Toothbrush With Integral Forced Air Apparatus

Abstract

Toothbrushes are provided which provide and direct a flow of air to the head of the brush for delivery to the mouth of a user during use. The toothbrushes may be produced to be modular and capable of being assembled and disassembled as needed, with a power supply, motor, fan, and head portion being replaceable, or they may alternatively be constructed so as to be disposable. The toothbrushes may additionally include a volume of a beneficial agent to be dispensed with the flow of air to change, enhance, or add to the properties of a dentifrice used during brushing. One such beneficial agent may be ozone provided by an ozone chip integrated into the toothbrush.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/725,503 entitled “TOOTHBRUSH WITH INTEGRATED FAN” and filed on Oct. 22, 2005 for Ashok V. Joshi, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to oral care devices, and more particularly to toothbrushes adapted to provide a flow of air through the brush head upon actuation by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toothbrushes have been used as a hygienic aid in a variety of cultures for many years. Increasingly, toothbrushes have been used with a variety of compositions such as dentifrices (compositions which aid in cleaning teeth) and other substances which act to improve the smell of a user's breath, remove, dislodge, or kill bacteria, or otherwise improve oral health. As their popularity has increased, so has the industry behind the production and sales of toothbrushes and associated cleaning compositions.

It has been discovered that providing oxygen to toothbrushes, and thus, to the oral cavity during brushing helps to break up clumps of bacteria, thus facilitating their removal from the surfaces of teeth and gums. Delivery of extra oxygen to the oral cavity may also hinder the development of anaerobic bacteria that are often responsible for unpleasant odors in breath. Some difficulty is faced, however, in providing oxygen to the oral cavity in a safe and convenient manner.

Additional difficulty is faced in the industry in devising methods and means for administering a wide variety of beneficial agents to the teeth and/or mouth. Some such agents may be successfully delivered in dentifrice compositions, but others, due to their chemical properties may be unsuited for delivery in this manner. Others are useful only in such small quantities that delivery is highly difficult.

Thus, it would be an improvement in the art to provide a toothbrush device that provides a flow of air, including oxygen, to the mouth during brushing. It would further be beneficial to provide a toothbrush containing its own onboard supply of a beneficial agent that can be vaporized and delivered from the toothbrush.

Such a device and methods of its use are provided herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available toothbrushes. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a toothbrush with an integral forced air apparatus that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.

The toothbrush may, in the described embodiments, include a housing connected with a head portion. The housing may comprise an integral air apparatus configured to force air through a channel extending from the housing into the head portion. The head portion includes at least one gas emitter orifice through which air may pass and a plurality bristles extending outward from the head portion.

In one embodiment, the toothbrush also includes a heating apparatus configured to raise the temperature of air being forced through the channel. Furthermore, the toothbrush may comprise a reservoir configured to maintain a beneficial agent that capable of being vaporized and carried with the flow of forced air through the channel. Examples of suitable beneficial agents include, but are not limited to, oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.

In a further embodiment, the toothbrush may include an ozonator configured to introduce ozone into the flow of forced air. Additionally, in one embodiment, the integral air apparatus comprises a fan and motor assembly. Furthermore, the housing further comprises at least one louver configured to allow air into the housing, and the louver may be configured to block water from entering the housing.

Other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following figures and description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view diagram illustrating one embodiment of a toothbrush suitable for use with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a toothbrush having a heating apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a toothbrush having a reservoir in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a head portion in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the toothbrush with integrated fan device of the present invention, as represented in FIGS. 1-5, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

The toothbrushes provided in the present invention are designed to provide and direct a flow of air to the head of the brush for delivery to the mouth of a user during use of the toothbrush. The toothbrushes of the present invention may produced so as to be modular and capable of being assembled and disassembled as needed, with the power supply, motor, fan, and head portion being replaceable, or they may alternatively be constructed so as to be disposable. Some such disposable embodiments may have a projected life similar to that of bristles. In some embodiments, this projected life is approximately three or four months. In other embodiments, only the head portion with bristles is modular and replaceable to allow the brush head to be swapped to provide new bristles every three to four months as recommended by the American Dental Association.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view diagram illustrating one embodiment of a toothbrush 100 suitable for use with the present invention. In one embodiment, the toothbrush 100 comprises a housing 102 connected with a head portion 104. The housing 102 may be generally elongated in form and hollow in order to house various elements which will be described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2-4. The exterior surface of the housing 102 may be configured with an activation switch 106. As depicted, the activation switch 106 may comprise a rocker-style switch. Alternatively, the activation switch 106 may be any switch capable of activating an electronic circuit.

In a further embodiment, the toothbrush 100 may also include a channel 108 extending from the housing 102 to the head portion 104. As will be described in greater detail below, the channel 108 is configured to conduct gasses from the housing 102 to the head portion 104. The gasses may include a mixture of air and a beneficial agent. Alternatively, the gasses may comprise heated air. The toothbrush 100 also is configured with a plurality of bristles 110 extending from the head portion 104.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of the toothbrush 100 in accordance with the present invention. As depicted, the toothbrush 100 includes the housing 102 and the head portion 104. The head portion 104 comprises a number of bristles 202 that may be widely varied to correspond with various sizes and designs of toothbrushes, and at least one gas emitter 204. The gas emitter 204 may comprise a simple opening in the head portion 104, to allow the exit of a flow of air 68.

In some embodiments, the head portion 104 may include a plurality of gas emitters 204 to allow escape of flows of air 206 from the head portion. In one instance, the gas emitters 204 will all be positioned within the bristles 202. In others, emitters 204 may be positioned at a variety of locations on the head portion 104, including, but not limited to, the top, back, and/or sides. The toothbrush 100 of FIG. 2 has a plurality of gas emitters 204 positioned within the field of bristles 202. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a wide variety of potential variations of position, size, and number of gas emitter 204 orifices are included within the scope of the present invention.

The head portion 104 is continuous with the channel 108 extending from the housing 102 which delivers the flow of air 206 to the head portion 104, and which is continuous with orifices which may comprise, or may simply be continuous with, the gas emitters 204.

The housing 102 may contain a power supply or battery portion 208, a motor portion 210, and an air apparatus 212. In some embodiments, the battery 208, motor 210, and air apparatus 212 are held in proper relation within the housing 102. In others, these components may simply interconnect to make up a part of the housing 102. As described above, the housing 102 further comprises the activation switch 106 for starting the motor 210 of the toothbrush 100 to operate the air apparatus 212.

In one embodiment, the air apparatus 212 comprises a fan configured to move air or gas from the housing 102 through the channel 108 and into the head portion 104. Although the toothbrush 100 is depicted in FIG. 2 having an axial-type fan, one skilled in the art will recognize that the fan may be replaced with centrifugal or radial fans, cross flow or tangential fans, the flapping blade of a piezoceramic fan, etc.

The air apparatus (hereinafter “fan”) 212 may be housed within the housing 102 which includes at least one louver 214, and in many cases, a plurality of louvers 214 to allow inflow of outside ambient air into the toothbrush 100. The louver 214, in one example, may comprise a traditional louver having a water impermeable, but gas permeable, covering (not shown). The covering may be configured to allow ambient air to enter the housing 102 but not allow liquids to enter. Examples of coverings suitable for use in the present invention include fabrics having a mesh size that permits the passage of air but not liquid. One such fabric includes, but is not limited to, Gore-Tex® as manufactured by W.L. Gore and Associates of Newark, Del.

As fan 212 is operated, the flow of air 206 is produced from an air chamber 216 and directed through the channel 108 of the toothbrush 100 to the head portion 104, from which it is emitted. This draws ambient air into the toothbrush 100 to become the flow of air 206. Air emitted from the head portion 104 of the toothbrush 100 may enhance foaming of a dentifrice or other beneficial agent used during brushing, may dislodge, break up, or loosen bacterial colonies, and enhance the brushing experience for the user.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a toothbrush 300 having a heating apparatus 302 in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, the toothbrush 300 is illustrated to similarly include a housing 304 and a head portion 306. As with toothbrush 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the head portion 306 of toothbrush 300 of FIG. 3 comprises a number of bristles. As above, one of ordinary skill in the art is aware that the number, size, shape, and type of bristles may be varied widely within the scope of the present invention to provide a large number of differently-sized and shaped toothbrushes.

The head portion 306 also includes at least one gas emitter 308, in some instances in the form of an orifice connecting the outside air to an interior channel 310, to allow exit of a flow of air 312 produced by the toothbrush 300. As above, the head portion 306 may include a plurality of gas emitters 308 to allow escape of flows of air 312 from the brush head portion 306. The gas emitters 308 may be positioned all, or partially within the field of bristles. Emitters 308 may alternately be placed about the head portion 306 on the top, back, and/or sides. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a wide variety of potential variations of position, size, and number of gas emitter 308 orifices are included within the scope of the present invention.

The head portion 306 of toothbrush 300 is also continuous with a channel 310 extending from the housing 304. As above, a flow of air 312 is provided to the head portion 306. The flow of air 312 is propelled through orifices which may comprise, or may simply be continuous with, the gas emitters 308.

The handle portion 304 of toothbrush 300 may be similar to that provided in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it includes a power supply or battery portion 312, a motor portion 316, and a fan 318. In some embodiments, the battery 312, motor 316, and fan 318 may be held together by the housing 304, and in others they may interconnect. The housing 304 may further comprise a power switch 320 for operating the motor 316 of the toothbrush 300 to operate the fan 318.

As above, the housing 304 may include at least one louver (now shown), and in many cases, a plurality of louvers to allow inflow of outside ambient air. The fan 318 may generate the flow of air 312 from an air chamber that is directed through the channel 310 of the toothbrush 300 to the head portion 306.

In a further embodiment, the toothbrush 300 may include the heat apparatus 302 which may be configured to elevate the temperature of the ambient air to a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature is selected to maximize the cleaning ability of toothpaste. Furthermore, the heated air may beneficially eliminate germs and bacteria.

In one embodiment, the heat apparatus comprises a resistor element configured to convert electricity into heat. As the flow of air 312 passes over the element, the air is raised to a predetermined temperature. For example, the predetermined temperature may be in the range of between about 1 and 15° Celsius above the ambient temperature. Alternatively, the predetermined temperature is in the range of between about 7 and 12° Celsius above ambient temperature. In one embodiment, the air forced through the toothbrush is between about 10 degrees Celsius to about 50 degrees Celsius. In one embodiment, the air may be heated or cooled to achieve a temperature in this range. In another embodiment, the forced air is between about 25 degrees Celsius and about 40 degrees Celsius. The toothbrush 300 may also include a plurality of diverters 322 configured to direct the flow of air through the heat apparatus 302

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a toothbrush 400 having a reservoir 402 in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, the toothbrush 400 includes, in combination with the fan and the heat apparatus, or without, the reservoir 402 for maintaining a beneficial agent 404. The beneficial agent 404, in one instance, is capable of being vaporized and being carried with the flow of air into the mouth of the user. Vaporization of the agent 404 may be passive, i.e., the agent 404 is simply picked up by the flow of air and carried away; or an optional vaporizing unit (not shown) may be included to facilitate dispensing of the agent.

In some alternative embodiments, the reservoir 402 is replaced by an ozonator in the form of an ozone chip. When the toothbrush 400 is activated, the fan 406 starts and the ozone chip activates to produce ozone which is carried with the flow of air produced by the fan 406 into the mouth of the user. In some embodiments, it is beneficial to provide a flow of air having a concentration of ozone ranging from about 0 to about 10%.

As above, the flow of air containing the beneficial agent 404, in some cases including ozone, that is emitted from the head portion 408 of the toothbrush 400 may enhance foaming of a dentifrice or other beneficial agent used during brushing, may dislodge, break up, or loosen bacterial colonies, and enhance the brushing experience for the user. The additional presence of the beneficial agent 404 may also impart additional properties to the dentifrice, or may improve its efficacy.

A wide variety of beneficial agents 404 is potentially useful with the toothbrushes 400 of the present invention. One general family of such agents includes, but is not limited to, agents such as oxidizing agents, capable of producing oxygen when dispensed to the mouth. Some such agents include hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and other similar substances. Other suitable beneficial agents 404 to be dispensed from reservoir 402 of the toothbrush 400 include whitening agents, therapeutic compositions, generating agents, and breath-fresheners.

Suitable therapeutic compositions include, without limitation, antibacterial agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and many other chemical entities suitable for oral administration. Seals may additionally be provided to the head portions of the toothbrushes of the present invention, and/or to the emitters to seal the device during manufacturing, shipping, and storage prior to use.

Suitable beneficial agents could also include agents which are not stable when mixed with a dentifrice composition for long periods of time. In such situations, the toothbrush could be used with conventional toothpaste, with the beneficial agent being dispensed during brushing. Allowing the beneficial agent to be dispensed during use of the toothbrush may provide the benefits of the dentifrice and the beneficial agent that would otherwise be unavailable to a user.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a head portion 500 in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, the head portion 500 includes, as described previously, a plurality of bristles 502 embedded in the head portion 500. In one embodiment, the bristle bottoms are placed in holes formed or bored in the head portion 500. Positioned underneath the bristles 502 is one end of the channel 504 that extends from the housing (see FIGS. 1-4) to the head portion 500.

The head portion 500 also includes the gas emitters 506. As depicted, the gas emitters 506 comprise orifices or apertures that enable the flow of gas from the channel 504 to the ambient air. Although the gas emitters 506 as depicted are located in between bristles, the gas emitters may alternatively be formed in the head portion 500 such that the flow of air or gas passes through one or more bristles. For example, each bristle may comprise a hollow tube configured to direct the flow of gas directly to the surface of the teeth.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and are thus included within its scope.

Claims

1. A toothbrush comprising:

a housing connected with a head portion;

wherein the housing comprises an integral air apparatus configured to force air through a channel extending from the housing into the head portion; and

wherein the head portion comprises at least one gas emitter orifice through which air may pass and a plurality bristles extending outward from the head portion.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a heating apparatus configured to raise the temperature of air being forced through the channel.

3. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the temperature of the air being forced through the channel is between about 10 degrees Celsius and about 50 degrees Celsius.

4. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the temperature of the air being forced through the channel is between about 25 degrees Celsius and about 40 degrees Celsius.

5. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the temperature of the air in the toothbrush is between about 1 degree Celsius and about 15 degrees Celsius above the ambient temperature.

6. The toothbrush if claim 4, wherein the temperature of the air in the toothbrush is between about 5 degrees Celsius and about 10 degrees Celsius above ambient temperature.

7. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir configured to maintain a beneficial agent that capable of being vaporized and carried with the flow of forced air through the channel.

8. The toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the beneficial agent is selected from a group consisting of oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.

9. The toothbrush of claim 1, further compromising an ozonator configured to introduce ozone into the flow of forced air.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the integral air apparatus comprises a fan and motor assembly.

11. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises at least one louver configured to allow air into the housing.

12. The toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the louver is configured to block water from entering the housing.

13. A toothbrush comprising:

a housing connected with a head portion;

wherein the housing comprises an integral air apparatus configured to force air through a channel extending from the housing into the head portion;

wherein the head portion comprises at least one gas emitter orifice through which air may pass and a plurality bristles extending outward from the head portion; and

a heating apparatus configured to raise the temperature of air being forced through the channel.

14. The toothbrush of claim 13, further comprising a reservoir configured to maintain a beneficial agent that capable of being vaporized and carried with the flow of forced air through the channel.

15. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein the beneficial agent is selected from a group consisting of oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.

16. The toothbrush of claim 13, further comprising an ozonator configured to introduce ozone into the flow of forced air.

17. The toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the integral air apparatus comprises a fan and motor assembly.

18. The toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the housing further comprises at least one louver configured to allow air into the housing.

19. The toothbrush of claim 18, wherein the louver is configured to block water from entering the housing.

20. The toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the air in the toothbrush is between about 10 degrees and about 50 degrees Celsius.

21. A toothbrush comprising:

a housing connected with a head portion;

wherein the housing comprises an integral air apparatus configured to force air through a channel extending from the housing into the head portion;

wherein the head portion comprises at least one gas emitter orifice through which air may pass and a plurality bristles extending outward from the head portion;

a heating apparatus configured to raise the temperature of air being forced through the channel; and

wherein the integral air apparatus comprises a fan and motor assembly.

22. The toothbrush of claim 21, further comprising a reservoir configured to maintain a beneficial agent that capable of being vaporized and carried with the flow of forced air through the channel.

23. The toothbrush of claim 22, wherein the beneficial agent is selected from a group consisting of oxidizing agents, whitening agents, therapeutic agents, breath freshening agents, gingivitis-treating compositions, pain-relieving agents, and anti-inflammatory agents.

24. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising an ozonator configured to introduce ozone into the flow of forced air.

25. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises at least one louver configured to allow air into the housing.