Abstract:
An oral care implement including a body comprising a handle, a head at an end of the handle, and at least one fluid outlet, the head having at least one oral care element extending therefrom; a reservoir, in the body, for storing an oral care fluid; and a pump for pumping the oral care fluid from the reservoir towards the fluid outlet, wherein the pump comprises a first check valve downstream of the reservoir, and a second check valve downstream of the first check valve and upstream of the fluid outlet. One of the first and second check valves comprises a valve seat defining an opening through which the oral care fluid is flowable, a valve member separate from the valve seat and comprising a stopper movable linearly relative to the valve seat, and a resilient element separate from the valve member and biasing the stopper towards the valve seat.
Abstract:
An oral care implement having a body having a handle, a head at an end of the handle, and at least one fluid outlet, the head having at least one oral care element extending therefrom; a reservoir in the body and for storing an oral care fluid; and a supply mechanism connected to the body, the supply mechanism having a user-operable selector comprising a cam, and an actuator comprising a follower in contact with the same, the actuator operable to cause the oral care fluid to flow from the reservoir towards the fluid outlet, and wherein the cam is movable relative to the body to cause movement of the follower relative to the body and thereby operate the actuator.
Abstract:
A mechanical energy harvesting toothbrush may employ circuits and devices to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Such conversion can be done using piezoelectric devices to convert stresses and strains from bending of the toothbrush head and/or bristles during use, and can be done using electromagnetic generators involving passing a magnet through a coil to induce current. The resulting electric energy may be rectified, and stored in a storage device, such as a capacitor or rechargeable battery. A switching circuit may be configured to detect the level of energy stored in the storage device, and to close an electrical connection when a predetermined level of energy (e.g., a charge) has been reached. The predetermined level may correspond to a desired amount of brushing (e.g., taking into account stroke length and force, and the number of strokes), and the closing of the electrical connection may be used to power output devices when that desired amount of brushing has been reached.