Consumable Dispenser Upper Hinge Design to Reduce Cover Warping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumable dispensers, such as liquid soap dispensers, experience warping of the front cover due to the deformation caused by user pressure, leading to operational issues over time.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates upper hinges with split edges offset by 90°, allowing for a slight play that improves articulation and reduces warping, along with additional features like elastic tabs and a locking mechanism to manage pressure distribution, ensuring the cover remains stable during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the front cover is made of plastic material and rotatably mounted on the frame, then the cover can rotate smoothly and provide easy access to the interior, but the thrust from user pressure causes the cover to deform and warp over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover rotationVSAvoidcover shape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The upper hinge is divided into two separate rotation elements (first rotation element carried by the cover, second rotation element carried by the frame) with offset split edges. This segmentation allows independent movement and creates play between the elements, distributing the thrust forces and preventing warping of the cover while maintaining rotational functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the upper hinge is designed with tight fitting components, then the articulation is secure and stable, but the cover warps due to accumulated deformation from user pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge articulation stabilityVSAvoidcover shape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The split edges of the rotation elements are offset by an angle substantially equal to 90° relative to each other. This parameter change creates a specific geometric relationship that generates play in the hinge articulation, allowing the hinge to accommodate thrust forces without transmitting deformation to the cover, thus maintaining both articulation stability and cover shape stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the number of upper hinges is increased, then the warping phenomenon is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover shape stabilityVSAvoidhinge system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second rotation element extends along an axis transverse to the longitudinal plane of the dispenser, creating a three-dimensional hinge configuration. This dimensional change allows the hinge to accommodate forces from multiple directions, reducing warping effects without requiring additional hinges, thus maintaining device simplicity while improving cover stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3738491B1Dispenser of consumable such as liquid soap or hydro-alcoholic solution
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 PAREDES FAB
  • EP3738491B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3738491B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3738491B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a dispenser for consumables of the liquid soap type, hydro-alcoholic solution, comprising: - a housing comprising a frame (5) and a cover (7) movable on the frame between a closed and open position, - a locking element for the cover on the frame, - a lower hinge allowing rotation of the cover, - at least one upper hinge (67) near an upper edge (65) of the dispenser allowing rotation of the cover when the cover is in the closed position.According to the invention, the distributor is remarkable in that each upper hinge comprises a first rotation element (73) carried by the hood and having a first split edge (79), and a second rotation element (75) carried by the frame and having a second split edge (83) offset by an angle of 90° with respect to said first split edge, said first and second split edges interpenetrating and at least one of the rotation elements extending transversely to the longitudinal plane of the distributor.