Dental Floss Chamber for Thin, Non-Slippery Toothpaste Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental hygiene tools fail to effectively apply toothpaste to dental floss, leading to incomplete cleaning between teeth, as they either use liquid solutions that don't adhere well or require concurrent squeezing of a toothpaste tube, complicating the flossing process and failing to regulate the coating thickness for seamless operation.
Innovation Solution
A dental hygiene device with a chamber containing toothpaste dentifrice and a spool of floss, where the floss is drawn through to coat it with a thin, non-slippery layer of toothpaste, using non-stick materials and aperture sizing to maintain adhesion and regulate thickness, allowing seamless flossing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid dentifrice solution is used to coat floss, then the floss can be lubricated, but the liquid does not adhere well to the floss surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the dentifrice from liquid to semi-solid form. This parameter change allows the dentifrice to adhere properly to the floss surface while still providing lubrication during flossing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by coating semi-solid dentifrice onto the floss, combining the mechanical cleaning action of the floss with the abrasive and lubricating properties of the dentifrice in a unified cleaning system
2Manufacturing precision
If toothpaste tube is squeezed concurrently to apply toothpaste to floss, then the floss can be coated with abrasive, but the flossing process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads the semi-solid dentifrice into the chamber before use, so that when the floss is drawn through the chamber, the dentifrice is automatically picked up without requiring concurrent squeezing or manual application during the flossing process
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to automatically coat the floss with dentifrice as it passes through the chamber, eliminating the need for user intervention to apply toothpaste, thereby simplifying the flossing operation while maintaining controlled coating thickness
3Manufacturing precision
If floss is drawn through toothpaste chamber, then the floss receives abrasive coating, but the coating becomes too thick and slippery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the semi-solid consistency of the dentifrice to achieve optimal coating thickness control. The semi-solid state allows the dentifrice to be picked up by the floss in controlled amounts, preventing excessive accumulation that would create a slippery surface
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber design acts as an intermediary between the dentifrice source and the floss, regulating the transfer of dentifrice to the floss surface and ensuring the coating remains thin and non-slippery while still providing adequate abrasive coverage
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 device provides a thin, abrasive-coated floss that cleans between teeth effectively, delivering active ingredients like fluoride, while being easy to use and not interfering with the flossing motion, thus achieving a similar cleaning effect to brushing.
Implementation Method 1
The pairing of mechanical action with the mild abrasive is widely considered necessary for breaking up biofilm buildup on the tooth surfaces
Implementation Method 2
The pairing of mechanical action with the mild abrasive is widely considered necessary for breaking up biofilm buildup on the tooth surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A dental hygiene device for cleaning surfaces between adjacent teeth is disclosed. The dental hygiene device includes a housing configured to be held by a hand during flossing; where the housing includes a chamber within the housing; a toothpaste dentifrice solution contained within the chamber; and dental floss disposed within the housing on a spool, the dental floss and the spool configured to thread through the chamber, where the chamber comprises one or more apertures configured to allow the dental floss to receive a thin coat of the toothpaste dentifrice solution while passing through the chamber, where the chamber comprises a floss directing implement to improve adhesion of the toothpaste dentifrice onto the surface of the floss as it passes through the chamber.