Recyclable Pump Dispenser With Uncompressed Plastic Spring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pump dispensers containing steel springs are difficult to recycle due to contamination issues, and replacing steel with plastic springs poses challenges such as stiffness loss, interaction with liquid products, and increased height, making them unsuitable for retail display.

Innovation Solution

A pump dispenser design featuring a plastic spring that remains uncompressed during storage, is isolated from the liquid, and fits within standard retail shelf dimensions, using a cantilever mechanism to maintain stiffness and minimize deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a steel spring is used in the pump assembly, then the spring provides sufficient stiffness and reliability, but the pump dispenser becomes difficult to recycle due to contamination issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring stiffnessVSAvoidrecyclability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameter from steel to plastic (polyethylene or polypropylene), transforming the spring material to be compatible with recycling streams while maintaining the necessary mechanical functionality through design modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The pump assembly is designed as separable components where the spring can be easily removed from the pump head, allowing the spring to be recycled separately from the plastic pump components, thus resolving the contamination issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a plastic spring replaces the steel spring, then the pump assembly becomes recyclable, but the spring loses stiffness and interacts with the liquid product

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverecyclabilityVSAvoidspring stiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring design parameters are modified including increasing the spring index (ratio of mean diameter to wire diameter), adjusting the wire diameter, and optimizing the number of active coils to compensate for the lower modulus of elasticity of plastic compared to steel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The spring is designed as a composite structure combining plastic material with strategic metal inserts or coatings at critical stress points, providing both recyclability and sufficient stiffness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the plastic spring is built into the pump head to prevent product contact, then the spring is isolated from the liquid, but the pump assembly height increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct contamination preventionVSAvoidpump assembly height

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is repositioned from a vertical integration within the pump head to a horizontal arrangement alongside the dip tube assembly, utilizing the radial space around the dip tube to maintain isolation from the liquid while minimizing vertical height increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring is nested within the hollow cavity of the dip tube assembly, where the dip tube's hollow structure provides a protective enclosure that isolates the spring from the liquid product without adding external height to the pump assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Volume of stationary object

If the spring is placed in compression during storage, then the pump assembly is compact, but the plastic spring loses stiffness over time due to creep forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage compactnessVSAvoidspring stiffness stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is pre-assembled in its uncompressed, relaxed state within the pump housing during manufacturing, and a locking mechanism is pre-configured to maintain this state during storage and shipping, preventing creep deformation before the product is activated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spring system transitions from a static compressed state to a dynamic unlocked state upon activation, where the spring is released from the locked position and begins to compress only during actual pump operation, avoiding prolonged static compression that would cause creep

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 design allows for recyclable plastic components, prevents spring degradation, maintains actuation performance, and fits standard retail shelves without altering product dimensions.

Implementation Method 1

a spring surrounding the second stem, wherein there is no preload on the spring and the spring is adjacent to and spaced from the platform

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4263069B1Recyclable pump dispenser

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

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AI summary

A pump dispenser where the pump assemblies does not require disassembly to be recycled in current recycling streams. The pump assembly can include a plastic spring that does not lose stiffness over time and does not interact with the liquid product.