Flexible Spout Bottle with Rotating Cover and Fold Partition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drinking bottles with flexible spouts often leak unless a closure mechanism is employed, and managing multiple beverage containers for toddlers and young children can be cumbersome, leading to confusion and spillage issues.
Innovation Solution
A bottle design featuring a cap/cover configuration that rotates to seal the flexible spout, with a double folding mechanism to prevent leakage, and a detachable handle for easier handling and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible spout is extended from the bottle for easier manipulation, then the bottle does not interfere with the drinker, but the spout becomes prone to leakage without a closure mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is extracted from the bottle body as a separate flexible component that can be independently controlled. The cover is detached from the bottle and attaches to the cap, allowing the spout to be sealed by the cover rather than requiring integration into the bottle structure. This extraction allows the spout to be manipulated freely while being sealed when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout is nested within the cap structure, with the cover able to enclose the spout when rotated to the closed position. The fold partition creates a nested folding mechanism where the spout folds into itself and into the cap structure, allowing compact storage and sealing when not in use.
2Reliability
If a closure mechanism is added to prevent leakage, then the spout can be sealed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover serves multiple functions: it seals the spout when closed, stores the spout when rotated to the closed position, and can be easily attached and detached for cleaning. The fold partition serves dual purposes of guiding the spout folding and providing structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate closure components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout is designed as a flexible dynamic component that can change its configuration from extended to folded states. The cover rotates dynamically between open and closed positions. This dynamic design allows the spout to adapt its shape rather than requiring complex mechanical valves or locks to control flow.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beverage containers are kept for toddlers and young children, then different beverage options are available, but tracking and managing the containers becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle is designed as a universal container that can hold any beverage type. The spout design accommodates different drinking needs of toddlers and young children. The detachable handle and cover allow easy cleaning and reuse for different beverages, eliminating the need for multiple specialized containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout automatically seals when the cover is closed, and the extended spout design allows the bottle to be manipulated easily by children themselves. The self-sealing feature prevents spills during transport, reducing the need for careful handling and tracking of multiple containers.
4Ease of operation
If the spout is made long for easier manipulation, then the bottle does not interfere with the drinker, but the spout requires more space for storage when closed
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is designed to fold nested within itself and into the cap structure. The fold partition creates a compact folding path that allows the long spout to be stored within the volume of the cap when not in use, minimizing the space required while maintaining the extended length for drinking.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout transitions from a linear extended configuration to a compact folded configuration by utilizing three-dimensional space within the cap. The fold partition guides the spout through a spatial transformation that collapses the long spout into a compact form factor suitable for storage.
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 solution effectively seals the flexible spout to prevent leakage and simplifies the management of multiple beverage containers by providing a secure and easy-to-clean design that reduces spillage and confusion.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible spout is free to extend out from the cap face when the cover is in an open position. The extended end of flexible spout is folded about the fold partition and is retained in the fold section of the cap face under the cover when in a closed position.
Data Source
AI summary
A bottle has a flexible spout and a cap/cover configuration that effectively seals the spout from leakage and stores it under the cover. The flexible spout is folded or bent in two locations as it is secured within the cover. The flexible spout is folded over from an extended orientation and then around a fold partition. The cover is detachably attached to the cap. A diaphragm extends under the cap and seals liquid within the enclosure. In one embodiment, the cover and cap are configured with a ratchet mechanism that allows the cover to rotate in only one direction. In one embodiment, the bottle comprises two enclosures, and the enclosures may be detachably attached to each other or to a handle.