Closed-Loop Toothbrush Bristle Arrangement for Dentifrice Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes are limited in their ability to conform to the curvature of teeth, penetrate interproximal areas, and retain dentifrice, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency due to the slipping of dentifrice between bristles and teeth surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design featuring a head with densely packed bristle tufts, elastomeric prophylaxis cups, and strategically arranged cleaning elements, including distal and proximal par-elliptical walls, arcuate rows, and inclined bristle sets, which form a substantially closed-loop structure to enhance cleaning along gum lines and retain dentifrice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional flat bristle trim is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the ability to conform to tooth curvature and penetrate interproximal areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning elements are divided into multiple functional groups: bristle tufts for general cleaning, elastomeric prophylaxis cups for conforming to tooth curvature, and inclined bristle sets for gum line cleaning. Each segment performs a specific cleaning function, enabling the brush to adapt to different tooth surfaces while maintaining manageable complexity through modular organization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the toothbrush head are assigned different cleaning element characteristics matched to specific cleaning needs: the distal end has bristle tufts for facial surfaces, the proximal end has inclined bristle sets for gum lines, and elastomeric cups are positioned to conform to curved tooth surfaces. This localized optimization enables superior adaptation without requiring complete redesign of the entire brush head.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional bristle arrangement is used, then device complexity is low, but dentifrice retention is poor and dentifrice slips through bristles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cleaning element types (bristle tufts, elastomeric prophylaxis cups, and inclined bristle sets) into a unified head structure. This merging creates a synergistic system where the elastomeric cups act as dentifrice reservoirs while the bristle tufts and inclined sets distribute the paste effectively across different tooth surfaces, achieving superior dentifrice retention without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric prophylaxis cups function as flexible, paste-retaining structures that conform to tooth surfaces while holding dentifrice. These flexible cups act as thin-film reservoirs, releasing paste gradually during brushing, thereby improving dentifrice retention and distribution compared to traditional rigid bristle arrangements.
3Productivity
If conventional brush design is used, then ease of manufacture is high, but cleaning efficiency along gum line and interproximal areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning elements are segmented into distinct functional groups (bristle tufts, elastomeric cups, inclined bristle sets) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled into the final brush head. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific cleaning function while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly, particularly benefiting the cleaning of gum lines and interproximal areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension to the cleaning element arrangement by incorporating inclined bristle sets at different angles and elastomeric cups with three-dimensional conformability. This dimensional addition enables effective cleaning of gum lines and curved tooth surfaces, improving overall cleaning efficiency while the modular nature maintains manufacturability through standardized assembly processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A toothbrush having an arrangement of cleaning elements for improved oral care and dentifrice retention. In one aspect, the invention is a toothbrush comprising a first set of cleaning elements forming a loop that extends from the distal periphery of the head to the proximal periphery of the head. The loop has the shape of a racetrack and comprises a first par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements at the distal periphery of the head and a second par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements located at the proximal periphery of the head. The par elliptical walls are connected first and second arcuate rows of cleaning elements. In one embodiment, the first and second arcuate rows are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis so that peripheral convex surfaces of the first and second arcuate rows face the longitudinal axis.