Hand Applicator Valve Alignment for Foam Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand applicators for foam bottles face challenges in applying a vertical force to the valve connection, leading to gas leaks and inconsistent foam flow due to non-vertical force application and lack of ergonomic handle design, making operation inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A hand applicator design with a handle support surface positioned directly above the valve connection, featuring concavities and elevations to ensure a vertical force application and smooth flow regulation, along with a support foot to maintain the adapter's vertical position and a handle stem for comfortable bottle holding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle parts are positioned with different lengths for ergonomic grip, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to apply vertical force consistently deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by positioning the support surface at a specific height above the valve connection, creating a vertical alignment relationship that ensures force is applied perpendicular to the valve connection axis, thereby resolving the contradiction between ergonomic handle design and consistent vertical force application
Solution Approach 2:
The support surface acts as an intermediary element between the user's fingers and the valve connection, transferring force vertically through a dedicated contact point that guarantees proper force direction while allowing the handle to maintain its ergonomic shape
2Productivity
If the adapter channel diameter is increased to prevent foam obstruction, then foam flow is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a stepped structure with different diameters at different locations: a larger outer diameter for sealing contact with the valve connection and a smaller inner channel diameter for foam flow, allowing both sealing reliability and foam flow rate to be optimized simultaneously
3Manufacturing precision
If the cavity depth is increased to center the adapter channel, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cavity structure into distinct functional zones: a deeper portion for positioning and centering the adapter channel, and a shallower outer portion for sealing contact, achieving precise positioning without requiring the entire cavity to be excessively deep
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A hand applicator 3 (Fig 1) to be fastened to the valve connection 2 of the bottle with the gun applicator adapter 1 where the hand applicator contains an adapter 4 with a cavity to be fastened to the valve connection 2 of the bottle, where the adapter 4 contains an extension 4.1 of the cavity wall at the end to be fastened to the valve connection 2 as well as a sealing ring 4.2 for sealing the adapter 4 on the valve connection 2 close to the lower edge of the inner side of the cavity wall extension 4.1; a support foot 6 formed on the handle 5 where there is a spigot 4.1 to be fixed to the support 1.1 of the fun applicator adapter 1 at the end of the support foot 6, and the handle 5 whose support surface is directly above the valve connection 2 on the hand applicator 3 placed onto the valve connection 2. Whereby the support surface of the handle 5 of the hand applicator 3 is formed with a concavity 5.1 whose bottom is directly above the valve connection 2 if the hand applicator 3 is placed onto the valve connection 2, in such a way that the centre axis of the cavity of the adapter 4 and the centre axis of the valve connection 2 run through the bottom of the concavity 5.1 so that the imaginary tangent of the lowest point of the concavity bottom 5.1 is mainly perpendicular to the centre axis of the valve connection 2. The support surface of the handle 5 of the hand applicator 3 may also be formed with two concavities 5.1 and with the elevation 5.2 between the concavities placed in such a way that the centre axis of the valve connection 2 runs through the elevation 5.2 between the concavities on the handle 5 on the hand applicator 3 is placed onto the valve connection 2. The support surface of the handle stem 7 of the hand applicator 3 is formed with two concavities 7.1. The handle stem 7 of the hand applicator 3 is meant for holding the bottle in hand. The presented hand applicator 3 ensures that the force exerted during operation on the valve connection 2 is practically vertical, the rate of flow of the jet can be regulated and it is comfortable to hold the bottle in hand if the hand applicator 3 is placed onto the valve connection 2.