Disposable Child's Cup Cap Using Surface Tension for Leak Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable child's cup containers lack a leak-resistant cap solution that is both disposable and effective in preventing spills when the container is tipped or inverted, while allowing easy drinking.
Innovation Solution
A disposable child's cup cap with a spout and sealing ring that utilizes varying gap sizes based on liquid surface tension and material composition to prevent spillage without valves, featuring a protruding member within the spout to regulate liquid flow, allowing liquid to flow only under suction force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a disposable child's cup container is used without a valve mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but liquid spillage increases when the container is tipped or inverted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical valve mechanisms with a simple protruding member (nipple) structure that utilizes liquid surface tension and suction force to control flow. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for moving parts, springs, or complex sealing mechanisms while achieving leak-resistant functionality through the interaction of the protruding member geometry and liquid properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cap structure by introducing a protruding member with specific dimensions (height, diameter) that create a controlled gap between the member and the spout opening. This geometric parameter change, combined with the material properties of the liquid, creates a system where surface tension prevents leakage at normal orientations but allows flow under suction, achieving leak resistance without mechanical valves.
2Reliability
If small holes are used to prevent free flow of liquid, then spillage is reduced, but liquid flow rate decreases when drinking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic flow control system where the protruding member and spout gap configuration allows the system to adapt to different operational states. When the container is tipped, surface tension maintains a sealed state preventing spillage. When suction is applied during drinking, the pressure differential overcomes surface tension and opens the flow path, allowing adequate liquid flow rate. This dynamic response eliminates the need for fixed small holes that would restrict flow regardless of operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding member acts as an intermediary element between the liquid reservoir and the spout opening. It creates a controlled interaction zone where liquid surface tension and suction forces compete, mediating the flow behavior. This intermediary structure allows the system to prevent spillage while maintaining drinking flow rate by responding to the presence or absence of suction force, rather than relying on fixed aperture size.
3Reliability
If a protruding member is added to the spout to regulate liquid flow, then leak resistance improves, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protruding member (nipple) and the spout structure into a single integrated cap component, both formed in one injection molding operation. This merging eliminates the need for separate parts, assembly steps, or additional molding operations, thereby minimizing the impact on manufacturing ease despite the added geometric complexity. The unified structure allows the cap to be produced as a single piece with the protruding member and spout opening configured to work together for leak-resistant operation.
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 solution effectively prevents spills when the container is horizontal or inverted, while allowing easy consumption by increasing liquid flow through the spout when suction is applied, accommodating liquids of varying viscosities.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing ring can be made from an elastomeric material or other suitable material that is compliant enough to deform elastically and conform to the container opening surface
Implementation Method 2
utilizing varying gap sizes based on liquid surface tension and material composition to prevent spillage without valves
Implementation Method 3
allowing liquid to flow only under suction force
Data Source
AI summary
A hydration system that utilizes a disposable drink container and a leak-resistant cap. The cap can be screwed into the disposable drink container before use. The disposable drink container has a safety foil region with a foil disk having one or more output holes, which is covered with a liner. The user should remove the liner to uncover the output holes and reattach the cap before drinking the liquid in the container. The cap can have a spout section with a leak-resistant section to draw out the liquid. The leak-resistant section can have a curved lip that creates a narrow liquid opening, such that liquid is held in place (does not spill) by surface tension when the system is accidentally inverted or overturned. The cap can also have a sealing ring to create a liquid-tight seal between the cap and the drink container.