An oral care system with coaching features. The oral care system may include indicator units to indicate to a user when plaque is present on the oral surfaces and to indicate to a user when it is time to move to a different area of the oral cavity for cleaning. The oral care system may include a feature whereby a user can silence the indicator function so as not to be alerted of the detection of plaque or other oral maladies during a cleaning session. The oral care system may include a light ring which surrounds a button on the handle to inform a user about the amount of time elapsed during a cleaning session.

A toothbrush comprises a head including a plurality of cleaning elements attached to the head, a handle, a neck extending between the head and the handle, a motor unit including a motor and a manual winder for manually energizing the motor, and a force sensor configured to detect a user-applied force exceeding a predetermined threshold force, wherein the force sensor causes the toothbrush to produce at least one of an audible signal and a tactile signal when the user-applied force exceeds a predetermined threshold force. An audible signal and a tactile signal may comprise, respectively, muting of the motor and interruption of vibration of the toothbrush.

A toothbrush (10) includes a brushhead (18), a first force sensor (30A) for measuring a first force exerted by the brushhead at a first angle relative to a tooth and a second force sensor (30B) for measuring a second force exerted by the brushhead at a second angle relative to the tooth, the second angle being different than the first angle, and a processing unit (26). The processing unit is structured to: (i) receive first information indicative of the first force as measured by the first force sensor, (ii) receive second information indicative of the second force as measured by the second force sensor, and (iii) determine information regarding a current brushing angle of the brushhead based on the first information and the second information.

The toothbrush timer is a timing device that is configured for use with a toothbrush. The toothbrush is further defined with a bristle end and a grip end. The toothbrush timer removably attaches to the grip end of the toothbrush. The timing device is a countdown timer that times the duration of brushing activities. The toothbrush timer comprises a toothbrush, a sheath, and a timing circuit. The timing circuit is contained within the sheath. The sheath attaches to the toothbrush. To use the toothbrush timer, the timing circuit is initiated and the toothbrush is used normally until the timing circuit has completed its countown.

An oral care implement kit which incorporates a handle, a first head, and a second head. The handle has a vibration generation device, a processor, a memory, and a sensor. The first head and second head are configured to be detachably coupled to the handle. The processor is operably coupled to the vibration generation device and the sensor. The sensor is configured to sense which of the first and second heads is coupled to the handle.

A handwashing device that provides an incentive for proper handwashing is presented. The handwashing device contains a housing, a brush layer, a processing unit, an activation element, an indicator element, and a timer switch. The housing is positioned within the brush layer. The processing unit is positioned within the housing. The processing unit, the activation element, the indicator element, and the timer switch are electronically connected to the processing unit. In the preferred embodiment, the housing may take the form of a rigid and waterproof electronics enclosure that houses the electronic components that constitutes the handwashing device. Additionally, the housing serves as a mounting implement for the brush layer to attach along where the brush layer conforms to the shape of the housing. In the preferred embodiment, the housing is constructed out of a light permeable material, such as, but not limited to translucent polycarbonate, or any other suitable material.

The disclosure provides for a toothbrush comprising a head, a neck, and a handle. The neck connects the head to the handle. The neck may meet the handle at an angle. The handle comprises an indicator assembly, comprising one or more contact plates, a light source, a circuit board, and a power source. The circuit board may connect the contact plates, the light source, and the power source to each other. A gap may separate the contact plates, or portions thereof. Movement of the neck about the angle may reduce the gap, causing the contact plates, or portions of, to come into contact and activate the indicator assembly. This may cause the light source to emit a light. The handle may comprise a counter that tracks the number of activations. The light source may emit a color dependent on the number tracked by the counter.

An oral care system with coaching features. The oral care system may include indicator units to indicate to a user when plaque is present on the oral surfaces and to indicate to a user when it is time to move to a different area of the oral cavity for cleaning. The oral care system may include a feature whereby a user can silence the indicator function so as not to be alerted of the detection of plaque or other oral maladies during a cleaning session. The oral care system may include a light ring which surrounds a button on the handle to inform a user about the amount of time elapsed during a cleaning session.

A pressure sensor for a toothbrush. The pressure sensor includes a substrate, a contact arm in the substrate, a power source, a signal element, and a sensor contact. The sensor contact may be mounted to the substrate such that the contact arm is not in contact with the sensor contact when the substrate is not flexed. As a user applies pressure to a toothbrush head, the substrate can flex and move the contact arm toward the sensor contact. When a threshold force is applied to the toothbrush head, the contact arm can contact the sensor contact, completing a circuit between the power source, the sensor contact, and the signal element that activates the signal element. A second sensor contact can be mounted to the substrate opposite the first sensor contact. The second sensor contact can allow the signal element to indicate three different states to a user.

Provided is a toothbrush adapted to provide an indication of historic brushing performance of a user. In particular, an oral surface of the user engaged by the cleaning element of the toothbrush by a location sensor. A feedback component integrated with the toothbrush then provides an indicator of stored historic brushing performance values corresponding to the oral surface engaged by the cleaning element. In this way, feedback regarding previous tooth brushing sessions may be conveyed to the user without the need for an external display. Moreover, this also reduces the chance of confusion by a user regarding the identification of oral surfaces that may require a change in brushing behavior.