Toothbrush Head Resilient Connector Conical Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothbrushes with bristles mounted on elastic pads lack optimal movement and flexibility, which can lead to reduced effectiveness in cleaning and potential contamination issues.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush design featuring a bristle carrier with resiliently flexible connectors that allow the bristle holders to move downward and rotate in a conical path, made from integrally formed resilient plastics materials, enabling improved bristle movement and secure anchorage, while preventing contamination through an elastic material covering or embedding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bristles are mounted on a bristle carrier with elastic pad, then the toothbrush provides basic cleaning function, but the movement and flexibility of bristles is not optimal
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed to be resiliently flexible, allowing the bristle holder to move downward and rotate in a conical path when pressure is applied, and to return reciprocally upon release. This dynamic movement enables optimal bristle flexibility and contact with teeth surfaces, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector changes its physical state from a rigid mounting to a resiliently flexible connection, enabling controlled movement and rotation of the bristle holder. This parameter change in flexibility allows the bristles to adapt to different pressing forces while maintaining reliable cleaning contact.
2Ease of operation
If bristle holder is allowed to move freely, then bristle flexibility is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic material covering or embedding is provided to cover the connector and bristle holder assembly. This flexible shell allows the bristle holder to move and rotate freely for optimal cleaning contact while preventing contamination by creating a protective barrier between the internal components and the external environment.
3Ease of manufacture
If connector follows radial path, then manufacturing is simpler, but bristle movement precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed to follow a conical surface path instead of a radial path, creating a curved three-dimensional trajectory for the bristle holder movement. This curvature enables more precise control over the bristle holder's position and orientation during cleaning contact, improving manufacturing precision while remaining manufacturable through integral formation in resilient plastics material.
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
Enhances cleaning efficacy by allowing precise bristle movement and distribution, reducing contamination risks, and providing a secure and durable connection between the bristle holder and carrier.
Implementation Method 1
the connector being resiliently flexible in a direction such that: pressure applied to the bristle in the bristle longitudinal direction toward the bristle carrier causes the bristle holder to move downwards in the bristle longitudinal direction and to rotate in a first rotation direction
Implementation Method 2
the holder connector(s) and the base are integrally made of a resilient plastics material
Data Source
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AI summary
A toothbrush head (10) having a bristle carrier (11), and bristles held in bristle holders (12), the bristle holders (12) being connected to the bristle carrier (11) by resilient connectors (14) which cause the holders (12) to move resiliency as brushing pressure is applied to the bristles and also cause the bristle holders (12) to rotate. A suitable form of connector (14) follows a conical surface between the bristle holder (12) and bristle carrier (11).