Multi-Part Dispensing Device With Force-Balanced Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-part dispensing devices face challenges in maintaining tightness due to multiple sealing interfaces, particularly for sensitive products like food, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals, which require controlled atmosphere regulation to preserve their quality.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing device with a first and second attachment mechanism between the container, flow-limiting part, and closure, where the holding force ratio of the second mechanism is higher than or equal to 1.5, and the holding force of the second mechanism is between 15 N and 55 N, ensuring a controlled sealing and ergonomic opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a multi-part dispensing device is used to enable controlled distribution of unit products, then the dispensing function is improved, but the sealing quality deteriorates due to multiple sealing interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled distributionVSAvoidsealing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into three functional parts (container, flow-limiting part, closure) that are pre-assembled into a sub-assembly. This segmentation allows the flow-limiting part to be integrated with the closure before attachment to the container, ensuring that the sealing interface is established between the flow-limiting part and closure in a controlled manner, thereby maintaining sealing quality while enabling controlled distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flow-limiting part and closure are pre-assembled into a sub-assembly before being attached to the container. This preliminary action ensures that the sealing interface between the flow-limiting part and closure is established under controlled conditions, with the holding force of the second attachment mechanism optimized (15-55 N) to maintain sealing integrity throughout the product lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the holding force of the second attachment mechanism is increased to improve sealing quality, then the sealing quality is improved, but the ease of opening deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing qualityVSAvoidease of opening
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holding force of the second attachment mechanism is optimized within a specific range (15-55 N). This parameter optimization ensures that the sealing interface between the flow-limiting part and closure maintains sufficient holding force to preserve sealing quality throughout storage and handling, while remaining within a range that allows for ergonomic opening by the user. The ratio of holding forces (first/second ≥ 1.5) further balances the sealing requirements with user-operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a single sealing interface is used to maintain tightness, then the sealing quality is improved, but the dispensing control function deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing qualityVSAvoiddispensing control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components with dedicated sealing interfaces. The first attachment mechanism (holding force ≥75 N) provides the primary sealing between the container and flow-limiting part, while the second attachment mechanism (holding force 15-55 N) provides the secondary sealing between the flow-limiting part and closure. This segmentation allows each interface to be optimized for its specific function, maintaining overall sealing quality while enabling controlled dispensing through the flow-limiting part.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4209429B1Dispensing device
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 AIRNOV INC
  • EP4209429B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4209429B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4209429B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This dispensing device (1), which includes a container (2), a flow-limiting part (4) and a closure (6), comprises: - a first attachment mechanism between a tubular portion (22) of the container (2) and a tubular portion (41) of the flow-limiting part (4), the first attachment mechanism being homogeneous over a circumference of the tubular portions of the container and the flow-limiting part, and - a second attachment mechanism between a tubular portion (41) of the flow-limiting part (4) and a tubular portion (62) of the closure (6), the second attachment mechanism being homogeneous over a circumference of the tubular portions of the flow-limiting part and the closure, wherein a ratio of a holding force of the first attachment mechanism to a holding force of the second attachment mechanism is higher than or equal to 1.5, preferably higher than or equal to 2 and wherein a holding force of the second attachment mechanism is higher than or equal to 15 N and less than or equal to 55 N, preferably less than or equal to 40 N.