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.

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.