Flexible Liquid Container Spout Obstacle Valve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible containers with self-sealing spouts face issues such as dependence on liquid properties and material elasticity, requiring excessive user pressure for flow, and experiencing reduced sealing effectiveness after initial use, leading to involuntary leaks.
Innovation Solution
A flexible container design featuring two sheets of flexible material with a weld seam surrounding a protruding spout and an elongated obstacle inside, forming folds that create a valve to prevent liquid escape when not in use, allowing easy opening with minimal pressure and maintaining sealing without relying heavily on liquid properties or material elasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long thin channels are provided in the spout to increase resistance to liquid flow, then self-sealing effect is improved, but flow rate is strongly limited and excessive compressive force is required by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The spout incorporates a localized flow restriction element (such as a needle valve or adjustable aperture) that concentrates the flow resistance in a specific controllable location rather than throughout the entire channel. This allows the spout to maintain high resistance for self-sealing while providing a controlled opening that permits adequate flow rate when activated by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout design includes a dynamic component (such as a movable plug, adjustable valve, or elastic membrane) that can change the state of the flow channel from closed/high-resistance to open/low-resistance. This dynamic mechanism enables the spout to provide strong self-sealing when inactive while allowing full flow rate when the user activates it, eliminating the need for excessive compressive force.
2Reliability
If the self-sealing effect depends on material elasticity and spout geometry, then sealing is achieved, but the effect is strongly dependent on liquid characteristics and a given spout geometry can only be used for a specific liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is designed with a universal flow restriction mechanism (such as an adjustable valve or elastic membrane with variable aperture) that can adapt to different liquid characteristics including viscosity, surface tension, and flow rate requirements. This allows the same spout design to effectively seal and control flow for multiple different liquids rather than being limited to a specific liquid type.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout incorporates adjustable parameters (such as aperture size, restriction degree, or membrane tension) that can be modified to accommodate different liquid properties. By changing these parameters, the spout maintains effective self-sealing across a wide range of liquids with varying viscosity, surface tension, and other characteristics, greatly enhancing versatility.
3Reliability
If high resistance is provided in the outflow channel to achieve reliable self-sealing, then sealing is improved, but excessive compressive force must be applied by the user to empty the container
Solution Approach 1:
The spout includes a dynamic activation mechanism (such as a push-button valve, snap-action plug, or elastic membrane release) that transitions the flow channel from a high-resistance sealed state to a low-resistance open state with minimal user force. This dynamic mechanism overcomes the high resistance sealing force during activation, allowing the user to empty the container easily without applying excessive compressive force.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout employs an intermediary element (such as a valve mechanism or elastic membrane) that mediates between the high-resistance sealed state and the open flow state. This intermediary provides mechanical advantage or force multiplication, allowing the user's small activating force to overcome the strong self-sealing resistance and open the flow channel fully for easy emptying.
4Reliability
If the self-sealing effect relies on material elasticity characteristics, then sealing is achieved, but the effect subsides after first use resulting in involuntary leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The spout incorporates a preliminary sealing mechanism (such as a pre-positioned valve plug, initial membrane tension, or preset elastic element) that maintains the sealed state before use. This preliminary action ensures the spout remains reliably sealed through multiple uses without the sealing effect subsiding, preventing involuntary leaks by maintaining the sealing force throughout the product's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout design includes self-maintaining sealing features (such as a spring-loaded valve, elastic memory material, or pressure-balanced mechanism) that automatically restore and maintain the sealed state after each use without degradation. This self-service mechanism ensures the sealing effect does not diminish over time or with repeated use, eliminating involuntary leaks and extending the functional life of the container.
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 provides a reliable self-sealing effect that is independent of liquid properties, requires minimal user pressure for flow, and maintains sealing even when the container is laid flat, reducing material usage and manufacturing costs while accommodating various liquids.
Implementation Method 1
a weld seam or an adhesive seam 12 running along the periphery of the container 1. In addition to running along the periphery of the container proper, the assemblage seam provided as a weld seam 12 also surrounds a spout 13
Implementation Method 2
an elongated obstacle 14 inside, formed by the two sheets 10, 11 in the vicinity of the location where the channel 130 opens inside the flexible container, the two flexible sheets 10 and 11, made from a polymer or from some other flexible material, are welded or bonded together
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible container (1) for holding a liquid including two walls (10, 11) made of a flexible material, the free overlaying edges of said walls being assembled together by a weld or an adhesive seam (12), so as to define an inner sealed volume of said container, the two said walls also defining a spout (13) designed to protrude outwards from a peripheral portion of the container, and an outflow channel (130) connecting said spout with said inner volume of said container, characterized in that one or several obstacles (14, 14′) formed by welding or bonding together the two walls is or are located in said inner volume substantially opposite and in the vicinity of the channel (130) leading to the spout (13) in such a manner as to limit the section of the passage available for the liquid between the inner volume and the outflow channel, while leaving open at least one narrowed passage (140, 141, 146) and in such a manner that a portion of the surface including the spout is deflected, this portion of the surface being substantially defined by the obstacle or the obstacles and by folds directed substantially transversally (142, 143) with respect to said obstacles.