Toothbrush storage system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage solutions fail to effectively manage fluid dripping from toothbrushes, leading to inefficiencies in fluid collection and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A container with a toothbrush positioned inside, featuring openings in the bottom wall and a removable pan to capture and retain fluid, allowing fluid to pass through and be collected for easy disposal and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional storage container is used for toothbrushes, then the toothbrush can be stored, but fluid dripping from the toothbrush cannot be effectively collected or managed
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into distinct functional zones: an upper storage chamber for the toothbrush and a lower collection pan for fluid accumulation. The bottom wall features multiple openings that separate the storage function from the collection function, allowing fluid to pass through while maintaining structural integrity. This segmentation enables effective fluid collection without requiring a completely redesigned complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom wall with its array of openings acts as an intermediary element between the toothbrush storage area and the fluid collection pan. These openings allow fluid to pass through from the upper chamber to the lower pan while maintaining the structural separation between storage and collection functions. The intermediary bottom wall resolves the contradiction by enabling fluid transfer without requiring direct contact or complex mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If fluid is collected in a non-removable pan, then fluid can be captured, but the pan is difficult to clean and dispose of
Solution Approach 1:
The pan is designed with a removable coupling to the container body, transforming it from a static, fixed component to a dynamic, movable one. The pan can be easily detached from the container through a simple coupling mechanism, enabling convenient removal for cleaning or disposal. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction by maintaining fluid capture capability while dramatically improving ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable pan design enables the user to easily perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning and disposal without requiring specialized tools or complex procedures. The pan's self-contained nature and simple coupling allow the user to service the system independently, resolving the contradiction between effective fluid capture and ease of cleaning.
3Device complexity
If the container has no openings in the bottom wall, then the structure is simple, but fluid cannot pass through to be collected
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom wall is designed with varying local qualities: most areas maintain structural integrity while specific zones feature multiple openings arranged in a grid pattern. This localized modification allows fluid to pass through efficiently at critical points while maintaining overall structural strength. The selective placement of openings resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and drainage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom wall incorporates a porous structure with multiple openings that allow fluid passage while maintaining structural integrity. This porous design enables efficient fluid drainage without requiring a completely open or complex structure, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and drainage efficiency by providing controlled permeability at the appropriate location.
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush storage system for containing fluid dripping from a toothbrush includes a toothbrush. A container is provided and the container has the toothbrush positioned therein. Thus, the container may have a fluid dripping from the toothbrush pass through the container. A pan is removably coupled to the container such that the pan may capture the fluid passing through the container.