Interactive Toothbrush Game

• US 20060040246A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Min Ding
• Original Assignee: Min Ding
• Inventors: Ding, Min, Romano, John, Shtaerman, Alexander, Scannell, Esther B., Almeida, Ian A.
• Application Number:
  US11/161,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040246A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/263
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0084 Dental hygiene

Abstract

A method and system of promoting effective brushing techniques by coupling entertainment value with the brushing of teeth. The method and system provides for the association of brushing techniques with electronic game tasks. The system can include a toothbrush and a position sensor operatively connected to the toothbrush for sensing movement associated with brushing technique. A gaming interface is preferably in operative communication with the position sensor for providing feedback regarding performance of game tasks and for providing prompting regarding performance of game tasks.

Claims

1. A method for promoting effective brushing techniques by coupling entertainment value with the brushing of teeth, comprising the association of brushing techniques with interactive tasks to be performed.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising a system where the toothbrush serves as the input devise for the interactive experience.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the prompting of brushing techniques by presenting an interactive task to be performed.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring performance of the brushing techniques.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing feedback regarding brushing techniques by providing feedback regarding interactive task performance.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of monitoring is performed using at least one sensor.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least sensor includes a position sensor disposed within the toothbrush.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the feedback includes producing a sound.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the feedback includes producing an image on a display.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the feedback includes the tabulation of a point total.

11. The method of claim 4 further comprising selecting of interactive tasks to be performed to correspond with an effective brushing regimen.

12. A method for brushing teeth, comprising:

Providing a toothbrush;

Associating brushing techniques using a toothbrush with interactive tasks;

Monitoring occurrence of the brushing techniques;

Providing feedback regarding occurrence of the brushing techniques by providing feedback associated with the performance of interactive tasks.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a console, the interactive interface operatively connected to a console.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the interactive interface includes a display.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the interactive interface includes a speaker.

13. A system for promoting effective brushing techniques by coupling entertainment value with the brushing of teeth, comprising:

A toothbrush;

A position sensor operatively connected to the toothbrush for sensing movement associated with brushing techniques;

An interactive interface in operative communication with the position sensor for providing feedback regarding performance of interactive tasks and for providing prompting regarding performance of interactive tasks, the interactive tasks associated with brushing techniques.