Toothbrush Holder Clamp With Rollers for Sanitary Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothbrush enclosures are not sanitary due to difficulties in cleaning, compatibility issues with various toothbrush designs, and frequent wear from repeated use, especially those that require the toothbrush to rest against surfaces that need frequent cleaning or have complex designs that limit compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A three-part toothbrush holder apparatus comprising a back plate, a resilient clamp with rolling or notched gripping arms, and a cover body that protects the bristles, allowing for easy insertion and removal of toothbrushes while preventing contamination and wear, and accommodating different toothbrush shapes and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the toothbrush rests against the back plate or box for retention, then the toothbrush is securely held in place, but the back plate or box cannot be readily removed for cleaning resulting in unsanitary conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a permanent back plate and a removable front cover assembly. The front cover can be detached from the back plate to access and clean the internal surfaces that contact the toothbrush, while the back plate remains fixed on the wall. This segmentation allows cleaning of previously inaccessible surfaces without removing the entire device from the wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The front cover is extracted as a separate removable component from the back plate. This extracted cover can be easily removed and cleaned separately, while the back plate remains installed on the wall providing continuous toothbrush retention functionality.
2Reliability
If the enclosure directly engages the resilient bristles of a toothbrush for retention, then the toothbrush is held securely, but the enclosure requires cleaning with every use
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement function is extracted from direct contact between the enclosure and bristles. Instead of the enclosure walls directly engaging the bristles, the invention uses a clamp mechanism that engages the toothbrush neck or handle, separating the retention function from the bristle contact area and reducing cleaning frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
A clamp mechanism acts as an intermediary between the enclosure and the toothbrush. The clamp engages the toothbrush neck or handle rather than directly contacting the bristles, providing secure retention while minimizing the need for frequent cleaning of bristle-contact surfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the enclosure is designed to accommodate various toothbrush shapes and materials, then versatility is improved, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism is made resilient and movable, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different toothbrush sizes and shapes. The resilient material enables the clamp to flex and conform to various toothbrush geometries without requiring multiple fixed-size openings or complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp's resilient material property allows it to change its physical parameters (shape, size) in response to different toothbrush dimensions. This parameter adaptability enables a single clamp design to accommodate various toothbrush types without increasing overall device complexity.
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 solution provides a sanitary, durable, and versatile toothbrush holder that maintains cleanliness, accommodates various toothbrush designs, and reduces wear by minimizing contact between the toothbrush and potentially dirty surfaces, ensuring easy maintenance and improved user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The clamp part has a general inverted 'U' shape and is preferably made of a resilient material giving it a springy property.
Implementation Method 2
Preferably two rollers at the tips of the gripping arms engage a toothbrush head inserted in the clamp as the clamp is spread apart from a clamped position to a deviated state.
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush holder enclosure is provided which includes a three parts: a back plate, a resilient clamp and a front cover. The back plate and front cover form a housing. The clamp part has an inverted “U” shape and is made of a resilient material giving it a springy property. The clamp is shaped to urge two clamp arms towards one another in order for the clamp to grip a toothbrush. Two rollers at the tips of the clamp arms engage a toothbrush head inserted in the clamp as the clamp is spread apart from the clamped position to a deviated state. With the toothbrush inserted, the rollers exert pressure on a neck of the toothbrush to hold the toothbrush fast in place. The rolling engagement action of the rollers permits gripping toothbrushes having heads fitted with rubber sides.