Twist-Lock Toothbrush Head Connection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric toothbrush connection systems are not user-friendly for replacing worn-out brush heads, requiring a more efficient and easy-to-use mechanism for consumers.
Innovation Solution
A connection system featuring a toothbrush handle with a neck and head design that includes tabs, lugs, and notches, allowing for a twisting motion to securely attach and detach the head, ensuring proper alignment and preventing incorrect installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple connection system is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into multiple functional elements: tabs for insertion, lugs for positioning, and notches for alignment. These segmented components work together to provide both easy attachment through simple insertion and reliable securing through the interlocking mechanism of tabs, lugs, and notches.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection member features asymmetric geometry with specifically positioned tabs, lugs, and notches that create a non-symmetric pattern. This asymmetry ensures proper alignment during insertion and prevents incorrect installation, while the asymmetric design allows for easy attachment through a simple twisting motion without requiring complex alignment procedures.
2Reliability
If a complex connection system is used, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple connection functions are merged into a single integrated mechanism. The tabs, lugs, and notches are combined in one connection interface that simultaneously provides alignment, positioning, and securing functions. This merging allows reliable attachment through a single twisting motion without requiring separate steps for alignment and securing.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric geometry of the tabs, lugs, and notches is pre-configured to automatically guide proper alignment during insertion. The preliminary arrangement of these features ensures that when the user inserts the connection member, the tabs, lugs, and notches automatically align correctly, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment features are added, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tabs, lugs, and notches serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide alignment guidance, positioning references, and securing mechanisms. This multi-functionality achieves high manufacturing precision for proper alignment while avoiding the need for separate dedicated alignment features, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A toothbrush having a handle and head. The handle includes a neck with first upper and lower tabs and a first lug therebetween and second upper and lower tabs and a second lug therebetween. The head includes a main body portion and a generally cylindrical connection member that has bottom, outer and inner surfaces and a central opening, and a first lower protrusion that includes first and second inclined surfaces extending inwardly from the inner surface, a first slot defined in the bottom surface and the inner surface, a first lower notch defined in the inner surface, and a first opening defined in the inner surface above the first lower protrusion. The first slot and the first lower notch are disposed on opposite sides of the first lower protrusion, the first lower tab is positioned in the first lower notch and the first lug in the first opening.