Multi-Phase Care Dispensing Unit with Sequential Chamber Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-step skin and hair care systems require multiple formulations packaged in separate bottles, leading to clutter and inconvenience, especially for travel and outdoor activities, making continuous use difficult due to size restrictions and packaging limitations.

Innovation Solution

A single dispensing unit containing multiple, substantially immiscible formulations that can be sequentially dispensed, allowing for a compact, multi-phase care system that provides multiple benefits to the skin and hair, such as cleansing, toning, and treating, without mixing during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple formulations are packaged in separate bottles, then each formulation can be stored and dispensed independently, but it leads to clutter and inconvenience, especially for travel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of useVSAvoidnumber of packages
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate formulation bottles into a single multi-chamber dispensing unit. Each chamber contains a different formulation (e.g., cleanser, toner, treatment), but all are integrated into one device that can be carried and used as a single package, eliminating clutter while maintaining independent storage and sequential dispensing of each formulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If multiple formulations are placed in one container, then packaging is compact, but the formulations may mix and lose their separate functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging compactnessVSAvoidformulation separation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing unit is divided into multiple separate chambers, each containing a different formulation. The chambers are physically separated by partitions or walls that prevent mixing of the formulations during storage and transport. Each chamber has its own dispensing mechanism or opening, allowing sequential dispensing while maintaining composition stability of each individual formulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If multiple formulations are dispensed simultaneously, then the system is simple to operate, but the formulations mix and cannot provide sequential treatment benefits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispensing simplicityVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing unit incorporates a dynamic control mechanism that allows the user to selectively activate or deactivate different dispensing channels. This enables sequential dispensing where formulations are released one at a time in the desired order, maintaining both ease of operation through a unified interface and treatment effectiveness through controlled sequential delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8729000B2Single use multi-phase care system
Publication Date: 2014.05.20 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC

AI summary

A convenient single use multi-phase care system including multiple formulations can be packaged in one dispensing unit. The multi-phase care system is capable of separately dispensing one of the multiple formulations at a time in a sequential order to allow the consumer to dispense a daily care regimen one step at a time. In one embodiment, the daily care regimen is a multi-phase skin care system. In another embodiment, the daily care regimen is a multi-phase hair care system.