Hollow Teeth Cleaning Implement with Integrated Dentifrice Dispensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental hygiene products are inadequate in effectively cleaning the interdental spaces and fissures of teeth, where most cavities occur, as they cannot reach trapped food and saliva cannot neutralize acid, leading to poor oral health and associated issues like gum disease and heart disease.

Innovation Solution

A teeth cleaning implement with a frangible, hollow body and multiple pores for housing dentrifice, equipped with a plug for sealing and a plurality of bristles for cleaning, allowing for effective distribution of cleaning compounds and interdental cleaning, with optional designs for single or multiple uses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional toothbrushes are used, then easy-to-clean parts of teeth can be brushed, but interdental spaces and fissures cannot be effectively cleaned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cleaning teeth surfaceVSAvoideffectiveness in cleaning interdental spaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functions of a toothbrush and interdental cleaning device into a single implement. The spherical body contains both bristles for general tooth brushing and interdental brushes for cleaning spaces between teeth, allowing simultaneous performance of both cleaning functions with one device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dental implement is designed as a multi-functional device that can clean both the outer surfaces of teeth using bristles and the interdental spaces using interdental brushes. This universal design eliminates the need for separate toothbrush and floss/interdental brush tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If dentrifice is applied manually to brush, then cleaning compound can be distributed, but precise application to interdental areas is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of applying cleaning compoundVSAvoidprecision of dentrifice application to fissures

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The interdental brushes are pre-loaded with dentrifice within the sealed spherical body. When the implement is activated, the dentrifice is automatically dispensed onto the interdental brushes, which then apply the compound precisely to the interdental spaces and fissures without requiring manual application by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a sealed implement design is used, then dentrifice can be contained and protected, but user access to apply dentrifice is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of dentrifice from contaminationVSAvoidease of loading dentrifice

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The implement features an automated dispensing mechanism where the user activates the release of dentrifice through a simple action (such as pressing a button or twisting the spherical body). The internal mechanism automatically dispenses the appropriate amount of dentrifice to the bristles and interdental brushes, eliminating the need for manual opening and loading by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10165852B1Teeth cleaning implement

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 CHRISTMAN WILLIAM R

AI summary

A teeth cleaning implement includes a deformable hollow body having a volume of dentrifice secured within a central void of the body. Bristles are secured about the outer surface of the body. A plurality of apertures in environmental communication with the central void of the body are placed about and through the outer surface of the body to permit the passage of the dentrifice.