Pendulum Carafe Closure for Automatic Sealing While Pouring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closure devices for water carafes are cumbersome and often fail to close properly, allowing undesirable contamination due to the need for manual operation and limited directional pouring.

Innovation Solution

A self-sustaining closure device with a pendulously suspended lid that automatically opens and closes based on the container's orientation, using a pendulum mechanism to align with the container's tilt, ensuring reliable sealing and pouring without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a manual closure device is used for water carafes, then the container can be closed to prevent contamination, but the operation becomes cumbersome and users often fail to close it properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosing reliabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure device operates automatically through a pendulum mechanism that responds to the container's orientation. When the container is tilted for pouring, the pendulum swings and opens the closure; when upright, it automatically closes. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual intervention, ensuring reliable closing without user effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The closure device transitions from a static manual operation to a dynamic automatic response based on container orientation. The pendulum mechanism dynamically adjusts the closure state according to whether the container is upright or tilted, making the system adaptive and eliminating the need for manual control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If a traditional closure device is used, then manual opening and closing is required, but this increases the complexity of operation and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepouring speedVSAvoidclosure mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pendulum-based closure device performs the opening and closing actions automatically based on container orientation, eliminating manual intervention. This self-service capability accelerates the pouring process while the mechanical simplicity of the pendulum mechanism keeps the device complexity low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the container is tilted for pouring, then liquid can flow out, but the closure device must reliably open during this action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepouring efficiencyVSAvoidautomatic opening reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pendulum mechanism dynamically responds to container tilt by swinging in the direction of the tilt, automatically triggering the opening of the closure. This dynamic response ensures reliable opening during pouring while maintaining simplicity through the natural pendulum motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device ensures the container is reliably closed when upright and automatically opens for pouring, allowing for easy and directional-independent pouring, reducing contamination risks and simplifying use.

Implementation Method 1

the lid 7 closes the closure opening 3 when the container 2 is essentially upright, whereas the lid 7 closes it when the container is inclined or horizontally held container 2 twisted due to the weight of the pendulum 6

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2726382B1Closure device and corresponding container
Publication Date: 2015.09.30 WMF WURTTEMBERGISCHE METALLWARENFABRIK AG
  • EP2726382B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2c

AI summary

The invention relates to a closure device (1) of a container (2), in particular for a water decanter, comprising a frame (4), which forms a closure opening (3) and which is round in particular, for inserting into a pouring opening (5) of the container (2) and comprising a lid (7) which is connected to a pendulum (6) and which is suspended in the closure opening (3) of the frame (4) so as to be able to swing such that the lid (7) closes the closure opening (3) when the container (2) is substantially upright. The lid (7) rotates on the basis of the pendulum (6) when the container (2) is held in a slanted or horizontal manner, and the closure opening (3) is thus opened. In this manner, an automatic opening and closing of the container (2) can be achieved when pouring or setting down the container.