Refillable Bottle Filling Valve and Socket Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refillable bottles face difficulties in intuitive and sealed filling processes, leading to user frustration and potential product wastage, as they require complex gestures and may cause sealing issues during refilling.
Innovation Solution
A refillable bottle system with a filling valve that allows for easy and intuitive connection with a source bottle using a socket for reversible sealing, ensuring proper communication and minimizing product loss during refilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a filling valve with ejector is used in the source bottle, then the valve can be opened to allow filling, but the operation becomes non-intuitive and requires removing the push-button, leading to user frustration and potential product wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The filling mechanism is segmented into two distinct components: a reusable filling cap assembly and a disposable source bottle. The filling cap contains the valve mechanism and can be detached and reattached, while the source bottle is replaced entirely after use. This eliminates the need for complex push-button removal and reattachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling valve mechanism is extracted from the source bottle and placed in a separate reusable cap assembly. This allows the valve to be operated independently through simple cap removal and reattachment, without requiring manipulation of push-buttons or ejectors on the source bottle itself.
2Quantity of substance
If the ejector is actuated multiple times to inject sufficient product volume, then the reservoir can be filled, but sealing problems occur due to difficulty in correctly positioning the ejector
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the filling function into a dedicated cap assembly that maintains consistent sealing geometry. The valve is actuated by simply removing and reattaching the cap, which ensures proper positioning every time without requiring multiple actuations or precise manual positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling cap assembly is designed to self-align and self-seal when reattached to the source bottle. The mechanical design of the cap and bottle interface ensures correct positioning of the valve without requiring user skill or multiple adjustment attempts, providing reliable sealing on every filling operation.
3Ease of operation
If the push-button is put back incorrectly on the ejector after filling, then the source bottle operation is compromised, but the filling process allows this error to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The push-button mechanism is completely removed from the source bottle. Instead, a separate filling cap with its own valve is used. After filling, the cap is simply discarded or set aside, and the source bottle retains its original intact structure with no components to misplace or reassemble incorrectly.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling cap assembly is designed as a disposable or single-use component. After one filling operation, it is discarded rather than reused, eliminating any risk of improper reassembly affecting future operations of the source bottle.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a reusable source bottle with pump is used, then product can be dispensed later, but the filling process requires complex gestures that frustrate users
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the product delivery function into two separate stages using two different mechanisms: a disposable source bottle with simple cap-based filling for initial product transfer, and a reusable refillable bottle with pump mechanism for controlled dispensing. Each component is optimized for its specific function with simple, intuitive operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable refillable bottle serves multiple functions: it receives product through simple cap attachment during filling, stores the product, and enables controlled dispensing through its pump mechanism. This multi-functionality is achieved without compromising the simplicity of the filling operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a unit comprising a refillable bottle for dispensing a fluid product and a source (15) of product intended for the filling of said refillable bottle, said source comprising a reservoir (18) provided with a device for dispensing, said refillable bottle comprising a reservoir (2) and a device (10) for dispensing, said refillable bottle provided with a valve (14) for filling the reservoir (2), with the opening of the source (15) provided with a socket (23) for the reversible connection of the device for dispensing by putting into sealed communication the means for supplying said device with the source reservoir (18), said socket being arranged, after disconnection of the device for dispensing, to allow for the connection of the refillable bottle by actuating the opening of the valve (14) in order to put into sealed communication the reservoirs (2, 18) for the purposes of filling.