Teaching toothbrush

Abstract

A toothbrush for setting and communicating brushing time and for providing instructional and encouragement messages during brushing includes a handle with a hollow interior, a controller capable, upon activation, of generating such messages, a power source electrically connected to the controller, a speaker for emitting such messages and a switch for activating the controller and enabling the speaker to emit the messages. A timer is provided to terminate operation of the speaker after a predetermined amount of time. A digital or a conventional clock is disposed on the surface of the handle and cooperates with the timer for visual communication of the elapsed brushing time.

1 . In combination with a toothbrush having a plurality of bristles, a head, a neck and a handle, the improvement comprising: 
 (a) a hollow interior portion disposed within said handle;    (b) a control means disposed within said hollow interior portion, said control means capable, upon activation, of generating a predetermined sound for providing one of an instruction, encouragement, guidance and a combination thereof during brushing;    (c) a power source disposed within said hollow interior portion and connected to said control means;    (d) a speaker disposed within said hollow interior portion and connected to said control means and said power source for emitting said predetermined sound; and    (e) a switch means connected to said control means for activating said control means and for enabling said speaker to emit said predetermined sound.    
   
   
       2 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush includes a timing means disposed within said hollow interior portion and connected to at least said control means, said timing means operable by one of said switch means, said control means and a combination thereof to terminate operation of said speaker after a predetermined duration.  
   
   
       3 . The improvement, according to  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined sound is preselected based on an elapsed increment of said predetermined duration as determined by said timing means.  
   
   
       4 . The improvement, according to  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined duration is one of a fixed, variable, variable and selectable by a user, definable by said user and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The improvement, according to  claim 2 , wherein said toothbrush further includes a digital display visible through a wall of said handle, said display connected at least to said timing means for incrementally displaying an elapsed brushing time.  
   
   
       6 . The improvement, according to  claim 2 , wherein said toothbrush further includes: 
 (a) a shaft mounted for rotation and having a first end protruding through an aperture disposed in a wall of said handle;    (b) at least one head disposed on said first end for rotation therewith;    (c) a numeral indicia disposed in a circular pattern on a surface of said handle and aligned radially with an axis of said aperture; and    (d) means disposed within said hollow interior portion and connected to a second end of said shaft for enabling rotation thereof, said rotation enabling means is operable by at least said timing means to rotate said at least one head for said predetermined duration.    
   
   
       7 . The improvement, according to  claim 6 , wherein said toothbrush further includes a predetermined graphical indicia disposed on said surface of said handle and substantially aligned with said numeral indicia and said at least one head.  
   
   
       8 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said switch means is manually operable to terminate operation of said speaker.  
   
   
       9 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush further includes a second switch means for manually terminating operation of said speaker.  
   
   
       10 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle includes a compressible portion and wherein said switch means is disposed within said hollow interior portion and engageable with said compressible portion, whereby a compression of said compressible portion enables one of actuation, deactuation and a combination thereof of said switch means.  
   
   
       11 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle includes a compressible portion and wherein said switch means is disposed within said hollow interior portion and has a portion thereof protruding through a wall of said handle and engageable with said compressible portion, whereby a compression of said compressible portion enables one of actuation, deactuation and a combination thereof of said switch.  
   
   
       12 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined sound is one of a voice messaging, musical tone, signal tone and various combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush has a predetermined material and at least one predetermined color.  
   
   
       14 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said neck is flexible.  
   
   
       15 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said head, said neck and said handle are one of removably and rigidly connected therebetween.  
   
   
       16 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said head is mounted for rotation on said neck and rotatable by a drive mechanism disposed within said hollow handle and a hollow neck.  
   
   
       17 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush further includes a bristle carrier movably mounted on said head and a drive mechanism disposed within said hollow handle and a hollow neck for driving said bristle carrier in one of an oscillating and a reciprocating manner.  
   
   
       18 . The improvement, according to  claim 1 , wherein said toothbrush is encased in a package body.  
   
   
       19 . In combination with a toothbrush having a plurality of bristles, a head, a neck and a handle, the improvement comprising: 
 (a) a hollow interior portion disposed within such handle;    (b) a control means disposed within said hollow interior portion;    (c) a power source disposed within said hollow interior portion and connected to said control means;    (d) a switch means connected to said control means for activating said control means and enabling a speaker to emit a predetermined sound;    (e) a timing means disposed within said hollow interior portion and connected to said control means, said timing means operable by one of said switch means, said control means and a combination thereof to terminate operation of said speaker after a predetermined duration; and    (f) a time display means substantially aligned with a graphical tooth representation disposed on a surface of said handle in a predetermined portion thereof, said time display means having a shaft mounted for rotation and having a first end protruding through an aperture aligned with said graphical tooth representation, at least one head disposed on said first end for rotation therewith, a numeral indicia disposed in a circular pattern on a surface of said handle and aligned radially with an axis of said aperture, and drive means disposed within said hollow interior portion and connected to a second end of said shaft for enabling rotation thereof, said drive means is operable by at least said timing means to rotate said at least one head for said predetermined duration.    
   
   
       20 . In combination with a toothbrush having a plurality of bristles, a head, a neck, a hollow handle, a switch means and a power source disposed within said hollow handle, the improvement comprising: 
 (a) a control means disposed within such hollow handle and connected to such power source and to such switch means, said control means capable, upon activation by such switch means, of generating a predetermined sound for providing one of an instruction, encouragement, guidance and combination thereof during brushing;    (b) a speaker disposed within such hollow handle and connected to said control means and such power source for emitting said predetermined sound; and    (c) a timing means disposed within such hollow handle and connected to said control means, said timing means operable by one of such switch means, said control means and a combination thereof to terminate operation of said speaker after a predetermined duration.