Toothbrush Charging Station Storage for Clean, Easy Brush Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices for tooth cleaning attachments, such as electric toothbrush chargers, face issues with contamination, difficulty in handling, and high production costs due to the use of mandrels and blind-hole receptacles, which lead to inaccurate placement and cleaning challenges.

Innovation Solution

A storage device with a flat-lying storage base that eliminates the need for mandrels, featuring storage depressions with a slope for easy alignment and drainage, and a modular design with ventilation for efficient drying and dust protection, allowing for intuitive handling and easy cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mandrels are used for storing replacement brushes, then the brushes can be stored vertically and easily accessed, but the brushes wobble and do not stand vertically if clearances are too large, and require high manufacturing precision to avoid jamming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of handling brushesVSAvoidclearance between mandrel and brush

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the storage approach by storing brushes horizontally instead of vertically on mandrels. The storage container has a flat base with brushes lying horizontally, eliminating the need for precise mandrel-clearance fit. This inversion resolves the contradiction by achieving easy handling without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If blind-hole receptacles are used for brush storage, then brushes can be held firmly, but liquid and toothpaste residue contaminate the receptacles and affect insertion and withdrawal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirm holding of brushesVSAvoidcontamination from liquid and toothpaste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage container into an open flat base design rather than using closed blind-hole receptacles. This segmentation allows liquid and toothpaste residue to drain away from the brush storage area, preventing contamination while maintaining firm holding through the flat-lying configuration with appropriate recesses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the storage dimension from vertical (blind holes) to horizontal (flat base). This dimensional change allows liquid to drain in the horizontal plane rather than accumulating in vertical blind holes, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining secure brush placement through the flat-lying design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If ventilation openings are provided in the cover, then air circulation for drying brushes is improved, but dirt and dust penetrate into the storage container

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying time of brushesVSAvoiddust and dirt contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the cover design from a closed cover with ventilation openings to an open flat-base design. This inversion allows air circulation to occur naturally across the open base, providing drying functionality while eliminating the need for cover openings that would allow dust and dirt penetration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If replacement brushes are stored upright in blind holes, then they are protected from contamination, but sufficient air circulation for drying does not occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from contaminationVSAvoiddrying time of brushes

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the storage orientation from vertical (upright in blind holes) to horizontal (flat-lying on open base). This dimensional change enables air circulation in the horizontal plane, providing effective drying while the open base design with appropriate recesses maintains protection from contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides stable, easy-to-handle storage for tooth cleaning attachments, preventing contamination and facilitating cleaning, while reducing production costs and improving user accessibility, especially for elderly users.

Implementation Method 1

the drying of the used replacement brushes. Sufficient circulation of air does not take place due to the ventilation openings provided in the upper side of the cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS9186229B2Toothbrush charging station with brush storage device

Publication Date: 2015.11.17 BRAUN GMBH

AI summary

A storage device for tooth cleaning attachments of a tooth cleaning device is provided. The storage device includes a storage body for storing the tooth cleaning attachments. The storage body has a storage base with at least one storage depression for receiving a tooth cleaning attachment in flat-lying alignment.