Bio-activated oral care instrument

• US 7,975,341 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Cai, Heng, Boyd, Thomas James
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/866,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20090087813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 15 221- 224, 15/23, 15/24, 15/28, 15/29, 200 6104- 6107, 401/188.R, 401/195, 401/268, 401/292, 433/27, 433 98-100, 601162-165
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/227 with reservoirs, e.g. for toothpaste

Abstract

An oral care instrument, such as a motorized toothbrush, which activates upon exposure to the oral environment of the user, is described. The electrical conductivity of saliva, optionally mixed with toothpaste and water, may be utilized to complete an electrical circuit that powers a motorized device within the instrument.

Claims

1. A motorized toothbrush comprising:

a head carrying cleaning elements on an upper surface thereof;

a handle configured to connect to a power source;

a neck extending between the head and the handle;

at least one pair of electrical conducting elements including an anode and a cathode, the anode and the cathode being disposed in respective bores spaced from each other in a lower surface of the neck facing away from the upper surface of the head, a portion of the anode and a portion of the cathode exposed to an exterior environment of the toothbrush; and

a motorized device;

wherein the motorized device is activated upon contact of the anode and the cathode to an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution extending between the cathode and the anode.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the motorized device causes movement of the head.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte solution completes an electrical circuit with the power source.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising electrical connections operably connected to the motorized device.

5. The toothbrush of claim 4, wherein the electrical connections are operably connectable to the power source.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the motorized device activates and causes vibration or rotation of the cleaning elements, upon exposure of the toothbrush to the electrolyte solution.

7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the toothbrush is switchless or buttonless.

8. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising electrical connections operably connected to the motorized device, and a switch operably connected to at least one of the electrical connections and the anode and cathode to prevent electrical communication between the power source and the motorized device even when the electrolyte solution is contacting and extending between the anode and the cathode or to complete an electrical circuit even without the electrolyte solution contacting and extending between the anode and the cathode.

9. The toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the switch has at least three settings associated with interruption of the electrical circuit, completion of the electrical circuit, and conditional completion of the electrical circuit upon the electrolyte solution contacting and extending between the anode and the cathode.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a sensing device operably connected to the anode and the cathode.

11. The toothbrush of claim 10, wherein the sensing device measures conductance between the anode and the cathode.

12. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the motorized device activates upon the electrolyte solution that contacts and extends between the anode and the cathode having a threshold conductivity.

13. The toothbrush of claim 12, wherein the threshold conductivity is based on a conductivity of saliva.

14. The toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the threshold conductivity is based on the conductivity of saliva having one or more additional amounts of dissolved ions selected from the group consisting of calcium, phosphate, fluoride, peroxide, and mixtures thereof.

15. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the motorized device activates for a minimum predetermined duration upon exposure of the toothbrush to the electrolyte solution.

16. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a cavity and further comprising a battery insertable into the cavity.

17. The toothbrush of claim 16, wherein the cavity contains an electrically conductive sleeve which is open to the rear and closeable by a rear cover.

18. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a switch that is activated to complete an electrical circuit with a power source based on a conductivity or resistivity of the electrolyte solution.

19. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the motorized device is a pump operatively connected to a reservoir and configured to deliver an active agent from the reservoir to outlets in the head.

20. A motorized toothbrush comprising:

a head carrying cleaning elements on an upper surface thereof;

a handle;

a neck extending between the head and the handle;

a power source contained within the handle;

a motorized device operably connected to the power source and operably connected to the head;

electrical conducting elements comprising an anode and a cathode operably connected to the power source and the motorized device, the anode and the cathode disposed in respective bores spaced from each other in a lower surface of the neck facing away from the upper surface of the head, a portion of the anode and a portion of the cathode exposed to an exterior environment of the toothbrush; and

a switch operably connected to at least one of the electrical conducting elements and the power source;

wherein the motorized device is activated upon contact of the anode and the cathode to an electrolyte solution having a threshold conductivity, the electrolyte solution extending between the cathode and the anode.