Bottle Drip Stop Insert With Forced Flow Paths for Wine Oxygenation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drip stop devices for liquid containers, such as wine bottles, do not facilitate oxygenation of the liquid, which is necessary for releasing aromas, as they only create a linear flow path without obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A drip stop device with a cradle-shaped second plate-like element made of elastic material that, when rolled up and inserted into the container, creates a tubular duct with forced routes for the liquid, enhancing turbulence and oxygenation by incorporating openings or projections that alter the liquid's flow path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple tubular duct is used to prevent drips and sprays, then the device is easy to use and universal, but the liquid flow remains linear without oxygenation
Solution Approach 1:
The single plate-like element is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first zone that defines the tubular duct and a second zone that creates turbulence. This segmentation allows the device to simultaneously provide a simple universal structure and complex oxygenation functionality within one component.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a simple linear 1D flow path to a multi-dimensional 3D flow pattern by introducing a second zone with projections and openings that force the liquid to move in multiple directions, creating turbulence and enhancing oxygenation while maintaining the simple tubular duct structure.
2Device complexity
If a simple tubular duct is used to prevent drips and sprays, then the device structure is simple, but the liquid does not encounter obstacles for oxygenation
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-like element is divided into two functional zones that work together: the first zone maintains the simple tubular duct structure for universality, while the second zone introduces turbulence-inducing features. This segmentation enables complex oxygenation functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the plate-like element have different local qualities: the first zone provides a smooth tubular surface for universal compatibility, while the second zone features projections and openings specifically designed to create turbulence. This local differentiation allows the device to maintain simplicity where needed while adding complexity only where oxygenation is required.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single plate-like element is used for universality, then the device is economic and easy to manufacture, but it cannot provide forced routes for liquid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The single plate-like element is segmented into two functional zones that can be formed in one molding operation. The first zone creates the tubular duct while the second zone forms the turbulence-inducing features, allowing forced liquid flow paths to be integrated into an otherwise simple universal structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two previously separate functions into a single plate-like element: the universal tubular duct structure and the turbulence-inducing features. This integration maintains ease of manufacture and universality while adding the capability to force liquid flow paths for enhanced oxygenation.
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 device effectively optimizes oxygenation and aroma release of liquids like wine while preventing drips and sprays, making it easy to use, economic, and universal.
Implementation Method 1
Thanks to the elasticity and flexibility of the material used to make it, said drip stop device, once introduced in the opening of the container, naturally tends to unroll in order to assume its original disc-shaped configuration
Implementation Method 2
the second plate-like element 3 is folded along said first end 31 so as to obtain the superimposition of said second plate-like element 3 on one of the surfaces 22 of the first plate-like element 2... defining one or more forced routes of the liquid flowing out of its container C
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is a drip stop device (1) for a container for liquids (C), suited to be arranged at the level of the outlet opening (A) of a container (C) so as to allow the liquid to be poured while at the same time avoiding the formation of drips. The drip stop device (1) comprises a first plate-like element (2) made of an elastic and flexible material, which during use as a drip stop device is introduced, in the rolled-up configuration, in the outlet opening (A) in order to define a tubular duct (21). The drip stop device (1) comprises a second plate- like element (3) made of an elastic and flexible material that substantially develops along a longitudinal direction and is smaller than the first plate-like element (2) and is arranged so that it is superimposed on a surface (22) of the first plate-like element (2) with a first end (31) fixed to a perimeter portion (23) of the first plate-like element (2), so that when the first plate-like element (2) is rolled up substantially along the longitudinal axis (x) of the second plate-like element (3) the longitudinal sides (32, 33) of the second plate-like element (3) come into contact with said surface (22), thus forcing the second plate-like element (3) to come to be arranged crosswise along the tubular duct (21), in such a way as to define one or more forced routes for the liquid flowing out of the container (C).