Dispenser for soap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soap dispensers with illuminated positioning aids often require direct line-of-sight for effective hand positioning and lack versatility in material savings and low overall height designs, as well as clear status displays.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with an outlet opening on the underside and an illuminated ring around the outlet on the edge of the housing, allowing oblique illumination and dual-color operation for status indication, enabling efficient hand positioning and service alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the illuminated ring is positioned on the front edge of the dispenser housing, then hand positioning is facilitated from oblique angles, but the illumination may not be visible from the usual user position
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminated ring is positioned on the front edge of the dispenser housing rather than on the top surface, changing the spatial dimension of illumination delivery. This edge positioning allows the light to be visible from oblique angles below and to the side, accommodating users who approach from different positions and angles, thereby resolving the contradiction between facilitating hand positioning and maintaining illumination visibility.
2Volume of moving object
If the outlet opening is located on the underside of the dispenser housing, then material usage is optimized and overall height is reduced, but the illumination must be visible from multiple angles
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening is positioned on the underside of the dispenser housing near the front edge, utilizing the vertical dimension efficiently. This placement reduces the overall height of the dispenser while optimizing material usage. The illuminated ring on the front edge complements this by providing visibility from oblique angles, ensuring users can locate the outlet despite its lower position.
Solution Approach 2:
The illuminated ring can be configured to change colors to provide different visual information, enhancing the visibility and communication of operational status. This color variation capability ensures that users can easily perceive the illumination and associated information from various angles, compensating for the unconventional outlet positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the illuminated ring serves multiple functions (hand positioning and status indication), then device versatility is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminated ring is designed to perform multiple functions: guiding hand positioning during soap dispensing and indicating operational status through color changes. This multi-functionality is achieved by integrating the positioning and status indication capabilities into a single component, reducing the need for separate indicators and thereby managing complexity while enhancing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The illuminated ring utilizes color changes to convey different operational statuses (e.g., green for ready, red for low soap). This approach allows a single component to communicate multiple pieces of information visually, maintaining simplicity while achieving multi-functionality. The color-coded system provides intuitive feedback without requiring additional complex signaling mechanisms.
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
Facilitates hand positioning without direct line-of-sight and provides a clear, angle-visible illumination for material savings and low height, while offering dual-color status displays for refilling or battery needs.
Implementation Method 1
an illuminated ring (3) as a positioning aid for the hand
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A dispenser for soap, foamed soap, or the like, comprising an outlet opening (2) at the bottom, characterized by a ring (3), which can be illuminated and is provided around the outlet opening (2) as a positioning aid for the hand during the dispensing of soap.