Jacket Assembly Rectilinear Alignment Member

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aerosol cartridge jacket assemblies are difficult to handle and prone to incorrect orientation during insertion into dispensing devices, leading to a risk of valve stem damage due to misalignment.

Innovation Solution

A jacket assembly with a rectilinear alignment member and abutment member that ensures correct orientation and secure insertion, featuring a protective shield and resilient gripping portions to prevent damage, along with a nodule that activates the dispensing device switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a jacket assembly is provided to protect the aerosol cartridge during transit and storage, then the cartridge is protected from damage, but the assembly becomes difficult to handle and is prone to incorrect orientation during insertion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of cartridgeVSAvoidhandling and insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetric alignment members (rectilinear projections) on the jacket assembly that correspond to asymmetric recesses in the dispensing device. This asymmetric geometry provides tactile feedback and mechanical guidance, enabling the user to easily identify and insert the cartridge in the correct orientation while maintaining protective coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Device complexity

If the jacket assembly is designed without alignment features, then it is simpler in structure, but the risk of misalignment and valve stem damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of jacket assemblyVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment members and alignment recesses act as intermediary guiding elements between the jacket assembly and the dispensing device. These intermediaries provide mechanical constraints that ensure proper alignment during insertion, protecting the valve stem from damage while adding minimal structural complexity to the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the alignment member is made deformable, then it is easier to insert into the device, but it may not provide sufficient alignment precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion easeVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the alignment member should be substantially non-deformable, providing rigid geometric constraints for precise alignment. The local quality of rigidity in the alignment member ensures accurate positioning, while the overall insertion ease is achieved through the complementary design of matching asymmetric recesses in the dispensing device that guide the alignment member during insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2091576B1Dispensing device with refill cartridge and jacket assembly
Publication Date: 2013.01.02 RECKITT BENCKISER (UK) LTD
  • EP2091576B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2091576B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2091576B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

The invention provides a jacket assembly (2) for a cartridge (40). The jacket assembly (2) is adapted to be received by a dispensing device (38). The jacket assembly (2.) comprises a body (4) having a first end (8), a second end (10), and a wall (12) extending therebetween. An alignment member (14) is located on the wall (12), the alignment member (14) being substantially rectilinear in shape. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a jacket assembly for an aereosol cartridge, for use in a device for dispensing a fluid for fragrancing, deodorising or sanitising air. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a jacket and refill cartridge assembly; a dispensing device adapted to receive a jacket assembly; a dispensing device assembly comprising a dispensing device, a jacket assembly and a refill cartridge; a dispensing device adapted to receive a jacket assembly and refill cartridge.