Nozzle Heads With Liquid Sheet Orifices For Plaque Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal care cleaning devices, such as oral irrigators, face challenges in effectively removing dental plaque without causing user discomfort due to the limitations of traditional round or oval water jets, which may not provide sufficient cleaning force in all regions of the teeth.
Innovation Solution
The design of a personal care cleaning device that emits both liquid sheets and jets, utilizing a nozzle with orifices configured to produce a liquid sheet with a longer length than width, combining shear stress at a shallow angle and impact pressure gradient at a normal angle, allowing for effective plaque removal in interproximal and other hard-to-reach areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If water pressure is increased to provide adequate cleaning force, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into multiple orifices arranged in specific patterns, with each orifice producing a rounded jet. This segmentation distributes the cleaning force across multiple contact points, reducing the discomfort concentration at any single point while maintaining overall cleaning efficacy through cumulative effect
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional single-dimension rounded jets to a two-dimensional array of multiple jets arranged in specific patterns. This dimensional expansion allows the cleaning force to be distributed across a broader area, reducing pressure concentration and improving user comfort while maintaining total cleaning effectiveness
2Device complexity
If traditional rounded orifices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but cleaning coverage in all tooth regions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single orifice is segmented into multiple orifices arranged in specific patterns, creating multiple jets that collectively cover a larger treatment area including front surfaces, marginal regions, proximal regions, and interproximal spaces of teeth, thereby expanding coverage without complex mechanical structures
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-orifice nozzle design provides universal cleaning capability across all tooth regions simultaneously, making the device effective for comprehensive oral hygiene including areas that are difficult to reach, thereby enhancing the versatility and applicability of the simple nozzle structure
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 approach enhances cleaning efficacy by providing a larger treatment area and increased cleaning force, improving gum health without user discomfort, as the liquid sheets can effectively target all regions of the teeth, including interproximal spaces.
Implementation Method 1
combining shear stress at a shallow incident angle and an impact pressure gradient at a normal incident angle
Implementation Method 2
combining shear stress at a shallow incident angle and an impact pressure gradient at a normal incident angle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A nozzle member (14) of a personal care device (10) comprising: a nozzle head (16) positioned at an end of the nozzle member; and an orifice (40) formed in a surface (30) of the nozzle head, wherein the orifice comprises at least one liquid jet orifice (42) configured to allow the liquid and/or air to exit the nozzle head in the form of a jet, and at least one liquid sheet orifice (40a-d) configured to allow the liquid and/or air to exit the nozzle head in the form of a sheet.