Personal Care Bottle Groove Alignment for Razor Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid dispensing razors require multiple steps and products for shaving, leading to inconvenience and mess, with bottles lacking intuitive functionality and design limitations in incorporating features due to manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A personal care bottle with a collapsible bag and cap having a frangible seal, integrated into a shaving razor system, featuring a groove and protrusion design for secure alignment and prevention of rotation, allowing for intuitive handling and secure liquid transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a bottle is integrated into the razor handle for liquid dispensing, then the number of shaving steps is reduced, but the bottle alignment and security become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving process efficiencyVSAvoidbottle alignment and security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bottle features an asymmetric groove pattern on its outer surface that corresponds to asymmetric protrusions on the handle's inner surface. This asymmetric geometry provides intuitive alignment during insertion and prevents rotational movement, ensuring the bottle remains securely positioned without requiring complex fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The bottle is nested within the handle structure, with the handle's inner surface containing recesses that receive the bottle's outer surface features. The groove-protrusion interface creates a nested relationship where the bottle is securely held within the handle's cavity, providing both alignment and retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional bottles are used in razors, then manufacturing is simpler, but the bottles lack intuitive functionality and secure positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebottle production simplicityVSAvoidbottle functionality and positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric groove pattern is molded directly into the bottle's outer surface during manufacturing. This asymmetric feature provides intuitive alignment and rotational prevention when the bottle is inserted into the handle, enhancing functionality without requiring complex post-manufacturing assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment features (grooves) are merged with the bottle's outer surface structure rather than being separate components. This integration maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing the necessary alignment and positioning functionality when combined with the handle's protrusions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of repair

If the bottle can be removed and reinserted, then cartridge replacement is facilitated, but rotational misalignment may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecartridge replacement convenienceVSAvoidbottle rotational alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric groove-protrusion interface ensures that when the bottle is removed and reinserted, it can only be placed back in the correct rotational orientation. The asymmetric geometry provides tactile feedback during insertion, guiding the user to the proper alignment without requiring visual inspection or complex alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3923765B1Bottle for a personal care device
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP3923765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3923765B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3923765B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A personal care bottle with a distal end portion and a proximal end with a shoulder. A collapsible bag is positioned within the bottle. The collapsible bag configured to contain a liquid. A cap defining an opening having a frangible seal is cap mounted to the proximal end. The bottle has an outer surface defining a groove extending from the shoulder toward the distal end portion.