Bite-Actuated Bottle Mouthpiece With Self-Sealing Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drink bottles require cap removal for fluid access, which can be inconvenient and may lead to spills or contamination, and lack efficient mechanisms for fluid dispensing and sealing.
Innovation Solution
The development of bite-actuated mouthpieces that deform from a closed to a dispensing configuration when bitten, providing a self-sealing mechanism for fluid flow and automatic return to a sealed state, integrated with cap assemblies that include optional manual on/off valves and air return systems for enhanced usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional cap is used to seal the bottle, then the bottle remains sealed and protected from contamination, but the user must remove the cap to drink which can lead to spills or contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The cap assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a bite-actuated valve mechanism, a spout assembly, and sealing elements. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained by the cap while the bite valve provides hands-free access without requiring full cap removal, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bite-actuated valve is designed to be activated automatically by the user's bite action, eliminating the need to manually remove the cap. The valve self-regulates fluid flow based on the biting force applied, providing spill-proof drinking while the cap remains in place to maintain the seal and prevent contamination.
2Reliability
If a rigid spout is used for fluid dispensing, then the structure is simple and strong, but it cannot provide automatic sealing when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece transitions from a static rigid spout to a dynamic bite-actuated valve system. The valve components are designed to move and deform in response to biting forces, automatically opening to allow fluid flow and closing to seal when not in use. This dynamic behavior provides automatic sealing while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of flexible materials and elastic deformation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bottle is designed to be drunk from any orientation, then versatility is improved, but conventional caps and spouts may not maintain proper sealing or fluid flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The bite-actuated valve and spout assembly are designed with parameters that allow proper function regardless of orientation. The valve sealing surfaces and fluid flow paths are configured to maintain effective sealing and controlled dispensing in various positions, enabling the user to drink from the bottle in any orientation while maintaining reliable sealing and flow control.
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 convenient, spill-proof, and efficient fluid dispensing without cap removal, allowing users to drink from any orientation while maintaining a sealed bottle when not in use, with optional features for flow control and pressure relief.
Implementation Method 1
Bite-actuated mouthpieces are deformable mouthpieces which are urged from a closed, sealed configuration to a dispensing configuration when a user bites upon the mouthpiece
Implementation Method 2
The mouthpieces may also be referred to as being self-sealing mouthpieces in that they are resiliently biased to automatically return to the closed configuration and thereby seal the slit or other opening through which drink fluid may flow
Data Source
AI summary
Drink bottles, or containers, with bite-actuated mouthpieces. In some embodiments, the mouthpieces are self-sealing mouthpieces that are biased to return from a dispensing configuration to a closed configuration. The bottles may be rigid or collapsible and may include a removable cap assembly. In some embodiments, the bottles include a manual on/off valve adapted to prevent drink fluid from being dispensed regardless of the mouthpiece's configuration. In some embodiments, the bottles include a straw extending into the bottle and/or a drink tube extending from external of the bottle and/or an air return system. In some embodiments, the bottles include a dispensing spout that is pivotally coupled to the cap of the drink bottle. In some embodiments, the dispensing spout includes a mount for the mouthpiece and/or cooperates with the cap to provide a manual on/off valve to selectively restrict flow of drink fluid from the bottle regardless of the mouthpiece's configuration.