Adjustable Measuring Cap With Rotating Fill and Dispense Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Measuring dry and liquid ingredients in the kitchen is often frustrating due to the need to locate and clean multiple measuring devices, which are often misplaced, inconveniently sized, or dirty.
Innovation Solution
A flexible silicone thread dispensing cap that fits onto standard spice bottles, allowing for adjustable measurement and direct pouring without the need for separate utensils, featuring a rotatable filling section and volume selector for precise dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional separate measuring devices are used, then measurement function is provided, but device complexity and cleaning requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the measuring cup function directly into the bottle cap, merging two previously separate devices (bottle cap and measuring cup) into a single integrated unit. The cap includes an internal cavity that serves as the measuring chamber, eliminating the need for separate measuring cups and reducing the number of devices to clean and store.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottle cap is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a closure for the bottle and a measuring device. The cap can be removed, inverted, and used to measure liquids directly from the bottle, providing universal functionality that reduces the need for specialized single-purpose tools.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measuring devices are kept available, then measurement accuracy is improved, but loss of time for locating and cleaning devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring cap is permanently attached to the bottle, making it always available and eliminating the need to search for separate measuring devices. The cap measures directly from the bottle it is attached to, providing self-contained measurement capability that reduces time spent locating and cleaning separate measuring tools.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard bottle caps are used, then simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different bottle sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cap incorporates a flexible membrane that can expand and contract to accommodate different bottle sizes and shapes. This dynamic flexibility allows the same cap design to adapt to various bottle dimensions without requiring multiple specialized caps, maintaining simplicity while improving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane's physical properties (flexibility and elasticity) enable it to change shape and size to fit different bottles. By utilizing the material's inherent ability to deform, the cap can accommodate various bottle parameters (diameter, height, shape) without changing the cap's fundamental design or structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for measuring an ingredient are disclosed. A cap with a flexible silicone thread is configured to screw onto a threaded bottle and has a shaft and a slit. The cap has a rotatable filling section attached to the cap and configured to rotate to block the slit and prevent fluid communication between the threaded bottle and a dispensable volume or to expose the slit and allow fluid communication between the threaded bottle and the dispensable volume. A volume selector rotates to provide a largest and a smallest measurable volume. A lid covers the dispensable volume. A user rotates the rotatable filling section to fill the section with an ingredient. The user rotates it back, removes the lid, and dispenses the ingredient.