Applicator Plug With Adjustable Through-Hole Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing applicators for cosmetic tools and hair dyes face issues with distortion of through-holes in plugs, leading to liquid leakage due to uneven cooling and strong sealing forces, which hinder the airflow and proper dispensing of liquid application materials.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a plug with adjustable through-holes and a cap with a sloped inner surface and ring-shaped depressed groove to manage pressure, along with a breechblock with pressure-absorbing features to prevent distortion and leakage, ensuring reliable airflow and secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the plug is formed by heating and molding a thermoplastic synthetic resin member, then the plug can be manufactured with complex shapes including through-holes, but the through-hole becomes distorted due to uneven cooling contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a non-uniform wall thickness distribution in the plug, with the central portion having a smaller diameter than the end portions. This local structural variation compensates for the uneven cooling contraction, preventing through-hole distortion while maintaining manufacturability through conventional molding processes.
2Ease of operation
If the cap is removed with strong tightening force to overcome strong sealing force, then the cap can be opened, but liquid leakage occurs from the core material
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary anti-action by providing a preliminary air passage that allows air to enter the storage section before the cap is fully removed. This preliminary action equalizes the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cap, preventing liquid leakage during the uncapping process while still allowing the cap to be opened with reasonable force.
3Reliability
If the sealing force of the cap is strong to prevent liquid leakage, then liquid is contained, but air flow passage for liquid application material is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies segmentation by separating the air passage into two distinct parts: a preliminary air passage that opens early to equalize pressure and prevent leakage, and a main air passage that remains restricted to control liquid application. This segmentation allows the cap to maintain strong sealing for liquid containment while still permitting necessary air flow for proper liquid dispensing.
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
This solution prevents distortion of the through-holes, secures airflow for liquid application materials, and prevents leakage during uncapping, ensuring consistent and efficient application.
Implementation Method 1
the plug is formed by putting a thermoplastic synthetic resin member as a material into a mold and injection-molding the resin member in the mold
Implementation Method 2
injection-molding the resin member in the mold such that a radial thickness on both end sides of a plug base
Implementation Method 3
the cap has a sloped inner peripheral surface formed such that a thickness of an inner peripheral surface in a vicinity of an opening of the cap is gradually reduced toward an opening side
Implementation Method 4
a depressed groove space portion depressed in a ring shape is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap inward of the portion where the sloped inner peripheral surface is formed in a cap axial direction, so as to cause the depressed groove space portion to serve as a space for releasing an internal pressure of the cap
Data Source
AI summary
An applicator in which a through-hole in a plug cannot be distorted and therefore an air flow passage for a liquid application material can be secured, and liquid leakage from a core material impregnated with a liquid application material cannot be caused upon uncapping the applicator. The applicator includes: a body; an application member housed in the body; a storage section in which the liquid application material is stored; and a plug positioned on the rear end of the application member to penetrate and hold the application member into and in a through-hole that is bored in the plug, and can allow an rear-end-side tip part of the application member to be exposed on the storage section side, wherein the shape of the through-hole is formed in such a manner that the width of a gap between the through-hole and the application member penetrating in the through-hole can be adjusted.