Dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispenser bottle assemblies face issues with reliable mounting and demounting to screw-threaded bases and limited rotational repositioning, often resulting in failure to engage correctly or remove the bottle after mounting.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser bottle assembly featuring a drive member with corresponding formations and abutments that allow for a limited range of rotational freedom, typically between 270 to 360 degrees, ensuring secure mounting and adjustable positioning while preventing axial removal, using a combination of a cylindrical projection, annular disc, and threaded collar with offset abutments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a screw-threaded mounting base is used to secure the dispenser bottle, then the bottle is firmly secured and not thrown around by movement, but the threads position varies from aircraft to aircraft resulting in unpredictable rotational orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed to rotate relative to the bottle projection, transforming the static mounting system into a dynamic one. This allows the bottle to be rotated to different orientations after mounting, enabling adjustment to the correct rotational position while maintaining firm securing through the threaded connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: the bottle projection for positioning, the collar for threading and rotation, and the abutments for limiting rotation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the collar able to rotate on the projection while maintaining axial securing.
2Ease of operation
If the collar is allowed to rotate freely about the projection for adjustment, then rotational repositioning is possible, but the collar may slip over the abutment resulting in failure to engage correctly or remove the bottle
Solution Approach 1:
The abutments are positioned to preemptively prevent excessive rotation before it can cause malfunction. By limiting the rotational range to approximately 300 degrees, the abutments prevent the collar from rotating too far, which would cause it to slip over the projection and lose proper engagement. This preliminary restriction ensures reliable mounting and removal operations.
3Reliability
If abutments are used to limit rotational freedom of the collar, then correct engagement is ensured, but the rotational adjustment range is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational range parameter is optimized to approximately 300 degrees, which is sufficient to accommodate variations in thread position between different aircraft while preventing excessive rotation that would cause malfunction. This parameter change balances the need for adequate adjustment range with the need to maintain reliable engagement.
4Ease of manufacture
If a non-symmetrical dispenser bottle design is used with air freshener components on one side, then product effectiveness is improved, but the bottle cannot be mounted in any rotational orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic rotation capability of the collar on the projection allows non-symmetrical bottle designs to be mounted in the correct orientation. The bottle can be initially mounted in any position and then rotated to the correct orientation, maintaining the benefits of non-symmetrical design for product effectiveness while ensuring proper mounting orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser bottle assembly (12) is adapted for attachment to a mounting base (14) fixed to a surface. The assembly (12) includes a dispenser bottle (24) having a base and a projection extending outwardly from the base, an externally threaded collar (28) mounted for rotation about the projection, and a drive member (26) mounted about the projection between the collar and the base of the bottle. The threaded collar (28) is received in a threaded recess (18) in the mounting base to secure the bottle to the base. Corresponding formations on the drive member (26), the base and the collar (28) allow the collar to be screwed into and out of the mounting base (14) by rotating the bottle whilst allowing a limited degree of rotational freedom between the bottle and the collar so that the angular orientation of the bottle can be adjusted after fitting.