Flowable Solid Container with Dosing Chamber for Consistent Portioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for flowable solids face challenges in accurately dispensing consistent doses without messiness, and on-the-go use is hindered by bulk containers and single-use packets, which are messy and generate waste.
Innovation Solution
A container design with a dosing chamber, partition, and a plunger mechanism that allows for consistent dosing by inverting the container, ensuring each dose is equal regardless of the remaining amount, and includes a sealing mechanism to prevent unintentional flow during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a bulk container is used to store flowable solids, then storage capacity is improved, but dosing accuracy and mess-free dispensing deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container interior is segmented into a storage volume and a separate dosing chamber by a partition. The dosing chamber has a defined volume that corresponds to exactly one dose, physically separating the bulk storage from the dispensing function. This segmentation allows the container to maintain bulk storage capacity while ensuring that only a precise, pre-measured amount can be dispensed at any time.
2Quantity of substance
If a bulk container is used to store flowable solids, then storage capacity is improved, but dispensing cleanliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger mechanism extracts and isolates a precise portion of the flowable solid from the bulk storage by forcing it through a controlled pathway into the dosing chamber. This extraction process contains the flowable solid within the container structure during transfer, preventing it from spilling or creating mess outside the container.
3Measurement precision
If a single-use packet system is used, then dosing accuracy is improved, but waste generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container system recovers and retains the bulk storage vessel for repeated use, discarding only the minimal amount of flowable solid that remains in the dosing chamber after dispensing. This contrasts with single-use packets where the entire container is discarded after one use, significantly reducing material waste while maintaining dosing accuracy through the defined dosing chamber volume.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a sealing mechanism is added to prevent unintentional flow, then transport stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the existing plunger and lid structures. The plunger serves dual purposes: it acts as a dosing mechanism and simultaneously provides a seal within the outlet passage to prevent unintentional flow. The lid, when closed, engages with the plunger assembly to maintain the sealed state during transport, combining multiple functions into existing components rather than adding separate sealing mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to a container for dispensing equal doses of a flowable solid. The container may include a body defining an interior volume including a storage volume, an outlet passage, and a dosing chamber in communication with the storage volume and the outlet passage. The container may include a closure that has a lid and a plunger. The lid may be rotatably coupled to the body such that it rotates about a first axis from a closed position to an open position. The plunger may be rotatably coupled to the lid and configured to seal the dosing chamber. The container may be configured to dispense a dose of the flowable solid when the plunger is in the unsealed position and the container is at least partially inverted, and each dose may have an equal volume.