Ionic toothbrush

Abstract

The disclosure provides an ionic toothbrush having an elongated body that may be configured to have a one-piece design, or alternatively one or more components of the ionic toothbrush may be removable and/or replaceable. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an ionic toothbrush which includes a handle portion, a brush head portion including a plurality of bristle tufts; and an electrical circuit configured to transmit a negative electrical charge through at least a portion of the brush head, wherein the electrical circuit includes one or more sections of conductive resin present on an outer surface of one or both of the handle portion and the brush head portion.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An ionic toothbrush comprising:
 a handle portion having an outer surface, a portion of which is defined by a first conductive material;   a brush head portion having an outer surface and also including a plurality of bristle tufts, a portion of the outer surface of the brush head being defined by a second conductive material; and   an electrical circuit configured to transmit a negative electrical charge from the first conductive material to the second conductive material such that the negative electrical charge is transmitted through at least a portion of the brush head;   wherein at least one of the first conductive material and the second conductive material comprises a conductive resin.   
     
     
         22 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein at least part of the first conductive material is positioned so as to be in contact with a hand of a user during use of the ionic toothbrush. 
     
     
         23 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein the handle portion and the brush head portion are in a one-piece design. 
     
     
         24 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein the brush head portion is removable and/or replaceable. 
     
     
         25 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , further comprising a power source, a positive ionic contact, and a negative ionic contact positioned within the handle portion. 
     
     
         26 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 25 , wherein the first conductive material forms part of the electrical circuit with the power source, the positive ionic contact, and the negative ionic contact. 
     
     
         27 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 26 , wherein the handle portion comprises a further conductive material. 
     
     
         28 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 27 , wherein the further conductive material is in electrical communication with the positive ionic contact, the first conductive material is in electrical communication with the negative ionic contact, and both of the first conductive material and the further conductive material are in electrical communication with the power source so as to define the electrical circuit. 
     
     
         29 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 28 , wherein a portion of the outer surface of the handle portion is defined by the further conductive material. 
     
     
         30 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 29 , wherein the electrical circuit is configured to be closed and thus activated when a user's hand comes into contact with the further conductive material. 
     
     
         31 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 30 , wherein the ionic toothbrush is configured so that the negative electrical charge is transmitted from the first conductive material to the second conductive material when the electrical circuit is closed and thus activated. 
     
     
         32 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 31 , wherein the first conductive material and the further conductive material are separated by a sufficient distance so as to prevent a user from contacting both of the first conductive material and the further conductive material simultaneously during use. 
     
     
         33 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , further comprising a conductive head ring adapted for engagement between the handle portion and the brush head portion to form an elongated body. 
     
     
         34 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 33 , wherein the first conductive material, the conductive head ring, and the second conductive material define a continuous pathway of electrical contact. 
     
     
         35 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 33 , wherein the conductive head ring comprises a conductive resin. 
     
     
         36 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 35 , wherein the conductive resin comprises an electrically conductive thermoplastic polymer or resin material. 
     
     
         37 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive resin comprises an electrically conductive thermoplastic polymer or resin material. 
     
     
         38 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein the brush head portion further comprises a translation head attached to a bristle support member having the plurality of bristle tufts formed thereon. 
     
     
         39 . The ionic toothbrush of  claim 21 , wherein the first conductive material and the second conductive material are arranged to be adjacent one another when the brush head portion is engaging the handle portion. 
     
     
         40 . An ionic toothbrush comprising:
 a handle portion;   a brush head portion;   a first conductive material on an outer surface of the handle portion;   a second conductive material on an outer surface of the brush head portion;   a further conductive material on the outer surface of the handle and positionally separated from the first conductive portion; and   an electrical circuit configured to transmit a negative electrical charge from the first conductive material to the second conductive material such that the negative electrical charge is transmitted through at least a portion of the brush head when a user's hand is in contact with the further conductive material;   wherein at least one of the first conductive material, the second conductive material, and the further conductive material comprises a conductive resin.