Toothbrush

• US 6,341,400 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hukuba Dental Corp.
• Original Assignee: Hukuba Dental Corp.
• Inventors: Kouno, Yukito, Hukuba, Norihiro, Kobayashi, Kiyoshi, Hukuba, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US09/463,398
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 151/05, 151/671, 604/20
• US Class Current: 15/105
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0022 with an electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/221 Control arrangements therefor

Abstract

An ion toothbrush which can be tested on the supply voltage by turning on a switch, and concerning which assembling steps are simplified. This ion toothbrush comprises: a head (50) with brush bristles (51) implanted therein; a handle (10); and a battery (14) received in the handle (10). One electrode of the battery (14) is conductively connected with the external surface of the handle (10), and the other electrode is conductively connected with the vicinity of the implanted area of the brush bristles (51) at the head (50). This ion toothbrush further comprises: an LED (18) with its one terminal (18B) connected to one electrode of the battery (14), and with the other terminal (18A) connected to the other electrode of the battery; a spindle capable-of conductively connecting the other electrode of the battery. (14) with the vicinity of the implanted area and also capable of conductively connecting with the terminal (18A); and a switch (22) for opening or closing an electric circuit containing the LED (18), the spindle (26), and the battery (14).

Claims

1. A ion toothbrush comprising:

a head with brush bristles implanted therein;

a handle for a user to hold; and

a battery received in the handle,

wherein one electrode of the battery is conductively connected with the external surface of the handle and the other electrode of the battery is conductively connected with the vicinity of the implanted area of the brush bristles at the head, and

the ion toothbrush further comprising;

an illuminate with its one terminal connected to one electrode of the battery and with its other terminal connected to the other electrode of the battery;

a conductive spindle capable of conductively connecting the other electrode of the battery with the vicinity of the implanted area of the brush bristles and also capable of conductively connecting with the other terminal of the illuminant;

a switch for opening and closing an electric circuit including the illuminant, the conductive spindle, and the battery;

a first connector for electrically connecting one electrode of the battery with one terminal of the illuminant; and

a second connector for electrically connecting the other electrode of the battery with the other terminal of the illuminant,

wherein at least one of the first and second connectors electrically connects, because of its elasticity, with the battery, wherein one end of the first connector is secured to the handle and the other end of the first connector is urged by its elasticity toward one electrode of the battery.

2. An ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the switch includes a switch knob, and pressing the switch knob closes the electric circuit.

3. An ion toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein as the switch knob is pressed, the switch causes the conductive spindle to conductively connect with the other terminal of the illuminant.

4. An ion toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the handle comprises:

a handle body with a parts storage space formed therein; and

a closing cover for covering the parts storage space.

5. An ion toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the switch knob is formed integrally with the closing cover.

6. An ion toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein the switch knob is composed of an elastic displacement member formed integrally with the closing cover.

7. An ion toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the closing cover has a switch knob hole formed therein for fittingly setting the switch knob.

8. An ion toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the closing cover has a battery hole formed therein, which can expose one electrode of the battery.

9. An ion toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein a light transmitting part capable of transmitting light generated by the illuminant is provided at least at a part of the switch knob.

10. An ion toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the closing cover is made of a light transmittable material capable of transmitting light generated by the illuminant.

11. An ion toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein the parts storage space receives at least a part of the battery, the illuminant, both terminals of the illuminant, and the switch.

12. An ion toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein parts placed in the parts storage space are secured by closing the handle body with the-closing cover.

13. An ion toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the conductive spindle is exposed to the parts storage space.

14. An ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the switch is located at a position somewhere between one electrode of the battery, one terminal of the illuminant, the illuminant, the other terminal of the illuminant, the conductive spindle, and the other electrode of the battery.

15. An ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is composed of a round bar with a substantially circular cross section and with its one end bent to be placed in and secured to a first groove formed in the handle.

16. An ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the second connector is urged by its elasticity toward the conductive spindle, thereby electrically connecting with the other electrode of the battery.

17. An ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein one end of the second connector is secured to the handle.

18. An ion toothbrush according to claim 17, wherein the second connector is composed of a round bar with a substantially circular cross section and with its one end bent to be placed in and secured to a second groove formed in the handle.

19. An ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is electrically connected through a wiring board to one terminal of the illuminant, the second connector is electronically connected through the wiring board to the other terminal of the illuminant, and both terminals of the illuminant are electrically connected to the wiring board by means of an urging force of a conductive elastic member.

20. An ion toothbrush according to claim 19, wherein the handle comprises a handle body with a parts storage space formed therein, and a cover for closing the parts storage space, and the parts storage space receives at least the first and second connectors, the wiring board, the elastic member, and the illuminant, and the first and second connectors, the wiring board, the elastic member, and the illuminant are secured by closing the handle body with the cover.

21. An ion toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is urged by its elasticity toward a conductive member electrically connected with one electrode of the battery, and the first connector thereby electrically connected with the one electrode.