Self-Leveling Dispensing Closure with Integrated Measuring Reservoir
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing containers for flowable products lack a simple, cost-effective method to accurately measure and dispense a predetermined dose without additional equipment, while ensuring cleanliness and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece dispensing closure that secures to a container, allows product to flow into a filling chamber, retains a measured dose in a reservoir upon uprighting, and dispenses through an exit orifice when tilted, utilizing a molded design with a living hinge lid and angled interior walls to prevent excess product return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional dispensing container is used, then the container can hold flowable products, but it lacks the capability to accurately measure and dispense a predetermined dose without additional measuring equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the dispensing closure, measuring reservoir, and dosing mechanism into a single integrated unit. The closure assembly includes a body with an internal reservoir specifically designed to measure a predetermined dose, eliminating the need for separate measuring equipment while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing closure serves multiple functions: it seals the container, measures the predetermined dose, and dispenses the product. The single assembly performs what traditionally required multiple separate components, reducing overall device complexity while improving dosing accuracy
2Measurement precision
If additional measuring equipment is added to achieve accurate dosing, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the measuring reservoir directly into the closure body, the patent eliminates the need for separate measuring devices. This consolidation reduces the total number of parts, simplifies manufacturing processes, and lowers overall production costs while maintaining accurate dosing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The closure assembly is self-contained with the reservoir automatically measuring the predetermined dose during the dispensing process. The system serves itself by using the product's own flow characteristics to fill the reservoir to the correct level, eliminating the need for external measuring equipment or complex dosing mechanisms
3Device complexity
If the closure is designed as a single-piece molded structure, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the lid portion must be molded in an open position and rotated closed
Solution Approach 1:
The lid portion is designed with a living hinge that allows it to rotate from an open to closed position. This dynamic element enables the lid to be molded in the open position for easier manufacturing and then rotated into the closed sealing position, combining manufacturing simplicity with functional effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The living hinge creates a flexible connection between the lid and body, allowing the thin-walled lid portion to be molded in an open position and then rotated to seal against the body. This flexible joint solves the manufacturing challenge of forming a closed-sealed structure in a single molding operation
4Ease of manufacture
If the lid portion is sealed to the main body with a living hinge, then the closure can be molded as one piece, but the lid must be movable from open to closed position requiring friction sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a traditional mechanical seal (such as gaskets or O-rings) with a friction-based seal created by the friction fit between the lid's outer periphery and the body's inner surface. This eliminates the need for additional sealing components while maintaining seal reliability through proper friction design
Solution Approach 2:
The seal reliability is achieved by carefully controlling the friction parameters between the lid and body surfaces. The outer periphery of the lid is designed with specific dimensional parameters that create sufficient friction to maintain a reliable seal when closed, without requiring additional sealing elements
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, easy, and clean dispensing of a predetermined dose without additional measuring equipment, maintaining product containment and allowing transparent material visibility of the measured dose, while being compatible with standard container necks and seals.
Implementation Method 1
the lid portion is connected to an upper peripheral edge of an upper skirt portion of the main body by a living hinge
Implementation Method 2
returning the dispensing closure to an upright position. When upright, excess product drains back into the container
Implementation Method 3
The annular inner sealing wall and the outer lid skirt are configured to frictionally seal the lid portion to the main body portion
Data Source
AI summary
A single dose dispensing closure has a main body with an upper skirt portion for measuring and dispensing a predetermined dose of a flowable product from a container. A bottom wall, a rearwardly angled wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, and an interior surface of the upper skirt together define a measuring reservoir. A port allows a product to flow from a container into the main body. A lid is movable to a closed position in which the lid portion and the main body define a filling chamber. A hinged closure tab seals an exit orifice on the front of the lid portion. When the exit orifice is closed, a user inverts the dispensing closure and container to substantially fill the filling chamber. When the dispensing closure is righted, a predetermined dose of the flowable product is retained in the reservoir, ready to be dispensed through the exit orifice.