Deodorant Roller Ball Sealing via Elastic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for flowable fluids, such as deodorant rollers, face challenges in maintaining a tight seal to prevent fluid loss and leakage, especially when the ball is positioned below the fluid, while also needing to minimize material usage for environmental and recycling considerations.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a container casing with a discharge opening and a supporting and holding unit that includes a ball, where at least three contact areas are formed between the unit and the ball, with distinct areas for supporting and sealing functions, allowing for efficient sealing and reduced material usage through the use of polymer materials and injection blow molding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing device is designed to tightly seal the discharge opening, then fluid loss and leakage are prevented, but material usage increases which conflicts with environmental protection and recycling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device utilizes a thin-walled spherical structure that flexibly deforms to create an effective seal. The ball's thin shell conforms to the discharge opening geometry, achieving reliable sealing with minimal material thickness. This flexible thin-walled approach prevents fluid leakage while using substantially the minimum amount of material possible, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and material consumption.
2Productivity
If the ball is positioned below the fluid from the outset, then the ball is already moistened and application is faster, but the risk of fluid spilling out increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ball positioned below the fluid level automatically moistens itself through capillary action and gravity-driven fluid flow. The ball picks up fluid from the container's fluid reservoir and maintains an optimal moisture balance on its surface. This self-regulating mechanism enables faster application since the ball is pre-moistened, while simultaneously preventing fluid spillage through controlled capillary wicking that limits excess fluid transfer.
3Reliability
If the ball tightly seals the discharge opening, then fluid drying out is prevented, but the complexity of the sealing mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing device merges the sealing function with the ball's primary function as a fluid transfer element. The same spherical component that moves fluid between the container and application surface also creates the seal at the discharge opening. This integration eliminates the need for separate sealing mechanisms, rings, or gaskets, achieving reliable fluid preservation through the ball's inherent geometric fit and elastic deformation capabilities.
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
The design ensures a tight seal, reduces material consumption, and enhances the durability of the sealing mechanism, allowing for effective and economical production while meeting recycling and biodegradability requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a wall section of the supporting and holding unit can be formed in the sealing area to abut against the ball and thereby merely elastically deform
Data Source
AI summary
A container for accommodating a liquid, in particular a deodorant roller, has a container jacket, a discharge opening arranged in the container jacket, a supporting and holding unit which is arranged on the container jacket and which encloses a flow channel connected to the discharge opening, and a ball arranged such that the ball can rotate in the supporting and holding unit and is able to seal off said flow channel with respect to the surroundings of the container is provided herein. Formed between the supporting and holding unit and the ball are at least three contact areas, which run around the ball and are formed substantially parallel to one another. Preferably, at least two contact areas are formed as a supporting and holding areas, and at least one contact area as a sealing area.