Beverage Container Plug Lever Structure for Stable Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inner plug structures for beverage containers suffer from unstable interlocking forces, leading to involuntary disassembly and fluid leakage when the plug is manipulated, and require troublesome adjustments for disassembly due to rigidities or sizes of the cover and plug main body.
Innovation Solution
A plug design featuring a valve structure with a control lever that can be pushed downward to open and close the valve, incorporating a protrusion section to abut against an elastic section and a shoulder member, allowing easy disassembly without erroneous disengagement, and an elastic section arranged on the inner side of the plug main body to improve safety and design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sliding lever control mechanism is used to open and close the valve, then the valve operation is simplified, but the plug may be involuntarily disassembled when toppled or manipulated
Solution Approach 1:
The control lever is designed to pivot between a horizontal position (valve closed) and a vertical position (valve open), allowing dynamic operation of the valve while maintaining stable engagement during normal use. The lever's controlled movement enables easy valve operation without causing involuntary disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
A protrusion section on the control lever acts as an intermediary that engages with the elastic section during lever movement. This intermediary mechanism ensures that when the lever is pushed to open the valve, the engagement portion is temporarily released, but the elastic section prevents complete disassembly, thus mediating between valve operation and assembly stability.
2Reliability
If engagement portions are provided on the plug main body and cover, then the plug can be securely attached, but disassembly requires pushing the elastic member with one hand making it troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic section is pre-loaded during assembly to create an engagement force that secures the cover to the plug main body. During disassembly, this pre-loaded elastic member automatically releases when the control lever is moved to the vertical position, eliminating the need for manual pushing and simplifying the disassembly operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic section serves itself by automatically engaging and disengaging the cover based on the control lever position. When the lever is in the horizontal position, the elastic member maintains engagement; when the lever is pushed vertical, the elastic member automatically releases, enabling self-service operation without requiring additional manual intervention for disassembly.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the elastic section is arranged on the inner side of the plug main body, then safety is improved by avoiding contact, but the protrusion section must be designed to abut against it during lever operation
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic section is positioned on the inner side of the plug main body where it is not accessible to users during normal use, improving safety. The protrusion section on the control lever is specifically designed with localized geometry to abut against this inner elastic section only during the valve opening operation, maintaining safety while enabling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic section is arranged in a different spatial dimension (inner side of plug main body) away from user contact areas. The protrusion section extends into this dimension during lever operation to engage the elastic section, using dimensional separation to simultaneously achieve safety and operational functionality.
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 plug can be easily disassembled with minimal force while preventing involuntary disassembly during general use, ensuring the valve remains closed when not in use and improving safety by avoiding contact with the protrusion section, thus enhancing usability and design aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic section provided on an upper portion of the plug main body; a second engagement portion provided on one of the elastic section of the plug main body and the cover
Implementation Method 2
a protrusion section that is provided on the control lever, and is capable of abutting against and moving the elastic section in a disengagement direction when pushing the control lever downward
Implementation Method 3
a valve body biased in a direction allowing the inlet of the fluid passage to be closed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A plug (3) includes: a fluid passage (8) in a main body (11); a valve body (21) biased to close an inlet (15) of the fluid passage (8); a cover (25) disposed on an upper end of the main body (11) and closing an upper opening section thereof; and a control lever (24) of the cover (25) that can be pushed downward to open and close the valve body (21). An engagement claw section (53) is formed on an elastic section (52) of the main body (11). Provided on the cover (25) is a transverse-plate upper surface (54U) for engaging the engagement claw section (53). A protrusion section (58) of the control lever (24) abuts against and shifts the elastic section (52) in a disengagement direction when pushing the control lever (24) downward. The protrusion section (58) can thus disengage the engagement claw section (53) from the transverse-plate upper surface (54U). The control lever (24) biased upward by the valve body (21) allows the cover (25) to be easily and lightly disassembled from the main body (11).