Flat Planar Spring Mechanism for Fluid Dispenser Cover Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers face difficulties in moving the cover between open and closed positions due to user accessibility issues, as previously known dispensers require significant effort and are not easily removable.
Innovation Solution
A fluid dispenser incorporating a biasing mechanism with a flat planar spring that assists in guiding the cover actuator member between positions, utilizing a resilient plastic material with anchoring, engagement, and deflecting portions, and guide members to maintain a planar configuration, minimizing lateral space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a traditional biasing mechanism is used in the fluid dispenser, then the cover actuator member can be biased between positions, but the mechanism takes up significant lateral space within the dispenser housing
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is designed with a flat planar body that operates primarily in the vertical dimension rather than expanding laterally. The deflecting portion bends upward/downward to provide biasing force, while guide members constrain lateral movement, effectively transitioning the spring's operation from a traditional lateral expansion mode to a vertical deflection mode, thus resolving the space conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is constructed with a thin flat planar body made of resilient plastic material that can flex and deform within its plane. This thin-film structure provides the necessary elastic compliance and biasing force while occupying minimal lateral space, replacing traditional bulky coil or torsion springs with a sleek, space-efficient flexible structure.
2Force
If the spring is allowed to deflect freely, then it can provide biasing force, but it may twist or bend laterally losing its planar configuration
Solution Approach 1:
Guide members are introduced as intermediary elements that mediate between the spring's deflecting portion and the housing. These guide members constrain the spring's movement to maintain its planar configuration while still allowing the necessary vertical deflection to occur, preventing unwanted lateral twisting or bending that would compromise the spring's structural integrity and biasing function.
3Stability of the object's composition
If guide members are added to maintain planar configuration, then the spring remains stable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are integrated with the housing structure rather than being separate, independent components. The guide slots are formed directly in the housing walls, merging the guiding function into the existing housing structure, which minimizes additional parts and assembly steps while still providing the necessary constraint to maintain the spring's planar configuration.
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 biasing mechanism enhances user experience by facilitating easier movement of the cover between open and closed positions, addressing space constraints and improving accessibility while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a deflecting portion that is connected to the anchoring portion and the engagement portion, the deflecting portion being resiliently deformable between an unbiased condition and a deflected condition
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid dispenser with a housing, a cover, a cover actuator member, and a biasing mechanism. The cover is movable relative to the housing between a first location and a second location, and the cover actuator member is movable relative to the housing between a first orientation and a second orientation. The cover actuator member engages with the cover to effect movement of the cover from the first location to the second location. The cover actuator member comprises an engagement member that travels in a travel path between a first position and a second position as the cover actuator member moves between the first orientation and the second orientation. The biasing mechanism engages with the engagement member and biases the engagement member towards the first position.