Self-Sealing Airless Dispenser Neck Flex Pinch Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices for fluid materials often result in erratic fluid delivery due to user-dependent squeezing and lack of valves, leading to potential leakage and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing device with a pump chamber and dispensing head design that creates a pinch valve without additional valve structures, ensuring controlled and measured fluid dispensing by flexing the neck portion to seal the channel, preventing leaks and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible container with a separate one-way valve is used, then fluid delivery can be controlled, but the device complexity increases and the valve requires separate insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the valve function directly into the container structure by forming a valve member within the container body itself, eliminating the need for separate valve components that must be inserted. The valve is created as part of the container formation process, merging the container and valve into a single integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure automatically forms the valve member during container formation, requiring no separate assembly steps or additional components. The valve is self-created as part of the container manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate valve insertion or assembly operations.
2Device complexity
If user-dependent squeezing is used for dispensing, then the device structure can be simple, but the fluid delivery precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic dispensing mechanism where the container can be oriented in different positions (upright, inverted, or at angles) and the valve member responds dynamically to gravity and pressure changes. This allows consistent measured dispensing regardless of container orientation, as the valve automatically regulates flow based on the applied forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member provides automatic feedback control by responding to pressure changes and flow conditions. When fluid flow encounters resistance or the container is repositioned, the valve automatically adjusts to maintain consistent measured dispensing, eliminating the erratic results of manual squeezing.
3Device complexity
If no valves are employed in the container, then the device complexity is reduced, but fluid leakage and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the container interior into a fluid storage region and a dispensing region separated by the valve member. The valve creates a distinct boundary that controls fluid transition between regions, preventing uncontrolled leakage and contamination while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member acts as an intermediary element between the fluid storage and external environment. It mediates fluid flow by allowing controlled passage when needed while preventing uncontrolled leakage and contamination, providing protection without requiring complex sealing mechanisms.
4Device complexity
If the container must be held upright to avoid leakage, then the operation simplicity is reduced, but the device complexity can be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is designed to be dynamically responsive to container orientation and applied pressure. Whether the container is held upright, inverted, or at various angles, the valve automatically adjusts its sealing and flow characteristics to prevent leakage, allowing complete handling flexibility without requiring upright positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member changes its operational parameters (sealing force, flow resistance) based on container orientation and pressure conditions. This allows the same simple valve structure to effectively prevent leakage in all orientations by adapting its behavior to the prevailing physical conditions.
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
The device provides consistent, measured fluid delivery with self-sealing properties, preventing drips and contamination, and maintaining fluid in the channel through vacuum retention.
Implementation Method 1
Pressing the pump chamber dome forces liquid from the pump chamber into the neck channel
Implementation Method 2
the neck portion of the dispensing device flex when the container is filled with fluid causing the rigid bottom portion to flex out of its planar orientation/conformation, pinching shut the channel
Implementation Method 3
While fluid resides in the distal portion of the neck channel and in the channel that traverses the dispensing head, that fluid is held in place by vacuum due to the narrow diameter of the passage
Data Source
AI summary
A dispensing device affixed to the outside of a flexible container. A top part of the device includes a pump dome, a pump chamber ridge, and pump chamber flange. A bottom part includes a pump chamber, a pump chamber flange, a neck portion, and a dispensing head having an outlet at the end of a dispensing channel. The dispensing channel and the outlet are situated in a portion of the dispensing head that extends below the plane of the neck portion. The top part is sealed to the bottom part creating a channel between the pump chamber and the dispensing side of the dispenser. The device is sealed to the container in two discrete areas, namely the flange of the pump chamber and the bottom of the distal portion of the dispensing head. The area of the dispensing element between the pump chamber and the distal end of the dispensing head, referred herein as the neck portion, is not sealed to the container, causing the neck portion of the dispensing device to flex, pinching shut the channel that connects the pump chamber to the dispensing head.