Gravity-Driven Bristle Nozzle for Liquid Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-dispensing hairbrush bristles fail to effectively deliver low viscosity liquids to the scalp during hair-brushing due to reliance on capillary action, which limits the volume of liquid dispersed and requires air pressure equalization, neither of which are adequately addressed by current designs.
Innovation Solution
A bristle design featuring a tube with a roller-ball nozzle where liquid flows solely by gravity, with a ball seat and protrusion portions allowing liquid to flow through central holes only by gravity, and specific ratios of channel length to diameter ensuring efficient liquid and air flow, preventing capillary action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If capillary action is used to deliver liquid from the roller-ball nozzle, then liquid flow is controlled, but the volume of liquid dispersed is insufficient and air pressure equalization is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the capillary action mechanism from the liquid delivery system and replaces it with gravity-based flow. The feed rod is designed with large diameter holes that prevent capillary action, allowing liquid to flow only through gravity-driven mechanisms, thereby eliminating the need for complex air pressure equalization systems while increasing liquid dispersion volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the feed rod by increasing the hole diameter to a specific range (0.5-2.0 mm) that is large enough to prevent capillary action. This parameter change fundamentally alters the liquid flow mechanism from capillary-driven to gravity-driven, resolving the contradiction between liquid volume delivery and device complexity.
2Productivity
If roller-ball nozzles with absorbent feed rods are used, then liquid flow is controlled, but low viscosity liquids cannot be dispersed sufficiently during hair-brushing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using absorbent materials that rely on capillary action to control liquid flow, the patent inverts the approach by using non-absorbent, large-diameter holes that allow gravity-driven flow. This inversion enables low viscosity liquids to be dispersed efficiently without the limitations of capillary action, significantly improving both productivity and liquid volume delivery.
3Quantity of substance
If nozzles are located at the bristle ends to disperse liquid over the scalp, then liquid distribution is improved, but manual control of liquid amount becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the feed rod with large diameter holes that passively control liquid flow through gravity and user-controlled brush pressure, eliminating the need for active pumping or complex control mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the natural weight of the bristle and user application force to regulate liquid dispensing, maintaining ease of operation while improving liquid distribution.
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
Enables efficient delivery of low viscosity liquids to the scalp during hair-brushing, ensuring sufficient liquid distribution and air pressure equalization without the limitations of capillary action, thereby improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a bristle of a liquid-dispensing hairbrush designed to deliver liquids to a user's scalp during hair-brushing only by gravity, and not by capillary action
Implementation Method 2
designed to deliver liquids to a user's scalp during hair-brushing only by gravity, and not by capillary action
Implementation Method 3
air needs to enter the brush liquid reservoir from outside to equalize the air pressure so that liquid can be dispersed from the roller-ball nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A bristle of a liquid-dispensing hairbrush designed to deliver low-viscosity liquids to a user's scalp during hair-brushing only by gravity and not capillary action. The bristle has a tube with an internal channel with a maximum diameter M and a length L. There is a roller-ball nozzle having a ball with diameter B and a ball seat into which the ball movable fits. The ball seat has radially spaced apart inwardly directed protrusion portions with protrusion portion spaces therebetween. The protrusion portions have apexes, wherein a central hole is defined by an imaginary circle which contacts the apexes of the protrusion portions, and the central hole has a diameter, and the ball seat has a minimum cross-sectional area S which is free for liquid flow. The protrusion portion spaces are large enough so that liquid can flow through the protrusion portion spaces and through the central hole only by gravity, and not by capillary action. A ratio of 8<L/√S<25 is satisfied. A ratio of L/M>8 is satisfied. Furthermore, the ratio of M/B<1.3 is satisfied.