Rotatable Dial Spray Nozzle With Audible Feedback And Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol dispensers face issues with leakage and unintentional dispensing due to trigger actuation during handling or transportation, and they are limited in the pattern of liquid dispensing, leading to unwanted paint dispensing and restricted application flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A locking spray nozzle apparatus featuring a rotatable dial with multiple nozzles and a gear mechanism that aligns nozzles with a fluid supply channel, including a flexible tab for audible feedback and a mechanical stop to prevent actuation when nozzles are out of alignment, ensuring controlled dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a trigger mechanism is used to actuate the valve for liquid dispensing, then the liquid can be propelled through the nozzle, but the trigger may be inadvertently actuated during handling or transportation causing unwanted dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic locking mechanism where the trigger is locked in a non-actuating position by a locking protrusion that engages with a locking recess. The user can intentionally unlock the trigger by applying force to overcome the locking force, allowing controlled dispensing. This dynamic locking prevents inadvertent actuation during handling while maintaining ease of intentional operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single nozzle is used, then the structure is simple, but the pattern of liquid dispensing is limited reducing application flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single nozzle into multiple separate nozzles arranged in a circular pattern around the dial. Each nozzle can be independently selected and activated by rotating the dial to the desired position. This segmentation allows the system to provide multiple dispensing patterns (e.g., fan spray, cone spray, stream) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple nozzles are provided with different spray patterns, then application flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple nozzles with different spray patterns into a single integrated assembly where all nozzles are mounted on one dial that rotates to select between them. The locking mechanism is also integrated into this assembly, locking the dial in place when a nozzle is selected. This merging approach provides multiple spray patterns while minimizing complexity by using a single rotating selection mechanism rather than separate controls for each nozzle.
4Ease of operation
If the dial can rotate freely to select nozzles, then nozzle selection is easy, but the actuator can be inadvertently actuated when nozzles are out of alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic locking mechanism where the dial is locked in its rotational position by a locking protrusion engaging with a locking recess on the actuator. This allows the dial to be easily rotated to select nozzles, but automatically locks in place once a nozzle is selected, preventing inadvertent actuation. The user can intentionally unlock by applying force to overcome the locking force.
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 solution effectively prevents unintentional dispensing and allows for selective alignment of nozzles, providing audible feedback for user alignment confirmation, thus enhancing handling safety and application flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible tab is configured and arranged to flex from a relaxed position into a flexed position in response to one of the ribs being rotated with the dial into contact with the flexible tab. The flexible tab is further configured to snap back to the relaxed position and generate an audible noise indicating that rib has moved past the flexible tab
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure are directed to apparatuses and/or methods involving a rotatable dial and a plurality of nozzles therein. The dial aligns each nozzle with a fluid supply channel. In some instances, a gear coupled to the dial has cogs and gaps between adjacent ones of the cogs along a rotational path of the gear. Certain aspects involve force feedback in which a flexible tab located in the rotational path of the gear engages with the cogs for providing resistive feedback. Other aspects involve audible feedback in which a flexible tab flexes in response to contact with the gear as it rotates, and snaps back into place after the gear is rotated past the flexible tab, creating an audible noise. Certain particular aspects involve utilization of the gears to prevent fluid from being dispensed when the nozzles are not aligned with the channel.