Patent Publication Number: US-2011056032-A1

Title: Toothbrush With An Electric Circuit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/797,097, filed on Apr. 30, 2007, which claims priority from Taiwanese Patent Application No. 095220902, filed on Nov. 26, 2006. All prior applications are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a toothbrush, and more particularly, one provided with a power source, a light source, and an electronic circuit to release electric ions to automatically generate ions into an oral cavity to help maintain oral hygiene. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional toothbrushes generally available in the market usually have multiple rows of bristles disposed on an end of a handle for removing residuals found in gaps between teeth to maintain oral health when used in conjunction with toothpaste. However, they fail to reach deeper to the skin in one&#39;s mouth to improve cellular activity. With rapid development of technology, toothbrushes having embedded electronic devices can be generally found in the market. The electronic devices, including circuits and associated electronic parts are essentially soldered together. Therefore, the electronic device is limited in function and deprived of becoming more practical in use by consumers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush with a circuit that is capable of improving oral cavity health, displaying an innovative light performance, allowing easy operation and reducing production cost. To achieve these objectives, the toothbrush has an embedded power source connected to a circuit assembly provided with a light guide structure, and an ion generation device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view showing an electronic device of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a control circuit  20  is disposed in a handle  12  of a toothbrush  10  having multiple rows of bristles  11 . Conductive plates  30 ,  31  of different polarities are respectively connected to the control circuit. Contacts  32 ,  33  respectively protrude from conductive plates  30 ,  31  and contact positive and negative electrodes of cell  40 . A signal electrode  34  extends from the conductive plate  31 . A conductive plate  50  is disposed on and slightly protrudes from the handle  12  of the toothbrush  10 . The signal electrode  34  is connected to the conductive plate  50 . 
     A light-emitting device  21  is connected to the control circuit  20 . A conductive block  51  is also connected to the control circuit  20  and is disposed near the end of the toothbrush  10  having the bristles  11 . A light guide post  60  is located in the toothbrush  10  near to where the light-emitting device  21  is located. The light guide post  60  has a recessed light guide edge  61  disposed immediately next to a front end of the light-emitting device  21  such that light from light-emitting device  21  is visible through an exposed end of light guide post  60 . The control circuit  20  of the toothbrush  10  is sealed in the handle  12  by a cover  70 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , for a sectional view showing the preferred embodiment as assembled, wherein the conductive plate  31  on the control circuit  20  of the toothbrush  10  is provided with the contact  32  and the signal electrode  34  is in contact with the conductive plate  50 . This structure saves soldering of multiple lines, a job otherwise required in the prior art, to reduce production cost. The conductive plate  50  and the conductive block  51  disposed in the handle of the toothbrush  10  enable, when the toothbrush is held and dipped in water by a user, the control circuit  20  to be automatically operated to generate ions near the bristles  11  for cleaning the oral cavity of the user and, at the same time, to automatically cause the light-emitting device  21  to illuminate. The light-emitting device  21  may be a monochromatic or a multi-color light source adjacent to the light guide edge  61  of the light guide post  60 . One end or both ends of the light guide post  60  are slightly exposed out of the toothbrush handler to enable light from the light-emitting device  21  to be visible externally of the toothbrush  10  to prompt the user that the toothbrush  10  is in use. If the toothbrush  10  and/or the cover  70  is made of a material that is capable of refracting or guiding light, the toothbrush may provide unique light and shade performance effects when the light-emitting device  21  is activated to emit light. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the same results can be achieved by having the conductive plate  50  disposed on the cover  70  beneath the control circuit  20  and having the conductive plates  31 ,  50  in conductive contact with each other. 
     The present invention discloses a toothbrush including an electronic circuit disposed within a handle of the toothbrush and includes a combination of a power source connected to the circuit, a light guide structure and an ion generation device. The toothbrush achieves its purposes of maintaining oral hygiene, displaying innovative color performance effects, allowing easy operation, and reducing production cost to add more practical and economic values to the toothbrush.