Bottle Top Pump Assembly with Frangible Vent for Leak Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle top pump assemblies lack mechanisms to visually indicate usage and often leak during transport and storage when inverted, due to inadequate sealing and air venting.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-evident mechanism with a frangible air vent and a piston pump arrangement that includes a latch system to prevent axial movement and a frangible air vent mechanism to allow atmospheric communication, ensuring secure sealing and visual indication of usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a pump assembly is coupled to a bottle against removal, then the pump assembly remains securely attached during use, but it cannot be easily removed for replacement or cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The cap assembly incorporates a rotation mechanism that transitions the pump assembly between a locked position (preventing accidental removal during use) and an unlocked position (allowing intentional removal for replacement or cleaning). The rotation feature enables dynamic control of the attachment state based on operational needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a frangible air vent mechanism is provided, then atmospheric communication is enabled when needed, but the vent may open unintentionally during transport or storage
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible air vent is designed with a predetermined break point that requires a specific rotational motion to activate. This preliminary action (rotation) ensures the vent only opens when intentionally triggered by the user, preventing accidental activation during transport or storage while maintaining the ability to provide atmospheric communication when needed.
3Reliability
If a latch mechanism is added to prevent axial movement, then the pump assembly is secured against unintended displacement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is integrated into the rotation feature of the cap assembly. The same rotational motion that controls the attachment state also activates the latch mechanism, combining multiple functions into a single operational sequence. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining position stability.
4Reliability
If a resistance member is included to prevent rotation, then the pump assembly remains in its operational position, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance member provides selective resistance to rotation - it prevents unintended rotational movement during normal use but allows intentional rotation when sufficient force is applied by the user. This dynamic behavior maintains positional stability while preserving operational flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pump assembly which provides a frangible air vent mechanism for providing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of a bottle to which the pump assembly is to be coupled. A vent port is provided through a bottle cap member having an inner end open into the bottle and an outer end open to the atmosphere. A frangible plug member is received in the vent port with the frangible plug member when unbroken preventing flow through the vent port and the plug member when broken permitting flow through the vent port. A vent tab member is coupled to the frangible member with the vent tab member extending from the frangible member accessible on the exterior of the bottle cap member for engagement to apply forces to the vent tab that are translated to the frangible vent member to break the frangible member.