The following U.S. Patents are believed to represent the current state of the art:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide novel toothbrushes which provide user identification.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an individualized toothbrush including a brush portion, a handle portion, and a display formed on the handle portion. Preferably, the display displays characters. Additionally, the characters are displayed so as to define identification. Alternatively or additionally, the identification is a name.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the display is an electronic display. Alternatively, the handle portion has a recess formed within and the characters are displayed in the recess. Additionally, the display includes at least one control button.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the handle portion is a removable handle portion. Preferably, the toothbrush includes a snap fastener to interconnect the removable handle portion to the toothbrush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an individualized toothbrush kit, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in respective partially assembled and fully assembled operative orientations;
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an individualized toothbrush assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention in respective dis-assembled and assembled operative orientations;
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an individualized toothbrush assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention in respective dis-assembled and assembled operative orientations;
FIG. 4 illustrates an individualized toothbrush constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 illustrates an individualized toothbrush constructed and operative in accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrate an individualized toothbrush kit, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in respective partially assembled and fully assembled operative orientations. As seen in FIG. 1A, a conventional toothbrush 10 includes a handle portion 12 having formed therein a recess 14.
A set 16 of characters, such as letters, designated by reference numeral 18 in FIGS. 1A and 1B, typically in the form of individual elements, such as stickers shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, is provided to enable a user to compose the user's name or other identification from the characters, by placing the characters in a desired order, side-by-side in the recess 14, as seen in FIG. 1A. A transparent cover 20 is preferably provided to retain the characters in the order designated by the user and to allow them to be readily viewed, as seen in FIG. 1B, thus providing an individualized toothbrush 22. [0161 It is appreciated that in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B any symbols may be used to define identification, such as numbers, icons, characters and letters, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which illustrate an individualized toothbrush assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention in respective dis-assembled and assembled operative orientations. In this embodiment, a conventional electronic display 30, such as a LCD display, is provided on a removable and replaceable end portion 32 of a toothbrush 34. The conventional electronic display 30 preferably comprises one or more control buttons 36 as well as a power source, such as a miniature battery (not shown) and electronic circuitry (not shown) which enables a user to compose the user's name or other identification and to cause it to appear on the display in an entirely conventional manner, as is well known in the art.
It is appreciated that in the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B any symbols may be used to define identification, such as numbers, icons, characters and letters.
FIG. 2A shows the end portion 32 separate from the remainder of toothbrush 34, and FIG. 2B shows the toothbrush 34, having the end portion 32 attached thereto, as by means of a snap fastener 38, shown in FIG. 2A.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which illustrate an individualized toothbrush assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention in respective dis-assembled and assembled operative orientations. In this embodiment, a conventional electronic display 40, such as a LCD display, is provided on a removable and replaceable handle portion 42 of a toothbrush 44. The conventional electronic display 40 preferably comprises one or more control buttons 46 as well as a power source, such as a miniature battery (not shown) and electronic circuitry (not shown) which enables a user to compose the user's name or other identification, and to cause it to appear on the display 40 in an entirely conventional manner, as is well known in the art.
It is appreciated that in the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B any symbols may be used to define identification, such as numbers, icons, characters and letters.
FIG. 3A shows the handle portion 42 separate from the remainder of toothbrush 44, and FIG. 3B shows the toothbrush 44, having the handle portion 42 attached thereto, as by means of a snap fastener 48, shown in FIG. 3A.
Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which illustrates an individualized toothbrush constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a conventional electronic display 50, such as a LCD display, is provided on a handle portion 52 of a toothbrush 54. The conventional electronic display 50 preferably comprises one or more control buttons 56 as well as a power source, such as a miniature battery (not shown) and electronic circuitry (not shown) which enables a user to compose the user's name or other identification and to cause it to appear on the display in an entirely conventional manner, as is well known in the art.
It is appreciated that in the embodiment of FIG. 4 any symbols may be used to define identification, such as numbers, icons, characters and letters.
Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which illustrates an individualized toothbrush constructed and operative in accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a conventional electronic display 60, such as a LCD display, is provided on a handle portion 62 of a battery operated toothbrush 64. The conventional electronic display 60 preferably comprises one or more control buttons 66 as well as a power source, such as a miniature battery (not shown) and electronic circuitry (not shown) which enables a user to compose the user's name or other identification, and to cause it to appear on the display in an entirely conventional manner, as is well known in the art.
It is appreciated that in the embodiment of FIG. 5 any symbols may be used to define identification, such as numbers, icons, characters and letters.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of various features described hereinabove as well as modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing specification and which are not in the prior art.
