Tooth Whitening Applicator Venting for Consistent Gel Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tooth whitening systems face issues with product effectiveness, composition clumping on applicators, and inconsistent application due to deficiencies in priming and application devices.
Innovation Solution
A tooth whitening apparatus with a container and an applicator assembly that can be altered between attached and detached states, featuring a vent groove on the rod member to reduce pressure and ensure consistent dosing, and a wiper component to prevent excess composition, using materials like polypropylene, aluminum, and polyurethane foam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tray is used to hold whitening material, then the material can be applied to multiple teeth, but the tray cannot be positioned precisely on individual teeth surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into multiple separate applicator tips, each tip being a独立的 application element that can be individually positioned on different teeth or tooth surfaces. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the material-holding capability of the tray while achieving precise positioning on individual teeth through separate, manageable applicator elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator tips are designed to extend outward from the tray in a direction perpendicular to the tray's main body, creating a three-dimensional arrangement. This dimensional extension allows the tips to reach individual tooth surfaces that may be positioned at different depths or angles, thereby achieving precise positioning while maintaining the tray's material-holding function.
2Productivity
If a brush is used to apply whitening material, then material can be distributed across tooth surfaces, but the brush cannot reach interproximal areas between teeth
Solution Approach 1:
The application system is segmented into multiple discrete applicator tips rather than using a single brush. Each tip can be independently positioned and oriented to access specific tooth surfaces, including interproximal areas between teeth. This segmentation enables both efficient material distribution across multiple teeth and precise access to difficult-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator tips are designed to be nested within or attached to the tray structure, allowing them to be stored compactly when not in use and deployed when needed. This nesting arrangement maintains the tray's portability and ease of use while providing access to interproximal areas through the extended tips.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate applicators are used to reach all tooth surfaces, then interproximal areas can be accessed, but the device becomes complex and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple applicator tips are merged into a single integrated tray structure, forming one unified device that combines the material-holding tray with multiple application tips. This merging reduces the number of separate components the user must handle, simplifying the device while maintaining the ability to access all tooth surfaces including interproximal areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously serves as a material reservoir and as the mounting structure for multiple applicator tips. This universal design allows a single device to perform multiple functions (holding material, positioning applicators, accessing different tooth surfaces) without requiring separate specialized tools for each 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
Ensures effective and consistent application of tooth whitening composition, preventing evaporation and ensuring proper dosing, while being user-friendly and aesthetically versatile.
Implementation Method 1
a light source, such as a light-emitting diode (LED)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A tooth whitening apparatus which includes a container having a cavity containing a tooth whitening composition and an applicator assembly which includes a cap, a rod member coupled to the cap and protruding from a bottom end of the cap and having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, and a distal portion, and an applicator tip coupled to the distal portion of the rod member. The applicator assembly is alterable between: (1) an attached state whereby the cavity of the container is sealed; and (2) a detached state whereby the applicator assembly is separated from the container to apply the tooth whitening composition onto a user's teeth. The outer surface of the rod member includes at least one vent groove that is elongated in a direction of the longitudinal axis to reduce a pressure in the cavity of the container when altering the applicator assembly into the attached state.