Mouthguard Container Bottle Connector Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mouthguard containers are often difficult to locate quickly due to their small size and storage within sports bags, making it inconvenient to access and store mouthguards during breaks, especially when consuming water or sports drinks.
Innovation Solution
An oral device container and bottle assembly that includes a base and cap portion with a connector system, allowing the container to be removably attached to a bottle, providing easy access and storage while preventing contamination, and allowing access to beverages without removing the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the mouthguard container is made small and stored within a sports bag, then storage space is saved, but the container becomes difficult to locate quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mouthguard container with a water bottle by providing a connector on the container that attaches to the bottle's opening. This merging creates a larger, more visible assembly that is easier to locate in the sports bag while still maintaining compact storage when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is designed to serve multiple functions: it stores the mouthguard, provides a drinking spout when attached to the water bottle, and can be quickly located due to its association with the larger bottle. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the small container more accessible through its partnership with the bottle.
2Ease of operation
If the container is attached to the bottle, then accessibility is improved, but the container may become contaminated from contact with the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The drinking spout function is extracted from the bottle and integrated into the container. The spout is formed as part of the container structure itself, allowing the user to drink directly from the container without the mouthguard being in contact with the beverage, thus preventing contamination while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector acts as an intermediary between the bottle and container. It provides a sealing interface that allows the container to be attached to the bottle for accessibility while preventing direct contact between the mouthguard and beverage, thus avoiding contamination.
3Ease of operation
If the container design includes a connector system for bottle attachment, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the bottle adaptable to various containers, the patent inverts the approach by providing the connector system on the smaller container itself. This allows the container to actively attach to the bottle, simplifying the overall system while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector system is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and attached to the container. Its simplicity and low cost reduce the overall device complexity while still providing the desired accessibility benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
An oral device container and bottle assembly may include a bottle having a bottle connector; and an oral device container. The oral device container may include a base portion having: a base outer wall having an opening; a base inner wall; and an oral device container connector configured to removably connect to the bottle connector. The oral device container may further include a cap portion configured to be mounted to the base portion and to rotate relative to the base portion. The cap portion may have a cap outer wall having an opening; and a cap inner wall that is received within the base inner wall.