Tapered-Base Polymer Container for Complete Fluid Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymeric containers with pump sprayers and dip tubes often struggle with fluid hold-up, leaving residual fluid inside the bottle after use.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a monolithic structure formed by injection blow molding, with a tapered internal base and a funnel-shaped inner surface that directs contents to a radial center, combined with a tube extending nearly to the base radial center, ensuring complete evacuation of contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a conventional container design with pump sprayer and dip tube is used, then the container can be manufactured with standard processes, but fluid hold-up occurs and complete evacuation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The base of the container is designed with a tapered configuration that slopes downward from the sidewall to a radial center, creating a funnel shape. This curved geometry directs fluid toward the dip tube and eliminates dead zones where fluid would otherwise accumulate, thereby reducing fluid hold-up while maintaining manufacturability through standard injection blow molding processes
Solution Approach 2:
The base geometry parameters are specifically configured with a taper angle and sloped inner surface that optimize fluid flow. The radial center is positioned at the lowest point of the inner surface, and the tube extends nearly to this center, changing the geometric parameters to ensure complete evacuation while using conventional manufacturing methods
2Loss of substance
If a tapered base with funnel inner surface is implemented, then fluid evacuation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered base and funnel inner surface are integrated into a single monolithic structure formed by injection blow molding. This merging of features into one piece eliminates the need for separate manufacturing steps and assembly, reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements while achieving the fluid evacuation benefits of the tapered geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered base structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, creates the funnel effect for fluid direction, and integrates with the dip tube positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate precision-critical components, making the overall manufacturing process more tolerant of standard precision variations
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
The design effectively reduces fluid hold-up by ensuring nearly complete evacuation of contents, enhancing manufacturing efficiency and reducing costs through a single molding process.
Implementation Method 1
The inner surface slopes downward from a sidewall to a radial center of the base such that the radial center is a lowermost portion of the inner surface of the base and the inner surface provides a funnel directing contents of the internal volume down to the radial center of the base
Data Source
AI summary
A container formed from a polymeric material. The container includes a finish defining an opening, a body defining an internal volume of the container, and a base. The base includes a standing ring configured to support the container upright when seated on a flat surface. An inner surface of the base defines a lower end of the internal volume. The inner surface slopes downward from a sidewall to a radial center of the base such that the radial center is a lowermost portion of the inner surface of the base and the inner surface provides a funnel directing contents of the internal volume down to the radial center of the base.