Dropper Vessel Expansion Sealing for Dimensional Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dropper containers require high dimensional accuracy for the upper end opening and valve tube to ensure proper sealing, leading to potential gaps and inadequate sealing due to variations in dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A dropper container design featuring an actuation member with a sliding tube portion and piston that forms a partition wall, allowing for a tubular actuation top wall to cover the upper end opening, and a sealing material softer than the actuation member to ensure consistent sealing, along with a guide groove and engagement protrusion system to control the actuation member's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve tube is inserted into the upper end opening of the dropper tube to seal it, then sealing function is achieved, but high dimensional accuracy is required for the upper end opening or valve tube
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing mechanism from a tight-fit insertion (requiring high dimensional accuracy) to an expansion-based sealing approach. The actuation member expands radially outward to press against the inner peripheral surface of the upper end opening, transforming the sealing parameter from dimensional precision to expansion force and contact pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuation member transitions from a static inserted state to a dynamic expansion state. When the outer cap is rotated, the actuation member expands radially to seal the upper end opening, and can contract to open it. This dynamic behavior allows reliable sealing without requiring high manufacturing precision.
2Reliability
If the actuation member expands to seal the upper end opening, then sealing reliability improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function and the actuation function into a single actuation member. The same component that moves up and down to open/close the dropper tube also expands radially to seal the upper end opening, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements and reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuation member serves multiple functions: it acts as the moving component to open/close the dropper tube, as the sealing element to seal the upper end opening, and as part of the actuation mechanism driven by the outer cap rotation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed.
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 design effectively seals the upper end opening of the dropper tube, preventing leakage even with dimensional variations, and controls the amount of contents dispensed, ensuring reliable operation and resistance to accidental discharge during strong forces or vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
as the volume of the actuation space increases, a negative pressure is formed inside the actuation space. Thus, a negative pressure is also formed inside the dropper tube communicating with the actuation space to suck the contents of the container body from the lower end opening of the dropper tube
Implementation Method 2
The inner cap is provided with a sealing material configured to come into contact with a lower surface of the actuation top wall to seal the upper end opening of the dropper tube, and the sealing material is formed of a material softer than that forming the actuation member
Data Source
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AI summary
A dropper container includes: an actuation member (30) provided inside an outer cap (10) and configured to move up and down relative to an inner cap (50) by rotating around a container axis (O) relative to the inner cap; and an operation member (40) attached to the actuation member and forming an expansion/contraction space (K) communicating with an upper end opening of a dropper tube (60) between the operation member and the actuation member, wherein either one of the inner cap or the actuation member is provided with a sliding tube portion (33) forming part of a partition wall of an actuation space (S) communicating with the upper end opening of the dropper tube, and the other thereof is provided with a piston (80) configured to expand and contract the actuation space by sliding on an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface of the sliding tube portion as the actuation member moves up and down relative to the inner cap, the actuation member is formed in a tubular shape with a top including an actuation top wall (32) covering the upper end opening of the dropper tube from above and an actuation peripheral wall (31).