Elastomeric Refill Retention in Cosmetic Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rechargeable cosmetic product packaging devices require complex and costly adaptations to maintain refills, often featuring visible and unattractive systems that cannot utilize conventionally shaped containers or tanks, limiting their aesthetic appeal and manufacturing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A shell with an interior elastomeric element that provides relief on its surface, using elastic properties and friction to securely hold refills without the need for specific shapes or mechanical engagements, allowing for easy extraction and replacement while maintaining aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shape correspondence systems are used to hold the refill in the shell, then the refill is securely retained, but the shell and refill require complex non-conventional shapes that increase manufacturing cost and reduce aesthetic appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the elastomeric material through temperature-controlled molding processes. The material is molded at elevated temperatures to achieve a compliant state that conforms to the refill shape, then cooled to create a rigid retention structure. This parameter change allows the shell to adapt to conventional refill shapes without requiring complex pre-designed correspondence features.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material forms a flexible inner layer within the shell that can deform and conform to the refill container's shape. This flexible element provides the retention function through elastic deformation rather than through complex geometric interlocking, allowing the use of simple conventional shapes for both shell and refill.
2Reliability
If visible mechanical engagement systems are used to hold the refill, then the refill is securely retained, but the aesthetic appeal of the packaging device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is extracted from the visible outer shell structure and transferred to an invisible elastomeric material layer bonded to the inner surface. This allows the external shell to maintain a clean, aesthetic appearance without visible clips, grooves, or mechanical engagement features, while the elastomeric layer provides the necessary retention force.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material acts as an intermediary between the shell and the refill. It provides the mechanical retention function while remaining hidden within the shell structure, allowing the visible portions of both shell and refill to maintain simple, aesthetically pleasing conventional shapes without exposed retention mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional shaped containers are used for shell and refill, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but secure retention of the refill during transport and use cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric material's temperature-dependent properties enable it to be molded around conventional-shaped refills at high temperature when compliant, then locked into place upon cooling. This allows standard container shapes to be used while still achieving secure retention through the phase-change-assisted molding process.
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 solution enables secure retention of refills with a force greater than twice the weight of the refill, facilitating easy replacement and reducing manufacturing costs by using standard containers, while maintaining a discreet and aesthetically pleasing design.
Implementation Method 1
an element made of elastomeric material bonded to the shell and which is at least partly in relief with respect to said surface of the inner wall of the shell
Implementation Method 2
uses the elastic properties and the coefficient of friction of the elastomeric material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a refillable cosmetic product packaging device, configured to receive a refill adapted to contain said cosmetic product through an opening (9) in order to place it within a receiving volume defined by an inner wall (14) of the refill (8). The inner wall (14) has, on at least part of its surface, an elastomeric material element (15) bonded to the refill (8) and which is at least partially raised relative to the inner wall (14) of the refill (8). The refill (8) thus formed is capable of holding a refill within the receiving volume, thanks to the raised elastomeric material on the inner wall of the refill. The invention also relates to a cosmetic product packaging device comprising a refill (8) and such a refill (1).