Air replenish valve for a drinking cup or feeding bottle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air replenish valves for drinking cups and feeding bottles, particularly duckbill type valves, are difficult to manufacture and often have a low yield of leak-proof valves, with issues such as material bonding at the valve opening after cutting.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates first and second stiffening portions at the ends of the slit, which provide mechanical coupling between the side walls, allowing the valve to function reliably and simplifying the manufacturing process by forming the slit during molding, using projections or locally thicker regions to enhance stiffness and prevent material bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a duckbill type valve with two flaps is used to allow air entry while preventing liquid flow, then the valve function is achieved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases and yield of leak-proof valves decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and geometric parameters of the valve structure by forming a slit with sloped end walls instead of using separate flaps. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the leak-proof function, as the slit can be directly formed during molding without additional assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the two separate flaps into a single integrated structure with a slit and sloped end walls. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate components and assembly operations, reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving the valve's ability to prevent liquid leakage.
2Ease of manufacture
If cutting is used to form the slit valve opening, then the valve can be manufactured, but material at the valve opening bonds together again after cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming the slit and sloped end walls directly during the molding process before any cutting or post-processing. This preliminary formation ensures that the valve opening maintains its integrity and prevents material bonding, as the structure is created in its final state without subsequent mechanical intervention that could cause deformation.
3Loss of substance
If the valve body is made from thin material to save cost, then material cost decreases, but the reliability of slit formation during manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating material thickness and structural reinforcement at critical locations such as the end walls and regions surrounding the slit. This localized reinforcement ensures reliable slit formation during manufacturing while keeping the overall valve body thin to minimize material cost, achieving both economy and manufacturing precision.
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
This design ensures the correct valve function while simplifying manufacturing, increasing the reliability of slit formation and reducing material costs by providing the necessary stiffness for the valve slit, thus improving the yield of leak-proof valves.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure difference acts across the flaps and causes them to deform in response to the under-pressure and hence open the valve slit
Implementation Method 2
first and second stiffening portions comprising stiffening regions of the end walls, or stiffening regions between each end walls and a respective end of the slit, and extending between the first and second side walls
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides an air replenish valve for a drinking cup or feeding bottle, having a duckbill slit valve. First and second stiffening portions are provided at the ends of the slit as stiffening regions of the end walls. These assist in providing a desired valve function while also making reliable manufacture easier to achieve.