Indexed Telescopic Cream Dispenser for Metered Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensers for viscous substances like creams and gels lack a reliable mechanism to deliver a controlled, metered amount and provide clear indication of the remaining content, often allowing accidental over-dispensing and making it difficult to track the amount used.
Innovation Solution
A cream dispenser with a telescopic mechanism and indexed rotation system, using a shaft and bearing with a discontinuous thread and a radial leaf spring, ensures precise metered dispensing and visual indication of remaining content through telescopic movement and audible clicks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional deformable tube or cylindrical rigid tube is used to store and dispense cream, then the device is simple in structure, but it cannot reliably deliver a controlled metered amount of cream and provides no clear indication of remaining content
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into distinct functional modules: a cream-containing chamber, a telescopic handle mechanism, an indexing system with detents, and a nozzle assembly. Each module performs a specific function, allowing precise control over cream dispensing while maintaining manageable structural complexity through functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing mechanism provides tactile and visual feedback through audible clicks at predetermined rotational positions, informing the user of the metered amount dispensed. The telescopic movement of the cream chamber relative to the handle provides visual feedback on remaining cream volume, enabling precise dosing control.
2Loss of information
If the cream containing chamber is made telescopic with respect to the handle, then visual indication of remaining content is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic mechanism combines multiple functions: it provides visual indication of remaining cream through the relative movement between the cream chamber and handle, simultaneously acts as part of the dispensing mechanism, and integrates with the indexing system. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate indication mechanisms, managing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The remaining content indication is achieved through axial movement in the telescopic mechanism rather than requiring a separate display interface. The cream chamber moves axially relative to the handle, providing visual feedback in a spatial dimension that naturally conveys information about remaining volume without adding complex electronic or mechanical display systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If an indexing mechanism is added to control rotation positions, then metered dispensing precision is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing mechanism enables periodic action by locking the handle at predetermined rotational positions, with each position corresponding to a specific metered volume of cream dispensed. The detents and corresponding features create discrete, repeatable positions that ensure consistent dosing with each rotation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The indexing mechanism is designed to be self-aligning through the interaction between detents on the handle and corresponding features on the cream chamber or housing. The mechanism automatically indexes to predetermined positions without requiring external actuators or complex control systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precision.
4Ease of operation
If a shaft and bearing with discontinuous thread are used for telescopic movement, then controlled axial movement is achieved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing acts as an intermediary element between the shaft and the cream chamber, enabling smooth axial movement while maintaining rotational control. The discontinuous thread on the shaft interacts with the bearing to convert rotational motion into controlled axial displacement of the cream chamber, providing ease of operation through a well-defined mechanical interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The discontinuous thread mechanism replaces more complex mechanical systems such as cam-follower arrangements or rack-and-pinion mechanisms. The threaded shaft with discontinuous engagement provides a simpler, more compact solution for achieving controlled axial movement from rotational input, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the overall mechanism.
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 dispenser reliably delivers a predetermined volume of cream with each rotation, providing clear visual and tactile feedback on the remaining amount, ensuring accurate dosing and preventing accidental over-dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
a shaft rotatably fixed with respect to the handle and arranged to pass through the bearing such that upon rotation of the handle with respect to the cream containing chamber, the cream containing chamber and the handle move telescopically with respect to each other
Implementation Method 2
movement of the handle with respect to the cream containing chamber is indexed so as to dispense a predetermined volume of cream in dependence on a rotation thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a substance dispenser for dispensing a metered amount of a substance such as a cream or gel, other viscous or non-viscous substance, the dispenser comprising: a first housing member defining a handle for the dispenser; a cream containing chamber arranged to slide telescopically with respect to the handle member, the cream containing chamber having a nozzle opening at a first end, from which cream is, in use, dispensed; a bearing at the second axial end; and a shaft rotatably fixed with respect to the handle and arranged to pass through the bearing such that upon rotation of the handle with respect to the cream containing chamber, the cream containing chamber and the handle move telescopically with respect to each other such that, the substance containing chamber moves axially within the handle to force cream through the nozzle opening, wherein movement of the handle with respect to the cream containing chamber is indexed so as to dispense a predetermined volume of cream in dependence on a rotation thereof.