Toothbrush with Inclined Cylindrical and Pointed Bristles

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toothbrush designs do not effectively enhance both mesial/distal cleaning performance and gentleness on tooth surfaces simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A toothbrush brush head design featuring a combination of vertically upright tufts made of pointed bristles and slanted tufts made of cylindrical bristles, with the slanted tufts tilted at an acute angle, enhancing cleaning efficiency and gentleness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If all bristles are cylindrical in traditional toothbrush designs, then cleaning strength is sufficient, but gentleness on tooth surfaces is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of injury to tooth surfacesVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating bristle types in specific regions: upright tufts use pointed bristles for gentle cleaning on tooth surfaces, while slanted tufts use cylindrical bristles for effective cleaning in hard-to-reach areas. This localized differentiation allows each region to optimize its cleaning characteristics without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The brush head is segmented into multiple functional zones with different bristle configurations. Upright tufts with pointed bristles are positioned for general tooth surface cleaning, while slanted tufts with cylindrical bristles are positioned for interproximal and mesial/distal areas. This segmentation enables simultaneous optimization of gentleness and cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If only upright tufts are used, then tooth surface cleaning is effective, but mesial/distal cleaning performance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemesial/distal cleaning performanceVSAvoidcleaning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dimensional change by adding slanted tufts at angles of 30-60 degrees relative to the brush axis, complementing the traditional upright tufts. This angular dimension allows bristles to reach mesial and distal surfaces that are inaccessible to vertical bristles alone, significantly improving cleaning coverage in these areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The brush head employs asymmetric bristle arrangement with slanted tufts oriented in specific directions (30-60 degrees) to target mesial and distal surfaces. This asymmetric configuration optimizes contact with teeth surfaces that would otherwise be difficult to reach, enhancing cleaning effectiveness in these specific zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If pointed bristles are used in all tufts, then gentleness is maximized, but cleaning effectiveness in hard-to-reach areas is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidrisk of injury to tooth surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating bristle types in specific regions: upright tufts use pointed bristles for gentle cleaning on tooth surfaces, while slanted tufts use cylindrical bristles for effective cleaning in hard-to-reach areas. This localized differentiation allows each region to optimize its cleaning characteristics without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The brush head is segmented into multiple functional zones with different bristle configurations. Upright tufts with pointed bristles are positioned for general tooth surface cleaning, while slanted tufts with cylindrical bristles are positioned for interproximal and mesial/distal areas. This segmentation enables simultaneous optimization of gentleness and cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8813299B2Toothbrush with inclined bristles and pointed bristles

Publication Date: 2014.08.26 GABA INT HOLDING AG

AI summary

A brush head for a toothbrush with bunches of bristles inserted therein, wherein at least one of these bunches of bristles protrudes out of the bristle surface in a perpendicular fashion and at least one of these bunches is inclined, and is characterized in that the inclined bunches of bristles comprise cylindrical bristles, and in that at least some of the bunches which protrude in a perpendicular fashion comprise pointed bristles.