Reusable Dental Floss Device with Antimicrobial Silicone Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental floss type tooth cleaning devices are not suitable for on-the-go use, are environmentally harmful due to disposable materials, and pose hygiene risks due to complex structures prone to bacterial growth and inadequate sterilization.

Innovation Solution

A dental floss type tooth cleaning device with a grip and bracket portion, using skin-friendly silicone or rubber materials, featuring a hollow tooth cleaning area and floss positioning mechanism for easy floss handling and disinfection, allowing for simple and effective recycling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional dental floss sticks are used, then tooth cleaning function is provided, but environmental pollution and high cost occur due to disposable plastic materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth cleaning functionVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables recovery and reuse of the device body (bracket portion and grip portion) after discarding only the used floss wire. The device body can be sterilized and reused multiple times, while the consumable floss wire is replaced, thereby reducing plastic waste and environmental pollution compared to completely disposable floss sticks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from disposable plastic to reusable silicone/rubber with antimicrobial properties. This material parameter change enables the device to be sterilized and reused, transforming it from a single-use product to a reusable product that reduces environmental impact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional dental floss sticks are used, then tooth cleaning function is provided, but high cost occurs due to disposable materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth cleaning functionVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If bare-wire floss is used directly on finger, then tooth cleaning function is provided, but hygiene risk occurs due to direct contact with food residue or saliva

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth cleaning functionVSAvoidhygiene risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a device body (bracket portion and grip portion) as an intermediary between the user's finger and the floss wire. This intermediary structure allows the user to hold the device handle rather than directly touching the floss or oral cavity, reducing hygiene risks from direct contact with food residue or saliva

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If complex structure is used for floss positioning, then floss securing function is improved, but bacterial growth risk increases and sterilization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloss securing functionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the device into simple functional components: a grip portion, a bracket portion with a through-hole for floss passage, and a floss positioning portion. This segmentation achieves effective floss securing through simple geometric features (through-hole and positioning structure) rather than complex mechanisms, making the device easy to sterilize and resistant to bacterial growth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from conventional materials to silicone or rubber with antimicrobial properties. This material parameter change inherently resists bacterial growth and facilitates sterilization, resolving the contradiction between effective floss positioning and bacterial growth risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11179229B2Dental floss type tooth cleaning device

Publication Date: 2021.11.23 CHANG KUEI FANG

AI summary

A dental floss type tooth cleaning device that is configured to clean tooth gap in oral cavity is disclosed. The invention is mainly configured to allow the user, who is preparing to use dental floss to clean tooth gap, to quickly wind the dental floss which follows a floss groove and is tightened and fixed. The dental floss can be dismantled quickly and disposed after use, so as to achieve a recyclable effect.