Coconut Spigot Insertion for Sterile Water Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spigot devices are not suitable for accessing sterile coconut water within coconuts without piercing the coconut water cavity, and they do not utilize the biodegradable coconut husk for packaging, which compromises the sterility and convenience of consumption.
Innovation Solution
A spigot design with a conduit and spike-tip for insertion into the coconut meat, a spout for easy access, a retaining ring, and a protective cap to maintain sterility, along with optional features like an air vent and filter straw, and a coconut stand and handle for convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spigot is inserted through the husk and into the coconut meat, then access to coconut water is enabled, but the risk of piercing the coconut water cavity and compromising sterility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spigot is pre-inserted into the coconut meat during processing, but the final penetration into the water cavity is delayed until consumer use. The spigot tip is positioned at the interface between meat and water cavity, ready to enter upon application of force by the consumer, thus maintaining sterility during transport while enabling easy access at consumption time.
2Ease of operation
If the spigot is fully inserted into the coconut water cavity, then easy access to coconut water is achieved, but the sterility of the coconut water is compromised during shipping and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion process is segmented into two phases: Phase 1 occurs during processing where the spigot penetrates the coconut meat but stops at the interface with the water cavity; Phase 2 occurs at consumer use where the spigot tip enters the water cavity. This segmentation allows the coconut to maintain sterility during shipping while enabling easy access at consumption time.
3Reliability
If the spigot is left partially inserted during shipping, then sterility is maintained, but the consumer must apply additional force to complete insertion
Solution Approach 1:
A release mechanism acts as an intermediary between the spigot and the coconut husk. This mechanism holds the spigot in place during shipping but can be easily activated by the consumer to allow the spigot tip to penetrate the coconut meat and enter the water cavity with minimal force, thus maintaining sterility while reducing insertion effort.
4Reliability
If a protective cap is added to the spigot, then sterility is maintained during shipping, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A simple, inexpensive protective cap is used to seal the spigot opening during shipping and handling. The cap is discarded or removed at the point of use, providing an effective and economical solution for maintaining sterility without requiring complex reusable sealing mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A spigot for a coconut that provides easy access by consumers to the sterile coconut water within a coconut. The spigot is comprised of a conduit having a spike-tip on one end and a spout on the other with a through bore therebetween. The coconut having a partially inserted spigot is provided to the consumer whereby the consumer gains access to the sterile coconut water by pushing the partially inserted spigot to its seated position with a grommet provided as an insertion stop for the spigot. An optional air vent is provided to aid in fluid flow from the spigot.