Liquid dispensing container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable containers for liquid products like shampoo and soap are difficult to empty completely, leading to waste and frustration, while permanent fixtures require cumbersome liquid transfer and can be expensive and prone to leaks.

Innovation Solution

A semi-permanent, wall-mountable container with a squeezable design and releasable cap that uses double-sided sticky tape for attachment, featuring a spout with an o-ring to prevent spills and allow easy dispensing without the need for shaking or placing on a surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If disposable containers are used for liquid products, then convenience and low cost are improved, but liquid waste increases and dispensing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidliquid waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed to be squeezable, allowing dynamic deformation of the container body to force remaining liquid toward the spout opening. This dynamic compression enables complete emptying of the container, eliminating waste while maintaining the simplicity of disposable containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A spout with an o-ring seal acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls liquid flow. The o-ring prevents leakage during handling and storage, while the spout geometry directs liquid flow efficiently, enabling complete dispensing without waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If disposable containers are used, then low cost and simplicity are improved, but dispensing time increases due to shaking and positioning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesimplicityVSAvoiddispensing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The squeezable container design eliminates the need for shaking by using direct compression to force liquid through the spout. Users simply squeeze the container body, and liquid flows immediately through the spout opening, dramatically reducing dispensing time while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spout is pre-positioned at the bottom of the container during manufacturing, oriented to face downward when the container is held upright. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for users to shake or reposition the container during dispensing, as liquid naturally flows toward the pre-positioned spout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If permanent fixtures are used for dispensing, then durability and aesthetics are improved, but liquid transfer becomes cumbersome and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidliquid transfer convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses disposable containers that eliminate the need for permanent fixtures and liquid transfer operations. The container includes a built-in spout and attachment mechanism, allowing it to be mounted directly and used immediately, avoiding the cumbersome transfer process while remaining cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The container serves multiple functions: it stores liquid, provides a mounting attachment mechanism, includes a controlled dispensing spout, and enables complete emptying through squeezing. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate permanent fixtures and transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If disposable containers are used, then low cost and ease of replacement are improved, but liquid spills and leaks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow costVSAvoidspills and leaks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An o-ring seal acts as an intermediary element between the spout and the container interior, creating a leak-proof barrier. This simple seal prevents liquid from leaking during handling, storage, and mounting, while maintaining the low-cost disposable nature of the container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The squeezable container design provides dynamic control over liquid flow. Users can squeeze the container to dispense liquid on demand, and the flexible body allows precise control of flow rate, preventing spills while maintaining ease of use and low cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables convenient, mess-free dispensing of liquid products, reducing waste and time, with easy replacement of containers without the hassle of spills or leaks, and is cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

The spout of the lid preferably faces downward when the cap is held within the groove, and the downward spout comprises an o-ring configured to hold the liquid within the container until squeezed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The attachment is preferably a double-sided sticky tape. When the cap is held within the groove of the container, the attachment is configured to hold the cap, and thereby the container, in place on a wall.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

The container is preferably squeezable to dispense the liquid held therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3511260B1Liquid dispensing container
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 STEINES MICHAEL
  • EP3511260B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3511260B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2A
  • EP3511260B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

The invention relates to a container (10) for holding and dispensing liquid, comprising an elongated body (12) and a lid (20) having a spout (26) and releasable cap (22). The elongated body (12) comprises a groove (42) therein configured to releasably receive and hold the releasable cap (22) having a similar shape to the groove (42). The releasable cap (22) itself comprises, on at least one side (52) thereof, an attachment (50) to secure the releasable cap (22) to a wall to releasably hold in place the releasable cap (22) and thereby the container (10). The container (10) is preferably squeezable to release liquid product from the container (10) through a spout (26) having an o-ring (28) configured to seal the spout (26) and hold the liquid within the container (10) until squeezed.