Patent Publication Number: US-2011061779-A1

Title: Power guard

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Non-Provisional Application which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/276,878, entitled “Power Guard” filed Sep. 17, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a power guard for an electric powered personal device, and in particular to providing a flexible guard adapted to fit snugly over an on/off switch on an electric toothbrush. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An electric toothbrush contains several basic components. The toothbrush shown in  FIG. 8  illustrates a conventional electric toothbrush  100 . The electric toothbrush  100  includes a removable brush  110  with a semi-rotating head  120  at the top. The electric toothbrush  100  also includes a mechanism inside the brush handle  130  that rotates back and forth and causes the semi-rotating head  120  to reciprocate and the turn from side to side. A cam and gear unit (not shown) is disposed under the semi-rotating head  120 . The cam and gear unit convert the high-speed rotary (spinning) motion of the electric toothbrush&#39;s electric motor  140  into a reciprocating (back-and-forth) brushing motion that causes the semi-rotating head  120  to clean a person&#39;s teeth effectively while in use. The cam and gear unit are connected to a gear (not shown) built into the top of the electric motor  140 , and the electric motor  140  drives the gear directly. Various batteries  150  (rechargeable or non-rechargeable) are electrically connected to, and located under the electric motor  140 . A circuit board (not shown) is attached within the electric toothbrush  100  that receives an activation input from an on/off switch  160  disposed on the outer case  170  of the electric toothbrush  100 . The outer case  170  of the electric toothbrush  100  may be made of a durable plastic. The on-off switch  160  is set into, and sealed by, a piece of thin flexible rubber. The outer case  170  keeps moisture, toothpaste and other contaminates away from the circuit board, electric motor  140 , and batteries  150 , which would otherwise cause damage to the electric toothbrush  100 . 
     Although an electric toothbrush is fairly simple in design, one of the on-going problems with electric toothbrushes occurs unavoidably while in transit. All too often an on/off switch of a stored electric toothbrush is activated when a force is applied by an adjacent packed object, and/or by compressing the luggage area around the on/off switch of the electric toothbrush thereby inadvertently turning the on/off switch to the active position. Unfortunately, activation of the electric toothbrush may go unnoticed and the battery will drain. 
     Even more embarrassing is the instance where the electric toothbrush begins to vibrate in a person&#39;s luggage while in the vicinity of others only to be mistaken by the bystanders as a different more personal electronic device. Consequently, when the user attempts to activate the on/off switch for use, to their surprise, there is no charge in the battery and the electric toothbrush is unusable. 
     In the past, electric toothbrush carrying cases have been marketed and sold with the electric toothbrush. The problem with these carrying cases is that they are large and cumbersome and often take up substantial space in a compact carrying case thereby occupying room at the expense of leaving behind other necessary travel items. Consequently, there is a need for a compact portable device that prevents inadvertent activation of the on/off switch of the electric toothbrush. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a guard for a personal electric device comprising a semi-rigid flexible cylindrical body having an inner surface and an outer surface bounded by a first end and a second end. The ends are aligned substantially perpendicular to an axis, and around which the cylindrical body of the guard is aligned. In use, the guard is adapted to snugly fit over an off/on switch on the electric device. The cylindrical body is sufficiently rigid to prevent an inadvertent activation of the on/off switch of the electric device. 
     The cylindrical body of the guard includes a flexible opening defining a first edge and a second edge substantially facing each other, and edges are aligned substantially parallel to the axis. In a stored position, the flexible opening is positioned, and axially aligned, toward a back of the electric device so that the on/off switch is protected from activation. And, in a use position, the flexible opening is positioned, and axially aligned, forward so that the on/off switch is aligned within the flexible opening to permit access to the on/off switch through the flexible opening. 
     The guard is composed of a resilient flexible material adapted to stretch and contract to snugly fit over a variety of different size and shapes of handles for various electronic devices. Likewise, the guard is rigid suitable for providing sufficient rigidity to prevent the on/off switch of the electric device from being activated when the guard is positioned over the on/off switch. 
     In another embodiment, the guard may be constructed as an extended guard that covers the entire handle and the on/off switch of the electric device. Alternatively, the guard may be constructed to cover the head of the electric device and the on/off switch. 
     Various ribs may be disposed on the guard to enhance the strength of the guard and to prevent activation of the on/off switch. 
     Another aspect is to integrate a power level meter into the guard that indicates the amount of charge residing in the battery and to provide on a display therefore. 
     These and other objects, features, and/or advantages may accrue from various aspects of embodiments of the present invention, as described in more detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary power guard for a personal electric device in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective front view of the guard secured in place over an on/off switch of an electric toothbrush in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective rear view of the guard secured over the on/off switch and the handle of the electric toothbrush in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of the guard secured over the on/off switch and the handle of the electric toothbrush, and the flexible opening of the guard in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of the guard secured over the on/off switch and the handle of the electric toothbrush in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of an extended guard secured over the on/off switch and the lower end of the handle of the electric toothbrush in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of an extended guard secured over the head of the electric toothbrush and the on/off switch of the handle in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a conventional electric toothbrush. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective front view of the guard including various ribs in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates another exemplary embodiment in which the guard includes a battery power meter in accordance with this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary power guard  10  constructed to cover and prevent the on/off switch  160  from activating a source of power that operates the personal electric device. In particular, the guard  10  is shown herein cylindrical in shape. The guard  10  may be made of a semi-rigid flexible material and may be placed over the on/off switch  160  disposed on the handle  140  of an electric powered device, such as an electric toothbrush  100  shown and described in these exemplary embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the electric powered device may be selected from a variety of different electric powered devices, such as an electric razor, an electric trimmer, an intimate personal device, and/or any other electric device. 
     The guard  10  may be made of a resilient flexible material adapted to stretch and contract and snugly fit over any number of handles for various commercially available electronic devices which come in various sizes and shape. It is to be understood that the various features and functionality among the guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  are interchangeable. 
     Various materials may be used to construct the guard  10 . The guard  10  may be composed from a variety of different materials including but not limited to, for example, rubber, a flexible composite or polymeric material and/or any other semi-rigid elastic material suitable to install the guard  10  onto the electric toothbrush  100  as well as to provide sufficient rigidity to prevent the on/off switch  160  of the electric toothbrush  100  from being activated when the guard  10  is affixed over the on/off switch  160  disposed on the handle  130  of the electric toothbrush  100 . Although the on/off switch  160  shown in these FIGS is embodied central to the handle  130  of the electric toothbrush  100 , it is to be understood that the on/off switch  160  may be configured as a twisting rotational switch and/or any other type of actuating switch which may be used in combination with the guard  10  described herein. 
     It is also to be understood that the guard  10  may constructed from a semi-rigid and/or more rigid material which is substantially tailored to fit over the on/off switch of the handle  130  and to prevent activation of the on/off switch when the electric toothbrush  100  is stored. In both instances, the material of the guard  10  is sufficiently rigid to prevent a user and/or an inadvertent activation of the on/off switch  160  of the electric toothbrush  100 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the guard  10  is shown constructed cylindrical in shape and includes a flexible opening  12 . At rest the guard  10  is biased to close the flexible opening  12 . The flexible opening  12  is provided to allow the guard  10  to expand open to fit over electric toothbrush handles  130  of various shapes and sizes. The flexible opening  12  is defined at its edges by a first edge  13  and a second edge  14 . Since the guard  10  is biased into a closed configuration, the first edge  13  and a second edge  14  substantially face each other at the flexible opening  12 . 
     At the peripheral ends of the cylindrical shaped guard  10  are disposed a first end  15  and a second end  16 . The ends are aligned substantially perpendicular to an axis running through the cylindrical shaped guard  10 . The guard  10  further defines an inner surface  17  and an outer surface  18 . 
     Although the guard  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a flexible opening  12 , it is to be understood that the guard  10  can be a closed continuous cylindrical shape without a flexible opening  12 . As such, the entire guard  10  can be allowed to stretch over the handle  130  of an electric toothbrush  100 . Furthermore, although the guard  10  is depicted as a cylindrical member, it is to be understood that the guard  10  may take a variety of different sizes and shapes. 
       FIGS. 1-5  depict an exemplary illustration of the guard  10  attached to the electric toothbrush  100 . In use, the flexible guard  10  may be slipped over the handle  130  from above, below or from the side. The guard  10  is positioned over the on/off switch  160  to prevent access to the on/off switch  160 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4  in more detail, the inner surface  17  of the guard  10  lies against, and over the handle  130  and on/off switch  160 . The outer surface  18  of the guard  10  faces outward and surrounds the outside of the guard  10 . The outer surface  18  of the guard  10  will come into contact with various items while in a stored position, such as in a travel carrying bag, or the like. An object of the guard  10  in the stored position is to prevent the on/off switch  160  from accidentally being activated when disposed in place over the on/off switch  160 . 
     Traditionally, and all too often, the on/off switch  160  of a stored electric toothbrush is activated by contact and/or force applied by an adjacent packed object and/or by an inadvertent compression of the luggage area around the on/off switch  160 . Unfortunately, activation of the electric toothbrush  100  may go unnoticed and the batteries  150  will drain. When the user attempts turn on their electric toothbrush  100  for use, to their surprise there is no charge in the batteries  150  and the electric toothbrush  100  is unusable until it can be recharged. 
     In a stored position (such as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 ), the flexible opening  12  is rotated and axially aligned toward the back of the electric toothbrush  100  so that the on/off switch  160  is protected from inadvertent activation. In use, the extended flexible opening  12  may be rotated forward so that the on/off switch  160  is aligned within the flexible opening  12 , and the flexible opening  12  is suitable opened to permit a user to access the on/off switch  160  through the flexible opening  12  in order to activate the electric toothbrush  100 . 
     When the user has finished brushing her teeth, she may then rotate the flexible opening  12  back into the storage position in which the flexible opening  12  is again facing the rear of the electric toothbrush  100  thereby covering the on/off switch  160  to prevent inadvertent activation. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a perspective and a rear view of the guard  10  secured over the on/off switch  160  and the handle  130  of the electric toothbrush  100  in accordance with this invention. From this view, the flexible opening  12  is shown defined at its edged by a first edge  13  and a second edge  14 . The exemplary electric toothbrush  100  shown has an ergonomic contour that the guard  10  flexibly adapts to in use as a result of the elastic properties of the flexible material of the flexible guard  10 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of the guard  10  secured over the on/off switch  160  and the handle  130  of the electric toothbrush  100  in accordance with this invention. As shown, the guard  10  flexibly stretches over the handle  130  and covers the on/off switch  160  of the electric toothbrush  100 . The flexible opening  12  is adapted to fit over and tightly snug against an irregular shaped ergonomic handle  130  of the electric toothbrush  100  such as shown in these figures. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a rear view of an extended guard  30  secured over the on/off switch  160  as well as the lower end of the handle  130  of the electric toothbrush  100  in accordance with another aspect of this invention. The flexible opening  12  may be extended as shown to facilitate the ease of installation of the extended guard  30 . As shown, the power guard  30  may comprise an extended construction that covers the lower end of electric toothbrush  100  and/or other electric powered device. The advantage being that the extended guard  30  can account for the on/off switch  160  disposed anywhere under the cover of the extended guard  30 . 
     As mentioned before, when the electric powered device is in a stored position, the flexible opening  12  may be rotated toward the back of the electric toothbrush  100  so that the on/off switch  160  is protected from inadvertent activation. In use, the extended flexible opening  12  may be rotated forward so that the on/off switch  160  is aligned within the flexible opening  12 . The user may then access the on/off switch  160  through the flexible opening  12  and activate the electric toothbrush  100  for use. 
     When the user has finished brushing her teeth, she may then rotate the flexible opening  12  into the storage position in which the flexible opening  12  is again facing the rear of the electric toothbrush  100  and covering the on/off switch  160  to preventing inadvertent activation. The same method of rotating and aligning the flexible opening  12  to access the on/off switch  160  applies for use with the various guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  described herein. The benefit of rotating the flexible opening  12  forward and back to access the on/off switch  160  is convenient in that the various guards  10 ,  20 ,  30  do not have to be removed to activate the electric toothbrush  100 . 
     In another aspect, the various guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  may be constructed in at least two parts (not shown) in which a first portion can rotate relative to a second portion. The advantage of this construction being able to rotate the first portion between a first storage position in which the on/off switch  160  is inaccessible, and a second storage position in which the on/off switch  160  is accessible. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of an extended guard  40  secured over the head  120  of the electric toothbrush  100  and the on/off switch  160  of the handle  130  in accordance with this invention. A flexible opening  12  may also be disposed along the extended guard  40  to facilitate the ease of installation of the extended guard  40 . Likewise, the flexible opening  12  may be moved from a first closed position in which the on/off switch  160  is inaccessible through the flexible opening  12 , and a second storage position in which the on/off switch  160  is accessible through the flexible opening  12 . 
     When stored, the open end  42  of the extended guard  40  is placed over the head  120  of the electric toothbrush  100  and slid down along the handle  130  until the extended guard  40  completely covers the on/off switch  160  in order to prevent inadvertent activation of the electric toothbrush  100  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Various other “personal” electronic devices can benefit from the configuration of the extended guard  30  where the on/off switch is a twisting on/off switch disposed at the bottom of the personal electronic device. It is to be understood that the various guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  may be modified and adapted to snugly fit over various on/off switch configurations, such as the on/off switch  160 , a twisting on/off switch and/or any other commercially available on/off switch for various portable electronic devices. 
     The extended guard  40  also serves a hygienic purpose in that in the stored position, the head  120  of the electric toothbrush  100  is protected against unsanitary contaminants that would normally come into contact with an uncovered head  120  of the electric toothbrush  100  and/or personal electric powered device. Although the top end  44  of the extended cover  40  is shown closed, it is to be understood that the top end  44  of the extended cover  40  may be open. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective front view of the guard  10  including various ribs  19  in accordance with this invention. The ribs  19  may be disposed about the guard  10  in order to enhance the strength of the guard  10  at various locations. As shown, the ribs  19  surround the inside surface  17  of the guard  10 . The advantage of providing the ribs  19  is to provide rigidity to the guard and to prevent the inadvertent activation of the on/off switch  160  when the guard is positioned over the on/off switch  160 . As a result, the rigidity of the ribs  19  will allow the guard to slide onto the electric toothbrush  100  with ease. 
     The guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  may be strengthened in a variety of different ways including, but not limited to: embedding a rigid material in the composition of the guard, placing a rigid member on the guard and/or integrating the rigid member into the guard, and/or any other suitable method for suitably enhancing the rigidity of the guard. It is to be understood that the rigid member disposed on the various guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  may be constructed as ribs inside, outside, within and/or in any other configuration on the guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates another exemplary power guard  20  including a battery power meter  22  in accordance with this invention. In use, the guard  20  is adapted to determine the amount of remaining charge available in the power source (e.g., batteries  150 ) of the electric toothbrush  100 . The power meter  22  may include a visual display  24  to indicate to a user the amount of charge remaining in the batteries  150  of the electric toothbrush  100 . Since there are generally no metal electrical contacts in electric toothbrushes  100 , the guard  20  will measure the amount of charge in the batteries though induction detection of the electromagnetic field in the guard  10  and/or the area surrounding the batteries  150 . 
     As such, the guard  20  may be constructed with a circuit including a material composition capable of induction and detection thereof. When detecting the amount of charge in the batteries  150 , the guard  20  will substantially mimic the characteristics of a transformer in which the electric toothbrush  100  and the guard  20  form a two-part transformer, with the guard  20  having one part of the transformer and the electric toothbrush  100  having the other. 
     When the guard  20  is placed on to the electric toothbrush  100  and a current is induced, a complete transformer is created and the residual charge in the batteries can flow through the guard  20  by induction. The amount of charge in the electric magnetic field flowing though the guard  20  can be detected and visually displayed  24  by indicia on the power meter  22  in a suitable range, such as between a range of “LOW” and “FULL.” 
     The guard  20  may be embedded with an inductive material property capable of detecting and determining the strength of the induction within the field adjacent to the battery  150  power source. That is, the strength of the electromagnetic field generated by the batteries  150  through the guard  20  can be detected and measured and the result displayed  24  on the power meter  22 . 
     Although an electric toothbrush  10  was used to describe an exemplary use for this invention, it is to be understood that various types of electric toothbrushes are available and may be implemented in accordance with this invention, e.g., an ordinary electric toothbrush to sonic toothbrushes. Likewise, it is to be understood that the guard  10  may be used on a variety of different devices, such as an electric razor, an electric trimmer, an intimate personal device, and/or any other electric device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , various aesthetic logos  46  and or designs may printed on the guards  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  including but not limited to, circles, rectangles, squares, triangles, trademark designs, a logo, a brand, cartoons, a mascot, and/or any obtuse shape, design or printed indicia in accordance with this invention. 
     The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.