Dual-Chamber Bottle Cap with Rupturing Seal for Ingredient Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging systems for consumer products, such as food and pharmaceuticals, often require mixing of ingredients prior to use, which can lead to nutrient loss, shelf life reduction, or contamination issues, as they are typically pre-mixed and stored together, making it difficult to combine them conveniently and effectively shortly before consumption.

Innovation Solution

A dual-chambered receptacle with a first portion having a cover and a rupturing member, and a second portion with a cup and perimeter, allowing the first ingredient to be sealed and stored separately from the second ingredient, with a seal that detaches when the first portion is moved relative to the second, enabling easy mixing of the ingredients just before use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If ingredients are pre-mixed and stored together in existing packaging systems, then storage is simplified, but nutrient loss occurs and shelf life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage simplicityVSAvoidnutrient preservation and shelf life

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging system is divided into separate compartments (first chamber for first ingredient, second chamber for second ingredient) that are sealed independently. This segmentation allows each ingredient to be stored separately without degradation, while maintaining simple overall packaging structure. The compartments are separated by a partition wall with a sealed opening that prevents mixing during storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If ingredients are stored separately in dual-chambered receptacle, then freshness and nutritional value are preserved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreshness and nutritional valueVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dual-chambered receptacle is nested within the bottle cap structure, with the first and second chambers integrated into the cap body. The rupturing member is nested within the first chamber, and the seal is integrated into the opening. This nesting approach maintains simplicity by combining multiple functions within a compact integrated structure rather than using separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If seal is used to keep ingredients separate, then contamination is prevented, but ease of mixing is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidmixing convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rupturing member is pre-positioned within the first chamber, sealed by the seal. When the user pulls the tab, the rupturing member is automatically pulled through the sealed opening, breaking the seal and allowing mixing. This preliminary positioning and automatic activation mechanism makes the mixing process convenient and requires minimal user effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If ingredients are mixed shortly before consumption, then nutritional value is maximized, but time required for preparation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutritional valueVSAvoidpreparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system is designed to be self-activating through the tab-pulling mechanism. When the user pulls the tab, the rupturing member automatically moves through the sealed opening, breaks the seal, and allows the ingredients to mix. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual operations or additional tools, reducing preparation time while maintaining ingredient freshness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution allows for convenient and healthy mixing of ingredients shortly before consumption, preserving nutritional value and preventing contamination, while reducing effort and ensuring freshness by keeping ingredients separate until use.

Implementation Method 1

A seal is coupled to the rupturing member and the cup to temporarily seal the cup

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

The seal is configured to rupture upon movement of the first portion relative to the second portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRupturing: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 3

causing the first ingredient to fall into the vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9902537B2Multipurpose bottle cap and methods of making and using same

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 ABOU ODAH CAMELLIA

AI summary

A dual chambered receptacle configured to retain a first ingredient and a second ingredient comprises a first portion having a cover and a rupturing member. The receptacle includes a second portion having a cup and a perimeter portion. The second portion is configured to be removably secured to the first portion. The cup is configured to retain the first ingredient. A seal is coupled to first portion and the second portion when the first portion is removably secured to the second portion. The receptacle includes a vessel having a mouth. The vessel is configured to retain the second ingredient. The seal is configured to detach from the second portion to allow the first ingredient to fall into the vessel to mix with the second ingredient when the first portion is moved relative to the second portion.