Cosmetic Container Shell Segmented Guideway Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetic storage containers, such as lipstick tubes, suffer from a loose and unsmooth operation due to a large sliding gap between the spiral groove and guiding protrusion, leading to an undesirable user experience.
Innovation Solution
A shell device for cosmetic storage containers featuring a movable cylindrical portion, a rotatable cylindrical portion, and a spiral barrel with a first and second spiral guideway, where the second spiral guideway slides freely in the first, increasing contact area and stability, and optionally made from the same PET material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spiral groove and guiding protrusion are used for axial displacement, then the structure enables extend and retract function, but the large sliding gap causes loose operation and poor hand feel
Solution Approach 1:
The single spiral groove is segmented into multiple spiral grooves (first spiral groove, second spiral groove, etc.) that are distributed around the spiral barrel. Correspondingly, the guiding protrusion is divided into multiple guiding protrusions. This segmentation reduces the sliding gap between each guiding protrusion and its corresponding spiral groove, thereby improving operation smoothness and sliding stability while maintaining the extend and retract function.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple spiral groove structure is used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the contact area between guiding protrusion and spiral groove is small leading to unstable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral groove structure is segmented into multiple grooves and corresponding protrusions, which increases the total contact area between the guiding protrusions and spiral grooves. This improved contact area enhances sliding stability without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity, as the segmented structure can still be formed using conventional molding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral grooves and guiding protrusions are designed with specific local geometries (convex and concave configurations) that optimize the contact area and distribution. This local quality enhancement ensures stable operation while maintaining overall structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
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
This design achieves a compact structure, desirable hand feel, smooth and stable operation, and low cost, enhancing user experience and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
increasing the contact area between the guiding protrusion and the spiral groove and increasing sliding stability
Data Source
AI summary
A shell device for a cosmetic storage container includes a movable cylindrical portion, a rotatable cylindrical portion axially provided with a cutting groove, and a spiral barrel. A guiding protrusion is provided on an outer sidewall of the movable cylindrical portion. The movable cylindrical portion is movably provided in the rotatable cylindrical portion. The guiding protrusion is movably positioned in the cutting groove. The guiding protrusion is movably positioned in a spiral groove formed in an inner wall of the spiral barrel. The bottom of the spiral barrel is sleeved outside the rotatable cylindrical portion. The spiral barrel and the rotatable cylindrical portion rotate relative to each other in a circumferential direction, and are positioned relative to each other in an axial direction. A first spiral guideway is provided in the spiral groove. A second spiral guideway is provided at the outer side of the guiding protrusion.