Cone-Shaped Patching Compound Dispenser with Fingertip Rest

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current patching compounds for surfaces like wood and drywall dry quickly, requiring frequent lid removal and application with fingertips, leading to inefficiencies, uneven application, and cleanup challenges due to dried material.

Innovation Solution

A cone-shaped dispenser-applicator with a disc-shaped applicator and fingertip rest, allowing controlled dispensing and spreading of patching compound in any direction, reducing the need for frequent lid opening and minimizing material waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the lid is left off the patching compound container to access more compound, then the user can obtain compound more quickly, but the compound dries out and ruins the application quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of obtaining compoundVSAvoidquality of compound

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The user transfers compound to a damp rag in advance, preparing a portable reservoir that can be kept closed until needed. This preliminary transfer allows the main container to remain sealed while still providing access to compound when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The damp rag serves as an intermediary between the compound container and the application surface. It holds the compound in a workable state and can be kept separate from the main container, allowing the container lid to remain closed while still providing access to compound.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the user repeatedly removes and remounts the lid to obtain more compound, then the user can access fresh compound, but time is lost to this repetitious task

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of compound obtainedVSAvoidtime spent on lid operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The user transfers a larger amount of compound to a damp rag in advance, preparing a portable reservoir that provides multiple applications without needing to repeatedly open the main container. This preliminary transfer saves time by reducing the frequency of lid operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the user transfers compound to a damp rag and rolls it up, then the user can carry more compound, but the user must constantly wipe dried material from fingertips onto the rag

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of compound carriedVSAvoidease of maintaining application surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator combines the dispensing function and the spreading function into a single integrated tool. The compound is dispensed through the conical tip and immediately spread by the attached spreading element, eliminating the need to transfer between separate tools and reducing the need to wipe dried material from fingertips.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the user applies compound with fingertips, then the user has tactile control over the material, but the skin can be forced into holes leaving divots that require additional filling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile control of materialVSAvoidsmoothness of surface finish

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator combines the dispensing function and the spreading function into a single integrated tool. The compound is dispensed through the conical tip and immediately spread by the attached spreading element, providing both tactile control and a smooth finish without the skin being forced into the holes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spreading element attached to the applicator serves as an intermediary between the fingertip and the compound. It provides the spreading action while preventing the skin from being forced into the holes, thus maintaining both tactile control and surface smoothness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

5Ease of operation

If the user uses a putty knife to apply compound, then the user can spread the compound, but the straight edge can only be drawn linearly in the direction of the handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to spread compoundVSAvoiddirectional flexibility of spreading

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator uses a conical tip with a curved spreading element instead of a straight linear edge. This curved geometry allows the user to spread compound in multiple directions by rotating the applicator, providing directional flexibility that a straight-edged putty knife cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS10837186B2Patching compound dispenser-applicator

Publication Date: 2020.11.17 PELLERIN II WILLIAM

AI summary

A refillable combination patching compound dispenser and applicator has a generally cone-shaped container having a normally open end through which patching compound is introduced, a closed end terminating in a tip, a dispensing aperture disposed through the side-wall of container, proximate the tip, and a disc-shaped applicator having a center opening in communication with the dispensing aperture through which patching compound is dispensed. The apparatus is ergonomically shaped to fit easily in the palm of the user's hand and includes a fingertip rest opposite the dispensing aperture to facilitate application of patching compound in any direction over the substrate surface.