Oscillating Handle Assemblies for Full-Surface Tooth Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes, both manual and electric, often fail to effectively cover all tooth surfaces, particularly the front and rear surfaces of front teeth, due to limited range of motion and bristle density, leading to inefficient cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A teeth cleaning system with an arcuate tray and motorized handle that includes a high bristle density and oscillatory motion, allowing simultaneous brushing of all tooth surfaces through a side-to-side movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single brush head is used in conventional toothbrushes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the coverage of tooth surfaces is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The brush head is divided into multiple segments or sections, each with bristles oriented to clean specific tooth surfaces. This segmentation allows the single brush head to cover multiple tooth surfaces simultaneously, including front, rear, and side surfaces, thereby increasing coverage without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces multi-directional bristle arrangements and oscillating motion in multiple planes (side-to-side and front-to-back). This dimensional approach allows the brush to access and clean tooth surfaces that would be inaccessible to a single-direction brush, effectively increasing the covered area without adding multiple separate brush heads.
2Productivity
If manual toothbrushing is used, then the device complexity is minimized, but the cleaning efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush incorporates an electric motor that generates oscillating motion in multiple directions. This dynamic motion automatically positions the bristles against different tooth surfaces sequentially, eliminating the need for manual manipulation and significantly improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric motor produces periodic oscillating motions that systematically move the bristles across different tooth surfaces. This periodic action ensures all tooth surfaces are cleaned in a structured sequence, improving cleaning efficiency without requiring complex control systems.
3Area of stationary object
If electric toothbrushes with single head are used, then productivity is improved compared to manual brushing, but the coverage of all tooth surfaces remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electric toothbrush incorporates an electric motor that generates oscillating motion in multiple directions. This dynamic motion automatically positions the bristles against different tooth surfaces sequentially, eliminating the need for manual manipulation and significantly improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush head is divided into multiple segments or sections, each with bristles oriented to clean specific tooth surfaces. This segmentation allows the single brush head to cover multiple tooth surfaces simultaneously, including front, rear, and side surfaces, thereby increasing coverage without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Area of stationary object
If conventional brushing devices are used, then the device complexity is kept simple, but the bristle density is insufficient for adequate coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The brush head features zones with different bristle densities and orientations tailored to specific tooth surfaces. Areas requiring more intensive cleaning have higher bristle density, while other areas have bristles oriented to reach specific surfaces. This local optimization increases effective coverage without uniformly increasing overall bristle count and device complexity.
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 system provides improved coverage and efficiency in brushing all tooth surfaces, reducing cleaning time and enhancing user comfort with a natural, effective brushing motion.
Implementation Method 1
an oscillator coupled to the connector, wherein the oscillator is configured to move the arcuate tray side-to-side along the same plane as the baffle in response to operation of the motor
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of bristles positioned in the upper channel and in the lower channel, wherein the plurality of bristles comprises a density of between 324 bristles per cm2-646 bristles per cm2
Data Source
AI summary
A teeth cleaning system, which provides improved coverage or brushing area. The system includes an actuated tray comprises brushing elements. The brushing elements may be positioned to engage the front, rear, and top surfaces of the upper and lower jaw teeth. The actuation may be configured to oscillate the tray in a lateral direction which may brush all the surfaces of teeth simultaneously. Some embodiments include a higher density of bristles which increases the effectiveness of brushing. In addition, aspects of the system reduce the time spent brushing teeth.