Removable Toothbrush Handle With Bayonet Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothbrushes have a handle and head formed integrally, leading to wastage of the handle when bristles wear out, and are made from non-recyclable materials, causing unsustainable waste and awkward size issues for travel.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design with a handle comprising two parts that are removably connected via a locking mechanism, featuring a bayonet element and socket with transverse channels and protrusions, allowing for easy replacement of the head assembly and reducing material usage, packaging waste, and providing ergonomic comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the handle and head are integrally formed together, then the toothbrush structure is simple and strong, but the handle is wasted when bristles wear out and cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush is divided into separate components: a reusable handle and replaceable head assemblies. The handle contains a locking mechanism with a socket, while head assemblies have bayonet elements that engage with the socket. This segmentation allows the handle to be separated from worn heads and reused with new heads, eliminating handle waste while maintaining structural integrity through the locking mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the handle is made relatively long to provide sufficient gripping material, then user comfort is improved, but the product becomes awkward for travel and cannot be stored in a pocket
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush is segmented into a handle and separate head assemblies that can be detached. This allows users to keep the full-length handle for comfortable gripping at home, while traveling with only a compact head assembly or a shortened handle configuration, reducing overall size for portability while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush system becomes dynamic with the ability to reconfigure between different handle-length configurations. Users can attach heads to the full handle for comfortable operation, or detach heads and use a shortened handle section for travel, adapting the product size to different usage contexts while maintaining ergonomic benefits.
3Ease of manufacture
If known toothbrushes are made from non-recyclable materials, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but unsustainable waste is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush is segmented into a durable handle and replaceable head assemblies. The handle can be manufactured from recyclable materials and designed for long-term reuse, while heads can be made from different materials optimized for their specific function. This segmentation enables selective recycling of the handle and reduces overall waste by extending the lifecycle of the reusable components.
Data Source
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
A toothbrush (2) comprising a head (4) and a handle (6) wherein the handle (6) comprises a first part (8) and a second part (10), which first and second parts are 5 removably connectable to one another via a locking mechanism and wherein the handle (6) has a non-circular cross-section, where the locking mechanism comprises a bayonet element (30) and a socket (20); one of the bayonet element and the socket is integrally formed with the first part (8) of the handle (6); the other of the bayonet element (30) and the socket (20) is integrally formed with the second part (10) of the handle (6) and 10 wherein the socket (20) comprises an axis (21), an opening (22) and first and second channels (24) which channels are positioned transversely opposite one another, where each channel comprises: a first channel portion (25) extending axially from the opening (22) and having a first transverse dimension, and a second channel portion (26) extending axially from the first channel portion (25) having a second transverse 15 dimension larger than the first transverse dimension; and the bayonet element (30) comprises an axis (31) and first and second protrusions (32), which protrusions are positioned diametrically opposite one another, wherein each protrusion extends outwardly from the bayonet element (30), is axially receivable by a respective first channel portion (25) and is transversely receivable by a respective second channel 20 portion (26), where the bayonet element (30) further comprises one of a detent (38) and an indent (28), the socket further comprises the other of the detent (38) and the indent (28), and the detent (38) is receivable within the indent whereby the bayonet element (30) is lockably receivable within the socket (20) wherein the handle (6) has a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.