Double-walled beverage container and method of using same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Double-walled beverage containers with flexible stoppers face issues with unintentional dislodgement due to flexibility, leading to potential leaks and improper sealing during normal usage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a removable, rigid stiffening disk within the stopper's central cavity to enhance rigidity and secure the stopper's position, combined with a flexible stopper design for easy installation and removal, ensuring a fluid-tight seal and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible stopper is used for easy installation and removal, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unintentional dislodgement
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is divided into two functional segments: a flexible outer portion that enables easy insertion and removal, and a rigid internal disk that provides structural stability. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper combines materials with different mechanical properties - a flexible material for the stopper body and a rigid material for the internal disk. This composite structure integrates the advantages of both material types: flexibility for operation and rigidity for stability.
2Reliability
If a rigid stiffening disk is added to prevent dislodgement, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid disk is nested within the flexible stopper body, with the disk positioned inside the central cavity of the stopper. This nested configuration allows the disk to be housed within the stopper's existing structure rather than adding external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid disk serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stiffens the stopper to prevent dislodgement, maintains the fluid-tight seal by supporting the flexible material, and can be removed for cleaning or material replacement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Reliability
If the stopper structure is made more rigid to prevent dislodgement, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the stopper have different mechanical qualities: the outer stopper body remains flexible to facilitate easy insertion and removal, while the internal disk provides localized rigidity where needed for stability and seal maintenance. This local differentiation of properties optimizes both operation and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A container having fluid container inner body positioned within an outer body having a lower end wall with an aperture. An interior chamber is formed between sidewalls of the inner and outer bodies. A flexible and resilient stopper removably positionable in the aperture in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the end wall. A stiffening member is removably positionable within a cavity of the stopper after the stopper is positioned in the aperture to provide rigidity to the stopper to resist bending of the stopper and thereby resists unintentional dislodgement of the stopper from the aperture without first removing the stiffening member from the stopper.