Feeding Spout with Offset Slits for Oral Motor Skill Development
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current pouch spouts deliver food directly to the back of the mouth, hindering the development of oral motor skills in children, as they do not allow for the natural movement of food from the front to the back of the mouth, which is essential for learning to eat independently and experiencing the taste and texture of the product.
Innovation Solution
A feeding spout with a hollow tubular portion featuring offset slits at the closed end, which directs the flow of food to the front of the mouth, allowing children to move the product from the front to the back, promoting oral motor skill development and ensuring even distribution of taste and texture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large opening spout is used to deliver product efficiently, then productivity is improved, but the harmful effect increases because product is delivered directly to the back of the mouth, preventing oral motor skill development
Solution Approach 1:
The spout opening is segmented into multiple smaller openings arranged in a specific pattern, transforming a single large delivery point into multiple controlled delivery points that direct product to the front of the mouth while maintaining efficient flow
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spout opening have different functional qualities - the opening geometry and orientation are specifically designed to direct product flow to the front of the mouth, creating localized functional zones that promote oral motor skill development while maintaining overall delivery efficiency
2Device complexity
If a simple spout design is used to reduce manufacturing complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but the harmful effect increases due to direct contact with sharp pouch edges
Solution Approach 1:
A collar portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the pouch and the spout, providing a protective barrier that prevents direct contact with sharp pouch edges while maintaining the simplicity of the overall spout design
Solution Approach 2:
The spout is constructed from composite materials including a rigid portion for structural integrity and a flexible portion for comfort and safety, creating a multi-material structure that addresses both simplicity and safety requirements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A feeding spout 20 for use with a food package includes a hollow tubular portion 22 integrally connected to a threaded collar portion 32. The hollow tubular portion has a tube wall 24, an open end 26, and a closed end 28. The tube wall has two or more slits 30 therethrough, the slits being offset from the closed end. Containers and pouches utilizing the feeding spout are also disclosed, along with kits containing same. In addition, methods of producing the feeding spout and pouches and packaged products utilizing the feeding spout are disclosed.