Frangible Container Adhesive Dispenser with Deflectable Breaking Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adhesive applicators and dispensers face challenges in controlling the flow and placement of polymerizable adhesives like α-cyanoacrylates, which polymerize rapidly, making it difficult to design effective and commercially viable devices that maintain sanitary and sterile properties while allowing for precise application.
Innovation Solution
The development of an applicator device with a body portion, a movable actuator, and a frangible container system where the actuator deflects a breaking member into the container to rupture it, allowing the adhesive to flow into a reservoir, which can be sealed and dispensed with controlled pressure, ensuring precise application and minimizing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the adhesive material is fed from the applicator device by gravity only, then the device structure is simple, but the control over the flow of adhesive material is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic control through a plunger mechanism that can be actuated to displace adhesive material from the container. The plunger system allows controlled delivery of adhesive by applying mechanical force to push the material through the dispensing system, providing precise flow control while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Reliability
If the monomer is kept in monomeric form for application, then the adhesive properties are maintained, but premature polymerization occurs rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the polymerization initiator from the adhesive container and places it in a separate applicator component. This separation allows the adhesive material to remain in its stable monomeric form during storage and handling, while the initiator is only introduced when needed at the point of application, preventing premature polymerization while maintaining adhesive properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a frangible seal as an intermediary barrier that physically separates the monomer in the container from the initiator in the applicator. This seal maintains the stability of the monomer by preventing contact with the initiator until the moment of use, when the seal is broken to allow mixing and subsequent polymerization.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a frangible container is used to hold the adhesive material, then premature polymerization is prevented, but the container must be ruptured to dispense the adhesive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pre-designed frangible seal that is easily broken by the user during the dispensing operation. This preliminary design of the breakable seal structure allows for simple, one-handed activation where the user snaps or breaks the seal to release the adhesive, making the operation intuitive and requiring minimal effort while effectively preventing premature polymerization during storage.
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 enables economical, efficient, and user-friendly application of adhesive materials with improved control over flow and placement, maintaining sterile conditions and reducing premature polymerization, thus enhancing the usability and effectiveness of polymerizable adhesives in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
each breaking member is at least partially deflectable into the cavity
Implementation Method 2
at least one semi-rigid section sealably contacting each of the at least one breaking member and sealably covering each corresponding surrounding gap
Implementation Method 3
An annular housing is movable with respect to the body portion... When the annular housing is moved relative to the body portion from a first position to a second position, at least a portion of the breaking member is deflected into the cavity
Implementation Method 4
Monomers of α-cyanoacrylates are anionically polymerizable or free radical polymerizable... Once polymerization has been initiated, the cure rate may be very rapid
Data Source
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AI summary
An applicator device for dispensing and/or applying an adhesive material comprises a body portion comprising a closed proximal end and an open distal end providing a cavity. The cavity is sized to accept a frangible container having a polymerizable adhesive material. At least one breaking member integral with the body portion and having a surrounding gap is at least partially deflectable into the cavity and each breaking member has a first engagement member. An annular housing movable with respect to the body portion has a second engagement member complementary with the first engagement member, the first and the second engagement member being cooperatively engageable with each other When the annular housing is moved relative to the body portion from a first position where the first and the second engagement member are not cooperatively engaged with each other.