Toothbrush with severable electrical connections

• US 20050050658A1
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Chan, John Geoffrey, Pinyayev, Aleksey Mikhailovich, Morrison, Lowen Robert Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.100
• 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 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3427 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical connector having particular application in an oral care implement having a removable and/or replaceable head. In particular, an electric toothbrush having a removable brush head and/or head and neck assembly and a severable electrical connector is disclosed in which the brush head includes one or more elements requiring a source of electrical power. The severable electrical connector provides electrical communication between the brush head and a power source retained within the handle or handle portion of the toothbrush.

Claims

1. An electric oral care implement for use in the mouth comprising:

(a) a handle defining a hollow interior region having a battery disposed therein;

(b) a head that is removable from and attachable to said handle, said head comprising at least one electrically powered element;

(c) at least one electrical connector;

wherein said electrical connector provides electrical communication between said head and said handle upon attachment of said head to said handle.

2. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electric oral care implement is an electric toothbrush.

3. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is a light emitting diode.

4. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said handle further comprises a neck, wherein said head connects to said neck.

5. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said head further comprises a neck, wherein said handle attaches to said neck.

6. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector comprises one or more severable electrically conducting contacts.

7. The electric oral care implement of claim 6, wherein said oral care implement further comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a slot, rail, strip or ramp wherein said element further comprises one or more of said electrically conducting contacts.

8. The electric oral care implement of claim 6, wherein said oral care implement further comprises a wiping element which wipes at least one of said contact surfaces disposed on said electric oral care implement.

9. The electric oral care implement of claim 8, wherein at least one wiping element comprises an O-ring.

10. The electric oral care implement of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said head electrically interconnects said electrically powered element and said contacts.

11. The electric oral care implement of claim 6, wherein said head further comprises a neck, and wherein at least a portion of said neck electrically interconnects said electrically powered element and said contacts.

12. The electric oral care implement of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said handle electrically interconnects said battery and said contacts.

13. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electrical connector is severable upon removal of said head from said handle, and connectable upon attachment of said head to said handle.

14. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein a portion of said connector disposed on said handle is received within said head to provide said electrical communication between said handle and said head.

15. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein a portion of said connector disposed on said head is received within said handle to provide said electrical communication between said handle and said head.

16. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electrically conducting contacts comprise an electrically conducting polymer.

17. The electric oral care implement of claim 16, wherein said electrically conducting polymer is not conductive when quiescent, but is conductive when subjected to mechanical stress.

18. The electric oral care implement of claim 17, wherein said mechanical stress is compressive;

and wherein said compressive stress is applied when said head is connected to said handle.

19. The electric oral care implement claim 1, wherein said electrical communication is accomplished by an inductive connection, and wherein said electrical connector comprises a primary coil and a secondary coil that are magnetically coupled.

20. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electrical communication is accomplished by a capacitance connection, and wherein said electrical connector comprises at least two pieces of conductor, wherein said pieces of conductor are placed a distance apart and a capacitor is formed.

21. A head portion of an electric toothbrush for connecting to a handle portion, said handle having a first portion of an electrical connector, said head portion comprising:

(a) an electrically powered element; and

(b) a second portion of said electrical connector;

wherein electrical communication between said head and said handle is provided when said head engages said handle.

22. An electric toothbrush comprising:

(a) a handle defining a hollow interior region;

(b) a head and neck assembly that is removable from and attachable to said handle, said head comprising at least one electrically powered element;

(c) an electrical connector comprising at least a first set of severable electrically conducting contacts, wherein said contacts provide electrical communication between said head and said neck upon attachment of said head to said neck.