Fluid Dispenser Neck Thread Profile for Easy Reassembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid product dispensers with deformable and malleable skirts fail to allow for easy reassembly due to intimate contact, relaxation of the skirt, and interference from flexible tabs, making it impossible to screw the skirt back onto the collar, which does not meet sustainability and usability requirements.

Innovation Solution

The neck threads are designed with an upper thread start, a lower thread end, and an intermediate portion that has a decreasing cross section during unscrewing and increasing cross section during screwing, creating a clearance for easier engagement and increasing torque, allowing the skirt to be screwed back on without trial and error, and providing a conical configuration for stable docking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the skirt material is made extremely tight and intimate with the neck threads, then the connection is secure and stable, but the skirt cannot be unscrewed or reused

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveConnection stabilityVSAvoidReusability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tapered thread profile changes the contact parameters by reducing the contact area between the thread flanks and the skirt. The clearance created by the taper allows the skirt to maintain a secure connection when assembled while enabling easy removal and reuse, thus balancing reliability with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the thread cross-section is constant along the length, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the screwing and unscrewing torques are high and require multiple attempts for reassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveThread manufacturingVSAvoidScrewing and unscrewing operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a linear variation in the thread cross-sectional dimension along the axial length, creating a tapered profile. This parameter change reduces the screwing and unscrewing torques by creating clearance, making the operation easier while the tapered geometry can be manufactured using standard machining processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This configuration facilitates easy screwing back of the dispensing head while maintaining efficient unscrewing, enhancing user experience and sustainability by allowing for reuse without altering the assembly process, and providing a stable and secure connection.

Implementation Method 1

the helical thread(s) of the neck comprise(s) an upper thread start, a lower thread end and an intermediate portion which has a cross-section which decreases in the unscrewing direction and/or increases in the screwing direction, such that the unscrewing torque decreases and/or the screwing torque increases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConical configuration: Geometry

Implementation Method 2

The material constituting the deformable and malleable skirt flows plastically around the threads of the tank neck to reach a final state with a satisfactory thread imprint

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4132723B1Fluid dispenser
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 APTAR FRANCE SAS
  • EP4132723B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4132723B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4132723B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a fluid product dispenser comprising a vessel (1) and provided with a neck (11) forming at least one helical thread (12), and a dispensing head mounted on the neck (11) of the vessel (1), the head comprising a dispensing member and a fastening member engaging both with the threaded neck (11) and the dispensing member, the fastening member comprising a deformable and malleable skirt intended to engage with the threaded neck (11), and a rigid collar engaged around the skirt to push the skirt radially against the threaded neck (11) in such a way as to deform the skirt against the thread (12) so as to create a thread imprint in the skirt, characterised in that the helical thread (12) comprises an intermediate portion (12i) that has, on at least some of its length, a cross-section that decreases in the loosening direction and increases in the tightening direction, such that the loosening torque decreases and the tightening torque increases.