Interdental Applicator Tip With Soft Overmolded Cleaning Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interdental cleaners and applicators often cause gum injuries due to anatomically unfavorable designs and are not versatile or cost-effective, lacking additional functional features.
Innovation Solution
An applicator device with a base body partially overmolded by a softer plastic component, featuring modular sections for interchangeable configurations, including bristle-like structures and lamellae, and a recess for centering, which enhances cleaning efficacy and gum protection while being cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-component hard plastic base body is used, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but gum protection is insufficient and cleaning effect is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator device uses a two-component construction where a hard plastic base body is combined with a soft plastic overmolded component. The hard base body provides structural integrity and ease of manufacture, while the soft overmolded portion provides gum protection and enhanced cleaning effect through its compliance and ability to conform to anatomical surfaces.
2Ease of manufacture
If anatomically unfavorable designs are used, then manufacturing is easier, but gum injuries occur during use
Solution Approach 1:
The soft plastic overmolded portion is specifically applied to the working tip area where gum contact occurs. This localized soft material provides anatomical conformity and gum protection precisely where needed, while the hard base body maintains manufacturing simplicity in the non-contact areas.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed configuration designs are used, then manufacturing is cost-effective, but versatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator device is divided into modular segments: a standardized hard plastic base body and interchangeable soft plastic overmolded components with different working tips. This segmentation allows the base body to be manufactured once in large quantities (cost-effective), while different overmolded tip configurations can be created for various dental hygiene functions (versatile).
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized base body design serves as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of overmolded working tips with different functions (cleaning, massaging, polishing). This universal base body design reduces per-unit manufacturing cost while the interchangeable tips provide functional versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to an applicator device comprising at least one holding section (2), at least one working tip (4), and a neck section (3) connecting the holding section (2) and the working tip (4), said device also comprising a base body (10) formed at least partially from a first plastic component, the base body (10) being at least partially spray-coated by at least one second plastic component that is softer than the first plastic component. In the region of the working tip (4), the at least one second plastic component at least partially coats the base body (10), and the coating (33) comprises outwardly projecting, preferably bristle-type cleaning elements (35a, 35b).