Dual Port Floss Applicator with Rotating Wheel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental floss applicators fail to provide a comfortable and easy-to-use device for dispensing floss into interproximal spaces, especially when dealing with rigid or threader portions of floss.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held floss dispensing and application device with dual floss receiving ports and a rotatable wheel allows users to manually advance floss into the device, enabling comfortable use in various orientations and efficient application of both conventional and threader floss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single floss receiving port is used, then the device structure is simple, but the user cannot hold the device in optimal positions for different interproximal locations
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented by providing multiple receiving ports (first and second receiving ports) positioned at different locations on the device body. This allows the user to select different ports depending on the orientation needed for accessing specific interproximal spaces, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving ports are arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations on the device body. By distributing ports across multiple dimensions rather than a single location, the device gains versatility in holding orientations while maintaining a compact overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional floss is used, then the floss is flexible and easy to insert, but rigid or threader floss cannot be effectively applied
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with universal compatibility to accommodate multiple types of floss including conventional flexible floss and rigid threader floss. The receiving ports and internal passage are configured to accept various floss types, enabling a single device to perform multiple functions and serve different user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates localized features at the receiving ports and within the passage that facilitate the insertion of rigid threader portions. These local structural adaptations allow rigid floss to be effectively inserted while maintaining ease of operation for conventional flexible floss as well.
3Productivity
If manual floss advancement is used, then the device structure is simple, but efficient dispensing of floss is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables self-service floss advancement where the user's own finger or thumb acts as the driving force. By pressing the floss against the user's digit and rotating it, the floss is automatically advanced through the passage and dispensed, achieving efficient operation without complex mechanical advancement mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for dispensing interdental cleaner strands, the device comprising, in some embodiments, a front end for dispensing an interdental cleaner strand and plurality of threader ports for communicating the interdental cleaner strand into the front end. In one example, a rotating wheel may be operated by a user to advance an interdental cleaner strand into one or more threader ports.