Oral care system including oral care implement with motion tracking features
An oral care system includes an oral care implement and motion tracking attachment configured to allow tracking of the implement during an oral care activity such as tooth brushing. The oral care implement may include a handle and head. The tracking attachment is coupled to the implement and comprises colored tracking markers detectable by a programmable visual-based motion tracking unit. The tracking attachment in one configuration may comprise a housing with plural insertable tracking colored wedges. In another configuration, a colored tracking portion colored panels and optional colored neck band may be formed on or attached to the oral care implement. Both the tracking attachment and tracking portion embodiments as applicable facilitate tracking at least one of a position, orientation, movement, and the like of the oral care implement to which it is attached. The tracking attachment may be non-electric in nature without any onboard electronics in some embodiments.
1 . An oral care implement with motion tracking features, the oral care implement comprising:
an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a handle defining a proximal end, a head defining a distal end, and a neck connecting the handle to the head; and
a tracking attachment coupled to the handle and comprising a plurality of colored tracking markers, the plurality of colored tracking markers configured to facilitate tracking motion of the oral care implement by a user;
wherein the tracking attachment protrudes transversely outwards relative to the longitudinal axis no farther than the handle and includes an outwardly open receiving cavity, and the plurality of colored tracking markers are formed by a set of colored inserts received and mounted in the outwardly open receiving cavity, the colored inserts including at least two different colors;
wherein the outwardly open receiving cavity includes a plurality of axially-extending coupling protrusions, each of the axially-extending coupling protrusions being coupled to one of the colored inserts which retains the respective colored insert in the outwardly open receiving cavity; and
wherein each colored insert has an inwardly open engagement recess configured to frictionally engage one of the axially-extending coupling protrusions.
2 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein the tracking attachment is insertably received in an outwardly open receptacle formed in the proximal end of the handle.
3 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein the outwardly open receiving cavity has a circular shape in transverse cross section.
4 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein each of the colored inserts has a wedge shape to form a sector of a circle.
5 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein the axially-extending coupling protrusions have a cylindrical shape .
6 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein the colored inserts do not project outwards axially beyond the proximal end of the handle of the oral care implement in a longitudinal direction.
7 . The oral care implement according to claim 6 , wherein the colored inserts are recessed into the proximal end of the handle.
8 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein the tracking attachment includes a distally open extension cavity which is in communication with an interior space of the handle of the oral care implement, and wherein the tracking attachment includes a transversely oriented partition wall which separates the outwardly open receiving cavity from the distally-open extension cavity.
9 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein the tracking attachment is not spherical in shape.
10 . The oral care implement according to claim 1 , wherein the axially-extending coupling protrusions have a wedge shape and the inwardly-open engagement recess of the colored inserts have a corresponding wedge shape.
11 . A method for assembling an oral care implement with tracking features, the oral care implement comprising:
providing an outwardly open receptacle in the oral care implement; and
inserting a tracking attachment into the receptacle,
the tracking attachment including an outwardly open receiving cavity; wherein a plurality of colored tracking markers are formed by a set of colored inserts received and mounted in the outwardly open receiving cavity, the colored inserts including at least two different colors; and
wherein the outwardly open receiving cavity includes a plurality of axially-extending coupling protrusions, and each of the colored inserts has an inwardly open engagement recess that frictionally engages one of the axially-extending coupling protrusions to retain the respective colored insert in the outwardly open receiving cavity, such that the plurality of colored tracking markers remain visible after the tracking attachment is inserted into the receptacle.
12 . An oral care implement with motion tracking features, the oral care implement comprising:
an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a handle defining a proximal end, a head defining a distal end, and a neck connecting the handle to the head; and
a tracking portion detachably coupled to the handle, the tracking portion comprising a separate end cap coupled to the proximal end of the handle, the tracking portion including a plurality of colored tracking markers, the plurality of colored tracking markers configured to facilitate tracking motion of the oral care implement by a user;
wherein the tracking portion protrudes transversely outwards relative to the longitudinal axis no farther than the handle.
13 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of colored tracking markers include at least two different colors.
14 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 , wherein the tracking portion is disposed on the proximal end of the handle.
15 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of colored tracking markers are formed by a plurality of colored panels disposed on the tracking portion.
16 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 , wherein the bottom surface of the tracking portion is flat.
17 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 , wherein the tracking portion has lateral sides which are substantially flush with an outer surface of the proximal end of the handle adjoining the tracking portion.
18 . The oral care implement according to claim 12 , further comprising a multi-colored neck band disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the body of the oral care implement.
19 . The oral care implement according to claim 18 , wherein the multi-colored neck band extends circumferentially around the body, wherein the multi-colored neck band comprises a plurality of different color arc segments comprising at least two different colors, wherein the plurality of different color arc segments are arranged such that no arc segment having a certain color is axially aligned with a colored panel on the tracking portion having that same certain color.