Nozzle with Straight Edges for Oral Irrigator Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oral irrigator devices with circular or elliptical nozzle contours tend to slip during use, potentially damaging gums and reducing cleaning efficiency due to point contact with teeth surfaces and displacement issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a nozzle with a main body and an extension portion featuring straight edges on its outer surface, allowing the nozzle to be securely positioned between teeth, preventing slipping and enhancing cleaning efficiency and comprehensiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the nozzle has a circular or elliptical outer contour, then the shape is smooth and easy to manufacture, but the nozzle is prone to slipping during use and reduces cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle end surface transitions from a symmetric circular/elliptical contour to an asymmetric shape with straight edges and angled surfaces. This asymmetric design provides stable contact with tooth surfaces and gaps, preventing slipping while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the fully curved circular/elliptical contour with a hybrid design that includes straight edges and angled surfaces. The straight edges provide stable positioning against tooth surfaces, while selective curvature is retained in specific areas to maintain smooth transitions and ease of manufacture.
2Shape
If the nozzle has a circular or elliptical outer contour, then the shape is smooth, but the contact with tooth surfaces is point contact causing high pressure and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the fully curved circular/elliptical contour with a hybrid design that includes straight edges and angled surfaces. The straight edges provide stable positioning against tooth surfaces, while selective curvature is retained in specific areas to maintain smooth transitions and ease of manufacture.
3Device complexity
If the nozzle has a circular or elliptical outer contour, then the shape is simple, but the nozzle easily displaces and reduces cleaning comprehensiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle end surface transitions from a symmetric circular/elliptical contour to an asymmetric shape with straight edges and angled surfaces. This asymmetric design provides stable contact with tooth surfaces and gaps, preventing slipping while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard molding processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle and an oral irrigator device are provided. The oral irrigator device includes an irrigator body and the nozzle. The oral irrigator device defines a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction that are perpendicular to each other. The nozzle includes a main body portion extending along the first direction away from the irrigator body and an extension portion connected to one end of the main body portion. The extension portion obliquely extends along the second direction away from the main body portion. The extension portion includes a free end. The outlet is defined on an end surface of the free end of the extension portion; at least one section of an outer contour of the end surface of the free end of the extension portion is straight.