Thumb Grip Membrane Structure for Low-Plastic Personal Care Handles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic pollution from personal care implements such as toothbrushes is a significant environmental issue, and reducing plastic use without compromising consumer enjoyment and grip feel is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A personal care implement with a handle featuring a gripping portion, a neck portion, and a thumb grip portion, where the thumb grip portion includes a base member with a cavity and cantilevered tabs covered by elastomeric membranes, enhancing grip and reducing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic material is reduced in personal care implements, then environmental impact is improved, but grip feel and consumer enjoyment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible elastomeric membranes (thin films) to create grip portions on the handle. These membranes are stretched over the handle surface and secured at edges, forming flexible grip areas that provide comfortable tactile feedback while using minimal material. The membranes can be made from elastomeric materials that offer good grip properties without requiring thick plastic layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by combining the rigid handle base (which provides structural support) with flexible elastomeric membrane layers (which provide grip). This composite approach allows each material to perform its optimal function - the rigid base minimizes material usage while the elastomeric membranes deliver the necessary grip feel, resolving the contradiction between material reduction and grip quality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic material is reduced in personal care implements, then environmental impact is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handle into distinct functional zones: a rigid base structure providing overall strength and support, and separate flexible membrane portions providing grip. This segmentation allows the rigid base to be minimized in material while maintaining structural integrity, as it only needs to provide support where required rather than throughout the entire handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric membranes serve as thin film structures that add functional properties (grip, flexibility) without requiring substantial material. These membranes are secured to the rigid base at their edges, creating a structure where the thin films enhance performance while the minimal rigid base maintains structural integrity.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional solid handle structure is replaced with cavity and membrane structure, then material usage is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process leverages the elastomeric membrane material's inherent properties - the membranes can be stretched and formed over the handle surface, then secured at edges. This approach simplifies the manufacturing of complex grip portions compared to traditional methods, as the membranes can be continuously formed and applied rather than requiring complex molding operations for each grip feature.
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
Reduces plastic material while maintaining a comfortable grip and familiar appearance, thus addressing environmental concerns and user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastomeric membrane coupled to the handle, the first elastomeric membrane closing the first opening and overlying the first tab; and wherein the first tab is configured to flex into the cavity upon application of a first force onto the first elastomeric membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A personal care implement which may include a handle and a head. The handle may have a gripping portion, a neck portion, and a thumb grip portion located between the gripping portion and the neck portion. The thumb grip portion may be formed from a base member and a first grip member. The base member may include a cavity, a front surface having a first opening that forms a passageway into the cavity, and a first cantilevered tab extending across a portion of the first opening. The first grip member may be coupled to the base member. The first grip member may close the first opening in the front surface of the base member and overlie the first cantilevered tab.