Abstract:
A toothbrush assembly having a pressure-sensing device for activating an audible system disposed within the toothbrush. One embodiment discloses a toothbrush adapted to play music when pressure is applied longitudinally on toothbrush bristles. In another embodiment, toothbrush music playing function is activated when pressure is within a predetermined range. In another embodiment, a toothbrush comprises of a handle depicting different animals with a switch on its belly adapted to dispense toothpaste when pressure is applied to the belly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to oral hygiene products. More specifically embodiments of the present invention relate to toothbrushes that develop habit in children to properly brush their teeth.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The use of toothbrush for oral hygiene is well known by the public, and is a prior art. The present state of art provides toothbrushes, which are, in general, a one-piece device consisting of a brush head and a handle. Recent innovation in the field provides detachable toothbrushes where the brush head separates from the handle, enabling the user to couple a plurality of brush heads to a brush handle to fulfill countless objectives and requirements of the users.  
         [0003]     Recent innovations in this area have provided the public with music playing toothbrushes. A musical toothbrush generally includes sound generating components inside an enlarged handle and an ON/OFF switch that turns the music on or off. An example of music-playing toothbrush is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,762 to Scheiner. This toothbrush includes a handle of standard dimensions, and a switch having a push button to turn on and off the music. An alternative toothbrush is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,159 to Haitin. This toothbrush includes a motion-sensing device mounted on its handle and adapted to provide audible sound when toothbrush is in brushing use.  
         [0004]     Some of these music-playing toothbrushes are battery powered and some are powered by employment of piezoelectric technique. A battery-powered toothbrush, generally, uses a conventional battery or a rechargeable battery. The recharging of the rechargeable battery is by means of a recharging base; the recharging base includes a cavity for receiving the toothbrush and is adapted to electrically couple with the toothbrush while receiving power to charge the rechargeable battery from conventional A/C outlets generally used by the public.  
         [0005]     Regardless of the type of toothbrushes in the market, music playing or non-music playing toothbrush, a predominant requirement by parents with young children is to train their children to brush their teeth. Parents often have difficulty in encouraging their children to brush before bedtime or after meals. Parents with young children would appreciate a toothbrush that can help them develop tooth-brushing habit in their young children who often have tendency to evade tooth brushing.  
         [0006]     There are also another group of children who are trained and retrained to brush their teeth but somehow they are disinclined to brush their teeth when their parents are not in attendance or when they are not being supervised. Parents have often used verities of methods to encourage their children to brush their teeth or make tooth-brushing exercise more attractive to those children who are disinclined to brush their teeth. Parents with young children would place a great value for a device, which can relieve them from continuously reminding and chasing children to brush their teeth at night or after meals. While myriad of designs have been developed and presented to market for public use to fulfill these requirements yet parents are still in need of a means to encourage children to brush their teeth enthusiastically without reminder.  
         [0007]     There is another problem associated with training a child how to brush their teeth and even among those adult who have gum disease. The problem is what pressure to apply on a toothbrush when brushing one&#39;s teeth. Several studies have arrived at the conclusion that excessive pressure during brushing may lead to recession on premolar, and also gingival recession, which exposes the underlying cementum, often leading to hypersensitivity, loss of aesthetics, and may be a factor in root caries and root surface abrasion.  
         [0008]     To further encourage children to brush their teeth an easier method for applying toothpaste to toothbrush is helpful. Providing such method of applying toothpaste to a toothbrush will present a toothbrush as a toy for children who would otherwise treat a tooth brushing as a burden rather than an enjoyment.  
         [0009]     Therefore, a need exist for an improved toothbrush that appears as a toy to the children while substantially relieving parents from continuously monitoring their children to brush their teeth. Still another need exist for a toothbrush that can warn a child or an adult with sensitive gum to apply more or less pressure on the toothbrush while they are brushing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide toothbrushes, which are attractive to children and help develop habit of tooth brushing in children. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a toothbrush, which appears as a toy, amuses children while they are brushing their teeth thus turning a burdensome tooth-brushing exercise into a pleasant practice. Additionally, another embodiment of this invention provides a pressure-sensing toothbrush, which discontinue the music when pressure applied to brush head is not within prescribed range. Still another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of dispensing toothpaste from a toy-like toothbrush handle assembly, which enables a young child to apply toothpaste on a toothbrush and brush his/her teeth wile listening to a favorite music.  
         [0011]     Yet in another embodiment of the present invention, a user of toothbrush subject of the present invention, applies pressure on a handle of the musical toothbrush while a plurality of bristles coupled to a toothbrush head of the musical toothbrush touch user&#39;s teeth. In response to the pressure applied by the user a pressure sensitive plate coupled to the plurality of bristles causes an optical signal. An optical to electrical converter generates an electrical signal and transmits the electrical signal to programmable controller. The controller passes the electrical signal to a music source if the strength of the electrical signal, a function of pressure applied to the toothbrush head, is within a pre-determined range. The electrical signal causes the music source positioned in the toothbrush handle to provide music.  
         [0012]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt becomes obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the various drawing figures.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1A  illustrates front view of a prior art toothbrush.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1B  depicts side view of a prior art toothbrush.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1C  depicts a perspective view of a prior art toothbrush.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a prior art musical toothbrush with detachable head and an ON/OFF switch to turn on or off the music.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2B  depicts a music playing toothbrush assembly comprising battery, music chip and a coupling component to receive A/C power from a rechargeable device (not shown).  
         [0018]      FIG. 3A  is an embodiment of the present invention with a pressure sensing plate adapted to receive pressure from a plurality of toothbrush bristles.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3B  depicts another embodiment of the present invention where a programmable controller controls transmission of electrical signal generated by an optical to electrical converter  
         [0020]      FIG. 3C  depicts the embodiment of the present invention in its assembled form.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a circuit incorporated in an embodiment of the present invention that monitors pressure applied when brushing and plays music.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of steps performed in an exemplary toothbrush that warn a user when pressure is out of range and plays music when pressure applied to bristles is within range.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary view of a toothbrush with toothpaste-dispensing handle and toothpaste reservoir where handle depicts different animal figures.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a toothbrush for improving children&#39;s&#39; tooth-brushing habits, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.  
         [0025]     In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details or with equivalents thereof. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have been described in detail as not necessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.  
         [0026]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 1A  front view of a prior art toothbrush  100 , which is in common use, is illustrated. Toothbrush  100  is a one-piece device including a toothbrush head  110  and a toothbrush handle  120 . Toothbrush head  110  includes a plurality of bristles  105  that are used for tooth brushing. Bristles  105  are designed to bend for gentle brushing and to reach deep between teeth.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1B  depicts side view of a prior art toothbrush  100 . It is appreciated that toothbrush handle  120  is coupled with toothbrush  110  with a relatively flexible connecting piece  130 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 1C  depicts a perspective view of a prior art toothbrush  100 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 2A  depicts a prior art musical toothbrush  200  with detachable toothbrush head  240 , a toothbrush handle  210  that includes an On/OFF switch  215  to turn on or turn off the music. Toothbrush head  240  and toothbrush handle  210  are coupled by use of coupling  270 .  
         [0031]     Still referring to  FIG. 2A , toothbrush handle  210  is a hollowed body formed from a light permeable material having a first and a second end. Toothbrush handle  210  is adapted to receive power supply  220  which may be a conventional alkaline battery or a rechargeable battery through opening  221  at the first end of toothbrush handle  210 . Toothbrush handle  210  is also adapted to receive a user insertable electronic music chip  229 , insertable through a chip insertion opening  230 . Also included in the handle is a music generating circuit (not shown) adapted to retrieve sounds from the user insertable music chip  229  and generating a music output signal to speaker  280 . It is appreciated that toothbrush handle  210  is adapted to include a plurality of electrical contacts  285  on the second end that is adapted to couple to recharging devices that are available in most electronic stores.  
         [0032]     Coupling  270  has a first end receiving opening  260  and a second end receiving opening  290 . Toothbrush head  240  has a connecting portion  250  adapted to be received by coupling component  270  through first receiving opening  260 . Second receiving opening  290  of coupling  270  is adapted to receive toothbrush handle  210  to form an assembly as depicted in  FIG. 2B .  
         [0033]      FIG. 2B  depicts music playing toothbrush  200  in its assembled form. The assembly as depicted in  FIG. 2B , comprises battery  220 , music generating component  235 , speaker  236 , On/OFF switch  215 .  
         [0034]     It is appreciated that ON/OFF switch  215  can trigger musical generating component  235  independent of application of pressure to bristles  205 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  is an embodiment of the present invention including toothbrush head  340 , a pressure sensing plate  311  coupled to a plurality of bristles  310  and a converter adapted to convert optical signal to electrical signal.  
         [0036]     Pressure sensing plate  311  may be made of a sac containing piezochromic material liquid crystal cholesterol ester. When pressure is applied in direction  330  to pressure sensing plate  311  a deformation of pressure sensing material takes place and change of color will appear. Converter  350  converts optical response due to application of pressure on pressure sensing material inside pressure sensing plate  311  to electrical signal. The strength of electrical signal thus generated is a function of pressure applied in direction  330  on the plurality of bristles  310  during the tooth brushing activity and is transferred to pressure sensing plate  311 . The electrical signal thus generated is transmitted through conductor  345 . It is appreciated that a safe pressure to be applied to user&#39;s gum during tooth brushing is suggested by the American Dental Association.  
         [0037]      FIG. 3B  depicts another embodiment of the present invention where programmable controller  355  controls transmission of electrical signal generated by converter  350 . The pre-programmed controller  355  acts as a gate and may be programmed to pass electrical signals that fall within a pre-programmed range.  
         [0038]     Electrical signal generated by converter  350  is directly proportional to the pressure applied to the plurality of bristles  310 . The pre-programmed controller  355  can be programmed to pass electrical signals that fall within a range of electrical signal that is generated by converter  350  when pressure applied to the plurality of bristles  310  is within the pressure suggested by the American Dental Association.  
         [0039]     Electrical signal passed through controller  355  triggers switch  356  and causes power source  258  to electrically couple with music circuit  335 . Musical circuit  335  powered by power source  258  delivers music to the user of toothbrush as long as the pressure applied to the plurality of bristles  310  is within the range suggested by American Dental Association.  
         [0040]      FIG. 3C  depicts the embodiment of the present invention in its assembled form. The user of the musical toothbrush  300 , after application of toothpaste on the plurality of bristles  310 , commences tooth brushing activity by causing contact between the plurality of bristles  310  and his/her teeth and makes back and forth or up and down movement of the tooth-brush. According to this embodiment of the present invention, when pressure on direction  330  is within the pre-programmed range, as defined, musical circuit  335  is activated and provide an assortment of desired melodies for the user.  
         [0041]     It is appreciated that when pressure is applied to the plurality of bristles  310  pressure sensitive plate  311  generates optical signal and converter  355  converts optical signal to electrical signal. The present embodiment is adapted to trigger music circuit  335  only when pressure on the plurality of bristles  311  falls within a safe range of pressure to be applied to the user&#39;s gum recommended by the American Dental Association.  
         [0042]     It is further appreciated that pre-programmed controller  350  may be programmed to settings for lesser pressure where the user suffers from gum disease. The pre-programmable controller  350  may also be programmed for higher pressure when the plurality of bristles  311  are softer than standard softness available in the marketplace.  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of circuit  400  that monitors pressure applied during a tooth brushing activity. Pre-programmed controller  420  receives optical signal  409  from optical to electrical converter  430  through conductor  245  of  FIG. 3 . Pre-programmed controller  420  examines the strength of the electrical signal. When signal strength is within a predetermined range switch  410  closes and power supply  440  delivers electrical power to music source  450 . Amplifier  460  then amplifies the musical signal and delivers the musical signal to speaker  470 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of steps performed in an exemplary musical toothbrush where an optical signal converted to electrical signal is monitored and triggers activation of music circuit.  
         [0045]     In step  520 , electrical signal  510  is received and a first test of signal  510  takes place. If signal  510  is less than a predetermined range of electrical signals allowed to pass the programmable controller  355  of  FIG. 3B  no electrical signal is passed to music circuit  530 . Music circuit  530  will not be triggered and no musical signal is generated.  
         [0046]     In Step  540  electrical signal  510  is again tested and if electrical signal  510  is greater than the predetermined range of electrical signals allowed to pass the programmable controller  355  of  FIG. 3B  no electrical signal is passed to music circuit  530 . However, if electrical signal  510  is within the pre-determined value programmable controller  355  passes electrical signal  510  to music circuit  530  and a favorite music will be played while the pressure applied to toothbrush head stays within maximum and minimum range.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of the present invention where toothbrush  600  is a musical toothbrush as described in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  5  and further includes toothpaste reservoir  610 . To make the toothbrush  600  more appealing to children one face of handle depicts an animal figure. The animal figure is not limited and may be any known animal favored by a child. The animal can be used as dispensing mechanism and a user can apply pressure on any part of the animal and cause toothpaste to be dispensed through canal  670  to the base of toothbrush head  650 . A user of toothbrush  600  may view a toothbrush  6  with toothpaste-dispensing handle and toothpaste reservoir with handle depicting different animal figures.  FIG. 4  depicts a cross section of an embodiment of the present invention with pressure sensing device mechanically coupled with toothbrush bristles.  
         [0048]     In summary, the embodiments of the present invention provide a toothbrush that appeals to children because a child can select his/her favorite figure on the toothbrush handle. Furthermore a child can select from a variety of music chip that may be a birthday song or a song from his/her favorite singer. The present invention further provides a means for forming tooth-brushing habit in children who are otherwise disinclined to brush their teeth before sleep or after meals. Additionally, the present invention provides a system of constant mentoring for controlling proper pressure on gums during tooth brushing.  
         [0049]     The foregoing description of specific embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, 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 intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.