Ear and Nose Cleaning Device with Stopper Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ear and nose cleaning devices are inadequate for effectively removing cerumen, dust, mucus, and particulates without causing side effects or injuries, particularly due to improper use that can push earwax deeper or fail to clear nasal passages effectively.

Innovation Solution

An ear and nose cleaning device featuring a handle with a cartridge and a cleaning tip with a spiral body, curved shape features, and bristles, designed to couple with the handle via a connection mechanism, which includes a stopper to prevent excessive insertion and can be configured for disposable components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cotton buds/swabs are used to clear ear or nose, then the tool is simple and easy to use, but there is a risk of inserting too deep and pushing earwax deeper

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of useVSAvoidrisk of excessive insertion and pushing earwax deeper

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a stopper or flared end on the cleaning device that prevents excessive insertion before the harmful action (pushing earwax deeper) can occur. The stopper physically blocks the device from being inserted beyond a safe depth, thereby preventing the adverse effect in advance while maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary element (stopper or flared end structure) between the user and the ear canal to mediate the cleaning process. This intermediary prevents direct excessive insertion by cotton buds while still allowing effective cleaning, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If regular Q-tip or cotton swab is used, then the tool is simple and readily available, but it pushes earwax further in, blocking and possibly damaging the ear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity and availabilityVSAvoidpushing earwax deeper and causing blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cleaning device into distinct functional parts: a cleaning tip (replacing the cotton swab), a shaft, and a stopper mechanism. This segmentation allows the device to maintain simplicity while adding the crucial stopper function that prevents earwax pushback, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of relying on the cotton swab alone to perform cleaning, the patent inverts the approach by adding a protective stopper element that actively prevents the harmful action. The device works by preventing the wrong action (excessive insertion) rather than just performing the cleaning function, thus eliminating earwax pushback while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If cleaning device is inserted deeply to reach earwax, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of injury and excessive insertion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidrisk of injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by placing a stopper or flared end on the cleaning device that prevents excessive insertion before injury can occur. This allows the device to be inserted far enough to reach earwax for effective cleaning while being blocked from going too deep, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and injury risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Loss of substance

If non-disposable cleaning device is used, then cost is reduced, but hygiene and contamination risk worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidhygiene

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cleaning device into a reusable handle and disposable cleaning tips. This segmentation allows the expensive or complex handle to be reused while the contact portions (cleaning tips) are disposable, maintaining hygiene while controlling costs. The modular design enables replacement of only the contaminated parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the disposable principle to the cleaning tips that contact the ear or nose, making these components disposable while keeping the handle reusable. This resolves the contradiction between cost and hygiene by using inexpensive disposable elements for hygiene-critical functions while reusing the more expensive handle structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS12329611B2Ear and nose cleaning device

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 ND PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

The present invention discloses an ear and/or nose cleaning device comprising a handle including at least one cartridge. The cleaning device further comprises at least one cleaning tip having a spiral body, at least one curved shape feature, a set of bristles, or a combination thereof. The spiral body can include one of an oval shape arrangement and a cylindrical shape arrangement. The handle is configured to couple with the at least one cleaning tip using a connection mechanism. Furthermore, the present invention also discloses the cleaning tip for use in an ear and nose cleaning device.