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Folding Plastic Bottle Fluid Dispenser Design

Status: Open
Prize: $200
Entries Received: 4

Contest Brief

We are looking for ideas on how to have a small flat plastic container (approx 85mm x 55 mm x 4mm) fold in half to dispense fluid from a dropper nozzle (at the folded seam) that gets exposed when container is folded in half. The challenge, and specifically what we are looking for ideas on, is how to pass fluid across the seam when folded. Ideally the internal volume would not change until mostly folded to prevent squeezing out fluid or sucking in air during the folding process. Only after it is almost fully folded should there be pressure to squeeze out a drop of fluid. I have attached various rough ideas for this. Ideas like how straw can bend or how a fire bellows works can be used for inspiration.

My goal is that this is about the size of a thick credit card. It would be flat, nozzle would be covered/sealed from elements. Then the user would fold the container in half in order to squeeze the two halfs together like a fireplace bellows and dispense a drop of fluid from the now exposed nozzle. Ideally the hinge would allow fluid to pass while still keeping the internal volume constant until fully folded to squeeze out drop. (we don't want to suck in air or squeeze out fluid during the opening process or at least minimize this effect).
I want to minimize this ingress of air for bacteria contamination concerns, eventually the inside of the container will be all air when the liquid is depleted, but minimizing the air exchanges during dispensing would be the goal here.

User should be able to return the container to it's flat position, re-securing the nozzle (away from elements) and ready to be reused. Ideally the nozzle can click back into the container without using a separate lid. Perhaps would require some sort of slide to cover nozzle and keep the container flat until use. That being said the main goal is to avoid separate parts, and be able to make this in a mold BFS style.

I am hoping to have the nozzle click into a securing home along the seam, and is exposed when unfolded. But the main goal for this design competition is passing fluid from one half to the other when opened.

This would not be used in any harsh environment, perhaps could get sat on if user has it in their pocket.

We are looking at using Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic for the bottle perhaps varying the thickness in parts to achieve result. For filling could be anywhere for now, as we could weld the seam. The idea would be to produce via Blow Fill Seal (BFS) if this helps guide your idea.

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Public Clarification Board

SergeTheEngi
- 5 days ago
Hi! I believe there are important considerations to make:
1. Are you trying to make a reusable or a single-use container? Considering BFS, I would assume single-use, but judging by the size, it may be a disposable container for multiple dispersions.
2. In what kind of environment the container will be used? Exposing soft parts of the material in a harsh environment may be a bad idea.
3. Sucking in the air is absolutely prohibited, or just discouraged for convenience?
- 5 days ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 4 days ago
  Reusable. I am hoping to have the nozzle click into a securing home along the seam, and is exposed when unfolded. But the main goal here is passing fluid from one half to the other when opened.
  
  This would not be used in any harsh environment, perhaps could get sat on if user has it in their pocket.
  
  Sucking in air is discouraged for bacteria contamination.
  - 4 days ago
guarco63
- 4 days ago
Hello sir, owner of the contest.
1- a very important point should be clarified that is related to question 3 by Serguei T., and that is the fact of air aspiration. In conventional drippers there is always bidirectionality (liquid comes out - air comes in) to stabilize the pressures.
If the entry of air is prohibited for this device, then it will gradually deform (crush) as it releases liquid and will not recover its original shape since no air enters to occupy the space left by the liquid. A one-way valve will also be necessary in the mouthpiece to prevent air from entering when you stop squeezing the device.
2- Should the device return to its original deployed position (85x55x4) on its own or can there be user manipulation to return it to that position?
- 4 days ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 4 days ago
  This is a good point. I want to minimize this ingress of air for bacteria contamination concerns, eventually the inside of the container will be all air when the liquid is depleted, but minimizing the air exchanges during dispensing would be the goal here. Also, yes user should be able to return the container to it's flat position, re-securing the nozzle (away from elements) and ready to be reused.
  - 4 days ago
sbarbarelli
- 1 week ago
hello! A question... what type of plastic is the container? rigid? Flexible? Could it be a combination of different plastics?
Is it filled through a lid that is not the nozzle? ..
- 1 week ago
1. Contest Holder
  - 1 week ago
  Hey good question. The goal would be to use Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic for the bottle perhaps varying the thickness in parts to achieve result. For filling could be anywhere for now, as we could weld the seam. The idea would be to produce via Blow Fill Seal (BFS) if this helps.
  - 1 week ago