Plug for Two-Chamber Container with Guiding Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-chamber containers face challenges in facilitating the mixing of components stored in separate chambers, often leading to accidental separation or incomplete mixing, especially in applications like hair cosmetic compositions.
Innovation Solution
A plug design featuring a guiding member and a head part that ensures the plug is retained in the upper chamber, allowing for easy insertion and sealing of the connection channel while preventing accidental tilting, and a cap mechanism that unfolds the nozzle only after the components are mixed, ensuring the first component flows into the lower chamber by gravity for mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a plug is used to seal the connection channel, then the sealing force is improved, but the insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into functionally distinct segments: a guiding member with large radial extension for insertion guidance and a plug body for sealing. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally - the guiding member facilitates easy insertion while the plug body provides strong sealing force once positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding member acts as an intermediary element between the user and the plug body during insertion. It provides a large surface area for finger contact and guidance along the connection channel wall, making the insertion process easier while the actual sealing function is performed by the plug body.
2Ease of operation
If the guiding member has large radial extension, then the insertion guidance is improved, but the plug body sealing area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into a guiding member with large radial extension for insertion guidance and a separate plug body with sealing lamellae. This segmentation allows the guiding member to have large radial extension without compromising the sealing function, as the plug body is designed specifically for sealing with its own sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the plug have different local qualities optimized for their specific functions. The guiding member has large radial extension for guidance and finger contact, while the plug body has sealing lamellae with specific material properties and geometry optimized for creating seal against the connection channel wall.
3Strength
If the plug body is pressed firmly into the connection channel, then the sealing force is improved, but the insertion force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into a guiding member that facilitates insertion and a plug body that provides sealing. The guiding member's large radial extension provides mechanical advantage during insertion, reducing the force needed to insert the plug body while the plug body's sealing lamellae ensure strong sealing once positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug body incorporates flexible sealing lamellae that can deform during insertion and then conform to the connection channel wall to create a seal. This flexibility allows the sealing elements to adapt to slight variations in the connection channel geometry while maintaining strong sealing force without requiring excessive insertion force.
4Reliability
If the plug is designed to be retained in the upper chamber, then the accidental discharge prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into a guiding member with large radial extension that protrudes into the upper chamber and a plug body. The guiding member's geometry creates a mechanical stop that prevents the plug from being completely pushed into the lower chamber, ensuring components are mixed before discharge while adding minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a complex retention mechanism, the invention uses the inverted approach of allowing the plug to be easily inserted and sealed, then using the guiding member's large radial extension to create a simple mechanical stop that prevents over-insertion. This inverted approach simplifies the retention function while maintaining reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The plug design ensures a high sealing force without hindering insertion, prevents accidental discharge of the first component without mixing, and facilitates easy handling and assembly, ensuring effective mixing of components in two-chamber containers.
Implementation Method 1
a plug body for being inserted into the connection channel with a sealing force
Implementation Method 2
the first component of the upper chamber flows downwards through the connection channel into the lower chamber by gravity where the components may be mixed
Data Source
AI summary
A plug for releasably sealing a connection channel connecting an upper chamber comprising a first component with a lower chamber comprising a second component of a two-chamber container, comprising a plug body for being inserted into the connection channel with a sealing force, a guiding member for guiding the plug in axial direction inside the upper chamber, wherein the guiding member comprises a larger extension in radial direction than the plug body and the guiding member is axially spaced to the plug body by an unsealing distance, and a head part for pushing out a folded nozzle sealing the upper chamber, wherein the head part protrudes from the guiding member away from the plug body.