Reusable Paint Dispensing Valve for Pressurized Container Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spray paint cans have a sealed valve assembly that is not removable, requiring special disposal of unused contents and limiting the use of the valve to a single canister.
Innovation Solution
A reusable fluid dispensing apparatus with a valve body, adaptor, and nozzle that can be attached to multiple paint containers, piercing a pierceable membrane to allow pressurized paint to be dispensed externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the valve assembly is sealed within the canister, then the canister can be manufactured with a simple structure, but the valve cannot be removed and can only be used with that one canister
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is separated from the canister interior and placed in an external holder that attaches to the canister exterior. This segmentation allows the valve to be removed from one canister and attached to another, enabling reuse while keeping the canister manufacturing process simple.
Solution Approach 2:
An external holder acts as an intermediary component between the valve and the canister. The holder provides a mounting structure that allows the valve to be securely attached to the canister exterior, enabling the valve to serve multiple canisters while maintaining a simple canister design.
2Device complexity
If the valve is sealed within the canister, then the canister structure is simplified, but special disposal instructions are required for unused contents
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is extracted from the canister interior and positioned externally. This allows users to manually discharge unused contents through the nozzle by actuating it, eliminating the need for special disposal instructions while maintaining a simple canister structure.
3Reliability
If the valve is installed within the canister before filling, then the canister can be sealed, but the valve closes the interior passage and traps the contents
Solution Approach 1:
The canister is filled and sealed first, and then the valve assembly is attached externally to the holder. This preliminary action of filling before valve installation eliminates the problem of the valve closing the interior passage, while still providing a reliable sealed canister.
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 the use of a single dispensing apparatus with multiple paint containers, facilitating controlled paint expulsion and preventing propellant leakage, thus enhancing usability and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
attaching the bottom of the adaptor to the associated paint container to pierce the pierceable membrane with the piercing member
Implementation Method 2
permit the associated paint within the associated paint container to flow under the pressure out of the associated paint container, through the adaptor bore, through the valve body bore and through the nozzle bore to ambient
Data Source
AI summary
A paint container for use with a reusable dispensing apparatus, and the reusable dispensing apparatus are provided to dispense paint under pressure. The paint container includes a housing defining an interior space that is devoid of an internal valve, and a combination comprising a propellant combined with paint within the interior space. A container cap is installed on the housing to enclose the propellant combined with the paint within the interior space at an elevated pressure, and defines a channel that cooperates with a portion of the housing. A compressible gasket is disposed within the channel and compressed between the container cap and the portion of the housing to form a seal that interferes with an escape of the propellant combined with the paint between the container cap and the housing. A releasable fastener engages releasably couples the reusable dispensing apparatus to the container cap.