Toothbrush and method of signaling the length of brushing time
First Claim
1. An electric toothbrush comprising:
- a brush head, a handle member including a timing circuit (7) to signal to a user the expiration of a first period (T1) following activation of the electric toothbrush; and
an On/Off switching device (4) which is controllable by the timing circuit (7) and with which the electric toothbrush can be turned on and off; and
characterized in that the timing circuit (7) controls the On/Off switching device (4) such that following expiration of the first period (T1) the electric toothbrush turns on and off repeatedly within a second period (T2).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a method and an electric toothbrush which includes a timing circuit (7) serving to signal to a user the expiration of a first period (T1), that is, the expiration of the optimum brushing time, following activation of the electric toothbrush. Further, an On/Off switching device (4) is provided which is controllable by the timing circuit (7) and by means of which the electric toothbrush can be turned on and off. The timing circuit (7) controls the On/Off switching go0 device (4) such that following expiration of the first period (T1) the electric toothbrush is turned on and off repeatedly within a second period (T2). As a result, the user of the electric toothbrush "senses" directly the end of the first period (T1), that is, the end of the optimum brushing time, from the variation in the operating mode of the electric toothbrush.
73 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An electric toothbrush comprising:
- a brush head, a handle member including a timing circuit (7) to signal to a user the expiration of a first period (T1) following activation of the electric toothbrush; and
an On/Off switching device (4) which is controllable by the timing circuit (7) and with which the electric toothbrush can be turned on and off; and
characterized in that the timing circuit (7) controls the On/Off switching device (4) such that following expiration of the first period (T1) the electric toothbrush turns on and off repeatedly within a second period (T2). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14)
- a brush head, a handle member including a timing circuit (7) to signal to a user the expiration of a first period (T1) following activation of the electric toothbrush; and
-
13. A method of signaling the brushing time with an electronic toothbrush, comprising:
-
operating the brush in an On mode during a first time period; and then, switching the brush between the On mode and an off mode repeatedly during a second time period, the step of switching being started electronically and automatically in response to the first time period elapsing.
-
Specification