Replaceable Inner Case Dispenser for Plastic Waste Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid product dispensers are disposable and contribute to plastic waste and environmental degradation, as they are often discarded when empty, leading to increased carbon footprint and resource inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser design featuring a replaceable inner case that can be easily detached and refilled, allowing the outer case and dispensing mechanism to be reused while the inner case is replaced, reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional disposable dispensers are used, then the dispenser is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, but plastic waste accumulates and environmental degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into two main segments: a reusable outer case containing the dispensing mechanism and a replaceable inner container holding the liquid product. This segmentation allows the inner container to be discarded while the outer case is reused, reducing plastic waste accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner container is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use, while the outer case is recovered and reused for subsequent products. This selective discarding and recovering approach minimizes plastic waste while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Ease of manufacture
If disposable dispensers are discarded when empty, then manufacturing costs are low, but resource inefficiency and carbon footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the dispenser into reusable and disposable parts, the system maintains low manufacturing costs for the disposable inner container while preserving resources through reuse of the outer case, thereby improving overall resource efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer case is recovered and reused multiple times with different inner containers, reducing resource consumption and carbon footprint while keeping manufacturing costs low through simple disposable inner container design.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the inner case is made replaceable and detachable, then plastic waste is reduced through reuse, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is segmented into modular components (outer case, inner container, dispensing mechanism) that are easily separated and reassembled, reducing plastic waste through reuse while keeping the attachment mechanism simple and intuitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner container is nested within the outer case, creating a compact structure that is simple to assemble and disassemble. This nesting arrangement reduces plastic waste by enabling reuse of the outer case while maintaining simple device structure.
4Ease of operation
If the inner case is easily detachable for replacement, then ease of operation improves, but reliability of connection may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface is segmented into simple interlocking features that are easy to engage and disengage, improving ease of operation while maintaining sufficient connection reliability for the intended use.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested arrangement of inner container within outer case provides natural alignment and secure fitting, enabling easy replacement operations while ensuring reliable connection during normal use through the nested structural relationship.
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser for dispensing a liquid product, the dispenser comprising an inner case, a pump assembly, a dispensing head, a collar, a dialer, and an outer case. The inner case accommodates the liquid product. The outer case removably houses the inner case in a hollow cavity formed therein. The dialer is rotatable on an outer surface of the outer case. The dialer is detachably coupled with the inner case which allows the inner case to be housed within the outer case in a removable manner. The dialer is rotated circumferentially on an outer peripheral surface of the outer case for engaging and disengages the inner case. The collar is designed to house the pump assembly and is engaged on an open upper end of the outer case. The dispensing head is coupled to the pump assembly and comprises a nozzle to dispense the pumped liquid product when actuated.