Applicator Device with Spacer Pads to Prevent Surface Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing applicator devices contaminate, irritate, or mechanically impair delicate surfaces due to the flexible carrier sheet's border coming into contact with the surface during use, and the active substance requires pressure to penetrate the applicator layer, which can lead to initial contact with a dry layer.
Innovation Solution
An applicator device with narrowly positioned weakening lines allows the carrier sheet's exterior to be ripped off, creating a pouch with applicator pads that keep the carrier sheet off the surface, and the applicator layer is designed to contact the surface, ensuring the pads or ribs act as spacers and the agent is applied directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the carrier sheet is designed to provide stability and mechanical properties for handling, then the device can be handled stably, but the carrier sheet border contacts the surface and causes contamination or mechanical impairment
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator device is segmented into distinct functional zones: a stable carrier sheet portion for handling and an applicator portion with pads for substance application. The weakening line creates a clear separation between these segments, allowing the carrier sheet to provide stability while the applicator portion makes contact with the surface, preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful border portion of the carrier sheet is effectively removed from the application process. The weakening line allows the outer carrier sheet material to be torn away, extracting only the necessary applicator portion with pads that are safe for surface contact, while the stable carrier sheet remains for handling.
2Reliability
If the active substance is enclosed between applicator layer and carrier sheet, then the substance is protected, but pressure is required to penetrate the applicator layer which can lead to initial contact with dry layer
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator pads are pre-loaded with the active substance during manufacturing, eliminating the need for pressure penetration during application. The substance is already in position on the pads, ready for immediate contact with the surface, improving ease of operation while maintaining protection through proper enclosure design.
Data Source
AI summary
An applicator device includes a top and a bottom layer of a flexible material tightly connected at their borders. An edge constitutes a grip zone to handle the applicator. Parallel weakening lines in each layer define an application section and closely surround a pad of a material capable to retain an agent or an elevation constituting a confinement structure for an agent. The superposition of weakening line and border of agent carrying material or the elevation constituting a part of the confinement structure avoids a contact of the flexible material with the surface to be treated as the carrying material layer or the confinement structure serve as a spacer. As a consequence, the applicator is suited to be used on highly sensitive surfaces like skin or mucosa.