Clutch-Driven Riser Mechanism for Consumable Product Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer products with consumable items, such as deodorant or antiperspirant, face the issue of the consumable product level decreasing below the housing edge, requiring users to manually adjust the product, and once exhausted, the entire product is discarded, leading to waste and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A consumer product design featuring a housing with a door and actuating device, a cartridge with a riser mechanism, and a clutch system that allows the consumable product to be advanced and accessed easily, enabling efficient use and replacement of cartridges without fully discarding the product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the consumable product level decreases below the housing edge during use, then the product can be fully consumed, but the user must manually adjust the product by turning a thumb screw, which complicates operation
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch mechanism automatically advances the consumable product when the door is closed, eliminating the need for manual thumb screw adjustment. The system self-regulates by detecting door closure and automatically raising the consumable product back into the accessible position within the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch mechanism is pre-configured to automatically raise the consumable product before the user needs to access it again. By linking the door closure action to the clutch activation, the system performs the adjustment action in advance, ensuring the consumable product is always in the correct position for the next use.
2Device complexity
If the entire consumer product is discarded once the consumable product is exhausted, then the product structure can be simple, but this leads to waste and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The consumer product is divided into separable components: a reusable housing containing the clutch mechanism and door, and a replaceable cartridge containing the consumable product. This segmentation allows the durable housing to be retained and reused while only the consumable cartridge is discarded, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables selective discarding of only the consumable cartridge while recovering and reusing the housing. The clutch mechanism and door assembly remain in the housing for continued use with new cartridges, preventing the disposal of functional components and reducing overall product waste.
3Ease of operation
If a clutch mechanism is introduced to automatically advance the consumable product, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch mechanism is integrated into the existing door assembly, merging two functions (door closure and clutch activation) into a single component system. This reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate mechanisms and utilizing the door's movement to drive the clutch engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The door serves multiple functions: it provides access to the consumable product, acts as a cover for the housing, and simultaneously activates the clutch mechanism to advance the product. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby managing device complexity while improving operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A consumer product (100) includes a housing (110) defining an internal volume. A door (130) is coupled to the housing, and the door is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The door includes an actuating device (132) positioned on a first side of the door and configured to be actuated by a user. The door also includes a first portion (310) of a clutch (300) positioned on a second side of the door. The first portion of the clutch rotates in response to actuation of the actuating device.