Electric Toothbrush Head Snap-Fit Connection Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric toothbrush heads have complex structures and high manufacturing costs, leading to difficulties in replacement and noise issues, as well as reduced service life and strength.
Innovation Solution
An electric toothbrush head design featuring a brusher, supporting housing, transmission shaft, and tail plug with snap-fitting components made of environmentally friendly plastic, including anti-skid prisms and an annular gasket for improved fit and stability, reducing noise and simplifying assembly and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional electric toothbrush head structure is used, then cleaning function is achieved, but structure complexity increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple components into a unified snap-fit structure where the brush head assembly connects directly to the handle through interlocking bayonet features. This merging of connection components simplifies the overall structure while maintaining reliability through the robust snap-fit mechanism that eliminates the need for separate fastening elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush is divided into modular segments (brush head, handle, replacement cartridge) that can be independently manufactured and easily replaced. The snap-fit connection enables clean segmentation while maintaining strong connections during use, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and reliable service life.
2Ease of operation
If complex components are used, then functional requirements are met, but assembly and replacement difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex fastening mechanism from the overall structure and replaces it with a simple snap-fit connection. The bayonet-shaped features are integrated directly into the component surfaces, eliminating the need for separate fasteners, screws, or clips, thereby simplifying both assembly and replacement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap-fit connection features are designed to self-align and self-lock during assembly. The bayonet-shaped protrusions automatically engage with corresponding grooves when components are brought together, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment or additional fastening steps, thus improving ease of operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple components are used, then functional requirements are met, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate components (connection elements, fastening mechanisms, alignment features) into integrated snap-fit structures. The bayonet-shaped features are molded directly into the brush head and handle components, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps for fastening elements, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional connection structure is used, then structural strength is sufficient, but noise during operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of rigid connections that cause noise into a benefit by designing snap-fit connections with built-in compliance. The bayonet-shaped features include flexible elements that absorb vibration and reduce noise while maintaining sufficient structural strength for normal operation, thus converting the harmful noise effect into a beneficial noise-reduction feature.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric toothbrush head includes a brusher, a supporting housing, a transmission shaft, and a tail plug. The brusher is provided with a hairy surface, an inner wall of the brusher away from the hairy surface is provided with an outer ring column, a pothole is provided in a middle of the outer ring column, and two spiral fitting grooves are provided at two symmetrical ends of an outer sidewall of the outer ring column. A connector is provided on a top of the supporting housing and matched with the brusher, a cylinder is provided in a middle of the connector and matched with the outer ring column, two first bayonets are provided at two symmetrical ends of an inner wall of the connector and snapped with the two spiral fitting grooves. The electric toothbrush head can improve the cleanliness, prolong the service life and eliminate the noise.