Training appliance for tooth brushing

• US 4,253,212 A
• Filed: 05/29/1979
• Issued: 03/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hukuba Dental Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kinya Fujita
• Inventors: Fujita, Kinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Peter
• Application Number:
  US06/042,932
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 35/22 R, 35/23 R, 132/84 R, 132/84 B, 340/686, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52, 200/61.53, 15/105, 15/167 R
• US Class Current: 15/167.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0012 with a pressure controlling device
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/004 with an acoustic signalling means, e.g. noise
• 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 sound emitting device and/or a light emitting device actuated by brushing movement are provided in the stem of a tooth brush. These devices sense the reciprocating motion and the rotational motion of the brush, and the pressure applied on brushing.

The sound emitting device comprises a hollow cylindrical body connected to the stem of the brush and a ball like or columnar movable piece accomodated in the hollow cylindrical body, wherein the movable piece is moved by the motion of the brush in the direction of the axis of the brush so as to hit the end of the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical body for emitting sound. Alternatively, an electrode is provided on the inner wall of the hollow cylindrical body and an electro-conductive movable piece contacts the electrode to form an electrical circuit for emitting sound. For the rotation of the axis of the tooth brush, the movable piece contacts the electrode and a sound is emitted. Instead of the sound emitting device or simultaneously with it, the light emitting device may be operated. To sense a pressure during the tooth brushing an electrical conductive electrode is buried in the stem of the tooth brush or a sensor composed of a pressure sensing element and the like may be buried in the stem.

Claims

1. A tooth brushing training appliance, comprising:

a tooth brush composed of an elongated stem adapted to be grasped by the human hand and a head portion at one end of said stem, said head portion having bristles attached to one face thereof and adapted to be inserted into the mouth of a human being for brushing teeth;

a hollow cylindrical body mounted on the opposite end of said stem, said body having an elongated internal cavity which extends lengthwise of said stem and which has a longitudinally extending side wall;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, longtiudinally extending electrodes mounted on the internal surface of said side wall, a movable electrically conductive member disposed inside said cavity for lengthwise movement in said cavity between the ends thereof when said body is inclined with respect to the horizontal and for lateral movement in said cavity when said body is moved arcuately around its lengthwise axis so that said electrically conductive member contacts two adjacent electrodes to provide an electrical connection therebetween;

an electrically operated light emitting device mounted on said body, an electrically operated sound emitting device mounted on said body, a battery mounted on said body, an electrical circuit connecting said battery in circuit with said electrodes and said light emitting device and said sound emitting device so that said devices are actuated when said electrically conductive member contacts two adjacent electrodes in said cavity.

2. A tooth brushing training appliance as claimed in claim 1 including pressure sensor switch means responsive to flexing of said stem, said pressure sensor switch means being connected in said electrical circuit for actuating said devices in response to flexing of said stem.