Hump-Shaped Applicator for Contactless Sanitary Agent Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary products for toilet bowls, such as adhesive pasty agents and solid bar products, are perceived as unhygienic and require direct contact with the toilet surface, leading to contamination and inefficient application.

Innovation Solution

A device with a cavity for receiving sanitary products, featuring fastening means and hump-shaped dispensing elements separated by a V-groove, allowing for contactless, one-handed application without direct hand contact with the toilet bowl or adhesive, and serving as both an applicator and packaging unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If adhesive pasty agents are applied directly to the toilet surface, then the cleaning agent can be applied effectively, but the consumer experiences hygiene contamination and unhygienic contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication easeVSAvoidhygiene contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary applicator device that mediates between the consumer and the adhesive pasty agent. The applicator comprises a cavity receiving the agent and a applicator surface that contacts the toilet bowl, preventing direct hand contact with the adhesive while enabling effective application. This resolves the hygiene contamination issue while maintaining application effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If solid bar products are applied directly to the toilet surface, then the agent can be applied, but direct hand contact with the adhesive and toilet bowl causes contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication simplicityVSAvoidcontact contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator device serves as an intermediary tool that the consumer holds and uses to apply the solid bar product. The applicator surface makes contact with the toilet bowl while the consumer's hand remains on the applicator body, preventing direct contact with the adhesive and toilet surface, thus eliminating contamination while maintaining application simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the applicator allows contactless application, then hygiene is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontactless hygieneVSAvoidapplicator structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator is segmented into distinct functional parts: a cavity for receiving the agent, fastening means for securing the agent, and an applicator surface for contactless application. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and manufacturable, achieving contactless hygiene without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If fastening means are provided to secure the sanitary agent, then the agent is retained securely, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagent retentionVSAvoidfastening mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening means are designed to automatically secure the sanitary agent in the cavity without requiring additional complex mechanisms. The fastening structure utilizes the cavity geometry and material properties to self-retain the agent, providing reliable retention while minimizing device complexity and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 hygienic, simple, and inexpensive application of sanitary products directly onto the toilet bowl, protecting hands and preventing adhesive contact, while eliminating the need for additional protective films and ensuring secure retention of the product during use.

Implementation Method 1

The attachment of the means in the device can take place in various ways, for example by friction, pressing, gluing and/or reaching under.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

adhesive pasty agents are known from WO 99/66017, which are applied directly to the surface of the sanitary object, adhere there

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2473421B1Packaging unit comprising a chemical agent and an applicator for the bar-shaped agent
Publication Date: 2016.06.15 BUCK CHEMIE GMBH & CO
  • EP2473421B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2473421B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2473421B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for applying bar-shaped sanitary means, comprising a cavity (22) for accommodating the sanitary means (13), means (15, 16, 17, 18) for fastening the sanitary means (13), and elements (24, 25) for discharging the means (13) from the device, wherein the discharge elements (24, 25) are located above the cavity (22) for accommodating the means (13) and wherein the discharge elements (24, 25) are hump-shaped and separated from each other by a V-shaped groove and have two contact surfaces (33, 34), wherein the fastening means (15, 16, 17, 18) can be detached by pressing the contact surfaces toward each other. The invention further relates to a packaging unit.