Toothbrush Redesign Project
EDSGN 100H, Section 001: Intro Engr Dsgn
Group #2
Kerri Smyth- kas5334@psu.edu
Amanda Mills- acm210@psu.edu
Elizabeth Lindsay- eal5058@psu.edu
Arwen Kandt- ark5126@psu.edu
Toothbrush Redesign Report
submitted to: Professor Sven Bilen
date: October 11, 2007
Original Toothbrush
Final Design/Prototype
Abstract:
Our team implemented an engineering design process in order to achieve our goal of developing an electric toothbrush that appeals to the public. First we used surveys and focus groups to discover what the public desires in a toothbrush. From this we learned that many people most consider the expense when buying toothbrushes, because the majority of those we surveyed did not buy electric toothbrushes because they are much more expensive than manual ones. Therefore, our main objective became delivering a cheaper toothbrush that still effectively cleans teeth. Our other objectives included the toothbrush being comfortable to hold, easy to use, and aesthetically pleasing. We then used external and internal research including examining and disassembling a toothbrush currently on the market to discover design aspects used in different toothbrushes. After brainstorming ideas using a systematic concept generation process, we used a selection matrix to choose the best design. Our final design includes the following features: a toothbrush head that repeats a translational back and forth motion, fading bristles that indicate when to change the brush head, a snap-open battery case, two AAA batteries to power the motor, a comfort grip, a curved body, and a draining hole to prevent motor water-log, and multiple color schemes. We accomplished our primary goal of reducing the cost to produce the toothbrush by using a cheaper motor and batteries than the competition, thus allowing us to sell it at $2.99. The following report outlines the process, development, and final concept in creating this toothbrush.
Introduction and Mission Statement