Bottle Bridge Fluid Channel for Glugging Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bottles do not efficiently facilitate fluid dispensing without requiring unconventional neck ring equipment or closure designs, particularly in longneck bottles where the neck shape obstructs smooth pouring and venting.
Innovation Solution
A glass bottle design featuring a bridge that forms a fluid channel extending radially outward on the neck, with an incurvate inner surface and straight side walls at chordal angles, allowing for smooth pouring or venting depending on the bottle's orientation, without the need for unconventional equipment or closure designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional bottles with uniform wall thickness and circular neck cross-section are used, then manufacturing is simple and equipment is standard, but fluid dispensing efficiency is poor due to obstruction at the neck
Solution Approach 1:
The neck structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a bridge portion extending radially outward to create a fluid channel, side walls forming the channel boundaries, and an incurvate inner surface creating a seamless flow path. This segmentation allows the neck to simultaneously maintain structural integrity while providing efficient fluid dispensing through the created channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge extends radially outward from the neck in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, creating a three-dimensional fluid channel that bypasses the traditional linear flow path through the neck. This dimensional change allows fluid to flow along the outer surface of the bridge, eliminating obstruction at the neck opening and improving dispensing efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the neck has a simple circular cross-section, then manufacturing is easy, but pouring and venting functions are obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The neck structure implements local quality by creating a bridge with specific geometric features (incurvate inner surface, chordal side walls) only in the region where fluid flow is needed, while the rest of the bottle maintains simple circular cross-sections. This localized complexity provides smooth pouring and venting functions without complicating the entire bottle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The incurvate inner surface of the bridge uses curved geometry to create a seamless flow path for liquid, eliminating sharp edges and corners that would cause turbulence. The curvature continues through the chordal side walls, ensuring smooth transitions and maintaining laminar flow throughout the fluid channel.
3Productivity
If conventional neck designs are used, then standard equipment can be used, but glugging and agitation occur during dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge acts as an intermediary structure between the bottle body and the opening, creating a controlled fluid channel that mediates the flow of liquid and air. The incurvate inner surface and chordal side walls of the bridge guide fluid flow smoothly, preventing the turbulent glugging effect that occurs with conventional neck designs while still allowing air venting.
4Ease of operation
If radial bridge extension is implemented, then fluid channel is created for improved pouring, but neck structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it creates a fluid channel for smooth pouring, provides air venting capability, and maintains structural support for the bottle. The same incurvate inner surface and chordal side walls that improve pouring also enable effective venting, making the bridge a multi-functional element that addresses both liquid and gas flow requirements.
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 bridge creates a seamless flow path for liquids when pouring and vents air when tilted, reducing 'glugging' and agitation, thus enhancing dispensing efficiency and reducing product head size.
Implementation Method 1
a bridge forms a fluid channel for pouring or venting depending upon orientation of the bottle during pouring
Implementation Method 2
The bridge forms a fluid channel for pouring or venting depending upon orientation of the bottle during pouring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
A bottle (20) includes a bridge (31) forming a fluid channel (37), and extending radially outwardly on a bottle neck (28), from a location spaced axially from a bottle finish (32) to a bottle shoulder (26). The bridge includes an outer wall (40) offset radially outwardly with respect to walls of the neck and the shoulder and, in transverse cross section, the outer wall includes an incurvate inner surface (41). The bridge also includes side walls (42, 44) extending between the outer wall of the bridge and the walls of the neck and shoulder and, in transverse cross section, the side walls include straight inner surfaces (43, 45) disposed at chordal angles.