Counter-Mounted Refill Holder for No-Rotation Bottle Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Counter mounted dispensing systems face difficulties in the removal and installation of refill product containers, especially in tight quarters under sinks, where cylindrical containers are preferred for rotation but do not maximize space, and rectangular containers cannot rotate due to space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A counter mounted dispensing system design that allows for the receipt and holding of rectangular cross-section product containers without rotation, using a container receptacle and a collar key with a release mechanism and alignment skirt to ensure proper orientation and secure fit, enabling blind installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cylindrical refill product containers are used and secured through relative rotation, then the containers can be easily installed and removed by rotation in tight quarters, but the container volume is not maximized compared to square cross-section containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric features including a D-shaped container cross-section and a corresponding asymmetric receptacle opening. The container has a flat side and a curved side, while the receptacle opening has a complementary shape with a straight edge and a curved edge. This asymmetric design allows the container to be inserted only in the correct orientation, providing foolproof installation without requiring rotation, while maximizing space utilization with a non-circular cross-section.
2Volume of moving object
If square or rectangular cross-section product containers are used to maximize volume, then more product can be held in the same space, but the containers cannot rotate in tight quarters between sink basin and walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric features including a D-shaped container cross-section and a corresponding asymmetric receptacle opening. The container has a flat side and a curved side, while the receptacle opening has a complementary shape with a straight edge and a curved edge. This asymmetric design allows the container to be inserted only in the correct orientation, providing foolproof installation without requiring rotation, while maximizing space utilization with a non-circular cross-section.
3Area of stationary object
If the container receptacle is positioned in tight quarters under the counter, then space utilization is maximized, but the individual must operate blindly or get down below the counter to view the elements
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric D-shaped container and receptacle opening create a self-aligning, self-guiding insertion mechanism. The flat side of the container naturally aligns with the straight edge of the receptacle opening, allowing the user to simply push the container into place without needing to see or rotate it. The geometry itself guides the correct orientation and insertion, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for visual confirmation or complex manipulation in tight spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A counter mounted dispensing system includes a bottle support under a counter and a product container having a collar key. The product container is received by the bottle support and held thereby without the need for relative rotational movement between the product container and the bottle support. The product container thus may have a cross-sectional shape that prohibits the product container from being rotated at the location of receipt, typically due to contact between the container and a wall or the sink basin. An alignment skirt on the bottle support ensures that the product container is properly oriented for receipt, and a release ring in the bottle support engages the collar key on the product container to releasably hold the product container.