Protective Toothbrush with Flexible Biasing Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothbrushes often suffer from complexity in usage, imprecise mechanisms, poor durability, breakage during use, and untimely wear of pressure-sensitive mechanisms, making them ineffective in protecting teeth and gum tissues from excessive brushing force.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design featuring a handle assembly with elongated biasing members that flex and disable brushing contact when a predetermined threshold force is exceeded, incorporating a spring assembly with paired resilient sheet metal members to prevent excessive pressure application, ensuring durability and ease of manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex pressure-sensitive mechanisms are used to detect excessive force, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex detection mechanism and replaces it with a simple flexible connection that passively responds to excessive force. The head assembly is decoupled from the handle through a flexible connection that allows natural movement without requiring active sensing components, thereby eliminating complex mechanisms while maintaining protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connection serves itself by automatically responding to excessive brushing force through its inherent flexibility. When excessive force is applied, the flexible connection allows the head to move independently, providing protection without requiring external power sources, sensors, or control systems.
2Reliability
If rigid pressure-sensitive mechanisms are used to prevent excessive force, then protection effectiveness improves, but reliability decreases due to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible connection between the handle and head assemblies, which acts as a flexible element that can bend and deform under excessive force. This flexible connection prevents force transmission to the bristles while maintaining structural integrity, avoiding the breakage issues associated with rigid pressure-sensitive mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the handle and head is made dynamic and flexible rather than rigid. The flexible connection allows the head assembly to move independently when excessive force is applied, providing continuous protection without the risk of sudden failure or breakage that characterizes rigid mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple components are used in pressure-sensitive mechanisms, then measurement precision improves, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function into the structural connection itself. The flexible connection serves both as the structural link between handle and head and as the protective mechanism, eliminating the need for separate sensing components and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connection performs multiple functions: it provides structural support, allows natural head movement during normal brushing, and activates protection when excessive force is applied. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated sensing components, simplifying manufacturing.
4Ease of operation
If complex mechanisms are used to yield in response to excessive force, then protection effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible connection automatically responds to excessive force without requiring user intervention or complex control systems. When excessive force is applied, the flexible connection naturally allows the head to move independently, providing protection through its inherent mechanical properties rather than requiring active user management.
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 toothbrush effectively prevents excessive force from being applied to teeth and gum tissues, enhancing durability and reducing wear on pressure-sensitive mechanisms while maintaining low complexity in design and manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
elongated biasing members that flex and disable brushing contact when a predetermined threshold force is exceeded
Implementation Method 2
spring assembly with paired resilient sheet metal members to prevent excessive pressure application
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush protective of tissues may include an elongated toothbrush handle assembly including an elongated biasing member including a bridge hinge axis perpendicular to a major longitudinal axis and configured for flexing movement about a bridge hinge axis in common with flexing movement of a major transition member about a transition member hinge axis proximate the bridge hinge axis, a major handle member which may include a handle member first connection configured to receive a biasing member first end and a handle member second connection configured to receive a transition member first end, and a major head member which may include a head member first connection configured to receive a biasing member second end and a head member second connection configured to receive a transition member second end.