Magnetic Alignment in Cosmetic Applicator Pushbutton

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional compact containers with airless pump structures face issues such as bacterial contamination, irregular installation of the puff member, poor touch feel, and reduced commercial value due to the lack of air circulation and unstable maintenance of the puff member, as well as increased packaging volume and costs from separate part packaging.

Innovation Solution

A compact design featuring an applicator as a pushbutton with a metal piece and magnetic piece at circumferentially equiangular positions, allowing automatic alignment and stable maintenance, forming a spaced gap for air flow, and enabling comfortable pumping with a soft touch feel, while allowing back-filling of gel phase content for complete assembly and reduced packaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the puff member is simply installed in the mounting groove of the push plate, then the structure is simple, but bacterial contamination occurs due to poor air circulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidbacterial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The puff member is divided into multiple segments that can rotate relative to each other, creating internal air circulation channels. This segmentation allows air to flow through the puff member structure, preventing bacterial contamination while maintaining a relatively simple overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution introduces rotational movement in the horizontal plane, adding a dimensional aspect to air circulation. The puff member rotates to create airflow paths, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that actively manages air circulation to prevent contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the puff member is simply placed in the mounting groove, then installation is easy, but the installation position is not regular and appearance is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidinstallation position regularity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The puff member automatically aligns itself to a regular position through its rotational mechanism. When installed, the structure enables the puff member to self-align and maintain a consistent, regular position during use, eliminating the need for precise manual positioning while keeping installation simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The solution replaces complex mechanical positioning mechanisms with a magnetic alignment system. Magnets embedded in the puff member and corresponding magnetic elements in the mounting groove create automatic alignment through magnetic attraction, ensuring regular installation position without requiring complex mechanical guides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the puff member is pushed by a spring, then the pumping operation is enabled, but the touch feel is not excellent due to irregular repulsive force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping operationVSAvoidtouch feel quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-based mechanical repulsion system is replaced with a magnetic repulsion system. Magnets are positioned to create a balanced, uniform repulsive force that pushes the puff member evenly during pumping operation, providing excellent touch feel while maintaining operational functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The repulsive force mechanism changes from elastic mechanical force (spring) to magnetic force. This parameter change in the force generation mechanism provides more uniform and controllable repulsion, improving the touch feel during pumping operation while maintaining the necessary pumping function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If the puff member has a simple cylindrical shape, then manufacturing is easy, but grip comfort is decreased and gap exposure occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidgrip comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The simple cylindrical shape is modified by adding curved, ergonomic contours and rounded transitions. These curvature modifications improve grip comfort by conforming to hand shape while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standard molding techniques. The curved design also helps cover gaps between components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

5Adaptability or versatility

If parts are packaged separately, then assembly flexibility is improved, but packaging volume and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidpackaging volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple components that would traditionally be packaged separately are integrated into a single assembled unit. The puff member, mounting groove, magnetic alignment elements, and spring mechanism are pre-assembled together, reducing packaging volume and costs while maintaining assembly flexibility through modular design that allows disassembly if needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 bacterial prevention, improved touch feel, and enhanced manufacturing productivity by maintaining the applicator's center alignment, reducing packaging volume and costs, and providing a complete product assembly for efficient gel content distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a metal piece and a magnetic piece are installed to be opposed at circumferentially equiangular positions of the applicator and an intermediate body arranged at an upper part of a container body so that the applicator can be automatically aligned to a fixed rotation position of an upper part of a push plate by the effect of a magnetic force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

the applicator is aligned in an exact center of the push plate by the balance of power resulting from the effect of the magnetic force and forms a spaced gap with the upper part of the push plate so that the content can be prevented from bacterial contamination and corruption due to air flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS9795204B2Compact using applicator as pushbutton

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 CTK CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a compact using an applicator as a pushbutton, the compact being used in such a manner that the applicator is pushed to enable a pumping operation so that a gel phase content can be discharged to an upper part of a push plate. To do so, a metal piece (70) and a magnetic piece (80) are installed to be opposed at circumferentially equiangular positions of the applicator (60) and an intermediate body (200) arranged at an upper part of a container body (100) so that the applicator can be automatically aligned to a fixed rotation position by a magnetic force; the applicator is aligned in an exact center of the push plate by the balance of power resulting from the magnetic force and forms a spaced gap (T1) with the upper part of the push plate; and pushing operation is comfortably performed by the magnetic force.