Adjustable Dosing Cap with One-Way Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional squeeze bottles lack the ability to conveniently, accurately, and quickly dispense a metered dose of liquid, with existing solutions adding complexity, cost, weight, and rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A dosing cap with a collar member and cap member formed from a single polymeric material, featuring one-way valves for fluid flow control and an adjustable metering chamber, allowing for precise volume adjustment and fluid dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rigid cap structures with dip tubes, pistons, or pump devices are used to provide metered dose, then dosing accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into functional segments: a collar member with one-way valves for fluid control, and a cap member with a dispensing element. The metering chamber is formed by the interaction of these segments, allowing simple components to achieve complex dosing functionality through their arrangement and interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-way valves in the collar member automatically control fluid flow direction without requiring external actuation. The metering chamber self-adjusts its volume through the interaction of the cap member and collar member, eliminating the need for complex mechanical dosing mechanisms while maintaining dosing accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If rigid cap structures with dip tubes, pistons, or pump devices are used to provide metered dose, then dosing capability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar member and cap member are formed from flexible polymeric materials that can be molded into the required shapes with thin walls. This flexible construction maintains the structural integrity needed for metered dosing while significantly reducing the weight compared to rigid cap structures with dip tubes, pistons, or pump devices.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional squeeze bottle structure is used, then ease of manufacture and low cost are maintained, but dosing functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing functionality is merged with the existing squeeze bottle structure by integrating the collar member and cap member with the bottle. The one-way valves and metering chamber are incorporated into the cap assembly, allowing the simple squeeze bottle design to gain dosing capability without requiring a completely new product design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap assembly serves multiple functions: it seals the bottle opening, provides metered dosing through the adjustable metering chamber, controls fluid flow through one-way valves, and enables easy attachment and detachment from the bottle. This multi-functionality maintains the simplicity of the overall system while adding dosing capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables convenient, accurate, and quick dispensing of a metered dose of liquid while maintaining the simplicity and low cost of conventional squeeze bottles.
Implementation Method 1
The base includes (i) at least one opening with a first one-way valve permitting fluid flow in a first direction
Implementation Method 2
an air channel with a second one-way valve permitting fluid flow in a second direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a dosing cap. In an embodiment, the dosing cap includes (A) a collar member having an annular skirt depending from a base. An inner surface of the annular skirt has a securing member for securing the collar member to a neck of a container. The base includes (i) at least one opening with a one-way valve permitting fluid flow in a first direction, and (ii) an air channel with a one-way valve permitting fluid flow in a second direction. The dosing cap includes (B) a cap member having an annular sidewall extending from a dispensing element. An inner surface of the annular sidewall has an attachment member adjustably attached to a reciprocal attachment member on an outer surface of the first sidewall. The dosing cap includes (C) a metering chamber formed by an enclosed volume between the cap member and the base. The dosing cap includes (D) the dispensing element permitting flow of a fluid from the metering chamber.