Cosmetic Container Piston Indicator Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find it difficult to determine the remaining content amount in opaque cosmetic containers with airless discharge pumps, as the content level cannot be visually assessed due to the opaque material and lack of direct sunlight exposure.
Innovation Solution
A cosmetic container design featuring a piston that rises along the inner wall, coupled with an indicator system comprising a rotating pointer, torsion spring, and thread mechanism, which indicates the content exhaustion level as the piston moves, allowing users to easily gauge the remaining amount by observing the pointer's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the container is made of opaque material, then the content is protected from direct sunlight, but the user cannot visually check the remaining content amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an indicator mechanism as an intermediary between the piston and the user. This indicator includes a pointer that rotates to display the remaining content level, allowing users to obtain visual information about content quantity without needing to see through the opaque container material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct visual observation of the content level with a mechanical indication system. The piston's linear motion is converted into rotational motion of a pointer through a thread mechanism and torsion spring, substituting optical access with mechanical signal transmission.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the container is made opaque to protect content from sunlight, then content protection is improved, but content level detection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
An indicator mechanism serves as an intermediary that translates the piston position into a visible pointer reading. This allows content level detection without compromising the opaque container structure that protects the content from sunlight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes direct optical detection of content level with a mechanical indication system. The pointer rotation mechanism converts the hidden piston position into an externally visible measurement, resolving the detection difficulty while maintaining container opacity for protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple opaque container is used, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but user awareness of content exhaustion is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator mechanism acts as an information intermediary that provides continuous feedback to the user about content levels. This maintains the simplicity of the opaque container while adding a relatively simple mechanical indication system that prevents information loss about content exhaustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the pointer position continuously reflects the piston position and thus the remaining content level. This feedback loop keeps the user informed about content exhaustion without complicating the basic container structure or manufacturing process.
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
Enables users to effortlessly check the remaining content level by viewing the indicator's position, providing a clear visual representation of the exhaustion state proportional to the piston's rising height.
Implementation Method 1
an indicator indicating exhaustion level of the content contained in the container body in association with rising operation of the piston, the indicator installed beneath a bottom face of the container body and comprising an indicating pointer so as to inform the user of the remaining content amount in the container body
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cosmetic container including a piston in which content contained in the container always reaches a content inlet of an airless discharge pump as the piston rises upward along and on an inner wall of the container with operation of the airless discharge pump. More specifically, the invention relates to such a cosmetic container in which content amount remaining in the container is indicated in association with the rising movement of the piston. A cosmetic container according to the invention includes a container body; an airless discharge pump installed to the container body; a piston installed in the container body so that a topmost level of content contained in the container body reaches a content inlet of the airless discharge pump as the piston moves upward along and on an inner wall of the container body with operation of the airless discharge pump; and an indicator indicating content amount remaining in the container body in association with rising movement of the piston.