Drinking vessel and ventilation members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sippy cups face challenges in preventing liquid spills and leaks while allowing free liquid withdrawal and equalizing air pressure, and they fail to securely seal when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A drinking vessel with a removable lid, a flexible ventilation member, and a vent actuator that changes states between ventilation and closed positions, ensuring air passage when needed and preventing leaks by pinching the straw closed when not in use, utilizing a cam mechanism to interact with the vent actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closed lid with straw is used to prevent spills, then liquid containment is improved, but air pressure equalization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into functional zones: a sealed rim area for liquid containment and a dedicated vent opening area for air pressure equalization. This segmentation allows the lid to simultaneously achieve both spill prevention and pressure balance by providing separate pathways for liquid and air.
Solution Approach 2:
A vent mechanism acts as an intermediary component between the sealed container interior and the external environment. This intermediary allows air pressure equalization through controlled ventilation while maintaining the overall sealed structure for liquid containment.
2Ease of operation
If ventilation is provided to allow free liquid withdrawal, then ease of operation is improved, but liquid leakage worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The opening in the lid is segmented into a vent portion for air passage and a sealed portion for liquid containment. This segmentation enables the opening to perform dual functions: allowing air to enter for pressure equalization while preventing liquid from leaking through the sealed portions.
3Reliability
If the cover is closed to prevent spills, then liquid containment is improved, but air pressure equalization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vent opening is pre-configured in the lid structure before the cover is closed. This preliminary action ensures that air pressure equalization capability is built into the sealed structure, allowing the cover to remain closed for spill prevention while maintaining pressure balance through the pre-established vent pathway.
4Device complexity
If a simple vent mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The vent opening structure is designed to be self-sealing through its geometric configuration. The opening portions naturally seal against the lid surface through contact pressure and surface tension, eliminating the need for complex mechanical seals or additional sealing components while maintaining reliable sealing performance.
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
Effectively prevents spills and leaks by allowing air in when pressure is negative and securely sealing the straw when closed, maintaining liquid containment and preventing accidental ejection.
Implementation Method 1
a cover member disposed on the lid and moveable between open and closed positions, the cover member having a cam portion configured to contact the vent actuator during movement of the cover member to change the state of the ventilation member
Implementation Method 2
the ventilation member is configured to allow an inflow of air when pressure within the container enters a negative pressure state in relation to pressure outside the container
Implementation Method 3
configured to prevent a liquid contained in the internal cavity from leaking therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A vent assembly for use with a drinking vessel includes a flexible ventilation member configured to sealingly engage an opening in the drinking vessel and having an air passage extending therethrough, wherein the ventilation member is configured to allow an inflow of air when pressure within the drinking vessel enters a negative pressure state in relation to pressure outside the drinking vessel, wherein the ventilation member comprises one or more venting portions disposed within the air passage. A vent actuator is operably coupled to the ventilation member and configured to change a state of the ventilation member between a ventilation state and a closed state, wherein the vent actuator is integral with the ventilation member and configured to bring the ventilation member into the ventilation state upon contact with a cam portion.