Dosing Cup Anti-Nesting Projections and Exterior Indicia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dosing cups for medicinal fluids face issues such as nesting during manufacturing, which disrupts production efficiency, and are difficult to read due to layout and wetting of dosing indicia, leading to potential misuse of non-approved measuring devices.
Innovation Solution
The dosing cup design includes anti-nesting projections to prevent nesting, visual and tactile aids for easy dosage measurement, and retention beads for secure engagement with the bottle, enhancing manufacturability and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dosing cups are manufactured without anti-nesting features, then manufacturing process is simpler, but nested dosing cups interfere with packaging processes leading to production inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing cup is segmented with distinct gripping portions integrated into the sidewall structure. These gripping portions serve dual functions: providing user grip and containing anti-nesting projections that prevent nesting during manufacturing and packaging, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing efficiency and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping portions serve multiple functions: they provide ergonomic grip for users, contain anti-nesting projections to prevent manufacturing issues, and maintain the structural integrity of the dosing cup. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate anti-nesting components
2Measurement precision
If dosing indicia are formed on the interior of the dosing cup, then dosage measurement is provided, but the dosing cup becomes difficult to read due to wetting of the indicia
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing indicia are relocated from the interior surface to the exterior surface of the dosing cup. This dimensional relocation allows users to read the dosage measurements from the outside of the cup, preventing wetting issues while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior surface of the dosing cup acts as an intermediary medium for displaying dosing information. By transferring the indicia to the exterior surface, the system mediates between the need for accurate dosage measurement and the need for readable, non-wetted indicia
3Reliability
If dosing cups are designed without retention features, then device complexity is reduced, but the dosing cup may be easily lost leading to misuse
Solution Approach 1:
The retention beads are merged with the gripping portions of the dosing cup structure. This integration allows the cup to be securely attached to the bottle while maintaining the ergonomic gripping function, thereby preventing loss without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping portions serve dual functions: providing ergonomic grip for users and containing retention beads that secure the cup to the bottle. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between preventing cup loss and maintaining structural simplicity
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F
AI summary
A dosing cup for delivery of medicinal fluid includes a base wall, a sidewall, a first gripping portion, and a second gripping portion. The sidewall extends from the base wall to an upper rim, thereby defining a medicinal fluid-receiving volume. The first gripping portion is formed at a first position of the sidewall. The second gripping portion is formed at a second position of the sidewall opposite the first position across the medicinal fluid-receiving volume. Each of the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion include one or more anti-nesting projections that extend from an outer surface of the sidewall a distance beyond an inner diameter of the upper rim.