Flexible Toothbrush Head Segments for Oral Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes with rigid heads can be uncomfortable and ineffective in cleaning the oral cavity due to their size and shape, leading to poor oral hygiene and potential tooth and gum disease.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design featuring flexible cleaning element support members made of soft, resilient materials that allow the head to be comfortably received and manipulated within the mouth, with flexible stems and flexion control members enabling enhanced cleaning by allowing the cleaning elements to move freely and return to their original position, creating additional cleaning strokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid head is used in a toothbrush, then structural stability is improved, but comfort and ease of manipulation in the mouth deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush head is divided into multiple flexible segments that can move independently relative to each other. Each segment contains cleaning elements and can adapt to different tooth surfaces, providing both structural integrity and flexibility for comfortable manipulation within the mouth.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush head incorporates flexible segments with varying degrees of rigidity that allow dynamic movement during brushing. The segments can flex and move to adapt to the contours of teeth and gums, maintaining structural stability while improving ease of operation and comfort.
2Area of stationary object
If a large head size is used to accommodate more cleaning elements, then cleaning coverage is improved, but comfort and accessibility in the mouth deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning elements are distributed across multiple flexible segments rather than concentrated in a single large head. This segmentation allows the cleaning elements to cover a larger area while each individual segment remains small enough to comfortably fit and maneuver within the mouth.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible segments are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration that expands the cleaning coverage in multiple directions. The segments can flex and extend to reach different areas of the mouth, effectively increasing cleaning coverage without requiring a larger overall head size that would compromise comfort.
3Ease of operation
If flexible segments are used to improve comfort, then ease of manipulation is improved, but the ability to reach all portions of the mouth deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible segments are designed with controlled rigidity that allows them to move and adapt to different oral geometries. This dynamic flexibility enables the segments to reach various portions of the mouth including hard-to-access areas, while maintaining ease of manipulation through the gums and between teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
Different segments of the toothbrush head are designed with varying local properties of flexibility and rigidity. Some segments are more flexible for navigating tight spaces, while others maintain sufficient rigidity for effective cleaning, allowing the brush to adapt to and reach all portions of the mouth effectively.
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 flexible design provides enhanced comfort and effective cleaning by allowing the toothbrush to be easily maneuvered within the mouth, ensuring thorough oral hygiene and improved cleaning efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
Each flexible cleaning element support member has a flexible stem formed of a soft, resilient material that is comfortable to the user when the material contacts a portion of the user's mouth
Implementation Method 2
The flexibility of these support members allows the cleaning elements to move easily in different directions during brushing, thereby providing enhanced cleaning
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush includes cleaning element support members that enhance cleaning and user comfort while brushing. The cleaning element support members permit a head of the toothbrush to be comfortably received and manipulated within the user's mouth. The toothbrush head includes a first flexible cleaning element support member positioned at a first end of the head, a second flexible cleaning element support member positioned at a second, free end and an intermediate flexible cleaning element support member. Each flexible cleaning element support member has a flexible stem formed of a resilient material.