Reusable Dental Floss Pick With Rotational Gate Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional dental floss picks are made from hard plastic and cannot be recycled, leading to environmental pollution and the risk of redistributing bacteria when attempting to reuse them.
Innovation Solution
A dental floss pick design featuring elongate arms, a vertical support, rotational gates, stop members, a lock button, and a base member, which allows for the easy replacement of used floss without wasting the floss pick.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional hard plastic floss picks are used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but they cannot be recycled and pollute the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The floss pick is divided into separable components: a reusable handle and disposable floss segments. The handle contains channels and mechanisms that allow multiple floss replacements, while each floss segment is individually replaceable. This segmentation enables the permanent portion to be recycled and only the contaminated floss to be discarded.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows recovery and reuse of the handle component while discarding only the used floss segment. The handle is designed to retain and reuse the same permanent structure multiple times with different floss segments, thereby recovering valuable materials and reducing waste.
2Loss of substance
If traditional floss picks are reused, then waste is reduced, but bacteria are redistributed
Solution Approach 1:
The floss pick system separates the reusable handle from the disposable floss segments. The handle contains channels and retention mechanisms that securely hold new floss segments, allowing the user to discard only the contaminated floss while reusing the sterile handle portion, thus preventing bacterial redistribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is pre-prepared with channels and retention mechanisms that facilitate easy replacement of floss segments. The rotational gate and stop members are pre-configured to automatically secure new floss segments, enabling hygienic replacement before contamination occurs.
3Reliability
If a mechanism for floss replacement is added, then reuse without bacterial redistribution is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational gate mechanism provides dynamic control over floss segment replacement. The gate can rotate between locked and unlocked positions, allowing easy insertion and removal of floss segments while maintaining security during use. This dynamic element enables simple user operation despite the internal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop members and rotational gate work together to automatically secure the floss segment in place without requiring additional fastening steps. The mechanism self-locks when the gate is rotated into position, and the stop members prevent over-rotation, providing automatic positioning and securing functions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a dental floss pick that includes a length of floss, a first elongate arm, a second elongate arm, a vertical support, a first rotational gate, a first stop member, a base member, and a lock button. The vertical support has a first end, a second end, and an open bottom. The first elongate arm is secured to the first end. The second elongate arm is secured to the second end. The open bottom has a first threading. The first rotational gate is located within the first elongate arm. The first stop member is located adjacent to the first rotational gate. The base member has an open top, a feed portion of floss, and a closed bottom. The open top has a second threading. The second threading is complementary to the first threading of the vertical support to secure the base member to the vertical support. The length of floss is configured to extend between the first elongate arm and the feed portion of floss. The lock button is disposed in the base member.