Patent Publication Number: US-8981320-B2

Title: Apparatus for maintaining dental hygiene

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to sanitization and, more particularly, to an ultraviolet apparatus that may kill a majority or all of the microbes on the bristles of a toothbrush. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, when a person uses a toothbrush, the person cleans the toothbrush after every use. For example, once the person has completed brushing his or her teeth, the person rinses the toothbrush with water and then places the toothbrush on a countertop or a toothbrush holder in the bathroom. However, there may be microbes, which are microscopic living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or viruses, that are located on the countertop and/or on the toothbrush holder. Furthermore, simply rinsing the bristles of the toothbrush does sanitize the bristles of the toothbrush, and as a result, microbes may end up or remain on the bristles of the toothbrush, thus potentially negatively affecting the hygiene of the person. 
     Furthermore, when a person travels with a toothbrush, the person may place the toothbrush on the countertop of a hotel room or place the toothbrush in the travel kit, for example. The countertop in a bathroom of the hotel room is known to host microorganisms. Also, a travel kit that is not properly sanitized on a regular basis may host microorganisms. Thus, travel may particularly affect the hygiene of the toothbrush. 
     Currently, there are devices that attempt to prevent microbes from contacting the bristles. For example, a toothbrush may include a cap that covers the bristles after every use. However, the use of a cap does not effectively prevent microbes from contacting the bristles of the toothbrush. Without sanitizing the bristles of the toothbrush using proper measures, microbes cannot be effectively destroyed. Also, repeated use of the cap without proper sanitization causes the bristles to carry microbes. Thus, it may be beneficial to employ a more effective sanitization mechanism that reduces or eliminates microbes from a toothbrush, and in particular, the bristles of the toothbrush. 
     SUMMARY 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide solutions to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully identified, appreciated, or solved by current bristle cleaning mechanisms. For example, one or more embodiments of the present invention pertain to an apparatus that includes an ultraviolet light configured to eliminate bacteria from the bristles of a toothbrush. 
     In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a body. The body includes an elongated member configured to extend outwards from the body. The elongated member includes a head including a plurality of bristles. The apparatus also includes a cap configured to kill microbes on a plurality of bristles when attached to the body. 
     In another embodiment, an apparatus may include at least one light attached to an interior of the apparatus and configured to kill microbes on a plurality of bristles. 
     In yet another embodiment, an apparatus may include an elongated member housed within a body of the apparatus. The elongated member may include a head enclosed within an enclosure to mitigate against microbes coming in contact with the head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of certain embodiments of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. While it should be understood that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a toothbrush with bristles, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a toothbrush with a cap, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an elongated member, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a spring, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates an external view of a first member of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates an internal view of the first member of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the first member of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates an internal view of a second member of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a cross sectional view of the second member of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a base of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a first and second view of a cap, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cap, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention pertain to an apparatus, and in particular, a toothbrush, that encourages children, as well as adults, to use the apparatus to brush their teeth and maintain healthier teeth. In one embodiment, the apparatus may be utilized for travel purposes, or for home use. For example, the apparatus may be configured to clean the bristles of the toothbrush regardless of the environment in which the toothbrush is used. 
     The apparatus may include a body and a cover to cover the bristles. To access the bristles, a release button may be pressed to push, or extend, the brush head out of the body. The cap may be removed and brushing can be performed. Once the person has finished brushing his or her teeth, the person may push the brush head inside the body, and attach the cap on the bristles to cover and protect the bristles from getting damaged or affected by microbes. In certain embodiments, an ultraviolet light may be included inside the cap to eliminate a majority or all the germs on the bristles, thereby making the apparatus ideal for travel purposes. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a toothbrush  100  with bristles  125 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, toothbrush  100  includes a body  105  having a release button  110 . When release button  110  is pressed by the user, an elongated member  115  is extended from body  105 . This functionality may be implemented using a latch and spring system, a servo, or by any other system that would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Elongated member  115  includes a head  120 . Head  120  includes a plurality of bristles  125 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a toothbrush  200  with a cap  225 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. Toothbrush  200  includes a body  205  having a release button  210 , such that an elongated member located inside body  205  can extend out of body  205  when pressed by the user. In this embodiment, the elongated member (not shown) is contained within body  205  with the bristles (also not shown) of the elongated member contained within a cover  215 . Cover  215  may be used to protect the bristles from acquiring microbes when toothbrush  200  is not in use. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an elongated member  300 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. Elongated member  300  includes an elongated structure  305  including at least two connecting elements (or structures)  310 . Connecting elements  310  are configured to maintain a position of elongated member  300  when elongated member is contained within a body of a toothbrush or when extended outward from the body of the toothbrush. 
     Elongated structure  305  also includes a spring holding mechanism  315 . Spring holding mechanism  315  may be operably attached or otherwise connected to a spring  330 . Spring  330  is configured to extend elongated member  300  from the body of the toothbrush when a release button, such as release button  110  of  FIG. 1 , is pressed by the user. As shown in  FIG. 4 , spring  400  may be a conical spring. The spring may also be a helical spring, or any suitable type of spring that would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Elongated member  300  also includes a head  320  with a plurality of bristles  325 . Bristles  325  are configured to clean the teeth of a user when applied against the teeth of the user in any desired motion. As discussed above, a cover may be used to cover head  320  and bristles  325  when the toothbrush is not in use. 
     It should be appreciated that the body of the toothbrush includes at least two members in this embodiment.  FIGS. 5A-C  illustrate a first member  500 , and  FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a second member  600 , according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5A , for example, illustrates an external view of first member  500 . First member  500  may include an opening  505  that allows a release button to be inserted through opening  505 . Opening  505  may be a circular opening, a rectangular opening, or may be any shape that would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. As discussed above, the release button is configured to allow the elongated member to extend outward when the user presses the release button. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates an internal view of first member  500 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The internal view of first member  500  shows a recess  515  that allows an elongated member to move up and down in a vertical direction. Recess  515  may be formed by guiding members  510 . Guiding members  510  may prevent the elongated member from moving in a horizontal direction. A guide rail  530  is included in this embodiment to also allow the elongated member to move in a vertical direction rather than a horizontal direction. 
     First member  500  may also include a release mechanism  520 . Release mechanism  520  may be located in recess  515 , such that a release button  520  may extend through opening  505 . Release mechanism  520  may be operably connected to first member  500  via a connecting member (not shown). Moreover, a spring (not shown) may be situated between release mechanism  520  and first member  500 , such that when release button  525  is pressed by the user, the elongated member may be released from the body of the toothbrush. 
       FIG. 5C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of first member  500 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the cross-sectional view, release button  525  extending through hole  505  is shown. Also, guiding members  510  form a recess  515 . 
     As mentioned above,  FIG. 6A  illustrates an internal view of a second member  600  of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, second member  600  includes guiding members  605  that form a recess  610 . See also  FIG. 6B . As discussed above, the elongated member is placed within a recess formed by the first member and the second member of the toothbrush (namely, recesses  515  and  610 ), such that the elongated member can move in a vertical direction. Similar to the guiding members shown in  FIG. 5B , guiding members  605  of second member  600  prevent the elongated member from moving in a horizontal direction. To further prevent movement in a horizontal direction, second member  600  also includes a guide rail  615  configured to guide the elongated member in a vertical direction. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a base  700  of the body, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Base  700  illustrates a first member  705  and a second member  710 . When first member  705  and second member  710  are connected, a first hole  715  and a second hole  720  are formed. First hole  715  and second hole  720  are configured to drain water or other liquids from the body. For example, when a user brushes his or her teeth, liquid, such as water and/or toothpaste, may be captured within the toothbrush. The liquid may slowly corrode internal components, such as the spring of the toothbrush. To prevent this type of corrosion, first hole  715  and second hole  720  are configured to release the captured water from the body of the toothbrush. This may increase the longevity of the toothbrush. 
       FIG. 8A  illustrates first view of a cap  800 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cap  800  may include a first member  805  and a second member  810 . First member  805  and second member  810 , when adjoined, are configured to provide an enclosure around the head, including the bristles, of the toothbrush. This may allow the bristles to be stored within cap  800  and prevent microbes from contacting the bristles of the toothbrush when a user places the toothbrush on a bathroom countertop, sink, etc. 
     It should be appreciated that cap  800  may be closed, and remain closed, by locking mechanisms (not shown). For example, first member  805  and second member  810  may be adjoined by a snap, a latch, or any other suitable mechanism. In order to open and close cap  800 , a hinge  815  may be used. See  FIG. 8B . This may allow first member  805  and second member  810  to open and close in a horizontal direction. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a cap  900 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, cap  900  may include an ultraviolet light  905  configured to kill microbes from the bristles of the toothbrush. In some embodiment, a plurality of ultraviolet lights may be utilized depending on the configuration of the cap, bristles, etc. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other types of lights, other than ultraviolet lights, may be used to kill microbes on the bristles of the toothbrush. 
     A power supply  910  may provide power to ultraviolet light  905 . Power supply  910  may include button batteries, AA batteries, AAA batteries, rechargeable batteries, or any type of battery that would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Power supply  910  may be a removable power supply, such that the power supply may be swapped when power is lost. Power supply  910  may also be configured to be plugged into a power outlet, providing direct power, power to charge the battery, etc. In certain embodiments, no battery may be used and outlet power alone may power the components of the toothbrush. 
     Cap  915  may also include a sensor  915  configured to detect whether cap  900  is opened or closed. In certain embodiments, sensor  915  may also detect whether bristles are contained within cap  900 . If sensor  915  detects that cap  900  is closed and/or bristles are contained within cap  900 , then an activation unit  920  may be configured to activate ultraviolet light  905  to kill microbes on the bristles of the toothbrush. 
     Activation unit  920  may activate ultraviolet light  905  for a predetermined or predefined period of time, e.g., 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc. After the predetermined period of time has elapsed, activation unit  920  may deactivate ultraviolet light  905  to conserve the energy stored within power supply  905 . It should also be appreciated that the period of time for activating ultraviolet light  905  may be changed depending on the configuration of the bristles and/or the desires of the user. 
     One or more embodiments pertain to a toothbrush that utilizes ultraviolet light(s) to kill microbes on bristles of the toothbrush. For example, when the bristles of the toothbrush are inserted into a cap of the toothbrush, an ultraviolet light is activated for a predetermined period of time to kill microbes on the bristles of the toothbrush. 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. 
     The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of “certain embodiments,” “some embodiments,” or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in certain embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in other embodiments,” or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment or group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations that are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention, therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims.