Rotating Dental Brush Head With Simple Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental cleaning devices are complex, impractical, and costly to manufacture, often requiring two hands to operate and allowing the infiltration of water and impurities, with ineffective bristle orientation for parallel or rotary movements.
Innovation Solution
A dental cleaning device with a solid, partly deformable handle and a removable brushing apparatus that rotates around a transverse axis, featuring a simple locking mechanism with few components, allowing one-handed operation and easy position adjustment between predefined angles for effective cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support is made orientable with a locking mechanism, then the bristles can be oriented into multiple positions to reach different points inside the mouth, but the device complexity increases and requires two hands to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The brushing apparatus is segmented from the handle, allowing independent rotation and positioning of the bristle portion. This segmentation enables multiple orientation positions without requiring complex locking mechanisms, as the brushing apparatus can be simply rotated and held in place by the user's hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler retention system. Instead of using a collar with locking means, the brushing apparatus is designed to be held in position by the user's hand while allowing easy rotation for repositioning the bristles to different angles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support is moved along the longitudinal axis of the handle, then the bristles can be repositioned, but the ease of operation decreases as it requires two hands
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the support along the longitudinal axis of the handle, the invention allows rotation of the brushing apparatus around a transverse axis. This dimensional change enables repositioning of the bristles to different angles while maintaining ease of one-handed operation, as the rotation can be performed by simply turning the brush in the user's hand.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are present in the toothbrush, then the bristles can be oriented differently, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brushing apparatus is merged with the handle through a simple association mechanism, eliminating the need for separate locking collars and complex support structures. This merging reduces the number of components and simplifies the manufacturing process while still allowing the bristles to be oriented at different angles through rotation of the brushing apparatus.
4Manufacturing precision
If the toothbrush has a complex structure with locking means, then the bristles can be positioned accurately, but the reliability decreases due to water infiltration and impurity deposit
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means and complex support structure are extracted and replaced with a simpler design where the brushing apparatus is directly associated with the handle. This extraction eliminates the gaps and interfaces where water and impurities could accumulate, maintaining reliable positioning while improving the hygienic level by preventing contamination of the locking mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (1) for dental cleaning comprises: one gripping handle (2), having an elongated shape and comprising at least one distal portion (3); one brushing apparatus (4) associated with the distal portion (3) and movable between a position of adjustment and a position of use, removable locking means (5) of the brushing apparatus (4) with respect to the distal portion (3) in at least a plurality of predefined angular positions; where the locking means (5) comprise at least one locking projection (5a) and at least one locking seat (5b), the locking projection (5a) being spaced apart and released from the locking seat (5b) in the position of adjustment and being inserted inside the locking seat itself in the position of use in one of the predefined angular positions, where the brushing apparatus (4) comprises at least one connecting element (10) to the handle (2) which defines at least one abutment surface (11) adapted to operate in conjunction with the handle (2) to prevent the mutual detachment thereof both in the position of adjustment and in the position of use; where the distal portion (3) defines at least a first housing seat (12) of the connecting element (10), with the brushing apparatus (4) in the position of adjustment, and at least a second housing seat (13) of the connecting element (10), with the brushing apparatus (4) in the position of use, communicating with the first housing seat (12), where between the first housing seat (12) and the second housing seat (13) is defined a first narrowing (14) against which the abutment surface (11) rests in the position of use and where between the first housing seat (12) and the locking seat (5b) is defined a second narrowing (20) against which the abutment surface (11) rests in the position of adjustment.