Drinking container with sliding closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking containers often fail to prevent liquid spills, are difficult to open, or are overly complex and expensive to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A drinking container design featuring a vessel with a cap, a flexible drinking straw, and a slidable lid that transitions between open and closed positions, using a tab and stop mechanism to secure the lid and prevent accidental opening, while allowing easy access and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional closure mechanism is used, then the container may prevent spills, but it becomes difficult to open and mechanically complex
Solution Approach 1:
The closure transitions from a static traditional mechanism to a dynamic sliding lid system that moves between closed and open positions. The lid slides along the cap perimeter, allowing easy one-handed operation while maintaining secure closure when closed, thus resolving the contradiction between spill prevention and ease of opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the complex mechanical opening mechanism from the closure system and replaces it with a simple sliding action. The tab and stop mechanism provides minimal mechanical intervention, allowing the lid to be easily removed or slid open without complex springs, latches, or multi-step operations.
2Reliability
If a secure closure mechanism is used, then spills are prevented, but the device becomes mechanically complex and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The static complex mechanical closure is replaced with a dynamic sliding lid that moves along the cap. This dynamic system achieves secure spill prevention through the sliding motion and tab-stop engagement rather than complex mechanical interlocks, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs simple, inexpensive components such as a basic sliding lid, tab, and stop mechanism rather than expensive mechanical assemblies. These simple components are sufficient to achieve the desired spill prevention function without requiring costly precision-engineered parts.
3Reliability
If the lid is secured to the cap, then accidental opening is prevented, but cleaning access is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed secure attachment is replaced with a dynamic sliding mechanism. The lid can slide to the fully open position where it clears the cap perimeter, providing easy access for cleaning the cap and straw base. The tab and stop mechanism prevents accidental opening during normal use but allows intentional full opening for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding mechanism is designed to allow the lid to be easily pushed to the fully open position before cleaning. This preliminary action of sliding the lid away creates immediate access to all cap surfaces and the straw base, facilitating easy cleaning while maintaining security during transport.
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 design effectively prevents spills, simplifies opening and cleaning, and reduces manufacturing costs by using a straightforward and efficient mechanism for the slidable lid and cap assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible drinking straw extending from the cap, in flow communication with an interior of the vessel
Implementation Method 2
a stop extending downwardly from the lid to engage with the tabs to prevent the lid from being slid from the cap
Data Source
AI summary
A drinking container comprising a vessel; a cap, atop said vessel; a flexible drinking straw extending from said cap, in flow communication with an interior of said vessel; a slidable, generally flat lid defining a cavity between said cap and said lid; wherein said lid is generally co-extensive with a top of said cap, and is slidably mounted to said cap to slide between an open position in which said flexible straw is extended for drinking, to a closed position in which said straw is flexed into said cavity.