Disposable Applicator Web Cavity Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable applicators for viscous or creamy substances often leave a significant residual amount due to the design of their curved and flat walls, which do not fully engage, resulting in incomplete dispensing of the contents.

Innovation Solution

A disposable applicator with an outwardly curved wall and an opposite wall featuring a circumferential web that engages the cavity of the curved wall, allowing the curved wall to be pressed smoothly against the web, ensuring that the entire contents are dispensed without residual amounts, with the web filling the space formed during compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a curved wall is used in the disposable applicator, then the container can be compressed to dispense contents, but residual amounts remain in the compressed container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispensing efficiencyVSAvoidresidual amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator is divided into two separate walls: a curved wall for compression and a flat opposite wall with a circumferential web. This segmentation allows the curved wall to be compressed while the flat wall with web maintains structural integrity and prevents material accumulation, resolving the contradiction between compressibility and complete dispensing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circumferential web acts as an intermediary element between the curved wall and the flat opposite wall. It fills the cavity space during compression, preventing residual material accumulation while allowing the curved wall to be compressed for dispensing, thus eliminating the residual amount problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the curved wall is compressed to dispense contents, then the filling substance can be expressed, but the curved wall creates protruding areas where contents accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression operationVSAvoiddispensed amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The problematic protruding areas created by the curved wall during compression are eliminated by introducing the flat opposite wall with a circumferential web. This extraction of the curved wall's problematic geometry allows complete compression without creating accumulation zones, ensuring all contents can be dispensed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple curved wall design is used, then the manufacturing is easier, but significant residual amounts remain undispensed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddispensing completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire wall complex, the invention applies local quality by introducing a flat section with a circumferential web only at the critical area where the curved wall compresses. This localized modification maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving complete dispensing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution enables the complete dispensing of the container contents, particularly beneficial for viscous substances, by ensuring the curved wall rests on the web in the compressed state, preventing any residual material from being left behind.

Implementation Method 1

the curved wall is shaped and dimensioned so that it can be pressed smoothly against the web and the area of the opposite wall lying in between

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2482786B1Disposable applicator
Publication Date: 2016.05.04 GAPLAST GMBH
  • EP2482786B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2482786B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP2482786B1 patent drawingFigure 8

AI summary

The disposable applicator for dispensing a filling substance, comprising a holding space (9) for the substance, said holding space (9) being provided with an outlet, is characterized in that the holding space has a convex wall (2) and an opposite wall (4) that is provided with a peripheral web (5) which engages in the cavity of the convex wall at the edge of said cavity, and in that the convex wall is shaped in such a manner that it can be smoothly pressed onto the web and the region on the opposite wall which is located therebetween.