Bite-Actuated Mouthpiece Design for Sealing and Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bite-actuated mouthpieces used in drink containers and hydration systems face design challenges where improvements in one characteristic, such as flow rate or sealing, often detrimentally affect another, and require different design considerations for containers versus systems.
Innovation Solution
A bite-actuated mouthpiece design featuring a self-sealing exit that is biased towards a closed configuration, requiring user-applied compressive forces to open, with a concave dispensing face and varying thicknesses to optimize sealing and flow, and includes a crimp tube and anchor structure for secure attachment to the drink container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the self-sealing exit is designed to be biased toward the closed configuration to improve sealing reliability, then sealing performance is improved, but the compressive forces required to open the valve increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a biased self-sealing exit mechanism where the exit is pre-configured to favor the closed position through structural design elements such as a flexible membrane or spring-loaded components. This biasing mechanism increases sealing reliability by ensuring the exit remains closed unless sufficient user-applied compressive force is exerted on the sidewalls to overcome the bias and open the exit.
2Reliability
If the dispensing wall thickness increases toward the longitudinal axis to improve structural strength and sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing wall is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thicker toward the longitudinal axis and thinner at the periphery. This local variation in thickness provides enhanced structural strength and sealing capability at the critical central region where the self-sealing exit is located, while maintaining lighter weight and lower complexity at less critical areas.
3Reliability
If the self-sealing exit is configured to require user-applied compressive forces to open, then unintended liquid dispensing is minimized, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece incorporates a dynamic response mechanism where the self-sealing exit transitions from a closed to an open state based on the magnitude of user-applied compressive forces. The system is designed to remain closed under normal conditions but opens reliably when sufficient force is applied to the sidewalls, providing a clear threshold-based operation that balances control reliability with ease of use.
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 design ensures reliable sealing, efficient liquid flow, and secure attachment, addressing the dual requirements of drink containers and hydration systems while minimizing unintended liquid dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
The self-sealing exit is biased toward the closed configuration and is configured to be selectively reconfigured from the closed configuration to the open configuration responsive to user-applied compressive forces to the opposing bite regions
Data Source
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AI summary
Bite-actuated mouthpieces and drink vessels including bite-actuated mouthpieces are disclosed. Bite-actuated mouthpieces comprise a body comprising a dispensing wall, one or more sidewalls extending from the dispensing wall that with the dispensing wall define an internal volume, and an inlet to the internal volume. The self-sealing exit is biased toward a closed configuration and is configured to be selectively reconfigured from the closed configuration to an open configuration responsive to user-applied compressive forces to opposing bite regions. The dispensing wall has a dispensing face opposite the internal volume, and in some examples, the dispensing face is concave.