Degressive Toothbrush Holder for Pressure Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual toothbrushes often cause excessive contact pressure on tooth surfaces and gums, leading to potential damage, particularly in children and adults who may not control brushing movements well, due to inadequate ergonomics and design.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush with a brush holder designed to have a degressive force/displacement characteristic, combining shape and material properties in the handle and neck area to guide users to correct brushing technique without complex sensors, featuring an ergonomically shaped handle and compact, ultra-compact brush head with a large number of fine bristles, made from biodegradable plastic, to reduce pressure and enhance comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the brush holder is made rigid to provide stable cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but excessive pressure on teeth and gums occurs causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The brush holder's stiffness parameter is changed by using a degressive force/displacement characteristic. The holder becomes softer at the distal end near the brush head and progressively stiffer toward the handle, allowing automatic pressure regulation that prevents excessive force on teeth and gums while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The brush holder transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can deflect and adapt to the forces applied during brushing. This dynamic behavior allows the holder to automatically regulate pressure by deflecting when excessive force is applied, preventing damage to teeth and gums
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complex sensors and active control elements are added to prevent excessive pressure, then pressure control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush holder performs pressure regulation autonomously through its inherent degressive force/displacement characteristic. The varying stiffness along the length of the holder automatically limits the force transmitted to the brush head, eliminating the need for external sensors or active control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The brush holder acts as a passive intermediary element between the user's hand and the brush head. Its degressive stiffness characteristic serves as a mechanical mediator that automatically regulates force transmission, replacing complex electronic control systems with a simple structural solution
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 toothbrush design relaxes the hand during brushing, reduces excessive pressure on teeth and gums, and ensures thorough cleaning by automatically guiding the user to the correct brushing technique, preventing damage and promoting effective gum and tooth surface cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
the brush holder (4), including a head plate (10) molded onto the brush neck (8), is integrally manufactured as an injection-molded component from a plastic... the brush carrier is designed with regard to shape and material such that an elastic deflection of the brush head (12) relative to the brush handle (6) is characterized by a degressive force/displacement characteristic
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the invention is to provide a simple-to-manufacture toothbrush (2) with improved cleaning comfort, so that teeth can be cleaned more comfortably, more relaxed, and ultimately more thoroughly than before. For this purpose, a toothbrush (2) is provided with a brush carrier (4) having a brush handle (6) and a brush neck (8), and with a brush head (12) adjoining the brush neck (8), wherein the brush carrier (4) is designed with regard to shape and material such that an elastic deflection of the brush head (12) relative to the brush handle (6) is characterized by a degressive force/displacement characteristic.