Illuminated brush device

• US 4,779,173 A
• Filed: 12/24/1986
• Issued: 10/18/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charlie O. Carr, Deborah Haugen
• Original Assignee: Charlie O. Carr, Deborah Haugen
• Inventors: Haugen, Deborah, Carr, Charlie O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US06/945,888
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 362/109, 15/159 R, 15/167 R, 15/167.1, 15/105, 128/393
• US Class Current: 362/109
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• 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: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence

Abstract

A brush device having a head, a handle associated with the head, a light source in the handle, and a source for energizing the light source. The brush device also includes a plurality of plastic filaments each having one end position disposed in the handle and adjacent the light source and the other end position disposed in and through the head so that the light from the light source is transmitted through the plurality of plastic filaments and lights the other end of each filament. There may also be provided a magnification member which directs the beam of light into one end portion of the plurality of plastic filaments, as it intensifies same. There may also be provided a color shield so that the light transmitted therethrough assumes a color which corresponds directly to that of the color shield.

Claims

1. A brush device comprising:

a head having a hollow interior and having a threaded sleeve portion;

a handle having a hollow interior and having a threaded sleeve portion adapted to the connected to said hollow sleeve portion of said head to connect together said handle and said head;

reflector means having a plug which is adapted to snugly fit in said handle and project into said head and having a reflector connected to said plug;

said reflector having reflector surface for reflecting light in the direction of the end of said head opposite said handle, said plug being made of a dark material;

light producing means positioned in said reflector;

energizing means for energizing said light producing means when said handle and said head are connected together; and

a plurality of brush bristles disposed in said head, each of said plurality of bristles being a plastic filament having one end disposed proximate said light producing means and having an opposite end extending through said head,

wherein light is transmitted through said plurality of brush bristles and illuminates said opposite end of each of said plurality of brush bristles when said light producing means is energized by said energizing means, and

wherein said plug prevents light from said light producing means from reflecting towards said handle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said head is mounted to said handle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said light producing means is a light bulb.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said opposite end of each of said plurality of brush bristles extends through a plurality of apertures in a surface of said head.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said brush device is a hairbrush.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said brush device is a toothbrush.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said reflector means is disposed in said body proximate said light producing means.