Light interactive toothbrush

• US 6,029,304 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Hulke, Stuart, Moskovich, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/093,800
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 15/105, 15/167.1, 362/109, 362/555, 362/557, 362/572, 362/573, 362/577, 362/158, 362/367, 601/15, 433/29
• US Class Current: 15/105
• 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: B29L 2031/42 Brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/425 Toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush is provided with light interactive features, and has a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) molded within its handle. In one embodiment, the toothbrush is molded from a transparent or translucent plastic material and is covered with an opaque covering, except at a plurality of discrete light-emitting points. A reflective layer over the molded body may also be provided. Light is internally reflected along the length of the body to the light-emitting points. The surface of the toothbrush at these points is roughened to emit a softened, diffused light. In another embodiment, a plurality of optic fibers or light pipes are molded in the body of the toothbrush, with their input ends positioned near the light source and their output ends terminating at the light-emitting areas. The body may be molded of an opaque elastomer or rubberized plastic material. A battery and switch may be molded with the LED in the grip end of the toothbrush handle. The switch can be formed as a flexible membrane and contact electrode which is depressed when the user grips the grip end of the toothbrush.

Claims

1. A light interactive toothbrush comprising:

a body formed of a handle having a longitudinal axis and a head at one end thereof, which head contains a face having a plurality of bristle tufts extending therefrom;

the body being hollow containing means for producing light therein, the body being constructed of three layers, an outermost layer, a middle layer and an innermost layer;

the outermost layer being an opaque material, which contains a plurality of openings which expose portions of the middle layer, which middle layer is molded of a light-transmitting plastic material;

the innermost layer is a highly reflective material which is applied over an inner surface of the middle layer, except at the plurality of openings in the outermost layer of opaque material so as to form corresponding openings in the innermost layer with the openings in the outermost layer, to allow the light produced within the body to be emitted from the corresponding openings.

2. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the portions of the light-transmitting middle layer exposed by the openings in the outermost layer are roughened, such that the light emitted therethrough is emitted as softened, diffused light.

3. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the highly reflective coating is a metal toil or metallized coating.

4. A toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the means for producing light contains a LED light source, a battery power source and a switch means.

5. A toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the switch means is formed of a contact electrode in the handle, which contact closes and opens an electrical circuit to operate the LED light source when a user grips the toothbrush handle.

6. A toothbursh according to claim 1, wherein the outermost layer is constructed of a hard rubber or rubberized coating.

7. A light interactive toothbrush comprising:

a body formed of a handle having a longitudinal axis and a head at one end thereof, which head contains a face having a plurality of bristle tufts extending, therefrom;

the body being hollow containing means for producing light therein, the body being constructed of three layers, an outermost layer, a middle layer and an innermost layer;

the outermost layer being an opaque material which contains a plurality of openings which expose portions of the middle layer, which middle layer is molded of a light-transmitting plastic material;

the innermost layer is a highly reflective material which is applied over discrete portions of the inner surface of the middle layer such that the highly reflective material is positioned so as to gather and direct light directly from the light source to the light emitting openings in the outermost layer of opaque material.