Variable Dose Container With Adjustable Grooved Collar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dispensing containers with pumps lack user control over the amount of contents dispensed, leading to inefficiency and waste, as the piston travels the same distance each time, and often have complex and costly designs.
Innovation Solution
A variable dose container with a collar featuring grooves of varying depths allows the nozzle to adjust the actuator's movement, enabling users to select the amount of contents dispensed by positioning the nozzle over specific grooves, thus controlling the dispensing distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional pump container is used, then the dispensing mechanism is simple and reliable, but the user cannot control the amount of contents dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is made rotatable to allow dynamic adjustment of the groove position relative to the nozzle. This enables the user to select different dosing depths by rotating the collar, transforming a static structure into a dynamically adjustable one that provides variable dosing control without major structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing control function is segmented into discrete depth levels through multiple grooves at different depths on the collar. Each groove represents a predetermined dosing level, allowing the user to select from discrete dosage options rather than requiring continuous adjustment mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If the piston travels the same distance each time, then the pump mechanism is simple, but the same amount of contents is always discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The collar acts as an intermediary element between the user and the pump mechanism. By positioning grooves of different depths on the collar, it mediates the piston travel distance without requiring changes to the pump mechanism itself. The collar translates user selection into variable dosing while the pump remains structurally simple
3Ease of operation
If variable dosing containers are designed with multiple parts, then dosage control is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides the dosing control interface, contains the depth-marked grooves, and acts as a rotational adjustment mechanism. By merging these functions into one part rather than using separate components for each function, the design reduces part count and manufacturing complexity while maintaining dosage customization capability
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a variable dose container. The variable dose container may comprise a container including a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side wall portion, the space between the bottom portion and the side wall portion defining an interior space, wherein the container stores contents within the interior space. The variable dose container may further include an actuator coupled with the top portion of the container that is depressible in a longitudinal direction to drive the contents held in the interior space of the container out of a nozzle protruding horizontally from the actuator. Additionally, the variable dose container may include a collar under the nozzle, a top circumferential edge of the collar containing one or more grooves of varying depth into which the nozzle can be inserted when depressed, thereby adjusting a distance the actuator is moved in the longitudinal direction.