Integral Tap with Elastic Pushbutton for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing taps for delivering liquids from rigid vessels are costly due to complex designs requiring multiple parts, including a separate elastic pushbutton and internal divisions, which increase production costs and complexity, and often lack automatic closure and warranty seals.
Innovation Solution
A tap designed with a minimum number of pieces, where the external control member is integrated with the support body, using traditional molding techniques to combine rigid and flexible parts, eliminating the need for internal divisions and featuring a dome-shaped elastic pushbutton that acts as a single piece with the body, providing automatic closure and a waterproof seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tap is equipped with multiple separate parts including a separate elastic pushbutton and internal divisions to divide air and liquid passages, then the reliability of sealing and automatic closure is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the elastic pushbutton with the support body into a single integral component made by injection molding. The pushbutton is formed as an elastic membrane integrated into the rigid body, eliminating the need for separate assembly of the pushbutton and support body while maintaining the sealing function. This reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while preserving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-piece support body with integrated pushbutton performs multiple functions: it provides structural support, creates the air passage, forms the elastic membrane for actuation, and ensures sealing. The integral design allows one component to fulfill roles that previously required multiple separate parts, reducing complexity while maintaining functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the elastic pushbutton is made as a separate autonomous piece with carrier functions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase due to requiring costly elastic material and separate assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The pushbutton and support body are combined into a single injection-molded component. The elastic membrane is formed integrally with the rigid support body in one manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate production and assembly of the pushbutton. This significantly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the ease of actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties are varied within the single component: the peripheral portion is made rigid for structural support, while the central membrane area is made elastic for actuation. This is achieved through injection molding parameters that create different material densities or cross-sections within the same piece, allowing both structural integrity and operational flexibility in one component.
3Reliability
If internal divisions are provided to separate air chamber and liquid chamber, then the reliability of preventing liquid leakage is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the internal division wall that separates air and liquid chambers in conventional taps. Instead, it uses the elastic membrane's selective deformation to dynamically separate the passages: the membrane remains intact to prevent leakage while its deformation under actuation selectively opens the liquid passage while maintaining air passage separation. This eliminates the need for permanent internal divisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The static internal divisions are replaced by a dynamic sealing mechanism using the elastic membrane. The membrane's position changes with actuation: in the closed state, it maintains separation between air and liquid passages; in the open state, it deforms to allow liquid flow while maintaining air passage integrity. This dynamic approach provides reliable leakage prevention without requiring complex internal partitions.
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 results in a cost-effective, simplified tap design that can be installed on various vessels without damaging them, ensuring a secure seal and easy cleaning, while adapting to common bottle geometries without modifications.
Implementation Method 1
the pushbutton is adapted, when the delivery thrust ceases, to return to its initial rest position due to the reversible deformation and the elastic properties of the membrane
Implementation Method 2
a spring member (73), contained in said body (3) and connected to said valve member (5) and to said body (3), adapted to provide to the valve member (5) a thrust in order to keep the tap (1) closed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~9
AI summary
A delivering tap (1) is described, for delivering liquids from a container, comprising at least one body (3) made in a single piece and integral with at least one elastic, flexible thrusting pushbutton (17) and at least one flexible sealing lip (25), and at least one valve member (5) with integrated spring inside the body (3), the body (3) comprising at least one head (11) equipped with at least one delivering beak (12) for delivering liquids, the delivering beak (12) communicating with one and only internal chamber (13) of the body (3) into which during the delivery of liquid a lower space for passing liquid (L) and an upper space for passing air (A) are naturally defined.