Docking Station Alignment and Charging for Oral Cleaning Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-held oral cleaning devices used for interproximal teeth cleaning require frequent refilling of their fluid chambers, which can be inconvenient and prone to spillage or improper refilling, and also lack a convenient method for charging.
Innovation Solution
A docking and charging station with a reservoir for holding a larger amount of fluid, featuring a mechanism for proper alignment and secure refilling of the hand-held device, along with a charging base to recharge the appliance, including safety mechanisms to prevent spillage and ensure proper alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hand-held device chamber is refilled manually with fluid, then the device can be used for cleaning, but frequent refilling is inconvenient and prone to spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station reservoir is pre-filled with a larger amount of fluid before use. When the hand-held device is docked, the fluid is automatically transferred from the reservoir to the device chamber without requiring user intervention for refilling, thus eliminating frequent manual refilling operations and potential spillage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service refilling where the docking station automatically detects when the hand-held device is docked and initiates the fluid transfer process. The pump system automatically pumps fluid from the reservoir to the device chamber, and the system monitors and controls the refilling process without user intervention.
2Productivity
If the hand-held device is docked for refilling, then fluid can be transferred, but improper alignment causes spillage and leaking
Solution Approach 1:
The docking interfaces of the reservoir and hand-held device chamber are designed with asymmetric, non-circular geometries. This asymmetric shape ensures that the device can only be docked in the correct orientation, preventing misalignment and the associated spillage or leaking problems while maintaining efficient fluid transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible sealing mechanisms are introduced as intermediary elements between the docking interfaces of the reservoir and hand-held device. These seals accommodate minor alignment variations and ensure a tight, leak-proof connection during fluid transfer, thereby maintaining both refilling efficiency and reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the hand-held device lacks a charging mechanism, then it is portable, but it cannot be recharged without removing the battery or using external chargers
Solution Approach 1:
The charging function is merged with the existing docking station structure. The charging base is integrated into the docking station, allowing the hand-held device to be recharged automatically when docked for fluid refilling. This combination eliminates the need for separate charging operations and external chargers, improving charging convenience without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
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
Enables easy and spill-free refilling of the hand-held device with a larger fluid capacity and simultaneous charging, ensuring continuous use without frequent manual refilling and preventing accidental spills or leaks.
Implementation Method 1
liquid is pumped from the reservoir through the conjoined fill ports into the chamber of the hand-held fluid droplet appliance
Implementation Method 2
flexible sealing mechanisms surround the male ports of the docking and charging station to prevent leakage or spilling
Data Source
AI summary
A docking and charging station (100) for use in conjunction with a hand-held fluid droplet appliance (10) for dental cleaning, the docking and charging station (100) comprising a charging base (102) for recharging the hand-held fluid droplet appliance, a reservoir (110) for holding a larger amount of liquid (112) than can be held in a chamber of the hand-held fluid droplet appliance, and a docking refilling alignment mechanism for properly aligning and securing the hand-held fluid droplet appliance in the cradle (160) of the docking and charging station when the hand-held fluid droplet appliance is mounted into the docking and charging station to prevent spillage, leaking or non-refilling of the appliance from the reservoir if there is not proper alignment.