Inverted squeeze foamer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems for flowable products, such as aerosols and plunger constructions, require direct manual manipulation and struggle to consistently produce high-quality foam with the right consistency, as they are influenced by product viscosity, air content, and valve integrity, while also being cost-effective and easy to assemble.
Innovation Solution
The design of an inverted squeeze foamer using a pliable container with a duckbill or metering valve system that generates foam by combining air and liquid through a mesh screen, where the container is squeezed to increase internal pressure, allowing air and liquid to flow through a dip tube and mix before being dispensed, with components assembled via snap-fit or interference fits without adhesives or threaded fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If aerosol or plunger construction dispensing systems are used, then direct manual manipulation is achieved, but the ability to consistently produce high-quality foam with right consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a mesh screen with specific aperture sizes and a valve system that controls the ratio of air to liquid product. By changing the physical parameters of the mesh screen (aperture size, shape) and controlling flow parameters through the valve, the system consistently produces foam with desired consistency regardless of manual squeezing force variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh screen acts as an intermediary between the liquid product and the dispensed foam. It mediates the transformation from liquid to foam by controlling air incorporation and liquid flow, ensuring consistent foam quality even when manual manipulation varies.
2Reliability
If traditional dispensing systems with multiple components are used, then valve integrity and sealing can be maintained, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the valve, mesh screen, and dispensing tip into a single integrated foamer assembly. This merging of components maintains reliable sealing and valve function while reducing the total number of parts and simplifying assembly, as the integrated design eliminates multiple connection points and potential failure modes.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional foam dispensing systems are used, then product viscosity control is limited, but the ability to accommodate various product types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The foamer system is designed with a mesh screen and valve configuration that can accommodate a wide range of product viscosities. The system's multi-functionality allows it to work with different liquid products (shower gels, body washes, lotions) by adjusting air-to-liquid ratios through the valve, making it versatile across product types while maintaining foam consistency.
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
This system efficiently produces and dispenses foam with controlled consistency, accommodating a range of product viscosities, ensuring fluidity and reliability, while reducing component costs and assembly complexity, and allowing for easy adjustment of foam density through valve design and mesh screen configurations.
Implementation Method 1
apply a manual squeezing force on the outer wall of the container in order to increase the interior pressure. This increased interior pressure forces a portion of whatever product is in the container to be dispensed
Implementation Method 2
The air flow for mixing with liquid product comes from the air within the container and the valving for the liquid product includes a duckbill valve in one embodiment and a metering valve in another embodiment. Use of the phrase 'foam aeration' describes the process of pushing an air and liquid product mixture through a mesh screen.
Data Source
AI summary
A foamer for use in dispensing a liquid product with a foam consistency includes a top cap, a closure, a housing, an air-flow diaphragm, a mesh screen and a valve structure. The closure includes a portion which is received by the cap and these two (2) cooperate to define a foam outlet. The housing is assembled into the closure and the diaphragm is assembled into the housing. The mesh insert is positioned adjacent the foam outlet. The valve structure is provided in two (2) embodiments, one being a duckbill valve with a corresponding holder and the other being a metering valve with a corresponding holder.