Filtering Discharge Container with Pressure-Actuated Plug

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filtering discharge containers face issues with air-locking due to wetted filters, leading to leakage of highly osmotic medicinal liquids and increased discharging resistance, making them uncomfortable to use.

Innovation Solution

A filtering container design featuring a plug engagement mechanism that prevents leakage before first use and reduces discharging resistance, where the plug is disengaged by internal pressure, allowing air to escape and ensuring reliable closure, and a resilient support member aids in disengagement and retraction, facilitating easy dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filter with minute pores is used to prevent passage of virus and bacteria, then the filtering performance is improved, but the filter becomes air-locked when wetted, preventing air passage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering performanceVSAvoidair passage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve is positioned upstream of the filter to prevent liquid leakage onto the filter before first use. By closing the outlet passage before the filter gets wet, the filter remains in a dry state during storage, preventing air-locking and ensuring proper air passage functionality is maintained until first use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If a disk-shaped valve body is used to close the valve hole, then the check valve structure is simple, but the contact force is small allowing highly osmotic medicinal liquid to leak

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecheck valve structureVSAvoidclosure reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is designed with a pressing portion that concentrates force locally at the contact point with the valve hole. This localized pressure distribution increases the contact force at the critical sealing interface, preventing leakage of highly osmotic medicinal liquid while maintaining a relatively simple overall valve structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the valve head must be lifted to open the orifice for dropwise dispensing, then the check valve provides reliable closure, but the outer layer bottle requires heavy squeeze-deformation increasing discharging resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure reliabilityVSAvoiddischarging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The valve head is designed to move dynamically between closed and open positions based on internal pressure. During squeeze-deformation, the valve head automatically opens when sufficient pressure is applied, allowing liquid flow without requiring excessive squeezing force. The valve body includes features that guide this motion and reduce resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the check valve allows highly osmotic medicinal liquid to leak, then the discharging resistance is reduced, but the filter becomes wetted and air-locked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarging resistanceVSAvoidfilter functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve closes the outlet passage before first use to prevent liquid leakage onto the filter. This preliminary closure action ensures the filter remains dry and functional. The system is designed so that the check valve opens only when proper dispensing action is taken, allowing liquid flow without compromising filter integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively prevents leakage and reduces the squeeze force required for dispensing, ensuring stable and bubble-free dispensing of medicinal liquids with improved user comfort and reduced bacterial proliferation.

Implementation Method 1

The filter is a membrane filter or the like which has a multiplicity of minute pores and prevents passage of virus and bacteria

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a check valve are provided in the outlet passage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCheck valve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 3

an engagement portion provided on an upstream side of the filter in the outlet passage of the mouth cap; and a plug engaged with the engagement portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical engagement: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 4

the plug can be disengaged from the engagement portion by an internal pressure of the inner layer bag increased by squeeze-deforming the body of the outer layer bottle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure increase: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP2848550B1Discharging container equipped with filter
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 NIHON TENGANYAKU KENKYUSYO
  • EP2848550B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2848550B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2848550B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A filtering discharge container employing a delaminatable bottle was provided, which reliably prevents a content liquid from leaking out before the first use, and reduces a discharging resistance during the second and subsequent use. An engagement portion (31c) is provided in an outlet passage of a mouth cap (3). A plug (34) is engaged with the engagement portion (31c) in such a manner that the plug (34) can be disengaged from the engagement portion (31c) by an internal pressure of an inner layer bag (22) increased by squeeze-deforming a body of an outer layer bottle (21). The outlet passage is closed with the plug (34) engaged with the engagement portion (31c). After the plug (34) is disengaged from the engagement portion (31c), liquid communication is established between the inside of the inner layer bag (22) and a filter (33).