Engineering Design 100 Project 1

Claire Nowak Sean Busko Joel Croce Changju Park

February 26, 2013 Design Team 1

Abstract: The objective of this project was to design a more sustainable automated toothbrush. We were first given a sample toothbrush to look at and analyze; we took into consideration everything from the packaging to the size of the toothbrush head. We then assessed customer needs and came up with a revised problem statement according to the customer needs. Next came the research to find out more about the product we would be creating. We looked up various patents and designs for products similar to the one we would be making. We used the information for the competitors products to benchmark and assess what we liked and didnt like in the other designs. Next we completely took apart out sample toothbrush and assessed the parts. After that, we had to develop concepts for our product based on the customer needs. At this point in the process, we decided to go with a rechargeable design as opposed to a battery-operated one. We also made other decisions about the design through our analysis of the concepts we came up with. To complete the project, we just had to make drawings of our design and explain in detail how all the components came together in the finished product. This report outlines all the steps we took in creating our finished product.

1.0

Introduction

1.1 Initial Problem Statement We feel that todays electric toothbrushes could be more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Our task is to make a new electric toothbrush that is green and user friendly, while still being a reasonable price. We are going to specifically focus on the power source to make the toothbrush greener and assess customer needs to decide the final design for the product.

2.0 Customer Needs

2.1 Weighing Customer Needs It is important to create a focus group to find out what specific needs customers are looking for. It is even more important to weigh these needs to determine what functions should appear in your final design. We interviewed 20 people about what they were looking for in an electric toothbrush and used their answers as the customer needs we were going to investigate.

Table 1. Initial Customer Needs List Obtained from Interviews Portable Lightweight Comfortable to hold Safe Adjustable Compact Customizable Low noise Easy to operate Cost of maintenance Battery Life Strength Gentle Rechargeable Battery Effective at Cleaning Durable Cost Effective

Table 2. Hierarchal Customer Needs List Obtained from Interviews 1. Portable 1.1 Lightweight 1.2 Comfortable to hold 1.3 Adjustable Head 1.4 Compact 2. User friendly 2.1 Customizable 2.2 Safe 2.3 Easy to Operate 2.4 Low noise 3. Durable 3.1 Cost of maintenance 3.2 Battery Life 3.3 Strength 4. Functions 4.1 Gentle 4.2 Rechargeable 4.3 Effective at cleaning 5. Cost Effective

Figure 1. AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting for Main Objective Categories Portable Portable 1 User Friendly 1/3 1 4 5 7 Durable 1/5 1/4 1 3 5 Functions 1/7 1/5 1/3 1 3 Cost Effective 1/9 1/7 1/5 1/3 1 Weighted .03 .079 .18 .28 .43

Cost Effective 3 Durable User Friendly Functions 5 7 9

Figure 2. AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting of Portable SubObjectives Lightweight Lightweight Comfortable to Hold Adjustable Head Compact 1 3 5 7 Comfortable to Hold 1/3 1 3 6 Adjustable Head 1/5 1/3 1 3 Compact 1/7 1/6 1/3 1 Weighted .052 .138 .287 .52

Figure 3. AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting of User Friendly Sub-Objectives
Customizable Quiet Safe Easy to Operate 1/7 1/5 1/3 1 Weighted

Customizable Quiet Safe Easy to Operate

1 3 5 7

1/3 1 4 5

1/5 1/4 1 3

.052 .138 .317 .49

Figure 4. AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting of Durable SubObjectives

Cost of Maintenance Cost of Maintenance Battery Life Strength 1 Battery Life 1/3 Strength Weighted

1/7

.08

3 7

1 5

1/5 1

.225 .695

Figure 5. AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting of Functions SubObjectives

Gentle Rechargeable Effective at Cleaning 1/7 1/6 1 Weighted

Gentle Rechargeable Effective at Cleaning

1 5 7

1/5 1 6

.062 .2868 .65

Table 3. Weighted Hierarchal Customer Needs List Obtained from Interviews 1. Portable (.03) 1.1 Lightweight (.052) 1.2 Comfortable to hold (.138) 1.3 Adjustable (.287) 1.4 Comfortable to hold (.52) 2. User friendly (.29) 2.1 Customizable (.052) 2.2 Safe (.138) 2.3 Easy to Operate (.317) 2.4 Low noise (.49) 3. Durable (.18) 3.1 Cost of maintenance (.08) 3.2 Battery Life (.225) 3.3 Strength (.695) 4. Functions (.43) 4.1 Gentle (.062) 4.2 Rechargeable (.2868) 4.3 Effective at cleaning (.65) 5. Cost Effective (.079)

3.0 Revised Problem Statement

Our original task was to create a more sustainable and user friendly toothbrush. We are going to specifically focus on making a toothbrush that is rechargeable and does not require batteries. This will reduce waste and eliminate the need to spend money on batteries. We are also going to focus on making a toothbrush that cleans well and is made out of durable material.

4.0 External Search

4.1 Literature Review 4.2 Patent Search

Function Moveable Kinetic Plate Head Sections Rechargeable Battery Toothbrush Head Toothbrush Body Operating Mechanism US7140058 US7117555 USD477715 US5453644 US2124145 Art Powered Toothbrush Bristle Capacitive Pattern on/off Switch Motor Driven Rotary

4.3 Benchmarking

Table 5. Benchmarking of Four Products

Feature Packaging Aesthetics Ease to clean Convenience of on/off switch Effectiveness at cleaning teeth Rechargeable Gentle Cost Durability Lightweight

Oral-B Advanced Power 400 TX 3 3 4 5 4 0 3 0 4 4

Colgate 360 Sonic 3 5 4 5 2 0 3 4 2 5

Oral-B Professional Care 1000 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 3 5 3

Sonic Spin Brush 3 4 4 5 4 5 4 4 3 3

4.4 Product Dissection

4.4.1 Product Measurement

Bill of Materials

Location Brush Head 4 inches away Brush head 3 inches away Brush head 2 inches away Brush head 1 inch away DC motor 4 inches away DC motor 3 inches away DC motor 2 inches away DC motor 1 inches away Approximate duration of daily brushing Average noise during brushing

Noise Level 69.8 db 70.2 db 71.5 db 72.1 db 67.2 db 68.4 db 68.7 db 69.2 db 4 minutes 69.6 db

Part Number 1 2 3 4 5

Material/ Function Bottom cover (covers batteries) Detachable Head (bristles and plastic with metal spring) Body (plastic with metal shaft) Battery (powers brush) Plastic (covers brush head)

Weight 0.012 lb 0.012 lb 0.158 lb 0.054 lb 0.006 lb

Total Voltage of Battery 1 and 2: 3.07V (connected in series) Mean Current Under Load: 0.259A Power (under load) = 3.0V x 0.295A = 0.855 watts -# of hours available per single battery under load conditions: 6.78 hours -Estimated duration for each brushing: 1/30 hours -# of days before battery replacement: 203 days

4.4.2 Dissection Bill Of Materials

Par t#

Part Name

QT Y

SOP Effec t

Function

Mas s (lb)

Materia l

Manuf. Process

Dimension s

Cost

1 2

Spring Motor

1 1

Yes No

Suspend s Motor Moves Metal Rod Makes clip connect to bottom Connects batteries to motor Connects to motor; moves back and forth Push and makes brush work Covers motor Moves brush Brushes teeth Covers motor

.001 .074

Metal Metal

Metal Clip

Yes

.002

Metal

Spring Mold Metal Casting Assembl y Casting

0.6cm by 0.5cm 4.5cm by 1.6cm

$0.1 5 $0.0 7

Time to complete Part Dissectio n 2 minutes 2 minutes

4.1cm by 1.5cm

$0.0 5

2 minutes

Black and Red Wires Rotato r

No

.001

Copper plastic

Wiring

6cm long

$0.0 8

2 minutes

No

.002

Metal

Casting Assembl y

0.5 long

$0.0 5

2 minutes

Power Button

No

.002

Plastic

Injection assembly

0.3 long

$0.0 2

2 minutes

7 8 9 10

Plastic Case Metal Shaft Brush Body

1 1 1 1

Yes No No Yes

.018 .010 .002 .044

Plastic Metal Plastic Plastic

Injection Molding Casting Injection Molding Injection Molding

2.5cm by 1.5cm 7.5cm 0.9cm 14cm by 2.5cm

$0.0 4 $0.5 0 $0.4 0 $0.3 0

3 minutes 3 minutes 0 minutes 1 minutes

Component Subassembly Chart Electric Toothbrush

Bottom

Body

Toothbrush Head

Batteries

Casing

internals

Brush

Shaft

Head

Motor

MetalSh aft

Rotator

Base Clip

Wires

Spring

Rod

Cap

Morphological Chart
Power Source Brush Handle Switch Type Brushing Direction Other Functions

Concept Generation Table Power Source AA Batteries Rechargeable AA Batteries Rechargeable Brush Handle Rubber Rubber Rubber Rubber Switch Type One button Slide Two buttons One button Brush spin Full Rotation Side to side Up, down side to side Full Rotation Other Plays music Interchangeable head Timer Rechargeable Base

1 2 3 4

Two drawn out concepts: These are two of the concepts that we decided not to continue.

Concept Screening Table

Concepts 1 Cleaning Quality 0 Life Span Product Cost Aesthetics 0 Pluses 0 Same 2 Minuses 2 Rank 3 Continue No - = worse +=Better 0=same 2 0 + 1 1 2 2 Yes 3 0 0 1 3 4 No 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 Yes

Our new and improved design, Our design is different from most because of its unique brush head. The brush head is not only removable but the bristles themselves are unique. They are in a ring shape and they will rotate 360 degrees clockwise. The reason for them being in a ring shape is to make brushing around the edges of your teeth easier and more effective. The concept is powered by a rechargeable battery, which can be charged in an hour and will work for half of the charging time or 30 minutes. This makes it easier to travel with your toothbrush not worrying about bringing the charging station with you. We chose a rechargeable battery because its easy to use and doesnt take up as much space as batteries do in the toothbrush. Batteries are hard to dispose of and not very good for the environment, which is another reason why we chose rechargeable. The toothbrush also has a very unique aspect to the grip and power module. The toothbrush will start to work just by touching the grip. We decided that a push button can be difficult for younger kids or older adults because sometimes they may be difficult to push. We eliminated this by having the touch grip because all you have to do is hold onto the rubber comfortable grip and the brush begins to rotate.

Review There are many kinds of toothbrushes out there to choose from, including manual, batterypowered, and rechargeable automated toothbrushes. Battery-powered toothbrushes are different from electric toothbrushes, aside from being rechargeable. Battery-powered toothbrushes usually only vibrate the bristles of the head to clean. Electric toothbrushes can oscillate, vibrate, or rotate depending on which one you get. Although battery-powered toothbrushes are less expensive, electric toothbrushes have to be replaced far less and you do not have to buy batteries for them. Most battery- operated toothbrushes also dont give you the option to switch out heads. (1) Our sample toothbrush was the Oral-B Advance Power 400TX. The actual retail price of our sample toothbrush was $204.99. When looking through the website, we noticed that the rechargeable toothbrushes were dramatically less expensive than the battery-powered toothbrushes. This further encouraged us to design a more affordable rechargeable electric toothbrush. (2) We researched the Colgate 360 Sonic toothbrush, which is automated. The average price of this toothbrush is around $30. The toothbrush has a vibrating head and uses one AAA alkaline battery and is not rechargeable and does not come with a warranty. The head cannot be replaced. (3) The Oral-B Professional Care 1000 toothbrush is rechargeable and comes with a charging stand. It has a two minute timer and pressure sensor to prevent gum damage, indicates when the head needs to be changed, and has a two-year warranty. Its price is around $70. (4) The Sonic Spinbrush (rechargeable) is a rechargeable toothbrush that features a two minute timer and

replaceable heads. It also lets you choose between two spinning speeds. The price of this brush is about $30, and has no warranty. (5) Through benchmarking, concept analysis, and creative engineering skills we designed an entirely new toothbrush. Our toothbrush contains an easy to use and comfortable touch grip, a very unique brush head, and can be easily recharged.

References
1. McManus, Melanie Radzicki. "Discovery Health "5 Benefits of Electric Toothbrushes"." Discovery Health "Health Guides". N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/products/5-benefits-of-electrictoothbrushes.htm>. 2. " Braun Oral-B Toothbrushes." Braun - Grooming, Oral Health, Home Appliances, & Accessories. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://braun.premiumstore.com/cat/11268/BraunOral-B-Toothbrushes.html>. 3. "Colgate 360 Toothbrush - Sonic Toothbrush, Unique Bristles, Tongue & Cheek Cleaner, Sensitive Teeth Toothbrushes." Colgate: Toothpaste & Toothbrushes | Products for Oral and Dental Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. <http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate360/US 4. " Oralb.com | 500 Internal Server Error."Electric Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Floss & Dental Health from Oral-B. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.oralb.com/products/professional-care-1000-toothbrush/#features-0>. 5. "Spinbrush ProClean SONIC Rechargeable Battery Operated Toothbrush | ARM & HAMMER."Spinbrush Battery Operated Toothbrushes | ARM & HAMMER . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.spinbrush.com/products_spinbru "Patent US5524312 - Electric toothbrush - Google Patents." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. <http://www.google.com/patents/US5524312