Drink containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drink containers lack a mechanism to selectively restrict and allow the dispensing of liquid, making it difficult to prevent accidental spillage or leakage when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A drink container with a mouthpiece assembly that can be configured between a dispensing and stowed configuration, featuring a crimping region made of resilient material and a user-release mechanism to automatically switch between the two states, ensuring liquid is only dispensed when intended.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional spout or nozzle is used for dispensing liquid, then liquid can be dispensed continuously, but accidental spillage or leakage cannot be prevented when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece assembly is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable between a stowed configuration (preventing liquid flow) and a dispensing configuration (allowing liquid flow). The resilient material enables automatic transition between states based on applied force, providing both safety and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The crimping region's physical state is changed by applying force to deform the resilient material, transitioning from a closed (stowed) state to an open (dispensing) state. This parameter change controls the flow state of liquid from blocked to flowing.
2Reliability
If a resiliently deformable material is used in the crimping region to restrict liquid flow, then liquid flow can be effectively restricted, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: the tube portion provides liquid flow path, the crimping region provides flow restriction, and the resilient material provides automatic latching. This consolidation achieves reliable liquid flow control without requiring multiple separate mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient material in the crimping region provides self-latching functionality, automatically maintaining the stowed configuration without additional locking mechanisms. The material's elastic properties enable it to self-restrain in the closed position and self-return to the open position when force is applied.
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 liquid flow when not in use, enhancing portability and reducing spillage, while allowing easy access when needed, thus improving user convenience and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a tube portion, at least a portion of which defines a crimping region that is constructed of a resiliently deformable material and that is adapted to restrict the flow of drink liquid therethrough when the mouthpiece assembly is in the stowed configuration
Implementation Method 2
a user-release mechanism that is adapted to automatically, upon user actuation, release the mouthpiece assembly from the stowed configuration to the dispensing configuration
Implementation Method 3
the mouthpiece assembly is biased toward the dispensing configuration and thus moves automatically under its bias upon release by the user-release mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A drink container including a liquid container having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of potable drink liquid and a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container, the cap assembly including a base removably coupled to the neck of the liquid container and including a through-passage extending through the base, a first catch structure coupled to the base, a mouthpiece assembly including a rigid collar member, a mouthpiece portion extending from the rigid collar member, and second catch structure adapted to be selectively engaged with the first catch structure, and a user release mechanism adapted to automatically disengage the first and second catch structures upon actuation of the user release mechanism.