Adjustable Dental Flosser Tension Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental flossers have fixed floss tension, making it difficult to clean tooth surfaces other than interdental areas, as the high tension required for proper insertion prevents the floss from curving around the tooth profile effectively.
Innovation Solution
A dental flosser with a U-shaped design and a handle that includes a floss strand attachment member, allowing for adjustable tension by moving the attachment member along the handle, either linearly, rotatably, or pivotally, to increase or decrease the tension of the floss strand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fixed high tension is applied to the floss strand for proper insertion between teeth, then the floss strand remains tense and can be inserted properly, but the floss strand cannot curve around the tooth profile to clean other surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the floss tension adjustable rather than fixed. The floss strand attachment member can be moved along the handle between different positions, allowing the user to dynamically change the tension level. This enables the floss to transition from a tense state during insertion to a relaxed state for curving around tooth surfaces, resolving the contradiction between insertion effectiveness and cleaning versatility.
2Force
If the floss strand attachment member is moved toward the proximal end of the handle to increase tension, then the floss tension increases for better insertion, but the floss cannot curve around the tooth profile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the attachment member to be repositioned along the handle. When high force is needed for insertion, the member is positioned to increase tension. When versatility is needed for cleaning various tooth surfaces, the member can be moved to decrease tension and allow curving. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between force requirements and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the tension parameter of the floss strand through physical repositioning of the attachment member. By changing the position parameter of the attachment member along the handle, the tension parameter of the floss is adjusted, enabling transition between high-tension insertion mode and low-tension cleaning mode, thus resolving the contradiction.
3Device complexity
If conventional fixed tension flossers are used, then the structure is simple, but the ability to clean interdental, front, and back surfaces of teeth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction between simple structure and high versatility by introducing a dynamic adjustment mechanism rather than complex multiple components. The movable attachment member provides tension adjustment capability with minimal structural addition, enabling the single flosser to perform multiple cleaning functions on different tooth surfaces while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental flosser assembly that includes a handle member having a proximal end and a distal end, a U-shaped portion removably secured to the distal end of the handle member, the U-shaped portion having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from each other, a floss strand attachment member associated with and movable with respect to the handle member between at least a first position and a second position, and a floss strand having a length and a first end and a second end. The first end of the floss strand is fastened to the first arm and the second end of the floss strand is attached to the floss strand attachment member.