Fluid Reservoir Insert Piercing for Clean Refill Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid product reservoirs face issues with incorrect handling or adaptation during the connection operation due to external dispensing members piercing or dislodging sealing members, leading to potential leakage and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
Integrate a piercing element within the reservoir's insert, which is moved by the dispensing member to pierce or dislodge the sealing member, ensuring the dispensing member remains clean and standard, with a buffer space to contain any leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an external dispensing member is used to pierce or dislodge the sealing member, then the dip tube can be released to enable dispensing, but there is a risk of incorrect handling or adaptation during the connection operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (the insert with piercing element) that mediates between the dispensing member and the sealing member. The insert is permanently integral with the basket and contains the piercing element that directly pierces the sealing member, while the dispensing member simply pushes the insert during connection. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for the dispensing member to directly pierce or adapt to the sealing member, ensuring reliable and simple connection operations.
2Ease of operation
If the dispensing member directly pierces the sealing member, then the dip tube is released, but the dispensing member may become contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The insert serves as a mediator that the dispensing member interacts with during connection. The piercing element on the insert directly pierces the sealing member, while the dispensing member only pushes the insert and does not contact the sealing member or the fluid product inside the container. This prevents contamination of the dispensing member while still enabling easy activation of dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the dispensing member (for dispensing), the insert with piercing element (for releasing the sealing member), and the sealing member itself (for protecting the container). This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function without interfering with or contaminating other elements, particularly protecting the dispensing member from contamination.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing member is pierceable, then the dip tube can be released, but fluid product may leak through the piercing point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harmful effect of piercing (which could cause leakage) into a beneficial sealed piercing. The piercing element is designed to create a sealed opening through the pierceable sealing member, allowing the dip tube to be released while preventing fluid leakage. The piercing action itself, which could be harmful, becomes the mechanism for controlled release without leakage.
Data Source
AI summary
A reservoir for a fluid product having a container defining a neck and a mounting part mounted on the neck, the mounting part forming a basket arranged at the neck and a plunger tube, which extends from the basket into the container, the plunger tube being initially sealed by a sealing member. The reservoir further has an insert located in the basket and having a piercing element capable of moving between an initial position, in which the sealing member forms a seal, and a final position, in which the sealing member is displaced by the piercing element to an open state.