Squirt Dispensing Closure With Flow Baffle For High-Velocity No-Drip Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing closures for liquid drink flavor concentrates from small squeeze containers fail to provide a clean and effective high-velocity dispensing while preventing drips when pressure is removed.
Innovation Solution
A squirt dispensing closure with a closure body, cap, and flow baffle that includes a tubular dispensing spout, inner and outer skirt walls, a hinge structure, and a flow baffle with a restricted flow path to facilitate high-velocity dispensing and no-drip stop, utilizing a snap-received sealing mechanism and baffling features to control fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a conventional dispensing closure is used, then the container can be opened and closed, but it fails to provide high-velocity dispensing and allows dripping when pressure is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The flow baffle acts as an intermediary component between the container interior and the dispensing spout. It includes a restricted flow path with a flow restriction opening that forces the liquid to pass through a narrow gap, creating high velocity during dispensing. The baffle also includes a recess that captures liquid when pressure is removed, preventing drips from exiting the spout.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the flow parameters by introducing a restricted flow path with specific dimensional constraints. The flow restriction opening has a controlled cross-sectional area that limits flow rate, while the restricted flow path length creates sufficient pressure drop to achieve high-velocity squirting. When pressure is removed, the same restriction parameters enable the baffle to capture residual liquid.
2Speed
If the flow path is restricted to achieve high velocity dispensing, then dispensing speed improves, but flow control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow baffle is segmented into distinct functional zones: a restricted flow path section with the flow restriction opening for high-velocity dispensing, and a recess section for drip capture. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and integrated into the closure body.
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 clean, high-velocity dispensing of liquid when the container is inverted and squeezed, with a no-drip stop when pressure is removed, ensuring efficient and mess-free product use.
Implementation Method 1
The highly restricted flow path from the interior of the container through the upper portion of the dispensing spout provides a high velocity squirt dispensing of the liquid when the container is inverted and squeezed
Implementation Method 2
providing a clean, no-drip stop of flow when pressure is removed from the container
Data Source
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AI summary
A squirt dispensing closure (10) for liquid drink flavor concentrate includes a closure body (12), a hinged cap (14), and a flow baffle (18). The closure body has a closure deck (20) and a tubular dispensing spout (22) having a lower portion (26) extending downwardly to provide a flow conduit (28) from the interior of the closure body. The flow baffle (18) includes a bottom wall (40), and a side wall (42) which is snap mounted over the lower portion of the dispensing spout (22). A fluid well (50) is formed in the bottom wall (40) and a fluid opening (52) is formed on a peripheral edge of the bottom wall. An arcuate baffling wall (54) extends upwardly from the bottom wall (40) adjacent the fluid opening (52), forming a restricted flow gap (56) from the fluid opening into an interior of the flow baffle (18). A baffling post (58) extends upwardly from within the fluid well 50) into the flow conduit (28) to form a restricted annular flow passage (60) therebetween.