Lotion Applicator Roller with Removable Storage Canister
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lotion applicators for skin, such as sunscreen, lack a mechanism to minimize evaporation and contamination of the lotion while allowing for smooth and even application, and do not provide a convenient method for storing the roller to prevent exposure to air.
Innovation Solution
A lotion applicator featuring a hollow roller with a porous elastomeric cover and a clamshell or storage canister system that allows the roller to be easily removed and stored, minimizing exposure to air and contamination, with a detent ring mechanism for secure attachment and detachment from the axle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the roller is left exposed in the applicator, then it is easily accessible for application, but the lotion evaporates and contaminates
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator is divided into separate components: the roller assembly can be removed from the applicator body, allowing the roller to be stored separately in a canister when not in use. This segmentation enables the roller to be accessible during application but protected from evaporation and contamination when stored.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is designed to be nested within a storage canister when removed from the applicator. The canister provides a protective enclosure that minimizes exposure to air, thereby reducing evaporation and contamination of the lotion while maintaining ease of access when needed.
2Loss of substance
If the roller is stored in a closed canister, then evaporation and contamination are minimized, but the mechanism for removal and storage becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is extracted as a separate, removable component from the applicator assembly. This allows the roller to be easily removed and placed in a storage canister without requiring complex mechanisms. The simple extraction design minimizes device complexity while enabling effective protection against evaporation and contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller assembly incorporates a dynamic removal mechanism that allows easy insertion and extraction from the applicator. This dynamic design enables the roller to transition between being attached for application and removed for storage, providing flexibility without requiring complex structural elements.
3Ease of operation
If the roller is made with a porous cover for smooth application, then lotion application is improved, but the lotion is more exposed to evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly is segmented from the applicator body, allowing the porous roller to be stored separately in a closed canister when not in use. This separation enables the porous structure to maintain its lotion application benefits while the closed storage environment prevents evaporation during non-use periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller cover is made from a porous elastomeric material that is flexible and permeable, allowing smooth lotion application to the skin. When stored, this flexible porous structure can be enclosed in a closed canister, where the thin film-like porous material allows minimal evaporation while maintaining the roller's application properties.
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
The solution ensures even lotion application while reducing evaporation and contamination, maintaining the lotion's effectiveness and preventing exposure to air when not in use, thus enhancing user convenience and product longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a roller cover, which is composed of a porous elastomeric material, is stretched over the outer surface of the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
a roller for the smooth application of a lotion
Data Source
AI summary
An applicator for applying a lotion, such as a sunscreen, to the skin includes a handle attached to an axle and a roller mounted to turn on the axle. The roller includes a housing having a central cavity holding the lotion and a number of holes extending between the central cavity and a cylindrical peripheral surface of the housing, which is covered with a porous elastomeric material through which the lotion is evenly applied to the skin. A cover is provided to minimize evaporation and contamination of the lotion during storage of the roller. The roller may be removed from the applicator for storage in a cover formed as a canister, or a clamshell cover may be closed over the roller in place on the applicator.