Rotatable Dispenser Cover Assembly to Prevent Hinge Breakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet product dispensers, such as napkin dispensers, face issues with design flexibility, aesthetic limitations, and potential breakage of hinge mechanisms, as well as damage to countertops during installation, due to the placement and securing methods used.
Innovation Solution
A product dispenser design featuring a cover member that can rotate about a central axis to accommodate different orientations, allowing for secure mounting and easy refilling, with modular components to prevent hinge breakage and a damage-free installation method using pegs that snap into place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cover member is fixed in a single orientation, then the hinge mechanism is simple and reliable, but the dispenser lacks adaptability to different mounting positions and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is designed with universal mounting capability to function in multiple orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The support member includes symmetric engagement features that allow the same cover member to be mounted in any orientation, making it adaptable to different wall configurations and obstacles without requiring different components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism is positioned asymmetrically relative to the cover member's opening direction, allowing the cover to open away from the hinge side. This asymmetric design enables the cover member to be mounted in different orientations while maintaining proper opening clearance, as the hinge location determines the opening arc rather than being fixed to a specific wall side.
2Reliability
If the hinge mechanism is made robust to prevent breakage, then reliability improves, but the risk of hinge breakage during misuse remains
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement features between the support member and housing are designed to fail before the hinge mechanism. The snap-fit engagement tabs and slots provide a weaker connection point that will disengage under excessive force, protecting the more critical hinge mechanism from breakage during misuse or installation errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member assembly is segmented into the lid member, support member, and engagement features. This segmentation allows the engagement features to act as sacrificial elements that can disengage to protect the hinge, while the hinge itself remains a separate, protected component that only experiences normal operational forces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If flanges are used to secure the housing to the countertop, then mounting stability improves, but the countertop is damaged during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful mounting function is extracted from the flange structure. Instead of using flanges that require screws or adhesives damaging to the countertop, the patent uses projection members that snap-fit into recesses in the countertop. This extraction removes the damaging aspect while retaining the mounting stability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection members are designed as simple, replaceable components that provide temporary but sufficient mounting stability. Rather than permanent flange attachments, the snap-fit projections offer easy installation and removal without damaging the countertop, accepting that they may need replacement rather than providing permanent fixation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cover member is designed to open in a fixed direction, then the hinge mechanism is simpler, but design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with universal mounting capabilities that allow the same cover member structure to be installed in multiple orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). The symmetric engagement features and centrally positioned hinge enable the cover to function properly in any orientation, providing design flexibility without requiring different cover member structures for different orientations.
Data Source
AI summary
A product dispensing device including at least a part of a dispenser housing and a cover member. The dispenser housing defines a product reservoir for containing dispensable products. The part of the dispenser housing defines an opening through which products are dispensed from the product housing and through which the product housing is refillable. The cover member is positionable between an open position in which the opening of the dispenser housing part is revealed for refilling the product reservoir with dispensable products and a closed position in which the opening of the dispenser housing is covered for dispensing. The cover member comprises a dispensing opening through which products are dispensed when the cover member is in the closed position. The cover member is moveable relative to the part of the dispenser housing by way of a mechanism in which a projection rides along a guide between a first position in which the cover member is held closed to the part of the housing to resist opening of the cover member and a second position in which the cover member is openable relative to the part of the dispenser housing to the open position.