Illuminated flashing toothbrush and method of use

A toothbrush comprising:

• a handle having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the handle defining an internal cavity, the second end defining an opening to the internal cavity;
• a light generation mechanism inserted into the opening of the handle and extending into the internal cavity of the handle, the light generation mechanism comprising:
• one or more elongate members;
• a battery supported by and fixed in position with respect to the one or more elongate members;
• a switch electrically coupled to the battery;
• a light electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the switch and the light are supported by the one or more elongate members such that the light generation mechanism is configured to be fully assembled in a self-contained manner prior to at least partial insertion into the internal cavity;
• a head having a plurality of bristles, the head connected to the handle;
• a pliant material of a material different from the handle and connected to the handle, wherein the pliant material covers the switch such that a force applied on the pliant material flexes the pliant material and causes the switch to activate the light;
• and
• wherein the one or more elongate members surround the battery.

A toothbrush comprising:

• a handle having an interior cavity, with at least a portion of the handle being made of a flexible material;
• a head coupled to the handle;
• a plurality of bristles coupled to the head;
• a power source positioned within the interior cavity;
• and
• a light generation mechanism extending into the interior cavity and configured to be fully assembled prior to insertion into the interior cavity, the light generation mechanism comprising:
• one or more elongate members;
• a light;
• a circuit configured to provide the light with power from the power source;
• and
• a switch mechanism including a protrusion having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the protrusion extending away from the second end of the protrusion in a direction towards the flexible material such that the flexible material covers the first end of the protrusion, the first end of the protrusion being unconnected to the flexible material, the switch configured such that a force applied to the flexible material covering the first end of the protrusion moves the protrusion to complete the circuit to cause the light to blink for a period of time as set by the circuit, and
• the switch and the light are secured by the one or more elongate members such that the light generation mechanism is configured to be fully assembled in a self-contained manner prior to insertion into the interior cavity;
• and
• wherein the power source is fixed in position within the interior cavity such that the power source does not move when the protrusion moves to complete the circuit.

A toothbrush comprising:

• a handle with an internal cavity, the internal cavity being sealed in a substantially fluid tight manner;
• a light generation mechanism configured to be fully assembled prior to insertion into the internal cavity comprising:
• a frame;
• a battery fixed in position by the frame;
• a printed circuit board;
• an activation mechanism electrically coupled to the battery;
• a light mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the activation mechanism and the battery, wherein the light, the printed circuit board and at least a portion of the activation mechanism are secured by the frame such that the light generation mechanism is configured to be fully assembled in a self-contained manner prior to insertion of at least a portion of the light generation mechanism into the internal cavity;
• a head having a plurality of bristles, the head connected to the handle;
• a pliant material of a material different from the handle and connected to the handle, wherein the pliant material covers the portion of the activation mechanism such that a force applied on the pliant material is configured to flex the pliant material and cause the activation mechanism to activate the light;
• and
• 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 light generation mechanism inserted into the interior cavity along the longitudinal axis in a direction towards the first end of the handle;
• wherein the printed circuit board provides a circuit including a timer that is configured to cause the light to blink for a period of time;
• wherein the toothbrush includes a motor positioned in the interior chamber and configured to produce motion of the plurality of bristles;
• wherein the timer is operable to control the motor to operate for a period of time upon activation of the activation mechanism;
• wherein the motion imparted to the bristles by the motor is at least one of oscillation, rotation and vibration;
• wherein the handle has a first end and a second end, the head connected to the first end, and the internal cavity has a cavity opening from the second end, the light generation mechanism inserted into the opening;
• wherein the activation mechanism includes a protrusion that extends away from the printed circuit board in the direction of the pliant material, the protrusion having a first end proximate the printed circuit board and a second end proximate the pliant material, such that a force applied on the pliant material is configured to flex the pliant material and engage the second end of the protrusion.