US 7,976,388 B2Granted

Oral care gaming system with electronic game

AssigneeUmagination Labs, L.P.

InventorsSung K. Park, Douglas C. Dayton

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Abstract

An oral care gaming system and methods are provided for promoting and rewarding proper oral care techniques and behaviors and for controlling an electronic and/or video game. The system and methods enable a user to play an electronic and/or video game while performing certain oral care activities. The efficacy of a user's oral care techniques enables the user to improve their game play and to achieve the goals of the game. The system includes an oral care tool configured as a game enabler/controller and a base unit configured as an electronic gaming apparatus. Using the oral care tool, a user performs oral care and interacts with an electronic and/or video game the base unit implements and runs. The base unit includes a video display that displays video outputs of an electronic and/or video game. The oral care tool is actuated to enable an electronic and/or video game, and includes sensors for detecting characteristics of a user's oral care techniques and behaviors that serve as inputs to an electronic and/or video game.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An oral care gaming system comprising:

a) a first oral care tool configured for maintenance or treatment of a condition in a mouth or organs therein, the first oral care tool comprising:
one or more sensors for detecting temperatures of a user's mouth;
a speaker;
communication means for communicating with another component operatively coupled with the first oral care gaming system;
a removeable, reattachable head portion, wherein the head portion is encoded with identification data;
and
b) an electronic gaming apparatus operatively coupled with the first oral care tool, the electronic gaming apparatus comprising:
communication means for communicating audio feedback of an electronic game to the first oral care tool;
a processor configured to receive the identification data;
identify a user of the first oral care tool based upon the identification data;
identify a type of the head portion based upon the identification data;
configure the electronic game based upon both the user and the type of the head portion;
and control the electronic game, wherein
the electronic game provides the audio feedback, and the audio feedback of the electronic game is responsive to inputs received from the one or more sensors for detecting temperatures.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/728,259Filed 23 Mar 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Mar 2006
Published: US 2007/0270221 A122 Nov 2007
Granted: 12 Jul 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

A63F 13/80
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions: special adaptations for executing a specific game…
A46B 15/0002
Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements: arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
A46B 15/0006
With a controlling means: with a controlling brush technique device, e.g. stroke movement measuring device
A46B 15/0008
With a controlling means: with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing