TOOTHBRUSH SANITIZATION SYSTEM

• US 20080060829A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• 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:
  US11/534,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/47
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0034 with a source of radiation, e.g. UV, IR, LASER, X-ray for irradiating the teeth and associated surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/04 Protective covers for the bristles
• 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

Abstract

A portable toothbrush sanitization system. The system includes a toothbrush, one or more sources of UV light operable by the electrical circuit for applying UV light to bristles of the toothbrush; and a cap configured to be installed on the toothbrush. The sources of UV light are operable only when the cap is installed on the toothbrush.

Claims

1. A portable toothbrush sanitization system, the system comprising:

a toothbrush having bristles and an electrical circuit having a battery contained within a body portion of the toothbrush, with the toothbrush including a first electrical contact thereon;

one or more sources of UV light operable by the electrical circuit for applying UV light to the bristles for sanitizing the bristles; and

a cap configured to be installed on the toothbrush to engage a portion of the toothbrush to substantially enclose the bristles to shield locations exterior to the cap from the light from the UV light sources and including a second electrical contact thereon,

wherein when the cap is installed on the toothbrush the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are placed in electrical communication so as to enable the electrical circuit to supply electrical power to the sources of UV light, and

wherein the sources of UV light are operable only when the cap is installed on the toothbrush.

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

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sources of UV light are located on the toothbrush.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sources of UV light are located on the cap.