Pump Dispenser Elastic Member for Recyclable Spring Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pump dispensers with metal springs are difficult to recycle due to their complex structure, and non-metal elastic members struggle to provide sufficient elastic restoration force, requiring strong external force for activation.
Innovation Solution
A non-metal elastic member composed of an upper ring, lower ring, and laminated links in a zig-zag form, with reinforcing units, made from materials like polypropylene, rubber, or thermoplastic elastomer, providing elastic restoration force for compression or elongation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a metal spring is used in the pump dispenser, then sufficient elastic restoration force is provided, but recycling becomes difficult due to complex structure and metal separation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the metal spring from the pump dispenser structure and replaces it with a non-metal elastic member made of polymer materials. This extraction eliminates the need for metal separation during recycling while maintaining the essential elastic restoration function through the polymer-based elastic member that can be integrated with other plastic components of the pump dispenser
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal to polymer/elastic material for the elastic member. This parameter change transforms the material composition to enable recycling compatibility with plastic components while preserving the elastic restoration force through careful selection and design of the polymer material properties
2Ease of manufacture
If a non-metal elastic member is used to enable recycling, then recycling becomes easier, but insufficient elastic restoration force is provided requiring strong external activation force
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs composite material design by combining polymer base materials with elastic components to create an elastic member that achieves both recyclability and sufficient elastic restoration force. The composite structure integrates the advantages of polymer materials (recyclability) with elastic properties (restoration force) to resolve the contradiction between ease of recycling and ease of operation
3Device complexity
If the elastic member structure is simplified for recycling, then manufacturing and recycling become easier, but uniform elastic restoration may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is designed with a segmented structure consisting of multiple link elements connected in series. This segmentation allows each link to contribute to the overall elastic restoration while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure. The segmented design provides uniform elastic restoration through the cumulative effect of multiple links, each contributing to the restoration force without requiring complex individual components
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
Enables easy recycling of the pump dispenser and sufficient elastic restoration force without requiring strong external activation, allowing for convenient operation and maintaining stable, uniform elastic properties.
Implementation Method 1
a non-metal elastic member... providing elastic restoration force for compression or elongation
Data Source
AI summary
A pump dispenser has a housing, a stem having a first passage, an elastic member, an actuator, a chaplet, a sub-stem, and a piston. The elastic member made of a non-metal material may include: an upper ring; a lower ring; and a plurality of links, which is laminated and connected in a zig-zag form to provide elastic restoration force for compression or elongation. The actuator includes: a passage member that surrounds part of the stem and has a second passage connected the first passage; a nozzle member on an upper portion of the stem and having a third passage with one side in communication with the second passage and another side for discharging a content to outside of the pump dispenser; a guard member enclosing the passage member and at least part of the elastic member; and an extension member extending outwardly on an outer periphery of the guard member.