Toothbrush

Abstract

Disclosed herein are toothbrushes. The toothbrushes are self-standing and are oriented in an upright position when resting on a support surface. In some arrangements, the toothbrush can have a stamp. A closure of the toothbrush can be removed to expose the stamp. The toothbrush has an ink source that deposits ink on the stamp. A receiving stand configured to receive the lower portion of the toothbrush can maintain the toothbrush in a generally vertical orientation.

1 . A toothbrush comprising: 
 an upper portion having a plurality of bristles configured to clean teeth; and    a lower portion being removably coupled to the upper portion, wherein when the lower portion is separated from the upper portion, a stamp is exposed.    
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the stamp is coupled to the upper portion.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the stamp is coupled to the lower portion.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lower portion and the upper portion comprises an ink source.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 , wherein the ink source comprises an ink pad or an ink reservoir.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is a rounded closure.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the toothbrush is a self-standing toothbrush that moves to a generally upright position when the toothbrush is placed upon a support surface.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises a handle.  
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising a stand member, said stand member configured to receive the lower portion and maintain the toothbrush in a substantially vertical position.  
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush of  claim 9 , wherein the stand member comprises at least one support member.  
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one illumination circuit, said illumination circuit comprising at least one lighting element and a switch.  
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 11 , wherein the illumination circuit further comprises a timing circuit.  
   
   
       13 . A self-standing toothbrush comprising: 
 a toothbrush head comprising a plurality of cleaning elements; and    a body having an upper end and a bottom, the head being coupled to the upper end of the body, the bottom is configured such that the toothbrush assumes a neutral position when gravity acts on the toothbrush resting on a support surface.    
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom is sufficiently heavy to cause the toothbrush to bias to a generally upright position when the toothbrush is placed on a generally flat support surface.  
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , further comprising a base on which the toothbrush is configured to be positioned, 
 wherein the bottom comprises at least one magnet and the base comprises at least one repelling magnet to cause the toothbrush to bias to a generally upright position when the toothbrush is placed on the base.    
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom comprises a closure that is temporarily coupled to a body-mounting portion of the body, when the closure is separated from the body-mounting portion a stamp is exposed, when the closure is attached to the body-mounting portion the stamp is covered.  
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one illumination circuit, said illumination circuit comprising at least one lighting element and a switch.  
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush of  claim 17 , wherein the illumination circuit further comprises a timing circuit.  
   
   
       19 . A stand member configured to receive and support a toothbrush in a generally vertical position, said stand member comprising: 
 a shell portion comprising an internal space into which a toothbrush can be positioned; and    at least one support member attached to the shell portion and configured to maintain the position of the stand member on a generally flat surface.    
   
   
       20 . The stand member of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one support member is shaped like a foot.  
   
   
       21 . The stand member of  claim 19 , wherein the shell comprises at least one opening.  
   
   
       22 . The toothbrush of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one illumination circuit, said illumination circuit comprising at least one lighting element and a switch.