Multi-Part Movable Brush Head Design for Contour-Following Body Care

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing body care brushes face challenges in effectively cleaning hard-to-reach and uneven body regions due to complex designs and limited accessibility, often requiring excessive space and restricting the number of cleaning element carrier parts.

Innovation Solution

A multi-part cleaning element carrier with each part movably suspended on a base, utilizing an elastic restoring means to return to the original position after pivoting, allowing for contour-forming movement and efficient cleaning, with the restoring means located between the carrier parts and connected to a base part, primarily composed of elastic plastic for space efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple cleaning element carrier parts are used to improve cleaning coverage, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning element carrier is divided into multiple separable parts (first cleaning element carrier part, second cleaning element carrier part, etc.), each capable of independent movement and cleaning action. This segmentation allows the brush to cover larger surface areas and access complex contours while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning element carrier parts are designed with movable suspensions that allow dynamic adjustment of each part's position and orientation. The parts can move independently relative to the base part, enabling adaptive contour following and surface adaptation without requiring a complex rigid structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If cleaning element carrier parts are made movable to follow body contours, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontour following capabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each cleaning element carrier part is movably suspended on the base part, allowing dynamic adjustment of position and orientation to follow body contours. The movable suspension enables each part to independently adapt to surface variations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position, orientation, and spatial configuration of the cleaning element carrier parts can change dynamically during operation. This parameter variability allows the brush to adapt to different body contours and cleaning requirements without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of moving object

If restoring mechanism is placed between cleaning element carrier parts, then space efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrush head sizeVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The restoring mechanism is integrated between the cleaning element carrier parts and the base part, merging multiple functions into a compact arrangement. This placement optimizes space utilization by utilizing the interstitial space between components rather than adding external restoring mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The restoring mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the cleaning element carrier parts and the base part, providing the necessary restoring force while maintaining a compact structure. This intermediary placement allows for efficient space utilization and simplified overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enhances cleaning efficiency by allowing the cleaning element carrier parts to tilt and move vertically and horizontally, following body contours, thereby improving cleaning effectiveness while maintaining a compact design and allowing for easy exchange of the brush head.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one cleaning element carrier part is coupled to this base component via a restoring mechanism which returns the individual cleaning element carrier parts into their original position relative to one another after the brush has been lifted from the body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3148369B2Body care brush
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 M C SCHIFFER GMBH
  • EP3148369B2 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3148369B2 patent drawingFigure 1c~1d
  • EP3148369B2 patent drawingFigure 1e

AI summary

The invention relates to a body care brush, in particular a facial brush, having a brush head, which contains a cleaning-element carrier (1) that bears cleaning elements (6). The problem addressed by the invention is that of being able also to efficiently clean body regions that are difficult to access. This problem is solved in that the body care brush is further developed in such a way that the cleaning-element carrier (1) is formed by at least two cleaning-element carrier parts (3), which are movably supported in relation to each other and which bear cleaning elements (6), and that a returning means (8) is provided between the cleaning-element carrier parts (3), by means of which returning means the cleaning-element carrier parts are coupled to base part (12), wherein the base part (12) is arranged centrally with respect to the cleaning-element carrier (1) and on a side of the cleaning-element carrier (1) facing away from the cleaning elements (6). The invention further relates to a method for operating an electric body care brush and to a method for the production thereof.