Beverage Lid Overflow Chamber for Clean Straw Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage container lids fail to prevent spillage when a straw is inserted, as excess liquid displaced by the straw escapes and can spill onto the user's clothes or require unsanitary consumption.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic beverage container lid with a chamber between two layers, where the top and bottom openings are aligned to collect and contain overflow liquid, preventing it from escaping onto the lid, optionally filled with absorbent material to prevent leakage when tilted or inverted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a straw is inserted through an existing single-layer lid, then the straw can be inserted into the beverage, but liquid displaced by the straw escapes from the gap around the straw onto the top of the lid
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into multiple layers: a top layer with a top opening, a bottom layer with a bottom opening, and an intermediate chamber between them. This segmentation allows the lid to capture displaced liquid in the chamber while maintaining straw insertion capability through the aligned openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate chamber acts as an intermediary space between the top and bottom layers. It receives and contains the liquid displaced by straw insertion, preventing the liquid from escaping onto the top of the lid while still allowing the straw to pass through the aligned openings.
2Quantity of substance
If the lid is filled to the top with liquid, then the container capacity is maximized, but there is no space between the liquid and the lid to accommodate displaced liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the spillage containment from a two-dimensional surface problem to a three-dimensional volumetric solution by creating an intermediate chamber between the top and bottom layers. This chamber provides vertical space for displaced liquid without reducing the horizontal beverage capacity of the container.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a chamber is added to capture overflow liquid, then spillage is prevented, but the lid structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The top layer, bottom layer, and intermediate chamber are merged into a single integrated lid structure. This combining of components into one unified device maintains relatively simple construction while achieving the spillage prevention function through the chamber design.
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
Effectively captures and contains overflow liquid, preventing it from spilling onto the lid during straw insertion, enhancing user safety and convenience by maintaining a sealed environment around the straw openings.
Implementation Method 1
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a partially filled overflow chamber, such filling comprising an absorbent or otherwise permeable material. Including some filling may offer the additional advantage of preventing liquid from leaking out of the chamber when a cup is tilted or inverted.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage container lid is disclosed that includes an overflow chamber for liquid displaced when a straw is inserted through the lid's straw hole. The beverage container lid includes a top layer and a bottom layer that define an overflow chamber between the top and bottom layer. The top layer has a top opening and the bottom layer has a bottom opening, that are aligned along the vertical axis and through which a straw may be inserted into a beverage container to which the beverage container lid is attached.