Abstract:
The present invention provides a child&#39;s toothbrush that encourages the user to brush his or her teeth more often and for at least a proscribed minimum period of time per brushing. The present invention accomplishes this by providing a tangible, user perceptible reward at the end of a suitably long and well performed brushing sequence. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user is rewarded with a brief shower of bubbles blown from the handle of the device. In other embodiments, colored lights, music or sound, and/or encouraging textual or graphical messages reward the user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application takes benefit of U.S. Provisional App. 61/579,988 dated Dec. 23, 2011 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to oral hygiene, and more particularly to electrically powered toothbrushes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Poor oral hygiene is common among young children. In many cases, children fail to brush on a regular basis because they find it to be a chore and, therefore, lack motivation to do so. In other cases, children do brush on a regular basis but fail to spend sufficient time actually brushing. It is accepted that the time required for adequate brushing is approximately two minutes. See: Kelly Soderlund, American Dental Association, Take Two Minutes to Brush, http://www.ada.org/news/7484.aspx (Aug. 16, 2012). 
         [0004]    In an attempt to address the general challenge of improving oral hygiene in children, manufacturers have developed oral hygiene products that appeal specifically to children. For example, children&#39;s toothpaste is often flavored and colored to resemble some type of candy. Also, children&#39;s toothbrushes are often made in the shape of action figures, animals, etc. Some toothbrushes display colorful lights while brushing. See: U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,304 (“Light Interactive Toothbrush”). At least one toothbrush in the prior art combines an action figure with a light that flashes for a fixed period of time to encourage children to brush their teeth for that fixed period of time. Although children may prefer such products over adult oral hygiene products, such products have little measurable effect in terms of increasing the frequency with which children brush their teeth, much less length of time that a child brushes its teeth. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is a device that encourages children to brush their teeth more often by offering a positive stimulus or reward for doing so. What is also needed is a device that encourages children to spend enough time brushing their teeth when they do brush. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a child&#39;s toothbrush that encourages the user to brush their teeth more often and for at least a minimum amount of time, preferably two minutes per brushing. The present invention accomplishes this by providing a tangible, user perceptible reward at the end of a successful brushing sequence of the proscribed length of time. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user is rewarded with a brief shower of bubbles blown from the handle of the device. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, these bubbles may be accompanied by colored lights and/or various sounds. In still other embodiments, colored lights and various sounds alone or in combination may be produced. In another embodiment, a textual or graphic message may be displayed to the user. 
         [0007]    The device generally comprises a power source such as a battery, a control circuit, a sensor, and an output device. The power source is electrically connected to supply electrical power to the control circuit, the sensor, and the output device. The sensor is used to determine if, when, and/or how the toothbrush is being used. This sensor is also electrically connected to the aforementioned control circuit. The control circuit uses input from the sensor to determine if the user has used the toothbrush in the predetermined pattern for the predetermined time. The control circuit is electrically connected to the output device such that the control circuit causes the output device to begin to function. The output device may be any device that performs one or more user perceptible actions. Typical user perceptible actions include, but are not limited to, blowing bubbles, flashing colored lights, playing sounds, or displaying textual and/or graphical messages. 
         [0008]    In the first embodiment of the present invention, the user picks up the toothbrush, applies a measure of toothpaste to the bristles, and begins to brush his or her teeth. The sensor detects the spatially repetitive motion of the toothbrush as the user brushes and communicates an electrical signal to the control circuit to indicate this motion. In one embodiment, the toothbrush may determine if the user has manipulated the brush in a specific spatially repetitive manner for a predetermined period of time. Such spatially repetitive use would be expected to occur when using the toothbrush to repetitively brush the teeth in a back-and-forth or up-and-down manner. If the user brushes his or her teeth for a predetermined period of time, for example two minutes, the control circuit communicates an electrical signal to a bubble generator causing it to generate a stream of bubbles for a predetermined period of time. This stream of bubbles serves as a reward to the user for brushing his or her teeth for the proper amount of time. Other embodiments of the present invention provide different user perceptible rewards. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a toothbrush according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing toothbrush according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing toothbrush according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing toothbrush according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing toothbrush according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention improves over the prior art by providing a toothbrush that detects when it is being used and outputs a user perceptible action when a predetermined operating condition is met. 
         [0015]    In the following description, numerous specific details regarding possible componentry are set forth (e.g., motion detectors, motion sensors, touch sensors, audio devices, lighting devices, motors, blowers, bubble generators, etc.) in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced apart from these specific details. In other instances, details well known and widely used in the process of manufacturing toothbrushes (e.g., plastic injection molding, various techniques for attaching bristles, techniques for assembling electronic components, etc.) and miscellaneous components have been omitted, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
         [0016]    Turning now to  FIG. 1  a first embodiment of toothbrush  100  includes a handle  101  and a bristled head  102 . Bristled head  102  may be permanently attached to handle  101  or may be detachable such that bristled head  102  is replaceable. Handle  101  comprises control circuit  103 , a power source such as a battery  104 , a sensor  105 , and an output device  106 . Control circuit  103  is electrically coupled to battery  104 , sensor  105 , and output device  106 . Control circuit  103  monitors the state of sensor  105  to determine if, when, and/or how toothbrush  100  is being used. After control circuit  103  determines that the user has completed a predetermined brushing routine, control circuit  103  actuates output device  106 . 
         [0017]    Determining if the user has completed a predetermined brushing routine may be done in many ways. The process may be as simple as actuating output device  106  some fixed, predetermined time after sensor  105  initially detects the presence of the user. This first step, detecting the presence of a user, may be done either automatically (e.g., by detecting an orientation change in toothbrush  100 ) and/or manually (e.g. wherein sensor  105  is a simple pushbutton switch that the user merely actuates). The second step, determining when to actuate output device  106 , may also be done in many ways. For example, output device  106  may be actuated only after control circuit  103  counts a predetermined number of manual, spatially repetitive oscillations as recorded by sensor  105  as the brush is used. Similarly, output device  106  may be actuated only after brushing as sensed by sensor  105  has occurred for a fixed, predetermined period of time. In such an embodiment, if the user was to remove the toothbrush from the mouth temporarily, the time already spent brushing might be recorded and additional time would not be recorded until the user began brushing again. Only after the total amount of time spent brushing exceeds the predetermined period of time to actuate output device  106 , would control circuit  103  actuate output device  106 . Alternately, if the user removes the toothbrush from the mouth permanently before the proscribed brushing period has elapsed, any prior time spent brushing would be discarded thus requiring the user to complete an entire brushing cycle before control circuit  103  subsequently actuates output device  106 . 
         [0018]    Sensor  105  may be any type of device that could be used to detect the manual use of toothbrush  100 . For example, sensor  105  may be any type of known mechanical motion or force detecting device including, but not limited to: 1) An accelerometer; 2) Various types of motion sensing switches such as a pendulum type orientation sensor, a multi-pole mercury switch, or a rolling ball switch; 3) One or more inertial modules; 4) A simple pushbutton switch; and/or, 5) A microelectromechanical system (MEMS). Similarly, sensor  105  may also be a stress sensor (e.g., a thin-film resistor, a piezoresistive sensor, etc.) capable of detecting mechanical stress applied to the handle and/or neck of toothbrush  100  as the user brushes. Finally, in some embodiments of the present invention, sensor  105  may be a contact sensor (e.g. an optical sensor, a thermal sensor, a conductive fluid level type sensor, or a capacitive touch sensor, etc.) capable of detecting that a user has come into contact or is in contact with toothbrush  100 . 
         [0019]    Output device  106  represents any type of device that performs one or more user perceptible actions, including but not limited to:  1 ) Dispensing some enjoyable or recognizable substance;  2 ) Reproducing a variety of prerecorded sounds;  3 ) Flashing one or more colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) or lamps; and/or,  4 ) Displaying a graphical or textual message on a display device, such as an LCD. For example, output device  106  may be any type of motorized or electromechanical device that dispenses a substance into the user&#39;s mouth (e.g., flavored liquid, mouth wash, flavored foam, etc.) or dispenses other substances (e.g., bubbles or odoriferous compounds) into the air. Similarly, output device  106  may be an audio device that reproduces a prerecorded song, recorded digital message, and/or tones. Output device  106  may include a light emitting device (e.g., colorful LEDs or lamps) that flash in different spatial patterns and intensity. Similarly, output device  106  may be a display device capable of displaying textual or graphic messages such as an LCD. Such messages might include the number of spatially repetitive motions made during the last brushing session, the aggregate number of spatially repetitive motions made during all brushing sessions, and so on. 
         [0020]    With the various possible sensors  105  and output devices  106  that may be used, control circuit  103  may perform operations that: 1) Need only be triggered by an initial input signal (e.g., actuating a simple pushbutton switch, sensing that a user has touched toothbrush  100 , sensing a change in orientation of toothbrush  100 , etc.); and/or, 2) Need continuously acquired sensor information (e.g., counting the number of spatially repetitive oscillations as the user uses toothbrush  100 , counting the number of times mechanical stress is applied to the head of toothbrush  100  as the user brushes, and/or measuring the amount of time the head of toothbrush  100  is in the mouth, etc.). Control circuit  103  may further comprise non-volatile random access memory and/or working random access memory. This would allow control circuit  103  to perform certain useful tasks such as keeping a history of an individual&#39;s tooth brushing habits (e.g., frequency of brushing, regularity of brushing, time spent brushing, etc.). Such information would be beneficial in that an individual could keep track of their own habits or allow a parent to keep track of a child&#39;s brushing habits. Further, an ongoing, continuous history of good brushing episodes could be used to cause increasingly more appealing or complex output responses. For example, the first time the child brushes properly the output device might perform a single rewarding operation (e.g., blows bubbles out of the handle, plays an encouraging message, plays a brief light/sound show, etc.) after the brushing session is completed. Subsequently, if the child brushes properly during the following brushing session, the output becomes increasingly more elaborate, and so on. By the same token, if the child fails to brush properly or skips a brushing session, the next output might be less elaborate. An increasingly pleasant feedback experience coupled with gentle negative reinforcement could provide the child with motivation to continue consistently good bushing performance. 
         [0021]    In a variation of this embodiment, output device  106  may perform one or more operations (e.g., plays some type of song, message, and/or tone) in real-time as long as motion is detected. 
         [0022]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of toothbrush  200  is shown. Toothbrush  200  includes handle  201  and bristled head  202 . Handle  201  includes circuit board with control circuit  203 , battery  204 , sensor  205 , bubble generator  206 , soap reservoir  207 , soap tube  208 , and bubble outlet port  209 . Circuit board with control circuit  203  is electrically connected to battery  204 , sensor  205 , and bubble generator  206 . Bubble generator  206  is of the type well known in children&#39;s toys capable of blowing a stream of bubbles. Bubble generator  206  typically comprises an electric motor with fan or impeller providing a stream of air, a bubble forming chamber though which the stream of air flows, and one or more internal bubble forming structures, such as a circular wand insinuated in the central core of the bubble forming chamber or a pleated surface covering the inner aspect of the bubble forming chamber. Bubble generator  206  is fluidically coupled to soap reservoir  207  via soap tube  208  so as to receive soap from soap reservoir  207  for the production of bubbles. Soap may be delivered from soap reservoir  207  to bubble generator  206  passively (e.g. by gravity) or actively (e.g. by a venturi effect created in the bubble forming chamber due to air being propelled through it). Bubble generator  206  is also atmospherically coupled to bubble outlet port  209  so as to dispense bubbles therefrom. When bubble generator  206  is activated, its electric motor with fan or impeller is activated propelling a stream of air through its bubble forming chamber. Bubble solution is drawn into the bubble forming chamber where it coats the one or more internal bubble forming structures inside the bubble forming chamber. Air is entrained into the bubble solution forming a stream of bubbles which are emitted via bubble outlet port  209 . Bristled head  202  may be permanently attached to handle  201  or may be detachable such that bristled head  202  is replaceable. The soap from which the bubbles are made may optionally be hypoallergenic soap. In this embodiment, soap reservoir  207  is not refillable, thus making it necessary to acquire a new toothbrush when the bubble solution in soap reservoir  207  is depleted. 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a third embodiment of toothbrush  300  is shown. Toothbrush  300  includes a handle  301  and a bristled head  302 . Handle  301  includes a circuit board with control circuit  303 , battery  304 , sensor  305 , bubble generator  306 , soap reservoir  307 , soap tube  308 , and bubble outlet port  309 . These components are functionally equivalent to similarly named components in the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, handle  301  further comprises blower motor assembly  310 , air duct  311 , and soap reservoir access  312  with plug. Circuit board with control circuit  303  is electrically connected to battery  304 , sensor  305 , bubble generator  306 , and blower motor assembly  310 . Bubble generator  306  is atmospherically coupled to air duct  311  and fluidically coupled to soap reservoir  307  via soap tube  308  so as to receive air and soap, respectively, from which bubbles are made. In this embodiment, air enters through air duct  311  and is accelerated by blower motor assembly  310  before being injected into bubble generator  306 . Bubble generator  306  is atmospherically coupled to bubble outlet port  309  so as to dispense bubbles therefrom. Soap reservoir  307  may be refilled with soap via reservoir access  312  by removing the aforementioned plug. Although not shown, blower motor  310  may be mechanically coupled to bubble generator  306  so as to provide mechanical power thereto in lieu of a separate electric motor in bubble generator  306 . This third embodiment has two advantages over the second embodiment: 1) A toothbrush  300  constructed in accordance with the third embodiment produces a more vigorous stream of bubbles than the device of second embodiment; and, 2) A toothbrush  300  constructed in accordance with the third embodiment may be refilled with additional, or different, bubble soap when empty. As before, bristled head  302  may be permanently attached to handle  301  or may be detachable such that bristled head  302  is replaceable. Similarly, the soap from which the bubbles are made may optionally be hypoallergenic soap. 
         [0024]    Turning now to  FIG. 4  a fourth embodiment of toothbrush  400  is shown. Toothbrush  400  includes a handle  401  and a bristled head  402 . Handle  401  includes a circuit board with control circuit  403 , battery  404 , sensor  405 , bubble generator  406 , soap reservoir  407 , soap tube  408 , bubble outlet port  409 , blower motor assembly  410 , air duct  411 , and soap reservoir access  412  with plug. These components are functionally equivalent to similarly named components in the second and third embodiments, respectively, of the present invention. In this embodiment, handle  401  further includes a manual pushbutton switch  413 , or equivalent. Circuit board with control circuit  403  is electrically connected to battery  404 , sensor  405 , bubble generator  406 , blower motor assembly  410 , and manual pushbutton switch  413 . Bubble generator  406  is atmospherically coupled to air duct  411  and fluidically coupled to soap reservoir  407  via soap tube  408  so as to receive air and soap, respectively, from which bubbles are made. In this embodiment, air enters through air duct  411  and is accelerated by blower motor assembly  410  before being injected into bubble generator  406 . Bubble generator  406  is also atmospherically coupled to bubble outlet port  409  so as to dispense bubbles therefrom. Soap reservoir  407  may be refilled with soap via reservoir access  412  by removing the aforementioned plug. Although not shown, the motor of blower motor assembly  410  may be mechanically coupled to bubble generator  406  so as to provide mechanical power thereto in lieu of a separate electric motor in bubble generator  406 . Bristled head  402  may be permanently attached to handle  401  or may be detachable such that bristled head  402  is replaceable. In this particular embodiment, sensor  405  is a motion sensing sensor (e.g., an accelerometer, a pendulum type orientation sensor, a multi-pole mercury switch, a rolling ball switch, one or more inertial modules, and/or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)) such that circuit board with control circuit  406  not only detects the presence of the user but also counts brush strokes and/or measures other spatially repetitive motion characteristics indicative of brushing performance. In this embodiment, manual pushbutton switch  413  is used to initiate the process of counting brush strokes and/or measuring other spatially repetitive motion characteristics indicative of good brushing performance. 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 5  a fifth embodiment of toothbrush  500  is shown. Toothbrush  500  includes a handle  501  and a bristled head  502 . Handle  501  includes a circuit board with control circuit  503 , battery  504 , sensor  505 , bubble generator  506 , soap reservoir  507 , soap tube  508 , bubble outlet port  509 , blower motor assembly  510 , air duct  511 , and manual pushbutton switch  513 , or equivalent. These components are functionally equivalent to similarly named components in the second, third, and fourth embodiments, respectively, of the present invention. In this embodiment, handle  501  further includes a recess  514  allowing access to soap reservoir  507 . Circuit board with control circuit  503  is electrically connected to battery  504 , sensor  505 , bubble generator  506 , blower motor assembly  510 , and manual pushbutton switch  513 . Bubble generator  506  is atmospherically coupled to air duct  511  and fluidically coupled to soap reservoir  507  via soap tube  508  so as to receive air and soap, respectively, from which bubbles are made. In this embodiment, air enters through air duct  511  and is accelerated by blower motor assembly  510  before being injected into bubble generator  506 . Bubble generator  506  is also atmospherically coupled to bubble outlet port  509  so as to dispense bubbles therefrom. Recess  514  allows the user to remove soap reservoir  507  from handle  501  when it is empty and replace it with a full one. Although not shown, the motor of blower motor assembly  510  may be mechanically coupled to bubble generator  506  so as to provide mechanical power thereto in lieu of a separate electric motor in bubble generator  506 . Bristled head  502  may be permanently attached to handle  501  or may be detachable such that bristled head  502  is replaceable. In this particular embodiment, sensor  505  is a motion sensing sensor (e.g., an accelerometer, a pendulum type orientation sensor, a multi-pole mercury switch, a rolling ball switch, one or more inertial modules, and/or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS)) such that circuit board with control circuit  506  not only detects the presence of the user but also counts brush strokes and/or measures other spatially repetitive motion characteristics indicative of brushing performance. In this embodiment, manual pushbutton switch  513  is used to initiate the process of counting brush strokes and/or measuring other spatially repetitive motion characteristics indicative of good brushing performance. 
         [0026]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other brushing performance characteristics may be detected, measured, stored, and monitored using numerous equivalent techniques and components and that all such techniques and components are implicitly included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Similarly, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous alternative output devices other than those explicitly described are available to provide one or more pleasant or informative stimuli to the user and that all such output devices are implicitly included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Also, those skilled in the art will recognize that motorized electric toothbrushes are well known in the prior art. While some of the embodiments of the present invention comprise a motorized bubble generator and some additionally comprise a blower motor to pressurize atmospheric air before being injected into the bubble generator, it will be readily apparent that a single electric motor may perform both of these functions. Clearly, the same electric motor may be used to actuate a movable brushing head featuring one or more motions (e.g. rotation, sliding, and/or twisting). While these obvious variations are not described in detail to add clarity to the specification of the present invention, all such variations are also implicitly included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0028]    Further, in the second, third, fourth, and fifth embodiments bubble ports  209 ,  309 ,  409 , and  509 , respectively, are shown located at the end of handles  201 ,  301 ,  401 , and  501 , respectively. It will be specifically noted however that bubble ports  209 ,  309 ,  409 , or  509 , or any other output device for that matter, may be located at any point on the outer surface of the toothbrush including, without limitation, any point on the outer surface of handles  201 ,  301 ,  401 , and  501  respectively, or the outer surface of bristled heads  202 ,  302 ,  402 , and  502 , respectively.