Integrated Toothbrush and Motorized Floss Dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many individuals neglect flossing due to physical dexterity issues and inconvenience, and existing dental cleaning devices separate floss dispensers from toothbrushes, leading to lost or misplaced accessories.
Innovation Solution
A multipurpose dental cleaning device integrating a toothbrush with a floss compartment, motor, and floss holders that vibrate and oscillate the floss for easy extraction and use, combining brushing and flossing functions in a single device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If floss is supplied in a separate container from the toothbrush, then the toothbrush can be used independently, but the floss dispenser is easily lost or misplaced and requires additional purchases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the toothbrush and floss dispenser into a single integrated device. The floss compartment is built into the toothbrush handle, allowing users to store and access floss without needing a separate container. This merging eliminates the problem of lost or misplaced separate floss dispensers while maintaining the ability to use the toothbrush independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush device is designed with multiple functions: it serves as both a toothbrush for brushing teeth and a floss dispenser for cleaning between teeth. The integrated design allows one device to perform multiple oral hygiene functions, reducing the need for separate accessories and improving overall convenience.
2Device complexity
If manual flossing is used, then no additional mechanisms are needed, but physical dexterity is problematic and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a motorized mechanism that automatically feeds floss from the compartment. The motor drives a spool or dispenser mechanism that dynamically adjusts floss delivery, eliminating the need for users to manually manipulate floss tension and feeding. This dynamic mechanism reduces physical dexterity requirements while maintaining simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized floss dispensing system performs the floss feeding action automatically without requiring active user manipulation. The system self-regulates floss delivery through the motor-driven mechanism, reducing the physical effort and dexterity required compared to manual flossing while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate floss dispenser is used, then floss storage is simple, but the dispenser is easily lost or misplaced and adds to the number of accessories
Solution Approach 1:
The floss storage compartment is integrated into the toothbrush handle structure, merging two previously separate items (toothbrush and floss dispenser) into one unified device. This eliminates the need for separate accessories and reduces the likelihood of loss or misplacement while maintaining relatively simple storage structure through the compartment design.
4Productivity
If motorized vibration is added to the toothbrush, then brushing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized vibration mechanism for brushing is combined with the motorized floss dispensing mechanism in a single integrated system. Both functions share the same motor housing and power source, allowing the device to perform multiple functions (vibrating brush heads and automated floss feeding) without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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
Encourages daily flossing by integrating flossing into the oral care routine, providing a convenient and efficient method for both brushing and flossing, reducing the need for separate accessories and enhancing oral hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a motor disposed within at least a portion of the main body to perform at least one of vibrate the plurality of bristles and oscillate the roll of floss
Implementation Method 2
a motor disposed within at least a portion of the main body to perform at least one of vibrate the plurality of bristles and oscillate the roll of floss
Implementation Method 3
The plurality of floss holders may vibrate the line of floss in response to movement by the motor
Data Source
AI summary
A multipurpose dental cleaning device, including a main body to facilitate gripping thereof, a plurality of bristles disposed on at least a portion of a first end of the main body to brush at least one tooth, and a floss compartment disposed within at least a portion of a second end of the main body, the floss compartment including a compartment body to store a line of floss therein, a roll of floss movably disposed within at least a portion of the compartment body to coil the line of floss, a floss dispensing aperture disposed on at least a portion of the compartment body to facilitate extraction of the line of floss from within the compartment body, and a plurality of floss holders movably disposed on at least a portion of the compartment body to hold the line of floss on at least a portion thereof, and a motor disposed within at least a portion of the main body to perform at least one of vibrate the plurality of bristles and oscillate the roll of floss.