Electric Toothbrush Head Coupling Structure for Stable Shaft Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric toothbrushes face issues with high manufacturing costs due to the use of metal or springs for tight coupling to the drive shaft, and some brush heads experience loose fits or reduced vibratory effect.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush head design featuring a coupling member with a resilient wall and protrusion that engages the drive shaft, providing a tight fit without additional springs, and a stem section with a cylindrical sidewall and ridge for enhanced stability, allowing for a single-piece construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal or springs are used inside the brush head to facilitate tight coupling to the drive shaft, then the coupling strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the metal spring component from the brush head assembly and relocates the resilient coupling function to the handle's drive shaft. This extraction eliminates the need for expensive metal springs while maintaining the tight coupling requirement through the resilient wall integrated into the drive shaft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resilient wall as an intermediary element between the drive shaft and the brush head coupling section. This resilient wall provides the necessary elasticity and coupling strength without requiring metal springs, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining functional performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If no metal springs are used in the brush head, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the brush head may have difficulty staying connected to the handle and may not offer sufficient vibratory effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring mechanism from the brush head and relocates it to the handle's drive shaft, eliminating the need for metal springs in the brush head while maintaining connection stability through the resilient wall's elastic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid metal springs to a resilient polymer wall, and changes the structural parameter by integrating the coupling mechanism into the drive shaft itself. This allows cost reduction while maintaining reliability through the resilient wall's ability to deform and maintain connection under vibration.
3Ease of manufacture
If a tight coupling is achieved without metal or springs, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the coupling may not withstand high speed vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient wall acts as an intermediary that absorbs and manages vibration forces. It provides the necessary elasticity to withstand high-speed vibrations while maintaining the tight coupling required for effective brush head operation, all without using expensive metal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the coupling mechanism from rigid metal to a resilient polymer structure that can deform elastically under vibration. This parameter change allows the coupling to absorb vibration forces while maintaining connection integrity, reducing cost while preserving vibration resistance.
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 achieves a cost-effective, secure coupling that maintains vibratory effectiveness, reducing manufacturing costs and ensuring stability under high-speed vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient wall can be configured to deform when inserted into the base. The deformation can cause inward movement of a portion of the resilient wall that is configured to engage the driveshaft.
Data Source
AI summary
This document discloses a toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush. The toothbrush head includes a brush section having a plurality of bristles attached thereon, a base having an opening for receiving a drive shaft of an electric toothbrush, and a coupling member. The coupling member has a sidewall that surrounds a cavity for receiving the driveshaft. The sidewall has at least two apertures therethrough and a resilient wall between the apertures. The resilient wall forms a protrusion extending away from the cavity and is configured to engage with the driveshaft when the driveshaft is inserted into the coupling section.