Disposable Oral Care Implement with Integrated Dentifrice Capsule
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disposable toothbrushes with integrated toothpaste channels are economically inefficient due to added manufacturing costs and often result in stale, dry toothpaste, failing to effectively clean teeth and soft oral tissues, and neglecting tongue cleaning.
Innovation Solution
An oral care implement with a handle and head featuring a plurality of tooth cleaning elements and a store of dentifrice, including a rupturable or dissolvable gel capsule that dispenses oral care material to both teeth and soft tissues, providing enhanced cleaning and breath freshening without the need for water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If toothpaste is integrated into the toothbrush through channels, then the toothbrush becomes portable and self-contained, but the manufacturing cost increases and the toothpaste becomes stale and dry
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush is divided into separate components: a disposable handle with integrated toothpaste and a reusable head with bristles. This segmentation allows the toothpaste-containing handle to be manufactured simply and disposed of after use, while the expensive bristle head can be reused, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs and preventing toothpaste staleness.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle containing the toothpaste is designed as a cheap, disposable component that is discarded after a single use or when the toothpaste is depleted. This eliminates the problem of toothpaste becoming stale and dry, and reduces manufacturing complexity compared to creating sealed integrated channels in reusable toothbrushes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If toothpaste is integrated into the toothbrush, then the toothbrush is self-contained, but the toothpaste becomes dry and hard
Solution Approach 1:
The handle with integrated toothpaste is designed for single-use or limited-use disposal, ensuring the toothpaste remains fresh and effective throughout its intended lifespan. The disposable nature prevents the toothpaste from becoming dry and hard by eliminating prolonged storage issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothpaste is pre-loaded into the handle in a controlled manufacturing process where it is sealed and protected from air exposure. This preliminary sealing action prevents the toothpaste from drying out before use, maintaining its quality until the moment of application.
3Device complexity
If basic teeth cleaning is provided, then the toothbrush is simple, but soft tissue cleaning and tongue cleaning are not effective
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable head is designed with multiple types of bristles and attachments that can clean teeth, gums, tongue, and other soft tissues. This multi-functional design allows a single device to perform comprehensive oral hygiene tasks without significantly increasing complexity, as the various cleaning surfaces work together in a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning functions are segmented into different bristle types and surfaces on the head (e.g., curved surfaces for tongue cleaning, angled bristles for gum massage, raised surfaces for inter-dental cleaning). This segmentation allows each surface to specialize in a particular cleaning task while remaining part of a simple, integrated head 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
The solution offers improved dental hygiene by providing effective tooth and soft tissue cleaning, breath freshening, and economic benefits through a portable, easily disposable toothbrush design that maintains oral health without the need for additional water or containers.
Implementation Method 1
The store or stores of oral care material can include a rupturable or dissolvable store of oral care material
Implementation Method 2
The store or stores of oral care material can include a rupturable or dissolvable store of oral care material
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care implement (210) includes a handle (214) and a head (212) mounted to one end of the handle (214) that includes a first face (237) having plurality of tooth cleaning elements (226) extending therefrom, a second face (247) and a store of oral care material (232). A soft tissue cleaner (241) can be included on the second face (247). Oral care material can be provided simultaneously to the first (237) and second faces (247) during use from the store of oral care material (232). The oral care implement can include a plurality of oral care material stores (232), which can include different dentifrices. A store of oral care material (232) can be located within an arrangement of the tooth cleaning elements (226) and can extend through the head (212) to an arrangement of soft tissue cleaning elements (226). The toothbrush (210) can be small in size and lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.