Frangible Seal Refill Container for Vaping Ingredient Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refill systems for electronic vaping devices do not effectively maintain the stability and shelf life of pre-vapor formulation ingredients, as they are prone to chemical reactions between different components, leading to reduced efficacy and shorter storage durations.
Innovation Solution
A container with separate compartments for different pre-vapor formulation ingredients, using frangible and impermeable seals made of materials like plastic or metal foil coated with inert substances, allowing for controlled mixing upon opening, thereby preventing premature reactions and extending shelf life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If pre-vapor formulation ingredients are stored together in a single compartment, then the device structure is simple, but chemical reactions occur between ingredients reducing shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple separate compartments, each designed to hold different pre-vapor formulation ingredients. This segmentation prevents direct contact between incompatible ingredients, eliminating premature chemical reactions and extending shelf life while maintaining a relatively simple overall container structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ingredients are mixed immediately upon opening, then the formulation is ready for use, but chemical reactions occur during storage reducing stability
Solution Approach 1:
Ingredients are pre-positioned in separate compartments within the container before use. The container is designed with frangible seals that break upon opening, allowing ingredients to mix automatically and immediately when the container is accessed, eliminating preparation time while maintaining stability during storage through physical separation.
3Reliability
If frangible seals are used to separate compartments, then ingredients remain isolated to prevent reactions, but the sealing mechanism adds complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Frangible seals made of thin, flexible material are used to separate the compartments. These seals provide reliable isolation of ingredients during storage while being simple enough to break automatically upon container opening, maintaining reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (10) for separately containing pre-vapor formulation ingredients prior to filling a reservoir of an electronic vaping device includes a container body (15) having a first opening (25), a first compartment (35) in the container body (15), a second compartment (40) in the container body (15), a first seal (30) between the first compartment (35) and the second compartment (40), and a lid (20) configured to cover the opening (25). The first compartment contains at least a first ingredient. The second compartment contains at least a second ingredient. Said first seal is frangible and substantially impermeable. The lid (20) is connected to the first seal (30), and the seal is broken when the lid is removed. In another container for the same purpose, a dropper forms a second compartment for the second ingredient. A dropper opening is closed by a covering which is removable for mixing the ingredients.