Toothbrush Dispensing Port Alignment for Hygienic Paste Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional toothpaste tubes pose a risk of contamination as multiple toothbrushes come into contact with the same tube, increasing the spread of viral or bacterial infections due to the lack of alternative solutions for sanitary handling.
Innovation Solution
An oral care system with a reusable, refillable toothpaste capsule and separate actuators for moving the toothbrush and dispensing toothpaste, which aligns the toothbrush head with a dispensing port to minimize contact and allow for controlled toothpaste application, eliminating the need for a cap to prevent air and contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple toothbrushes contact the same toothpaste tube, then toothpaste application is simple and quick, but contamination risk increases and spreads infections
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the toothpaste delivery function into separate components: a shared sealed toothpaste container and individual toothbrushes with integrated dispensing mechanisms. Each toothbrush has its own sealed toothpaste cartridge that never contacts other brushes, eliminating cross-contamination while maintaining simple operation through automated dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sealed cartridge system between the toothpaste source and the toothbrush. The cartridge acts as a barrier that prevents direct contact between multiple brushes and the toothpaste tube, while still allowing controlled dispensing onto each brush head through the port and plunger mechanism.
2Device complexity
If a single actuator controls both brush deployment and toothpaste dispensing, then device complexity is reduced, but toothpaste amount control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the actuation functions into two independent actuators: one for deploying the toothbrush head and another for dispensing toothpaste. This segmentation allows each actuator to be optimized for its specific function, with the dispensing actuator providing precise control over toothpaste amount through rotational control of the plunger mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control where the toothpaste dispensing actuator can be rotated to different positions to control the amount of toothpaste dispensed. The system transitions from a static single-action mechanism to a dynamic multi-position control system that adapts to user needs for different toothpaste quantities.
3Ease of operation
If toothbrush is held in one hand and toothpaste tube in the other, then application process is traditional and simple, but contact between multiple brushes and same tube increases contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automated toothpaste dispensing mechanisms integrated into each toothbrush. The brush automatically receives its own sealed toothpaste cartridge and dispenses toothpaste through its own actuator, eliminating the need for manual handling of a shared tube and ensuring sanitary conditions without requiring user intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care system includes a main body, and a brush manually movable between a stowed and a deployed position. The brush includes a head, and bristles having respective first ends attached to the head and distal ends together defining a bristle surface for tooth cleaning in use. A toothpaste dispensing apparatus is carried by the main body and is configured to place toothpaste directly onto the bristle surface defined by the distal ends of the bristles when the brush is in the stowed position. The dispensing apparatus is configured to place toothpaste directly onto the bristle surface defined by the distal ends of the bristles without saturating the bristles at their first ends attached to the head. The toothpaste dispensing apparatus includes a port through which toothpaste is dispensed, and the port aligns with the bristles when the brush is at the stowed position.