Electric Toothbrush Brush Section With Pinch-Safe Moving Holders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric toothbrush designs often cause pinching of mucosa due to gaps between moving brush sections, and they lack a low profile design that effectively combines manual and driven cleaning actions.
Innovation Solution
A brush section for electric toothbrushes featuring a movable contact element holder with a controlled range of motion, a drive shaft translating motor motion, and a gap width between 0.1 mm and 0.6 mm to minimize mucosa pinching, along with a low profile design that allows for enhanced cleaning efficacy and manual operation when the handle section is discharged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional electric toothbrush design with moving brush sections is used, then cleaning action is provided, but gaps between moving sections cause pinching of mucosa
Solution Approach 1:
The brush section is divided into multiple independent brush sections (first brush section, second brush section, third brush section) that can move relative to each other. Each section has its own bristle holder and can be actuated independently or in combination, allowing the gaps between sections to be controlled and minimized during operation to prevent mucosa pinching while maintaining effective cleaning action.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush sections are designed with dynamic movement capabilities where the bristle holders can move relative to the head portion. The second and third brush sections can be actuated to move toward the first brush section, dynamically adjusting the gaps between sections during use to minimize pinching risk while providing varied cleaning motions.
2Ease of manufacture
If brush sections with larger gaps are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but mucosa pinching risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies precise gap width parameters (maintaining gaps between 0.1mm and 0.6mm) and controls the movement ranges of the bristle holders to ensure that during normal operation, the gaps between brush sections remain within safe limits. These controlled parameter changes allow for manufacturable designs while preventing mucosa pinching.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a low profile brush design is implemented, then adaptability to manual brushing action is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush sections are nested within the head portion structure, with bristle holders positioned within the head portion and movable sections nested within the overall brush assembly. This nested arrangement achieves a low profile design that mimics manual toothbrushes while containing the structural complexity within a compact form factor.
Data Source
AI summary
A brush section for use with an electric toothbrush includes a movable contact element holder and a fixed contact element holder. The movable contact element holder is driven to move relative to the fixed contact element holder by an electric drive in a handle section which is coupled to the movable contact element holder. The risk of oral mucosa being pinched by the movement is minimized by any one of several methods, such as for example reducing the width of the gap between the two holders, adding a cover member, reducing the movement of the movable contact element holder, and the like. In addition, a low profile brush section is provided.