Method and device for dispensing from an inverted shippable container

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to minimize container fabrication and shipping costs while maintaining container durability for lightweight shippable containers used in handling and dispensing various products, as they often compromise on structural rigidity and integrity.

Innovation Solution

The use of dispensers that engage with shippable containers through a collar engagement portion, closure engagement portion, and body engagement portion to prevent rotation and facilitate dispensing when the container is inverted, ensuring durability and efficient content dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If lightweight containers are used to minimize material investment and manufacturing costs, then container weight and cost are reduced, but structural rigidity and integrity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer weightVSAvoidstructural rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into multiple discrete support arms (first support arm, second support arm, third support arm, fourth support arm) that individually engage with different portions of the container. Each arm provides localized support to distribute and manage stresses, allowing the container to maintain structural integrity without requiring increased overall weight or material thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dispenser incorporates support arms made from materials with different properties - the first and second support arms are made from a first material, while the third and fourth support arms are made from a second material. This composite approach allows optimization of each component for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity with minimal weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If lightweight containers are used to reduce shipping costs, then material investment and transport costs are minimized, but container durability during handling and dispensing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcontainer durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support arms are pre-configured in the dispenser structure to engage with specific portions of the container before dispensing operations begin. The first and second support arms engage the body portion, while the third and fourth support arms engage the finish portion, establishing a stable support framework that prevents damage during subsequent handling and dispensing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support arms act as intermediary elements between the dispenser structure and the lightweight container. These arms transfer and distribute mechanical stresses and forces away from the container walls, protecting the lightweight structure from damage during handling, shipping, and dispensing operations without requiring the container itself to be more robust.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the container is inverted for dispensing, then dispensing efficiency is improved, but rotation control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing efficiencyVSAvoidrotation control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support arms are configured with asymmetric engagement features - the first and second support arms engage the body portion at different locations and orientations, while the third and fourth support arms engage the finish portion with complementary asymmetric features. This asymmetric configuration provides inherent rotational stability, preventing the container from rotating or twisting when inverted during dispensing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The support arms are positioned and configured to counterbalance the weight distribution of the inverted container. By engaging both the body portion and finish portion at strategically located points, the support structure creates a balanced configuration that prevents unwanted rotation and maintains stable orientation during dispensing, effectively counteracting the destabilizing effect of inversion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS10759647B1Method and device for dispensing from an inverted shippable container

Publication Date: 2020.09.01 PLASTIC TECH INC

AI summary

A dispenser for a shippable container is provided, where the shippable container has a hollow body, an opening, a collar adjacent the opening, and a closure sealing the opening. The dispenser has a collar engagement portion configured to engage the collar of the shippable container, a closure engagement portion configured to engage the closure of the shippable container, and a body engagement portion configured to engage a portion of the hollow body of the shippable container. An aperture in the dispenser is configured to dispense contents from the hollow body of the shippable container. The dispenser can be configured to dispense contents from the hollow body of the shippable container when the shippable container is in an inverted position.