Oral Care Handle Grip Stop for Reduced Dexterity Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with reduced dexterity face challenges in handling and manipulating oral care implements due to the need for a tight grip and rapid movements, which existing designs do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
An oral care implement with a handle featuring a gripping portion and a cantilevered grip stop that prevents hand movement, enhancing user comfort and control, and optionally a rotatable grip stop for customizable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional toothbrush handle is used, then the structure is simple, but users with reduced dexterity cannot grip and manipulate it effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is segmented into distinct functional zones: a gripping portion with ergonomic contours for finger placement, and a grip stop portion that segments the hand position to prevent sliding. This segmentation allows users with reduced dexterity to grip the handle more easily without requiring complex manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the handle have different geometric qualities optimized for specific functions. The gripping portion features contours and textures suited for finger contact, while the grip stop has a distinct geometry that provides a mechanical barrier. This local differentiation improves handling ease without requiring the entire handle to be complex.
2Reliability
If the grip stop extends a moderate distance, then the structure is compact, but it cannot effectively prevent hand movement towards the head
Solution Approach 1:
The grip stop is positioned and dimensioned to preemptively prevent hand movement before the user's hand can slide toward the head. By extending sufficiently beyond the gripping portion, it creates a mechanical barrier in advance, ensuring reliable hand position control without requiring excessive length.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the grip stop is fixed in position, then the manufacturing is simple, but it cannot be optimized for different user preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The grip stop is made rotatable relative to the handle, transforming it from a static element to a dynamic one. This allows the grip stop to assume different angular positions to accommodate various user preferences and hand sizes. The rotational capability is achieved through a simple pivot connection that maintains structural integrity while enabling adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable grip stop allows users to pre-position the element according to their specific needs before use. This preliminary adjustment capability provides adaptability for different users without requiring complex mechanisms, as the grip stop can be rotated to optimal positions and then remains stable during use.
Data Source
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AI summary
An oral care implement that is designed for users with reduced dexterity in their hands. In particular, the oral care implement includes a handle portion that includes a gripping portion configured to be gripped by the hand of a user and a grip stop protruding from the gripping portion in a cantilevered manner. The grip stop may be positioned near the end of the handle adjacent to the head of the oral care implement to stop movement of the user's hand upwards towards the head. The grip stop extends from the gripping portion a distance that is greater than a width or diameter of an adult finger to ensure it functions as a stop. In one embodiment, the grip stop may be rotatably or pivotably coupled to the gripping portion so that its exact circumferential position can be modified to enhance user comfort.