Rechargeable toothbrushes with charging stations

• US 6,798,169 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Stratmann, Martin, Trawinski, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/306,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 153/63, D04/101, D04/104, 320/107, 320/108, 320/110, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/132
• US Class Current: 320/114
• 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 electric toothbrush with a casing has a sensor means and a signal emitting means. The toothbrush can be coupled to a charging station. The sensor means detects the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the casing and activates the signal emitting means, which then emits signals that are perceptible to the operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning teeth, the apparatus comprising:

a charging station that is connectable to a power source; and

a toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head, and

a battery for providing power to the electric motor,

wherein the toothbrush is couplable to the charging station for charging the battery, and wherein the electric motor emits an audible signal to an operator in response to a change of coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toothbrush includes a sensor responsive to coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor causes the electric motor to emit the audible signal upon coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor is disposed within the casing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensor is responsive to a charging current.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensor is responsive to a charging voltage.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the charging station and the toothbrush are inductively couplable, and wherein the toothbrush includes a receiver coil responsive to inductive coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the audible signal emitted by the electric motor comprises an acoustic melody.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the casing includes a device for storing different signals or signal sequences.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the signals or signal sequences comprise different acoustic melodies.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric motor signals to the operator a predetermined length of time after uncoupling of the toothbrush from the charging station.

15. An apparatus for cleaning teeth comprising:

a toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head, and

a battery for providing power to the electric motor;

a charging station that is connectable to a power source and couplable to the toothbrush for charging the battery; and

a means for sensing coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush,

wherein the electric motor is activated by the sensing means to emit an audible signal perceptible to an operator upon coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the casing further comprises a means for storing different signals or signal sequences.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the signals or signal sequences comprise different acoustic melodies.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electric motor emits a signal to the operator a predetermined length of time after uncoupling of the toothbrush from the charging station.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensing means is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensing means is disposed within the casing.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensing means is responsive to a charging current.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sensing means is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensing means is responsive to a charging voltage.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sensing means is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the charging station and the toothbrush are inductively couplable, and wherein the toothbrush includes a receiver coil responsive to inductive coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the audible signal emitted by the electric motor comprises an acoustic melody.

27. An apparatus for cleaning teeth, the apparatus comprising:

a charging station that is connectable to a power source; and

a toothbrush that is couplable to the charging station for charging a battery, the toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head,

a battery for providing power to the electric motor, and

a sensor that is responsive to coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station,

wherein the sensor causes the electric motor to emit an audible signal to an operator after a time interval following uncoupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the audible signal is an acoustic melody.

29. An apparatus for cleaning teeth, the apparatus comprising:

a toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head,

a battery for providing power to the electric motor, and

disposed within the casing, a means for sensing coupling and/or uncoupling between the toothbrush and the charging station, the sensing means being responsive to a charging current;

a charging station that is connectable to a power source and couplable to the toothbrush for charging the battery; and

a means for emitting a signal perceptible to an operator,

wherein the sensing means causes the emitting means to emit the signal upon coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the sensing means is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the signal emitted by the emitting means is an audible signal.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the audible signal is an acoustic melody.

33. An apparatus for cleaning teeth, the apparatus comprising:

a charging station that is connectable to a power source; and

a toothbrush that is couplable to the charging station for charging a battery, the toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head,

the battery for providing power to the electric motor, and

a sensor that is disposed within the casing and that is responsive to a charging voltage,

wherein the sensor causes the toothbrush to emit a signal to an operator upon coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the signal emitted by the toothbrush is an audible signal.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the audible signal is an acoustic melody.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the charging station and the toothbrush are inductively couplable, and wherein the toothbrush includes a receiver coil responsive to inductive coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the casing includes a device for storing different signals or signal sequences.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the signals or signal sequences comprise different acoustic melodies.

40. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the electric motor signals to the operator a predetermined length of time after uncoupling of the toothbrush from the charging station.

41. An apparatus for cleaning teeth, the apparatus comprising:

a toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head,

a battery for providing power to the electric motor, and

disposed within the casing, a sensing means for sensing coupling and/or uncoupling between the toothbrush and the charging station, the sensing means being responsive to a charging voltages;

a charging station that is connectable to a power source and couplable to the toothbrush for charging the battery; and

a means for emitting a signal perceptible to an operator,

wherein the sensing means causes the emitting means to emit the signal upon coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the sensing means is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the signal emitted by the emitting means is an audible signal.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the audible signal is an acoustic melody.

45. An apparatus for cleaning teeth, the apparatus comprising:

a toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head, and

a battery for providing power to the electric motor;

a charging station that is connectable to a power source and couplable to the toothbrush for charging the battery; and

a means for sensing coupling and/or uncoupling between the toothbrush and the charging station,

wherein, after a time interval following uncoupling of the toothbrush and the charging station, the sensing means causes the motor to emit an audible signal perceptible to an operator.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the audible signal is an acoustic melody.

47. An apparatus for cleaning teeth, the apparatus comprising:

a charging station that is connectable to a power source; and

a toothbrush that is couplable to the charging station for charging a battery, the toothbrush including

a brush head,

a casing having an electric motor for driving the brush head,

the battery for providing power to the electric motor, and

a sensor that is disposed within the casing and that is responsive to a charging current,

wherein the sensor causes the toothbrush to emit a signal to an operator upon coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the electric motor signals to the operator a predetermined length of time after uncoupling of the toothbrush from the charging station.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the signal emitted by the toothbrush is an audible signal.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the audible signal is an acoustic melody.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the charging station and the toothbrush are inductively couplable, and wherein the toothbrush includes a receiver coil responsive to inductive coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

53. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the casing includes a device for storing different signals or signal sequences.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the signals or signal sequences comprise different acoustic melodies.

55. An apparatus comprising a charging station and a toothbrush including an electric motor, wherein the electric motor provides an audible signal to an operator a predetermined length of time after uncoupling of the toothbrush from the charging station.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the toothbrush includes a sensor responsive to coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the sensor causes the electric motor to emit the audible signal upon coupling and/or uncoupling between the charging station and the toothbrush.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during the coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the charging station and the toothbrush are inductively couplable, and wherein the toothbrush includes a receiver coil responsive to inductive coupling between the toothbrush and the charging station.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the audible signal emitted by the electric motor comprises an acoustic melody.

61. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising a casing that includes a device for storing different signals or signal sequences.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the signals or signal sequences comprise different acoustic melodies.

63. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising a casing.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the sensor is disposed within the casing.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the sensor is responsive to a charging current.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the sensor is responsive to a charging voltage.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a temporal change in electrical signals during coupling and/or uncoupling of the charging station and the toothbrush.