Slide-Open Refillable Dispenser for Accessible Wall-Mounted Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall-mounted liquid and foam dispensers, such as soap and sanitizer dispensers, pose difficulties for short individuals to refill due to limited cover opening and risk of breakage when the cover is open, as the mounting surface extends beyond the base, restricting accessibility and safety.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser design featuring a slideable cover along rails, allowing for horizontal insertion and removal of a refill unit, with a latch mechanism to secure the cover in a closed position, ensuring easy refilling and preventing unauthorized removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover is hinged and rotates open, then the dispenser can be refilled, but the cover can only open 90° making it difficult for short persons to refill and the cover may be struck and broken
Solution Approach 1:
The cover transitions from a static hinged structure to a dynamic slideable structure that moves along rails. This allows the cover to open fully (180° or more) horizontally rather than rotating vertically, improving accessibility for short persons while eliminating the risk of the cover being struck and broken when open.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover opening motion changes from vertical rotation (hinged at bottom) to horizontal translation (slideable along rails). This dimensional change allows the cover to clear the mounting surface completely, providing full accessibility while preventing breakage since the cover is no longer positioned where it could be struck.
2Device complexity
If the cover is hinged at the bottom, then the dispenser structure is simple, but the mounting surface extends beyond the base restricting accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The cover opening direction changes from vertical (hinged at bottom) to horizontal (slideable along rails). This allows the cover to move outward beyond the mounting surface, providing full accessibility for users of all heights while maintaining relatively simple structural complexity through the use of rails and sliding mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the cover is open for refilling, then the refill unit can be accessed, but the cover may be struck and broken
Solution Approach 1:
The cover opens horizontally along rails rather than rotating vertically, moving it completely clear of the mounting surface area where it could be struck. This eliminates the breakage risk while maintaining full refill accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is extracted from the vulnerable position near the mounting surface and moved to a safe position along the rails, removing it from the zone where it could be struck and broken during or after the refilling process.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary dispenser includes a base having at least one rail, a cover, and a mounting portion for a refill unit having a container for fluid. The cover is slideable along at least one rail of the base between a closed position and an open position.