Flexible Inner Body Container for Leakage-Free Cleaning Product Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cartridges for automatic dosing machines in cleaning appliances often suffer from leakage issues due to complex and costly structures involving metallic parts and springs, leading to wastefulness and inefficiency in dispensing cleaning products.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a rigid outer body and a flexible inner body, connected via simple means such as adhesives or mechanical connectors, which allows for controlled liquid flow without leakage, using valves like cross-valves or duckbill valves for dispensing, eliminating the need for complex air valves and metallic parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If simple check valves are used for air exchange, then air exchange efficiency is improved, but content leakage occurs which is wasteful and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into an inner body containing the cleaning product and an outer body providing structural support. The inner body can be made of flexible material that allows controlled deformation for air exchange while maintaining product containment, separating the air exchange function from the product containment function to prevent leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner body is made of flexible material that can deform to allow air exchange through integrated air valves while maintaining product containment. The flexible inner body adapts to pressure changes during dispensing without compromising the sealing, enabling air exchange without product leakage.
2Reliability
If complex outlet valves with metallic parts and springs are used to prevent leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Complex metallic valve mechanisms with springs are removed from the system. Instead, a simplified outlet valve design is used that relies on the flexible inner body and basic valve components to achieve adequate sealing performance, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed as a disposable unit with simple plastic valve components rather than expensive metallic parts. The simplified valve structure is sufficient for the intended use lifecycle, reducing manufacturing cost and complexity while maintaining adequate sealing performance during the product's service life.
3Reliability
If complex outlet valves with multiple materials are used, then leakage prevention is improved, but recyclability deteriorates due to presence of different materials
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge components, particularly the valve system and inner body, are made from similar plastic materials that can be easily recycled together. By using homogeneous materials instead of mixed metals and plastics, the design maintains adequate leakage prevention while significantly improving recyclability and reducing manufacturing complexity.
4Ease of operation
If rigid outer body is used for easy handling and storage, then ease of operation is improved, but complete liquid extraction becomes difficult resulting in product waste
Solution Approach 1:
The inner body is made of flexible material that can deform during the dispensing process to facilitate complete liquid extraction. While the outer body remains rigid for easy handling and storage, the flexible inner body adapts its shape to allow the liquid to flow completely out, eliminating product waste without compromising handling ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible inner body is nested within the rigid outer body, combining the advantages of both structures. The rigid outer body provides structural support for easy handling and storage, while the flexible inner body enables complete liquid extraction through deformation, solving both requirements simultaneously.
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 ensures complete dispensing of cleaning products with minimal waste, easier manufacturing, and longer lifespan, while maintaining effective sealing and ease of use, reducing the complexity and cost associated with traditional cartridges.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible inner body that is at least partially inside the outer body... The inner body defines a cleaning product space which is configured to accommodate an amount of cleaning product
Implementation Method 2
The inner body is connected to the outer body by connection means to form a liquid conduit configured to cooperate with the coupler and enable liquid flow from the container
Data Source
AI summary
A container (10) comprises a rigid outer body (12), a flexible inner body (14) at least partially inside the outer body (12), the inner body (14) defining a cleaning product space (16) configured to accommodate an amount of a cleaning product (42), and a coupler (50) for coupling the container to a cleaning appliance (200). The inner body is connected to the outer body by connection means (22) to form a liquid conduit (24) configured to cooperate with the coupler (50) and enable liquid flow from the container (10) to the cleaning appliance (200).