Helical-Frame Conduit for Complete Deformable-Container Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current single-use containers, including deformable and semi-deformable containers, often fail to fully evacuate media due to trapped contents, leading to waste and inefficiency, with issues in dispensing mechanisms like soap dispensers, toothpaste tubes, and lotion dispensers resulting in messy and incomplete usage.
Innovation Solution
A conduit device with a helical or wall-less frame that integrates with deformable containers, creating a passageway to facilitate complete evacuation of media by preventing collapse and maintaining a continuous air path, using a vacuum mechanism to ensure media is fully dispensed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If compression force is applied to deformable containers to dispense media, then media flow towards outlet is improved, but media becomes trapped in spaces and evacuation is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments or chambers that can be independently collapsed. This segmentation allows media to be evacuated from each compartment systematically, preventing trapping in undisturbed sections while maintaining structural integrity during compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapse mechanism transitions from simple linear compression to multi-dimensional deformation. By collapsing the container in multiple directions and sequences, media is pushed toward the outlet from various angles, eliminating dead zones where media could become trapped.
2Ease of operation
If deformable containers are used to dispense media, then dispensing control is improved, but complete evacuation is difficult and waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The container collapse process is designed to maintain continuous media flow toward the outlet throughout the entire evacuation sequence. By coordinating the collapse of different compartments in sequence, the system ensures uninterrupted dispensing action until all media is exhausted, eliminating the incomplete evacuation problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes physical parameters during dispensing, including compression force magnitude, collapse sequence timing, and compartment deformation rates. These parameter adjustments optimize media flow characteristics throughout the dispensing process, ensuring complete evacuation while maintaining operational control.
3Device complexity
If manual compression is used to empty containers, then no additional equipment is needed, but complete evacuation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The container structure itself performs the evacuation function through its designed collapse mechanism. The geometric configuration and compartment arrangement enable the container to self-evacuate media through controlled deformation, eliminating the need for external pumping or complex equipment while achieving complete emptying.
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 conduit device ensures nearly complete evacuation of media from deformable containers, reducing waste and improving dispensing efficiency by maintaining a consistent flow path despite container deformation.
Implementation Method 1
compression, force, etc., can at least partially collapse the container at least temporarily, thusly pushing and moving media contained therein, in a direction towards an outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A conduit device having a media tube having a first end and a second end defining a first passageway therein, first end having a flange extending radially therefrom, and a substantially helical frame extending from the second end of the media tube, the helical frame having a nodule affixed to a distal end thereof, wherein one or more of the media tube or the helical frame is adapted to be at least partially arranged within a deformable media container, thereby creating a media passageway within the helical frame when the deformable media container collapses around the helical frame. A method of improving evacuation of media within a deformable container, which may employ the aforementioned conduit device, is also disclosed.