Beverage Container Closure With Selective Stopper Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lids for liquid storage vessels either lack spill prevention mechanisms or require users to remove the lid entirely to access contents, leading to potential spills when tipped or dropped.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container closure with a selectively openable stopper assembly, featuring a flexible seal, biasing member, and lever mechanism that allows users to open and close apertures with a single-handed operation, providing a fluid-tight seal and preventing spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid unitary lid without openings is used, then spill prevention is improved, but ease of access to contents deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into a main body and a separate stopper assembly that can be selectively opened and closed. The stopper assembly includes a stopper, seal member, and lever mechanism that can be independently actuated without removing the entire lid, allowing users to access contents while maintaining spill prevention when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper assembly is designed with movable components including a lever mechanism that allows dynamic opening and closing of the aperture. The biasing member provides automatic return to closed position, enabling the system to transition between sealed and open states while preventing spills when closed.
2Ease of operation
If a lid with unobstructed apertures is used, then ease of access to contents is improved, but spill prevention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper assembly includes a movable stopper that can be positioned to open or close the aperture as needed. When opened, full access to contents is provided; when closed, the flexible seal member creates a fluid-tight seal to prevent spills, allowing dynamic control of the aperture state.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member automatically returns the stopper to the closed position after opening, providing self-service functionality that ensures the aperture is sealed when not in use, thereby preventing spills without requiring additional user action.
3Reliability
If a lid with selective aperture closure is used, then spill prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper, seal member, biasing member, and lever mechanism are combined into a single integrated stopper assembly that attaches to the main body of the lid. This modular design allows the selective closure functionality to be added without completely redesigning the entire lid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper assembly is nested within the hollow interior region of the main body, with the stopper positioned to engage the aperture. The lever mechanism and biasing member are contained within the stopper assembly structure, creating a compact integrated unit that adds functionality without excessive complexity.
4Ease of operation
If a one-handed operation mechanism is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member automatically returns the stopper to the closed position after being opened, eliminating the need for a separate closing action. This self-service feature enables one-handed operation where the user only needs to press the button to open, and the mechanism automatically closes when released.
Solution Approach 2:
The button acts as an intermediary that the user directly actuates, which then triggers the lever mechanism to open the stopper. This indirect actuation through a simple button interface simplifies user interaction while the internal lever and biasing member handle the mechanical complexity of opening and closing.
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
Enables safe and convenient one-handed access to beverage contents while maintaining a seal, reducing spill risk and allowing for easy attachment to various objects via a handle.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible ring seal member (56) positioned adjacent the sidewall (52)
Implementation Method 2
a biasing member (144) configured to bias the stopper (110) toward the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable stopper that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The stopper may be selectively opened by a user when the user presses a button disposed on a side of the beverage container closure. The stopper is subsequently automatically closed when the user releases the button. Thus, a user may open and close the beverage container closure using a single hand without the need to remove the beverage container closure from the beverage container.