Non-spill drinking vessel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-spill drinking cup valves require high suction levels to open, leading to potential air ingestion and increased risk of 'glue-ear' in infants, and are often difficult to clean due to their design, which can harbor bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A non-spill drinking cup valve system featuring a flexible valve member with a convex tip and compression pads that opens under lower suction levels (15-40 mbar) and is removably attachable to a lid assembly, allowing for easy cleaning and reduced spillage during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a concave shaped valve is used to require higher suction levels, then spillage during transport is reduced, but air ingestion and risk of glue-ear increase due to instant high liquid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the valve from concave to convex shape, which fundamentally alters the suction-pressure relationship. The convex shape creates a larger air pocket volume above the liquid, requiring lower suction levels (15-40 mbar) to open the valve, thereby preventing both spillage and air ingestion while eliminating the risk of glue-ear associated with high suction requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies curvature by using a convex shape for the valve element instead of a concave shape. This curvature change modifies the pressure distribution and air pocket dynamics, allowing the valve to remain closed during transport (preventing spillage) while opening easily at low suction levels during feeding (preventing air ingestion and glue-ear).
2Strength
If a rigid casing permanently encloses the valve element, then structural protection is improved, but cleaning and hygiene are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve system into a removable flexible valve member and a rigid lid assembly. The flexible valve member can be detached from the lid assembly for separate cleaning, maintaining structural protection during use while enabling complete disassembly for hygiene purposes. This segmentation allows the valve to benefit from both rigid protection and easy cleanability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability by making the valve member removable rather than permanently fixed. This allows the system to transition between two states: a protected closed state during storage/transport, and an open disassembled state during cleaning, thereby achieving both structural protection and cleaning accessibility.
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 system provides controlled fluid flow with lower suction requirements, reducing air ingestion and the risk of 'glue-ear' while allowing for easy disassembly and cleaning, enhancing hygiene and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the valve opening under applied suction by the user
Implementation Method 2
The flexible valve member may further comprise one or more compression pads, wherein the one or more compression pads engage an inner wall of the spout
Data Source
AI summary
A non-spill drinking cup valve system (10) comprises a lid assembly (12) and a flexible valve member (14). The flexible valve member (14) is removably attachable to the lid assembly (12). The lid assembly (12) comprises a spout (16) having a drinking aperture (18) therein. The flexible valve member (14) comprises a protruding member (26) having a tip (52) and a drinking valve element (28) in the tip (52), which, in use, controls fluid flow into the spout (16) and out of the drinking aperture (18). The protruding member (26) and the spout (16) are of a complementary shape and, when the lid assembly (12) and the flexible valve member (14) are attached together, the protruding member (26) extends substantially into the spout (16).