Pet Mouth-Opening Device With Adjustable Strap for Toothbrushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brushing a dog's teeth is challenging due to the dog's natural resistance, leading to potential bites and the risk of plaque buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay, while professional cleaning involves anesthesia, which is costly and stressful for the dog.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a toy/mouth portion with a strap and adjustable fastening means to keep a pet's mouth open, allowing for easy tooth brushing without bites and serving as a toy for the pet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a Bite Block is used to protect fingers from bites, then finger protection is improved, but the device does not stay in the dog's mouth because the dog moves its head forcefully
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a bite block with a head collar (head halter) into a single integrated device. The bite block is attached to the head collar, which straps around the dog's head, providing both finger protection and stable positioning that prevents the device from falling out when the dog moves its head.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the owner's fingers from bites, keeps the dog's mouth open for brushing, and remains stable during head movements. The head collar portion provides positioning and stability while the bite block portion provides protection and maintains mouth opening.
2Productivity
If professional teeth cleaning with anesthesia is used, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but it is costly and stressful for the dog
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables preliminary at-home teeth brushing to be performed regularly without anesthesia. By keeping the mouth open and protecting fingers, owners can brush teeth progressively before professional cleaning is needed, reducing the frequency and intensity of anesthesia requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated bite block and head collar device allows owners to perform teeth brushing themselves at home without requiring veterinary intervention or anesthesia, enabling regular self-maintenance of dental hygiene.
3Ease of operation
If a device is used to keep the mouth open for brushing, then brushing ease is improved, but the device must not cause harm or fear to the pet
Solution Approach 1:
The device functions as both a teeth brushing aid and a head collar for control. This multi-functionality means the dog experiences the device as a familiar head collar rather than a foreign object, reducing fear while enabling easy mouth opening for brushing.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses materials and design consistent with traditional head collars, making it familiar and non-threatening to the dog. The bite block and head collar are integrated in a way that maintains uniformity with equipment the dog already wears for control purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
While there are a lot of upsides to having a pet, owning a pet also comes with responsibilities. One of the primary responsibilities being to take care of the pet's health including practicing good oral hygiene. If a pet's teeth are not brushed regularly, plaque can begin to build up, which may result in bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay (cavities). If the tooth decay is not treated, it can lead to painful infections and even life-threatening conditions if the infection spreads through the pet's body. It can be difficult to brush a pet's teeth at home because the pet does not like having its teeth brushed. A device for keeping the mouth of a pet open to enable tooth brushing is disclosed, the device comprising: a toy/mouth portion having an external surface; a strap portion; and a fastening means for adjusting the tautness of the strap portion.