Illuminated flashing toothbrush and method of use

Abstract

A toothbrush can include a handle and a head. At least one bristle can be attached to the head. The toothbrush can also have an illumination member, an illumination circuit and an activation device. A pliant base on the handle can be used to activate the activation device to initiate the illumination circuit.

1 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle with an internal chamber, the internal chamber being sealed in a substantially fluid tight manner;   a head having a plurality of bristles, the head connected to the handle;   a frame at least partially inserted into the internal chamber, the frame configured to secure a plurality of toothbrush components in place, the toothbrush components including:
 a battery; 
 a printed circuit board; 
 an activation mechanism electrically coupled to the battery; 
 a motor mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the activation mechanism and the battery; and 
 an illumination member mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the activation mechanism and the battery; 
   wherein the frame is configured to secure the toothbrush components in a self-contained assembly while outside the toothbrush, the frame including one or more prongs for engaging the internal chamber and securing the frame in place within the internal chamber upon at least partial insertion into the internal chamber;   wherein a pliant material of a material different from the handle is connected to the handle, wherein the pliant material covers the activation mechanism when the frame is secured in the internal chamber such that a force applied on the pliant material is configured to flex the pliant material and cause the activation mechanism to light the illumination member; and   wherein the printed circuit board provides a circuit including a timer that is configured to cause the illumination member to blink and cause the motor to operate;   wherein the motor is configured to produce motion of the plurality of bristles, and the motion imparted to the bristles is at least one of oscillation, rotation and vibration.   
     
     
         2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein the internal chamber includes a side wall, and wherein the side wall defines structure for engaging the prongs of the frame to retain the frame in the internal chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The toothbrush of  claim 2  wherein the structure defined in the side wall is one of a slot or hole in the side wall of the internal chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein the activation mechanism includes a button that extends away from the printed circuit board, the button having a first end proximate the printed circuit board, wherein a force applied on the pliant material flexes the pliant material and causes actuation of the button. 
     
     
         5 . The toothbrush of  claim 4  wherein the activation mechanism includes a lever, wherein the force applied on the pliant material depresses the lever to also depress the button. 
     
     
         6 . The toothbrush of  claim 5  wherein the handle has a first end and a second end, the head connected to the first end, and the internal chamber has a chamber opening from the second end, the frame inserted into the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The toothbrush of  claim 6  wherein a longitudinal axis extends from the first end of the handle to the second end of the handle, the handle configured to have the frame inserted into the internal chamber along the longitudinal axis in a direction towards the first end of the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  including a window, such that the light from the illumination member can be seen through the window. 
     
     
         9 . The toothbrush of  claim 8  wherein the window defines a section of the toothbrush, the window sized and shaped such that light from the illumination member can be viewed from multiple directions. 
     
     
         10 . The toothbrush of  claim 9  wherein the window wraps around the handle to allow viewing of the light from the illumination member from all directions. 
     
     
         11 . The toothbrush of  claim 10  wherein the window and the handle are configured such that the light from the illumination member can be seen below the fingers and hand. 
     
     
         12 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein pressing the activation mechanism can close the circuit, turning the motor on, and pressing the activation mechanism a second time can open the circuit, turning the motor off. 
     
     
         13 . The toothbrush of  claim 12  wherein both the illumination member and the motor are connected to the timer, and wherein the functioning of the illumination member and the motor are coordinated. 
     
     
         14 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle with an internal chamber, the internal chamber being sealed in a substantially fluid tight manner, the internal chamber forming a housing;   a head having a plurality of bristles, the head connected to the handle;   a frame at least partially inserted into the internal chamber, the frame configured to secure a plurality of toothbrush components in place to form a light generation mechanism, the toothbrush components including:
 a battery; 
 a printed circuit board; 
 an activation mechanism electrically coupled to the battery; 
 a motor mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the activation mechanism and the battery; and 
 an illumination member mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the activation mechanism and the battery, wherein the activation mechanism can be actuated by a user to light the illumination member and operate the motor; 
   wherein the frame is configured to secure the light generation mechanism in an assembly while outside the toothbrush, the frame surrounding the motor while also securing the printed circuit board and the activation mechanism, the frame including one or more prongs for engaging the internal chamber and securing the frame in place within the internal chamber upon at least partial insertion of the frame into the internal chamber; and   wherein the printed circuit board provides a circuit including a timer that is configured to cause the illumination member to blink and cause the motor to operate;   wherein the illumination member can be turned on by the activation mechanism, but thereafter controlled by the timer;   wherein the activation mechanism includes a button and a lever, the button connected to the printed circuit board, and the lever operable to depress the button;   wherein the motor is configured to produce motion of the plurality of bristles, and the motion imparted to the bristles is at least one of oscillation, rotation and vibration.   
     
     
         15 . The toothbrush of  claim 14 , wherein a pliant material of a material different from the handle is connected to the handle, wherein the pliant material covers the activation mechanism when the frame is secured in the internal chamber such that a force applied on the pliant material is configured to flex the pliant material, the lever and the button and cause the activation mechanism to light the illumination member. 
     
     
         16 . The toothbrush of  claim 15  wherein the one or more prongs include at least two prongs, and the battery is positioned between the prongs. 
     
     
         17 . The toothbrush of  claim 16  wherein the button is positioned between the battery and the head. 
     
     
         18 . A toothbrush comprising:
 a handle with an internal chamber having a side wall, the internal chamber being sealed in a substantially fluid tight manner, the internal chamber forming a housing;   a head having a plurality of bristles, the head connected to the handle;   a frame at least partially inserted into the internal chamber, the frame configured to secure a plurality of toothbrush components in place, the toothbrush components including:
 a printed circuit board; 
 an activation mechanism electrically coupled to the printed circuit board; 
 a motor mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the activation mechanism; and 
 an illumination member mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the activation mechanism; 
   wherein the frame is configured to secure the toothbrush components in a self-contained assembly while outside the toothbrush, the frame including one or more prongs for engaging the side wall of the internal chamber and securing the frame in place within the internal chamber upon at least partial insertion into the internal chamber;   wherein the toothbrush includes at least one battery connected to the printed circuit board, the activation mechanism, the illumination member and the motor, the battery set in position within the internal chamber when the prongs are positioned and engaged with the side wall of the internal chamber;   wherein a pliant material of a material different from the handle is connected to the handle, wherein the pliant material covers a portion of the activation mechanism when the frame is secured in the internal chamber such that a force applied on the pliant material is configured to flex the pliant material and cause the activation mechanism to light the illumination member; and   wherein the printed circuit board provides a circuit including a timer that is configured to cause the illumination member to blink and cause the motor to operate;   wherein the motor is configured to produce motion of the plurality of bristles, and the motion imparted to the bristles is at least one of oscillation, rotation and vibration.   
     
     
         19 . The toothbrush of  claim 18  wherein the activation mechanism includes a button and a lever, wherein the button extends away from the printed circuit board, the button having a first end proximate the printed circuit board, wherein a force applied on the pliant material flexes the pliant material and depresses the lever and the depression of the lever causes actuation of the button. 
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush of  claim 19  including a window, such that the light from the illumination member can be seen through the window, wherein the window defines a section of the toothbrush to allow viewing of the light from the illumination member from all directions, wherein the window and the handle are configured such that the light from the illumination member can be seen below the fingers and hand.