Squeezable Dispensing Container Ratchet Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deformable material dispensing containers, such as collapsible tubes, often return to their original shape after deformation, making subsequent dispensing difficult, and existing external compression devices are costly and complex to integrate, with limited flexibility for various container sizes.
Innovation Solution
A flexible plastic strip with teeth is permanently attached to the container surface, acting as a ratchet and pawl mechanism to prevent displacement during squeezing, allowing for reliable and efficient dispensing across different sizes and types of containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the housing is made deformable to enable squeezing dispensing, then material can be dispensed through the openable restriction, but the housing returns to its original configuration, delaying or interfering with subsequent dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a flexible portion that can deform during squeezing and a rigid portion that maintains its shape to prevent spring-back. This segmentation allows the flexible portion to enable dispensing while the rigid portion maintains structural stability during the dispensing process.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the housing are given different mechanical properties: the first portion is made flexible to allow deformation during squeezing, while the second portion is made rigid to maintain its configuration and prevent return to original shape. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between deformability and stability.
2Ease of operation
If external dispenser compression devices are applied to maintain housing deformation, then subsequent dispensing can proceed, but the housing requires specific modification or construction, raising costs, complexity and/or formation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid portion and flexible portion are combined into a single integrated housing structure rather than separate components. This merging eliminates the need for external compression devices and complex assembly mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to perform subsequent dispensing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure itself provides the functionality of maintaining deformation through its own rigid portion, eliminating the need for external compression devices. The housing serves itself by incorporating the rigid portion that naturally maintains its configuration during dispensing, reducing complexity and external device requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the housing material is made rigid to maintain deformation, then subsequent dispensing is enabled, but the housing cannot be deformed in the first place
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first portion made of flexible material that can be squeezed and deformed, and a second portion made of rigid material that maintains its shape. This segmentation allows the housing to be initially deformed by the flexible portion while the rigid portion maintains structural integrity during subsequent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing has non-uniform material properties: the first portion is locally flexible to enable initial squeezing deformation, while the second portion is locally rigid to maintain deformation and enable subsequent dispensing. This local quality differentiation allows both squeezing capability and deformation maintenance to coexist.
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 solution ensures consistent and controlled dispensing of materials without increasing the rigidity of the container, accommodating various sizes and types, and provides tactile feedback for accurate dosing, particularly beneficial for handicapped users.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible plastic strip with teeth is permanently attached to the container surface, acting as a ratchet and pawl mechanism to prevent displacement during squeezing
Data Source
AI summary
An elongated tubular housing adapted to receive an adjustable external compression device introduced on one end of the tubular housing distal from the opening releasing the contents, and retained in position by a member engaging a grooved strip that is integrated with and/or retained on the housing surface material with a strip surface of like material, providing a reliable, economic and functional outer compression member retention apparatus and method. Further embodiments according to the present invention include a dispenser having regions provided for ease and comfort of gripping, grooved strip end-stop to retain compression device, and grooved strip dimensional and placement details to provide functional, manufacturable and economic material dispenser.