Toothbrush Duckbill Valve and Lamella Structure Against Fluid Ingress
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-dispensing oral care implements, such as toothbrushes, suffer from unreliable dispensing mechanisms that malfunction due to external fluid ingress, leading to clogging and jamming, which compromises the delivery of auxiliary oral care fluids.
Innovation Solution
A toothbrush with an elastomeric duckbill valve and protective lamellas that resiliently bias towards a closed position, coupled with a modular pumping mechanism and interchangeable spacer inserts, minimizes external fluid ingress and allows for adjustable fluid dosage without requiring new injection molds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a liquid dispensing mechanism is integrated into the toothbrush head, then auxiliary oral care fluids can be delivered during brushing, but external fluids (water, toothpaste slurry, saliva) penetrate the internal dispensing subsystem causing clogging and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush head is divided into separate functional zones: a protected internal dispensing subsystem and an external tooth cleaning element array. The valve assembly is segmented from the bristle field by positioning it at the base of the head, allowing independent protection of the fluid dispensing components from external fluid exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
A valve assembly acts as an intermediary component between the internal fluid reservoir and the external environment. The valve includes a fluid outlet positioned at the base of the head and a fluid delivery path that directs fluid laterally to the tooth cleaning elements, preventing direct exposure to external fluids while maintaining dispensing function.
2Ease of operation
If the valve outlet is positioned at the front of the toothbrush head for easy fluid delivery, then fluid can be dispensed to the tooth cleaning elements, but external fluids can easily enter and clog the valve
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the fluid outlet at the front of the head where it would be exposed to external fluids, the outlet is inverted to the base of the head. Fluid is dispensed laterally through a delivery path that routes it to the tooth cleaning elements, reversing the conventional outlet positioning to avoid fluid ingress while maintaining delivery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid delivery system transitions from a front-facing outlet to a lateral delivery path. The fluid outlet at the base directs fluid sideways through passages to the tooth cleaning elements, changing the dimensional approach from direct front-to-back delivery to lateral multi-dimensional distribution, avoiding exposure to external fluids.
3Device complexity
If fixed dosage fluid dispensing is used, then the dispensing mechanism is simple, but it cannot accommodate different oral care fluid requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism incorporates adjustable stroke length capability, allowing the dispensing volume to be dynamically changed based on user needs. The pump assembly can deliver variable amounts of fluid (e.g., 0.5 mL to 2.0 mL per stroke) while maintaining the same basic mechanical structure, providing adaptability without requiring completely different dispensing systems.
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 effectively prevents external fluid ingress, maintains reliable fluid dispensing, and allows for customizable fluid dosage without the need for new molds, enhancing the functionality and versatility of the toothbrush.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric valve having an elastic memory which resiliently biases the valve towards the closed position
Implementation Method 2
The valve may be a duckbill valve in one non-limiting embodiment changeable between the biased normally closed position and an open position for dispensing the oral care fluid
Implementation Method 3
The actuator may be an elastomeric diaphragm button which is manually depressible to create a pumping action to dispense the oral care fluid from the fluid reservoir
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An oral care implement with fluid dispensing system includes a head, handle, and intermediate neck. The head comprises plural tooth cleaning elements. A reservoir containing oral care fluid is fluidly coupled to an elastomeric valve nested between a pair of longitudinally spaced protective lamellas on the head. A depressible actuator button operates to dispense the oral care fluid from the reservoir through the valve to the tooth cleaning elements. The protective lamellas formed of elastomeric material are foldable to alternating cover the valve to prevent ingress of external fluids in the oral cavity of the user into the valve to minimize fouling of the fluid dispensing system. Laterally open areas between the lamella allow the oral care fluid to migrate outwards to the tooth cleaning elements. To control the dosage of oral care fluid dispensed, a modular system comprising interchangeable spacer inserts is usable to change and customize the dosage.