Segmented Oral Care Mouthpiece With Flexible Hinges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mouthpieces for oral care struggle to accommodate a large percentage of the population due to significant variations in dental arch configurations, necessitating multiple configurations to fit different users effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mouthpiece with a U-shaped configuration and flexible hinges that allow lateral movement of sections to accommodate various dental arches, enabling a single design to fit a wide range of users by adjusting to different jaw sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single fixed configuration mouthpiece is used, then manufacturing and inventory are simplified, but it cannot accommodate the significant variations in dental arch configurations across the population
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece body is divided into multiple sections (first section, second section, third section) that can move relative to each other, allowing the device to adapt to different dental arch configurations while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The mouthpiece incorporates movable sections with hinges that allow dynamic adjustment to fit various dental arch shapes, transforming a static structure into an adaptable one without requiring multiple fixed configurations
2Ease of operation
If multiple specific mouthpiece configurations are produced to fit different dental arches, then user fit and comfort are improved, but manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single mouthpiece design with movable sections serves multiple functions by accommodating various dental arch configurations, eliminating the need to manufacture and stock multiple specific configurations while maintaining excellent user fit and comfort
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mouthpiece structure is made rigid for stability, then structural integrity is maintained, but it cannot accommodate lateral movement needed to fit different dental arches
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is segmented into multiple sections connected by hinges, allowing lateral movement for adaptability while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed hinge connection system that provides stability during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mouthpiece incorporates flexible elements through hinged connections between sections, enabling lateral movement to accommodate different dental arches while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity for effective oral care function
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 mouthpiece effectively accommodates a substantial percentage of the population by allowing lateral movement of sections, ensuring comfortable fit and efficient cleaning for teeth, thereby reducing the need for multiple mouthpiece configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a system for moving the brush elements to provide the cleaning function for the teeth, wherein further the mouthpiece body includes at least two spaced teeth receiving sections joined by an intermediate flexible member, such that the two sections can move laterally relative to each other to accommodate various dental arches
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The mouthpiece (10) includes receiving portions for receiving teeth from the upper and lower jaws. The teeth receiving portions includes two side portions (26, 28) which are joined by flexible members (32, 34) to a front portion (30). The two side portions move laterally relative to the front portion by the flexible members to accommodate a variety of dental arch configurations.