Drinking Lid Pressure Relief Valve for Easy Opening and Leak Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking lids for beverage containers often face issues with insufficient flow rate due to pressure differentials across disk-shaped valve heads, making it difficult to open them, and known solutions like pressure relief valves may not adequately address this problem.
Innovation Solution
A leak-resistant drinking lid design featuring a manually actuated valve stem with a drinking valve head and a pressure relief valve head, connected via a resilient sleeve and bayonet-type connector, allowing pressure equalization and easy actuation between open and closed positions, along with a spring to maintain the valve heads in closed positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a disk-shaped valve head is used to provide sufficient opening area, then the flow rate is improved, but pressure differential makes it difficult to open
Solution Approach 1:
The valve head is divided into two separate valve heads (first valve head and second valve head) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the first valve head to control beverage flow while the second valve head controls air flow, resolving the contradiction between maintaining large opening area for flow and reducing pressure differential for ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient member acts as an intermediary between the first and second valve heads, allowing relative movement between them while maintaining connection. This intermediary mechanism enables the valve heads to move independently to equalize pressure while still providing sufficient flow area when opened.
2Ease of operation
If a pressure relief valve is added to equalize pressure, then ease of opening is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief function is merged with the main valve structure by integrating the second valve head (pressure relief valve head) with the first valve head (drinking valve head). Both valve heads share a common stem and housing structure, allowing pressure equalization without adding significant complexity to the overall device.
Solution Approach 2:
The common stem serves multiple functions: it actuates both the first valve head for beverage flow control and the second valve head for pressure relief. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate actuation mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the valve stem translates to actuate the valve head, then ease of operation is improved, but maintaining valve head position becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve heads are designed to move dynamically between positions rather than being fixed. The resilient member allows the valve heads to move freely during actuation while automatically returning to their closed position when actuation force is released, providing both ease of operation and position stability through dynamic behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member provides self-service by automatically returning the valve heads to their closed position after actuation without requiring additional mechanisms. This self-returning feature ensures reliable position stability while maintaining ease of operation through simple manual actuation.
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 ensures efficient beverage flow while preventing leakage, with the pressure relief mechanism allowing for easy opening and maintaining the valve heads in the open or closed positions, enhancing user experience and lid functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member sandwiched between the stem and the drinking valve head to transmit an actuating force from the stem to the drinking valve head and to allow the stem and the pressure relief valve head to translate relative to the drinking valve head
Implementation Method 2
a pressure relief port extending through the drinking valve head to allow equalization of pressure across the drinking valve head
Data Source
AI summary
A leak proof/resistant drinking lid (10) is provided for use with beverage container. The lid (10) includes a manually actuated valve stem (16) mounted to a housing (14), a drinking port (18) extending through the housing (14), a drinking valve head (20) carried on the stem (16), a pressure relief port (22) extending through the drinking valve head (20), and a pressure relief valve head (24) mounted to the stem 16. The pressure relief valve head (24) is releasably mounted to the stem (16) by a connector (26). A resilient member (28) is sandwiched between the stem (16) and the drinking valve head (20) to transmit an actuating force from the stem (16) to the drinking valve head (20) and to allow the stem (16) and the pressure relief valve head (24) to translate relative to the drinking valve head (20).