Single-Dose Dispenser Closure With One-Piece Auto-Refill Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single dose dispensers for liquids and powders require multiple separately molded parts that are assembled together, making them expensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A single-shot molded dispenser with a body portion, top connected via a living hinge, middle deck, and reservoir chamber, allowing for minimal after-molding assembly, with a flow conduit and cap for dispensing and sealing, enabling the formation of a single piece closure that can be easily assembled and used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple separately molded parts are used to create a single dose dispenser, then the dispenser can be assembled from modular components, but the manufacturing cost increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate molded parts (body, cap, dose container, and sealing elements) into a single integrated molded structure. The single dose dispenser is formed as one piece during molding, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining all necessary functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The single molded structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the dispenser body, contains the dose container, forms the sealing surfaces, and includes the cap mechanism. This multi-functionality is achieved through strategic placement of cavities and structural features within the single molded part, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components.
2Productivity
If multiple separately molded parts are assembled together, then the dispenser can be manufactured with specialized components, but the assembly time and production efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser components are pre-formed as an integrated unit during the molding process itself. The cavities, sealing surfaces, and structural features are all created simultaneously in the mold, eliminating the need for subsequent assembly operations. This preliminary formation of all features in one step dramatically reduces production time and increases efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-shot molding process is used, then the manufacturing cost decreases and assembly is simplified, but the design complexity of the molding process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single molded structure incorporates segmented cavities and internal chambers that are strategically positioned to create distinct functional zones (dispenser body, dose container, sealing areas). These segmented features are all formed in a single molding operation, simplifying assembly while managing design complexity through careful spatial arrangement of functional elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A single dose dispenser for dispensing product from a container is disclosed. The dispenser includes a body portion having skirt configured to couple to a container. A top is connected to the body portion that has a dispensing orifice formed therethough. A middle deck extends across an interior of the body portion forming a storage chamber between the top, inner surface of the body portion and the middle deck for temporarily holding product therein from the container. A cap is connected to the upper deck to selectively seal the dispensing orifice. A reservoir chamber depends from the middle deck for temporarily receiving product from the storage chamber. A flow conduit extends upwards from the middle deck up to the dispensing orifice and downwards into the reservoir chamber for dispensing product from the reservoir chamber.