IP Library Granted Patent US 9,439,740
Granted Patent B2
US 9,439,740 · App. 13/464,457 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

Oral hygiene implement

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,439,740
App. No.
13/464,457
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An oral hygiene implement is described herein. The oral hygiene implement has a handle; a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. The head has a plurality of contact elements. An indication element is positioned between the neck and handle of the oral hygiene element. A transmission element is positioned between the indication element and a light emitting source. The light emitting source provides electromagnetic energy to the transmission element.

Claims (37)

1. An oral hygiene implement comprising a handle having a circumference, a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head, the head comprising a plurality of contact elements, the oral hygiene implement further comprising:

an indication element, the indication element having an outer lateral surface;

an electromagnetic energy output source in electromagnetic communication with the indication element wherein the output source is a light source;

a transmission element in electromagnetic energy communication with the output source;

a transmission element ring having a bottom edge and in electromagnetic energy communication with the transmission element;

wherein the transmission element ring and the output source are separated by the transmission element and wherein the transmission element ring redirects electromagnetic energy from the output source to the indication element;

wherein the transmission element ring comprises one or more surface contours;

wherein the transmission element ring comprises at least three surface contours and the distance between the surface contours varies;

wherein the distance between the surface contours increases the farther away a surface contour is from a reflective core; and

the reflective core disposed within the transmission element, wherein the reflective core redirects electromagnetic energy from the output source to the indication element.

2. The oral hygiene implement of claim 1 , wherein the reflective core comprises one or more reflective faces and wherein the reflective faces are polished.

3. The oral hygiene implement of claim 1 , wherein the transmission element ring traverses the circumference of the handle.

4. The oral hygiene implement of claim 1 , wherein the indication element is positioned between the handle and neck.

5. The oral hygiene implement of claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface contours is positioned on the bottom edge of the transmission element ring.

6. The oral hygiene implement of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the light travelling towards the indication element along the transmission element is reflected off the reflective core back towards the transmission element.

7. An oral hygiene implement comprising a handle, a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head, the head comprising a plurality of contact elements, the oral hygiene implement further comprising:

an indication element, the indication element having an outer lateral surface;

an electromagnetic energy output source in electromagnetic communication with the indication element wherein the output source is a light source;

a transmission element in electromagnetic energy communication with the output source;

a transmission element ring having an outer periphery and in electromagnetic energy communication with the transmission element;

wherein the transmission element ring redirects electromagnetic energy from the output source to the indication element.

8. The oral hygiene implement of claim 7 , wherein the transmission element comprises at least one curve or angle.

9. The oral hygiene implement of claim 7 , wherein the transmission element ring comprises one or more surface contours.

10. The oral hygiene implement of claim 9 , wherein the transmission element ring comprises at least three surface contours and the distance between the surface contours varies.

11. The oral hygiene implement of claim 10 , wherein the distance between the surface contours increases the farther away a surface contour is from the transmission element.

12. The oral hygiene implement of claim 9 , wherein the one or more surface contours is positioned on an inner surface of the transmission element ring.

13. The oral hygiene implement of claim 9 , wherein the transmission element ring traverses the circumference of the handle.

14. The oral hygiene implement of claim 9 , wherein the indication element is positioned along the outer periphery of the transmission element ring.

15. An indicator mechanism comprising:

an indication element;

an electromagnetic energy output source in electromagnetic communication with the indication element wherein the output source is a light source;

a transmission element in electromagnetic energy communication with the output source;

a transmission element ring comprising one or more surface contours in electromagnetic energy communication with the transmission element and wherein the transmission element ring and the output source are separated by the transmission element;

wherein the transmission element ring redirects electromagnetic energy from the output source to the indication element.

16. The indicator mechanism of claim 15 comprising a reflective core.

17. The indicator mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the transmission element ring comprises one or more surface contours.

18. The indicator mechanism of claim 17 , wherein the transmission element ring comprises at least three surface contours and the distance between the surface contours increases the farther away a surface contour is from the transmission element.

Assignments (3)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 26, 2016
From: THE GILLETTE COMPANY; THE GILLETTE COMPANY LLC
To: THE GILLETTE COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 040145/0258 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: THE GILLETTE COMPANY
To: BRAUN GMBH
Reel/Frame 038214/0973 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2013
From: JUNGNICKEL, UWE (NMN); ALTMANN, NICLAS (NMN)
To: THE GILLETTE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 031661/0249 →