Collapsible Elastomeric Oral Care Stimulator Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oral care implements with stimulator tips are rigid, which can cause gum damage and discomfort, and may dig into the user's hand during use, necessitating a more comfortable and safe design.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible elastomeric element with a hollow body featuring a base, middle, and distal section connected by pre-weakened sections, allowing it to transition between a normal and collapsed state in response to axial force, providing a conical structure for use and reducing the risk of excessive force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid stimulator tip is used, then structural strength is improved, but gum damage and user discomfort occur
Solution Approach 1:
The stimulator tip changes its structural parameter from rigid to collapsible through the application of pre-weakened sections that allow controlled buckling. This parameter change enables the tip to transition from a rigid state (providing structural strength) to a collapsible state (preventing gum damage) based on usage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The stimulator tip is designed with dynamic characteristics through pre-weakened sections that enable it to collapse under excessive force. This dynamic behavior allows the structure to adapt its rigidity in real-time, maintaining structural integrity during normal use while preventing damage when excessive force is applied.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid stimulator tip is used, then structural stability is improved, but the tip digs into the user's hand during use
Solution Approach 1:
The stimulator tip incorporates dynamic collapse behavior through pre-weakened sections, allowing it to transition from a stable rigid structure to a collapsed configuration when excessive force is applied. This dynamic response prevents the tip from digging into the user's hand while maintaining structural stability during proper use.
3Reliability
If a collapsible elastomeric element is used, then user safety is improved, but structural rigidity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric element utilizes parameter changes through controlled structural collapse at pre-weakened sections. This allows the element to maintain sufficient rigidity for safe gum stimulation while being able to collapse to prevent damage from excessive force, thereby improving user safety without permanently compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-weakened sections act as predetermined collapse points that provide protective cushioning before damage can occur. These sections are designed to fail in a controlled manner, absorbing excessive energy and preventing both gum damage and hand injury, thus providing beforehand cushioning for user safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The collapsible design enhances user safety by preventing gum damage and discomfort, allowing gentle stimulation while reducing the likelihood of the stimulator tip digging into the hand, promoting comfortable and controlled use.
Implementation Method 1
The elastomeric element may be biased into the normal state and transition into the collapsed state in response to the application of an axial force onto the distal tip in a direction toward the handle
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care implement having a collapsible elastomeric element. The oral care implement may include a body having a handle portion and a head portion. Furthermore, an elastomeric element may extend from the body. The elastomeric element may comprise a hollow body that has an internal cavity, the hollow body having a base section, a middle section, and a distal section that includes a free distal tip, each of the base, middle, and distal sections coupled together by a pre-weakened section. The elastomeric element may be configured to alternate between a collapsed state and a normal state.