Toothbrush package

Abstract

Attractiveness of consumer products is enhanced by use of scintillating fluorescent light collecting fibers contained in those products. The fibers collect ambient light of various wavelengths, some not visible, along their length which is collected within the fiber and emitted as visible light at the ends of the fibers. The emitted light can be used to enhance the consumer appeal of the product or promote its use. Specific consumer products disclosed include toothbrushes and liquid soap dispensers.

1 . A lighted consumer product comprising a body, portions thereof being sufficiently translucent or transparent to permit entry of ambient light, at least one light collecting element arranged in at least some of those portions of the body, at least one end of the at least one element being directed toward an exterior surface of the body where light collected in the element through the sufficiently transparent or translucent portions is emitted from the at least one end of the element and can be seen by a person observing or using the consumer product.  
   
   
       2 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 1  comprising a toothbrush having cleaning elements in a head thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 2  wherein the at least one end of the at least one light collecting element is located adjacent the cleaning elements in the head of the toothbrush.  
   
   
       4 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of light collecting elements have ends located out of or near a working surface of the cleaning elements.  
   
   
       5 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 1  wherein the emitted light is collected from ambient light.  
   
   
       6 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 1  wherein the light is emitted without using a power source in the lighted consumer product.  
   
   
       7 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 1  wherein the emitted light is multi-colored.  
   
   
       8 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 2  wherein the emitted light is collected from ambient light.  
   
   
       9 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 2  wherein the light is emitted without using a power source in the lighted consumer product.  
   
   
       10 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 2  wherein the emitted light is multi-colored.  
   
   
       11 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 2  wherein at least some of the cleaning elements are movable by a power source included in the lighted consumer product.  
   
   
       12 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 1  wherein the at least one light collecting element is a light collecting fiber.  
   
   
       13 . A package for a consumer product comprising an enclosure for that product, at least some portion of the enclosure being sufficiently transparent or translucent to allow entry of ambient light into the interior of the package, a consumer product within the package containing a plurality of light collecting elements, ends of the elements being located within the product in positions where they can be seen by one observing the package.  
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the product comprises a toothbrush having cleaning elements in a head thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 14  wherein at least one end of at least some of the light collecting elements are located adjacent cleaning elements in the head of the toothbrush.  
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 14  wherein at least some of the light collecting elements have ends located out of or near a working surface of the cleaning elements.  
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the ends of the elements emit light that is collected from ambient light.  
   
   
       18 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the ends of the elements emit light that is generated without using a power source in the consumer product.  
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 14  wherein at least some of the cleaning elements are movable by a power source included in the consumer product.  
   
   
       20 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the elements are fibers.  
   
   
       21 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the fibers are treated to emit colored light.  
   
   
       22 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 12 , wherein the light collecting fiber is treated to emit colored light.  
   
   
       23 . A lighted consumer product comprising a body, portions thereof being sufficiently translucent or transparent to permit entry of ambient light, and at least one light collecting element arranged in at least some of those portions of the body, wherein ambient light collected in the element through the sufficiently transparent or translucent portions at a first location is emitted from a second location.  
   
   
       24 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 23 , comprising a toothbrush having cleaning elements in a head thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 24 , wherein the second location is adjacent the cleaning elements in the head of the toothbrush.  
   
   
       26 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 25 , further comprising a plurality of light collecting elements have ends located out of or near a working surface of the cleaning elements.  
   
   
       27 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 23 , wherein the light is emitted without using a power source.  
   
   
       28 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 23 , wherein the emitted light is multi-colored.  
   
   
       29 . The lighted consumer product of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one light collecting element is a light collecting fiber.