Radiant energy – Supported for nonsignalling objects of irradiation – With source support
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-13
2004-06-22
Lee, John R. (Department: 2881)
Radiant energy
Supported for nonsignalling objects of irradiation
With source support
C250S453110, C250S454110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06753537
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toothbrush case having an ultraviolet (UV) radiation means therein which can sterilize the toothbrush by using UV light, thus keeping the toothbrush with sterilization status, particularly to the toothbrush case which can promote sterilization power by radiating more active UV light to the toothbrush bristles, can minimize power consumption by radiating UV light to the bristles at the proper time period, and can grip the toothbrush case easily even if the toothbrush case is positioned on a mist place, such as a bathroom's ground.
In general, the toothbrush is received in a separate toothbrush case, a receptacle or so.
Current medical research indicates that the toothbrush is a major contributor to the spread of colds and diseases because the toothbrush bristles are contaminated with dirt, filth and bacteria, yet the toothbrush is a necessary tool in the preservation of teeth and gums.
In order to prevent contamination of the toothbrush bristles, various types of the toothbrush cases have been proposed all over the world.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,813 to Gipson II discloses an example of such a toothbrush case.
The '813 patent as illustrated in
FIG. 1
discloses a case for holding and sterilizing a toothbrush T′ comprising; a first side
12
′; a second side
14
′, said first and second sides
12
′ and
14
′ being capable of a mating fit to form a fluid-tight container capable of holding a toothbrush T′; a fluid seal
20
′ in said first and second sides
12
′ and
14
′, whereby, when said sides
12
′ and
14
′ are mated, said case
10
′ is divided into a first isolated chamber
22
′ for receiving the toothbrush bristles B′ and a second isolated chamber
24
′ for receiving the toothbrush handle H′; a port
26
′ in said case
10
′ to permit fluid communication from outside said case
10
′ into said isolated bristle chamber; and a unidirectional flow valve
30
′ in said port
26
′ to permit one-way fluid flow into said isolated chamber
22
′.
The toothbrush holder and sanitizer case of the '813 patent as mentioned above has an effect which can use the toothbrush sanitarily by sterilizing the toothbrush contained within the case by using a pressurized aerosol can
40
′ connected to a port
26
′, in order to use the toothbrush sanitarily.
However, the toothbrush holder and sanitizer case of '813 patent have disadvantages such that they are inconvenient to use and not easy to keep because both the case and the pressurized aerosol must be contained together.
On the other hand, in Japan various types toothbrush cases are proposed to sterilize the toothbrush bristles by using UV light and have convenient portability.
As an example of such a prior art, Japanese patent Laid-Open No. 11-318566(Nov. 24, 1999) discloses a portable sterilizing apparatus, which can sterilize the toothbrush's bristle by using a UV light.
The apparatus as shown in
FIG. 2
comprises a cover member
2
for opening and closing freely provided on an upper surface of a case body
1
, a tray
11
for receiving a toothbrush
8
removably provided within the case body
1
, an UV sterilizing lamp
3
for irradiating UV light to the brush portion
8
a
of the toothbrush
8
, and a switch for detecting the opening and closing of the cover
2
, a receiving concave
12
adoptive to shape of the toothbrush
8
being provided in the tray
11
, the concave
12
being provided with a opening member
13
in the position corresponding to brush portion
8
a
of toothbrush
8
, the lamp turning on the lamp for a given period time when the switch turning on and irradiating the UV light to the brush portion through the opening.
According to such a portable sterilizing apparatus, if the cover is closed, with the toothbrush
8
being received within the concave
12
of the tray
11
, the UV light are irradiated from the lamp
3
, whereby it is possible to sterilize bacteria penetrated to the brush portion
8
a
of the toothbrush
8
.
However, according to Japan patent Laid-Open No. 11-318566, one disadvantage is that if the cover
2
is closed, space within the tray
11
is sealed completely, generating moisture excessively in space within the tray
11
due to moisture left in the brush portion
8
a.
Also, since moisture is remained in the brush portion
8
a
, if fog is generated on the surface of the cover member
2
and the tray
11
, outer appearance of the case will be dirtied, and fog dew is generated on the UV lamp
3
, thereby reducing the intensity of UV radiated from UV lamp
3
. It is impossible to sterilize the brush portion
8
a
of the toothbrush
8
effectively.
Also, in case that the portable sterilizing apparatus is positioned in a wet place such as bathroom's ground, the apparatus will fail because moisture can be penetrated into the battery if body
1
has a simple planar structure. Moreover, it is not easy to pick up the toothbrush case from a wet place, such as the ground of a bathroom, due to surface tension.
Another disadvantage is that the apparatus consumes power excessively by keeping the UV lamp
3
continuously active when the cover member
2
is closed,
The UV radiation toothbrush cases in the prior art have disadvantages as follows. Moisture is left in the toothbrush bristles and generated inside the toothbrush case. Thus, the UV radiation toothbrush case can not sterilize the bristles effectively because the intensity of UV light is reduced by moisture. Also, in case that the toothbrush case is placed in a wet place, the toothbrush case is likely to fail because moisture is penetrated into the inside of the case. Also it is not easy to pick up the case due to the surface tension occurring between the case and the bottom surface, where the case is positioned. The prior art UV radiation toothbrush case can spend power excessively because the UV sterilizing lamp remains active when the cover is closed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a toothbrush case which has a good appearance by preventing moisture from generating in the inside of the case, and which can sterilize the toothbrush more effectively without reduction of the intensity of UV.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a toothbrush case, which can prevent cause of failure in advance by preventing moisture from penetrating into the inside of the toothbrush case and which can be picked up easily even if the case is placed in a wet place such as the bathroom's ground.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a toothbrush case which can minimize power consumption by turning on the UV radiation means with proper timing.
The foregoing objectives can be accomplished in one embodiment by providing a toothbrush case comprising a lower case having a projection portion for projecting at a given height (T) on a supporting surface, an UV radiation means supported by the supporting surface in the lower case, a receiving member having a portion for receiving the toothbrush so that can sanitize the toothbrush with UV light radiated by the UV radiation means, and an upper case being coupled by hinge with the lower case for opening and closing the receiving member, the toothbrush case further comprising: a spaced supporting portion being provided in the lower surface of the supporting surface in the lowercase and being projected at the given height (T) so that moisture in the ground such as a bathroom's ground does not contact with the supporting surface as well as outside air flowing into the bottom of the supporting surface in case that the lower case is placed on the ground; a lower air flow path being formed on the surface of the supporting surface in the lowercase so that outside air through a space spaced from the ground by the spaced supporting portion flows into the inside of the lower case; air flow
Gill Erin-Michael
Ladas & Parry
LandOfFree
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