Toothbrush Handle Segmented Spines Elastomer Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes lack the ability to effectively absorb excessive brushing forces and adapt to the contours of a user's hand, resulting in an unsatisfactory feel during use.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush handle design featuring at least three longitudinally elongate flexible spines arranged at the apexes of a polygon, with an elastomer material linking the spines, providing enhanced flexibility and comfort by allowing the handle to adjust to the user's hand, and made using conventional injection molding processes with polypropylene or polyamide for the spines and thermoplastic elastomer for the elastomer material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the handle is made of rigid plastic material, then manufacturing precision and structural strength are improved, but flexibility and adaptability to user hand contours deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into multiple rigid spines (at least three) that are separated by elastomer material. This segmentation allows the rigid structural components to maintain strength while the elastomer gaps provide flexibility and contour adaptation, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle combines rigid plastic material (for spines and structural integrity) with flexible elastomer material (for contour adaptation and comfort). This composite construction enables simultaneous achievement of structural strength and adaptability to user hand contours that cannot be obtained with a single material.
2Ease of manufacture
If the handle is made of rigid plastic material, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ability to absorb excessive brushing forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handle structure segments rigid spines with elastomer material, creating a compliant structure that can absorb excessive brushing forces through elastomer deformation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through injection molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer material provides parameter changes in terms of flexibility and shock absorption compared to solid rigid plastic. This allows the handle to absorb excessive brushing forces while still being manufacturable using conventional injection molding techniques.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the handle is made of softer resilient elastomer material, then flexibility and comfort are improved, but structural strength and rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The handle uses segmented construction with rigid spines providing structural strength and elastomer material providing flexibility. The elastomer is confined to specific regions between spines, allowing flexibility where needed while maintaining structural strength through the rigid spine framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines rigid plastic spines with flexible elastomer material in a way that distributes structural strength and flexibility to appropriate locations, achieving both flexibility and structural strength simultaneously.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the handle is made of softer resilient elastomer material, then adaptability to user hand is improved, but manufacturing complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented spine structure with elastomer material can be manufactured in a single injection molding process, avoiding assembly steps and reducing manufacturing complexity despite the complex geometry and multi-material construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material structure is designed to be formed in a single injection molding operation, integrating rigid and flexible materials together without requiring separate manufacturing steps, thus reducing overall manufacturing 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 design enhances the flexibility and comfort of the toothbrush handle, allowing it to better absorb brushing forces and conform to the user's hand, improving the overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomer material which links the spines... enhance grip, aesthetic appearance or to influence flexibility... absorb excessive toothbrushing forces
Implementation Method 2
adapt to the contours of a user's hand... allow the handle to adjust to the user's hand
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush which comprises a handle comprising at least three longitudinally elongate flexible spines arranged at the apexes of a polygon, the space between the spines containing an elastomer material which links the spines.