Rotating Collar Locking and Venting Mechanism for Foam Pump Dispensers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manually operated, vertically reciprocating liquid pump dispensers that also pump air to create foam are complex and have a high number of component parts, making them difficult to manufacture economically, as they require additional features like venting and locking mechanisms without increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A pump dispenser design that integrates both liquid and air pumping capabilities with a venting feature and locking mechanism, using a rotatable collar and dispenser head to minimize component parts and simplify assembly, constructed from plastic with metal or plastic ball valves and a coil spring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional venting and locking mechanisms are added to the dispenser, then the functionality and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and number of component parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the venting and locking mechanisms into a single integrated collar component. The collar includes both a vent opening for air passage and locking surfaces that engage with corresponding surfaces on the dispenser head, allowing both functions to be performed by one component rather than requiring separate venting and locking parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides venting (through the vent opening), locking (through engagement surfaces), and structural support. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate parts, reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the dispenser is designed to pump both liquid and air, then the foam production capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser head is designed as a multi-functional component that serves both as the liquid discharge outlet and as the air pump chamber. The air pump chamber is formed within the dispenser head structure itself, allowing the same component to handle both liquid dispensing and air pumping functions, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity despite the added versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The air pump chamber is nested within the dispenser head structure, with the chamber formed as an integral part of the dispenser head. This nested configuration allows the air pumping function to be incorporated without adding external complexity, as the air chamber utilizes the existing space within the dispenser head.
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 design reduces the number of component parts and assembly complexity while maintaining functionality, allowing for efficient production and operation of a dispenser that pumps liquid, mixes with air to create foam, and includes a venting and locking feature.
Implementation Method 1
The upward movement of the plunger moves the piston upwardly in the pump chamber, which creates a vacuum in the pump chamber that draws liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber
Implementation Method 2
The check valve controls the flow of liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid
Implementation Method 3
The downward movement of the plunger moves the piston downwardly in the pump chamber. The downward piston movement forces the liquid in the pump chamber through the liquid discharge passage of the plunger and out of the dispenser through the dispensing head
Implementation Method 4
A vent passage opening is provided in the closure connector. The collar is rotatable on the closure connector between a first position in which the collar prevents opening of the vent passage and a second position in which the collar permits opening of the vent passage
Implementation Method 5
The collar has a locking mechanism that prevents unintended reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing when the collar is in the first position
Data Source
AI summary
A manually operated, vertically reciprocating liquid pump dispenser is removably connectable to a bottle containing liquid and simultaneously pumps liquid from the bottle and air from the exterior environment of the dispenser and mixes the liquid with the air to produce a foam that is dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser includes a closure connector and a rotatable collar on the connector that provides a mechanism for venting the interior of the bottle to the exterior environment of the dispenser while avoiding leakage of the liquid from the bottle, and also incorporate a mechanism for locking the dispenser to prevent unintended pumping of liquid from the bottle.