Self-Righting Aerosol Sprayer With Locked Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol spray devices lack a mechanism to ensure consistent upright orientation and controlled material dispensing, especially when used in non-vertical positions.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol container with a spray device configured to lock in a state for spraying, housed within a two-part housing and balanced by a concave disk below, allowing automatic upright orientation and controlled material dispensing in various directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the aerosol container is designed to be removable from the housing, then ease of operation and refilling is improved, but reliability of the spray mechanism may worsen due to potential misalignment or loss of components
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separable components: a removable aerosol container and a housing with spray mechanism. This allows the container to be easily removed for refilling or replacement while the housing remains stationary, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability by enabling independent maintenance of each component.
2Reliability
If the spray device is configured to lock in place, then reliability of material dispensing is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The spray device automatically locks into position through its own weight and mechanical engagement features when inserted into the housing. The device self-secures without requiring separate locking actions or complex locking mechanisms, achieving reliable material dispensing while minimizing added complexity.
3Reliability
If the ballast device is added to ensure upright orientation, then reliability of spray direction is improved, but weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
A ballast device is positioned within the housing to counterbalance the aerosol container and create a stable center of gravity. This ensures the device maintains upright orientation during operation, improving spray direction reliability. The ballast weight is strategically placed to achieve balance with minimal additional mass.
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
Ensures consistent upright orientation and controlled material dispensing in different directions, enhancing usability and efficiency of aerosol spray devices.
Implementation Method 1
the ballast device causes the housing to gradually change to an upright orientation after initially being placed on a flat ground surface in a non-upright orientation
Implementation Method 2
the device causes a material to be sprayed from the top of the aerosol container when the device is in the locked state
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including an aerosol container; and a spray device, located at a top of the aerosol container, configured to be placed into a locked state, wherein the spray device causes a material to be sprayed from the top of the aerosol container in the locked state. The apparatus may further include a housing in which the aerosol container is located. The apparatus may further include a ballast or balancing device configured to be located below the aerosol container, opposite the top of the aerosol container, and within the housing; and wherein when the aerosol container is located inside of the housing, and the ballast device is below the aerosol container, opposite the top of the aerosol container, and within the housing, the ballast device causes the housing to gradually change to an upright orientation after initially being placed on a flat ground surface in a non-upright orientation.