Non-spill drinking container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional spill-proof containers are complex and restrict the area from which a user can drink, making them unsuitable for young children transitioning from bottles to open cups, as they often result in spillage when knocked over.

Innovation Solution

A non-spill collar and valve assembly with a frustoconical collar and annular seal that allows fluid to be drawn from any point around the rim, featuring a secure fastening mechanism and handles for easy handling, preventing leakage and enabling spill-proof drinking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional spill-proof container covers are used, then spillage is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to complex parts and valve structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespill preventionVSAvoidparts and valve structures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is divided into multiple functional segments: the frustoconical wall structure, the projection extending downward, the support surface, and the aperture system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall spill-proof mechanism, reducing the need for complex valve structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential spill-proof function from complex valve mechanisms and implements it through a simplified collar structure with apertures and a projection. The sealing function is achieved through the frustoconical geometry and support surface rather than through complex valves, removing unnecessary complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If traditional spill-proof container covers are used, then spillage is prevented, but the area from which a user can drink is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespill preventionVSAvoiddrinking area accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collar's frustoconical wall contains multiple apertures distributed around its circumference, allowing children to drink from various locations around the rim. This local distribution of drinking access points maintains spill prevention while providing multiple convenient access areas, improving ease of operation compared to single-point valve systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a secure fastening mechanism is added to the collar, then the collar is securely attached to the container, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening securityVSAvoidfastener assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastener assembly is merged with the collar structure itself, integrating the securing function into the existing collar components rather than adding separate complex fastening mechanisms. This integration achieves secure attachment while minimizing additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3508099B1Non-spill drinking container
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 MUNCHKIN INC
  • EP3508099B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3508099B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3508099B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A non-spill container assembly having a container, a collar (20) and an annular seal (40) from which drinking can occur at any location around a rim of the container assembly. The collar has an internal frustoconical shape wall with a circular upper end that extends downward and inwardly into a closed lower end (23). The closed lower end has a projection (27) that extends outward from its center. The collar includesa fastener assembly (24) disposed adjacent to a bottom of the collar provided to securely fasten to a container. A plurality of passages are radially disposed around the projection in the internal frustoconical shape wall to channel a fluid. A plurality of radial protrusions (38) disposed radially adjacent to the support surface defining various channels along the support surface. An annular seal is constructed in a form of a frustoconical disc substantially similar to a shape of internal frustoconical shape wall, the annular seal receiving and securing onto the projection.