Electric oral care implement comprising tracking module and tracking module therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a powered oral care implement including a tracking module and a tracking module thereof. The invention also relates to an oral care system comprising an oral care implement and a tracking attachment. The oral care implement may include a handle and a head. The tracking attachment is removably coupled to the oral care implement. The tracking attachment may include a first component including a first housing having an inner surface defining a first cavity and a second component including a second housing having an inner surface defining a second cavity. When a tracking attachment is coupled to the oral care implement, a first portion of the handle is positioned within the first cavity and a second portion of the handle is positioned within the second cavity.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application No. 201980047226.8, filed on August 2, 2019, entitled “Electric Oral Care Appliance with Tracking Module and Tracking Module Thereof”. The original application was the Chinese national phase application of international application PCT / US2019 / 044780. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to an electric oral care appliance including a tracking module and the tracking module thereof. Background Technology

[0003] The desire for easily accessible data about one's daily habits has become a growing trend. For example, many people use watches and smartphones to track their daily activity, including steps, distance walked, calories burned, and more. However, the need for information extends beyond training and exercise to all aspects of life, including oral care. One reason for the desire to obtain information about a user's oral hygiene habits is to help parents ensure their children brush their teeth correctly. In this regard, expensive electronic-based oral care appliances that track this information have been developed. However, improvements to these devices are still needed in terms of aesthetics, functionality, and price. Therefore, there is a need for improved oral care appliances with tracking capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect, the present invention can be an electric oral care appliance comprising: an upper housing including an upper cavity having an open bottom end, the upper housing defining an upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance; an electronic component mounted to the upper housing and at least partially positioned within the upper cavity; a tracking module comprising: a lower housing detachably coupled to the upper housing to enclose the open bottom end of the upper cavity and define a lower gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance; and a tracking unit integrated into the lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance within a user's mouth.

[0005] In another aspect, the present invention may be a tracking module for an electric oral care appliance, the tracking module comprising: a lower housing extending along a longitudinal axis from a bottom end to a top end, the lower housing having an inner surface defining a cavity having an open top end, the lower housing including a connecting element configured to cooperate with a connecting element on an upper housing of the electric oral care appliance to connect the lower housing to the upper housing; and a tracking unit integrated into the lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the oral care appliance.

[0006] In another aspect, it could be an electric oral care appliance with interchangeable gripping portions, the electric oral care appliance comprising: an upper housing including an upper cavity having an open bottom end, the upper housing defining an upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance; an electronic component mounted to the upper housing and positioned within the upper cavity; a first lower housing; a tracking module including: a second lower housing; and a tracking unit integrated into the second lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance within a user's mouth; and wherein the first lower housing and the second lower housing are interchangeably and detachably coupled to the upper housing to enclose the open bottom end of the upper cavity and define the lower gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention can be a method of assembling an electric oral care appliance: the method comprising: providing an upper housing of the oral care appliance having an open bottom end; mounting electronic components to the upper housing; providing a tracking module and a tracking unit, the tracking module including a lower housing, the tracking unit being integrated into the lower housing, wherein the tracking unit is configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance within a user's mouth; and detachably connecting the lower housing to the upper housing such that the lower housing closes the open bottom end of the upper housing, the upper housing defining an upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance, and the lower housing defining a lower gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance.

[0008] Other applicable areas of the invention will become apparent from the specific embodiments provided below. It should be understood that while the detailed description and specific examples indicate preferred embodiments of the invention, they are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0009] The invention will be more fully understood from the detailed embodiments and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 This is a front perspective view of an electric oral care appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial exploded view of an electric oral care appliance;

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Completely exploded diagram of an electric oral care appliance;

[0013] Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 A sectional view taken along line IV-IV;

[0014] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A close-up view of region V;

[0015] Figure 6 This is a front perspective view of an electric oral care appliance according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A partial exploded view of an electric oral care appliance;

[0017] Figure 8 It is along Figure 8 The sectional view taken by line VIII-VIII; and

[0018] Figure 9 An electric oral care appliance kit according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following description of preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or its uses.

[0020] The description of exemplary embodiments of the invention is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which will be considered part of the entire written description. Any references to directions or orientations in the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are intended only for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” and “bottom,” and their derivatives (e.g., “horizontally,” “downward,” “upward,” etc.) should be understood to refer to orientations as shown in the drawings described later or discussed. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise. Terms such as “attach,” “connect,” “couple,” “interconnect,” and similar words refer to a relationship in which structures are fixed or attached to each other, either directly or indirectly through an intermediary structure, and an attachment or relationship in which both are movable or fixed, unless otherwise explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, the features and beneficial effects of the invention are illustrated with reference to the exemplified embodiments. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments that illustrate some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in combination with other features; the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying embodiments.

[0021] The term "range" is used throughout as a concise expression to describe each value within the range. Any value within the range can be chosen as the endpoint of the range. Furthermore, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated in their entirety. In the event of any conflict between the definitions in this disclosure and those in the cited references, this disclosure shall prevail.

[0022] See Figure 1-5 An electric oral care appliance 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The electric oral care appliance 1000 generally includes a handle 100 and a replacement head 200 detachably connected to the handle 100. The replacement head 200 can be repeatedly connected to and detached from the handle as needed. This allows the handle 100 to be retained and reused when the cleaning element of the replacement head 200 is worn out and when the replacement head 200 is replaced with a new replacement head. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the electric oral care appliance 1000 with a replacement head, and in other embodiments, the electric oral care appliance 1000 may have a permanently fixed head.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the electric oral care appliance 1000 is an electric or power-operated toothbrush (including a vibrating element that moves the bristle carrier or vibrates the head or portions thereof). Of course, the invention is not limited to all embodiments, and in other embodiments, the disclosure set forth herein can be applied to manual oral care appliances or toothbrushes. In other embodiments, the disclosure set forth herein can be applied to tongue scrapers, gum and soft tissue cleaners, water flossers, interdental devices, tooth polishers, dedicated handle appliances with tooth engagement elements, or any other type of appliance commonly used in oral care.

[0024] The handle 100 extends along the longitudinal axis AA and includes an upper housing 110, a tracking module 120, and a brush handle 140. The tracking module 120 includes a lower housing 121 and a tracking unit 122, details of which will be provided below. The lower housing 121 of the tracking module 120 is detachably coupled to the upper housing 110 such that the upper housing 110 forms the upper grip portion 101 of the handle 100, and the lower housing 121 forms the lower grip portion 102 of the handle 100. Thus, in some embodiments, the tracking modules 120, and more specifically their lower housings 121, form an integral or necessary part of the handle 100. Specifically, the upper housing 110 may be too small to be easily gripped by the user for oral hygiene activities, and the length of the handle 100 is only sufficient for easy gripping by the user when the tracking module 120 is coupled to the upper housing 110. Therefore, the tracking module 120 performs not only a tracking function (described in more detail below) but also a processing function, because without this function, the user may have difficulty using the electric oral care appliance 1000 correctly (in some embodiments, the electric oral care appliance 1000 may be unusable if the tracking module 120 is not attached to the upper housing 110). Unlike many existing tracking modules, these tracking modules do not form an integral part of the toothbrush to which they are attached, but rather house a portion of the toothbrush within a sleeve for attachment. As discussed in more detail below, the brush handle 140 protrudes from the top of the upper housing 110 and may include features that facilitate the attachment of the replacement head 200 to the handle 100.

[0025] The handle 100 is part of the electric oral care appliance 1000, which is typically gripped by the user during oral hygiene activities such as brushing teeth. Therefore, the handle 100 is an elongated structure providing a mechanism for the user to hold and manipulate the electric oral care appliance 1000 during use. A portion of the handle 100 gripped by the user during oral hygiene activities is formed by the upper housing 110 and lower housing 121 of the tracking module 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper housing 110 and lower housing 121 are formed of a rigid plastic material, such as, but not limited to, polymers and copolymers of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, vinyl compounds, and polyesters (such as polyethylene terephthalate). Although not shown in the exemplary embodiment and not required in all embodiments, the handle 100 may also include a resilient grip portion overmolded onto or coupled to the rigid plastic material to enhance the user's gripping experience.

[0026] The upper housing 110 extends from a bottom end 111 to a top end 112 and has an outer surface 113 and an inner surface 114. The inner surface 114 of the upper housing 110 defines an upper cavity 115 of the upper housing 110. The upper cavity 115 has an open bottom end at the bottom end 111 of the upper housing 110 and an open top end at the top end 112 of the upper housing 110. Specifically, an opening is provided in each of the bottom end 111 and the top end 112 of the upper housing 110. Thus, the upper cavity 115 is open at both opposite ends of the upper housing 110, so that the upper cavity 115 can resemble a passageway more than a cavity. In an alternative embodiment, one of the top and bottom ends of the upper cavity 115 may be closed.

[0027] The upper housing 110 includes a first connecting element 116, which facilitates coupling the upper housing 110 to the tracking module 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper housing 110 includes a neck portion 117 extending from the bottom end 111 of the upper housing 110. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the first connecting element 116 is positioned on the neck portion 117. In an exemplary embodiment, the first connecting element 116 includes threads positioned on the neck portion 117 of the upper housing 110. However, the invention is not limited to all embodiments, and the first connecting element 116 may take other structural forms, such as notches, grooves, latches, fasteners, locks / keys, or simply shapes that fit with the lower housing 121 in an interference or friction fit, thereby allowing the two outer bodies to be detachably coupled together. Therefore, the specific structure of the first connecting element 116 is not limited to the structure shown in the exemplary embodiments unless specifically claimed to be so.

[0028] The upper housing 110 also includes an actuator 118 that, when actuated, activates a motor to cause vibration of the replacement head 200 (or more specifically, to cause vibration of the brush handle 140, which is then transmitted to the replacement head 200 when it is coupled to the handle 100). In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator 118 is a portion of the upper housing 110 that is flexible or resilient, allowing it to be pressed inward toward a switch to energize and de-energize the motor. In an exemplary embodiment, this is achieved by surrounding a portion of the upper housing 110 with an elastic material 119 that allows the portion of the upper housing 110 to flex radially relative to the rest of the upper housing 110, such that the actuator 118 can be pressed to contact a switch to energize and de-energize the motor, as described below.

[0029] As described above, the tracking module 120 includes a lower housing 121 and a tracking unit 122 integrated into the lower housing 121. The tracking module 120 can be configured alone or in conjunction with external electronic devices (such as cameras, processors, storage devices, and software and / or algorithms) to track the position, orientation, movement, location, etc., of the electric oral care appliance 1000 or a portion thereof in the oral cavity. In some embodiments, the invention may relate to the tracking module 120 itself.

[0030] The tracking unit 122 of the tracking module 120 is configured to track at least one of the following: position, orientation, movement, location, etc., of an electric oral care appliance in the oral cavity; the tracking module 120 forms part of the electric oral care appliance. In an exemplary embodiment, the tracking unit 122 includes a plurality of visual markers that can be viewed by a camera to perform the tracking function. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the tracking unit 122 may include an accelerometer, gyroscope, sensor, or other electronic components that facilitate position, orientation, movement, or location tracking. In still other embodiments, the tracking unit 122 may include visual markers as described herein, as well as one or more of an accelerometer, gyroscope, or other sensors.

[0031] In the exemplary embodiment, the tracking module 120 is purely structural and does not include any electrical components. Therefore, the tracking module 120 does not include a power supply, battery, processor, controller, sensor, electrode, chip, printed circuit board, circuit, resistor, capacitor, inductor, transistor, transformer, switch, fuse, conductor, or any other type of device that can be considered an electrical component. Instead, the tracking module 120 is formed entirely of non-electrical components, and it does not house any electrical components that perform the tracking function (although some electrical components for causing head vibration may be housed within the tracking module 120). Of course, alternative embodiments in which the tracking module 120 may include electrical components are possible, such as any or more of the components described above, or specifically, an accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.

[0032] Tracking modules 120, and more specifically their tracking units 122, are configured to operate to track features of the electric oral care appliance 1000 that relate to its movement. While electrical components are not included in the exemplary embodiment, the tracking module 120 is capable of doing so. When used in conjunction with a camera and specially configured software and algorithms, the tracking module 120 assists in tracking the movement, position, orientation, etc., of components forming part of the electric oral care appliance 1000. Specifically, one or more external electronic devices, including a camera, processor, storage device, and the required software and algorithms, can track the movement of the electric oral care appliance 1000 based on the position of various visual markers (described below) forming part of the tracking unit 122 of the tracking module 120. The structural features of the tracking module 120 will be described in detail herein. However, the algorithms, software, and processor used to track the movement of the electric oral care appliance 1000 based on the visual markers of the tracking module unit 122 will not be described in detail herein.

[0033] The lower housing 121 of the tracking module 120 extends from a bottom end 123 to a top end 124 and has an outer surface 125 and an inner surface 126. The inner surface 126 of the lower housing 121 defines a lower cavity 127. The lower cavity 127 has a closed bottom end formed by the bottom end 123 of the lower housing 121 and an open top end formed by an opening formed within the top end 124 of the lower housing 121. In an alternative embodiment, the lower housing 121 may be a solid structure instead of hollow and include the lower cavity 127. Therefore, in some embodiments, the lower cavity 127 may be omitted.

[0034] The lower housing 121 includes a second connecting element 128 that facilitates coupling the lower housing 121 to the upper housing 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the second connecting element 128 includes a thread formed along an inner surface 126 of the lower housing 121, the thread being adjacent to the tip 124 of the lower housing 121. In an exemplary embodiment, the thread of the second connecting element 128 engages with the thread of a first connecting element 116 to couple the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 together. Therefore, the coupling of the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 may include rotation of the lower housing 121 relative to the upper housing 110 when the threads of the first connecting element 116 and the second connecting element 128 engage with each other.

[0035] Of course, the second connecting element 128 can take other structural forms, such as notches, grooves, latches, fasteners, locks / keys, tabs, slots, protrusions, bayonet locks, hooks, snap-fits, magnetic engagements, etc., to detachably connect the two housings together. Therefore, in some embodiments, rotation of the lower housing 121 relative to the upper housing 110 may not be required to connect the two components. In some embodiments, the first connecting element 116 and the second connecting element 128 are mechanical structures such that the connection is not merely a friction fit, but is achieved by engaging mechanical structures on each of the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121. In some embodiments, the second connecting element 128 is a mechanical connecting element that mates, interacts with, or engages with the connecting element on the upper housing 110. Therefore, the specific structure of the second connecting element 128 is not limited to the structure shown in the exemplary embodiments unless specifically claimed. The first connecting element 116 and the second connecting element 128 should be chosen to ensure that they can cooperate to connect the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 together. In some implementations, the connection should create a seal, preferably an airtight seal, as discussed further below.

[0036] Because the bottom end of the upper cavity 115 and the upper end of the lower cavity 127 are open, when the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 are joined together, the upper cavity 115 and the lower cavity 127 form a single continuous, uninterrupted spatial volume (i.e., they form a single cavity of the handle 100). Of course, in embodiments where the lower cavity 127 is omitted, the upper cavity 115 forms the entirety of the single cavity of the handle 100.

[0037] The lower housing 121 has a cylindrical portion 129 and a bulbous portion 130. The cylindrical portion 129 includes a top end 124, and the bulbous portion 130 includes a bottom end 123. Thus, the bulbous portion 130 of the lower housing 121 forms the proximal portion of the lower housing 121. Furthermore, the lower housing 121 has a flared portion 131 positioned between the cylindrical portion 129 and the bulbous portion 130. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​the lower cavity 127 gradually decreases from the bulbous portion 130 to the top end 124 (or near it) of the lower housing 121. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the lower cavity 127 tapers in the direction toward the top end 124 of the lower housing 121. Of course, the exact shape of the lower housing 121 is not limited to the shape depicted in the figures of all embodiments, and the lower housing may be cylindrical along its entire length, or may include various contours, indentations, latches, etc.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the tracking unit 122 includes a plurality of visual markers 190 that are coupled to or integrated into a lower housing 121. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of visual markers 190 are coupled, attached, adhered to, or secured to the lower housing 121 of the tracking module 120. More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of visual markers 190 are positioned along a bulbous portion 130 of the lower housing 121. As described above, the lower housing 121 may be formed of a rigid material (such as rigid plastic). Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of visual markers 190 may be formed of an elastic material (such as silicone or thermoplastic elastomer). In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of visual markers 190 may be formed of a rigid material (such as rigid plastic). For example, in a particular embodiment, the plurality of visual markers 190 may be formed of polypropylene without affecting their functionality.

[0039] In an exemplary embodiment, the lower housing 121 includes a plurality of holes 132 extending from the outer surface 125 through the lower housing 121 to the inner surface 126. Thus, each of the holes 132 forms a passageway for entry into the lower cavity 127 from the atmosphere or external environment. The holes 132 are arranged in a spaced-apart manner, and they may include a first set of holes 132a located at or near the bottom end 123 of the lower housing 121, and a second set of holes 132b slightly raised relative to the first set of holes 132a. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first set of holes 132a and the second set of holes 132b includes four separate and spaced-apart holes, although each set of holes 132a, 132b may include more or fewer than four holes. The holes 132 provide markings 190 for attachment to the lower housing 121.

[0040] Each visual marker 190 includes an anchoring portion 191, a protrusion 192, and an intermediate portion 193 extending between the anchoring portion 191 and the protrusion 192. For each visual marker 190, the lower surface of the anchoring portion 191 forms a shoulder that extends radially at the end of the intermediate portion 193 to facilitate attachment of the visual marker 190 to the lower housing 121. Specifically, the shoulder engages a portion of the lower housing 121 to secure the visual marker 190 to the lower housing 121. The upper surface of the anchoring portion 191 extending from the shoulder is grooved to facilitate manual attachment of the visual marker 190 to the lower housing 121. The protrusion 193 is a dome-shaped or bulbous portion that protrudes from the outer surface 125 of the lower housing when the visual marker 190 is attached to the outer surface 125 of the lower housing 121. In an exemplary embodiment, the protrusion 193 is spherical or hemispherical. Each of the visual markers 190 located in the first set of holes 132a may have a different color from each other, and similarly, each of the visual markers located in the second set of holes 132b may have a different color from each other. This color difference facilitates software reading of the visual markers 190 to determine the position, orientation, and / or movement of the electric oral care appliance 1000. The visual markers 190 may be injection molded into the holes 132, or they may be formed separately from the lower housing 121 and manually inserted into the holes 132 to attach the visual markers 190 to the lower housing 121.

[0041] While the opening 132 is depicted in the exemplary embodiment as facilitating the attachment of the visual tag 190 to the lower housing 121, the invention is not limited to all embodiments. In alternative embodiments, the opening 132 can be replaced by a basin having a bottom, and the visual tag 190 can be injected into the basin to attach the visual tag 190 to the lower housing 121. In these embodiments, the material of the visual tag 190 can be chemically bonded to the material of the lower housing 121, thereby facilitating the attachment between them. In yet other embodiments, the lower housing 121 can have a basin (or blind opening) having an annular channel extending from its bottom so that a portion of the visual tag 190 can enter the annular channel to facilitate proper attachment of the visual tag 190 to the lower housing 121. In short, the opening 132 is merely one way in which the visual tag 190 can be attached to the lower housing 121, but other manufacturing techniques are possible while still enabling the visual tag 190 to operate and function as the tracking unit 122 as described herein.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, visual markers 190 are all positioned along a bulbous portion 130 of the lower housing 121, and the bulbous portion 130 includes a bottom end 123. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, design marks 133 are provided on the outer surface 124 of the lower housing 121 along its bulbous portion 130. Specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, design marks 133 are a plurality of spaced-apart stars. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and design marks 133 can be any pattern of similar or different shapes, including stars, squares, triangles, irregular shapes, non-circular shapes, etc. In some embodiments, the protrusions 193 of the visual markers 190 are spherical or hemispherical, thus giving them a ring-shaped or circular shape when viewed by a user. Design marks 133 should include shapes or patterns easily distinguishable from the spherical or circular shapes of the protrusions 193 of the visual markers 190. This facilitates drawing software to the visual markers 190 to enable the execution of tracking functions as described herein. Furthermore, in some implementations, the color of design mark 133 (i.e., star) may be different from the color of each of the visual marks 190.

[0043] like Figure 1 , 4 As shown in Figure 5, when the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 are joined together, the outer surface 113 of the upper housing 110 and the outer surface 125 of the lower housing 121 are flush with each other. In other words, the upper housing 110 forms the upper gripping portion 101 of the handle 100, and the lower housing 121 forms the lower gripping portion 102 of the handle 100, with a smooth transition between the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 at their interface 103. Furthermore, when the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 are joined together, the top end 124 of the lower housing 121 abuts the bottom end 111 of the upper housing 110, and the neck portion 117 of the upper housing 110 extends into the lower cavity 127. Of course, in other embodiments, the upper housing 110 may not include the neck portion 117.

[0044] Therefore, the top end 124 of the lower housing 121 does not protrude radially relative to the bottom end of the upper housing 110, and vice versa. The connection between the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 forms an airtight seal that prevents liquid from entering the upper cavity 115 (and also the lower cavity 127) at the interface 103 between the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121. Gaskets, seals, O-rings, etc., may be joined to or attached to one or both of the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 along or adjacent to the interface 103 (or at least along the first connecting element 116 and the second connecting element 128) to facilitate the formation of the airtight seal. Figure 3 and 5Several such gaskets, seals, and O-rings 105a-c are shown in the image.

[0045] When the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 are joined together, the outer surfaces of the upper gripping portion 101 and the lower gripping portion 102 are flush at the interface 103 of the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121. Therefore, the tracking module 120 does not form a sleeve within which the upper housing 110 is disposed; instead, the lower housing 121 of the tracking module 120, specifically, together with the upper housing 110, forms a smooth, continuous, flush, and uninterrupted outer surface of the handle 100. The neck portion 117 of the upper housing 110 is disposed within the lower cavity 127 of the lower housing 121 only when the upper housing 110 and the lower housing 121 are joined together, because in the exemplary embodiment, this is necessary for enabling the engagement / interaction of the first connecting element 116 and the second connecting element 128. In other words, the lower cavity 127 is not intended to accommodate any part of the upper housing 110. The tracking module 120 provides position, orientation, and / or motion tracking functionality and also forms part of the grip portion of the handle 100, which is gripped by the user during oral hygiene activities.

[0046] The upper housing 110 has a first length measured from bottom 111 to top 112. Furthermore, the lower housing 121 has a second length measured from bottom 123 to top 124. In some embodiments, the second length may be equal to or greater than the first length. In other embodiments, the second length may be greater than the first length. Therefore, a portion of the gripping portion (along the longitudinal axis AA) of the handle 100 formed by the lower housing 121 is longer than that of the upper housing 110. Of course, in alternative embodiments, the opposite is possible, and it is possible that the first length of the upper housing 110 is greater than the second length of the lower housing 121.

[0047] As described above, the handle 100 also includes a brush handle 140 projecting from the top end 112 of the upper housing 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the brush handle 140 is not directly attached to the upper housing 110, but extends through the top end of an opening in the upper housing 110. Therefore, the protrusion of the brush handle 140 from the top end 112 of the upper housing 110 does not require a direct connection between the brush handle 120 and the top end 112 of the upper housing 110, but only requires the brush handle 140 to extend beyond the top end 112 of the upper housing 110 along the longitudinal axis AA. Of course, in other embodiments, the brush handle 140 may be directly attached to the upper housing 110. The brush handle 140 houses some components of the electronic components of the electric oral care appliance 1000 (described below) and also serves as an attachment point for a replacement head 200.

[0048] The replacement head 200 includes a sleeve portion 210 having a cavity 211 and a head portion 220. The sleeve portion 210 fits onto the brush handle 140 of the handle 100 so that the replacement head 200 is engaged with the handle 100. Thus, when the replacement head 200 is engaged with the handle 100, the brush handle 140 is positioned within the cavity 211 of the sleeve portion 210. In some embodiments, the sleeve portion 210 and the brush handle 140 may have engaging or interlocking locking features that facilitate engagement of the replacement head 200 with the handle 100. Specifically, the sleeve portion 210 may include a locking opening 212 that engages with a locking protrusion 141 positioned on the brush handle 140, and vice versa (i.e., the locking protrusion may be positioned on the sleeve portion 210, and the locking opening may be positioned on the brush handle 140). The head portion 220 of the replacement head 200 has a front surface 221 having a plurality of tooth cleaning elements 215 extending therefrom for cleaning the user's oral cavity (such as teeth and gums). The replacement head 200 may also have a rear surface 222 having a tongue cleaner 216 thereon.

[0049] Unless specified in the specification, the exact structure, pattern, orientation, and material of the dental cleaning element 215 are not a limitation of the invention. Therefore, as used herein, the term "dental cleaning element" is used in a general sense to refer to any structure that can be used to clean, polish, or wipe teeth and / or soft oral tissues (e.g., tongue, cheeks, gums, etc.) through relative surface contact. Common examples of "dental cleaning elements" include, but are not limited to, bristle tufts, filament bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, multi-part bristles (including spiral bristles and core-skin bristles), rubber bristles, elastomeric protrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof, and / or structures comprising such materials or combinations. Suitable elastomeric materials include any biocompatible elastomeric material suitable for oral hygiene devices. To provide optimal comfort and cleaning benefits, the elastomeric material of the dental or soft tissue engagement element has a hardness characteristic in the Shore hardness range of A8 to A25. A suitable elastomeric material is styrene-ethylene / butene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS Corporation. However, SEBS materials from other manufacturers or other materials within and outside the proposed hardness range may also be used.

[0050] The dental cleaning element 215 of the present invention can be attached to the head portion 220 in any manner known in the art. For example, pins / anchors, in-mold clustering (IMT), or anchorless clustering (AFT) can be used to mount the cleaning element / dental engagement element. In some embodiments, the invention can be practiced using various combinations of pinned, IMT, or AFT bristles. In AFT, a plate or membrane is fixed to the toothbrush head, for example, by ultrasonic welding. The bristles extend through the plate or membrane. The free ends of the bristles on one side of the plate or membrane perform the cleaning function. The ends of the bristles on the other side of the plate or membrane are heated and fused together to anchor them in place. In the extensive practice of the invention, any suitable form of cleaning element can be used. Alternatively, the bristles can be mounted to a bristle tuft or segment by extending through a suitable opening in the bristle tuft, such that the base of the bristles is mounted within or beneath the bristle tuft.

[0051] The electric oral care appliance 1000 also includes an electronic component 300, which is partially housed within a brush handle 140, partially housed within an upper cavity 115, and partially housed within a lower cavity 127. In some embodiments, the electronic component 300 is mounted to an upper housing 110 and is at least partially positioned within the upper cavity 115 of the upper housing 110. More specifically, when the electronic component 300 is mounted to the upper housing 110, a first portion 301 of the electronic component 300 is positioned within the upper cavity 115, and a second portion 302 of the electronic component 300 protrudes from the bottom opening of the upper cavity 115 (see [link to documentation]). Figure 2 When the lower housing 121 is attached to the upper housing 110, the second portion 302 of the electronic component 300 is positioned within the lower cavity 127. Of course, the invention is not limited in this respect, and in alternative embodiments, the entire electronic component 300 may be positioned within the upper cavity 115 and the cavity defined by the brush rod 140, such that no part of the electronic component 300 protrudes from the bottom end 111 of the upper housing 110. This is necessary in embodiments where the tracking modules 120, and more specifically their lower housings 121, are solid rather than hollow.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, electronic component 300 includes circuit board 303, which includes electronic circuitry necessary for the proper operation of the electric oral care appliance 1000, including one or more processors, one or more storage devices, one or more switches (such as switch 304), resistors, capacitors, conductors, wires, support structures, fasteners, etc. Figure 3In this embodiment, the electronic component 300 also includes a base 305 for holding a power source 306, which is represented as two batteries separated from the electronic component 300. Of course, more or fewer batteries may be used depending on need and size limitations. In an exemplary embodiment, a circuit board 303 is coupled to one side of the base 305, and the batteries 306 are housed in a compartment positioned on the opposite side of the base 305. Of course, other arrangements are possible in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the electronic component 300 may include one or more of any combination of the elements or components described above. In some embodiments, the electronic component 300 may consist solely of the power source 306. In some embodiments, the electronic component 300 may also include a light, a sound-generating component, etc. In some embodiments, the electronic component 300 may include any features that enable the electric oral care appliance 1000 to become an electronically functional smart or interactive toothbrush.

[0053] Electronic component 300 also includes a motor 310 operably connected to power supply 306 via conductive members (i.e., wires 318a, 318b) and a vibrating element 311 operably connected to motor 310. When switch 304 is closed, power is transferred from power supply 306 to motor 310; when switch is open, power cannot be transferred from power supply 306 to motor 310. Actuation of actuator 118 controls the opening and closing of switch 304. Specifically, pressing actuator 118 once changes switch 304 from an open state to a closed state, and a second operation of actuator 118 changes switch 304 from a closed state to an open state.

[0054] When fully assembled, at least a portion of the power supply 306 is located within the lower cavity 127 of the lower housing 121, and another portion of the power supply 306 is located within the upper cavity 115 of the upper housing 210. Furthermore, at least a portion of the motor 310 and the vibrating element 311 are located within the cavity 211 of the sleeve 210 of the replacement head 200. When the switch 304 is closed, power is transmitted to the motor 310, causing the motor 310 to rotate. Additionally, due to the operative connection between the vibrating element 311 and the motor 310, the rotation of the motor 310 is transmitted to the vibrating element, so the vibrating element 311 also rotates when the switch 304 is closed. In some embodiments, the vibrating element 311 may be an eccentric member with a biased portion or a biased weight distribution. Due to the offset portion of the eccentric component, when the brush handle 140 is positioned within the cavity 211 of the sleeve 210 of the replacement head 200, the rotation of the vibrating element 311 generates vibration within the brush handle 140, and this vibration is transmitted to the replacement head 200. Of course, the vibrating element 311 is not limited to an eccentric component, and in other embodiments, the vibrating element 311 can be a piezoelectric element, etc. When power is applied, the motor 310 and the vibrating element 311 generate vibration, which is transmitted to the replacement head 200, specifically their tooth cleaning elements 215, to facilitate the teeth and gum cleaning process.

[0055] In the embodiments described herein, the tracking module 120 forms part of the electric oral care appliance 1000, more specifically their handle 100. Furthermore, the tracking module 120 can be used in conjunction with specially configured software and algorithms to facilitate or assist in tracking the movement, position, orientation, location (i.e., upper left quadrant, upper right quadrant, lower left quadrant, lower right quadrant, etc.) of the electric oral care appliance 1000 in the oral cavity. In some embodiments, the tracking module 120 can track the movement, position, orientation, location, etc., of the head portion 220 (or dental cleaning element 215) of the replacement head 200.

[0056] Specifically, during use, the camera is positioned such that the tracking module 120, and more specifically, its tracking unit 122 (visual marker 190 in the exemplary embodiment), is within the camera's field of view. Algorithms associated with external electronics are able to track the movement, position, orientation, and so on of the electric oral care appliance 1000 in the oral cavity based on the color of the visual marker 190 perceived by the camera. Therefore, the tracking module 120 forms an integral part of the electric oral care appliance 1000 and works in conjunction with the camera, processor, memory, software, and / or algorithms to track the movement, motion, positioning, orientation, and so on of the electric oral care appliance 1000 during brushing or oral care. While the tracking element module 120 in the exemplary embodiment does not include any electronics or sensors, such as accelerometers or gyroscopes, in other embodiments, the tracking element module may include such components to aid in tracking the movement of the electric oral care appliance 1000.

[0057] Figure 6-8 Alternative embodiments of the electric oral care appliance 1000a according to embodiments of the present invention are shown. Some features of the oral care appliance 1000a, similar to those of the oral care appliance 1000 described above, will have similar designations, except that the suffix "a" is added after the number to distinguish the embodiments. Some features will be numbered but not described; it should be understood that the description of similarly numbered features of the oral care appliance 1000 is applicable. Furthermore, some features and components of the oral care appliance 1000a will not be described or represented by numbers herein; it should be understood that the description of similar features of the oral care appliance 1000 is applicable.

[0058] Electric oral care appliance 1000a is identical to electric oral care appliance 1000, but the lower housing 121a is formed of two parts, not a single part, identical to the lower housing 121. Specifically, the lower housing 121a includes a first part 150a and a second part 151a that are detachably coupled together. To facilitate this coupling, each of the first part 150a and the second part 151a may include connecting features, such as threads, tabs, recesses and latches, keyholes and lockholes, protrusions and notches, shapes and / or dimensions, thereby creating a frictional fit or interference fit, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting features include a tab or flange 152a of the first part 150a and a tab or flange or opening 153a of the second part, which cooperate to facilitate the coupling of the first part 150a and the second part 151a to each other (in Figure 8 (The best presentation of China).

[0059] A first portion 150a of the lower housing 121a extends from a first end 154a to a second end 155a. The first portion 150a has an outer surface 156a and an inner surface 157a, which define a first lower cavity 158a. The first lower cavity 158a has a first open end formed by an opening in the first end 154a of the first portion 150a and a second open end formed by an opening in the second end 155a of the first portion 150a. Therefore, the first lower cavity 158a is open at both ends of the first portion 150a of the lower housing 121a. A connecting element (i.e., a thread) 127a, facilitating connection between the lower housing 121a and the upper housing 110a, is positioned along the inner surface 157a of the first portion 150a of the lower housing 121a.

[0060] In this embodiment, the tracking unit 122a is integrated into a second portion 151a within the lower housing 121a. The second portion 151a of the lower housing 121a extends from a first end 160a to a second end 161a and has an outer surface 162a and an inner surface 163a, the inner surface 163a defining a second lower cavity 164a. The second lower cavity 164a is open at the second end 161a of the second portion 151a and closed at the first end 160a of the second portion 151a. When the first portion 150a and the second portion 151a are joined together, the first lower cavity 158a and the second lower cavity 164a form a single, uninterrupted spatial volume. Furthermore, even at the interface between the first portion 150a and the second portion 151a, the outer surface 156a of the first portion 150a and the outer surface 162a of the second portion 151a are flush with each other.

[0061] Of course, similar to the discussion below, in some embodiments, especially where the lower housing 121a is not used to house anything, the first lower cavity 158a and the second lower cavity 164a may be omitted. In some embodiments, the first lower cavity 158a may be retained and the second lower cavity 164a may be omitted. However, in some exemplary embodiments, the lower housing 121a does house a portion of the electronic component 300a, thus requiring some form of cavity.

[0062] In this embodiment, the first portion 150a of the lower housing 121a includes a cylindrical portion 170a and a flared portion 171a, and the second portion 151a of the lower housing 121a includes a hemispherical shape. The cylindrical portion 170a may define a cavity with a constant cross-sectional area, or a cavity that slightly increases as it moves from the second end 155a toward the flared portion 171a. Furthermore, the outer surface 162a of the second portion 151a may include design markings 133a (i.e., star patterns, etc.). Additionally, the tracking unit 122a includes the plurality of visual markings 190a, which include portions protruding from the outer surface 162a of the second portion 151a. The details of the design markings 133a and the visual markings 190a are the same as described above; therefore, for the sake of brevity, these details will not be described further herein.

[0063] Therefore, the only real difference between the electric oral care appliance 1000a and the electric oral care appliance 1000 is that the tracking module 120a, and more specifically, its lower housing 121a, is formed by two detachably connected parts, rather than by a single integral structure. However, when the first part 150a and the second part 151a are connected, the structure, shape, and function of the tracking module 120a and its lower housing 121a are identical to those of the tracking module 120 and its lower housing 120 described above.

[0064] In some embodiments, the present invention is the tracking module 120, 120a itself, and not connected to the rest of the electric oral care appliance 1000. Therefore, the present invention can relate to a tracking module for an electric oral care appliance 1000. This is because, in some embodiments, an electric oral care appliance without the tracking module 120 can be sold, but with a different lower housing that does not include the tracking functionality included in the tracking module 120. Therefore, the tracking module 120 can be sold separately from the electric oral care appliance so that the end user can replace the standard lower housing with the tracking module 120, thereby converting the electric oral care appliance from a standard, non-tracking electric oral care appliance into a tracking-enabled electric oral care appliance 1000. In other embodiments, the electric oral care appliance 1000 can be sold as a kit containing both a non-tracking lower housing and a tracking module.

[0065] For example, Figure 9A possible embodiment of an electric oral care appliance system 2000 with interchangeable gripping portions is shown. The electric oral care appliance system 2000 includes an upper housing 410 comprising an upper cavity (not visible, but the upper housing 410 is identical to the upper housing 110 described above) having an open bottom end 412. The upper housing 410 defines an upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance 3000. An electronic component 413 is mounted to the upper housing 410 and protrudes from the open bottom end 412 of the upper cavity. Furthermore, a brush handle 411 is mounted to the upper housing 410 and protrudes from the top of the upper housing 410.

[0066] In this embodiment, a first lower housing 440 and a tracking module 450 are included. The tracking module 450 includes a second lower housing 451 and a tracking unit 452 integrated into the second lower housing 451. The tracking unit 452 is configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance system 2000. The first lower housing 440 and the second lower housing 451 can be interchangeably and detachably coupled to an upper housing 410 to enclose the bottom opening 412 of the upper cavity of the upper housing 410. Both the first lower housing 440 and the second lower housing 451, regardless of their coupling to the upper housing 410, define a lower gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance system 2000. When the first lower housing 440 is coupled to the upper housing 410, the electric oral care appliance system 2000 does not include any tracking functionality. When the second lower housing 451 (and therefore the tracking module 450) is attached to the upper housing 410, the electric oral care appliance system 2000 has the tracking function as described herein.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, the first lower housing 440 is cylindrical and has a constant diameter, and the second lower housing 451 has a cylindrical portion and a bulbous portion, as described above. However, in other embodiments, the first lower housing 440 and the second lower housing 451 may be identical, but the second lower housing 451 may have a tracking unit 452 integrated thereon. The tracking unit 452 may include a plurality of visual markers 490, as described in the embodiments previously described above.

[0068] Figure 9 The parts shown can be sold with the kit and replacement head. Alternatively, Figure 9 The demonstrated components can be sold with a kit that does not include a replacement head, the replacement head being included in the kit. In these embodiments, Figure 9The components shown can be packaged together. In other embodiments, the tracking module 450 can be sold separately from the upper housing 410, electronic components 413, brush bar 411, and first lower housing 440. As mentioned above, the tracking module 450 itself can be inventive.

[0069] Although the invention has been described with respect to specific examples (including the currently preferred mode for implementing the invention), those skilled in the art will understand that many variations and substitutions of the systems and techniques described above exist. It should be understood that other embodiments can be utilized and structural and functional modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should be broadly interpreted as set forth in the following embodiments.

[0070] This invention relates to the following embodiments:

[0071] 1. An electric oral care appliance, the electric oral care appliance comprising:

[0072] The upper housing includes an upper cavity having an open bottom end, and the upper housing defines an upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance;

[0073] Electronic components are mounted to the upper housing and are at least partially located within the upper cavity;

[0074] The tracking module includes:

[0075] A lower housing, detachably connected to the upper housing, to enclose the bottom end of the opening of the upper cavity and define the lower gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance; and

[0076] A tracking unit is integrated into the lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance within the user's mouth.

[0077] 2. The electric oral care appliance according to implementation plan 1 further includes:

[0078] A handle, the handle including the upper housing, the tracking module, and a brush bar extending from the top of the upper housing; and

[0079] A replacement head, the replacement head including a sleeve portion having a cavity, the replacement head being detachably connected to the handle portion, and the brush rod being positioned within the cavity of the sleeve portion.

[0080] 3. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 2, wherein the replacement head further includes a head portion coupled to the sleeve portion, the head portion having a front surface having a cleaning element extending therefrom, and wherein the tracking unit is configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the replacement head within the user's oral cavity.

[0081] 4. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 2 or embodiment 3, wherein the upper cavity has an open tip, and wherein the brush bar of the handle extends through the open tip of the upper cavity.

[0082] 5. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the lower housing.

[0083] 6. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 5, wherein the lower housing is formed of a rigid material and each of the plurality of visual markers is formed of an elastic material.

[0084] 7. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 5 to 6, wherein a portion of each of the plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the lower housing has a spherical or hemispherical shape.

[0085] 8. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 5 to 7, wherein the lower housing includes a plurality of holes extending therethrough, and wherein each of the plurality of visual markers is internally coupled to the lower housing in one of the plurality of holes.

[0086] 9. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 8, wherein each of the visual markers includes an anchor portion, a protrusion, and an intermediate portion extending between the anchor portion and the protrusion, the anchor portion being positioned within a lower cavity of the lower housing, the intermediate portion being positioned within one of the plurality of holes, and the protrusion projecting from the outer surface of the lower housing.

[0087] 10. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the lower housing includes a first part and a second part detachably connected together, and wherein the tracking unit is integrated into the second part of the lower housing.

[0088] 11. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 10, wherein the first portion of the lower housing includes a cylindrical portion and a flared portion, and the second portion of the lower housing has a hemispherical shape.

[0089] 12. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 10 or embodiment 11, wherein the second portion of the lower housing includes an outer surface with a pattern having a non-circular shape, and wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the second portion of the lower housing and has a circular shape.

[0090] 13. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the lower housing comprises a cylindrical portion and a bulbous portion, the cylindrical portion being adjacent to the upper housing.

[0091] 14. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the outer surfaces of the upper gripping portion and the lower gripping portion are flush at the interface between the upper housing and the lower housing.

[0092] 15. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the upper housing includes a first connecting element and the lower housing includes a second connecting element, the second connecting element cooperating with the first connecting element to detachably connect the upper housing and the lower housing together.

[0093] 16. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 15, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element are threaded together.

[0094] 17. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the lower housing includes a lower cavity having an open top, and wherein a first portion of the electronic component is positioned in the upper cavity, and a second portion of the electronic component protrudes from the bottom end of the opening of the upper cavity and is positioned in the lower cavity.

[0095] 18. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 17, wherein the electronic component includes a base supporting a power source, and wherein the second portion of the electronic component includes at least a portion of the base and the power source.

[0096] 19. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 18, wherein each of the first and second portions of the electronic components includes the base and a portion of the power supply.

[0097] 20. An electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the electronic components include a power source, a motor operatively coupled to the power source, and an eccentric member operatively coupled to the motor, wherein when the motor is activated, the eccentric member rotates to cause the head portion of the electric oral care appliance to vibrate.

[0098] 21. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 20, wherein the upper housing includes an actuator for starting the motor.

[0099] 22. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 21, wherein the upper housing has a first length and the lower housing has a second length, the second length being equal to or greater than the first length.

[0100] 23. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the connection between the upper housing and the lower housing forms an airtight seal, the airtight seal preventing liquid from entering the upper cavity at the interface between the upper housing and the lower housing.

[0101] 24. A tracking module for an electric oral care appliance, the tracking module comprising:

[0102] A lower housing extending along a longitudinal axis from a bottom end to a top end, the lower housing having an inner surface defining a cavity having an open top end, the lower housing including a connecting element configured to mate with a connecting element on an upper housing of the electric oral care appliance to connect the lower housing to the upper housing; and

[0103] A tracking unit is integrated into the lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the oral care appliance.

[0104] 25. The tracking module according to embodiment 24, wherein the lower housing includes a cylindrical portion and a bulbous portion, the cylindrical portion including the top end and the bulbous portion including the bottom end.

[0105] 26. The tracking module according to embodiment 24 or embodiment 25, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​at least a portion of the cavity of the lower housing decreases in the direction toward the top of the opening of the cavity.

[0106] 27. The tracking module according to any one of embodiments 24 to 26, wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the lower housing.

[0107] 28. The tracking module according to embodiment 27, wherein the lower housing is formed of a rigid material and each of the plurality of visual markers is formed of an elastic material.

[0108] 29. The tracking module according to embodiment 27 or embodiment 28, wherein the lower housing includes a plurality of holes extending therethrough, and wherein each of the plurality of visual markers is internally coupled to the lower housing in one of the plurality of holes, and wherein a portion of the plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the lower housing has a spherical or hemispherical shape.

[0109] 30. The tracking module according to any one of embodiments 24 to 29, wherein the lower housing includes a first part and a second part detachably connected together, and wherein the tracking unit is integrated into the second part of the lower housing.

[0110] 31. The tracking module according to embodiment 30, wherein the first portion of the lower housing includes a cylindrical portion and a horn-shaped portion, and the second portion of the lower housing has a hemispherical shape.

[0111] 32. The tracking module according to embodiment 30 or embodiment 31, wherein the second portion of the lower housing includes an outer surface having a pattern of a non-circular shape thereon, and wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers having spherical or hemispherical portions protruding from the outer surface of the second portion of the lower housing.

[0112] 33. The tracking module according to any one of embodiments 24 to 32, wherein the lower housing is formed of a rigid material.

[0113] 34. The tracking module according to any one of embodiments 24 to 33, wherein the connecting element of the upper housing and the lower housing includes threads.

[0114] 35. An electric oral care appliance system, the electric oral care appliance system comprising:

[0115] The upper housing includes an upper cavity having an open bottom end, and the upper housing defines an upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance;

[0116] Electronic components are mounted to the upper housing and positioned within the upper cavity;

[0117] First lower outer shell;

[0118] The tracking module includes:

[0119] The second lower outer shell; and

[0120] A tracking unit, integrated into the second lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance within the user's mouth; and

[0121] The first lower housing and the second lower housing are interchangeably and detachably connected to the upper housing to enclose the bottom end of the opening of the upper cavity and define the lower gripping portion of the electric oral care device.

[0122] 36. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 35, wherein the first lower housing is cylindrical and has a constant diameter, and the second lower housing has a cylindrical portion and a bulbous portion, the diameter of the bulbous portion being larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion.

[0123] 37. The electric oral care appliance according to embodiment 35 or embodiment 36, wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers coupled to the second lower housing, the plurality of visual markers including spherical or hemispherical portions protruding from the outer surface of the second lower housing.

[0124] 38. The electric oral care appliance according to any one of embodiments 35 to 37, wherein the first lower housing cannot track the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance.

[0125] 39. A method for assembling an electric oral care appliance, the method comprising:

[0126] Provided an upper housing of the oral care appliance, the upper housing having an open bottom end;

[0127] Install the electronic components into the upper housing;

[0128] A tracking module and a tracking unit are provided, the tracking module including a lower housing, the tracking unit being integrated into the lower housing, wherein the tracking unit is configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance within the user's mouth;

[0129] The lower housing is detachably connected to the upper housing such that the lower housing closes the bottom end of the opening of the upper housing, the upper housing defines the upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance, and the lower housing defines the lower gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance.

[0130] 40. The method according to embodiment 39, wherein the connection between the lower housing and the upper housing includes mutually mating connection elements of the upper housing and the lower housing.

[0131] 41. The method according to embodiment 40, wherein the connecting element of the upper housing and the lower housing includes threads.

Claims

1. A tracking module for an electric oral care appliance, the tracking module comprising: The lower housing extends along a longitudinal axis from the bottom to the top, the lower housing having an inner surface defining a cavity having an open top, and the lower housing including a connecting element configured to mate with a connecting element on the upper housing of the electric oral care appliance to connect the lower housing to the upper housing. as well as A tracking unit is integrated into the lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the oral care appliance.

2. The tracking module according to claim 1, wherein the lower housing comprises a cylindrical portion and a bulbous portion, the cylindrical portion comprising the top end and the bulbous portion comprising the bottom end.

3. The tracking module according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​at least a portion of the cavity of the lower housing decreases in the direction toward the top of the opening of the cavity.

4. The tracking module according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the lower housing.

5. The tracking module of claim 4, wherein the lower housing is formed of a rigid material, and each of the plurality of visual markers is formed of an elastic material.

6. The tracking module of claim 4, wherein the lower housing includes a plurality of holes extending therethrough, and wherein each of the plurality of visual markers is internally coupled to the lower housing in one of the plurality of holes, and wherein a portion of the plurality of visual markers protruding from the outer surface of the lower housing has a spherical or hemispherical shape.

7. The tracking module according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lower housing includes a first portion and a second portion detachably connected together, and wherein the tracking unit is integrated into the second portion of the lower housing.

8. The tracking module of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the lower housing comprises a cylindrical portion and a horn-shaped portion, and the second portion of the lower housing has a hemispherical shape.

9. The tracking module of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the lower housing includes an outer surface having a pattern of a non-circular shape thereon, and wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers having spherical or hemispherical portions protruding from the outer surface of the second portion of the lower housing.

10. The tracking module according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lower housing is formed of a rigid material.

11. The tracking module according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connecting element of the upper housing and the lower housing includes threads.

12. An electric oral care appliance system, the electric oral care appliance system comprising: The upper housing includes an upper cavity having an open bottom end, and the upper housing defines an upper gripping portion of the electric oral care appliance; Electronic components are mounted to the upper housing and positioned within the upper cavity; First lower outer shell; The tracking module includes: The second lower outer shell; and A tracking unit, integrated into the second lower housing and configured to facilitate tracking at least one of the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance within the user's mouth; and The first lower housing and the second lower housing are interchangeably and detachably connected to the upper housing to enclose the bottom end of the opening of the upper cavity and define the lower gripping portion of the electric oral care device.

13. The electric oral care appliance of claim 12, wherein the first lower housing is cylindrical and has a constant diameter, and the second lower housing has a cylindrical portion and a bulbous portion, the diameter of the bulbous portion being larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion.

14. The electric oral care appliance of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the tracking unit includes a plurality of visual markers coupled to the second lower housing, the plurality of visual markers including spherical or hemispherical portions protruding from the outer surface of the second lower housing.

15. The electric oral care appliance of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the first lower housing cannot track the position, orientation, or movement of the electric oral care appliance.

Images