Toothbrush Attachment Storage Base for Clean Flat-Lying Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices for tooth cleaning attachments, such as electric toothbrushes, face issues with contamination, difficulty in handling, and high production costs due to the use of clamping mechanisms and blind-hole receptacles, which lead to wobbling, jamming, and inadequate drying of the attachments.
Innovation Solution
A storage device with a flat-lying alignment for tooth cleaning attachments, featuring a storage base with depression-shaped recesses that allow for stable positioning without clamping, a closed bottom to prevent contamination, and ventilation openings for efficient drying, along with a modular design for easy handling and connection to the charging station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If blind-hole receptacles are used to store attachment brushes upright, then the brushes can be stored vertically, but liquid or toothpaste residue runs down and causes contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the storage orientation from upright vertical storage to horizontal flat-lying storage. The storage depressions are configured to receive attachment brushes in a flat-lying alignment rather than upright, which prevents liquid and toothpaste residue from running down the brush stems and causing contamination of the storage device or surrounding areas.
2Ease of operation
If mandrels are used to hold replacement brushes vertically, then the brushes can be easily accessed, but the brushes wobble and do not stand vertically if clearances are too large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage function into separate storage depressions for each attachment brush, rather than using a single central mandrel. Each depression is individually configured to receive and stabilize a brush in flat-lying alignment, eliminating the wobbling issue while maintaining easy accessibility. The segmentation allows each brush to be independently positioned and stabilized without relying on tight clearances with a central support.
3Reliability
If clamping mechanisms are used to secure attachments, then the attachments are held firmly, but the device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the clamping mechanism from the storage device. Instead of using complex clamping structures to secure attachment brushes, the design relies on simple storage depressions that receive and hold the brushes in flat-lying alignment through their geometry alone. This extraction of the clamping function simplifies the device structure and reduces production costs while maintaining reliable attachment securing.
4Duration of action of moving object
If ventilation openings are provided in the upper side of the cover, then air circulation is improved, but dirt and dust penetrate into the storage container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the storage orientation to horizontal flat-lying alignment, which fundamentally changes the drying and ventilation dynamics. Instead of relying on upper-side ventilation openings that allow dust entry, the horizontal orientation allows liquid to drain away from the brush heads while ventilation can be provided through side or bottom openings that are less susceptible to dust contamination. The inverted storage position enables effective drying without compromising the storage container against dust penetration.
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 easy handling, effective prevention of contamination, improved hygiene through efficient drying, and reduced production costs by eliminating the need for clamping mechanisms, while allowing for flexible storage of different attachment sizes and types.
Implementation Method 1
a storage base with a plurality of storage depressions for receiving the tooth cleaning attachments in flat-lying alignment
Implementation Method 2
ventilation openings for efficient drying
Implementation Method 3
ventilation openings for efficient drying
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a storage device for tooth cleaning attachments, in particular attachment brushes, of a tooth cleaning device, which can be coupled onto or uncoupled from a hand-held part of the tooth cleaning device, comprising a storage body for holding the tooth cleaning attachments to be stored. The invention further relates to a charging station for the tooth cleaning device comprising such a storage device. According to the invention, the storage body of the storage device has a storage base with at least one storage depression for receiving a tooth cleaning attachment in flat-lying alignment. As a result, any tight clamping and corresponding clamping means or positive retaining means such as mandrels and the like on the storage body can be dispensed with. Due to the flat-lying storage in conjunction with the storage depressions, stable positioning of the tooth cleaning attachments is nevertheless obtained. At the same time, the handling for the user is very much simpler since accurate threading-on is unnecessary. In addition, the storage base is substantially easier to clean than a retaining device with mandrels.