Oral Cleaning Nozzle Housing With Split Molded Flow Path

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nozzles for oral cavity cleaning devices have complex flow path shapes that are difficult to manufacture efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A nozzle design comprising a first and second molded member with a joint surface along the flow path axis, allowing for a complicated flow path shape to be easily manufactured, and a grip part for attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a nozzle housing with a complicated flow path shape is designed, then the cleaning performance is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle housing is divided into multiple molded members (first molded member, second molded member, third molded member) that are joined together. Each molded member contains a portion of the complicated flow path, allowing the complex shape to be manufactured through modular injection molding processes rather than attempting to form the entire complex geometry in a single mold.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple molded members are joined together to form the complete nozzle housing with the complicated flow path. The joint surfaces between molded members are designed to extend along the flow path axis, creating a seamless connection that maintains the complex flow path geometry while enabling easier manufacturing through separate molding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If a complicated flow path shape is manufactured as a single piece, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow path shape precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The single-piece manufacturing approach is segmented into multiple molded members that can be produced independently through parallel injection molding operations. This increases productivity while maintaining precision through careful design of joint surfaces that extend along the flow path axis, ensuring accurate alignment and seamless flow path construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The joint surfaces between molded members are designed to extend along the flow path axis (longitudinal dimension) rather than requiring complex three-dimensional joining. This dimensional approach simplifies the joining process and maintains flow path precision while enabling more efficient manufacturing workflows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4681681A1Nozzle for oral cavity cleaning device and oral cavity cleaning device
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4681681A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4681681A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4681681A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a nozzle for an oral cavity cleaning device including a nozzle housing having a complicated flow path shape, the nozzle housing having the complicated flow path shape having been manufactured more easily. The nozzle according to the present disclosure includes a nozzle housing (40) in which a flow path (P1) having an inflow port and a discharge port is formed. The nozzle housing (40) includes a first molded member (5) including a first recessed part which constitutes a part of the flow path (P1); and a second molded member (6) including a second recessed part which constitutes a part of the flow path (P1). The second molded member (6) is joined to the first molded member (5). A joint surface (81) between the first molded member (5) and the second molded member (6) extends along a flow path axis (C1) of the flow path (P1).