Dental cleaning device

• US 7,207,080 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Stratmann, Martin, Schwarz-Hartmann, Armin, Trawinski, Peter, Hilscher, Alexander, Vorbeck, Wolfgang, Reick, Hansjo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Randall
• Application Number:
  US10/241,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/23, 15/28
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An electric toothbrush with a removable brush section having a transponder communicating with a handle portion of the toothbrush via a non-contacting inductive coupling.

Claims

1. A toothbrush, comprising:

a brushhead portion having a bristle section in the vicinity of one end thereof;

a handle portion, with a driver assembly therein for driving the bristle section, wherein the brushhead portion and the handle portion are adapted such that the brushhead portion is removable from the handle portion;

communication means for data communication between the brushhead portion and the handle portion when the brushhead portion and handle portion are joined together;

a memory element in the brushhead portion for storing at least data which identifies the brushhead portion, the memory element having the capability of information being written to the memory element;

and a microcontroller in the handle portion, wherein the memory element in the brushhead portion provides information therein to the microcontroller via the communication means.

2. A toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the information stored in the memory element includes an identification number associated with the brushhead, wherein the microcontroller in operation accumulates information concerning use of the brushhead.

3. A toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the information is operating information for the operation of the toothbrush for the brushhead.

4. A toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the memory element can store information concerning use of the toothbrush.

5. A toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the toothbrush will not operate unless the information from the memory element is valid, as determined by the microcontroller.

6. A toothbrush of claim 1, including a plurality of interchangeable brushheads, further including means for displaying user-specific information.

7. A toothbrush of claim 1, further including a device for providing operating information to a brushhead to define particular operations thereof.

8. A toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the communication means includes electrically conductive elements.

9. A toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the communication means comprise wireless components.

10. A toothbrush of claim 9, wherein the wireless components include coils on the brushhead and the handle for inductive communication.

11. A toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller includes means for evaluating the time of past uses of the brushhead.

12. A brushhead portion of a toothbrush, the toothbrush including a handle portion to which the brushhead portion can be joined comprising:

a brushhead assembly which includes a bristle section, the brushhead assembly adapted to be removable from the handle portion of the toothbrush;

communication means for data communication between the brushhead assembly and a separate device;

and a memory element in the brushhead assembly for storing data identifying the brushhead assembly, the memory element having the capability of information being written to the memory element.

13. A brushhead of claim 12, wherein said separate device is the handle portion of the toothbrush.

14. A brushhead of claim 12, wherein the communication means includes means for data communication with the handle portion when the brushhead assembly and the handle are joined together.

15. A brushhead of claim 12, wherein the information is operating information for proper operation of the toothbrush relative to said brushhead assembly.

16. A brushhead of claim 12, wherein the communication means includes electrically conductive elements.

17. A brushhead of claim 16, wherein the wireless components include coils for inductive communication.

18. A brushhead of claim 12, wherein the communication means comprises wireless components.

19. A toothbrush, comprising:

a brushhead portion having a bristle section in the vicinity of one end thereof;

a handle portion, with a driver assembly therein for driving the bristle section, wherein the brushhead portion and the handle portion are adapted such that the brushhead portion is removable from the handle portion;

communication means for data communication between the brushhead portion and the handle portion when the brushhead portion and handle portion are joined together;

a memory element in the brushhead portion for storing at least data which identifies the brushhead portion;

a microcontroller in the handle portion, wherein the memory element in the brushhead portion provides information therein to the microcontroller via the communication means; and

a plurality of interchangeable brushheads, further including means for displaying user-specific information.

20. A toothbrush, comprising:

a brushhead portion having a bristle section in the vicinity of one end thereof;

a handle portion, with a driver assembly therein for driving the bristle section, wherein the brushhead portion and the handle portion are adapted such that the brushhead portion is removable from the handle portion;

communication means for data communication between the brushhead portion and the handle portion when the brushhead portion and handle portion are joined together,

a memory element in the brushhead portion for storing at least data which identifies the brushhead portion; and

a microcontroller in the handle portion, wherein the memory element in the brushhead portion provides information therein to the microcontroller via the communication means, wherein the microcontroller includes means for comparing the actual use of the brushhead against a certain maximal cleaning period and for providing an indication when the certain maximal cleaning period has been met, indicating that the brushhead should be replaced.