Fluid container having fluid level indicators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drink containers lack distinct dispensing modes for efficient and pleasant water distribution during athletic activities, often resulting in either excessive or insufficient fluid flow when attempting to cool or wash oneself with water from the container.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly with a valve assembly that can be selectively transitioned between a closed, drink, and shower configuration, featuring at least one drink outlet and one shower outlet, allowing for controlled flow rates and stream velocities to accommodate different dispensing needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single outlet is used for both drinking and showering, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability for different dispensing modes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is divided into two separate outlets: a first outlet for drinking and a second outlet for showering. This segmentation allows each outlet to be optimized for its specific function, with the first outlet having a smaller cross-sectional area for controlled drinking flow and the second outlet having a larger cross-sectional area for high-volume showering, thereby resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and functional adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The closure assembly is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated structure that includes both a first outlet and a second outlet. The closure assembly can selectively dispense liquid through either the first outlet for drinking or the second outlet for showering, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate devices, thus balancing device complexity with adaptability
2Manufacturing precision
If a single outlet with fixed cross-sectional area is used, then the manufacturing precision requirements are simplified, but the adaptability for different flow rates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first outlet and second outlet are designed with different local qualities, specifically different cross-sectional areas optimized for their respective functions. The first outlet has a smaller cross-sectional area (0.1-0.5 cm²) optimized for drinking flow control, while the second outlet has a larger cross-sectional area (1.0-5.0 cm²) optimized for showering flow, allowing each outlet to have tailored dimensions for its specific dispensing requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of outlet cross-sectional area to achieve different flow rates. By providing two outlets with distinctly different cross-sectional areas, the system can adaptively control flow rates for different dispensing modes (drinking vs. showering) without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, thus maintaining simple manufacturing while achieving flow rate adaptability
3Quantity of substance
If the outlet cross-sectional area is increased for showering, then the fluid flow volume is improved, but the stream velocity becomes too concentrated for pleasant shower effect
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is segmented into two separate outlets with different cross-sectional areas. The second outlet for showering has a larger cross-sectional area (1.0-5.0 cm²) that is optimized to provide sufficient water flow volume for showering while distributing the flow in a manner that creates a pleasant shower effect rather than a concentrated stream, thus resolving the contradiction between flow volume and stream velocity
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid container including a fluid vessel having a neck with an opening and having an internal compartment sized to hold a volume of fluid, the internal compartment being at least partially enclosed by an opaque layer, a closure assembly removably coupled to the fluid container to cover the opening, and two or more fluid level indicators defined in the opaque layer, each fluid level indicator comprising a translucent or transparent material configured to permit light to pass through the opaque layer and into the internal compartment, at least two of the two or more fluid level indicators being positioned on circumferentially opposed sides of the fluid vessel.