Cup Lid Venting, Spillway, and Sealing Structure for Vapor-Burn Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage cup lids fail to prevent hot liquid vapor burns, spilling, and leakage, especially during movement, due to design flaws that allow direct vapor exposure, lateral spilling, and inadequate sealing.
Innovation Solution
A cup lid design with a raised drinking platform, angled liquid outlet, spillage path with return holes, and secure fixing rim to prevent direct vapor exposure, redirect spilling, and enhance sealing, using protrusions for tight fit and ventilation to manage liquid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the liquid outlet is positioned at the top of a raised rim with a cavity behind it, then the liquid output area is elevated to allow lips to hold the liquid, but hot vapor rises directly to the mouth causing burns
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into distinct functional zones: a raised drinking area for liquid delivery, a separate vapor venting path with lateral openings, and a spillage collection path. This segmentation allows liquid and vapor to be delivered through separate routes, preventing vapor burns while maintaining liquid delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor venting openings are positioned laterally on the sides of the raised area rather than vertically above it. This dimensional change redirects vapor flow from a vertical path that would lead directly to the mouth to a lateral path that allows vapor to escape away from the user's face.
2Ease of operation
If the cup is tilted to beverage during movement, then liquid can flow to the mouth, but hot liquid pushes hot vapor out before beverage reaches mouth causing burns
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet structure is segmented into a liquid outlet opening positioned away from the vapor venting path. The liquid outlet is located on the inclined bottom surface of the cavity, while vapor exits through lateral openings on the sides of the raised area. This spatial segmentation ensures that even when the cup is tilted, liquid and vapor flow through separate channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined bottom surface of the cavity acts as an intermediary structure that directs liquid flow away from the vapor path. When the cup is tilted, this inclined surface guides liquid toward the liquid outlet opening while vapor continues to escape through the lateral venting openings, preventing vapor from being pushed into the user's mouth.
3Ease of operation
If drops fall on the rim holding the cup, then liquid spills on cup or drinker's clothes, but a spillage path with return holes can return drops to the cup
Solution Approach 1:
The spillage path with return holes enables the system to self-correct spills. When liquid drops onto the raised drinking area or spillage path, gravity causes them to flow toward the lowest point where return holes are located. These holes allow the spilled liquid to drain back into the cup, eliminating the need for external intervention and preventing liquid from reaching the user's clothes.
Solution Approach 2:
The spillage path is designed as a dedicated channel that creates a controlled drainage dimension separate from the normal drinking area. The path includes lateral return holes that provide a vertical drainage route back into the cup, creating a multi-dimensional liquid management system that captures and redirects spills before they can exit the cup assembly.
4Reliability
If the fixing rim is expanded to secure the lid tightly, then sealing is improved, but the force to open the drinking area causes the fixing rim to expand and allow beverage entry and spilling
Solution Approach 1:
The lid structure is segmented into a fixing rim for sealing and a separate drinking area opening mechanism. The fixing rim maintains continuous contact with the cup rim for sealing, while the drinking area is opened by lifting the entire lid assembly or by a separate action that does not rely on expanding the fixing rim, thus maintaining sealing integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing rim is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to maintain sealing pressure during normal use while accommodating the opening motion. The rim can elastically deform or pivot to allow lid removal or drinking area opening without compromising the seal, then returns to its sealing position when the lid is replaced or closed.
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
Reduces hot vapor burns, minimizes spilling on clothes, and ensures secure sealing by directing vapor and liquid away from the mouth and preventing leakage, enhancing user comfort and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the bottom of the liquid assembly cavity is inclined so that spilled liquid returns into the cup through the liquid output opening
Implementation Method 2
the ventilation holes in the spillage path also work to allow hot vapor to escape from the cup and replace the consumed liquid with air
Data Source
AI summary
A removable cups lid with a drinking platform that is raised above cup rim level and is inclined. Its raised end has a drinking opening. There are two cavities on the drinking platform: the first is the liquid assembly cavity and is located directly behind the drinking end. Liquid output opening is located at the connecting point of the first cavity bottom to the drinking end bottom, and surmounted by a rim to prevent steam from escaping directly into drinker's mouth. The bottom of the second cavity is inclined and at a higher level than the first cavity bottom. It is connected to the first so that any liquids on the second cavity pour into the first cavity. Second cavity bottom has a drinking straw inlet and ventilation holes. Surrounding the drinking platform is a spillway, which is a path with holes to return spilled liquid to the cup. Surrounding the spillway is a rim to secure the lid to the mouth of the cup. The rim tightly closes the cup mouth preventing leaking, with two protrusions pressing on the cup rim from inside and outside of the cup, with an appendage inside the cup projecting downward from inner protrusions to prevent leakage.