Powder Dispensing Brush Filtration for Consistent Sunscreen Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing brush applicators for cosmetic and UV blocking powders face challenges with consistent dosing, clogging, and inconsistent application due to the tendency of powders to agglomerate and adhere to the device, particularly with enhanced skin adhesion properties.
Innovation Solution
A powder dispensing brush with a powder chamber, filter, and flow restrictor plate that controls the flow of powder through a plurality of orifices, ensuring consistent application by preventing large clumps and maintaining a steady flow, featuring a priming chamber to collect powder before reaching the flow restrictor plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If powder is dispensed directly from the powder chamber without a filter and flow restrictor plate, then the device structure is simpler, but the application consistency deteriorates due to powder agglomeration and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The powder dispensing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a powder chamber for storage, a filter element for size-based separation, and a flow restrictor plate with multiple orifices for controlled dispensing. This segmentation allows each component to address specific problems (agglomeration, clogging) independently while maintaining overall system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
A filter element is introduced as an intermediary component between the powder chamber and the dispensing brush. This intermediary prevents direct contact between large powder agglomerates and the dispensing mechanism, allowing consistent flow of fine powder particles while blocking larger clumps that would cause clogging
2Manufacturing precision
If a filter and flow restrictor plate are added to control powder flow, then application consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element and flow restrictor plate are merged into a single integrated component assembly that fits within the existing powder chamber structure. This merging reduces the number of separate parts, simplifies assembly, and maintains consistent powder flow control without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A porous filter material is used in the flow restrictor plate, allowing fine powder particles to pass through while blocking larger agglomerates. The porous structure provides multiple flow paths that prevent clogging while maintaining consistent dispensing, achieving high application consistency with minimal structural complexity
3Device complexity
If powder flows directly to the brush without a priming chamber, then the device is simpler, but powder flow consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A priming chamber is introduced as a preliminary stage before the final dispensing brush. This priming chamber pre-regulates powder flow through the filter and flow restrictor plate, ensuring that consistent, clog-free powder is delivered to the brush before actual application begins, thereby improving flow consistency without significantly increasing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Powder dispensing brushes configured to apply a powder to a skin surface of a user are provided. The dispensing brush system can provide an efficient and effective easy to dispense sunscreen to the face and body. The system can include a housing, a powder supply chamber having an interior space configured to hold a predetermined volume of the powder, a passageway in communication with the interior space of the powder supply chamber, a filter, a second chamber distal to the filter configured to collect a volume of powder after the powder has passed through the filter, a flow restrictor plate including orifices arranged in an annular pattern, the flow restrictor plate configured to receive powder from the volume of powder upon actuation by a user, and an outer brush including a plurality of bristles.