ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHDESIGN PROJECT
Team 15:
Mike Roemer
John Shrefler
Troy McCrum
10/7/2011
Project Outline• Customer Needs Assessment and Revised Problem
Statement• Focus group opinions and individual interviews• Organized hierarchy created with weighting (AHP)
• External Searching• Patent search, benchmarking, and literature review
• Product Dissection• Bill of materials, component separation
• Concept Generation• Sketches, morphological chart
• Concept Selection• Pugh charts• Final Design
Project Management• Customer Needs: Mike Roemer & Troy McCrum
• Benchmarking: John Shrefler
• Literature Review and Patent Search: Troy McCrum
• Bill of Materials: Mike Roemer
• Morphological and Pugh Charts: Mike Roemer
• Sketches: John Shrefler & Mike Roemer
• SolidWorks Models: John Shrefler
Customer Needs Chart1. Portable 1.1 Light 1.2 Rechargeable F.1 Plug-in Dock C.1 No more than 6 -8 inches in length2. User friendly 2.1 Durable F.2 Removable brush heads F.3 Rubberized Grip 2.2 Easy to use 2.3 Quiet 2.4 Safe F.4 Waterproof F.5 Small parts secured 2.5 Powerful F.6 Up to date brushing technology 2.6 Stylish3. Flexible 3.1 Works for all ages 3.2 Fits all mouths4. Durable 4.1 Easy Maintenance 4.2 Relatively maintenance free C.2 Retails under $20.00
Hierarchal Customer Needs List Obtained from Focus Group and Individual Interviews
External Search Activities
• Literature Review• Patent Search• Benchmarking• Product Dissection• Design Target
FUNCTION ART
Highly-Efficient Motor
Same button turns toothbrush off and on
Built into body
Two separate brushes on head
Recharges inside body of the toothbrush
Low noise US 7356866
On/off Button US 5943723
Battery usability light
US 5003250
Dual toothbrush US 3800350
Rechargeablebattery
US 4374354
Brush Head Concepts• Top: standard bristle formation • Bottom: Curved bristle formation• Both: Rubber Drive Shaft Cover
Brush Head Concepts• Large, rotating
brush head
• Angled Bristles
• Dual-Rotation
Body Concepts• On/off switch in one button
• Thicker body for
better grip
• “Battery is low” light
Body Concepts• Hook on back for hanging
• Longer Neck
Energy Mechanism Concepts• Rotating Drive Shaft
• Vibration-Based
• Rubber coating on drive shaft
to reduce noise
Power Generation Concepts• Removable Battery
• Rechargeable Battery Built in(Plug in at bottom)
• Rechargeable Battery Built in
(USB Plug-in)
Power Generation Concepts
• Rechargeable Battery Dock
• Rechargeable “Quick-swap” Packs
(One sits in dock while other is used)
Morphological Chart
Morphological Chart
Brush Head Body / Grip Power Generation Energy Mechanism
Concept 1 standard bristle placement single on/off button on face of grip replaceable AA battery thin drive shaft that connects to rotating brush head to turn bristles
Concept 2 360 degree-rotation head thick body for better grip built-in rechargeable battery that plugs in at bottom
thicker drive shaft that delivers large vibrations
Concept 3 large, rotating brush head "low battery" light USB capable rechargeable battery rubber-coated drive shaft to reduce noise
Concept 4 vibration-powered angled bristles hanging hooks that snap on the back docking station for charging none
Concept 5 2 small, rotating brush heads longer neck for more brushing leverage
rechargeable "quick-swap" packs for charging none
Concept Selection: Pugh Charts
Brush Head Concepts
Durable (.2) Quiet (.42) Powerful (.12) Total Rank
Standard bristle placement
0 0 0 0 2
360-degree rotation
-1 0 -1 -0.32 4
Large, circular brush head
0 1 1 0.54 1
Vibration-powered only
0 0 0 0 2
2 small circular heads
-1 -1 1 -0.5 5
Concept Selection: Pugh Charts
Body & Grip Concepts
Durable (.2) Ease of Use (.2) Weight (.35) Total Rank
“low battery” and single on/off
button0 0 0 0 1
Thicker body 1 -1 -1 -0.35 2
Hanging hooks 0 -1 -1 -0.55 3
Longer neck 0 -1 -1 -0.55 3
Concept Selection: Pugh Charts
Power Generation Concepts
Safe (.06) Weight (.35) Ease of Use (.2) Total Rank
Replaceable AA battery
0 0 0 0 2
Built-in rechargeable
battery that plugs directly into wall
0 -1 1 -0.15 3
USB-rechargeable battery
0 0 -1 -0.2 5
Charge dock 1 0 1 0.26 1
“quick-swap” packs
0 -1 1 -0.15 3
Concept Selection: Pugh Charts
Energy Mechanism Concepts
Durable (.2) Quiet (.42) Powerful (.12) Total Rank
Thin drive shaft for less
noise0 0 0 0 2
Thicker drive shaft for more
vibration0 -1 1 -0.3 3
Rubber-coated drive shaft to reduce noise
1 1 0 0.62 1
Concept Selection: Pugh Charts
Final Concepts
Portable (.29)User Friendly
(.61)Flexible (.1) Durable (.2) Total Rank
Roemer (single AA battery, rotating
head) 0 0 0 0 0 2
Shrefler (rechargable battery, rotating head)
-1 1 0 1 0.52 1
Mccrum (built-in rechargable battery, oscillating head)
0 -1 -1 0 -0.71 3
Final Design• Single on/off function
• “Battery is Low” Light
• Rechargeable battery with small charging dock
• Rubber coating on drive shaft to reduce noise
Final Design (Drawings)
How It Works• When toothbrush is turned on, the DC motor starts running.
• Power generated from the motor is converted by the driveshaft into a spinning brushing motion that is used to clean teeth.
• Rubber drive shaft cover eliminates clacking from the vibrations in the brush
• When battery life decreases to a certain point, battery light turns on, warning consumer that the brush is close to dying.
Closing Remarks• We believe that our redesigned product has successfully
addressed customer needs at a good cost.
• “Low Battery” light, a single on/off button, and the drive shaft cover were all accomplished objectives from our revised problem statement
• Overall, our product is an effective electric toothbrush that is reasonably priced, convenient to consumers and travel-friendly.