Pourable Food Container With Integrated Drink Spout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for pourable food often require consumers to detach and assemble straws, leading to separate disposal and potential contamination, while also risking spills due to imperfect seals.
Innovation Solution
A container with a permanently attached drink spout that allows consumers to drink directly from the container without additional accessories, featuring a base portion with a proximal end attached to the container and a distal end for drinking, connected by a conduit, and a lid portion that seals the distal end until broken by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If accessory items such as straws are affixed to the outside of the food container, then consumers can drink from the container, but the accessory items may become detached and be disposed of separately from the container, leading to contamination and reduced recycling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is permanently integrated into the container body through permanent attachment means, merging the spout and container into a single unified structure. This ensures they are disposed of together in the designated recycling system, eliminating the harmful effect of separate disposal and contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout is divided into two functional segments: a permanently attached base portion integrated with the container, and a removable lid portion that seals the distal end. This segmentation allows the lid to be detached for drinking while the base remains permanently attached to the container for joint disposal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a removable lid seals the distal end of the spout, then hygiene is improved by preventing contamination before use, but the lid must be detached by the user which adds operational steps
Solution Approach 1:
The lid portion is pre-attached to the base portion through permanent attachment means, creating a pre-assembled spout unit that is ready for use. The user only needs to detach the lid from the base and place it on the rim, which is a simplified operation compared to assembling multiple separate components.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the spout is permanently attached to the container body, then all components remain attached for joint disposal improving recycling efficiency, but the spout cannot be removed for cleaning or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is segmented into a base portion permanently attached to the container and a separate lid portion. The lid can be detached for cleaning or replacement, while the base remains permanently attached to ensure joint disposal with the container, resolving the contradiction between recyclability and maintainability.
4Ease of manufacture
If the proximal end of the spout includes an opening for receiving pourable food, then the spout can be integrated into the container structure, but the opening must be sealed until use to prevent leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The lid portion is pre-attached to seal the distal end of the spout before use. This preliminary sealing action prevents leakage during transport and storage, while allowing easy access when needed by detaching the lid and placing it on the container rim.
Data Source
AI summary
A container for pourable food comprises an initially sealed body portion for holding the pourable food and a drink spout for drinking from the container. The proximal end of a base portion of the drink spout is permanently attached to the outer surface of the container, and has an opening to receive pourable food from the body of the container. The distal end of the base portion has an opening for drinking the pourable food from the container. The drink spout comprises a lid portion initially attached to the base portion to seal the opening at the distal end by a breakable sealing portion. The drink spout comprises a connection portion permanently attaching the lid portion to the base portion. The connection portion is a flexure hinge allowing the lid portion to pivot away from the base portion after the breakable sealing portion has been broken.