Drink Spout Cap Assembly With Biased Tethered Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drink containers may be less than optimal for ease-of-use and handling, particularly due to issues with closure retention and operation of drink spouts.
Innovation Solution
A cap assembly featuring a base, drink spout, closure, tether, and biasing device, where the tether is pivotably connected to the base and biased to transition between closed and opened arrangements, with a closure that can be rotated relative to the tether, and optionally includes a handle for enhanced user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the closure is untethered or used with caps that lack a retention mechanism, then the closure can be easily removed and accessed, but the closure becomes lost, misplaced, or separated from the bottle and cap
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is nested within the cap assembly structure, specifically positioned within the tether assembly that is integrated into the cap. The closure can be accessed by manipulating the tether, which guides the closure into and out of its storage position, ensuring it remains attached to the cap while allowing easy access.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary mechanism between the closure and the cap. It provides a controlled connection that allows the closure to be accessed while preventing it from becoming lost or separated. The tether mediates between the need for easy access and the need for secure retention.
2Reliability
If the tether is rigidly connected to the base, then the closure is securely retained, but the closure cannot be easily accessed or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to flex and move relative to the cap base. The tether can be manipulated to guide the closure into an accessed position away from the spout or returned to a stowed position, providing both secure retention and easy access through its flexible, movable nature.
3Reliability
If the closure is always positioned over the drink spout, then the spout is sealed, but the user cannot easily access and drink from the spout
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is preliminarily positioned in a stowed location within the cap assembly, away from the drink spout. The tether mechanism allows the closure to be quickly guided into position over the spout when needed, and returned to its preliminary stowed position for easy access, eliminating the need for complex opening and closing operations.
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 cap assembly provides improved handling and usability by allowing easy access to the drink spout and secure closure retention, enhancing the overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing device is configured to bias the tether from the closed arrangement toward the opened arrangement. In some embodiments, the biasing device includes a biasing body disposed between the tether and the base in at least the closed arrangement, for example a silicone band connected to a post of the base to which the tether is pivotably attached and a finger of the tether.
Data Source
AI summary
A cap assembly for a container. The cap assembly include a base, a drink spout, a closure, a tether, and a biasing device. The base is configured to be removably coupled to the container. The drink spout extends from the base. The tether retains the closure and is pivotably connected to the base at a location spaced away from the drink spout. The tether is transitionable between a closed arrangement that positions the closure over the drink spout and an opened arrangement in which the closure is spaced away from the drink spout. The biasing device biases the tether from the closed arrangement toward the opened arrangement. The cap assemblies can incorporate features to enhance handling and use, including as a drink spout format, connection of the closure over the drink spout, connection of the closure to the base via the tether, and/or other a swinging a handle.