Applicator for Adhesive Lavatory Treatment Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing applicators for adhesive lavatory treatment compositions require direct contact with the toilet bowl, leading to variable application success and user discomfort, as they rely on manual placement and pressure application, which can result in inconsistent adherence and hygiene concerns.
Innovation Solution
A single-use, two-part applicator with a piston mechanism and grip element that dispenses a metered quantity of adhesive composition onto the toilet bowl's sidewall, ensuring consistent application without direct user contact, utilizing a bell-shaped base and stop means to control piston movement and minimize adherence to the applicator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a pouched single-dose mass is manually applied by consumers, then the applicator structure is simple, but the user must come into direct contact with the interior surface of the toilet bowl and apply pressure with fingers, leading to hygiene concerns and variable application success
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is divided into two separate parts: a pistol grip handle and a replaceable cartridge containing the adhesive composition. This segmentation allows the user to handle only the external grip portion, preventing direct contact with the toilet bowl surface, while the cartridge can be easily replaced. The segmentation also enables consistent application through the standardized interface between grip and cartridge.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge serves as an intermediary between the user and the application surface. It contains the adhesive composition and has a flat face that directly contacts the toilet bowl, while the user interacts only with the external grip. This intermediary protects the user from hygiene concerns and ensures consistent application through the controlled interface.
2Device complexity
If manual placement and pressure application are used, then the applicator requires minimal components, but the application success is highly variable between consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive composition is pre-loaded into the cartridge in a controlled manufacturing environment, ensuring proper positioning and quantity before reaching the user. The flat face of the cartridge is pre-formed to match the application surface, eliminating the need for users to manually position or press the composition, thereby ensuring consistent and reliable application.
3Device complexity
If direct contact with the toilet bowl is required, then the applicator can be simple in design, but user discomfort and hygiene concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator separates the user-contact portion (pistol grip handle) from the surface-contact portion (cartridge with flat face). This segmentation allows the user to grip and maneuver the external handle without any part of their hand touching the toilet bowl, eliminating hygiene concerns and user discomfort while maintaining a relatively simple overall design.
4Productivity
If adhesive composition is applied without controlled dispensing, then the application process is faster, but adherence consistency varies
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is designed to apply the adhesive composition automatically when pressed against the surface. The internal structure of the cartridge controls the dispensing of the adhesive, ensuring consistent application without requiring the user to manually control the amount or pressure, thereby maintaining both speed and consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an applicator for an adhesive lavatory treatment composition. The applicator comprises a quantity of an adhesive lavatory composition, a piston part moveably engageable with a base part, wherein the piston part includes a piston plate and a grip element, the base part includes an upper cavity, and a lower cavity, wherein the piston plate is fitted within the upper cavity of the base part and is moveable within the upper cavity of the base part. The applicator may be a single use applicator adapted to dispense only a single dose of an adhesive lavatory treatment composition, or may be a multi-use applicator which may be refilled and reused to deliver plural doses of an adhesive lavatory treatment composition.