Toothbrush Base with Concave Surfaces for Dentifrice Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes have a limited ability to retain dentifrice on the head, causing it to slip through the bristles and away from the teeth, reducing the efficiency of the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
The toothbrush features a base with concave surfaces and protrusions that direct dentifrice towards the distal region of the head, combined with arcuate walls and flexible materials to enhance retention and distribution of dentifrice during brushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional toothbrush bristles are used, then the toothbrush can clean teeth surfaces, but the dentifrice slips through the bristles and is not retained on the head
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple functional zones including concave surfaces, protrusions, and arcuate walls that work together to retain and direct dentifrice. This segmentation creates multiple retention mechanisms rather than relying on a single structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure acts as an intermediary between the bristles and the dentifrice, providing a platform that captures and directs the dentifrice toward the distal region where it is needed for effective cleaning.
2Quantity of substance
If dentifrice is applied to the head, then cleaning action occurs, but the dentifrice spreads around the mouth rather than concentrating on teeth contact points
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the base have different structural properties - concave surfaces for retention, protrusions for direction, and arcuate walls for containment. Each region performs a specific function to control dentifrice behavior at that location.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave surfaces and arcuate walls use curved geometries to naturally guide and concentrate dentifrice flow toward the distal region, leveraging fluid dynamics rather than requiring active control mechanisms.
3Quantity of substance
If the base structure includes concave surfaces and protrusions, then dentifrice retention improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention functions (concave surfaces for capture, protrusions for direction, arcuate walls for containment) are merged into a single integrated base structure, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure serves multiple functions simultaneously - it supports the bristles, retains dentifrice, directs flow to the distal region, and provides structural integrity to the head assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care implement or toothbrush includes a head and a tooth cleaning element for enhanced cleaning and whitening of the teeth. The tooth cleaning element has a base corrected to the head. The base has structure in the form of a concave surface facing a distal region of the head such that dentifrice applied to the head is adapted to be directed towards the distal region of the head. A protrusion extends from the concave surface towards the distal region of the head. The head may include a plurality of concave surfaces that are substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the head, and protrusion extends from the curved surface.