Hinged Bristle Carrier Actuator for Interdental Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes lack versatility in cleaning modes, failing to effectively clean both general tooth surfaces and interdental spaces between teeth with a single device.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design featuring two position-adjustable bristle carrier sections and an actuator mechanism that allows users to switch between a standard upright bristle configuration for general cleaning and an obliquely oriented 'wedge' configuration for interdental cleaning, enabling deeper penetration between teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a toothbrush has fixed orientation bristles at a single angle, then it is simple in structure and easy to manufacture, but it lacks versatility in cleaning modes and cannot effectively clean both general tooth surfaces and interdental spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The bristle carrier sections are made movable relative to each other through a hinged connection, allowing the brush to dynamically change its bristle configuration from a parallel arrangement for general cleaning to a wedge arrangement for interdental cleaning. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by enabling multiple cleaning modes without requiring multiple separate toothbrushes.
Solution Approach 2:
The bristle carrier is divided into two separate movable sections that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows each section to be angled relative to the other, creating the wedge configuration for interdental cleaning while maintaining the ability to return to a parallel configuration for general cleaning, thus providing versatility without excessive complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a toothbrush has movable bristle carrier sections that can be adjusted to different positions, then it provides multiple cleaning modes, but it increases the complexity of the actuator mechanism required to switch between modes
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mechanism is designed to be manually operated by the user through a simple pressing or sliding action on the brush handle. The mechanism automatically translates this simple user input into the corresponding movement of the bristle carrier sections, eliminating the need for complex controls or multiple adjustment steps. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while enabling mode selection.
3Productivity
If the bristle carrier sections are folded into a wedge configuration, then interdental cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the brush head volume increases when in the extended parallel configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The bristle carrier sections are designed to be collapsible and movable, allowing the brush head to dynamically change its volume. In the extended parallel configuration, the sections are positioned to maximize cleaning surface area for general cleaning. When folded into the wedge configuration, the sections converge to reduce the effective brush head volume and create the interdental cleaning geometry, thus resolving the volume contradiction through dynamic reconfiguration.
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
Enhances oral hygiene by providing two user-selectable cleaning modes within a single device, improving the effectiveness of brushing by transforming parallel bristle tufts into a wedge-shaped configuration for better interdental cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible web hingedly coupled together by a flexible web
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An oral care implement in one embodiment includes an elongated body comprising a head portion supporting plurality of tooth cleaning elements and a handle portion. The tooth cleaning elements are disposed on longitudinally extending bristle carrier sections hingedly coupled together about a common pivot axis. The axis may be formed by a flexible web. A slidable actuator mounted in the handle portion is mechanically coupled to the bristle carrier assembly by an elongated operating rod. Moving the actuator in opposing rearward and forward directions opens or folds the bristles on the carriers outwards or inwards respectively about the common pivot axis. In the folded position, the bristles are configured for interdental cleaning of the teeth. In the open or extended position, the bristles are configured for general purpose cleaning of the teeth.