Segmented Dental Care Attachment With Sliding Locking Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental care attachment systems are not wear-resistant and do not allow for easy replacement of brush sections, leading to inefficiencies in vibration transmission and increased waste production.
Innovation Solution
A dental care attachment system featuring a brush holder with a recess for receiving a cleaning element and a closure element that can be displaced longitudinally, allowing for secure attachment and easy replacement of cleaning elements, with optional integration of a vibration generator and adjustable Shore A hardness for enhanced durability and vibration properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamping system is used to secure the brush to the handle, then the brush can be held in place, but the connection is subject to wear and cannot absorb forces symmetrically
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate functional elements: a holder with a recess for the brush, a clamping element that can be independently positioned, and a locking mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while reducing wear on any single connection point.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping element is designed to be movable along the holder's longitudinal axis, allowing it to be positioned at different locations to accommodate various brush types and sizes. This dynamic adjustment capability enables symmetric force distribution and reduces wear by allowing optimal clamping positions.
2Reliability
If the brush section is fixed to the handle, then vibration transmission is efficient, but the brush section cannot be replaced easily
Solution Approach 1:
The dental care attachment is segmented into a reusable holder and replaceable brush sections. The holder contains the vibration generator and connection mechanism, while the brush section can be independently replaced. This segmentation maintains efficient vibration transmission through the holder while enabling easy brush replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary between the vibration generator and the brush section. It provides a secure mechanical connection that transmits vibrations efficiently while allowing the brush section to be changed without affecting the vibration transmission path in the holder.
3Ease of manufacture
If the handle is made as a single integrated part, then manufacturing is simple, but the head cannot be disassembled for brush replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is segmented into a main body and a brush holder component. The main body can be manufactured simply as a single piece, while the holder is a separate component that enables brush replacement. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity for the majority of the handle while adding the necessary versatility for brush changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different types of brush sections. It provides both structural support for the vibration generator and a mechanism for securing various brush types, combining multiple functions in a single component that can be integrated into a simply manufactured handle.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a dental care attachment (16) with a distal and a proximal end, the distal end being designed to hold a cleaning element (1) and the proximal end (4) being designed to be brought into an operative connection with a handle piece. The dental care attachment (16) further comprises a brush carrier (6) with a cavity (2) for receiving the cleaning element (1), said cavity extending through the brush carrier (6) substantially transversely to the longitudinal extent of the brush carrier (6), and a locking element (3) which is mounted on the brush carrier (6) so that it can move in the longitudinal direction. The locking element (3) has at least one region that can be pushed over an upper face of the cavity (2), especially over a section of the cavity (2) that extends fully through the brush carrier (6).