Abstract:
A toothbrush, including a head portion, a handle portion, a locking mechanism configured to lock said head portion to said handle portion, a capsule including a motor assembly and power supply, the capsule being configured to be received within said handle portion, and at least one communication connection configured to enable said toothbrush to communicate with one or more external computing devices.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/895,593, filed on Oct. 25, 2013, incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to toothbrushes; and more particularly to the addition of novel features to a toothbrush, including customization of the exterior for utility and aesthetic appeal, customizable motor modes, and convenient storage capacity. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In the field of oral care toothbrushes, there exists a great variety of industrial design styles and aesthetics among both electric and non-electric toothbrushes. A great many styles are too distinctly shaped, or are colored in a garish manner, and do not conform to preferences for style for all users. As such, it would be advantageous to allow a user to give their toothbrush a custom design to fit their individual needs or preferences. Such custom designs may enable, for example, a better grip during the actual brushing action, or they may have a visual design that is aesthetically pleasing to a particular user. 
         [0006]    Similarly to the problem of the above-mentioned design of conventional toothbrushes, the modes of operation of conventional electric toothbrushes offer limited options for user customization. A conventional electric toothbrush typically offers a single button to turn on and off the vibratory motor inside the toothbrush. It is common for electric toothbrushes, once activated with their main switch, to remain “on” (e.g., motor activated) for a predetermined amount of time. 
         [0007]    After the predetermined amount of time has passed, a timer inside the toothbrush will switch the toothbrush motor off and return the toothbrush to an “off” (e.g., motor not activated) state. This function is to enable a toothbrush to inform the user that he or she has brushed their teeth for the appropriate amount of time and may now stop. Because some users may prefer a longer or shorter period of brushing their teeth than the typically recommended amount of time, it would be advantageous for the user to be able to customize the default time period for the timer inside the toothbrush. 
         [0008]    In conventional toothbrushes, during the period in which the toothbrush is “On”, the vibratory motor may pause or pulse its action to indicate a pre-specified period of time has passed. This period of time is typically 30 seconds, and it indicates to the toothbrush user that they should switch from the front of their teeth to the back or from the bottom row of teeth to the top row of their teeth. This interval period of time is not user-defined and therefore might not align with a desired brushing duration for all users. It would be advantageous for the user to be able to set the reminder interval duration so as to effectively brush their teeth the appropriate amount of time that each individual user deems necessary. 
         [0009]    Conventional electric toothbrushes may offer one or two motor speed levels in order to suit the user&#39;s preference for vibratory strength. These motor speeds are typically set as an intermediate step in-between the standard on-off cycle. The user, by pressing the toothbrush&#39;s main switch once, may turn the motor on to its standard speed. By pressing the main switch again, the user may engage the motor into either the high or low RPM speed for either high or low vibratory strength. A third press of the main switch may turn off the motor entirely. This method of operation involves a less than optimal user interface since a user may prefer only one single motor speed and may want that motor speed to be an predetermined Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) value that corresponds to their exact preference for vibratory strength. It would be advantageous to allow a user to set a single default speed for the motor from a plurality of speeds when the toothbrush&#39;s main switch is pressed. 
         [0010]    Conventional electric toothbrushes also typically have a single main switch for operating the motor. This switch may be pushed or indented by the user&#39;s finger in order to activate the electric motor on and off. However, the experience of using a toothbrush may be advantageously improved by enabling a toothbrush to turn its motor on automatically once the user begins to brush his/her teeth, thereby requiring fewer direct inputs from the user. 
         [0011]    In order for a mechanical switch to function, there are moving parts that actuate the electrical connections that power the motor (e.g., vibratory motor in an electric toothbrush). These moving parts may create a weakness in the design of a product that must remain sealed from the intrusion of water. If water, oils, toothpaste scum, etc. were to infiltrate the interior of a toothbrush motor, the motor would cease to function properly. A more secure system for actuating a toothbrush&#39;s vibratory motor than pressing a switch (as in conventional electric toothbrushes) may be to allow for a non-mechanical or motion-based switch to actuate the motor and turn the toothbrush to the “on” state. Such a touch-less solution would advantageously reduce the number of parts needed for construction, and allow for improved sealing against water and other environmental contaminants. 
         [0012]    A typical storage place for a toothbrush is the bathroom sink, and the surfaces in that environment may not always allow for easy storage of the toothbrush when it is not being used. Whether through a scarcity of space on the sink counter, or to reduce the appearance of clutter, it would be advantageous for a user to store the toothbrush on a vertical surface. Mounting the toothbrush on a vertical surface would allow for the brush to drip dry away from contaminating germs and bacteria, reduce space used on the counter, and allow for a more neat and organized bathroom storage arrangement for users. 
         [0013]    It is advantageous for a toothbrush to be vertically standing on a sink counter for many of the same reasons that it is advantageous for the toothbrush to be mounted on a vertical surface (e.g., a vertically standing toothbrush uses less space on a sink counter than a toothbrush lying prone, the positioning of the toothbrush may prevent contamination from germs on the counter surface, it provides for a more organized bathroom storage arrangement, etc.). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    A toothbrush, including a head portion, a handle portion, a locking mechanism configured to lock said head portion to said handle portion, said handle portion being removable and replaceable with a different handle portion of a different design; and a capsule including a motor assembly and power supply, the capsule being configured to be received within said handle portion. 
         [0015]    A toothbrush, including a head portion, a handle portion, a locking mechanism configured to lock said head portion to said handle portion, a capsule including a motor assembly and power supply, the capsule being configured to be received within said handle portion, and at least one communication connection configured to enable said toothbrush to communicate with one or more external computing devices. 
         [0016]    These and other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The disclosure will provide details in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a perspective and an exploded view of a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a perspective and an exploded view of a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a rear perspective view of a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a rear perspective view of a toothbrush including a travel cap in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a cross sectional view of an electric motor capsule included within a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a method of operation of a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a schematic view of the connectivity systems of a toothbrush to other systems in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of a locking mechanism of a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of a locking mechanism of a toothbrush in accordance with the present principles; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of a toothbrush including a travel cap with a substantially flat bottom surface in accordance with the present principles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    In accordance with the present principles, systems and methods are provided for brushing teeth using a toothbrush with various novel features according to the present principles. One novel feature is a design which enables for easy customization of the toothbrush exterior (e.g., for utility or aesthetic appeal through a replaceable handle or skin). Another novel feature is user customizable motor modes which may allow the default operation to be changed according to user specifications for various features (e.g., Revolutions Per Minute (RPM), vibration duration, reminder vibrations, gesture control, etc.). To allow the user more convenient storage and access of the toothbrush, a micro-suction tape may be included on the toothbrush or its cap to enable the toothbrush to be mounted on any smooth surface. 
         [0030]    A non-mechanical touch sensor may be included to enable the user to operate the motor and modes of operation of the toothbrush with greater reliability, fewer moving parts, and a greater resistance to water permeating the electric motor cavity. Furthermore, the various embodiments of the present toothbrush system may also enable the novel features of customizability, mountability, and touchless control. The features relating to the customizability of the toothbrush system according to the present principles may address the preference of a user for a product which uniquely suits his/her specific and particular criteria for aesthetic, ergonomic, and functional qualities. 
         [0031]    It is noted that the present description illustrates a toothbrush according to the present principles. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the present principles and are included within its spirit and scope. 
         [0032]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the present principles and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. 
         [0033]    Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present principles, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). 
         [0034]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present principles, as well as other variations thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present principles. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment”, as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective and an exploded view of a toothbrush  1  is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, a novel feature of the toothbrush  1  is the modular design which may enable easy and low cost replacement of parts and/or to maximize user customization options. By reducing the cost and difficulty of both manufacture and installation, and by enabling users to customize their individual toothbrush with custom parts (e.g., bought or made themselves), users may choose parts that are ergonomically comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing to each individual user, and enable low cost maintenance, replacement of parts, and manufacturing. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, an assembled toothbrush  1  is illustratively depicted according to the present principles. An exploded version of the assembled toothbrush  1  is also depicted, and includes a head  5 , a handle  25 , a motor assembly  10 , and a battery  30 . The motor assembly  10  and battery  30  may be affixed together through the motor assembly&#39;s battery armature  15 . The combined motor assembly  10  and battery  30  may then be placed inside the handle  25  and/or head  5 , and the two remaining parts (e.g., handle  25 , head  5 ) may securely connect to each other through a locking mechanism  20 . 
         [0037]    If the user wishes to purchase and/or install a separate custom version of the handle  25  with a unique shape, color, or design, then they may purchase and replace only that part (e.g., handle  25 ) on their toothbrush, which reduces the cost of customizing the toothbrush  1  by changing the design of the toothbrush  1  easily without the use of tools. 
         [0038]    The separation of the toothbrush  1  into four smaller, modular parts that are easily disassembled significantly reduces the cost of replacing the handle  25  or the head  5 , and increases the ease of replacing parts of the toothbrush in order to customize the design. This embodiment&#39;s design also reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing the number of parts and assembly needed by the factory during production. The handle  25  is also designed to be of simple geometry so that users inexperienced with three dimensional (3D) design software may be able to easily modify the external shape and appearance to suit their particular desire for function or aesthetics. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the motor assembly  10  and battery  30  may not be included, and may be optional parts of the toothbrush  1 . As the head  5  and handle  25  are able to connect to each other securely using the locking mechanism  20 , they are able to act by themselves (e.g., without a motor or battery) as a fully capable, non-electric toothbrush. The inclusion of the motor assembly  10  and battery  30  is optional in this embodiment, and may be added at a later time, or not at all, depending on the preferences of a particular user. 
         [0040]    It is noted that a user may upgrade his/her toothbrush by purchasing and installing, without the use of tools, the motor assembly  10  and battery  30  separately to improve the functionality of their toothbrush  1  to include the electric vibratory motor feature. Additionally, it is noted that if the motor assembly  10  is damaged or becomes dysfunctional, it is possible to replace only that part, without requiring the use of tools, which reduces costs (e.g., the cost of maintenance for the user, the cost of warranty for the manufacturer, etc.), and enables simple repair and replacement by a user. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective and an exploded view of a toothbrush  35  is illustratively depicted according to one embodiment of the present principles. In this embodiment, the modular construction may include a head  40 , a handle  50 , a motor assembly  45 , a battery  55 , a skin  60 , and a screw  65 . The skin  60  may fit over the handle  50 , and may be secured into place by a screw  65 . The head  40  may snap onto the handle  50  and the outer surface of the head  75  may be flush with the outer surface of the skin  70 . By having the separate, replaceable part skin  60  only consist of the outermost layer of the toothbrush  35  which may be held by the user, the part size and volume of the part is greatly reduced, thereby reducing production costs from that of conventional toothbrushes. It is noted that by reducing the part size and volume, the material cost of producing custom versions of the part through, for example, injection molding, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, Three Dimensional (3D) printing, or any other production method, is greatly reduced. 
         [0042]    The skin  60  may include simple geometry to ensure that all users (e.g., from novice to experienced) of 3D design software are able to easily modify the external shape and appearance to suit their particular preferences for function and/or aesthetics. It is noted that this embodiment may exclude the motor assembly  45  and battery  55  to reduce manufacturing cost and/or offer a relatively inexpensive, simple, non-electric version of the toothbrush  35  to users. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a rear perspective view of a toothbrush is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. This embodiment may include the entire toothbrush  85  with a handle  90 , a head  95 , and micro suction tape  100 . The parts of the toothbrush  85  may be modular elements of an assembled design that can be disassembled or they may be elements of a fused, single body toothbrush that cannot be disassembled or a toothbrush that may be disassembled with or without tools. 
         [0044]    The micro-suction tape  100  may be a soft, flexible tape that, when pressed against a smooth flat surface, creates a plurality of small, air-tight vacuums along its entire surface that are sealed with the soft tape material. These sealed, vacuumed indentations are resilient to removal because the soft tape material creates an air-tight seal around the vacuums. The micro-suction tape is particularly effective on very smooth and flat surfaces that enable a more secure air-tight seal around the vacuums. In the bathroom, the smoothest and flattest surfaces are commonly the bathroom mirror and tile walls. These surfaces (e.g., mirror, tile walls, etc.) enable the toothbrush  85  to be conveniently mounted to a variety of materials and places in a typical bathroom. 
         [0045]    By including this mounting function, the micro suction tape  100  may enable a reduction in clutter on the sink and counter areas, which enables the user to easily organize his/her bathroom peripherals and therefore increases the effective amount of storage space in the bathroom. Additionally, by mounting the toothbrush on a vertical surface, the brush&#39;s bristles are separated from surfaces like the sink and counter that could contaminate the brush&#39;s bristles with germs and bacteria and make the brush less hygienic for use. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a rear perspective view of a toothbrush including a travel cap is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, a toothbrush  105  includes a head  110 , a handle  115 , and a travel cap  120 . The travel cap  120  may include micro-suction tape  125 , which may enable mounting to various surfaces. The micro-suction tape  125  enables mounting of the toothbrush  105  to any flat, smooth surface, and the toothbrush  105  may be removed from the travel cap  120  without detaching the travel cap  120  from a surface (e.g., a mirror, tile wall, etc.) to access the toothbrush  105 . 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, the toothbrush  105  may be stored after use by simply dropping the toothbrush  105  into the mounted travel cap  120  without requiring removal of the travel cap  120  from the surface to which it is mounted. It is noted that the travel cap  120  may also be removed from the surface to which it is mounted, and re-mounted to another surface. It is noted that the travel cap  120  is also useful as a cap to use with the toothbrush  105  while traveling to protect the toothbrush  105  from germs, bacteria, environmental contaminants in luggage, etc. 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a diagram illustrating an exploded view of a toothbrush is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, a capsule  170  which may be placed inside a toothbrush, and contains a motor assembly is illustratively shown according to the present principles. A button (e.g., logo button)  169  may be included on the head portion (e.g., replaceable head portion), and may be positioned anywhere on the head portion (e.g., front, top-front, bottom-front, rear, etc.) according to various embodiments of the present principles. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a diagram illustrating a cross sectional view of an electric motor capsule  170  included within a toothbrush is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, an electric motor  155  is kept separated from any contaminants (e.g., toothpaste) and conducting substances (e.g., water) that may, for example, short out the electric motor&#39;s  155  wiring and therefore render it dysfunctional. In one embodiment, the electric motor  155  is kept separated from contaminants and conducting substances by enabling activation of the electric motor  155  using a non-mechanical switch controlled by a microcontroller  140 . The microcontroller  140  may change modes or turn the electric motor  155  on or off based on how the microcontroller  140  has been programmed to react to one or more connected sensors. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment, one of the connected sensors may be a capacitive sensor  135  that may detect the proximity of, for example, a finger of a user through its capacitance. Once the microcontroller  140  detects a preset level of capacitance using the capacitive sensor  135 , the microcontroller  140  may activate, deactivate, or change the mode of the electric motor  155 . As the capacitive sensor  135  does not need to be in direct contact with the finger of a user, all of the electronics may be safely sealed behind impermeable layers of plastic  165 . By sealing the electronic sensors and motors behind an impermeable layer of plastic  165  (e.g., a single plastic wall) rather than a multi-part assembly (e.g., as employed for mechanical switches), the present principles enable excellent reliability during use in a wet environment (e.g., bathroom, shower, etc.) as moisture and other contaminants are not able to enter the electric motor capsule  170 . 
         [0051]    In one embodiment, the electric motor capsule  170  may include an accelerometer  150  in a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly  145 . The accelerometer  150  may detect motion of a toothbrush, and may send the motion information to the microcontroller  140  as, for example, a constant stream of information. The microcontroller  140  may be programmed to activate the electric motor  155 , or to change modes once the accelerometer  150  detects sufficient motion (e.g., a motion similar to that of brushing teeth), thereby enabling the toothbrush to be motion activated (e.g., without requiring the use of a mechanical switch), and simplifying actions of a user for activating the toothbrush for use. 
         [0052]    It is noted that a motion-activated toothbrush according to the present principles enables a user to simply begins brushing their teeth, and the electric motor  150  in the toothbrush may automatically turn on to increase the effectiveness of the brushing action. Using either a touch based sensor or accelerometer to activate the toothbrush enables all of the electronics to be housed in a single interior unit. By combining the electric motor  155  and all electric parts in a removable capsule  170 , the electric motor  155  and switches may be an optional, removable element of the toothbrush assembly. Since the electric motor capsule  170 , including the electric motor  155  are removable, the electric motor capsule  170  may be produced, assembled, and purchased separately from the rest of the toothbrush. This is advantageous because some users may prefer a non-electric toothbrush, prefer a more inexpensive toothbrush, and/or prefer a toothbrush that may be electric (e.g., with the motor capsule  170  installed) or non-electric (e.g., with the motor capsule  170  removed), depending on the current preference of the user. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , with continued reference to  FIG. 6 , a diagram illustrating a method of operation of a toothbrush is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, a user may use their finger to press on the outside of a plastic capsule surface  171  to activate a capacitive sensor inside an electric motor capsule  170  inside a toothbrush  130  according to the present principles. It is noted that the design of the toothbrush  130  according to one embodiment simplifies the exterior of the toothbrush  130  by reducing parts and part lines through which water or other contaminants could contaminate the interior electrical assembly of the toothbrush  130 , and render it dysfunctional. Furthermore, by reducing and simplifying the exterior parts of the toothbrush  130 , the toothbrush  130  may be easily modified, disassembled, reassembled, and/or customized using, for example, casting, CNC, 3D printing, or other production means. 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a diagram illustrating a schematic view of the connectivity systems of a toothbrush to other systems is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, a toothbrush  175  including a plurality of physical and wireless connections to computing devices is shown. The toothbrush  175  is depicted in a disassembled state to reveal a motor assembly  180  in a section view, and a Micro-Universal Serial Bus (USB) slot  185  may be included in the motor assembly  180 . A computer  195  or phone  200  may be connected to the toothbrush  175  using one or more cables (e.g., USB cable), and the modes of operation may be manipulated using a graphical user interface (GUI)  191  on a computer  195 , cell phone  200 ,  205 , or other computing device. 
         [0055]    In one embodiment, the GUI  191  may include a plurality of modules configured to adjust, for example, the speed of the motor, the timing of interval reminder pulses, the length of time of operation before an automatic cutoff, etc., and may be accessed using a computing product (e.g., computer, cell phone, tablet, etc.) which includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing user preferences and input data. After adjusting options using the GUI  191  of a computer  195  or phone  200 ,  205 , the altered mode of operation of the toothbrush  175  may be saved to the internal memory of a microcontroller  181  inside the motor assembly  180 . 
         [0056]    In one embodiment, after the toothbrush  175  is disconnected from a secondary computing device  195 ,  200 ,  205 , the new default behavior of the toothbrush  175  will be to exhibit the newly set motor RPM speed, reminder intervals, automatically timed cut off, and other interaction behaviors, as designated using the GUI  191 . It is noted that an advantage of redefining the toothbrush&#39;s mode of operation is to more wholly adjust the toothbrush to a particular user&#39;s preferences and to create a better brushing experience. Some users may prefer a high RPM for extra strong vibration because, for example, they find their teeth particularly difficult to clean. Other users may prefer a less intense vibration because, for example, they have sensitive gums which could feel discomfort or be injured by a strong vibration. 
         [0057]    Adjusting the motor&#39;s RPM speed may enable the preferred amount of vibratory strength to be customized and the preference may be applied during brushing according to the present principles. The same kinds of particular preferences for more or less time depending on the user could be expressed in the variable interval reminder timing or the variable automatic cut-off time. Furthermore, the means of activating the toothbrush can also be switched, using the GUI  191 , between a touch-based sensor and a motion-based accelerometer sensor depending on the user&#39;s preferred mode of operation. 
         [0058]    In another embodiment, the motor assembly  180  may be connected to a wireless device  205  (e.g., cell phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) using a wireless data module  210  on the motor assembly  180 . An advantage of a wireless connection is that the toothbrush  175  is not required to be disassembled to access the microcontroller and to reprogram the modes of operation of the toothbrush  175 . It is noted that a wireless connection according to the present principles may be any sort of wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Ratio, etc.) that enables devices to communicate with other devices. 
         [0059]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a diagram illustrating a cross-section of a locking mechanism of a toothbrush is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, a handle  235  may protrude out from the outer skin  250 , and may include a slot  240  and an aperture  225 . The toothbrush head  245  may include an open receiving end  230  that may correspond in shape with the top portion of a handle  235  such that the two may be joined together in a mating fashion. 
         [0060]    In one embodiment, a post  220  and a notch  215 , sized according to the respective aperture  225 , and a slot  240  may be included and positioned on an interior wall of a receiving opening  230 . When the receiving opening  230  is placed over the top of the handle  235 , the post  220  may be initially guided into slot  240 , and when it reaches the bottom of the slot it may “click” over and engage an aperture  225 . While a post  220  slides into a slot  240 , a notch  215  will engage the top of the slot and thereby prevent incorrect coupling of the head  245  with the handle  235 . 
         [0061]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a diagram illustrating a cross-section of a locking mechanism of a toothbrush is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, the toothbrush head  255  may include interlocking surfaces  260  and one or more indentations  265 . The toothbrush handle  270  may include interlocking surfaces  275  and one or more ribs  280 . When the toothbrush head  255  is connected to the handle  270 , the two sets of interlocking surfaces may become fully mated, and rotation of the toothbrush head  255  relative to the toothbrush handle  270  is restricted along every axis. Additionally, when the toothbrush head is inserted onto the handle, its rib  280  may snap into the toothbrush head&#39;s indentation. The mating of these two features may resist translational movement along the primary axis of the toothbrush handle  270  so that the toothbrush head  255  does not become detached while being used to brush a user&#39;s teeth. When a sufficient force is exerted against the mated rib  280  and indentations  265 , the toothbrush head  255  may be removed and replaced with a different toothbrush head, or the same toothbrush head  255  may be reattached. 
         [0062]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a diagram illustrating a perspective view of a toothbrush  280  including a travel cap  285  with a substantially flat bottom surface  290  is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, by providing a flat bottom surface  290 , the travel cap  285  is able to stand upright on a sink or counter surface without other means of attachment while acting as a storage receptacle for the toothbrush  280 . This configuration is advantageous at least because of an improved storage efficiency, and hygienic isolation of the bristles from contaminated surfaces when the toothbrush  280  is standing upright while being stored in a bathroom environment. 
         [0063]    It is noted that although the above configuration is illustratively depicted according to the present principles, other sorts of configurations may also be employed according to the present principles. 
         [0064]    The foregoing is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be further understood that, because some of the constituent system components and methods depicted in the accompanying drawings are preferably implemented in software, the actual connections between the system components or the process function blocks may differ depending upon the manner in which the present principles are programmed. Given the teachings herein, one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will be able to contemplate these and similar implementations or configurations of the present principles. 
         [0065]    Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present principles is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present principles. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present principles as set forth in the appended claims.