U.S. patent application number 14/460044 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-18 for toothbrush having integrated flashlight.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ginger Belge-Barnes. Invention is credited to Ginger Belge-Barnes.
Application Number | 20160045020 14/460044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55301142 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160045020 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Belge-Barnes; Ginger |
February 18, 2016 |
TOOTHBRUSH HAVING INTEGRATED FLASHLIGHT
Abstract
An illuminating toothbrush for illuminating the inside of a
users mouth while the user brushes her teeth and/or gums. The
illuminating toothbrush comprises a conventional toothbrush having
elongated handle portion and bristle head portion modified with a
lighting element connected to an internal battery compartment and a
manually actuated momentary switch. The lighting element is
positioned on the handle portion to enable it to direct light
towards the bristle head, configuring it to illuminate the mouth of
a user when the bristle head is in the user's mouth. In operation,
when the manual switch is depressed through the application of
manual pressure, the lighting element illuminates and when the
manual pressure is removed, the lighting element ceases to
illuminate.
Inventors: |
Belge-Barnes; Ginger; (East
Syracuse, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Belge-Barnes; Ginger |
East Syracuse |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55301142 |
Appl. No.: |
14/460044 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0036 20130101;
A46B 2200/1066 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A46B 15/00 20060101
A46B015/00; A46B 9/04 20060101 A46B009/04 |
Claims
1. An illuminating toothbrush, comprising: a toothbrush body having
a front exterior side and back exterior side and defined by an
elongated handle portion adjacent to a bristle head portion,
wherein said toothbrush body includes a neck in between the handle
portion and bristle head portion and said bristle head portion
includes a plurality of bristles extending from the front exterior
side; a lighting element positioned on the neck and disposed on the
back exterior side of the toothbrush body, wherein said lighting
element is configured to illuminate when supplied with electricity;
an internal battery compartment adapted to receive a battery,
wherein said lighting element and said internal battery compartment
are electrically connected to enable electricity in a battery
disposed in the internal battery compartment to be selectively
directed to the lighting element; and a manually actuated momentary
switch disposed on the back exterior side of said toothbrush body,
wherein said momentary switch is configured to enable electricity
in a battery disposed in the internal battery compartment to be
directed to the lighting element.
2-4. (canceled)
5. The illuminating toothbrush of claim 1, wherein said momentary
switch is disposed on said handle portion, thereby enabling it to
be actuated by a user's index finger while the user is grasping
handle portion.
6-8. (canceled)
9. The illuminating toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the momentary
switch is positioned adjacent to the lighting element.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to an oral hygiene
apparatus and, more particularly, to a toothbrush having an
integrated flashlight for illuminating inside the mouth.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The use of elongated oral hygiene apparatus, such as a
toothbrush, to clean the teeth of gums of an individual is well
known. A conventional toothbrush commonly consists of an elongated
handle having a head portion defined by a plurality of tightly
clustered bristles which are used to brush against ones teeth and
gums. A problem which still exists, however, is that when using a
conventional toothbrush to brush teeth, a lack of illumination
inside the mouth often makes it difficult for the user to see
inside their mouth while brushing. Thus, there remains a need for a
toothbrush having an integrated lighting element that would enable
a user to illuminate inside their mouth while brushing. It would be
helpful if such an illuminating toothbrush included an onboard
power source to provide electrical power the lighting element. It
would be additionally desirable for such an illuminating toothbrush
included a momentary actuating switch mounted thereon that enabled
a user to selectively activate the lighting element while holding
the toothbrush in a conventional manner with either hand.
[0005] The Applicant's invention described herein provides for an
illuminating toothbrush adapted to allow a user to activate an
integrated lighting element that improves visibility in their
mouth. The primary components in Applicant's illuminating
toothbrush are a toothbrush, a lighting element, an actuating
switch, and a power source. When in operation, the illuminating
toothbrush enables more effective and efficient cleaning of a teeth
and gums by providing illumination in the mouth. As a result, many
of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An illuminating toothbrush for illuminating the inside of a
users mouth while the user brushes her teeth and/or gums. The
illuminating toothbrush comprises a conventional toothbrush having
elongated handle portion and bristle head portion modified with a
lighting element connected to an internal battery compartment and a
manually actuated momentary switch. The lighting element is
positioned on the handle portion to enable it to direct light
towards the bristle head, configuring it to illuminate the mouth of
a user when the bristle head is in the user's mouth. In operation,
when the manual switch is depressed through the application of
manual pressure, the lighting element illuminates and when the
manual pressure is removed, the lighting element ceases to
illuminate.
[0007] It is an object of this invention to provide a toothbrush
having an integrated lighting element that would enable a user to
illuminate inside their mouth while brushing. It would be helpful
if such an illuminating toothbrush included an onboard power source
to provide electrical power the lighting element.
[0008] It is another object of this invention to provide an
illuminating toothbrush having an onboard power source to provide
electrical power the lighting element.
[0009] It is yet another object of this invention to provide an
illuminating toothbrush having a momentary actuating switch mounted
thereon that enabled a user to selectively activate the lighting
element while holding the toothbrush in a conventional manner with
either hand.
[0010] These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an illuminating
toothbrush built in accordance with the present invention having
manual actuator disengaged.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an illuminating
toothbrush built in accordance with the present invention having
manual actuator engaged.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and
2, an illuminating toothbrush 10 is shown having an elongated
handle portion 11, bristle head portion 12, a lighting element 13,
a battery compartment 14, and a manual switch 15. The handle
portion 11 and the bristle head portion 12 define conventional
toothbrush components and can be constructed in any conventional
shape, bristle textures, sizes, and forms in accordance with the
present invention. It is understood that a selected shape, bristle
texture, size, and form of the handle portion 11 and/or the bristle
head portion 12 will be based on the intended conventional use of
the toothbrush (i.e. age of user, mouth size, etc).
[0014] The lighting element 13 is defined in the preferred
embodiment as an LED light and is mounted on the handle portion 11
of the illuminating toothbrush 10 on the opposite side of the side
the bristles extend from the bristle head 12. The lighting element
13 is positioned to direct light towards the bristle head 12 so as
to illuminate the mouth when the bristle head 12 is in a user's
mouth and, more specifically, area of the mouth where the user is
brushing.
[0015] The lighting element 13 electrically connected to the
battery compartment 14 through a wire (not shown) that runs
internally through the handle portion 11. In this regard, the
lighting element 13 selectively receives electricity from a battery
(not shown) contained in the battery compartment 14. When
electricity is supplied from the battery, the lighting element 13
illuminates in the same manner as conventional LED lights.
[0016] The manual switch 15 is defined as a momentary switch that
allows a user to selectively provide electricity from the battery
in the battery compartment 14 to the lighting element 13. In this
regard, when the manual switch is depressed through the application
of manual pressure in an actuating direction 16, a circuit is
formed allowing electricity from the battery to flow to the
lighting element 13, thereby causing the lighting element to
illuminate. When the manual pressure in the actuating direction 16
is removed, the circuit is broken and the lighting element 13
ceases to illuminate.
[0017] It is contemplated that the placement of the manual switch
15 on the back of the handle portion 11 makes it positioned to be
easily depressed by a user holding the handle portion 11 with
either hand as it is located where the user's index finger would
normally go anyway when holding a toothbrush.
[0018] In the preferred embodiment, the illuminating toothbrush 10
measures either six (6) or eight (8) inches long and employs a
removable battery. In one embodiment, the illuminating toothbrush
10 employs a rechargeable battery and additionally includes an
electrical port for receiving electricity from a conventional
electrical cord and plug.
[0019] It is contemplated that in addition to being used on humans,
the illuminating toothbrush can be used on animals, such as
dogs.
[0020] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in
what is considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made
therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
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