Portable Liquid Dispenser Shield Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable liquid dispensing devices often suffer from accidental discharge of liquids, which is difficult to prevent due to complex locking mechanisms that consumers may find hard to operate or forget to engage, leading to unwanted discharge.

Innovation Solution

A portable liquid dispensing device with a protective shield mechanism that moves within a track to cover or expose the nozzle, allowing easy engagement and disengagement by the user to prevent accidental spraying, combined with an optional key holder for added convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking mechanism is provided to prevent accidental discharge, then liquid safety is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid safetyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective shield combines the locking function with the nozzle protection function into a single integrated component. The shield moves between a retracted position (allowing dispensing) and an extended position (blocking the nozzle), merging what would otherwise be separate locking and protection mechanisms into one unified structure that simplifies operation while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective shield is designed as a movable component that can dynamically transition between two states: retracted (allowing liquid dispensing) and extended (blocking the nozzle to prevent accidental discharge). This dynamic positioning allows the device to adapt its safety function based on whether it is being carried or actively used, eliminating the need for complex static locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a locking mechanism is provided to prevent accidental discharge, then liquid safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid safetyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective shield combines the locking function with the nozzle protection function into a single integrated component. The shield moves between a retracted position (allowing dispensing) and an extended position (blocking the nozzle), merging what would otherwise be separate locking and protection mechanisms into one unified structure that simplifies operation while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective shield serves multiple functions simultaneously: it blocks the nozzle to prevent accidental discharge, protects the internal pump mechanism from damage, and provides a simple user interface for controlling dispensing. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and simplifies the device architecture while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7651009B2Liquid dispensing device

Publication Date: 2010.01.26 KENVUE BRANDS LLC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a portable liquid dispensing device. The present invention further relates to a dispensing device equipped with a concealable nozzle which is concealed when not in use and then exposed when it is desirable to spray a liquid such as an oral care product. The liquid dispensing device may be provided with an optional key holder.