Can-Piercing Spout With Pivot Arm for Controlled Beverage Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for consuming beverages from cans, such as shotgunning, often result in inefficient liquid flow and potential leakage due to the lack of a controlled mechanism for air and liquid flow, leading to a less satisfying drinking experience.
Innovation Solution
A beverage drinking apparatus with a pivot arm and entry portion that pierces the can sidewall, allowing liquid to flow through a spout while maintaining a seal with a gasket to prevent leakage, enhancing the drinking experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a key is used to puncture the sidewall of the beverage can (shotgunning method), then liquid can flow out rapidly through the punctured hole, but liquid leakage and uncontrolled flow occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane that covers the punctured hole in the beverage can. This membrane can be selectively opened or closed to control liquid flow. When closed, it prevents leakage; when opened, it allows controlled dispensing of liquid through the puncture site, thus resolving the contradiction between rapid flow and flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism (the membrane with aperture control) between the punctured hole and the liquid. This intermediary element mediates the flow by allowing selective opening and closing of the aperture, enabling both rapid dispensing when needed and prevention of leakage when not in use.
2Ease of operation
If the entry portion pierces the sidewall of the beverage can, then liquid can flow through the apparatus, but leakage may occur without proper sealing
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane with a controllable aperture is positioned at the puncture site. This membrane creates a seal around the entry portion while allowing controlled opening for liquid flow. The flexible nature of the membrane enables it to conform to the puncture hole, preventing leakage when closed while facilitating easy liquid dispensing when opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane aperture is designed with asymmetric characteristics where the opening mechanism provides easy one-way access for liquid flow while the closing mechanism ensures complete sealing. The structural asymmetry allows simple operation for dispensing while effectively preventing leakage in the reverse direction.
Data Source
AI summary
The beverage drinking apparatus may include a spout, a pivot arm, and an entry portion. The spout may include a bore. The pivot arm may include a curved portion that defines a fulcrum for rotating the beverage drinking apparatus. The entry portion may include a flow portion defining a plurality of apertures. The entry portion may include a piercing portion that is distal from the first end of the spout. The piercing portion and the flow portion may be configured to pierce and penetrate a hole in a sidewall of the beverage can as the beverage drinking apparatus is pivoted about the fulcrum with the curved portion engaged with a bottom surface of the beverage can such that liquid flows from the beverage can into the bore through the plurality of first apertures.