Fluid Dispenser Visual Indicator Mechanism for Dose Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid product dispensing devices, particularly nasal medication dispensers, often fail to provide reliable visual feedback on the actual distribution of the product through the spray orifice, leading to potential malfunctions where the dose is counted without being dispensed.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser device with a visual dose-taking indicator that moves from a non-indication to an indication position due to fluid pressure during dispensing, ensuring the user sees the indicator in the indication position only after a dose has been effectively dispensed, utilizing a movable member biased by a spring and a blocking element that returns to the non-indication position at the start of actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a mechanical dose-counting system is used to indicate the number of doses dispensed, then the user is informed of the number of doses, but the system cannot confirm that the fluid product has actually been dispensed through the dispensing orifice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the visual indicator is directly coupled to the fluid flow path. The indicator only changes state when fluid actually passes through the dispensing orifice, providing real-time confirmation that a dose has been delivered. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring the indication system reflects actual dispensing status rather than just actuation events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (the visual indicator positioned at the dispensing orifice) that mediates between the fluid flow and the user observation. This intermediary directly senses fluid passage and translates it into a visible signal, ensuring that only actual dose delivery triggers the indication.
2Reliability
If the visual indicator remains in the indication position after actuation, then the user sees confirmation of dose delivery, but the indicator cannot indicate the next dose status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action where the visual indicator resets to its initial state after each dosing cycle and only activates again when the next dose is actually dispensed. This periodic reset mechanism ensures the indicator is always ready to signal the next dose status while maintaining reliable indication for each individual dose event.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator is preliminarily positioned in a ready state before each dosing event, allowing it to immediately respond and indicate when fluid passage occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures the system is prepared to track each dose status without delay while maintaining accurate indication.
3Ease of operation
If the indicator is moved to the non-indication position at the beginning of each actuation, then the indicator is ready to show dose delivery, but the user cannot distinguish between actuation and actual dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator position at the beginning of actuation serves as a baseline state, and the actual dispensing confirmation is provided through the transition to the indication position triggered by fluid passage. This feedback mechanism distinguishes between mere actuation and actual dose delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator is preliminarily reset to the non-indication position at the start of each actuation cycle, preparing the system to detect and signal actual fluid dispensing. This preliminary action ensures the indicator is ready to provide dispensing confirmation while maintaining the ability to distinguish actuation from actual dose delivery.
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
Guarantees the user that the dose has been dispensed by maintaining the indicator in the indication position until the next actuation, preventing false indications of dose delivery in case of malfunction or incorrect actuation.
Implementation Method 1
a movable element forced by a spring towards its non-indication position
Implementation Method 2
forced by the pressure of the fluid product during distribution towards its indication position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for dispensing fluid material, said device comprising a dispensing member (10), such as a pump or a valve, that is mounted onto a fluid material tank (20) and is actuated by means of a dispensing head (30) comprising a spray opening (31), said device comprising a visual indication means (50) that is movable between an indicating position and a non-indicating position, said visual indication means (50) being moved into the non-indicating position at the start of each actuation of said dispensing member (10) and moreover being moved from said non-indicating position into said indicating position by means of said fluid material during the dispensing thereof.