Elastomeric Cap for Pump Dispenser Nozzle Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pump action dispensers for liquids often experience issues with retained and leaking fluid at the nozzle orifice, leading to drips and stains, and existing caps are prone to loss or failure due to friction fit and chemical interaction.
Innovation Solution
A cap designed for the nozzle of pump action dispensers, made from medical grade silicone rubber elastomer with a Shore durometer scale reading of 50 to 70 A, featuring a one-piece construction with a body, arm, and ring for secure attachment, ensuring a tight seal and chemical resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple cap with friction fit is used to cover the nozzle, then the cap can be easily manufactured and installed, but the cap is prone to loss or failure due to friction fit and chemical interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into two functional parts: a friction-fit cap body for easy attachment and removal, and a separate retention ring that provides secure anchoring. The retention ring can be detached and reattached to the dispenser body, allowing the cap to be securely retained even when removed for use. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving reliability through the added retention mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention ring acts as an intermediary element between the cap and the dispenser body. It provides a secure attachment point on the dispenser and a corresponding attachment point for the cap, mediating the connection between the two. This intermediary structure ensures the cap remains reliably attached while still allowing for easy removal and reattachment.
2Ease of operation
If existing caps are used, then they provide basic coverage, but they are prone to chemical interaction that causes failure
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is constructed from composite materials: the cap body is made of flexible material (such as silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer) that provides chemical resistance and flexibility, while the retention ring is made of chemically resistant material (such as polypropylene or stainless steel) that provides structural integrity and resistance to degradation from fluid exposure. This composite construction resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of operation and chemical resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the cap are changed to resist chemical interaction. The retention ring is specifically designed with materials having high chemical resistance to the dispensed fluids, preventing degradation, swelling, or failure that would occur with standard plastics. This parameter change in material selection directly addresses the chemical resistance requirement while maintaining operational functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the nozzle is left exposed, then the dispenser is easy to use, but fluid leakage and drying out occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed to be placed on the nozzle before use and removed only when dispensing is needed. The retention ring allows the cap to be easily removed and reattached, encouraging users to keep the cap on the nozzle throughout use rather than leaving it off. This preliminary protective action prevents fluid leakage and drying out while maintaining ease of operation through simple cap removal and reattachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible material of the cap body, which could potentially deform or fail under chemical exposure, is actually beneficial because it creates a tight seal around the nozzle that prevents leakage. The material's flexibility allows it to conform to the nozzle shape and maintain contact, converting what could be a weakness (material flexibility) into a benefit (effective sealing) that prevents the harmful effects of leakage and drying.
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 cap effectively prevents fluid leakage and drying out, ensuring the nozzle remains sealed and the cap remains attached, reducing stains and ensuring the nozzle is always secured with the bottle, maintaining functionality and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
made from medical grade silicone rubber elastomer with a Shore durometer scale reading of 50 to 70 A, featuring a one-piece construction with a body, arm, and ring for secure attachment, ensuring a tight seal and chemical resistance
Implementation Method 2
The cap effectively prevents fluid leakage and drying out, ensuring the nozzle remains sealed
Implementation Method 3
made from medical grade silicone rubber elastomer with a Shore durometer scale reading of 50 to 70 A
Data Source
AI summary
A chemical resistant elastomeric cap that can be secured to the head of a pump type liquid dispenser with a delivery nozzle that can be used to seal off the dispenser nozzle to prevent fluid dripping from the end of the nozzle and to prevent air from reaching the end of the nozzle to dry fluid in the nozzle outlet orifice and/or the nozzle tip. The cap is one piece and has an attachment ring of elastomeric material than can to fitted around the dispenser head to retain the cap with the dispenser and the attach bottle whether the cap is fitted over the nozzle or free from the nozzle.