Total-use dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bottles with single top openings face challenges in dispensing fluid products efficiently, especially when the content is diminished, leading to wastage due to high viscosity and inefficient design, which is costly for expensive products like face creams and hair products.
Innovation Solution
A total-use dispenser with both top and bottom openings, featuring a pump or spout system that allows for efficient dispensing of at least 90% of the product, including a diaphragm pump, spout conduit, and angled fluid deflector, enabling fluid to be dispensed through the bottom outlet or spout, with options for flow or spray, and a detachable product cup for the remaining amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single top opening with pump is used, then the bottle structure is simple, but the dispensing efficiency deteriorates when content is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle is divided into two separate openings: a top opening for initial dispensing and a bottom opening for final dispensing. This segmentation allows different dispensing mechanisms to operate at different stages, maintaining high dispensing efficiency throughout the entire product lifecycle without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point (top opening) dispensing system to a two-point (top and bottom openings) system. This dimensional change in the dispensing architecture enables efficient product removal at all content levels, addressing the inefficiency that occurs when only a top opening is available.
2Ease of operation
If the bottle is turned over for dispensing, then product removal is improved, but the time required to dispense increases due to high viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom opening is pre-configured with a spout or dispenser mechanism that is ready to receive product as it flows downward. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for user actions like turning the bottle over, allowing continuous efficient dispensing without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottle design allows product to flow automatically to the bottom opening under gravity, and the spout mechanism automatically captures and dispenses the product. This self-service system eliminates the need for user intervention to turn or manipulate the bottle, reducing dispensing time significantly.
3Extent of automation
If a pump with fluid conduit is used, then dispensing is automated, but a substantial amount of product remains undispensed due to bottle shape
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing system is segmented into two phases: top-opening pump dispensing for the majority of product, and bottom-opening spout dispensing for the remaining product. This segmentation ensures that no significant amount of product is left undispensed, as each phase targets a specific portion of the product volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on a single pump system that leaves residual product, the invention inverts the approach by adding a bottom opening that naturally receives and dispenses the remaining product through gravity flow and spout mechanism, ensuring near-complete product utilization.
4Device complexity
If a single top opening is used, then the bottle design is simple, but product wastage increases due to difficulty in removing remaining product
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle is segmented with two openings to address different stages of product depletion. The bottom opening specifically targets the removal of residual product that would otherwise be wasted, achieving near-total product utilization (at least 90% by weight) without significantly complicating the overall design.
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 solution ensures nearly complete dispensing of fluid products, reducing waste and enhancing user convenience by allowing multiple dispensing methods, including pumping and squeezing, with ergonomic design and transparent bodies to monitor content levels.
Implementation Method 1
An exemplary total-use dispenser utilizes a pump coupled with the top opening to dispense the fluid product from the dispenser
Implementation Method 2
The pump may be a diaphragm pump or pump with a stem and handle that are moved into and out of the body of the total-use dispenser
Implementation Method 3
An exemplary body has a top opening and a bottom outlet and a tapering portion that tapers to the bottom outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A total-use dispenser for dispensing a fluid product therefrom. A total-use dispenser may have a body forming an enclosure having both a top opening and a bottom outlet and a tapering portion that tapers down toward the bottom outlet and a pump configured in the top opening to dispense the fluid product from the dispenser. The pump may be configured in the top opening to pump air into the rigid body to force fluid product therefrom. The fluid product may be dispensed from a bottom outlet or from a spout coupled with a spout conduit that extends into the squeezable body of the total-use dispenser. The total-use dispenser enables substantially all the fluid product to be dispensed from the enclosure, such as at least 90% by weight, at least 97% by weight and most preferably 99% or more by weight.