Dual-Nozzle Dispensing Element for Selective Liquid Droplet Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current shower heads fail to significantly reduce water consumption while maintaining effective washing and treatment sensations, particularly in regions where access to running water is limited, and they do not adequately address environmental concerns related to water usage and waste.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing element with a dual-nozzle system that produces droplets of specific diameters and angles for efficient dispensing of water and cosmetic product, allowing for reduced water usage without compromising lathering or treatment quality, featuring a hollow cone male nozzle for rinsing and a hollow conical dispensing nozzle for the product mixture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional shower heads are used to provide adequate lathering and rinsing, then washing and treatment sensations are maintained, but water consumption is very high (tens of liters)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater consumptionVSAvoidwashing and treatment sensations
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shower head is divided into multiple independent nozzle groups (first nozzles for rinsing water, second nozzles for cosmetic product mixture), each capable of selective operation. This segmentation allows precise control over water and product delivery, enabling effective washing with significantly reduced water consumption compared to conventional full-flow shower heads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different nozzle groups are designed with distinct characteristics optimized for their specific functions: first nozzles deliver rinsing water with specific flow patterns, while second nozzles deliver cosmetic product mixtures with different flow characteristics. This local optimization ensures each nozzle type performs its specific function efficiently, maintaining washing quality while reducing overall water usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If micro-bubble systems are used to reduce washing product quantity by 15-30%, then skin irritations are reduced and water requirement is reduced, but adequate lathering cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing product quantityVSAvoidlathering capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the delivery of cosmetic product mixture (via second nozzles) from the delivery of rinsing water (via first nozzles). This segmentation allows the cosmetic product to be applied with minimal water, creating lather, and then rinsing to be performed separately with controlled water flow, achieving both product reduction and adequate lathering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic switching between different nozzle groups, allowing the user to first apply cosmetic product with minimal water to create lather, then switch to rinsing mode. This dynamic operation ensures adequate lathering capability is maintained while significantly reducing overall water consumption compared to continuous full-flow operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If conventional shower heads are used to provide high rinsing capacity, then adequate rinsing is achieved, but access to running water with high supply capacity is required which is difficult or impossible in many regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverinsing capacityVSAvoidadaptability to limited water supply regions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the rinsing function into multiple first nozzles that can be selectively activated, the system provides adequate rinsing capacity through distributed flow rather than requiring high supply capacity from a single source. This allows effective rinsing in regions with limited water supply infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables periodic rinsing where water is delivered in controlled intervals through the first nozzles, accumulating rinsing effect over time. This periodic action allows adequate rinsing capacity to be achieved with limited water supply, as the rinsing function is distributed across multiple activation cycles rather than requiring continuous high-flow supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Quantity of substance

If water consumption is reduced significantly, then environmental concerns are addressed, but conventional shower heads cannot maintain effective washing and treatment sensations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater consumptionVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented nozzle system allows precise control over water and cosmetic product delivery, ensuring water is used only where and when needed for effective washing and rinsing. This eliminates waste associated with conventional shower heads that continuously deliver large volumes of water, significantly reducing environmental impact while maintaining washing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the delivery parameters of water and cosmetic products through different nozzle designs and selective activation, optimizing the interaction between water, product, and body surface. This parameter optimization ensures effective washing and rinsing sensations are maintained while using minimal water, thereby addressing environmental concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3137222B1Element for selectively dispensing two liquids, associated device and method
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 LOREAL SA
  • EP3137222B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3137222B1 patent drawingFigure 4~9

AI summary

The element comprises: - a hollow body (19); - a delivery nozzle (32) for delivering a first liquid carried by the hollow body (19); - a dispensing nozzle (50) for dispensing a second liquid carried by the hollow body (19); The dispensing nozzle (50) is suitable for producing droplets having a diameter less than 1 mm, particularly comprised between 1 μm and 1000 μm and the delivery nozzle (32) is suitable for producing droplets having a diameter greater than 1 mm, and particularly comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm.