Inverted Liquid Dispenser With Elastomeric Valve for Leak-Resistant Dosing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inverted liquid containers face challenges with liquid leakage during impact, steady-state leakage, and inaccurate dosing, particularly for low viscosity liquids, and require additional steps for dispensing due to the use of closing caps.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispenser with a flexible, elastomeric valve and an impact resistance system that includes a housing with a compressible substance to absorb transient pressure changes, allowing controlled dosing without a closing cap, and preventing leakage during impacts and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resilient valve is used in the discharge spout to control liquid dispensing, then liquid leakage is minimized and controlled dosing is achieved, but the valve opens suddenly upon reaching opening pressure causing spurting of liquid
Solution Approach 1:
A baffle is introduced as an intermediary element between the liquid stream and the valve. The baffle intercepts the liquid flow and redirects it, preventing direct spurting while allowing controlled dosing through the valve mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The sudden opening pressure that causes spurting is converted into a beneficial feature by using the baffle to redirect this high-pressure flow. The energy from the sudden valve opening is harnessed to push liquid through the baffle in a controlled manner, transforming the harmful spurt into a controlled dispensing mechanism
2Loss of substance
If a closing cap is added to prevent evaporation of solvent and volatiles, then product loss is reduced, but additional manipulation steps are required making the bottle less user friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser system performs its own sealing function through the valve mechanism that automatically closes after dispensing. The valve itself serves as both the dispensing control and the closure mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate cap while preventing both leakage and evaporation
Solution Approach 2:
The closing cap is removed from the system entirely. The patent extracts the sealing function from the cap and integrates it into the valve mechanism, which inherently provides both dispensing control and evaporation prevention without requiring additional user manipulation
3Productivity
If the liquid flows out upon inversion of the bottle, then dispensing is enabled, but it becomes difficult to control the amount of liquid dispensed and causes spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism automatically controls liquid flow based on pressure differential. When the bottle is inverted and squeezed, the valve opens to allow dispensing; when pressure equalizes or the bottle is returned to upright position, the valve automatically closes, preventing uncontrolled flow and spillage without requiring user intervention
4Reliability
If the liquid forms a crust around the spout rim, then the spout may be blocked, but the crust formation indicates liquid messiness and drying issues
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle acts as an intermediary that intercepts liquid before it reaches the spout rim area. By redirecting the liquid flow through the baffle structure, the system prevents liquid from contacting and forming crust around the spout, eliminating both blocking and messiness issues
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 effectively reduces leakage and improves dosing accuracy, especially for low viscosity liquids, by maintaining the valve closed during steady-state conditions and absorbing hydraulic hammer pressure, enhancing user convenience and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
transient liquid pressure increases, also referred to as hydraulic hammer pressure, inside the container
Implementation Method 2
a compressible substance in the space defined by the valve and the outlet opening to absorb the transient liquid pressure increase
Implementation Method 3
The valve is localized in the body and comprises a flexible, elastomeric material
Implementation Method 4
the valve opens in response to a pressure differential across the valve
Data Source
AI summary
An inverted liquid-dispensing container is described. The inverted liquid-dispensing container provides for improved dosing of liquid compositions, especially at low dosage volumes, while being more resistant to leakage, even for low viscosity liquids. The inverted liquid-dispensing container comprises a series of walls appropriately sized and spaced to allow for more accurate dosing while also reducing the likelihood of leakage.