Fluid Pump Removable Seal Prevents Degradation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid product packaging and dispensing devices face challenges in maintaining the integrity of the product during long storage periods due to exposure to the external environment, which can lead to oxidation, microbial contamination, and evaporation, despite the use of 'airless' systems, as vents and micro-leaks allow external air contact and ingredients from materials can migrate, degrading the product.

Innovation Solution

A device with a removable element that maintains the pump in a raised position, ensuring the shutter closes the product passage circuit, and a gas-impermeable shutter to prevent external air penetration and ingredient migration, along with a design that isolates the pump valves from the product, minimizing interactions and maintaining a seal throughout storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If vents are provided to allow outside air to enter the space between the bottle and piston or bottle and pocket during pump actuation, then the piston can move and maintain pressure on the walls, but external air can penetrate and contact the product, causing oxidation and degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump actuationVSAvoidproduct degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two functional zones: an upper sealed zone containing the product and a lower vented zone for air intake during pumping. The piston separates these zones, allowing air to enter only the lower zone while the product remains isolated in the upper sealed zone, resolving the contradiction between enabling pump operation and preventing product degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The piston acts as an intermediary barrier between the product and the venting system. It allows air to pass through to the lower chamber for pressure equalization during pumping while maintaining a sealed interface with the product, thus mediating between the need for air intake and product protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the pump is positioned close to the product during storage, then the device structure is compact, but the product can contact pump materials and valves, causing ingredient migration and degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidproduct composition
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A removable sealing element is pre-installed in the neck of the bottle to create a seal between the product and pump before first use. This preliminary sealing action prevents any contact between product and pump materials during storage and transport, addressing the composition stability issue while maintaining compact structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is extracted as a separate removable element that can be easily removed by the end user before first use. This separation allows the seal to be in place during storage to prevent degradation, while being removable for normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between compact structure and composition stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a removable sealing element is added to prevent product-pump contact during storage, then product composition stability is improved, but device complexity and user操作步骤 increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct compositionVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is made from flexible plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene in the form of a thin film or bag that can be easily inserted and removed. This flexible construction provides effective sealing while minimizing structural complexity and ease of removal for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of operation

If the sealing element is made from flexible plastic material, then it can conform to the bottle shape and provide good seal, but gas permeation can occur through the material during long storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing conformabilityVSAvoidgas barrier property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element uses composite material construction combining flexible plastic layers with gas barrier layers. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed to conform to the bottle shape for good sealing and the gas barrier properties required to prevent permeation during long-term storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 reduces exchanges between the inside and outside of the device, ensuring the product remains protected from degradation processes during storage, maintaining its quality until first use and preventing accidental use during storage.

Implementation Method 1

a gas-impermeable shutter to prevent external air penetration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas impermeability: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

isolates the pump valves from the product, minimizing interactions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical isolation: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

maintaining its quality until first use and preventing accidental use during storage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation prevention: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2841206B1Packaging and dispensing device for fluid products with a manual pump
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 LABLABO SRL
  • EP2841206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2841206B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP2841206B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for packaging and dispensing fluid products. The device, which has a manual pump (2) mounted on a bottle (1) or a bag (5) containing the product to be dispensed, comprises a removable element (11) inserted between the pump (2) and the neck of the bottle (1), as well as a stopper (13) secured to the pump (2), which is capable of closing the circuit for the passage of the product to be dispensed between the inside of the flask (1) and the pump (2) when the removable element (11) is in place. The invention can be used for improving preservation during the storage of the product contained in the bottle or bag.