Interdental Cleaning Element With Twisted Wire Base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interdental cleaning elements with bristle filaments and dental floss threads arranged on opposite sides of a rod-shaped base cannot act simultaneously, limiting their cleaning effectiveness in interdental spaces.

Innovation Solution

An interdental cleaning element with a rod-shaped base featuring twisted wire elements that house both bristle filaments and dental floss threads at the same height, allowing them to be used together in a single position, with the dental floss thread material providing multiple contact surfaces for enhanced cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bristle filaments and dental floss threads are arranged on opposite sides of a rod-shaped base, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the two cleaning elements cannot act simultaneously at the intended point

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimultaneous cleaning actionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines bristle filaments and dental floss threads at the same position on the rod-shaped base, allowing both cleaning elements to act simultaneously at the intended point. This is achieved by attaching both types of cleaning elements to the same location rather than opposite sides, enabling their combined cleaning action during a single insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a one-dimensional arrangement (opposite sides along the length of the base) to a three-dimensional configuration where multiple cleaning elements are stacked or arranged in space at the same position, allowing simultaneous action without increasing the overall length of the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple cleaning elements are attached at the same position on the rod-shaped base, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent attaches multiple cleaning elements to the rod-shaped base during the manufacturing process before final assembly, allowing simultaneous cleaning action to be achieved without requiring complex post-manufacturing assembly steps. The cleaning elements are pre-positioned and secured to the base in a controlled manufacturing environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This configuration enables simultaneous action of both cleaning elements, improving cleaning efficiency in interdental spaces by providing multiple contact surfaces with the dental floss thread material while maintaining the effectiveness of bristle filaments.

Implementation Method 1

the dental floss thread material used in the interdental cleaning element according to the invention is attached to the rod-shaped base as a thread, with each of the threads being composed of a large number of individual very fine threads which are twisted or woven together, for example. Such a dental floss thread composed of very fine threads fans out during use, so that the individual very fine threads of the dental floss thread material offer multiple contact surfaces when using the interdental cleaning element in the interdental space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFanning out of threads:

Implementation Method 2

the rod-shaped base has wire elements which are twisted against one another and clamp the first and second cleaning elements between them

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectClamping force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3275399B2Interdental cleaning element
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 M C SCHIFFER GMBH

AI summary

The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning element with a rod-shaped base and cleaning elements extending substantially at right angles from it. To improve the cleaning effect of the interdental cleaning element, the present invention proposes that the first and second cleaning elements be attached to the base, wherein the first cleaning element is a bristle filament and the second cleaning element consists of a dental floss material.