SELF-SANITIZING TOOTHBRUSH

• US 20080060153A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dentek Oral Care Incorporated (Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dentek Oral Care Incorporated (Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jansheski, John M.
• Application Number:
  US11/530,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/105
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/06 Devices for cleaning brushes after use
• 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: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet

Abstract

A self-contained sanitizing toothbrush having a one-piece body of molded plastic construction having a handle portion and a head portion, bristles extending outwardly from the head portion of the body, one or more sources of ultraviolet light located on within the head portion of the body and configured to direct ultraviolet light onto the bristles to sanitize the bristles between uses of the toothbrush, and a circuit contained within the body configured to be activated by a user after use of the toothbrush. The circuit operates to illuminate the light sources for a predetermined period of time sufficient for sanitization purposes and then turn the light sources off.

Claims

1. A self-contained sanitizing toothbrush, comprising, a one-piece body of molded plastic construction having a handle portion and a head portion, bristles extending outwardly from the head portion of the body, one or more sources of ultraviolet light located on within the head portion of the body and configured to direct ultraviolet light onto the bristles to sanitize the bristles between uses of the toothbrush, and a circuit contained within the body configured to be activated by a user after use of the toothbrush, wherein when activated the circuit operates to illuminate the light sources for a predetermined period of time sufficient for sanitization purposes and then turn the light sources off.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the light sources emit UV-C light having a wavelength of from about 100 to about 280 nanometers.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the circuit includes a switch located on the handle portion.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a cap configured to substantially enclose the bristles to shield locations exterior to the cap from the light from the light sources and engage the switch such that the sources of ultraviolet light are operable only when the cap is installed.