Design Project One:
The Toothbrush
Franky Reluzco
Matt Murphy
Nick Natoli
Kristen Van Tilburg
Outline of Project
 The primary objective of our
team was to redesign an electric
toothbrush to better fit
customer’s needs. Through the
process of dissection of the
electric toothbrush we learned
about the manufacturing
process. Our design team came
up with different types of
changes in which we
interviewed potential customers
for their preferences. After
discussing all of the changes and
taking into consideration of
outside opinions, we have
decided on an idea for the
perfect final product.
Project Management
 After forming an accurate outline of the tasks that needed
to be completed, we divided the workload equally among
our four teammates. This helped the process run much
more smoothly and efficiently.
 For example: While two of the members were dissecting
the originally designed toothbrush, the other two
members wrote down the parts and the functions they
served.
 For any extra work that was left over, we all worked
together in order to complete it.
Slide 4 – Final hierarchal consumer needs
chart
Table 2. Hierarchal Customer Needs List Obtained from Focus Group and Individual Interviews
AHP Pairwise Comparison Chart to Determine Weighting for Main Objective Categories
Revised Problem Statement
 Problems with most electric toothbrushes:
- Too expensive – main reason consumer will not purchase
- Too big – consumers do not want to hold a big, heavy, bulky grip/handle
- Uncomfortable – Consumers prefer a comfortable product to hold
- Not energy efficient – Normal batteries run out, annoying to replace
- Lack of versatility – Most only have one function
Slide 5 - External Search Activities
In this section our team is using much different type of methods of
research to help develop the best possible electric toothbrush.
-Product Archaeology – How and where electric toothbrushes started
and all the innovations that lead to where we are today.
-Patent Search – determined key technologies used in similar models.
-Benchmarking – Investigated and compared similar products on the
market.
Product Archaeology





The first electric toothbrush was made in Switzerland by Dr. Philippe-Guy Woog in 1954 for
handicapped people who physically could not brush their teeth..
Later determined, non-handicapped people could use the toothbrush efficiently because it
minimized the chances of improperly brushing teeth.
The first model was very compact but it had to be connected to a power outlet. These would last a
very long time because they were connected to power, but they would start getting warm due to
the outlet power.
Later on, General Electric made the first ever rechargeable electric toothbrush. Although this was a
great innovation, the product was very large and made brushing teeth very hard, and the batteries
were very undependable. The toothbrushes were put on a stand for recharging and storage.
Although the many problems existed with this product, it took off in the public. Much more simple
brushing techniques were instilled making dental health less of an issue.
Many products in the modern times contain signals either every two minutes to state that you are
done with your teeth or every thirty seconds to signify that you should move to another part of the
mouth. Some contain replaceable heads so you can always keep the body of the toothbrush; others
have UV sterilization of the head. More recent additions to the electric toothbrush include displays
where it has setting on your preference of brushing speeds and ultrasonic waves that clear the
teeth. This means that the head exhibits 2,400,000 movements per minute. As you can see,
toothbrushes are getting more and more advanced.
Patent Search
Art-Function Matrix for Electric Toothbrush
Benchmarking
Morphology Table
Power Generation
& Accessories
Human Factors &
Body Design
Hand Crank with
Storage Battery
Soft Gel Grip &
Thick Body
Battery Operated
Soft Rubber Grip
& Thick Body
Multiple Power
Levels
Soft gel Grip &
Skinny Body
2-Minute Timer
Soft Rubber Grip
& Skinny Body
Energy
Mechanism Brush
Head
Rotating Shaft
with Two Rods For
different Motion
Rotating shaft
Different Speeds
of motion
Rotating Shaft
Multiply layers of
plastic
Vibrating Shaft
Brush Head
Design(form and
function)
Exchangeable
Heads
Flossing
Attachment
Circular head with
Circular motion
Alternating Bristle
sizes
Criteria for Concept Selection
Energy Mechanism of Brush Head
Cost
0.06
Efficiency Durability Personal Hygiene
0.35
0.23
0.31
Sound
0.05
Total
Rank
Concept Iteration 1
Two rods for differention of motion
Different speeds of motion
Multiple layers of plastic (sound insulation)
Vibrating shaft
0
-1
-1
1
0
1
-1
-1
0
-1
1
1
0
1
-1
-1
0
-1
1
-1
0
0.32
-0.44
-0.42
2
1
4
3
Concept Iteration 2
Two rods for differention of motion
Different speeds of motion
Multiple layers of plastic (sound insulation)
Vibrating shaft
1
0
-1
1
-1
0
-1
-1
1
0
1
1
1
0
-1
-1
1
0
1
-1
0.3
0
-0.44
-0.42
1
2
4
3
Concept Iteration 3
Two rods for differention of motion
Different speeds of motion
Multiple layers of plastic (sound insulation)
Vibrating shaft
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
-1
-1
-1
0
-1
1
1
0
-1
-1
-1
0
-1
0.44
0.44
0
-0.88
1
1
3
4
Concept Iteration 4
Two rods for differention of motion
Different speeds of motion
Multiple layers of plastic (sound insulation)
Vibrating shaft
-1
-1
-1
0
1
1
1
0
1
-1
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
0.88
0.42
0.88
0
1
3
1
4
 Cost
 Personal
Hygiene
 Efficiency
 Durability
 Ergonomics
Human Factors Body Design
Size
Cost
Comfort
0.11
Storage
0.05
Weight
Total
Rank
0
0
-1
-1
0
1
1
1
0
-1
1
-1
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
-0.11
0.16
-0.06
2
4
1
3
Human Factors Body Design
Concept Iteration 2
Thick body, long neck, soft gel grip
Thick body, long neck, soft rubber grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft gel grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft rubber grip
Size
Cost
Comfort
Storage
Weight
0
0
-1
-1
-1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0.11
0
0.16
0.16
3
4
1
1
Human Factors Body Design
Concept Iteration 3
Thick body, long neck, soft gel grip
Thick body, long neck, soft rubber grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft gel grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft rubber grip
Size
Cost
Comfort
Storage
Weight
1
1
0
0
-1
-1
0
1
-1
-1
0
-1
-1
-1
0
0
-1
-1
0
0
Human Factors Body Design
Concept Iteration 4
Thick body, long neck, soft gel grip
Thick body, long neck, soft rubber grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft gel grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft rubber grip
Size
Cost
Comfort
Storage
Weight
1
1
0
0
-1
-1
-1
0
1
-1
1
0
-1
-1
0
0
-1
-1
0
0
Concept Iteration 1
Thick body, long neck, soft gel grip
Thick body, long neck, soft rubber grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft gel grip
Skinny body, long neck, soft rubber grip
-0.16
-0.16
0
-0.11
0.06
-0.16
0.11
0
3
3
1
2
2
4
1
3
Brush Head Design
Cost
0.18
Size
0.18
Power
0.1
Cleaning Durability
0.31
0.23
Total
Rank
Concept Iteration 1
Alternating bristle sizes, Vibration
Exchangeable heads, size differences
Oscilating motion with alternating bristles
Circular motion
0
-1
-1
1
0
-1
0
1
0
1
-1
1
0
-1
1
-1
0
1
-1
1
0
-0.34
-0.2
0.38
2
4
3
1
Concept Iteration 2
Alternating bristle sizes, Vibration
Exchangeable heads, size differences
Oscilating motion with alternating bristles
Circular motion
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
-1
0
-1
-1
1
0
1
1
-1
0
-1
-1
0.34
0
0.34
0.34
1
4
1
1
Concept Iteration 3
Alternating bristle sizes, Vibration
Exchangeable heads, size differences
Oscilating motion with alternating bristles
Circular motion
1
-1
0
1
0
-1
0
1
1
-1
0
1
-1
-1
0
-1
1
1
0
1
0.2
-0.54
0
0.38
2
4
3
1
Concept Iteration 4
Alternating bristle sizes, Vibration
Exchangeable heads, size differences
Oscilating motion with alternating bristles
Circular motion
1
-1
-1
0
-1
-1
-1
0
-1
1
1
0
-1
-1
1
0
-1
1
-1
0
-0.64
-0.34
-0.18
0
4
3
2
1
Final Design
How does it Work?
 Rechargeable batteries
 Supply chemical energy
 Motor
 Converts energy
 Driver bar
 Creates circular motion in head
 Different buttons control speed level
 2-minute timer
Concluding Remarks
Customer satisfaction based on needs:




Ergonomics
Durability/Sustainability
Efficiency
Personal Hygiene