Abstract:
A combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system for increasing the compliance of peak flow measurements in children and adults with asthma. The combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system includes a peak flow meter and a toothbrush head connected to an end of the peak flow meter.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to peak flow meters and more specifically it relates to a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system for increasing the compliance of peak flow measurements in children and adults with asthma. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
     Peak flow meters have been in use for years for measuring the maximum velocity of exhaled air. Peak flow meters are typically comprised of a portable device that provides a digital or analog readout of the measured peak flow rate (usually measured in liters per minute). The peak flow rate measurements are used for assessing lung functionality in asthmatic children. A child with asthma utilizes a peak flow meter by blowing into an intake port as hard as they can. It is preferable to repeat the measurement test at least 3 times with the highest reading recorded. It is further preferable that the measurements occur at the same time of each day to provide an accurate comparison basis. Medical professionals are able to monitor and modify medical treatment for a patient based in part on the readings from the peak flow meters. 
     The main problem with peak flow meters is that children often times forget to take their daily readings. With reduced frequency of usage of a peak flow meter, there is the potential for a delayed warning of declining pulmonary function. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for increasing the compliance of peak flow measurements in children with asthma. Conventional peak flow meters are often times not frequently used and can be misplaced due in part because of infrequent usage. 
     In these respects, the combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of increasing the compliance of peak flow measurements in children and adults with asthma. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of peak flow meters now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system construction wherein the same can be utilized for increasing the compliance of peak flow measurements in children with asthma. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system that has many of the advantages of the peak flow meters mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art peak flow meters, either alone or in any combination thereof. To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a peak flow meter and a toothbrush head connected to an end of the peak flow meter. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     A second object is to provide a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system for increasing the compliance of peak flow measurements in children and adults with asthma. 
     Another object is to provide a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system that assists in providing advanced warning of declining pulmonary function. 
     An additional object is to provide a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system that encourages frequent and periodic usage of a peak flow meter. 
     A further object is to provide a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system that encourages the usage of a peak flow meter during the morning when an asthma patient brushes their teeth. 
     Another object is to provide a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system that is usable by children and adults. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention illustrating the toothbrush head. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the present invention illustrating the display of the peak flow meter. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the present invention illustrating a peak flow rate measurement because of airflow input into the peak flow meter. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention with the intake port being blown into by an individual. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Overview 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 through 6  illustrate a combination toothbrush and peak flow meter system  10 , which comprises a peak flow meter  30  and a toothbrush head  20  connected to an end of the peak flow meter  30 . 
     B. Peak Flow Meter 
     The peak flow meter  30  may be comprised of any device capable of measuring a peak flow rate of a user suffering from asthma. The peak flow meter  30  is preferably comprised of a digital flow meter device with a digital display  38  to show the measured flow rate which are well known in the art. The measured flow rate is preferably shown in liters per minute, however other measured units may be utilized. The peak flow meter  30  may also be comprised of a mechanical analog structure which utilizes a mechanical measuring indicator to show the peak flow rate. The peak flow meter  30  includes an intake port  34  and an exit port  36  that allows the user to blow through. 
     The user positions their lips about the intake port  34  as shown in  FIG. 6  and blows a burst of air through the intake port  34  which is then exhausted out the exit port  36  away from the bristles  22  of the toothbrush to avoid contamination of the bristles  22 . The intake port  34  is preferably comprised of an elongated and tapering structure as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 5  of the drawings. The intake port  34  is preferably concentrically positioned with respect to the body of the peak flow meter  30 . The intake port  34  is preferably positioned opposite of the toothbrush head  20  as best illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
     The exit port  36  is preferably directed rearwardly and away from the user to direct the flow of the air exiting away from the user and away from the toothbrush head  20 . The exit port  36  preferably extends a finite distance beyond the body of the peak flow meter  30  as shown in  FIGS. 3 through 6  of the drawings. 
     The peak flow meter  30  includes a first connecting end  24  that receives the toothbrush head  20  in removable or non-removable manner. The peak flow meter  30  is preferably comprised of an elongated structure to provide a handle for the user to grasp when brushing their teeth with the toothbrush head  20 . 
     C. Toothbrush 
     The toothbrush head  20  includes a first connecting end  24  that attaches to the second connecting end  32  of the peak flow meter  30  as shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The second connecting end  32  is preferably detachably connected to the first connecting end  24  of the peak flow meter  30  to allow for replacement of the toothbrush head  20  after it has become worn or damaged. The first connecting end  24  and the second connecting end  32  are comprised of interlocking fasteners that allow for snapping of the toothbrush head  20  to the body of the peak flow meter  30 . The toothbrush head  20  is preferably concentrically attached to the peak flow meter  30  to provide for a uniform and balanced brushing of the teeth of the user. 
     The toothbrush head  20  includes a plurality of bristles  22  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3  of the drawings. The plurality of bristles  22  preferably extend forwardly from the toothbrush head  20  in a direction opposite of the air flow from the exit port  36  as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. The toothbrush head  20  preferably includes a narrow and tapered neck portion similar to conventional toothbrushes. 
     D. Operation of Invention 
     In use, the user is able to utilize the toothbrush head  20  as a toothbrush to brush their teeth as they normally would operate a toothbrush (not illustrated). After or before brushing their teeth, the user would utilize the peak flow meter  30  of the present invention to measure the peak flow rate of the user. Because the peak flow meter  30  is connected to the toothbrush head  20  the user is reminded to utilize the peak flow meter  30  when they brush their teeth. In addition, it is relatively easy to utilize the peak flow meter  30  after or before brushing their teeth since the peak flow meter  30  is readily available from brushing the user&#39;s teeth. 
     What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.