Oral care implement and method of assembling the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oral care implements with dissolvable tablets can break apart prematurely, causing discomfort and uneven distribution of the oral care agent, and it is difficult for users to determine when the agent has been depleted.

Innovation Solution

An oral care implement with a head portion containing a cavity and a dissolvable element adhered to a supporting member, where the supporting member has a visual feature that becomes visible upon partial depletion, indicating the remaining amount of the oral care agent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dissolvable tablet is used in the oral care implement, then the oral care agent can be dispensed during use, but the tablet may break apart before being entirely used up, causing discomfort and premature depletion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing of oral care agentVSAvoidintegrity of dissolvable tablet

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using a flexible supporting member (such as a flexible circuit board or thin flexible substrate) to support the dissolvable tablet. This flexible support structure provides mechanical strength to prevent the tablet from breaking apart during use, while still allowing the tablet to dissolve and release the oral care agent through openings in the support member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If a dissolvable tablet is used in the oral care implement, then the oral care agent can be dispensed during use, but it is difficult for the user to determine when the agent has been depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing of oral care agentVSAvoiddepletion status of oral care agent

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by incorporating a visual indicator on the supporting member that changes color or becomes visible as the dissolvable tablet depletes. For example, the supporting member may have a colored coating or pattern that is initially obscured by the tablet, but becomes visible through openings in the tablet or on exposed surfaces as the tablet dissolves, providing the user with clear visual feedback about the remaining amount of oral care agent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Productivity

If the dissolvable tablet breaks apart, then solid components may pass through dispensing openings, but this causes discomfort and dissatisfaction to the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing efficiencyVSAvoiduser discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible supporting member acts as a sieve or filter structure with controlled openings that allow dissolved oral care agent to pass through while physically blocking solid broken fragments of the tablet. This ensures that only the dissolved beneficial components reach the user, preventing discomfort from solid particles while maintaining effective dispensing of the oral care agent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Productivity

If the dissolvable tablet breaks apart, then the oral care agent may deplete prematurely, but this reduces the effective usage time of the implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing rateVSAvoidusage duration of oral care implement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible supporting member provides structural integrity that prevents the dissolvable tablet from breaking apart and depleting prematurely. By maintaining the tablet's integrity throughout the intended usage period, the support member ensures that the oral care agent is released at a controlled, consistent rate over the full duration of the implement's effective life, maximizing usage duration while maintaining appropriate dispensing productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Prevents premature depletion and discomfort by ensuring the dissolvable element is used consistently and provides a visual indicator for when the agent is depleted, facilitating timely replacement.

Implementation Method 1

contacting a second surface of a supporting member with a suction tool and generating a suction force to pick up the supporting member with the suction tool

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a dissolvable element comprising an oral care agent positioned in the cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS11051606B2Oral care implement and method of assembling the same

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

An oral care implement that dispenses an oral care agent during use and a method of assembling such an oral care implement. The oral care implement may include a body having a head portion. The head portion may have a cavity with an open end. There may be at least one opening extending from the cavity to an outer surface of the head portion. A dissolvable element that includes an oral care agent may be positioned in the cavity. Furthermore, a supporting member may be positioned in the cavity. The supporting member may include a first coupling feature that couples the supporting member to the dissolvable element. Finally, an oral cleaning member may be coupled to the head portion to close the open end of the cavity.