IP Library Granted Patent US 7,013,522
Granted Patent B2
US 7,013,522 · App. 10/286,861 · Granted Mar 21, 2006

Toothbrush assembly with sound generating function

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,013,522
App. No.
10/286,861
Granted
Mar 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toothbrush assembly with a sound generating function for providing excitement and entertainment to a user and for encouraging a young child to brush his or her teeth is provided. The toothbrush assembly has a contact-type switch and a sound generator. The contact-type switch has a swingable contact and generates a pulse when a power switch of the assembly is instantaneously closed for every swing of the swingable contact according to the tooth-brushing movement of a user. The sound generator has a counter for counting pulses from the contact-type switch and a sound recording and play back unit for generating a voice message or musical tone when the sum of the pulses counted by the counter reaches a predetermined value. The sound recording and play back unit of the sound generator outputs different voice messages or musical tones according to different predetermined values reached by the sum of the pulses counted by the counter.

Claims (10)

1. A toothbrush assembly with a sound generating function, comprising:

a sound generator;

a holding portion housing the sound generator;

an elastic member;

a tooth-brushing portion;

a tooth-brushing portion support which supports the end of the tooth-brushing portion, which is supported by the holding portion via the elastic member, and the end of which swings in the holding portion in accordance with the tooth-brushing movement of a user; and

a contact-type switch comprising a stationary ring contact disposed in the holding portion; and a swingable contact disposed at the end of the tooth-brushing-portion support,

wherein the sound generator controls the generation of different voice messages or musical tones in accordance with the movement of the contact-type switch.

2. The toothbrush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the holding portion comprises contacts and is dividable into two parts, one housing the contact-type switch, the other housing the sound generator, and wherein the contact-type switch and the sound generator are electrically connected via the contacts when the two parts are coupled with each other.

3. The toothbrush assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the tooth-brushing portion is fitted into the tooth-brushing-portion support or fitted into and supported by the same.

Assignments (4)
TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 4, 2010
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: TAYLOR PRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024023/0233 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2008
From: TAYLOR PRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022034/0765 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2006
From: ABLECORPORATION, LTD.
To: METRO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018606/0425 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2002
From: KUMAGAI, TOSHINORI
To: ABLECORPORATION, LTD.
Reel/Frame 013454/0376 →