Extendible Spout Cap for Contamination-Free Fluid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pouring spouts and funnels for transferring fluids like motor oil and gasoline additives require users to locate, clean, and select the right size and shape to prevent spillage, leading to contamination and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cap with an extendible spout that has a proximal and distal opening, allowing the spout to extend and retract from a container, facilitating the clean and efficient dispensing of pourable materials through a discharge passage, with options for safety seals and flexible materials like thermoplastics or paper coated with plastic or wax.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional pouring spout or funnel is used to transfer fluids, then spillage can be prevented, but the user must locate, clean, and dry the transfer device to avoid contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is nested within the cap assembly, with the spout fitting inside the cap when not in use. This integration eliminates the need for separate storage and reduces the risk of contamination from external handling. The spout can be permanently attached to the cap or easily inserted/removed as needed, maintaining cleanliness while providing spill prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the spout functionality with the cap assembly into a single integrated unit. The cap and spout work together as one system, where the cap provides structural support and sealing while the spout provides controlled pouring. This combination eliminates the need for separate cleaning and preparation of multiple components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional pouring spout or funnel is used to transfer fluids, then spillage can be prevented, but the user must select a transfer device of an appropriate size and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is designed with flexibility, allowing it to bend and adapt to different receiving vessel openings. The spout can be made from flexible materials or include articulated sections that enable it to conform to various shapes and sizes of container openings, eliminating the need for multiple spouts of different dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout design allows for adjustment of its effective pouring parameters such as opening size, angle, and position. This can be achieved through flexible materials, adjustable joints, or movable components that enable the spout to adapt to different pouring requirements and container configurations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an extendible spout is integrated into the cap, then clean and spill-free transfer is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is divided into functional segments that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The spout may include separate sections for the discharge passage, the extendible mechanism, and the connection to the cap, allowing for simplified manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the integrated functionality that prevents contamination and spillage.
Data Source
AI summary
A cap for a container is provided. The cap includes a handling portion that is configured to engage the container about a dispensing opening of the container. The cap also includes an extendible spout that has a discharge passage. The extendible spout has a proximal end, with a proximal opening, and is affixed to the cap. The extendible spout also has a distal end, with a distal opening, and is configured to extend from and retract at least partially into the cap. The extendible spout is further configured to dispense a pourable material from the container through the distal opening when the handling portion is engaged with the container about the dispensing opening of the container and the distal end of the extendible spout is at least partially extended from the cap.