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US 5,355,544 AGranted
Force-indicating toothbrush using magnetic latching
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorRobert S. Dirksing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A force indicating toothbrush which uses magnetic latching to hold a movable brush member against a hollow handle. When held by the hollow handle, the bristles of the brush member are pressed against the user's teeth and gums until a predetermined force is reached. The predetermined force causes unlatching of the magnetic latch and movement of the brush member relative to the hollow handle, thereby indicative the user that too much pressure has been exerted against the teeth and gums.
Claims18
A force-indicating toothbrush comprising:
- a) a hollow handle having a latching end and a connecting end;
- b) a brush member having a brush head, a connecting point, and a magnetic surface, said connecting point and magnetic surface being disposed at spaced locations on said brush member said brush member arranged relative to said hollow handle such that said connecting end of said hollow handle is connected to said connecting point of said brush member to enable said brush member to move relative to said hollow handle about said connecting end, and said latching end of said hollow handle is positioned adjacent to said magnetic surface of said brush member;
- and
- c) a magnet connected to said latching end of said hollow handle opposite said magnetic surface of said brush member such that when said magnet contacts said magnetic surface over a contact area, a magnetic force latches said brush member to said hollow handle until a predetermined force is applied to said brush head to cause said magnet to separate from said magnetic surface, thereby unlatching said brush member from said hollow handle to indicate that said predetermined force has been exceeded.
1 more element
A force-indicating toothbrush comprising:
- a) a hollow handle having a latching end and a connecting end;
- b) a brush member having a brush head, a connecting point and a magnet attached thereto said connecting point and magnet being disposed at spaced locations on said brush member said brush member arranged relative to said hollow handle such that said connecting end of said hollow handle connects to said connecting point of said brush member to enable said brush member to move relative to said hollow handle about said connecting end, and said latching end of said hollow handle is positioned adjacent to said magnet on said brush member;
- and
- c) a magnetic surface on said latching end of said hollow handle opposite said magnet on said brush member such that when said magnet contacts said magnetic surface over a contact area, a magnetic force latches said brush member to said hollow handle until a predetermined force is applied to said brush head to cause said magnet to separate from said magnetic surface, thereby unlatching said brush member from said hollow handle to indicate that said predetermined force has been exceeded.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.