Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Physical type apparatus – Apparatus for treating solid article or material with fluid...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-01-09
Thornton, Krisanne (Department: 1744)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Physical type apparatus
Apparatus for treating solid article or material with fluid...
C134S144000, C422S292000, C422S297000, C422S305000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171559
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a unique sterilization system for sterilizing toothbrushes. More particularly, the sterilization system incorporates a hot air drying device to be used in conjunction with an anti-microbial spray to effectively sterilize and hold multiple manual toothbrushes or detachable toothbrush heads of electric toothbrushes in an ergonomically designed holder having a plurality of docking stations therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medical studies have indicated that unsterile toothbrushes may be contributing factors to lingering sore throats, bacterial and viral infections, as well as a physical carrier to the spread of these diseases, and periodontal disease. New toothbrushes have been found to contain bacteria on their bristles, such that the frequent replacement of a toothbrush may not obviate the problem of bacterial contamination or the spread of diseases to the user.
There remains a need for a sterilization system for sterilizing one or more toothbrushes that incorporates a hot air drying device to be used in conjunction with an anti-microbial spray. Additionally, the sterilization system should include an ergonomically designed holder having a plurality of docking stations therein for use on a wall or countertop. Further, the anti-microbial spray should be administered automatically or manually onto the bristle section of the toothbrush.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Sterilization devices, units or systems using various sterilizing methods to decontaminate toothbrushes are well known in the art. These sterilization devices having various designs, configurations, structures and materials of construction have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,416 to Auner discloses an apparatus to sterilize toothbrushes with boiling water within a sterilization tray by using microwave energy. This apparatus does not disclose or teach the structure, configuration, design or method of the present invention of a toothbrush sterilization unit for home use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,648 to Dusbabek discloses a toothbrush sterilizer having a housing with an interior sterilization cavity or well formed therein for allowing the bristle portion of the toothbrush to be inserted within the cavity. The toothbrush sterilizer further includes a heating element in combination with a heat transfer element, and when activated causes the sterilization cavity to be dry heated a sufficient amount to sterilize the toothbrush bristles of the toothbrush positioned within the sterilization cavity. This toothbrush sterilizer does not disclose or teach the structure, configuration, design or method of the present invention of a toothbrush sterilization unit for home use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,383 to Phillips discloses a toothbrush sterilizing device that includes a housing having a top compartment and a bottom compartment. The top compartment includes a sterilizing solution therein for sterilizing a toothbrush. This toothbrush sterilizing device does not disclose or teach the structure, configuration, design or method of the present invention of a toothbrush sterilization unit for home use.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,920,075; 5,487,877; 5,166,528; 5,029,252; 4,973,847; 4,740,706; and 4,625,119 all disclose various devices for sterilizing the bristles of toothbrushes using U-V lamps or germicidal lamps in order to destroy the bacteria on the bristles of the toothbrushes. These aforementioned devices do not disclose or teach the structure, configuration, design or method of the present invention of a toothbrush sterilization unit for home use.
None of the aforementioned prior art patents teach or disclose the combination of features of an automatic or manually applied disinfectant spray with a hot air drying system for sterilizing the toothbrush where the housing of the toothbrush sterilization unit includes a plurality of docking stations for multiple toothbrushes as shown in the present invention. Additionally, no single patent teaches or discloses the structure, configuration, design and method of operation of the toothbrush sterilization unit of the present invention.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that incorporates a hot air drying device to be used in conjunction with an anti-microbial spray to effectively sterilize and hold multiple toothbrushes in an ergonomically designed toothbrush holder having a plurality of docking stations therein for use on a wall or counter-top.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that would administer the anti-microbial spray onto the bristle section of the toothbrush automatically or manually in order to decontaminate the toothbrush bristles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system having a docking station for receiving a toothbrush, and an automatic switch for activating a hot air drying device that would effectively dry the disinfectant spray on the bristle-head of the toothbrush.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that includes a light indicator by each docking station which signals the user when each toothbrush has dried the disinfectant spray and is ready for reuse.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that includes numbered or color coded docking stations, such that the toothbrush remains in its docking station protected from any airborne bacteria and separated from toothbrushes of other family members which would be contained within their own coded docking stations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that contains voice recognition capabilities to tell each user which toothbrush is theirs when any given toothbrush is removed from its personal docking station.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that is battery operated for portability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that is light-weight, easy to clean, made from durable plastics or metals, and is easy to use by the consumer.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush sterilization system that can be mass produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toothbrush sterilization unit for sterilizing the bristle-head of at least one toothbrush with a disinfectant. The toothbrush sterilization unit includes a housing having an interior compartment. The interior compartment includes a plurality of docking stations for holding in place a plurality of toothbrushes. The housing includes a pumping system assembly for dispensing a disinfectant on the bristle-heads of the toothbrushes during a dispensing cycle. The housing also includes a rotary fan and a heating member for drying the disinfectant on the bristle-heads of the plurality of toothbrushes during a drying cycle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3810479 (1974-05-01), Miles
patent: 4625119 (1986-11-01), Murdock
patent: 4740706 (1988-04-01), Murdock
patent: 4759383 (1988-07-01), Phillips
patent: 4816648 (1989-03-01), Dusbabek
patent: 4973847 (1990-11-01), Lackey et al.
patent: 5029252 (1991-07-01), Ameseder
patent: 5061106 (1991-10-01), Kent
patent: 5166528 (1992-11-01), Levay
patent: 5487877 (1996-01-01), Choi
patent: 5699575 (1997-12-01), Peifer
patent: 5919416 (1999-07-01), Auner
patent: 5920075 (1999-07-01), Whitehead
patent: 5935537 (1999-08-01), Schad
patent: 5979472 (1999-11-01), Lowery et al.
Sanders Daniel
Sanders Marcia
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