Tapered Ear Tip with Grooves for Fluid Evacuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ear tips for administering hygiene products through manual vaporizers can cause pressure damage to the eardrum due to trapped air and lack of easy cleaning and maintenance, leading to overpressure risks and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A spray nozzle tip with a generally tapered shape and grooves on its outer surface, allowing for efficient evacuation of fluids and air when inserted into a physiological channel, integrated with a push button for safety and ease of use, eliminating the need for separate components and facilitating cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate conical evacuation piece is assembled around the tip, then evacuation of air and excess liquid is achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the evacuation channels directly into the tip structure itself, merging the evacuation function with the tip component. The tip includes multiple radial evacuation channels that extend from the outer surface to the inner surface, eliminating the need for separate evacuation pieces or assemblies. This single-integration approach reduces device complexity while maintaining the evacuation function.
2Reliability
If a separate conical evacuation piece is assembled around the tip, then evacuation function is provided, but manufacturing time and cost increase due to assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The tip is manufactured as a single integrated component with evacuation channels formed directly within its structure. The manufacturing process creates the tip and evacuation channels simultaneously, eliminating separate assembly operations. This reduces both manufacturing time and cost while ensuring the evacuation function is reliably integrated into the tip.
3Reliability
If the tip diameter is limited smaller than the auditory canal, then evacuation channels can be provided, but the tip becomes easily removable creating overpressure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates retention features directly into the tip structure during manufacturing, such as flared outer surfaces or engagement ribs that prevent accidental removal. These retention features are built in beforehand, ensuring the tip remains securely in place during use while still allowing proper evacuation function. This preliminary integration of retention mechanisms eliminates the overpressure risk associated with easily removable tips.
4Reliability
If evacuation channels are thin and installed in the endpiece, then evacuation function is achieved, but cleaning becomes long and delicate
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation channels are designed as distinct, segmented features within the tip structure, with sufficient spacing and orientation to allow easy access by cleaning instruments. The channels are configured to be individually accessible, enabling thorough cleaning of each channel without delicate or time-consuming operations. This segmented design maintains evacuation functionality while significantly improving ease of cleaning and maintenance.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~10
AI summary
The cap (4) has a spraying orifice (7) whose external end includes a tapered shape or tapered shape part e.g. frustoconical part, with point directed towards a direction of a spray. An external envelope of the tapered part has a groove (5) of depth sufficient to constitute an outlet channel for fluid when the cap is inserted in an animal or human physiological channel as an auditory conduit of a mammal.