Flexible Base Button for Lighted Toothbrush Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Children have a short attention span when brushing their teeth and existing toothbrushes are often fragile and difficult for them to activate effectively.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design featuring a handle with a flexible base and interior cavity containing a light source and activation device, allowing easy activation by pressing a push point, enhancing durability and ease of use for children.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complicated electrical device is designed to encourage children to brush, then the functionality to encourage brushing is improved, but the device becomes fragile and difficult for children to activate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the base portion of the toothbrush handle flexible while keeping the rest of the handle rigid. This allows the base to be pressed for activation without compromising the structural integrity of the entire device, thereby maintaining durability while enabling child-friendly activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush handle is segmented into distinct portions: a rigid upper portion and a flexible base portion. This segmentation allows different parts of the handle to have different mechanical properties, enabling the base to be easily pressed by children while the upper portion maintains structural stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complicated electrical device is designed to encourage children to brush, then the functionality to encourage brushing is improved, but the device becomes difficult for children to easily activate
Solution Approach 1:
The base portion is designed with flexible material that can be easily pressed by a child's finger, while the upper portion remains rigid. This local flexibility at the base makes activation simple for children without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The base portion is designed to be dynamically flexible, allowing it to deform under pressure when pressed by a child. This dynamic response enables easy activation through simple pressing motion, making the device user-friendly for children with limited dexterity.
3Ease of operation
If the handle is made of flexible material throughout, then the ease of activation is improved, but the structural integrity and durability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the base portion flexible while keeping the upper portion rigid. This allows the handle to be easily activated at the base without compromising the structural integrity of the entire handle, thereby maintaining strength where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is segmented into a rigid upper portion and a flexible base portion. This segmentation allows the flexible material to be concentrated only where activation is needed, while the rigid material provides structural support throughout the rest of the handle.
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
The design encourages children to brush for the recommended duration by providing a visible light indicator and is more durable, reducing the risk of breakage and improving activation simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
A light is configured to emit light visible from outside the handle
Implementation Method 2
The base is made of a flexible material and overlaps the insert portion
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush including a handle extending in a longitudinal direction and including an upper portion and a base. The upper portion includes an insert portion. The base is made of a flexible material and overlaps the insert portion and includes an interior cavity. A light is configured to emit light visible from outside the handle. An activation device is positioned in the interior cavity and is configured to be pressed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction to activate the light upon a user pressing the base.