Overmolded Fluid Coupler with Latch for Bladder Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydration systems face challenges in providing a reliable, fluid-tight coupler that allows for easy attachment and detachment of a conduit to a bladder for fluid access, while ensuring ease in refilling, cleaning, and storage.
Innovation Solution
A coupler is designed using a combination of inflexible and flexible polymeric materials, featuring a coupling device with a latch mechanism and a base that is overmolded to form a fluid-tight structure, allowing for secure attachment to a bladder and easy operation through a two-shot molding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a coupler is designed to be easily detachable for refilling and cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of fluid-tight connection may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed to be dynamically adjustable between locked and unlocked states. The resilient latch member can be manually actuated to release the coupling, providing controlled detachability when needed while maintaining secure connection during normal operation. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to switch between reliable connection and easy detachment states.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient latch member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the two coupling devices. This latch provides a controlled interface that maintains fluid-tight sealing while enabling intentional detachment. The latch serves as a mediator that balances the conflicting requirements of secure connection and easy release by providing a dedicated control mechanism for state transitions.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece rigid coupler is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different bladder shapes and sizes worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler is segmented into two distinct components: a rigid coupling device and a flexible base. The rigid portion provides structural integrity and fluid passage, while the flexible base portion can conform to different bladder shapes and sizes. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated assembly, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler combines rigid and flexible materials in a composite structure. The rigid coupling device provides dimensional stability and precise fluid pathways, while the flexible base material (such as silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer) provides adaptability to various bladder configurations. This composite approach enables the coupler to maintain manufacturing simplicity while achieving versatility across different bladder types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex multi-component coupler is designed, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible base is merged with the rigid coupling device to form an integrated coupler assembly. The flexible base incorporates the fluid passage and sealing surfaces directly into its structure, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements or additional components. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the adaptability and functionality provided by the flexible material and integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupler for a fluid system includes: a coupling device made of an inflexible polymeric material, the coupling device including a body defining a fluid passage therethrough that is connected to an aperture sized to receive a mating coupling device, the coupling device including a latch configured to move between an uncoupled state and a coupled state to couple the mating coupling device thereto; and a base made of a flexible polymeric material, the base including a flange member sized to be coupled to a bladder of the fluid hydration system, and the base including a receiving member sized to receive at least a portion of the coupling device. The base is overmolded over the coupling device to form the coupler, the coupler being fluid-tight.