Patent ID: 9648945
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: A46B,A61C,G09B

Claim:
1. A system for extending the time of automatic operation of an electric toothbrush, comprising: a control system for the toothbrush which controls the operation of a brushhead portion of the toothbrush, the control system configured to have at least two operating modes comprising a normal brushing mode and an extended brushing mode, said normal brushing mode having a first predetermined amount of time for brushing operation of the toothbrush, wherein said control system is configured to automatically terminate brushing operation after said first predetermined amount of time for brushing operation, said extended brushing mode having a pre-programmed capability of providing a second predetermined amount of additional time for brushing operation of the toothbrush within a predetermined period of time subsequent to the termination of the normal brushing mode, the second predetermined amount of additional time being substantially less than the first predetermined amount of time of the normal brushing mode, wherein the control system is configured to provide the additional time for brushing operation of the toothbrush during the extended brushing mode only upon actuation of a control element by a user within said predetermined period of time following termination of the normal brushing mode.