Open Cup Spill Prevention Using Rotatable Disk and Sealing Ring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing no-spill cups are often complex, difficult to clean, prone to leaks, uncomfortable to use, and require awkward drinking angles when near empty, limiting their usability as open cups.
Innovation Solution
A no-spill open cup design comprising a container, a sealing ring with a ringwall and internal flange, and a disk with handle and rim, which allows liquid to flow through aligned openings while preventing flow when unaligned, providing a secure and ergonomic drinking experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spout and valve structure is used to control liquid flow, then spill proof performance is improved, but the cup is no longer an open cup design and usability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cup lid is segmented into multiple functional components: a sealing ring with sealing surface, a disk with multiple openings, and a valve mechanism with movable closure element. This segmentation allows the lid to provide spill-proof functionality through the valve while maintaining open cup usability through the sealed perimeter and selective opening configuration
2Ease of operation
If multiple openings are provided along the rim for drinking from any position, then ease of operation is improved, but the complexity of the valve structure increases and cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disk with multiple openings serves multiple functions: it provides drinking access from various positions around the cup rim, works cooperatively with the valve mechanism to control liquid flow, and maintains a relatively simple structure that is easier to clean compared to complex multi-component valve systems
3Reliability
If a complex valve structure is used to prevent spills, then spill proof performance is improved, but cleaning and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve closure element is designed to be removable from the valve body, allowing it to be easily extracted for cleaning. This extraction capability simplifies maintenance of the spill-proof mechanism without compromising its effectiveness when assembled
4Reliability
If the cup is designed to work properly when near empty by pointing straight down, then spill proof performance is improved, but ergonomics and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism incorporates a movable closure element that can dynamically adjust its position in response to cup orientation and liquid level. This dynamic adjustment allows the valve to maintain spill-proof functionality whether the cup is held at various angles or when nearly empty, without requiring the user to maintain an awkward straight-down orientation
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 design achieves a secure, leak-proof, and ergonomic drinking experience, allowing users to drink from any position along the rim without spills, even when the cup is near empty, and is easy to clean and assemble.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing ring has a ringwall and an internal flange, the ringwall has an inner wall, an outer wall, an inner wall diameter and an outer wall diameter. The outer wall diameter is equal to or greater than the opening inside diameter and is adapted to form a seal between the ringwall outer wall and the container sidewall.
Data Source
AI summary
A no spill open cup comprises a container, a sealing ring and a disk. The container is suitable for holding liquids and has a sidewall, a neck adjacent the sidewall, an opening defined by the neck, and an inside diameter. The sealing ring has a ringwall and an internal flange. The ringwall has an inner wall, an outer wall, an inner wall diameter and an outer wall diameter. The outer wall diameter is equal to or greater than the opening inside diameter and is adapted to form a seal between the outer wall and the sidewall. The internal flange is located on the inner wall and has a plurality of flange openings. The disk has a handle, a disk rim, an upper surface and a lower surface, and fittings adapted to hold the disk within the sealing ring. The disk has a plurality of disk openings, and the disk rim has a disk rim diameter equal to or greater than the inner wall diameter.