Hands-free oral care device and method

Abstract

Hands-free oral care devices and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, an oral care device includes a mouthpiece configured to be received within a user's mouth, the mouthpiece including an upper bristle track and a lower bristle track that are pivotably coupled together. The device further includes a first housing component coupled to the mouthpiece such that at least a portion of the first housing component can be compressed between the upper bristle track and the lower bristle track, and a second housing component sealingly coupled to the first housing component to define a watertight cavity therebetween. A battery can be disposed within the cavity, as well as an actuator and a pressure sensitive switch that is effective to detect pressure exerted on the first housing component when the upper and lower bristle tracks pivotably move relative to one another and selectively couple the actuator to the battery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oral care device, comprising:
 a mouthpiece configured to be received within a mouth of a user, the mouthpiece including an upper bristle track having a plurality of bristles extending from an upper surface thereof and a lower bristle track having a plurality of bristles extending from a lower surface thereof, wherein the upper bristle track and the lower bristle track are pivotably coupled to one another;   a first housing component coupled to the mouthpiece such that at least a portion of the first housing component is disposed between the upper bristle track and the lower bristle track and can be compressed therebetween when the upper bristle track and the lower bristle track pivotably move relative to one another;   a second housing component sealingly coupled to the first housing component to define a watertight cavity between the first and second housing components;   a battery disposed within the cavity;   an actuator disposed within the cavity and coupled to the battery; and   a pressure sensitive switch disposed within the cavity and effective to detect pressure exerted on the first housing component when the upper and lower bristle tracks pivotably move relative to one another and selectively couple the actuator to the battery.   
     
     
         2 . The oral care device of  claim 1 , wherein at least the second housing component is positioned outside the mouth of a user when the mouthpiece is within the mouth of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The oral care device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator vibrates the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         4 . The oral care device of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator comprises a rotary motor spinning an eccentric mass. 
     
     
         5 . The oral care device of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing component includes a flat surface configured to receive a decorative decal. 
     
     
         6 . The oral care device of  claim 5 , wherein the flat surface has an oval shape. 
     
     
         7 . The oral care device of  claim 5 , wherein the flat surface has a curved shape generally approximating a set of lips. 
     
     
         8 . The oral care device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are coupled together via an interference fit and a sealing element is disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The oral care device of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing element is an o-ring. 
     
     
         10 . The oral care device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are coupled together via sonic welding. 
     
     
         11 . The oral care device of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are overmolded with a polymer material. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material is a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         13 . An oral care method, comprising:
 inserting a mouthpiece of an oral care device into a user's mouth such that a portion of the device containing a battery and an actuator remain outside the user's mouth;   applying bite force to the mouthpiece within the user's mouth to actuate a pressure-sensitive switch that selectively couples the actuator to the battery to vibrate the device; and   selectively controlling vibration of the mouthpiece using bite force.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein inserting the mouthpiece into the user's mouth includes contacting a plurality of the user's teeth with bristles extending from the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bristles contact a plurality of a user's teeth on both the upper and lower jaw. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising affixing a decorative decal to a surface of the device that remains outside of a user's mouth. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein variation in bite force is linearly related to variation in vibration imparted by the actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 releasing bite force on the mouthpiece to electrically decouple the actuator from the battery; and   removing the mouthpiece from the user's mouth.