Mouthpiece Cap With Integrated Seal for Leakage and Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Delivery systems face challenges in effectively sealing their mouthpieces to prevent debris, contaminants, and substance leakage, especially when exposed to environmental conditions like hot or wet weather.
Innovation Solution
A cap for delivery systems featuring a sealing element within an internal cavity that engages with the mouthpiece to seal the outlet, made from materials like rubber or silicone, providing a secure fit and preventing external contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cap is provided to cover the mouthpiece, then protection from contamination is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is nested within the cap structure, with the formation extending into the internal cavity to engage with the mouthpiece outlet. This integrated nested design provides both cap coverage and sealing functionality in a single combined component, protecting against contamination while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a sealing element is added to seal the mouthpiece outlet, then substance leakage prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is merged with the cap structure, where the formation is either integrally formed with the outer wall or secured as a separate component within the cap. This merging combines the sealing function with the existing cap, preventing substance leakage without requiring a completely separate sealing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element may be formed from resilient or compressible material that can deform to conform to the mouthpiece outlet shape, creating an effective seal. This flexible material approach provides reliable leakage prevention while keeping the sealing structure simple and adaptable.
3Reliability
If the sealing element is made from resilient material to improve sealing, then the seal effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element utilizes changes in material parameters, specifically using resilient or compressible materials that can deform under compression to create an effective seal against the mouthpiece outlet. This parameter change approach allows the sealing element to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and ensure reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap may be formed from the same material as the sealing element, or the sealing element may be a separate component made from resilient material. This composite material approach combines the structural properties of the cap with the sealing properties of the resilient material, achieving effective sealing while managing manufacturing complexity.
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 cap effectively seals the mouthpiece outlet, reducing the risk of debris and substance leakage, while protecting the contents from environmental factors, ensuring the substance remains uncontaminated and fresh until use.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing element may comprise a portion of resilient material which may be configured to be compressed against at least a part of a delivery system mouthpiece when the cap is fitted to a delivery system.
Data Source
AI summary
A cap for use with a delivery system, the cap including an outer wall defining an internal cavity configured to receive a mouthpiece of the delivery system, and a sealing element within the cavity configured to engage with the delivery system mouthpiece and to seal an outlet of the delivery system mouthpiece, when the cap is fitted to a delivery system.