Jason HegedusGreg MikusJosh Miller

Evan Schwartz10/14/2008

Problem Statement

Conceptualization: assessment of customer needs and the resulting weight of importance

Preliminary Design: brainstorming, sketches, re-design concepts

Detailed Design: CAD drawings, detailed sketches and dimensions

Production: bill of materials, engineering analysis

1. Appropriateness for children 1.1 Color schemes 1.2 Lightweight 1.3 Music playback 1.4 Timed operation 2. Battery Life 2.1 Re-chargeable battery 2.2 Stand that charges battery 2.3 Battery indicator3. Adjustability 3.1 Varying speeds 3.2 Interchangeable heads 3.3 Flexible head/neck4. Efficiency 4.1 Easy maintenance 4.2 Uses own charger 4.3 Operates for exact period of timeRetails under $15

Focus our goals on our target consumers, children ages 4-8.

Based on our assessment of the most valuable customer needs, we must refine our concepts to gear our design towards appropriateness for children and efficiency.

Our toothbrush will have design features such as a timed song, a re-chargeable battery, and a functional stand to accompany our toothbrush.

The 5 most important re-designed aspects of our toothbrush included:

Timed song Re-chargeable battery Bristle structure suitable for children Ergonomics for children Tongue scrubber

Timed Song: Button that plays music for 2 minutes (the amount of time which should be spent brushing teeth)

Re-chargeable battery built in to bottom which can be docked in the docking station that is included in our toothbrush

Bristle structure is small and closely knit to better accommodate the size of children’s teeth.

Reduced overall size to account for the size of a child’s hand. The handle is ergonomically friendly and comfortable.

Back of the neck of the brush also serves as a tongue scrubber to eliminate bacteria on the tongue.

FUNCTION ART

Circular bristles pivotally mounted to head of brush

Bristles oscillate along axis

Circular front, rectangular rear bristles

Removable music box which attaches to toothbrush

Harnesses toothbrush and head attachments

Electrically Driven Toothbrush

US005625916A US006179579B1 US005524312A

Musical Toothbrush

US005259086A

Stand and Storage US00D363605S

  Efficiency Adjustability Appropriateness Weight Total Relative Order

Efficiency 1 3 0.2 0.25 4.45 0.157

Adjustability 0.33 1 0.167 0.33 1.827 0.065

Appropriatness 5 6 1 1 13 0.46

Weight 4 3 1 1 9 0.318

Concept Efficiency Adjustability Appropriateness Weight Sum Rank

Relative Order 0.157 0.065 0.46 0.318    

Concept 1 B A S E 0 3

Concept 2 1 0 -1 0 -0.303 5

Concept 3 1 1 0 -1 -0.096 4

Concept 4 0 -1 1 0 0.395 1

Concept 5 1 1 0 0 0.222 2

Concept Efficiency Adjustability Appropriateness Weight Sum Rank

Relative Order 0.157 0.065 0.46 0.318    

Concept 1 -1 0 1 0 0.303 1

Concept 2 B A S E 0 5

Concept 3 0 1 1 -1 0.207 3

Concept 4 -1 0 1 1 0.208 2

Concept 5 0 1 1 -1 0.207 3

Concept Efficiency Adjustability Appropriateness Weight Sum Rank

Relative Order 0.157 0.065 0.46 0.318    

Concept 1 -1 -1 0 1 0.096 3

Concept 2 0 -1 -1 1 -0.207 5

Concept 3 B A S E 0 4

Concept 4 -1 -1 1 0 0.238 2

Concept 5 0 0 0 1 0.318 1

Concept Efficiency Adjustability Appropriateness Weight Sum Rank

Relative Order 0.157 0.065 0.46 0.318    

Concept 1 -1 -1 0 0 -0.222 2

Concept 2 1 0 -1 0 -0.303 5

Concept 3 0 1 0 -1 -0.253 3

Concept 4 B A S E 0 1

Concept 5 0 1 0 -1 -0.253 3

Concept Efficiency Adjustability Appropriateness Weight Sum Rank

Relative Order 0.157 0.065 0.46 0.318    

Concept 1 -1 -1 0 1 0.096 3

Concept 2 1 -1 -1 1 -0.05 5

Concept 3 0 0 1 0 0.46 2

Concept 4 -1 -1 1 1 0.556 1

Concept 5 B A S E 0 4

Material Qty Per Toothbrush Cost/unit

Bristle Heads 3 $0.05

Polythylene Body .150024 lbs $ 2.80/lb

Motor 1 $0.50

Button 2 $0.62

Re-chargeable Battery

1 $3.30

Charger Stand 1 $1.80

TOTAL $7.69

Our problem statement originally estimated a retail cost of under $15.

In the bill of materials we calculated a per unit production cost of $7.69.

If we charge the projected $15, we would make a profit of $7.31, minus the cost of shipping and packaging.

For these reasons, we feel that the toothbrush’s cost suits the demand of customers, and has a reasonable cost of production.

We as the united team of America feel that we have successfully redesigned an electric toothbrush to fit the needs of children from ages 4 to 8.

Redesign: • Cost effective• Timed song• Re-chargeable battery• Charging stand

We were able to incorporate our ideas and concepts into a ergonomic, cost-effective, and functional design.