Modular Fluid Cosmetic Dispenser with Reusable Grippable Housing
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetic dispensers are compact and challenging for individuals with dexterity challenges, such as arthritis or Parkinson's Disease, to use effectively.
Innovation Solution
A modular cosmetic dispenser system featuring a large-radius, grippable exterior container that houses a removable and replaceable modular dispenser for both solid and fluid cosmetics. The system includes a mechanical actuator that advances the cosmetic through an opening in response to a rotational movement of the stem relative to the tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cosmetic dispensers are made compact, then they are portable and space-efficient, but they become difficult to grip and manipulate for individuals with dexterity challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The cosmetic dispenser is divided into two separate components: a reusable exterior container with enlarged gripping surfaces and a removable interior dispenser unit. This segmentation allows the container to be optimized for ease of gripping while the interior unit maintains compactness for portability. The interior dispenser can be easily removed and replaced, enabling users to access the cosmetic product without manipulating the entire compact unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The interior dispenser is nested within the exterior container, with the dispenser's stem fitting into a receiver in the container. This nested configuration allows the compact dispenser to be housed within a larger, easier-to-grip container. The container provides an enlarged gripping surface while the nested dispenser maintains a compact form factor, resolving the contradiction between size and ease of gripping.
2Ease of manufacture
If cosmetic dispensers are made disposable, then they are easy to replace and clean, but they increase waste and environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser system is segmented into a reusable exterior container and a replaceable interior dispenser unit. This allows users to retain the container indefinitely while replacing only the interior dispenser unit when the cosmetic product is depleted. This partial disposability reduces waste compared to completely disposable units while maintaining ease of replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables users to discard only the interior dispenser unit containing the used cosmetic product while recovering and reusing the exterior container. The container can be cleaned and reused for multiple dispensers, significantly reducing material waste and environmental impact compared to fully disposable designs.
3Ease of operation
If the container is made large-radius for easier gripping, then it improves ease of operation, but it increases the size and weight of the overall system
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the ergonomic gripping function into the exterior container while the interior dispenser unit remains compact. The container's large-radius design provides easy gripping without requiring the entire system to be large, as only the container portion needs the enlarged dimensions for hand comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The compact interior dispenser is nested within the larger exterior container, allowing the container to have a large radius for ergonomic gripping while the nested dispenser maintains a compact form factor. This nesting arrangement ensures that the weight increase is minimized since only the container portion carries the additional size, not the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A cosmetic system disclosed herein includes a container with a large-radius, grippable exterior that houses a smaller, modular cosmetic dispenser that can be removed and replaced to facilitate use of the exterior container. In one aspect, the modular cosmetic dispenser may be a solid cosmetic dispenser for lipstick or the like, with the mechanical components for dispensing the cosmetic contained withing the disposable, modular dispenser. In another aspect, the modular cosmetic dispenser may be a fluid cosmetic dispenser for a nail polish or the like, with a reservoir, threaded top, and applicator brush or the like integrated into the modular dispenser. As a significant advantage, this permits the re-use of a high-quality, ergonomically designed container with disposable modular cosmetics dispensers.