U.S. patent application number 13/298397 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for body care appliance for personal needs.
This patent application is currently assigned to Braun GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Vladimir Fischer, Benedikt Heil, Ivo Kunath, Rory McGarry, Norbert Schaefer, Michael Schmid, Wolfgang Stegmann, Martin Stratmann, Ingo Vetter, Duy Phong Vu. Invention is credited to Vladimir Fischer, Benedikt Heil, Ivo Kunath, Rory McGarry, Norbert Schaefer, Michael Schmid, Wolfgang Stegmann, Martin Stratmann, Ingo Vetter, Duy Phong Vu.
Application Number | 20130125327 13/298397 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48425393 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130125327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmid; Michael ; et
al. |
May 23, 2013 |
Body Care Appliance For Personal Needs
Abstract
A body care appliance is disclosed. The body care appliance
includes a toothbrush having a first display; a base station for
storing and/or charging the toothbrush; and a second display for
displaying interactive representations, which are interactively
controllable by means of a control unit from the toothbrush. The
second display forms a module that is designed separately from the
base station and the toothbrush and is separately positionable; the
second display having a communication interface for communication
with the base station and/or with the toothbrush.
Inventors: |
Schmid; Michael; (Geneva,
CH) ; McGarry; Rory; (Frankfurt/Main, DE) ;
Stegmann; Wolfgang; (Frankfurt/Main, DE) ; Vu; Duy
Phong; (Schwalbach, DE) ; Heil; Benedikt;
(Friedberg, DE) ; Stratmann; Martin; (Bad Soden,
DE) ; Schaefer; Norbert; (Frankfurt/Main, DE)
; Kunath; Ivo; (Kronberg/Taunus, DE) ; Vetter;
Ingo; (Karben, DE) ; Fischer; Vladimir;
(Sulzbach, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Schmid; Michael
McGarry; Rory
Stegmann; Wolfgang
Vu; Duy Phong
Heil; Benedikt
Stratmann; Martin
Schaefer; Norbert
Kunath; Ivo
Vetter; Ingo
Fischer; Vladimir |
Geneva
Frankfurt/Main
Frankfurt/Main
Schwalbach
Friedberg
Bad Soden
Frankfurt/Main
Kronberg/Taunus
Karben
Sulzbach |
|
CH
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Braun GmbH
Cincinnati
OH
|
Family ID: |
48425393 |
Appl. No.: |
13/298397 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0044 20130101;
A46B 9/04 20130101; A61C 17/224 20130101; A61C 17/221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/105 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/04 20060101
A46B009/04; A46B 15/00 20060101 A46B015/00 |
Claims
1. A body care appliance comprising: a toothbrush having a first
display; a base station for storing and/or charging the toothbrush;
and a second display for displaying interactive representations,
which are interactively controllable by means of a control unit
from the toothbrush; wherein the second display forms a module that
is designed separately from the base station and the toothbrush and
is separately positionable; the second display having a
communication interface for communication with the base station
and/or with the toothbrush; and wherein the display includes a
display element enclosed within a transparent convexly curved
covering hood for increased visibility of the display element from
various directions.
2. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second
display has a chargeable energy storage mechanism, wherein charging
terminals that can be brought into operative connection with one
another are provided on the second display and on the base
station.
3. The body care appliance according to claim 2, wherein both the
second display and the toothbrush can be charged on the base
station simultaneously.
4. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second
display has an inductive charging terminal for inductive charging
by the base station.
5. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
toothbrush has a chargeable energy storage mechanism and an
inductive charging terminal for inductive charging of the energy
storage mechanism by the base station.
6. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second
display has a game controller for controlling a videogame that can
be displayed on the second display, such that game control commands
that can be processed by the game controller can be sent to the
game controller via the communication interface.
7. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein a game
controller is provided on at least one of the base station and the
toothbrush for controlling a videogame displayable on the second
display, graphic control commands being transmittable from the
toothbrush to the second display via the communication
interface.
8. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the base
station includes restoring means for the second display and the
toothbrush.
9. The body care appliance according to claim 8, wherein the
restoring means are formed by magnetic holding means for holding
the second display and the toothbrush on the base station.
10. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
second display forms an electronic picture frame having a separate
image data terminal for connection of an external image data
source.
11. The body care appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first
display provided on the toothbrush has a lightable display ring on
a hand-held part.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT2010/052257, filed May 20, 2010, the substance
of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a body care appliance for
personal needs. More particularly, the present disclosure relates
to a hand-guidable care tool, in particular a toothbrush, a base
station for storing and/or charging the care tool and a display
unit for display of interactive displays which are interactively
controllable from the care tool by means of a control unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In order to increase the stimulus for regular toothbrushing,
displays are provided on tooth-cleaning appliances, on which
videogames that are interactively controllable from the toothbrush
can be shown. Due to the additional entertainment value, children
in particular are motivated to brush their teeth regularly. As an
alternative or in addition to entertainment games, instructions for
efficient and effective cleaning of teeth may be displayed there,
for example, so that the user of the toothbrush goes through the
image sequences displayed.
[0004] WO 2007/112112 A1, for example, describes a tooth-cleaning
appliance with which a display screen is provided on the base
station for charging the toothbrush, videogames being shown on the
display during toothbrushing. The videogame is controllable from
the toothbrush. Firstly, the toothbrush has manually operable input
buttons for input of control commands for the videogame. Secondly,
cleaning parameters such as contact pressure and accelerations
occurring during the cleaning movements are detected by various
sensors on the toothbrush, so that the videogame is controlled on
the display screen on the basis of the parameters thus detected. To
display a suitable videogame for a particular user, the attachable
part of the toothbrush is identified on the basis of an
identification code, as a function of which the videogame or its
game rules are selected. Although a certain adaptation to the
individual user is guaranteed in this way, the degree of
personalization and the adaptability to particular needs are
limited.
[0005] US 2008/0102953 A1 also discloses a toothbrush designed as
an input unit for control of a game console to thereby control a
videogame. A sensor attached to the brush detects brush movements,
the movement of a virtual game object of the videogame being
controlled on the basis of the movement signals of the
toothbrush.
[0006] US 2006/0040246 A1 describes an electric toothbrush that can
be stored and charged on a base station. The base station has a
display on which an interactive game such as PAC-MAN.RTM. is
displayed. The toothbrush communicates wirelessly with the control
unit for controlling the game, which is activated by removing the
toothbrush from the base station or by a start button mounted on
the toothbrush. Sensors on the toothbrush detect its movements,
which are used to control movements of game characters and/or game
parts on the display screen. Various memory modules may be used to
allow various games to be executed. The more skillfully the user
plays the game displayed on the display screen, the more points the
user is credited with toward winning the game.
[0007] DE 10153863 A1 discloses a toothbrush having a spherical
display part attachable to the shaft end of the toothbrush; the
cleaning results detected by sensors may be displayed on this
display or a game for children may be displayed here after a
successful cleaning operation. However, no interactive control of
the game shown on the display from the toothbrush is provided
there; instead, the program shown on the display is controlled by
input buttons arranged on the display part itself, so the
entertainment value and the learning effect are limited. The actual
display in the display part is incorporated into the spherical
shape of the display part and is covered with a transparent
cup-shaped cover made of scratch-proof and acid-resistant
plastic.
[0008] US 2008/0141478 and US 2008/0141476 disclose additional
toothbrushing appliances having a display on which interactively
controllable games are displayed, where several toothbrushes are
able to communicate with one another to allow games to be played,
e.g., "rock-paper-scissors" in competition. However, the displays
are mounted on the hand-held part of the toothbrush itself, so that
while brushing one's teeth, it is impossible to play a game that
supports proper dental hygiene.
[0009] The goal of this invention is to create an improved body
care appliance of the type defined above that avoids the
disadvantages of the prior art and improves upon the latter in an
advantageous manner. In particular, the interactive controllability
of the game displayed on the display screen should be improved in
terms of operating convenience and the interaction between
different users of the appliance and the display unit should be
facilitated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In one embodiment, a body care appliance is provided. The
body care appliance includes a toothbrush having a first display; a
base station for storing and/or charging the toothbrush; and a
second display for displaying interactive representations, which
are interactively controllable by means of a control unit from the
toothbrush. The second display forms a module that is designed
separately from the base station and the toothbrush and is
separately positionable; the second display having a communication
interface for communication with the base station and/or with the
toothbrush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative
in nature and not intended to limit the invention defined by the
claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative
embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the
following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like
reference numerals and in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a body care appliance in
accordance with one embodiment, including a toothbrush and a
display unit for display of an interactively controllable
toothbrushing game, both of which can be loaded onto a base
station;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the sequence of the
interactively controllable toothbrushing game on the screen of the
display unit, whereby said display unit is shown in multiple
displays at various times during the game;
[0014] FIG. 3 a schematic view of the toothbrush stored on the base
station, showing its rocking motion on the base station to
illustrate the magnetically operable holding means;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a detailed diagram of a manually operable
navigation switch on the toothbrush for controlling the avatar of
the interactively controllable game.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The following text sets forth a broad description of
numerous different embodiments of the present disclosure. The
description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not
describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible
embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. It will be
understood that any feature, characteristic, component,
composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described
herein can be deleted, combined with or substituted for, in whole
or part, any other feature, characteristic, component, composition,
ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein. Numerous
alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current
technology or technology developed after the filing date of this
patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. All
publications and patents cited herein are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0017] According to the present disclosure, a display unit, despite
its controllability from the care tool, should not be arranged
fixedly on the base station or fixedly on the care tool but instead
should be designed to be freely placeable, so that it can be stored
in the best location respectively. According to one embodiment, the
display unit forms a module that is designed separately and is
separately positionable from the base station and the care tool and
has a communication interface for communication with the base
station and/or with the care tool even when separate. Due to the
design of the display unit as a stand-alone module, the display
unit may also be positioned in a location where it is readily
visible for the child or an adult regardless of the position of the
base station, so that visibility is good even with a back-and-forth
movement of the care tool as intended, corresponding to the
tooth-brushing movements in the mouth in the case of a toothbrush.
Nevertheless, the screen display, in one embodiment, in the form of
a videogame, can be controlled interactively from the care tool via
the communication interface of the display. To do so, the care tool
may have a communication link directly to the display module or may
communicate with it indirectly via the base station.
[0018] To achieve a simple and efficient energy supply for the
display unit despite the free placeability of the display unit
without an action radius that depends on the base station, in one
embodiment, the display unit is provided with a chargeable energy
storage mechanism which is chargeable by docking the display unit
on the base station. To this end, the display unit may have an
energy-transmitting coupling unit, which can be brought into
operative connection with a coupling device provided on the base
station. The display unit and the base station have mutually
compatible charging terminals by which the energy storage mechanism
in the display unit can be charged from the base station.
[0019] The energy-transmitting coupling device for charging the
energy storage mechanism of the display unit may operate without
contact, although mechanically connectable charging terminals may
also be provided in principle. In a further embodiment, the display
unit may have an inductive charging terminal for inductive charging
from the base station, whereby the latter also has an inductive
charging terminal that is compatible with the inductive charging
terminal on the display end. By providing charging coils that
communicate with one another on the display and on the base
station, no mechanical terminals need be connected for charging the
display. Furthermore, the inductive charging terminal on the
display unit and/or on the base station can be protected by a seal,
for example, moisture-proof, in particular being arranged beneath
an appliance housing, so that operation even in humid rooms such as
bathhouses and shower rooms is also possible without any
problems.
[0020] In a further embodiment, both the display unit and the care
tool can be charged on the base station. It may be fundamentally
sufficient if the base station therefore has only one charging
terminal when the charging terminals that communicate with it are
designed similarly on the display unit and the care tool
accordingly, so that optionally the care tool or the display unit
can be charged.
[0021] However, the base station may have two separate charging
terminals, one of which can be brought into operative connection
with the display unit and the other of which can be brought into
operative connection with the care tool, such that the display unit
and the care tool can both be charged simultaneously.
[0022] In one embodiment, both the charging terminal for the
display unit and the charging terminal for the care tool are
designed to operate inductively, in particular being provided with
a charging coil which can be brought into a current-transmitting
connection with a charging part that fits it on the display unit
and/or the care tool.
[0023] In this way, both the display unit and the care tool can be
stored and/or placed on the base station in the idle state and/or
when not in operation, thereby charging them in the idle state. For
operation, the care appliance such as the toothbrush and the
display can be picked up from the base station to allow operation
independently of the base station. The display unit may also be
operated even when it is docked on the base station and/or may
communicate with the care tool in such a way that the display unit
can be operated optionally on the base station or independently
thereof. Operation on the base station may be advantageous, for
example, when the energy storage mechanism of the display unit has
only a low charge.
[0024] In a further embodiment, the display unit has standing means
for placing it on a flat surface and on the other hand has
shape-adapted bearing means that conform to the shape of the base
station for supporting the display on the base station in an
accurately fitted manner. The display unit may be docked on the
base station in a form-fitting manner by means of the
aforementioned shape-adapted bearing means. In a further
embodiment, the aforementioned standing means for placing the
display unit on a flat surface and the bearing means for docking
the display unit on the base station may be integrated into one
another and/or may be designed to be mutually complementary. For
example, protruding feet may be inserted into receiving troughs on
the base station having a complementary shape.
[0025] To be able to minimize the transmission power and not
require a high data traffic, in a further embodiment, a game
controller may be integrated into the display unit for controlling
a videogame displayable on the display unit, so that only control
commands for interactive control of the game need be transmitted
over the communication interface. The transmitted control commands
coming from the care tool are processed directly on the display
unit by the game controller even if it is mounted a distance away
from the base station.
[0026] However, in a further embodiment, it is also possible to
provide for the base station and/or the care tool to contain a game
controller, which processes at least a portion of the control
commands generated on the care tool and transforms them into
graphic commands, which are transmitted directly or indirectly to
the display unit via the base station.
[0027] The games that may be displayed on the display of the
display unit may be designed in fundamentally different ways here.
In particular, games with controllable avatars which may be
controlled interactively from the body care appliance with regard
to their movements in particular may be used here. Essentially
different functions and display modes may be designed to be
variable here. According to one advantageous further embodiment of
the invention, navigation control means may be mounted on the care
tool by means of which an avatar navigates on the display of the
display unit and can be guided over the screen, i.e., the
background display there. The navigation control means may be
designed in the form of a manually operable control means on the
care appliance and/or may include detection means for detection of
an operating parameter of the care tool as a function of which the
avatar is navigated on the display. For example, a motion sensor,
an inclination sensor and/or an acceleration sensor may be built
into the care tool, its signal being transformed into a navigation
signal for the avatar of the game displayed on the display
unit.
[0028] To achieve good visibility of the screen contents to be
controlled interactively, the display unit may have a display
element, in particular, a display panel which is covered by an at
least partially transparent covering hood extending over the
display element. Such a covering bell can prevent damage to the
separately positionable display element, which is thus at risk of
falling down, even if it is dropped by children, for example. At
the same time, good visibility from various sides and an emphasis
on the display element are achieved, which also brings advantages
even without the free positionability and separate design of the
display. In particular, an interesting optical effect is achieved
by covering the actual display element by means of a curved
covering bell in the manner of a "snow globe" that is known in
general, which draws the attention of children and makes it
possible for even those children whose dexterity is less developed
to handle the interactive control of the screen contents.
[0029] In another embodiment, the covering hood beneath which the
display element is embedded and by which the display element is
enclosed may be curved convexly over the display element and in
particular may form an at least approximately cup-shaped covering
bell sitting over the display element. Complete visibility from
various directions is thus achieved despite the covering of the
display element.
[0030] In a further embodiment, the display element may optionally
have several display sections aligned toward different directions
of viewing in order to allow multiaxial visibility of the display,
which is to be controlled interactively. For example, display
segments arranged on opposite sides may be provided, so that the
display ball can be observed from both sides, such that different
displays can optionally be displayed to allow a competition between
two game players, for example.
[0031] The aforementioned covering hood may sit on a bottom section
which is essentially flat on the bottom side with which the display
unit can be stored. In addition to the aforementioned separately
designed display unit, the care tool may comprise a display unit
mounted on the care tool itself, for example, to point out special
events in addition to the display unit designed separately or to
convey other information. In a further embodiment, the care tool
may include a display, which can be controlled by a control unit as
a function of the game running on the separate display unit and/or
as a function of an operating parameter of the care tool itself For
example, the display provided on the care tool itself may be used
to draw attention to game situations that are especially
interesting or important on the separate display unit.
[0032] The display unit on the tool end may be designed to be
fundamentally different, so that in a further embodiment, display
means simpler than those provided on a separate display unit are
provided on the body care tool itself In a further embodiment, the
body care tool may have a lightable housing section and/or a light
element that can be attached to the tool housing. With a body care
tool in the form of a toothbrush, in a further embodiment, a light
ring may be provided on the end of the hand-held piece; said light
ring can be converted to various lighting states such as flashing
and/or to different colors.
[0033] In a further embodiment, if the display on the tool end is
controlled as a function of the game running on the separate
display unit, then when the game on the separate display unit
expects or requires a control command as input, for example, a
signal may be delivered on the display on the tool end, for
example, in the form of a blinking light.
[0034] The display element of the separate display unit may include
an electronic display panel, for example, an LCD screen. According
to another embodiment, the care tool and/or the separate display
unit is positionable on the base station in a stationary but
movable position. The bearing device provided for this purpose may
fundamentally be designed in different ways, for example, may
comprise a spring bearing which allows rocking or see-sawing or
some other movement of the display unit and/or care tool on the
base station in the supported state due to the change in shape of
the bearing springs.
[0035] In a further embodiment, the movable bearing device includes
shape-adapted bearing surfaces on the one hand on the display unit
or the care tool for movable bearing of the display unit and/or the
care tool on the base station, and, on the other hand, on the base
station includes holding means, for example, magnetic, for magnetic
holding of the display unit and/or the care tool on the base
station.
[0036] In particular, the shape-adapted bearing surfaces may
include oppositely curved bearing surface pairs such that at least
one shape-adapted bearing surface is designed as a rocking surface
having a multiaxial curvature, in particular an egg-shaped
curvature for rocking the care tool and/or the display unit in
various storage positions, such that said magnetic holding means
advantageously form a centering device for centering the display
unit resting on the rocker surface and/or the care tool resting on
the rocker surface and/or a restoring device for restoring it to a
neutral position after deflection.
[0037] In particular, a care tool designed as a toothbrush may have
a cup-shaped and/or egg-shaped curvature on one end of the
hand-held piece, which can be placed in a receiving trough on the
base station. The magnetic holding means hold the toothbrushes in
an upright idle position centered in the bearing shell.
[0038] The magnetic holding means may be arranged coaxially with
the inductive charging coils described previously in a further
embodiment. In another embodiment, the magnetic holding means may
also be formed by the charging coil itself so that the inductively
transmitted charging current at the same induces magnetic forces in
the care tool acting to center and/or hold the care tool to hold it
in an upright charging position. In this way, the charging
terminals at the same time act as display means which display
correct placement on the base station. If the care tool is set down
incorrectly, so that no charging current flows, the care tool will
fall over and/or it will not be held in its proper idle position.
In this regard, setting down the care tool may serve as part of the
interactive game and/or as a supplement and continuation of the
game being played on the display screen of the display unit.
[0039] According to another embodiment, the display unit may
fulfill a double function and may form an electronic picture frame
into which images can be input and displayed by a connectable image
source independently of the tooth-brushing device.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a toothbrushing appliance 1 which includes an
electric toothbrush 2, which has a hand-held piece 3 forming a
handle piece and an attachable part 4 detachably connected to the
former, the attachable part being an attachable brush with a
bristle field 5 in the embodiment shown here, but optionally also
being other cleaning elements such as plastic strips, interdental
tooth-cleaning appliances or the like.
[0041] A drive motor, which can be driven by a suitably designed
drive train of the bristle field 5 of the attachable part 4, is
accommodated in the interior of the hand-held piece 3. An
energy-storing mechanism in the form of a battery which can be
charged via a charging terminal 6 is also provided in the interior
of the hand-held piece 3. Said charging terminal 6 is
advantageously located on an end section at the rear of the
hand-held piece 3 with which it can be stored and/or deposited on a
base station 7, so that it can be cleared out of the way when not
in use while being charged.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the toothbrush 3 stands upright on the
station body 8 of the base station 7, designed essentially in the
manner of a flat plate, whereby according to an embodiment, the
upright stand is achieved without a locking form-fitting connection
or the like, so that the upright toothbrush 2 can rock back and
forth, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0043] Therefore, a bearing surface pair 10 having an adapted shape
and forming a pair of rocking surfaces with multiaxial curves whose
surface segments conform to one another is provided as bearing
means 9. In the embodiment shown here, the bearing surface 10a of
the station body 8 may be designed as a rotationally symmetrical
trough, while the end face of the hand-held piece 3 of the
toothbrush 2 forms an egg-shaped or cup-shaped surface segment or a
rotationally symmetrical convex surface segment that conforms to
said bearing trough 10a. One or both of the bearing faces 10a
and/or 10b may have a flattened area to permit centered
standing.
[0044] To keep the toothbrush 2 in its upright standing position
when stored, magnetic holding means 11 are provided in the area of
the bearing means 9, acting between the toothbrush 2 and the base
station 7 and having a centering effect, holding the toothbrush 2
in its upright vertical idle position. The magnetic holding means
11 may have a permanent magnet in the base station 7, acting on a
metallic bearing element, for example, in the form of a bearing
ring in the end piece of the hand-held piece 3. The magnetic
holding means 11 may be designed so that a restoring torque acts on
the hand-held piece 3 when the hand-held piece 3 is deflected out
of its centered ideal position. This restoring device can be formed
by the magnetic holding means 11 in the embodiment shown here.
[0045] The toothbrush 2 may be inductively charged by the base part
7. The charging terminal 6 of the hand-held piece 3 may be designed
to operate inductively, as is a charging terminal 12, which is
provided on and cooperates with the base station 7. Both charging
terminals 6 and 12 may be covered and/or encapsulated with respect
to the environment. In particular, they may be arranged beneath the
housing of the hand-held piece 3 and/or the base station 7, so the
charging current is transmitted without contact. In order for the
magnetic fields of the standing device not to be superimposed
mutually on the electromagnetic alternating field and cause
attenuation, both devices may be arranged so they are "nested"
relative to one another. For example, in one embodiment, the
standing magnet is designed to surround the induction coils for the
electromagnetic coupling (for transmission of the charging
current). In another embodiment, an inverted arrangement with the
coil surrounding the standing magnets is also provided. The
standing magnet may be arranged in the base station and/or in the
lower section of the handle. This subject of inductive energy
transfer with the standing magnet can be combined with other
embodiments as desired.
[0046] In one embodiment, the base station 7 also serves as a
set-down surface for a display unit 13, including an electronic
display element 14 in the form of a screen, i.e., display,
optionally designed as an LCD, for example.
[0047] The aforementioned display unit 13 is embodied here as a
stand-alone unit, separately from the base station 7, and can be
docked on the base station 7 to be charged there, but may also be
operated separately at a distance from the base station 7.
[0048] The display unit 13 in the embodiment shown here comprises a
base body 15, which forms the bottom of the display unit 13 and
supports the display element 14. In an embodiment, a transparent
covering bell 16 is inverted over said display element 14, covering
and/or encapsulating said display element 14 and connected by a
fluid connection to said base body 15, thereby embedding the
display element 14 beneath the covering bell 13.
[0049] An energy storage mechanism in the form of a battery, which
is chargeable via a charging terminal 17 from the base station 7,
may be integrated into the base body 15 as the power supply to the
display element 14. The charging terminal 17 on the display unit 13
and the charging terminal 18 of the base station 7 cooperating with
the former may be designed to operate inductively, so that the
charging current can be transmitted without contact and the
charging terminals 17 and/or 18 are embedded to protect them from
moisture, in particular being covered beneath the housing of the
respective part. FIG. 1 shows that the bottom side of the base body
15 of the display unit 13 forms a set-down surface with which the
display unit 13 can be stored on any flat surface. The display unit
13 can communicate with the toothbrush 2 via a communication
interface 19 (not shown here). For wireless communication, a
transmitter/receiver module is provided on the display unit 13,
with which a corresponding transmitter/receiver module in the
hand-held piece 3 of the toothbrush can communicate, so that data
can be transmitted in both directions. For example, a Bluetooth
interface may be provided on the display unit 13 and on the
toothbrush 2 to establish a Bluetooth connection between the two
parts.
[0050] The display unit 13 also has a control unit 20, which
controls the displays on the display element 14 and converts
control commands received from the hand-held piece 3 of the
toothbrush 2 into corresponding graphic commands for the screen
display. For example, the control unit 21 may show a videogame on
the display element 14 and may control it interactively, as shown
in the example in FIG. 2.
[0051] At least one avatar 22 and/or a virtual element that can be
moved and/or guided over the screen and/or moved and/or guided over
the screen background may be shown on the display element 14. In
the embodiment shown here, the avatar 22 is formed by the figure of
a child, which can be moved over an island and into the underwater
world near the island to clean an underwater reef, representing the
teeth of a set of teeth to be cleaned. The avatar 22 can be
navigated by the toothbrush 2 over the screen display and/or the
display element 14. To do so, the hand-held piece 3 of the
toothbrush 2 includes navigation control means for creating
navigation commands, which are transmitted to the control unit 21
over said communication interface 19 and/or 20 and control the
movement of the avatar 22 on the display element 14. In the
embodiment shown here in FIG. 4, said navigation control means
includes a manually operable navigation switch 23, which may be
designed to be fundamentally different and may be embodied as in a
trackball, such as those known for use on a laptop, for example, to
recognize operations and/or forces acting in different directions
and convert them into navigation control signals in various
directions.
[0052] To simplify navigation of the avatar 22 for children, the
navigation switch 23 on the hand-held piece 3 may be designed as a
four-fold pressure switch having pressure sections oriented in four
directions, positioned with respect to one another in the form of a
cross. By depressing one or two pressure segments situated side by
side, a navigation control signal in a corresponding direction,
optionally also superimposed, can be created and converted into a
movement of the avatar in the corresponding direction. A fixed
directional assignment between the pressure sections and the
display screen may be provided here, for example, such that
depressing the pressure segment directed toward the attachable part
4, always produces a movement of the avatar 22 upward toward the
upper edge of the display screen. Alternatively, the directional
orientation may also depend on the alignment of the brush shown in
the virtual display, such that the virtual display of the brush is
always moved to the right across the longitudinal axis of the
virtual brush display regardless of its rotational position on the
display screen, for example, when the pressure segment situated at
the right on the true toothbrush is depressed. However, this is a
highly complex control procedure, which is not very suitable for
children but can increase the game's appeal for adults.
Alternatively, the navigation switch 23 is a switch, which is to be
operated as soon as certain positions/configurations are
discernible on the display. Also alternatively, the navigation
switch 23 is also designed as an ON/OFF switch of the electric
toothbrush (for example, with a longer pressure time to turn the
toothbrush on and off than for operation of the display functions).
In another alternative, the ON/OFF switch of the electric
toothbrush and the navigation switch 23 are designed separately,
for example, on two opposing sides or other sides of the toothbrush
handle.
[0053] In one embodiment, navigation control signals on the
hand-held piece 3 may also be derived from operating parameters of
the toothbrush 2. In particular, motion and/or acceleration signals
corresponding to movements, in particular brushing movements by the
toothbrush 2 may be generated by means of suitable detection
devices, for example, in the form of motion sensors and/or
acceleration sensors, so that the virtual display of the avatar 22
and/or the virtual brush part held by the avatar is navigated
according to the actual movements of the toothbrush 2. The
toothbrush 2 may also have an inclination sensor integrated into
it, detecting the inclination and/or the orientation of the
toothbrush 2 in space, so the avatar 22 not only moves back and
forth but can also be tilted. The screen display of the avatar 22
may also be moved in synchronization with the movements and/or
pressure switch operations on the toothbrush 2.
[0054] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
[0055] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0056] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
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