Toothbrush with severable electrical connections

• US 7,845,039 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Morrison, Lowen Robert Jr., Chan, John Geoffrey, Pinyayev, Aleksey Mikhailovich
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Randall
• Application Number:
  US10/847,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,395 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 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: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/26 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3427 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the axis of toothbrush handle and in the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical connector having particular application in an oral care implement having a removable and/or replaceable head. In particular, an electric toothbrush having a removable brush head and/or head and neck assembly and a severable electrical connector is disclosed in which the brush head includes one or more elements requiring a source of electrical power. The severable electrical connector provides electrical communication between the brush head and a power source retained within the handle or handle portion of the toothbrush.

Claims

1. An electric oral care implement for use in the mouth comprising:

(a) a handle defining a hollow interior region having a battery disposed therein, the handle having an end portion configured to receive the head assembly, the end portion comprising a receiving region;

(b) a head assembly that is removable from and attachable to said handle, said head assembly comprising at least one electrically powered element and a projection member configured to engage the receiving region, thereby providing mechanical interlock between said head assembly and said handle;

(c) at least one electrical connector;

wherein said at least one electrical connector provides electrical communication between said electrically powered element and said handle upon attachment of said head assembly to said handle, wherein said at least one electrical connector comprises the projection member and the receiving region; and

(d) a connector wiping element.

2. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electric oral care implement is an electric toothbrush.

3. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is a light emitting diode.

4. The electric oral care implement of claim 1 further comprising a second electrical connector with a first electrical contact adjacent to the head assembly and a second electrical contact located adjacent to the end portion the second electrical connector being configured to provide electrical communication when the head assembly is attached to the handle.

5. The electric oral care implement of claim 1, wherein said electrically powered element is a wave element.

6. The electric oral care implement of claim 5, wherein said wave element is a sonic wave element.

7. The electrical oral care implement of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is the projection member and the receiving region.

8. An electric toothbrush, comprising a head portion, a connector wiping element, and a handle portion where said head portion connects to said handle portion, said handle portion having a first portion of an electrical connector, said head portion comprising:

(a) an electrically powered element; and

(b) a second portion of said electrical connector;

wherein electrical communication between said head portion and said electrically powered element is provided when said head portion engages said handle portion, and wherein mechanical interlock is provided by said first portion and said second portion when engaged;

(c) a moving bristle holder; and

(d) a static bristle holder.

9. An electric toothbrush comprising:

(a) a handle defining a hollow interior region;

(b) a head and neck assembly that is removable from and attachable to said handle, said head and neck assembly comprising at least one electrically powered element;

(c) an electrical connector comprising at least a first set of severable electrically conducting contacts, wherein said contacts provide electrical communication between said head and neck assembly and said handle upon attachment of said head and neck assembly to said handle, and wherein said contacts provide mechanical interlock between said head and neck assembly and said handle; and

(d) a connector wiping element.