Conical Bristle Tuft for Tooth Curvature Conformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes with flat bristle trims struggle to conform to the curvature of teeth, effectively clean interproximal areas, and retain dentifrice, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An oral care implement featuring a conical tuft of bristles with a continuous bristle wall, an inner cavity with increasing transverse cross-sectional area, and a central cleaning element, along with arcuate cleaning elements arranged in a loop, to enhance cleaning efficiency and dentifrice retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional toothbrushes with flat bristle trim are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to conform to tooth curvature and clean interproximal areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by arranging bristles in an arcuate pattern around the head rather than in a flat plane. The bristles are positioned at different angles relative to the longitudinal axis, creating a three-dimensional curved surface that conforms to tooth geometry. This arcuate arrangement allows the brush to adapt to the curvature of teeth and effectively clean interproximal areas while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding techniques.
2Device complexity
If conventional toothbrushes with flat bristle trim are used, then the structure is simple, but the ability to retain dentifrice is reduced causing it to slip through tufts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat bristle arrangement to a three-dimensional arcuate configuration. The bristles are arranged in multiple rows at different angles, creating depth and volume in the brush head structure. This dimensional change provides better dentifrice retention by preventing the paste from slipping through gaps, as the multi-angle bristle arrangement creates a more interlocked structure that holds dentifrice against the teeth during brushing.
3Ease of manufacture
If bristles are bundled in circular tuft holes, then the manufacturing is simple, but gaps exist between adjacent bristles reducing packing factor and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric bristle arrangement within tuft holes, positioning bristles at varying angles and orientations rather than in uniform circular patterns. This asymmetric configuration optimizes packing density by eliminating gaps between bristles while maintaining compatibility with standard circular tuft hole manufacturing. The asymmetric arrangement allows bristles to interlock more effectively, increasing the packing factor and cleaning effectiveness without requiring complex non-circular hole geometries.
Data Source
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AI summary
An oral care implement that includes a conical tuft of bristles. In one embodiment, the invention is an oral care implement that includes a handle and a head coupled to the handle, the head having a front surface. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements extend from the front surface of the head. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements include a conical tuft that has a continuous bristle wall having an inner surface defining a cavity, the cavity having a transverse cross-sectional area that increases with distance from the front surface of the head. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements may also include a central cleaning element located within the cavity. The conical tuft may terminate in an annular top surface that undulates in height relative to the head. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements may include arcuate cleaning elements arranged in a loop about the conical tuft.