Detachable Oral Care Refill Coupling for Sensor-Protected Brushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral care systems lack effective mechanisms for tracking and providing personalized feedback on brushing habits, and there is a need to improve the connection between refill heads and handles to protect electronic components from fluids.
Innovation Solution
An oral care system with a control circuit that includes a power source, sensor units, and a sensor indicator unit to monitor and provide user perceptible stimuli based on oral care parameters, along with a detachable coupling mechanism for the refill head and handle to ensure protection and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If bristles are positioned close to the handle for compactness, then the implement fits better in the mouth, but the bristles become saturated with toothpaste faster and require more frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The bristle array is divided into multiple functional zones (distal, middle, proximal sections) with different bristle lengths and orientations. This segmentation allows each zone to perform specific cleaning functions while delaying saturation, as the varied bristle configurations create different cleaning actions that reduce paste buildup rate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the brush head have locally optimized bristle properties - the distal section has longer bristles for reaching gumlines, the middle section has medium bristles for general cleaning, and the proximal section has shorter bristles for accessing tight spaces. This local differentiation maintains compactness while optimizing cleaning efficiency to delay replacement.
2Productivity
If a large number of bristles are used to improve cleaning coverage, then more tooth surfaces are cleaned, but the implement becomes less maneuverable in the mouth
Solution Approach 1:
The bristle array is segmented into multiple zones with different bristle densities and lengths. The distal section has sparser, longer bristles for gumline access, the middle section has medium density for general surfaces, and the proximal section has higher density for tight spaces. This segmentation provides comprehensive coverage while maintaining a compact overall footprint for maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush head utilizes three-dimensional bristle arrangement with variations in length, angle, and orientation across different sections. This 3D configuration allows bristles to access tooth surfaces at multiple angles and depths, effectively increasing cleaning coverage without increasing the two-dimensional footprint of the brush head.
Data Source
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AI summary
An oral care implement including a handle and an oral care refill head. The handle has a gripping portion, an engagement component coupled to a distal end of the gripping portion, and a stem. The engagement component includes a plate portion and a first engagement feature. The stem extends through an opening in the engagement component and protrudes from the plate portion. The oral care refill head includes an oral care treatment portion and a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion has an inner surface that defines a sleeve cavity having a cavity axis and a second engagement feature. When the oral care refill head is detachably coupled to the handle, the first and second engagement features mate with one another to at least one of: (1) position the oral care refill head and the handle in an operational alignment; and (2) lock the oral care refill head to the handle.