Toothbrush Neck Deforming Portion for Oral Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toothbrush designs fail to adequately protect the oral cavity from damage when external forces are applied, particularly in cases where a user, especially infants, falls while brushing teeth, as the neck section is prone to bending and not sufficiently cushioned to absorb such forces.

Innovation Solution

A toothbrush design featuring a deforming portion with a hard member made of hard resin and a soft portion made of soft resin, where the deforming portion is designed to exhibit a plane stress condition during bending, allowing it to absorb external forces and prevent damage to the oral cavity by folding under stress, while maintaining the structural integrity of the handle section.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the neck section is provided with a coating layer made of soft resin to cover the front surface of the base, then the oral cavity is protected from damage by cushioning, but the head section becomes difficult to bend and cannot sufficiently avoid external force transmitted to the front end

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of oral cavity from damageVSAvoidbending capability of head section

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The toothbrush is divided into distinct sections with different functional properties: the head section with bristles for cleaning, the neck section with deforming portion for force absorption, and the handle section for grip. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without compromising others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The neck section is provided with a deforming portion that has different mechanical properties compared to other parts. This local variation in material properties allows the neck section to deform under external force while other parts maintain their structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between protection and bending capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the deforming portion is made with a hard member of sufficient thickness to maintain structural integrity, then the handle section maintains strength, but the deforming portion cannot sufficiently deform to absorb external forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of handle sectionVSAvoidabsorption of external force

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The thickness of the hard member in the deforming portion is carefully controlled within a specific range (0.5mm to 2mm). This parameter optimization allows the deforming portion to have sufficient strength to maintain structural integrity while being thin enough to deform and absorb external forces effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the coating layer is made thinner to allow the head section to bend more easily, then the bending capability improves, but the cushioning protection of the oral cavity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebending capability of head sectionVSAvoidcushioning protection of oral cavity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deforming portion acts as an intermediary element between the head section and handle section. It provides the necessary cushioning protection through controlled deformation while allowing the head section to bend appropriately, mediating between the conflicting requirements of protection and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 toothbrush effectively inhibits damage to the oral cavity by distributing and absorbing external forces, ensuring safety even when the user falls or applies strong pressure, particularly beneficial for infants who may accidentally drop the toothbrush while using it.

Implementation Method 1

a deforming portion 15A that is deformed, while stress characteristics associated with bending due to an external force acting on the head section 14 are in a plane stress condition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlane stress condition:

Implementation Method 2

stress characteristics associated with bending due to an external force acting on the head section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBending:

Implementation Method 3

a soft portion that accommodates at least a part of the hard member inside and is formed of a soft resin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCushioning:

Data Source

PatentUS11013310B2Toothbrush and method for manufacturing toothbrush

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 LION CORP

AI summary

A toothbrush capable of inhibiting damage of an oral cavity of a user that includes: a head section that has a bristle implanting surface on a front end side; a handle section that is disposed on a rear end side from the head section and has a handle section main body; and a neck section that is disposed between the bristle implanting surface and the handle section. The toothbrush has a deforming portion that is located on the rear end side from the bristle implanting surface and is deformed, while stress characteristics associated with bending due to an external force acting on the head section are in a plane stress condition.