Elastic Button Valve for Hand-Held Doser Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a hand-held dispenser that can efficiently dispense a variety of products, including topical products, chemicals, and medications, with controlled and variable flow options.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held dispenser design featuring an upper enclosure with a selectively sealed dispensing opening operated by an elastic button, allowing for precise control over material flow, with optional attachments for different application methods, and made from durable plastics like polypropylene and thermoplastic elastomers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hand-held dispenser is designed with a valve mechanism for controlled dispensing, then dispensing control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic button made of flexible material that deformably seals against the valve stem. This flexible sealing mechanism provides reliable dispensing control while maintaining simple construction, as the elastic material naturally conform s to the valve stem geometry without requiring complex rigid sealing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic button automatically returns to its sealed position after dispensing through elastic recovery, eliminating the need for separate closing mechanisms. The valve mechanism is self-regulating, where the elastic deformation and recovery of the button provide both the opening and closing actions, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Ease of operation
If an elastic button mechanism is used for sealing and dispensing, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic button's material properties are selected to provide appropriate deformation characteristics. By choosing materials with suitable elastic modulus and elongation properties, the button can deform sufficiently to seal against the valve stem while maintaining manufacturability. The elastic recovery property allows the button to return to its sealed position without requiring high-precision mechanical resetting mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the dispenser is designed for variable flow control, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic button provides dynamic flow control by varying the degree of deformation during pressing. Users can control the amount of material dispensed by adjusting how much the button is compressed, allowing for variable flow rates without requiring multiple fixed valves or complex flow regulation mechanisms. The system transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamically controllable dispensing state.
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
Enables controlled and variable dispensing of liquids with ease, ensuring accurate dosing and closure, suitable for a range of applications from medications to paints, with durable construction for reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic button, allowing for precise control over material flow
Implementation Method 2
when the button is released, it elastically returns to an undepressed position, closing the dispensing opening
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a hand held dispenser which has an upper enclosure for holding material to be dispensed, the upper enclosure having an open end. The invention has a lower dispenser which is connected to the upper enclosure and which has a dispensing opening which is selectively sealed by a valve. The valve has a seal end and a valve stem end, the valve stem end operatively engaged to an elastic button. When the button is depressed, the valve seal end is pushed out of the dispensing opening, to allow material to be dispensed from the hand held dispenser and when the button is released, it elastically returns to an undepressed position, closing the dispensing opening.