Multi-Container Piping Tool With Surface-to-Surface Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piping tools for creamy substances have a large number of parts and a complicated sealing structure, making them cumbersome for users, especially children, to prepare for use and clean.
Innovation Solution
A piping tool with a simplified design featuring a container connecting member and a discharge member that directly suppresses leakage by surface-to-surface contact between the container ends and the discharge member, reducing the number of parts and simplifying assembly and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a piping tool uses multiple containers and merging portions to create varied cream molded products, then the versatility and creative range are improved, but the number of parts increases and the sealing structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple container bodies into a single integrated structure with multiple supply ports, eliminating the need for separate merging portions and reducing the overall number of parts while maintaining the ability to handle multiple creamy substances simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The container connecting member serves multiple functions: it acts as both the container holder and the merging structure, and its end surface serves as both a structural element and a sealing surface, reducing the need for separate components
2Reliability
If a piping tool has a complicated sealing structure to prevent leakage, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation and cleaning are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from a separate sealing structure and integrates it directly into the container connecting member's end surface, which contacts the container openings to prevent leakage without requiring additional sealing components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the flexible container bodies themselves as the sealing element, where the container material forms a seal against the container connecting member's end surface, eliminating rigid sealing structures that are difficult to clean
3Adaptability or versatility
If a piping tool has a large number of parts to achieve merging functionality, then the versatility is improved, but the ease of manufacture and cleaning are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the container holding function and the merging function into a single container connecting member, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled while maintaining the ability to handle multiple creamy substances
Data Source
AI summary
A piping tool includes: a container connecting member including a plurality of supply ports to which a plurality of containers are connectable in a first direction, respectively, each of the plurality of containers configured to contain a creamy substance; and a discharge member configured to merge a plurality of flow paths configured to allow creamy substances from the plurality of containers connected to the plurality of supply ports to pass therethrough, and discharge a merged creamy substance. Each of the plurality of flow paths is configured to directly suppresses leakage of the creamy substance by bringing an end surface of the container connecting member or an end surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of containers into surface-to-surface contact with a bottom surface of the discharge member in the first direction.