Automatic electric toothbrush in a display package

• US 6,889,829 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FKA Distributing Company
• Original Assignee: Homedics (Lifetime Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lev, Mordechai, Ferber, Roman S., Nemazi, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/299,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 206/361, 206/362.1, 206/362.2, 206/461, 206/471, 15/221, 15/23, 15/24, 15/28
• US Class Current: 206/362.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B

Abstract

A motorized electric toothbrush in a display package includes a first switch to facilitate automatic motorized operation of the toothbrush. When the first switch is in one position, applying a force to a brush head portion of the toothbrush actuates a second switch and causes the motor to engage. A package body includes a flexible portion to allow an operator to apply a force to the brush head portion through the package body. The removable brush head portion is easily replaced when the bristles become worn, or to allow use of the toothbrush by another user.

Claims

1. A motorized electric toothbrush in a display package, comprising:

a toothbrush handle portion;

an electric motor disposed within the toothbrush handle portion;

a brush head portion attachable to the toothbrush handle portion, the brush head portion including a bristle head driven by the motor;

a switch for connecting the motor to an electric source, the switch having a first position for preventing motorized operation of the toothbrush, and a second position for effecting motorized operation of the toothbrush, the switch being placed in the second position when a force is applied to the brush head portion; and

an at least partially translucent package body configured to at least partially cover the toothbrush, the package body including a flexible portion disposed proximate the brush head portion, the flexible portion being configured to facilitate application of a force to the brush head portion through the package body to place the switch in the second position.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the package body further includes a non-flexible portion disposed proximate the bristle head.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the package body comprises a thermoplastic material.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the package body comprises a front portion and a back portion, the front portion including the flexible portion and the non-flexible portion.

5. The combination of claim 4, further comprising an information card disposed adjacent the package body front portion and adjacent the package body back portion.

6. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a second brush head portion disposed within the package body.

7. A motorized electric toothbrush in a display package, comprising:

a toothbrush handle portion;

an electric motor disposed within the toothbrush handle portion;

a brush head portion attachable to the toothbrush handle portion, the brush head portion including a bristle head driven by the motor;

a first switch for connecting the motor to an electric source, the first switch having a first position for preventing motorized operation of the toothbrush and a second position for facilitating automatic operation of the toothbrush;

a second switch having a first position for preventing motorized operation of the toothbrush, and a second position for effecting motorized operation of the toothbrush when the first switch is in the second position, the second switch being placed in the second position when a force is applied to the brush head portion; and

an at least partially translucent package body configured to at least partially cover the toothbrush, the package body including a flexible portion disposed proximate the brush head portion, the flexible portion being configured to facilitate application of a force to the brush head portion through the package body to place the second switch in the second position.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the package body further includes a first non-flexible portion disposed proximate the bristle head.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the package body further includes a second non-flexible portion disposed proximate the first switch for prohibiting movement of the first switch between the first position and the second position.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein the package body comprises a thermoplastic material.

11. The combination of claim 7, wherein the package body comprises a front portion and a back portion, the front portion including the flexible portion and the first non-flexible portion, and the back portion including the second non-flexible portion.

12. The combination of claim 11, further comprising an information card disposed adjacent the package body front portion and adjacent the package body back portion.

13. The combination of claim 7, further comprising a second brush head portion disposed within the package body.

14. A motorized electric toothbrush in a display package, comprising:

a toothbrush handle portion;

an electric motor disposed within the toothbrush handle portion;

a brush head portion attachable to the toothbrush handle portion, the brush head portion including a bristle head driven by the motor;

a first switch for connecting the motor to an electric source, the first switch having a first position for preventing motorized operation of the toothbrush and a second position for facilitating automatic operation of the toothbrush;

a second switch having a first position for preventing motorized operation of the toothbrush, and a second position for effecting motorized operation of the toothbrush when the first switch is in the second position, the second switch being placed in the second position when a force is applied to the brush head portion; and

an at least partially translucent package body including a front portion and a back portion configured to cooperate with each other to at least partially cover the toothbrush, the front portion including a first flexible portion disposed proximate the brush head portion, the first flexible portion being configured to facilitate application of a force to the brush head portion through the package body, the package body including a second flexible portion disposed proximate the toothbrush handle portion, the second flexible portion being configured to facilitate application of a force to the toothbrush handle portion through the package body.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the second switch is configured to be actuated by application of a force to the brush head portion, the toothbrush handle portion, or both.

16. The combination of claim 14, wherein the package body front portion further includes a first non-flexible portion disposed proximate the bristle head.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the package body back portion further includes a second non-flexible portion disposed proximate the first switch for prohibiting movement of the first switch between the first position and the second position.

18. The combination of claim 14, wherein the package body comprises a thermoplastic material.

19. The combination of claim 14, further comprising an information card disposed adjacent the package body front portion and adjacent the package body back portion.

20. The combination of claim 14, further comprising a second brush head portion disposed within the package body.