Toothbrush assembly having an environmentally safe polymer battery

• US 20050183221A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James G. Masters, James Kemp
• Original Assignee: James G. Masters, James Kemp
• Inventors: Masters, James G., Kemp, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.100
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0044 with light signalling means A46B15/0034, A46B15/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• 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 17/224 Electrical recharging arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries

Abstract

The present invention discloses a powered or manual toothbrush having a polymer battery as a power source. The polymer battery contains no heavy metals, making it environmentally safe, and contains no alkaline, making it physically safe. The polymer battery is inexpensive and rechargeable, making it an economical power source for the toothbrush. The small size of the polymer battery saves space in the toothbrush housing, enabling the housing to be smaller and saving on materials of construction. The flexible nature of the polymer battery enables it to be shaped to fit into or around the periphery of the toothbrush housing design.

Claims

3-1. A toothbrush assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said polymer battery is rechargeable.

12. A personal care device, comprising:

a head having at least one cleaning element extending outwardly therefrom;

a handle connected to the head;

a powered element provided in at least one of the head and the handle; and

a polymer battery electrically coupled to the powered element to provide power thereto.

13. A personal care device as recited in claim 12, wherein the powered element is a visual element.

14. A personal care device as recited in claim 13, wherein the visual element is a light-emitting diode (LED).

15. A personal care device as recited in claim 12, wherein the polymer battery is rechargeable.

16. A personal care device as recited in claim 12, wherein the polymer battery comprises at least one electrode made of an electrically conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3(2-fluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3-fluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(2,4-fluorophenyl)-thiophene), poly(3(3,4-fluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3,4-difluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3,5-difluoro-phenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)thiophene), lithium alloy/polypyrrole, tetramethyl/-ethyl/propyl/butylammonium trifluoromethane sulphonate, tetraalkyl ammonium salts, alcoholic hydroxy groups, polyaniline, polyacetylene, polyparaphenylene, poly(p-phenylene sulfide), poly(p-phenylene vinylene), and poly(2,5-thienylene vinylene).

17. A personal care device as recited in claim 12, wherein the powered element is a drive mechanism provided in the handle, and wherein the at least one cleaning element is movable and is driven by the drive mechanism.

18. A personal care device as recited in claim 12, wherein the personal care device is a toothbrush.

19. A personal care device, comprising:

a head having at least one consumer-beneficial element;

a handle connected to said head;

a powered element provided in at least one of said head and said handle; and

a battery electrically coupled to said powered element to provide power thereto;

wherein the battery contains no heavy metals.

20. A personal care device as recited in claim 19, wherein the battery is an environmentally safe polymer battery.

21. A personal care device as recited in claim 20, wherein the personal care device is a toothbrush and the at least one consumer-beneficial element is at least one cleaning element.

22. A personal care device as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one cleaning element is a toothbrush bristle.

23. A personal care device as recited in claim 21, wherein said polymer battery is rechargeable.

24. A personal care device as recited in claim 20, wherein said polymer battery comprises at least one electrode made of an electrically conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3(2-fluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3-fluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(2,4-fluorophenyl)-thiophene), poly(3(3,4-fluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3,4-difluorophenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3,5-difluoro-phenyl)thiophene), poly(3(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)thiophene), lithium alloy/polypyrrole, tetramethyl/-ethyl/propyl/butylammonium trifluoromethane sulphonate, tetraalkyl ammonium salts, alcoholic hydroxy groups, polyaniline, polyacetylene, polyparaphenylene, poly(p-phenylene sulfide), poly(p-phenylene vinylene), and poly(2,5-thienylene vinylene).

25. A personal care device as recited in claim 21, wherein the powered element is a drive mechanism provided in the handle, and wherein the at least one cleaning element is movable and is driven by the drive mechanism.

26. A personal care device as recited in claim 21, wherein the powered element is a light source.