Elastomeric Dispensing Container Rigid Sleeve Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elastomeric dispensing containers face challenges with secure and fluid-tight engagement between the receptacle and cap, making attachment and detachment difficult, and prone to leakage, especially due to the lack of rigidity in integrally formed features like annular beads or screw threads.
Innovation Solution
An elastomeric dispensing container design featuring a flexible and resilient elastomeric receptacle with an integrally formed gasket, a relatively rigid sleeve, and a dispensing cap with engaging means that secure the gasket in a compressed and fluid-tight state, facilitating easy attachment and detachment while maintaining a secure seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tight radial fit between the receptacle neck and cap neck is used to create a fluid-tight seal, then the seal quality is improved, but the ease of attachment and detachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (sleeve or collar) between the elastomeric receptacle neck and the cap neck. This intermediary provides a rigid structure that enables secure engagement through threading or other mechanical means, while the elastomeric gasket maintains the fluid-tight seal. The intermediary acts as a mediator that allows both tight sealing and easy attachment/detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is segmented into distinct components: the elastomeric receptacle neck, the rigid sleeve/collar, and the cap neck. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the elastomeric portion provides flexibility and sealing, while the rigid sleeve provides structural support for secure engagement, resolving the contradiction between seal quality and ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If integrally formed annular beads or screw threads are used on the elastomeric receptacle for attachment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of secure attachment and leakage prevention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction by combining elastomeric material for the receptacle and gasket with rigid material for the sleeve or collar. This composite approach allows the system to benefit from both the flexibility and sealing properties of elastomeric material and the structural strength and rigidity of the rigid material, enabling reliable secure attachment without leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid sleeve or collar acts as an intermediary component that provides the necessary rigidity for secure threaded engagement, while the elastomeric gasket maintains the fluid barrier. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing the mechanical strength needed for reliable attachment while maintaining low overall device complexity.
3Strength
If a rigid structure is used for secure cap attachment, then the attachment strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into separately manufacturable components: the elastomeric receptacle with gasket and the rigid sleeve or collar. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using optimal processes for its material properties, with the rigid sleeve providing attachment strength and the elastomeric portion providing sealing, while simplifying overall manufacturing.
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 provides a secure, easy-to-use, and convenient elastomeric dispensing container that ensures a fluid-tight seal, simplifies cleaning and refilling, and prevents leakage by using a combination of a flexible receptacle and a rigid sleeve with a compressible gasket and cap system.
Implementation Method 1
engaging means formed on the sleeve neck and the cap neck providing removable attachment therebetween wherein the engaging means secures the integral gasket in a compressed and substantially fluid-tight state between the lid and the sleeve lower face
Implementation Method 2
an elastomeric dispensing container for a fluid comprises an elastomeric receptacle defining a chamber therein and having an integrally formed gasket extending radially from an opening formed on a lower end
Data Source
AI summary
An elastomeric dispensing container for a fluid includes an elastomeric receptacle defining a chamber therein and having an integrally formed gasket extending radially from an opening formed on a lower end and a receptacle neck providing communications between the chamber and the opening, a relatively rigid sleeve disposed concentrically about the receptacle neck having a sleeve neck with a lower face adjacent to the integral gasket, a cap having a lid covering the receptacle opening and the integral gasket with a dispensing orifice formed therein and a cap neck extending from the lid disposed concentrically about the sleeve neck, and engaging means formed on the sleeve neck and the cap neck providing removable attachment therebetween wherein the engaging means secures the integral gasket in a compressed and substantially fluid-tight state between the lid and the sleeve lower face.