1. A toothbrush comprising a piezochromic polymer effective to emit an optical signal indicative of brushing force, wherein the piezochromic polymer is an electrocylic ring-opening mechanophore.
2. The toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising:
(a) a handle;
(b) a head;
(c) bristles positioned on the head; and
(d) a neck joining the handle to the head,
wherein at least one of the handle, the head, the bristles and the neck comprises the piezochromic polymer.
3. The toothbrush of any preceding claim 1, wherein the piezochromic polymer is contained in a cavity within the toothbrush, and at least a portion of the toothbrush overlying the cavity is transparent or translucent such that the piezochromic polymer is visible.
4. The toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the portion of the toothbrush overlying the cavity is a window located on a back side of the toothbrush, such that the piezochromic polymer is visible when teeth of a user are being brushed in front of a mirror.
5. The toothbrush of any preceding claim 1, wherein the piezochromic polymer comprises spiropyran.
6. The toothbrush of claim 5, wherein the electrocylic ring-opening mechanophore comprises poly(methyl acrylate) or poly(methyl methacrylate).
7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the optical signal is at least one color change indicative of at least one of excessive brushing force, acceptable brushing force and inadequate brushing force.
8. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the toothbrush is free of a power supply and electrical circuitry.
9. The toothbrush of claim 2, further comprising an elongated bladder adapted to transmit force from the head to the piezochromic polymer, wherein the piezochromic polymer is located in or on the neck.
10. The toothbrush of claim 2, further comprising a lever inside the head and neck, wherein the lever is adapted to transmit force from the head to the piezochromic polymer, wherein the piezochromic polymer is located in or on the neck.
11. The toothbrush of claim 2, wherein at least some of the bristles comprise the piezochromic polymer.
12. The toothbrush of claim 11, wherein at least a bristle-contacting surface of the head comprises the piezochromic polymer, and the bristles are sufficiently transparent or translucent such that a color of the bristle-contacting surface of the head is visible.
13. A toothbrush comprising a proximity dye based polymer effective to emit an optical signal indicative of brushing force.
14. The toothbrush of claim 13, further comprising:
(a) a handle;
(b) a head;
(c) bristles positioned on the head; and
(d) a neck joining the handle to the head,
wherein at least one of the handle, the head, the bristles and the neck comprises the proximity dye based polymer.
15. The toothbrush of claim 14, wherein at least some of the bristles comprise the proximity dye based polymer.
16. The toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the proximity dye based polymer is contained in a cavity within the toothbrush, and at least a portion of the toothbrush overlying the cavity is transparent or translucent such that the proximity dye based polymer is visible.
17. The toothbrush of claim 16, wherein the portion of the toothbrush overlying the cavity is a window located on a back side of the toothbrush, such that the proximity dye based polymer is visible when teeth of a user are being brushed in front of a mirror.
18. The toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the optical signal is at least one color change indicative of at least one of excessive brushing force, acceptable brushing force and inadequate brushing force.
19. The toothbrush of claim 13, wherein the toothbrush is free of a power supply and electrical circuitry.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Apparatus for heating and pressurizing a fluid-filled bag, comprising:
a flexible, tubular sleeve configured to receive a fluid-filled bag having an outer wall;
the flexible, tubular sleeve including substantially co-extensive inner and outer sealed jackets, both configured to wrap entirely around the outer wall of the fluid-filled bag;
the inner sealed jacket being filled with a sodium acetate solution and including an activator button operative to initiate an exothermic reaction within the solution, causing the inner jacket to become heated;
a substance or device for inflating the outer sealed jacket, thereby applying pressure and heat to the entire outer wall of the fluid-filled bag through the heated inner jacket.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substance or device for inflating the outer sealed jacket includes:
a container including acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate in communication with the outer sealed jacket; and
a manually operable device for mixing the acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate to inflate the outer sealed jacket with carbon dioxide.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substance or device for inflating the outer sealed jacket includes a manually operated air pump in communication with the outer sealed jacket.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substance or device for inflating the outer sealed jacket includes a coupling for connecting the outer sealed jacket to a source of pressurization.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner and outer sealed jackets are substantially coextensive and peripherally bonded to one another.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner and outer sealed jackets share a common wall.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner jacket includes heat-sealed regions to maintain a desired thickness.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including one or more hanging tabs.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner and outer jackets are constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other thermoplastic rubber sheets.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a set of hook-and-loop fasteners for maintaining the jackets in a wrapped position around the fluid-filled bag.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:
a first side edge with an elongate slot;
a second, opposing side edge with a flap extending therefrom, the flap terminating in a first elongate strip of hoop-and-loop fastener material; and
a second elongate strip of hoop-and-loop fastener material disposed on the outer surface of the outer jacket, enabling the flap to be inserted through the slot and folded back over so that the first and second elongate strips of hoop-and-loop fastener material connect and maintain the jackets in wrapped position around the fluid-filled bag.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:
a first side edge with a bent metal wire forming an elongate slot;
a second, opposing side edge with a flap extending therefrom, the flap terminating in a first elongate strip of hoop-and-loop fastener material; and
a second elongate strip of hoop-and-loop fastener material disposed on the outer surface of the outer jacket, enabling the flap to be inserted through the slot and folded back over so that the first and second elongate strips of hoop-and-loop fastener material connect and maintain the jackets in wrapped position around the fluid-filled bag.