CASE FOR POWERED TOOTHBRUSH AND SYSTEM

• US 20140150189A1
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Shigeno, Takashi, Andachi, Kazuya, Ito, Tamaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/18 Receptacles for hair brushes or tooth brushes as travelling equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/224 Electrical recharging arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/02 Protective casings, e.g. boxes for instruments; Bags A61C5/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A case for a powered toothbrush comprises a housing having an interior for receiving a powered toothbrush, and a cover, wherein the cover substantially obfuscates the interior but is sufficiently light-transmissive to communicate the presence of an indicator from within the interior. Also provided is a powered toothbrush and case system.

Claims

1. A case for a powered toothbrush comprising:

a) a housing having an interior for receiving a powered toothbrush, and a cover;

b) wherein the cover substantially obfuscates the interior but is sufficiently light-transmissive to communicate through the cover the presence of an indicator from within the interior.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein the cover is substantially translucent.

3. The case of claim 2, wherein the indicator is disposed on the housing.

4. The case of claim 1, further comprising a port for connecting the case to a power source.

5. The case of claim 1, the housing further comprising a power charger.

6. The case of claim 5, wherein the charger is an inductive charger.

7. The case of claim 1, wherein the cover is hinged to the housing along an axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the case.

8. The case of claim 7, wherein the case has a bottom end and a top end, and the hinge is displaced from the top end.

9. The case of claim 8, wherein with the cover in a fully-opened condition, a rear portion of the cover adjacent the hinge impacts the housing and prevents over-rotation of the cover relative to the housing.

10. The case of claim 1, wherein the housing has a front surface and a rear surface, the cover is movable from a closed position to a fully-open position, and wherein a predominant portion of an outer surface of the cover is substantially parallel to the housing front and rear surfaces in both the closed and fully-open positions.

11. The case of claim 1, the interior further comprising at least one storage location for slidably receiving a first portion of a powered toothbrush.

12. The case of claim 11, wherein the case has a rear surface, and wherein an upper portion of the at least one storage location is elevated relative to a lower portion the at least one storage location when the rear surface of the case is placed on a support surface.

13. The case of claim 11, the interior further comprising a second storage location having an indexed seat for receiving and orienting a second portion of a powered toothbrush into adjacent alignment with a vent in the cover when the cover is closed.

14. A case for a powered toothbrush comprising:

a) a housing having a front side, a back side, an upper end, a lower end and an interior for receiving a powered toothbrush; and

b) a cover hinged along the back side of the housing and extending to the front side;

c) the hinge elevating the upper end of the housing relative to the lower end upon placement of the back side of the case on a support surface.

15. The case of claim 14, wherein the cover substantially obfuscates the interior but is sufficiently light-transmissive to communicate through the cover the presence of an indicator from within the interior.

16. The case of claim 15, further comprising a port for connecting the case to a power source.

17. The case of claim 16, the housing further comprising an inductive charger.

18. A powered toothbrush and case system comprising:

a) a powered toothbrush; and

b) a case having a cover and an interior for receiving the powered toothbrush;

c) wherein the cover substantially obfuscates the interior but is sufficiently light-transmissive to communicate the presence of an indicator from within the interior.

19. The system of claim 18, the indicator provided on the powered toothbrush.