Loop Arrangement Toothbrush Bristles for Dentifrice Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes are limited in their ability to conform to the curvature of teeth, penetrate interproximal areas, and retain dentifrice, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency due to the slipping of dentifrice through bristles during brushing.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design featuring a head with a combination of par-elliptical and arcuate rows of cleaning elements arranged in a loop structure, with prophylaxis cups and inclined bristle rows to enhance cleaning efficiency and retain dentifrice, allowing for better access to interproximal areas and gum lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional flat bristle trim is used, then the toothbrush structure is simple, but the ability to conform to tooth curvature and retain dentifrice is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the conventional flat bristle trim with a loop arrangement of cleaning elements that follows a curved path around the toothbrush head. This loop configuration enables the cleaning elements to conform to the natural curvature of teeth, improving adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning elements are segmented into multiple rows (first row, second row, third row, fourth row) arranged in a loop pattern. This segmentation allows different portions of the loop to contact different surfaces of the teeth, enhancing the ability to conform to tooth curvature and access interproximal areas.
2Productivity
If conventional flat bristle trim is used, then manufacturing is simple, but penetration into interproximal areas and cleaning along gum line is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The loop arrangement of cleaning elements follows a curved trajectory that enables penetration into interproximal areas between teeth and along the gum line. This curved configuration allows the bristles to reach areas that would be inaccessible to a flat trim, thereby improving cleaning efficiency without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning elements are arranged in a three-dimensional loop configuration rather than a two-dimensional flat pattern. This dimensional change allows the bristles to engage teeth from multiple angles and surfaces simultaneously, improving access to interproximal areas and gum line while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional bristle arrangement is used, then dentifrice application is simple, but dentifrice retention is poor due to slipping through tufts
Solution Approach 1:
The loop arrangement of cleaning elements creates a continuous curved barrier that helps retain dentifrice on the tooth surfaces. The curved configuration prevents dentifrice from slipping away through the bristle tufts by directing it along the loop path and keeping it concentrated at the brush-teeth contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple rows of cleaning elements are merged into a unified loop arrangement that works together to retain dentifrice. The combined effect of the first, second, third, and fourth rows creates an integrated system that holds dentifrice in place more effectively than individual separate tufts, improving retention without requiring additional retention mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush having an arrangement of cleaning elements for improved oral care and dentifrice retention. In one aspect, the invention is a toothbrush comprising a first set of cleaning elements forming a loop that extends from the distal periphery of the head to the proximal periphery of the head. The loop has the shape of a racetrack and comprises a first par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements at the distal periphery of the head and a second par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements located at the proximal periphery of the head. The par elliptical walls are connected first and second arcuate rows of cleaning elements. In one embodiment, the first and second arcuate rows are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis so that peripheral convex surfaces of the first and second arcuate rows face the longitudinal axis.