Self-dosing Measuring Cap for Liquid Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring and dispensing liquid laundry detergent are inaccurate and inconvenient, often relying on visual estimation or messy pouring with a measuring cup, which can lead to either insufficient cleaning or waste.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a reservoir that can be mounted to a container for fluidic communication, allowing for the measurement and simultaneous dispensing of a predetermined quantity of liquid while also receiving refilling liquid through angled orientations, utilizing a tubular member with a partial flange and multiple inlets for efficient liquid flow and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual estimation is used to measure liquid detergent, then the operation is simple and quick, but the measurement precision is poor leading to inaccurate dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is divided into a main body and a separate tubular member with the outlet positioned at its lower end. This segmentation allows the tubular member to act as a dedicated dispensing channel that ensures precise liquid flow control and complete emptying, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement precision by providing a simple yet accurate dispensing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular member serves as an intermediary element between the reservoir body and the external environment. It mediates the liquid flow by providing a controlled pathway that ensures accurate dispensing of the predetermined liquid quantity, thereby improving measurement precision without complicating the overall operation.
2Measurement precision
If a measuring cup is used to portion liquid detergent, then the measurement precision improves, but the operation becomes messy and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the storage function (reservoir body) and the dispensing function (tubular member with outlet) into a single integrated system. This combination eliminates the need for separate measuring cups and multiple pouring operations, providing both accurate measurement and convenient, clean operation in one unified device.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir system performs multiple functions: storing liquid detergent, measuring a predetermined quantity, and dispensing it accurately through the tubular member. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate measuring tools, improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If the outlet is positioned at the lower end of the tubular member, then the liquid dispensing becomes more complete and accurate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the outlet at the top or side of the reservoir, the invention inverts the conventional approach by positioning it at the lower end of the tubular member. This inversion utilizes gravity to ensure complete and accurate liquid dispensing, achieving high measurement precision with minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet function is extracted and isolated in a separate tubular member rather than being integrated into the main reservoir body. This extraction simplifies the overall structure by creating a dedicated, simple dispensing pathway that ensures accurate liquid flow without adding significant complexity to the reservoir design.
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 accurate and efficient dispensing of a predetermined liquid quantity, reducing waste and ensuring proper cleaning levels with minimal user effort, as the system self-doses and refills with each use cycle.
Implementation Method 1
When mounted to the container, the reservoir may be configured to measure a predetermined quantity of liquid while in first orientation
Implementation Method 2
to simultaneously dispense the predetermined quantity of liquid from the outlet and receive a refilling quantity of liquid through the inlet while in a second orientation that is angled relative to the first orientation above a threshold angle
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a system for dispensing liquid from a container holding a liquid comprises a reservoir mountable to the container so as to be in fluidic communication with the container. The reservoir may comprise an inlet and an outlet. When mounted to the container, the reservoir may be configured to measure a predetermined quantity of liquid while in first orientation and to simultaneously dispense the predetermined quantity of liquid from the outlet and receive a refilling quantity of liquid through the inlet while in a second orientation that is angled relative to the first orientation above a threshold angle.