Hinged Pump Dispenser Cap With Child-Resistant Retaining Contours
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump dispensers face challenges in providing secure closing and simple opening mechanisms while maintaining low production costs, preventing access by children, and ensuring easy usability, particularly for nicotine-containing and cannabis-containing liquids.
Innovation Solution
A pump dispenser design featuring a one-piece liquid reservoir with a push-actuator and a cap unit that includes a base element and a pivoting cap element, secured by a joint, with retaining devices and haptic features for child safety and easy operation, and a compact size for everyday carry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure closing mechanism is implemented to prevent child access and accidental opening, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap unit is divided into a base element and a cap element that can be separated. The base element remains attached to the liquid reservoir while the cap element can be removed and reattached, providing security through separation rather than complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap unit is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use rather than being refilled or reused. This eliminates the need for complex reusable locking mechanisms while maintaining safety during the product's lifecycle.
2Reliability
If a secure closing mechanism with retaining devices is implemented, then protection against dirt and accidental opening is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cap element is pre-formed with engagement protrusions that automatically align with and engage the base element's features during the closing action. This preliminary configuration ensures secure closure without requiring complex manual manipulation or alignment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring active engagement actions to secure the cap, the design uses passive engagement where the cap element's weight and geometry cause it to naturally settle into the engaged position with the base element, reversing the typical locking mechanism approach.
3Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece cap unit design is used, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but reliability of secure closing may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The base element and cap element are formed as a single integrated one-piece component using injection molding. This merging of parts eliminates assembly steps and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable closure through the integrated design's inherent engagement features.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-piece cap unit design serves multiple functions: it protects the liquid reservoir, provides a closure mechanism, and acts as a disposable container. This multi-functionality compensates for the simplicity of the single-piece construction, maintaining reliability without additional components.
4Ease of operation
If the liquid reservoir volume is reduced for portability, then ease of operation and carryability are improved, but quantity of substance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cap element is designed to nest within or attach to the base element in a compact configuration when not in use. This nesting arrangement maximizes the use of available space, allowing adequate liquid capacity in the base element while maintaining a compact overall form factor for portability.
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 design ensures secure closure against dirt and accidental opening, provides child-resistant operation, and maintains low production costs, facilitating easy and almost subconscious use.
Implementation Method 1
the cap unit has a base element, which is fastened to the liquid reservoir, and with a cap element which can be pivoted with respect to the base element by means of a joint
Implementation Method 2
A pump device for a pump dispenser according to the invention generally comprises a pump chamber, the volume thereof being able to be reduced by depressing the push-actuator
Implementation Method 3
The retaining contours which face one another engage in one another in the closed state and, in particular, bring about a positive coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A pump dispenser including a liquid reservoir having a removal opening, and a pump device attached to the removal opening and having a push-actuator. The pump dispenser has a cap unit with a base element fastened to the liquid reservoir, and a cap element. The cap element is pivotable with respect to the base element by a hinge. In a closed state, the cap element covers the push-actuator and the discharge opening. The cap unit has a retaining device formed by retaining contours. A retaining contour of the base element is displaced by a release surface. The retaining device can alternatively or additionally include a lifting surface protected by a protective portion.