Tip Seal for Viscous Foam Dispensing Adapter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pressurized dispensing containers with viscous foamable solutions, such as polyurethane foams, face issues with clogging and spoilage due to the closure elements inside the dispensing systems, which are complex to manufacture and difficult to clean, leading to unusable residue.

Innovation Solution

A tip seal design with a core part sealed from the outside, featuring stop members and movement restriction members to prevent accidental separation or clogging, and sealing elements for airtightness, allowing easy cleaning and preventing post-dripping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a closure element is placed inside the tube to seal the dispensing system, then the foamable solution can be sealed and preserved, but the closure element becomes a site for foam adhesion and clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidfoam adhesion and clogging
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the closure element from the interior of the tube and relocates it to the exterior as a tip seal assembly. The cap part with sealing element closes the proximal end of the core part from the outside, eliminating the internal closure element that caused foam adhesion and clogging problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the sealing element inside the tube as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the sealing element at the tip seal assembly exterior to the tube. The cap part seals the proximal end of the core part from the outside, reversing the conventional internal sealing approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a complex closure element structure is used inside the tube, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cleaning difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the sealing system into distinct components: the core part (tubular structure), the cap part (sealing component), and the sealing element. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with simpler processes and facilitates easy assembly and disassembly for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tip seal assembly is designed as a replaceable, cost-effective component that can be easily manufactured and discarded if needed. The simple structure of the core part, cap part, and sealing element allows for economical production compared to complex internal closure elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the core part is completely sealed, then foam adhesion is prevented, but foam dispensing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoam adhesion preventionVSAvoidfoam dispensing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the tip seal assembly dynamic by allowing the cap part to be movable relative to the core part. The cap part can be positioned in a first position for sealing and a second position for dispensing, enabling the system to switch between sealed and open states as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The tip seal assembly operates through periodic action by alternating between sealed and open states. The cap part is moved between the first position (sealed) and second position (open) periodically during use, allowing the foamable solution to be sealed when not in use and easily dispensed when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2743002B1Tip seal for an adapter for a pressurized dispensing container comprising a viscous foamable solution and adapter provided with such a tip seal
Publication Date: 2015.04.29 ALTACHEM
  • EP2743002B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2743002B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3c
  • EP2743002B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~6c

AI summary

The invention relates to a tip seal (10) for an adapter (1) and such an adapter (1) for a pressurized dispensing container comprising a viscous foamable solution, said adapter (1) comprising a tube (11) in connection with said container and conveying the into foam converted viscous foamable solution towards said tip seal (10), said tip seal (10) comprising a core part (101) with an at least partially open proximal end (101 a) and at least partially open distal end (101b), said core part (101) at least partially being inserted into said tube (11) at said proximal end (101 a); and a cap part (102) which is movably connected with said core part (101) at said distal end (102b) of said core part (101) between an open position and a closed position of said tip seal (10), wherein said cap part (102) comprises a closure element (1021) which is adapted for closing off said at least partially open distal end (101 b) of said core part (101) in said closed position of said tip seal (10).