Force-sensing toothbrush

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10123610-B2
Application number	US-201514971452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A toothbrush comprises a head including a plurality of cleaning elements attached to the head, a handle, a neck extending between the head and the handle, a motor unit including a motor and a manual winder for manually energizing the motor, and a force sensor configured to detect a user-applied force exceeding a predetermined threshold force, wherein the force sensor causes the toothbrush to produce at least one of an audible signal and a tactile signal when the user-applied force exceeds a predetermined threshold force. An audible signal and a tactile signal may comprise, respectively, muting of the motor and interruption of vibration of the toothbrush.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toothbrush comprising:
a handle having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and an internal chamber disposed between the first and second ends;
a head coupled to the first end of the handle, the head including a plurality of cleaning elements;
a neck extending between the head and the handle;
a spring motor disposed in the internal chamber;
a timer disposed in the internal chamber, the timer being in operative communication with the spring motor;
a force sensor structured and configured to detect a user-applied force exceeding a predetermined threshold force and to cause an activation of at least one of an audible signal and a tactile signal indicating that the force applied by a user exceeds the threshold force;
a manual winder comprising an end cap coupled to and movable relative to the first end of the handle;
wherein the end cap is structured and configured to be manually moved, by a user, to energize the motor and activate the timer for a set period of time.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the end cup is structured and configured to be manually rotated, by the user, for a user-determined number of degrees to energize the motor and activate the timer for the set period of time.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the end cup is structured and configured to be manually pulled out, by the user, to a user-determined distance to energize the motor and activate the timer for the set period of time.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of an audible signal and a tactile signal comprises at least one of muting of the motor and interruption of vibration of the toothbrush.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush comprises a blocking assembly for causing the motor to stop when the force sensor detects that the user-applied force exceeds the predetermined threshold force.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor comprises an extension bar having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a body of the toothbrush, and the second end is in operative communication with a stop pin.

7. The toothbrush of claim 6 , wherein the second end of the extension bar comprises the stop pin disposed thereon.

8. The toothbrush of claim 5 , wherein the blocking assembly comprises a stop gear in operative communication with the motor and the stop pin.

9. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor comprises an extension bar having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a body of the toothbrush, and a second end is free.

10. The toothbrush of claim 9 , wherein the first end of the extension bar is connected to a body of the toothbrush via a living hinge.

11. The toothbrush of claim 10 , wherein the extension bar and the living hinge are integrally formed with one another.

12. The toothbrush of claim 9 , wherein the first end of the extension bar is connected to a body of the toothbrush via a torsion element comprising a bar or a pin.

Assignees

• Gillette Co
• Gillette Co Llc

Inventors

• Doll Alexander Franz
• Hubert Stefan
• Kiener Florian
• Lutz Karin
• Schuetz Robert

Classifications

• A46B15/0008 Primary

  with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing · CPC title

• A46B11/0037

  A piston or plunger advanced by direct pushing along the side of brush handle · CPC title

• A46B11/0034

  Means comprising a rachet mechanism or equivalent for advancing the piston stepwise · CPC title

• A46B11/002

  pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means · CPC title

• A46B15/0046

  with vibrating signalling means · CPC title