Locking Liquid Dispenser Housing for Pocket-Safe Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensers for nicotine or cannabis face challenges in providing a convenient and secure means of operation that prevents inadvertent discharge, particularly when carried in a pocket.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispenser design featuring an inner and outer housing with a pivotable actuating handle, where the outer housing can be translated between locked and released states, incorporating locking mechanisms and a blocking device to prevent accidental actuation, and a nozzle unit that generates fine spray jets through Rayleigh instability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuating handle is made easily accessible and simple to operate, then convenience of operation is improved, but the risk of inadvertent discharge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating handle is designed to be pivotable relative to the inner housing, allowing it to assume different positions (transport position and dispensing position). This dynamic configuration enables the device to switch between a secure locked state during transport and an accessible operational state, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and prevention of inadvertent discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into distinct functional components: an inner housing containing the pump device and actuating handle, and an outer housing that provides protection and locking functionality. This segmentation allows the actuating handle to be easily accessible when needed while the outer housing provides a secure locked state during transport, addressing both convenience and reliability requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the nozzle unit is exposed for easy liquid discharge, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accidental discharge and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle unit is integrated with the actuating handle assembly and moves dynamically between a protected retracted position during transport and an exposed operational position during dispensing. This dynamic positioning ensures the nozzle is protected when not in use, preventing accidental discharge and contamination, while being easily accessible when operation is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle unit is nested within the outer housing during the locked transport state, providing protection. When the actuating handle is pivoted to the dispensing position, the nozzle unit becomes exposed and functional. This nesting arrangement effectively protects the nozzle unit from accidental discharge and contamination while maintaining ease of operation.
3Strength
If the inner and outer housings are permanently connected for structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the ability to transition between locked and released states is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the inner and outer housings is designed to be dynamically changeable rather than permanent. The housings can be connected in a locked state during transport to provide structural integrity and protection, and can be easily separated or transitioned to a released state for operation. This dynamic connectivity resolves the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into separable inner and outer housing components that can be connected or disconnected as needed. This segmentation allows the housings to be permanently connected during transport for structural integrity, while enabling easy transition between locked and released states when operation is required, addressing both strength and versatility requirements.
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
Ensures secure operation by preventing inadvertent discharge and allows easy transition between locked and unlocked states with one-hand operation, while maintaining convenience and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the nozzle openings generate individual jets which are sufficiently fine in order to break up into individual droplets independently of the influence of air, by means of Rayleigh instability
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispenser has a liquid reservoir for storing liquid prior to discharge and a nozzle unit through which liquid is discharged in a discharge direction. The liquid dispenser also has an actuating handle actuable in a direction that deviates from the discharge direction in order to convey liquid from the liquid reservoir to the nozzle unit. The liquid dispenser has an inner housing to which the actuating handle is pivotably articulated, and an outer housing displaceable in a translational manner relative to the inner housing between a first end position and a second end position. The actuating handle and the outer housing have cooperating locking positions which prevent actuation of the actuating handle in the first end position and which allow actuation of the actuating handle in the second end position.