Liquid soap filling device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid soap filling devices for under-counter mounted dispensers require manual pouring and visual determination of soap volume, leading to difficulties in accurate filling and potential spills, as users must hold the refill container and navigate the liquid into a fill opening that is hard to access.
Innovation Solution
A liquid soap filling device with a body comprising an upper portion for measuring and storing a predetermined amount of soap, and a lower portion with a frustoconical inner volume and valve system that allows for controlled dispensing into an under-counter dispenser without the need for visual determination or user handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual pouring is used to fill under-counter dispensers, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and filling accuracy deteriorate due to inability to visually determine soap volume
Solution Approach 1:
The filling device pre-measures the liquid soap volume in its reservoir before transfer to the dispenser. The reservoir includes measurement markings that allow the user to fill to a specific volume level in advance, ensuring accurate dosage without needing to visually monitor the dispenser filling process through the narrow fill opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling device acts as an intermediary between the soap source and the dispenser. It receives liquid soap in its reservoir, measures the required volume, and then transfers it controlledly through the fill opening to the dispenser, eliminating the need for direct visual measurement at the dispenser level.
2Device complexity
If manual pouring through fill opening is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to overfilling, underfilling, and spilling
Solution Approach 1:
The device pre-measures the exact volume of liquid soap needed in its reservoir before transfer. This preliminary measurement ensures that the correct amount is available for transfer, preventing both overfilling and underfilling of the dispenser.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system provides dynamic control over the liquid soap flow during transfer. It allows the user to start, stop, and regulate the flow rate, enabling precise control to match the dispenser's capacity and prevent spilling or overfilling.
3Ease of manufacture
If user must hold refill container during filling, then the ease of manufacture is high, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in handling and directing liquid soap
Solution Approach 1:
The filling device extends the fill opening upward through the countertop level, changing the spatial dimension of access. This allows the user to operate the valve and direct soap into the dispenser without bending down or holding the container in an awkward position under the counter.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be placed on the countertop and stabilizes itself during operation. The user simply opens the valve and the device self-regulates the flow, eliminating the need for the user to continuously hold and maneuver the container.
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 precise filling of under-counter mounted liquid soap dispensers by allowing the device to be placed in fluid communication with the dispenser, ensuring accurate transfer of the measured soap without user intervention, reducing spills and over/underfilling issues.
Implementation Method 1
The lower portion comprises a frustoconical shaped inner volume and a valve system, wherein the valve system controls the dispensing of the liquid soap from within the inner volume of the upper portion through the frustoconical shaped inner volume of the lower portion
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid soap filling device is provided. The liquid soap filling device includes a body member having an upper portion and lower portion. The upper portion includes an inner volume accessible through an opening in a top surface of the upper portion. The inner volume receives a measured amount of liquid soap through the opening. The lower portion includes a frustoconical shaped inner volume and a valve system, wherein the valve system controls the dispensing of the liquid soap from within the inner volume of the upper portion through the frustoconical shaped inner volume of the lower portion and through a fill port of the lower portion and into an under-counter dispenser container.