
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an oral cleansing device with illumination features. In one example, the device includes a housing including an aperture, such as a button aperture, defined therethrough, a diffuser connected to the housing and configured to span over the aperture. The device also includes a blocking member positioned over a portion of the diffuser and connected thereto and a lighting array received within the housing and at least partially aligned with the blocking member such that light emitted from the lighting array is transmitted to an exterior of the housing by traveling around the blocking member and through the diffuser.

Claims

1. An oral cleansing device comprising:

a housing including an aperture defined therethrough;

a diffuser connected to the housing and configured to span over the aperture;

a blocking member positioned over at least a portion of the diffuser and connected thereto, wherein the blocking member is a button and is movable relative to the housing; and

a lighting array received within the housing and at least partially aligned with the blocking member such that light emitted from the lighting array is transmitted to an exterior of the housing by traveling around the blocking member and through the diffuser.

2. The oral cleansing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a motion sensor; and

a processing element in electrical communication with the motion sensor and the lighting array;

wherein the processing element activates the lighting array upon a motion event detected by the motion sensor.

3. The oral cleansing device of claim 1, wherein as the button moves from a first position to a second position, the diffuser moves therewith.

4. The oral cleansing device of claim 1, wherein the lighting array comprises a plurality of light sources.

7. The oral cleansing device of claim 1, wherein the diffuser comprises a thermoplastic material or a elastomer material.

8. The oral cleansing device of claim 1, wherein the lighting array comprises:

a plurality of first colored light sources; and

a plurality of second colored light source, wherein a first colored light source is arranged to be adjacent to a second colored light source.

5. An oral cleansing device, comprising:

a housing including an aperture defined therethrough;

a diffuser connected to the housing and configured to span over the aperture;

a blocking member positioned over at least a portion of the diffuser and connected thereto;

a lighting array received within the housing and at least partially aligned with the blocking member such that light emitted from the lighting array is transmitted to an exterior of the housing by traveling around the blocking member and through the diffuser; and

a light shield to prevent light transmitting within the housing in at least one direction.

6. An oral cleansing device, comprising:

a housing including an aperture defined therethrough;

a diffuser connected to the housing and configured to span over the aperture;

a blocking member positioned over at least a portion of the diffuser and connected thereto;

a lighting array received within the housing and at least partially aligned with the blocking member such that light emitted from the lighting array is transmitted to an exterior of the housing by traveling around the blocking member and through the diffuser; and

a light reflector positioned beneath the lighting array, wherein the light reflector reflects light towards the exterior of the housing.

9. An oral cleansing device, comprising:

a housing including an aperture defined therethrough;

a diffuser connected to the housing and configured to span over the aperture;

a blocking member positioned over at least a portion of the diffuser and connected thereto;

a lighting array received within the housing and at least partially aligned with the blocking member such that light emitted from the lighting array is transmitted to an exterior of the housing by traveling around the blocking member and through the diffuser;

a motion sensor; and

a processing element in electrical communication with the motion sensor and the lighting array;

wherein the processing element activates the lighting array upon a motion event detected by the motion sensor.

10. A dental cleansing tool, comprising:

a housing configured to be held in a hand of a user;

a lighting feature coupled to the housing;

a power source in electrical communication with the lighting feature;

a controller in electrical communication with the lighting feature and the power source; and

a motion sensor in electrical communication with the power source;

wherein

the controller selectively activates the lighting feature upon detection of one or more motion events by the motion sensor.

11. The dental cleansing tool of claim 10, wherein the lighting feature comprises:

a first lighting array associated with a first function; and

a second lighting array associated with a second function.

12. The dental cleansing tool of claim 11, further comprising:

a brush head releasably coupled to the housing; and

a motor positioned within the housing and operably connected to the brush head to move the brush head, wherein the first function corresponds to movement of the brush head.

13. The dental cleansing tool of claim 12, wherein the brush head further comprises a nozzle coupled thereto, wherein the second function corresponds to a water output through the nozzle.

14. The dental cleansing tool of claim 10, wherein the lighting feature is activated for a predetermined time.

15. The dental cleansing tool of claim 14, wherein when a user input is received by the controller during the predetermined time, the controller deactivates the lighting feature.

16. The dental cleansing tool of claim 10, wherein after detection of a predetermined number of motion events, the controller deactivates the lighting array.

17. A power handle for a dual-function oral care device comprising:

a handle body comprising;

a first button; and

a second button;

a power source;

a first switch proximate and associated with the first button and a first light source;

a second switch proximate and associated with the second button and a second light source;

a motion sensing module; and

a controller in electrical communication with the motion sensing module, the power source, the first switch, the second switch, the first light source, and the second light source.

18. The power handle for a dual-function oral care device of claim 17, wherein movement of the device causes a signal to be sent from the motion sensing module to the controller.

19. The power handle for a dual-function oral care device of claim 17, wherein the first light source and the second light source comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes.

20. The power handle for a dual-function oral care device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes of the first light source are different than the plurality of light emitting diodes of the second light source.

21. A method of cancelling a low power mode on a power handle for a dual-function oral care device comprising a handle body including a first button and a second button, a power source, a first switch proximate and associated with the first button and a first light source, a second switch proximate and associated with the second button and a second light source, a motion sensing module, and a controller in electrical communication with the motion sensing module, the power source, the first switch, the second switch, the first light source, and the second light source, the method comprising:

initiating a signal from the motion sensing module to the controller;

adding a first event to an event incremental counter;

exiting low power mode; and

sending an activation signal from the controller to the first light source and the second light source.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the controller re-enters low power mode if a user input is not detected within 30 seconds.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the controller ignores signals from the motion sensing module if the controller has registered more than two events.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the incremental counter is re-set to zero when the controller receives a user input signal from the first switch or the second switch.