Elastomeric Base Cap Plunger Ejection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semi-solid material applicators and dispensers lack efficient mechanisms for replacing used material cartridges, leading to inconvenience and waste, especially when the material is depleted.
Innovation Solution
A tubular housing with an elastomeric material base cap and a plunger shaft system that allows for bistable movement, enabling easy ejection and replacement of semi-solid material cartridges, along with a stop mechanism to detach the plunger shaft from the base cap, facilitating the insertion of fresh cartridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the plunger shaft is permanently fixed in the housing, then the dispensing structure is simple and reliable, but the material cartridge cannot be replaced when depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger shaft is designed to transition from a fixed state during normal dispensing to a movable state during ejection. The shaft can be manually pushed to engage with the base cap's interior structure, enabling it to be ejected when the material is depleted, thus providing replaceability without permanent complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The base cap's interior structure is designed to automatically engage with the plunger shaft when the material is depleted. The shaft's own movement during material depletion triggers the ejection mechanism, eliminating the need for separate complex ejection controls
2Ease of operation
If the base cap is made soft and flexible for easy compression, then dispensing operation is easy, but the shaft may spin or misalign during reciprocation
Solution Approach 1:
The base cap is designed with different local properties: the exterior is soft and flexible for easy compression during dispensing, while the interior structure contains rigid guide ribs that provide alignment guidance for the plunger shaft during reciprocation, thus maintaining both ease of operation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ribs act as an intermediary between the soft base cap and the rigid plunger shaft. These ribs transmit alignment forces from the housing to the shaft, ensuring proper alignment while allowing the base cap material to remain soft and compressible
3Reliability
If the plunger shaft reciprocates freely within the housing, then the structure is simple, but the shaft may spin or become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guidance function is merged into the base cap's interior structure itself. The guide ribs are integrated directly into the base cap, combining the support and alignment functions into a single component, thus providing reliability without adding separate complex guide structures
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 seamless replacement of semi-solid material cartridges, reducing waste and user effort, while maintaining effective dispensing functionality through the elastomeric base cap's durometer and ribbed guide hub for stability and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
The elastomeric base cap is a bistable element which moves from a first stable configuration in which the semi-solid material is primarily within the housing to, after removal of the end cap and manual actuation thereof a second stable configuration in which the semi-solid mass is substantially completely exterior of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The elastomeric base cap should have a durometer of about 45-55 (about 50 is ideal) on the Shore A scale
Implementation Method 3
The elastomeric base cap should have a durometer of about 45-55 (about 50 is ideal) on the Shore A scale
Implementation Method 4
The housing desirably has an interior guide hub (or apertured abutment) with ribs configured and positioned to preclude spinning of the plunger shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An applicator for a semi-solid material (e.g. lip balm) with an elastomeric material base cap has an interior tube long enough to cooperate with other structures to allow ejection of the plunger associated with the lip balm and its shaft by continued depression of the base cap. This allows easy replacement of the lip balm in the applicator when the original is used up. The applicator also has a tubular housing with interior guide hub with ribs configured and positioned to preclude spinning of the shaft of the plunger mounting the lip balm. A dispenser for flowable material (such as lotion) comprises a bellows mounted in a housing with an elastomeric material base cap at one end, and an end cap at the other end with a first part connected to the housing by screw threads, and a second part connected to the first part by a living hinge.