Abstract:
A toothbrush has an integral identification system for distinguishing one (1) toothbrush from another. At the bottom of the toothbrush handle is a cylinder and rotating thumb wheel assembly. The cylinder has a plurality of indicia which are visible one (1) at a time through a window on the side of the brush handle. A user rotates the thumb wheel to display an individual indicium. Once selected, a locking pin mechanism prevents the cylinder from being accidentally turned. These features allow multiple users to distinguish their toothbrush from another&#39;s by verifying the displayed indicia. Alternative embodiments can be retrofit and/or replaced on a toothbrush handle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are currently no applications co-pending with the present application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed towards oral hygiene devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to identifiers for toothbrushes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The benefits of brushing one&#39;s teeth are well known to all. Brushing removes food particles and plaque on one&#39;s teeth while keeping one&#39;s mouth and breath fresh. The common toothbrush is a great tool for performing such a task provided that it is periodically replaced. However, it is during this replacement that confusion often results, especially in bathrooms with multiple users. Spouses, siblings and other relatives typically share a common spot to store all of their toothbrushes. As the various toothbrushes are replaced and colors of the toothbrushes are changed, it is a common occurrence to use someone else&#39;s toothbrush by mistake. Not only is such action unsavory on the part of both people, but such action can spread disease and illness as well. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which one&#39;s own toothbrush can be easily identified amongst others in order to avoid using the wrong toothbrush. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a toothbrush identifier which provides a toothbrush with an integral but changeable identification system useful for identifying one&#39;s toothbrush from others. 
     The present invention is a toothbrush having a conventional plastic handle and a conventional bristle head. The lower portion of the handle is provided with a cylinder that rotates around the exterior of the toothbrush handle. The cylinder includes indicia such as sequential numbers, letters, graphic symbols or the like which are visible, one at a time, through a vision window on the side of the brush handle. A user can set the indicia when removing the toothbrush from its packaging. Once set, a detent mechanism prevents it from accidentally turning. These features allow multiple users, even those with the same color and style of toothbrush, to easily determine their toothbrush from others by verifying their selected number, letter, or graphic symbol. At the end of its useful life, the invention is simply discarded and a new one takes its place. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a toothbrush with identifier mechanism  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cut-away view of the toothbrush with identifier mechanism  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view taken through a locking mechanism  20  of the toothbrush with identifier mechanism  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view showing a threaded identification mechanism  120  according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a retrofittable identification mechanism  250  according to another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  toothbrush with identifier mechanism 
               20  identification mechanism 
               24  indicia 
               25  Braille feature 
               26  thumb wheel 
               28  viewing aperture 
               30  locking pin 
               31  slot 
               32  cylinder 
               34  locking aperture 
               36  post 
               37  horizontal portion 
               38  vertical portion 
               50  handle 
               52  head 
               54  neck 
               56  bristle bundle 
               100  user 
               120  threaded identification mechanism 
               122  male threaded region 
               150  replaceable handle 
               154  female threaded region 
               220  retrofittable identification mechanism 
               222  friction boot 
               250  existing toothbrush 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, is depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and alternate embodiments are shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention relates to a toothbrush  10  having a mechanism that identifies an individual user&#39;s  100  personal toothbrush from others. The features of the toothbrush  10  allow multiple users  100 , even those utilizing toothbrushes with an identical color and/or style, to easily identify their own toothbrush via individually selected indicium  42 . 
     Refer now to  FIG. 1 , which is a front view of the toothbrush  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The toothbrush  10  functions similar to a conventional toothbrush. It has a plastic handle  50  that tapers down along a slightly angular plastic neck  54  to a head  52  with a plurality of embedded bristle bundles  56 . It should be understood that the toothbrush  10  may take the form of a variety of different toothbrush styles having different shaped handles  50 , various colors and patterns, differently sized and shaped heads  52 , various patterns of bristles  56 , and the like, without deviating from the teachings of the invention. Therefore, the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the toothbrush  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the toothbrush  10  includes an integral identification mechanism  20  that is integrated into a lower portion of the handle  50 . The integral identification mechanism  20  comprises an internal cylinder  32  that can be selectively rotated via an integrally-molded thumb wheel  26 . The cylinder  32  has a plurality of unique molded-in and protruding indicium  24  that are envisioned as comprising sequential numerals which range from one (1) to ten (10) or some other such identification. Each indicium  24  may be individually observed one (1) at a time through a stationary viewing aperture  28  that is located along a front surface of the handle  50 . 
     The indicia  24  are envisioned as being accompanied by corresponding molded-in Braille features  25 , thereby enabling blind or visually impaired individuals to utilize the toothbrush  10  or to allow use in low light levels. It is understood that the indicia  24  may also comprise other symbols such as, but not limited to: sequential letters, graphic symbols, or the like, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the toothbrush  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively partial cut-away and section views of the locking mechanism  20 . A user  100  rotates the thumb wheel  26  to select a specific indicium  24 . Once the indicium  24  is selected, a locking mechanism  30  prevents the cylinder  32  from being rotated and the selected indicium  24  from being accidentally changed. 
     The locking mechanism  20  provides a mechanism to select and lock a particular indicium  24  in place to be viewed through the viewing aperture  28  for unique identification of a user&#39;s  100  toothbrush. The locking mechanism  20  uses the thumb wheel  26 , the viewing aperture  28 , a locking pin  30 , a slot  31 , the cylinder  32 , and a locking aperture  34 . The bottom of the handle  50  comprises a round cross-section containing the cylinder  32 , which is rotated around a vertical post  36  that is located inside the handle  50  along a vertical centerline. 
     The post  36  has a “dumbbell” shape with a recessed center section onto which the cylinder  32  rotates. The cylinder  32  includes the thumb wheel feature  26  which extends around a lower surface of the handle  50  and a plurality of equally-spaced locking apertures  34  that are arranged along an upper surface of the cylinder  32 . The apertures  34  enable locking the cylinder  32  in position via engagement of the locking pin  30 . The thumb wheel  26  protrudes outwardly slightly beyond the outer surface of the handle  50 . It is envisioned that the post  36  and the cylinder  32  provide “clicking” features or a slight relative friction to provide a slight resistance to turning, thereby providing a user  100  with a degree of rotational control during selection and locking of the desired indicium  24 . The thumb wheel  26  beneficially has a knurled surface to enable easy rotation of the cylinder  32  to select a desired indicium  24  to be viewed in the aperture  28 . 
     The locking pin  30  is an inverted “L”-shaped member that is positioned in and guided along a slot  31  in the outer surface of the handle  50 . The “L”-shaped locking pin  30  can take a horizontal portion  37  and a vertical portion  38 . The horizontal portion  37  provides a small sliding feature that is flush with the outer surface of the handle  50  to allow a user  100  to move the locking pin  30  vertically to selectively lock or release the rotary motion of the cylinder  32 . With the locking pin  30  raised; the cylinder  32  can be rotated using the thumb wheel  26  to move a desired indicium  24  into the aperture  28 . Sliding the locking pin  30  down by moving the horizontal portion  37  down results in engagement of the vertical portion  38  with one of the locking apertures  34  of the cylinder  32 . Such engagement corresponds to the desired indicium  24  being located in the aperture  28 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , which is a front view of an alternate threaded identification mechanism  120  that enables replacement of a handle  150 . Such an identification mechanism  120  can greatly extend the useful life of the threaded identification mechanism  120 . The alternate threaded identification mechanism  120  is similar in construction and functionality to the previously described preferred identification mechanism  20 ; however, the threaded identification mechanism  120  has a male threaded region  122  along an upper edge. This male threaded region  122  enables periodic replacement of the handle  150  having a mating female threaded region  154  when the handle portion  150  becomes worn. 
       FIG. 5  presents a front view of a retrofit identification mechanism  220  that is in accord with yet another embodiment of the present invention. The retrofit identification mechanism  220  provides a mechanism for attachment to an existing toothbrush  250  via an integral friction boot  222  that is located along a top edge. The retrofit identification mechanism  220  is similar in construction and functionality to the previously described preferred identification mechanism  20 ; however, the retrofit identification mechanism  220  has the friction boot  222  which is a flexible tubular rubber or latex appendage that protrudes up from an upper end. The friction boot  222  is capable of being stretched and inserted over a bottom end of an existing toothbrush  250 . The retrofit identification mechanism  220  provides a means of repeated usage on a plurality of toothbrushes  250 , thus extending the useful life of the retrofit identification mechanism  220 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and while only three particular configurations are shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure such is not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be configured as in  FIG. 1 . The method of utilizing the preferred embodiment of the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the device  10  having a desired shaped, color handle  50 , head  52  size, pattern of bristles  56 , and the like; selecting a desired indicium  24  by sliding the locking pin  30  upward using a fingernail or small tool; rotating the cylinder  32  using the thumb wheel  26  until observing a desired indicium  24  within the viewing aperture  28 ; sliding the locking pin  30  down to lock the position of the cylinder  32  and selected indicium  24 ; using the device  10  in a similar manner as a normal toothbrush; and benefiting from individual identification of a user&#39;s  100  toothbrush. 
     The method of using the alternate embodiment threaded identification mechanism  120  is as follows: using the threaded identification mechanism  120  and attached replaceable handle  150  in a similar manner to a normal toothbrush until the replaceable handle  150  is worn; removing the replaceable handle  150  by unscrewing the male  122  and female  154  threaded regions; screwing the threaded identification mechanism  120  onto a new handle  150 ; selecting and securing the desired indicium  24  as described above; and, resuming normal use of the alternate threaded embodiment  120 ,  150 . 
     The method of utilizing the alternate retrofittable identification mechanism  220  is as follows: using the retrofittable identification mechanism  220  and existing toothbrush  250  in a similar manner as a normal toothbrush until the existing toothbrush  250  is worn and needs to be replaced; removing the existing toothbrush  250  by stretching the friction boot  222  of the retrofittable identification mechanism  220  out and removing the worn existing toothbrush  250 ; inserting the retrofittable identification mechanism  220  on a bottom handle of a new toothbrush  250 ; selecting and securing the desired indicium  24  as described above; and, resuming normal use of the alternate retrofittable embodiment  220 ,  250 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.