Ball-Joint Bottle Cap Valve for Leak-Free Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking devices, such as cups with spouts or suction-based mechanisms, are either unsuitable for young children's oral development or difficult to control, and traditional valve-actuated lids suffer from leakage issues and lack of fluid flow control.
Innovation Solution
A bottle cap with a ball joint mechanism that allows the actuation lid to pivot within the outer rim, enabling a fluid valve to change states from closed to open based on external force applied at the rim, providing intuitive flow control and secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional valve-actuated lid is used, then liquid flow can be controlled, but the valve opening location is not well defined leading to leakage and poor flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical ball joint mechanism where the actuation lid pivots on a ball bearing. This spherical geometry provides well-defined pivot points and controlled movement arcs, ensuring that the valve opens at precise, predetermined locations around the rim rather than unpredictably, thereby resolving the leakage issue while maintaining flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the movement parameter of the actuation lid from undefined or uncontrolled motion to constrained pivoting motion around a fixed ball joint center. This parameter change ensures consistent, predictable valve opening locations and improves both flow control and leakage prevention.
2Ease of operation
If suction-based drinking cups are used, then drinking is enabled, but the devices become complex to manufacture and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex suction mechanism from the drinking device and replaces it with a simple gravity-fed system combined with a basic ball joint valve. This removes the need for complex pumps, seals, and control systems, greatly simplifying manufacturing and cleaning while maintaining drinking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses gravity as a free, self-service force to drive liquid flow toward the user's mouth, eliminating the need for active suction mechanisms. The ball joint valve passively controls flow based on lid position, requiring no power source or complex control systems.
3Ease of operation
If actuation lid pressure is applied to open the valve, then liquid flow is enabled, but any pressure on the lid causes leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by designing the actuation lid to apply pressure at specific, localized points around its perimeter rather than distributing pressure uniformly. This allows the user to open the valve at a desired location without applying pressure that would cause leakage at other locations, as each region of the rim independently controls valve opening at that specific point.
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 ball joint mechanism allows for precise control of fluid flow without suction, ensuring leak prevention and easy use for children, while maintaining a normal drinking experience, with the valve automatically closing when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
the joint comprises a ball joint
Implementation Method 2
the actuation lid pivoting relative to the base part about the joint
Implementation Method 3
liquid can then flow, driven by gravity towards the mouth of a user
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A bottle cap comprises a base part having an outer rim, an actuation lid attached to the base part with a pivot joint such as a ball joint and positioned within the outer rim and a fluid valve positioned within the outer rim. The fluid valve comprises two states: a closed state which closes a fluid pathway from outside the actuation lid to the base part and an open state which opens the fluid pathway. The fluid valve is configured to change from the closed state to the open state at a location around the rim based on an external force being applied to the actuation lid at that location around the rim.