Dual-Handle Dental Flossing Device With Segmented Dispensing And Receiving Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental flossing methods are often cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring manual handling of floss and fingers, which can be unhygienic and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A dual-handle dental flossing device with a dispensing side handle that provides new floss and a receiving side handle that collects used floss, featuring a dispensing wheel with ridges for frictional control and a floss cutter, allowing for easy tensioning and cutting of floss without direct finger contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual flossing methods are used, then users can access their teeth, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate handles - a dispensing handle that provides new floss and a receiving handle that collects used floss. This segmentation allows each handle to be optimized for its specific function, making the overall flossing process more efficient and less time-consuming
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing wheel with ridges automatically feeds floss as it rotates, and the receiving reel automatically winds up used floss. These self-service mechanisms eliminate the need for manual floss handling and finger manipulation, reducing both time and effort required for flossing
2Ease of operation
If manual finger handling of floss is used, then users can control the floss, but direct finger contact becomes unhygienic
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces mechanical intermediaries - the dispensing wheel, floss channel with ribs, and receiving reel - that act as mediators between the user's hands and the floss. These intermediaries provide control over floss tension and movement while eliminating direct finger contact with the floss, thereby maintaining hygiene
Solution Approach 2:
The floss tensioning mechanism uses the natural tension created when the user holds both handles to automatically feed floss through the channel. This self-service tensioning system eliminates the need for finger manipulation to control floss tightness, reducing hygiene concerns
3Device complexity
If simple flossing devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but floss tensioning and cutting require manual manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple functions into the handle structure - the dispensing wheel serves as both a spool holder and a tensioning mechanism, while the receiving reel combines floss collection with automatic winding. The floss cutter is integrated into the receiving handle. These merges maintain relatively simple device structure while significantly improving ease of tensioning and cutting operations
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
Facilitates efficient and hygienic dental flossing by allowing users to manage floss without direct finger contact, reducing the time and effort required for the process while maintaining cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
providing a dispensing wheel having ridges, the dispensing wheel protruding from a bottom of the dispensing side and the ridges creating friction on the bottom of the dispensing side so that the dispensing wheel cannot rotate without rotational force applied to the dispensing wheel
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a dental flossing device in which dental floss is strung between a dispensing side handle, which dispenses dental floss, and goes into a receiving side handle, which receives used dental floss.