Magnetic Drive Toothbrush Head for Versatile Brushing Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional powered toothbrushes have limited brushing patterns due to driveshaft design and electronics located far from the oral cavity, lacking direct tooth cleaning element drive and electrical field generation for enhanced oral health.

Innovation Solution

A powered toothbrush design with a handle, power source, and head featuring a cavity with electrically conducting elements and a movable cleaning element, where an electrical current generates a magnetic field to move the cleaning element relative to the head, allowing for improved cleaning and potential generation of active species for oral health benefits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a driveshaft is used to transmit motion from the handle to the cleaning element, then the motor can be housed in the handle, but the brushing pattern is limited by the driveshaft design

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor housing arrangementVSAvoidbrushing pattern

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the motor from the handle and relocates it to the head assembly, eliminating the driveshaft transmission system. This allows the cleaning element to be directly driven by the motor, enabling multiple brushing patterns including circular, linear, and oscillating motions without the mechanical constraints of a driveshaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical driveshaft transmission system with a direct-drive electromagnetic motor system. The motor generates rotational and oscillating motions directly at the cleaning element, substituting complex mechanical transmission with electromagnetic actuation that provides greater motion versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If electronics are contained completely within the handle, then the structure is simplified, but the electrical field cannot be generated in the oral cavity for enhanced oral health

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronics arrangementVSAvoidoral health benefits

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electronics into two parts: control electronics remain in the handle while the motor and electrical field-generating components are placed in the head assembly. This segmentation allows the head to generate electrical fields and active species (such as reactive oxygen species) directly in the oral cavity for enhanced oral health benefits while maintaining simplified control architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary power transmission system where electrical energy is transmitted from the handle to the head assembly through a flexible printed circuit board or wireless power transfer. This intermediary connection enables the head to generate electrical fields and chemical species (through electrolysis or electrochemical reactions) without requiring all electronics to be located in the handle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the cleaning element is directly driven at the head, then cleaning efficacy is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficacyVSAvoidhead assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the motor, cleaning element, and electrical field-generating components into an integrated head assembly. This consolidation achieves direct drive of the cleaning element for enhanced cleaning efficacy while managing complexity through integrated design where components share common structures and housings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution enables direct drive of tooth cleaning elements at the toothbrush head, potentially enhancing cleaning efficacy and promoting oral health through generated magnetic fields and active species, such as whitening agents or antibacterial agents, closer to the oral cavity.

Implementation Method 1

Application of an electrical current to the electrically conducting element generates a magnetic field at the electrically conducting element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

The magnetic field selectively at least one of attracts and repels the ferromagnetic member to move the movable cleaning element relative to the electrically conducting element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction and repulsion: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3215050B1Powered oral care implement

Publication Date: 2023.11.29 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

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AI summary

A powered toothbrush includes a handle, a power source disposed in the handle, a head including a cavity disposed at a distal end of the handle, an electrically conducting element disposed in the cavity and electrically connected to the power source, and a movable cleaning element connected to the head and movable relative to the cavity. The movable cleaning element includes a tooth cleaning support member, a tooth cleaning element mounted on the support member, and a ferromagnetic member. Application of an electrical current to the electrically conducting element generates a magnetic field at the electrically conducting element. The magnetic field selectively at least one of attracts and repels the ferromagnetic member to move the movable cleaning element relative to the electrically conducting element.