Elastomeric Polishing Element with Internal Bristles for Tooth Stain Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes are not optimized for polishing and removing stains from tooth surfaces or applying oral care materials to reduce sensitivity, as their bristle design limits surface area contact and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The toothbrush features elastomeric polishing elements with a broadened flexible polishing head and a bristle element disposed inside, providing enhanced cleaning, filling, and whitening capabilities through a design that includes inverted L-shaped or Y-shaped polishing members and a mushroom-shaped elastomeric structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional bristle elements are used, then the toothbrush structure is simple, but the surface area contact with tooth surfaces is insufficient for effective polishing and stain removal
Solution Approach 1:
The polishing element is divided into multiple bristle strands (e.g., three strands) arranged in a specific pattern, with each strand containing multiple bristles. This segmentation increases the total surface area contact with tooth surfaces while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The polishing element extends beyond the plane of the toothbrush head in a curved or angled configuration, utilizing three-dimensional space to maximize surface area contact. The bristle strands are arranged to engage tooth surfaces from multiple angles and dimensions, effectively increasing contact area without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
2Power
If conventional bristle elements are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the polishing and whitening action is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the polishing element have different properties - the bristle strands are positioned and configured to provide varying degrees of polishing action across different areas of the tooth surface. The curvature and angle of each strand are optimized for specific polishing zones, enhancing overall polishing power while using standardized manufacturing techniques for each component.
3Area of moving object
If the polishing element has a broadened flexible head, then the surface area for stain removal is increased, but the attachment to the toothbrush head becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bristle strands are nested within or attached to a flexible polymer matrix or supporting structure that forms the broadened head. This nested arrangement allows the polishing element to achieve large surface area contact while the supporting structure provides a compact attachment interface to the toothbrush head, reducing overall attachment 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
This design enhances the polishing and whitening action, providing a larger surface area for effective stain removal and sensitivity reduction, while maintaining flexibility and ease of attachment to the toothbrush head.
Implementation Method 1
elastomeric polishing elements having a polishing head and preferably a bristle element disposed at least partially inside the polishing element
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care implement such as a toothbrush includes a head defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements supported by the toothbrush head. The tooth cleaning elements preferably include at least one tooth polishing unit having a polishing element including a supporting base and a flexible tooth polishing head extending angularly from the base and defining a polishing surface. In a preferred embodiment, the polishing element is made of an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the polishing element may be comprised of a plurality of individual polishing members.