Light-Emitting Oral Care Implement

• US 20080276393A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Kemp, James H., Russell, Bruce M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,429,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/105
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/00 Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0008 with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing
• 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 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0044 with light signalling means A46B15/0034, A46B15/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0081 Brushes with a scraper, e.g. tongue scraper
• 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: A46B 7/00 Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body

Abstract

An oral care implement comprises a head with a plurality of cleaning elements, and a light source incorporated into or adjacent the head. The light source is incorporated prior to the attachment of the cleaning elements. For ease of manufacturing and a cost-effective assembly. The cleaning elements are preferably preformed and attached to the head after the incorporation of the light source so that the provision of the light source does not require any post-processing that might impair the integrity of the head or cleaning elements.

Claims

1. A method of forming a light-emitting oral care implement comprising the steps of:

a) forming an oral care implement having a head and a handle;

b) incorporating a light source in or adjacent the head;

c) forming a plate of a plurality of cleaning elements; and

d) assembling the plate of cleaning elements onto the head such that light is emitted into the oral cavity during use.

2. The method of claim 1, the handle further comprising a power source for powering the light source.

3. The method of claim 1, the light source being seated in a socket in the head.

4. The method of claim 1, the plate comprising at least one light passage.

5. The method of claim 4, the plate further comprising a plurality of light passages.

6. The method of claim 4, the head being formed of a light transmissive material such that light is transmitted from the head in addition to the at least one light passage.

7. The method of claim 1, the head being formed of a light transmissive material for transmitting light from the light source.

8. The method of claim 1, the light source being removable and replaceable.

9. The method of claim 8, the light source being removable through the head.

10. The method of claim 9, the light source being removable through a rear surface of the head.

11. The method of claim 9, the light source being removable through an edge of the head.

12. The method of claim 11, where the slot is in an upper edge of the head.

13. The method of claim 11, where the slot is in a side edge of the head.

14. The method of claim 1, the light source being a light-emitting diode (LED).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the LED is a surface mounted device LED (SMD LED).

16. The method of claim 1, the light source residing on a printed control board (PCB) in the head.

17. The method of claim 16, the light source being a LED.

18. The method of claim 17, the PCB being removable through the head.

19. The method of claim 18, the PCB being removable through a rear surface of the head.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is in the handle adjacent to the head and the head reflects light from the light source to the oral cavity.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the plate is welded to the head.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a soft tissue cleaner on a side of the head opposite the cleaning elements.

23. The method of claim 22, the soft tissue cleaner comprising at least one light passage.

24. The method of claim 23, the soft tissue cleaner conveying at least one benefit in addition to cleaning.

25. A light-emitting oral care implement comprising:

a) a head and a handle, the head further comprising a socket;

b) a light source in or adjacent the head; and

c) a pre-formed plurality of cleaning elements secured over the socket;

d) wherein the light source is defined between the cleaning elements and the socket.

26. The implement of claim 25, the handle further comprising a power source for powering the light source.

27. The implement of claim 25, the light source being seated in the socket.

28. The implement of claim 25, further comprising at least one light passage defined in the plurality of cleaning elements.

29. The implement of claim 28, the cleaning elements further comprising a plurality of light passages.

30. The implement of claim 28, the head being formed of a light transmissive material such that light is transmitted from the head in addition to the at least one light passage.

31. The implement of claim 25, the head being formed of a light transmissive material for transmitting light from the light source.

32. The implement of claim 25, the light source being removable and replaceable.

33. The implement of claim 32, the light source being removable through the head.

34. The implement of claim 33, the light source being removable through a rear surface of the head.

35. The implement of claim 33, the light source being removable through an edge of the head.

36. The implement of claim 35, where the slot is in an upper edge of the head.

37. The implement of claim 35, where the slot is in a side edge of the head.

38. The implement of claim 25, the light source being a light-emitting diode (LED).

39. The implement of claim 38, wherein the LED is a surface mounted device LED (SMD LED).

40. The implement of claim 25, the light source residing on a printed control board (PCB) in the head.

41. The implement of claim 40, the light source being a LED.

42. The implement of claim 41, the PCB being removable through the head.

43. The implement of claim 42, the PCB being removable through a rear surface of the head.

44. The implement of claim 25, wherein the light source is in the handle and the head emits light to the oral cavity.

45. The implement of claim 25, wherein the plate is welded to the head.

46. The implement of claim 25, further comprising a soft tissue cleaner on a side of the head opposite the cleaning elements.

47. The implement of claim 46, the soft tissue cleaner comprising at least one light passage.

48. The implement of claim 47, the soft tissue cleaner conveying at least one benefit in addition to cleaning.

49. A light-emitting oral care implement comprising:

a) a head having a plurality of cleaning elements,

b) a light source in the head; and

c) an access in the head for replacing the light source.

50. The implement of claim 49, wherein the access is in a side of the head opposite the cleaning elements.

51. The implement of claim 49, wherein the access is a slot in an edge of the head.

52. A method of using an oral care implement having a head and a handle, comprising the steps of:

a) incorporating a first light source in the head;

b) powering the first light source using a power source; and

c) replacing the first light source with another light source without removing the head from the handle.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of replacing the first light source with another first light source.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of replacing the first light source with a second light source that is different from the first light source.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step of replacing the first light source by removing the first light source through an access in the head.

56. The method of claim 55, the head further comprising cleaning elements on one side, and wherein the access is in a side of the head opposite the cleaning elements.

57. The method of claim 56, the head further comprising cleaning elements on one side, and wherein the access is a slot in an edge of the head.

58. The method of claim 57, where the slot is in an upper edge of the head.

59. The method of claim 57, where the slot is in a side edge of the head.

60. A method of forming a light-emitting oral care implement comprising the steps of:

a) forming an oral care implement having a head section and a handle;

b) forming a plate having a plurality of cleaning elements extending from a front surface;

c) incorporating a light source on a rear surface of the plate; and

d) assembling the plate onto the head section;

e) wherein light is emitted to the oral cavity during use.

61. The method of claim 60, the handle further comprising a power source for powering the light source.

62. The method of claim 60, the plate comprising at least one light passage.

63. The method of claim 62, the plate further comprising a plurality of light passages.

64. The method of claim 62, the head section being formed of a light transmissive material such that light is transmitted from the head in addition to the at least one light passage.

65. The method of claim 60, the head section being formed of a light transmissive material for transmitting light from the light source.

66. The method of claim 60, the light source being a light-emitting diode (LED).

67. The method of claim 60, wherein the plate is welded to the head section.

68. The method of claim 60, further comprising the step of forming a soft tissue cleaner on a side of the head section opposite the cleaning elements.

69. The method of claim 68, the soft tissue cleaner comprising at least one light passage.

70. The method of claim 69, the soft tissue cleaner conveying at least one benefit in addition to cleaning.