Electric toothbrush with an illumination ring

What is this patent about?

’650 is related to the field of electric toothbrushes, specifically focusing on the structural integration of user-feedback indicators. Traditional electric toothbrushes often place status lights or indicators on a single side of the handle, making them difficult to see when the brush is rotated to reach the inner surfaces of teeth or when held at specific angles. The invention addresses the need for a 360-degree visual indicator that remains visible to the user regardless of how the device is oriented during brushing.

The underlying idea behind ’650 is to decouple the light source from the visible indicator by using a light-guiding architecture that wraps around the device's circumference. Instead of placing a light directly on the surface, the invention utilizes internal LEDs that fire axially toward a translucent illumination ring positioned at the junction between the handle and the brush head. By reflecting and diffusing light through this ring, the device creates a continuous halo of light that is visible from any perspective, ensuring the user receives feedback even during complex maneuvering.

The claims of ’650 focus on a specific internal geometry consisting of an illumination ring body that features a cylindrical shell and an internal transverse plate. This plate includes a central opening to accommodate the internal drive components, while the section of the cylinder below the plate forms a skirt that captures light. The claims also specify a circuit board arrangement where a dedicated holding plate supports the light-emitting elements so that they project light rays parallel to the main axis of the toothbrush handle.

In practice, the system works by mounting multiple LEDs on a U-shaped support at the top of the circuit board. These LEDs project light upward, where it strikes slanted reflective surfaces—angled at approximately 45 degrees—which redirect the light rays radially outward into the skirt of the illumination ring. This light then travels through the translucent material of the ring, causing the entire circumference to glow. An onboard acceleration sensor monitors the brush's orientation, allowing the controller to trigger different lighting modes, such as blinking or intensity changes, when the user achieves the optimal 45-degree brushing angle.

This approach differs from prior solutions by integrating the indicator into the structural joint of the toothbrush rather than just mounting a lamp on the handle surface. By using the skirted ring body as both a structural component and an optical light pipe, the invention achieves a seamless aesthetic that provides uniform illumination. Furthermore, the use of internal reflection allows the LEDs to be safely tucked away on the main electronics assembly while still providing high-intensity visual feedback that is not blocked by the user's hand or the angle of the brush head.