US 6,199,239 B1Granted

Toothbrush with audible reminder mechanism

OwnerHerbert A. Dickersoninventor

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Abstract

A toothbrush system that includes an audible reminder mechanism for reminding individuals to brush their teeth. The audible reminder mechanism is triggered by sound recognition circuit that in the exemplary embodiment is programmed to recognize the sound of running water. The toothbrush system also includes a user insertable electronic music chip insertable through a chip insertion opening formed through a side of an elongated gripping portion of the toothbrush handle.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A toothbrush with audible reminder mechanism comprising:

a brush assembly;
and
a recharging base;
said recharging base including a brush assembly receiving cavity having two charger contacts provided at a bottom thereof and a hook slot in connection with said brush assembly receiving cavity;
said brush assembly including a handle assembly and a removable brush assembly having a brush head attached shaft portion having a shaft end that fits into a receiving cavity at a top end of said handle assembly;
said handle assembly including a molded plastic housing having a detachable bottom cap assembly and a elongated gripping portion;
said detachable bottom cap assembly being detachably connectable to said elongated gripping portion and including a pair of spaced recharging contacts and a hanger hook extending out past a side of said elongated gripping portion;
said bottom cap assembly being insertable into said brush assembly receiving cavity such that said two charger contacts provided at said bottom of said brush receiving cavity electrically connect with said two recharging contacts of said bottom cap assembly and said hanger hook is positioned through said hook slot;
said elongated gripping portion housing a rechargeable battery pack in electrical connection with said pair of spaced recharging contacts and a reminder mechanism including a sealed output speaker, a sealed microphone, a user insertable electronic music chip insertable through a chip insertion opening formed through said side of said elongated gripping portion, an on/off switch and a music generating circuit having a speaker output in connection with said output speaker, a power input in connection said on/off switch, a sound detector microphone input in connection with said microphone, and a sound data input in connection with said user insertable electronic music chip;
said music generating circuit retrieving sound data from said user insertable electronic music chip and generating a music output signal to said speaker after a predetermined sound is detected at said sound detector microphone input.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A toothbrush with audible reminder mechanism comprising:

a brush assembly;
and
a recharging base;
said recharging base including a brush assembly receiving cavity having two charger contacts provided at a bottom thereof and a hook slot in connection with said brush assembly receiving cavity;
said brush assembly including a handle assembly and a removable brush assembly having a brush head attached shaft portion having a shaft end that fits into a receiving cavity at a top end of said handle assembly;
said handle assembly including a molded plastic housing having a detachable bottom cap assembly and a elongated gripping portion;
said detachable bottom cap assembly being detachably connectable to said elongated gripping portion and including a pair of spaced recharging contacts and a hanger hook extending out past a side of said elongated gripping portion;
said bottom cap assembly being insertable into said brush assembly receiving cavity such that said two charger contacts provided at said bottom of said brush receiving cavity electrically connect with said two recharging contacts of said bottom cap assembly and said hanger hook is positioned through said hook slot;
said elongated gripping portion housing a rechargeable battery pack in electrical connection with said pair of spaced recharging contacts and a reminder mechanism including a sealed output speaker, a sealed microphone, a user insertable electronic music chip insertable through a chip insertion opening formed through said side of said elongated gripping portion, an on/off switch and a music generating circuit having a speaker output in connection with said output speaker, a power input in connection said on/off switch, a sound detector microphone input in connection with said microphone, and a sound data input in connection with said user insertable electronic music chip;
said music generating circuit retrieving sound data from said user insertable electronic music chip and generating a music output signal to said speaker after a predetermined sound is detected at said sound detector microphone input.

7 more elements