Motion-Activated Dispenser Assembly with Nested Battery Holder
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Motion-activated dispensers for hand hygiene and skin care products face space constraints due to the need for a battery holder, which compromises the dispenser's profile and space-saving efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design integrates a battery holder within the dispenser assembly, positioning it adjacent to the bottle's back wall and utilizing a housing that accommodates batteries, allowing for a slim profile without reducing the product volume, by incorporating an angled surface and extension portion that fits between batteries, thus optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a battery holder is added to power motion-sensing and dispensing components, then the dispenser can operate without physical contact (improving motion-activated functionality), but the battery holder takes up relatively large space, negatively impacting the profile and space-saving efficiency (worsening space utilization)
Solution Approach 1:
The battery holder is nested within the bottle structure by positioning it adjacent to the back wall and below the angled surface, utilizing the vertical space within the existing bottle footprint. This nesting approach allows the battery holder to be integrated without increasing the overall dispenser profile, as the batteries are contained within the space already defined by the bottle's back wall geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled surface on the back wall creates a three-dimensional configuration that allows the battery holder to be positioned in a specific spatial relationship (adjacent to the flat surface and below the angled surface). This dimensional arrangement optimizes space usage by utilizing the vertical and lateral dimensions within the bottle's footprint, maintaining a slim profile while accommodating the power source.
2Volume of moving object
If the battery holder is positioned within the dispenser assembly, then space is optimized and profile is maintained, but the arrangement becomes more complex (worsening device complexity)
Solution Approach 1:
The battery holder is merged with the bottle structure by positioning it adjacent to the back wall and integrating it into the overall dispenser assembly. This combining approach simplifies the device by reducing the number of separate components and their associated mounting structures, thereby optimizing space while managing complexity through integration rather than addition.
3Volume of moving object
If the bottle depth is increased to accommodate the battery holder, then the battery holder can be positioned adjacent to the back wall, but the overall dispenser profile becomes larger (worsening space-saving efficiency)
Solution Approach 1:
The back wall is designed with a localized angled surface that creates a specific geometric feature adjacent to a flat surface. This local geometric modification allows the battery holder to be positioned in a compact configuration without increasing the overall dispenser depth. The angled surface creates a niche or recess area that accommodates the battery holder within the existing footprint, maintaining space-saving efficiency while enabling proper battery holder positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser assembly for dispensing a product is provided herein. The dispenser assembly includes a bottle configured to store the product, the bottle including a back wall. The back wall includes a substantially flat surface, and an angled surface extending outwards from the flat surface. The dispenser assembly further includes a battery holder including a housing, and a plurality of batteries contained in the housing, wherein the battery holder is positioned adjacent the flat surface of back wall of the bottle and below the angled surface of the back wall.