Push-Button Beverage Lid With Auto-Sealing Stopper Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lids for liquid storage vessels either lack control over fluid exit, leading to potential spills when tipped or dropped, or have always-open apertures that do not provide insulation.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container closure with a selectively openable stopper assembly and air vent, featuring a telescoping design with cam followers and a biasing mechanism for fluid-tight sealing, allowing controlled fluid exit and resealing, and an optional dust cover for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid includes unobstructed apertures for liquid exit, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential spills when the vessel is tipped or dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper assembly is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically transition between blocking and unblocking the aperture. The biasing mechanism enables the stopper to automatically return to its blocking position after being displaced, providing dynamic control over the aperture state to prevent spills while maintaining ease of access.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism automatically returns the stopper to its blocking position without user intervention after the aperture has been accessed. This self-resetting feature eliminates the need for manual repositioning of the stopper, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring reliable spill prevention through automatic aperture closure.
2Reliability
If the lid includes a means for selectively opening and closing apertures, then reliability is improved by preventing spills, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is segmented into distinct functional components: the stopper assembly that blocks the aperture, the biasing mechanism that provides restoring force, and the dust cover that protects the aperture when closed. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving reliable spill prevention without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper assembly is nested within the lid body, with the biasing mechanism contained within the stopper assembly itself. The dust cover can be positioned over the aperture when not in use. This nested arrangement consolidates multiple functions into a compact structure, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable selective aperture control.
3Ease of operation
If the apertures are always open, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance increases due to spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper assembly dynamically transitions between blocking and unblocking the aperture based on user interaction. When the vessel is tipped or disturbed, the stopper automatically blocks the aperture to prevent spillage, while during normal use the aperture remains accessible. This dynamic behavior eliminates substance loss without compromising ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper assembly is positioned to block the aperture before any spillage can occur. The biasing mechanism maintains the stopper in its blocking position as a preliminary protective measure, preventing substance loss proactively rather than reactively. This preliminary anti-action ensures the aperture is protected against potential spills while remaining easily accessible when needed.
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
Enables controlled fluid exit and resealing, preventing spills and maintaining insulation, allowing for easy one-handed operation and cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing mechanism for biasing the stopper into the closed position
Implementation Method 2
first and second cam surfaces spaced apart from each other and configured for slidable engagement with the first and second cam followers, respectively, of the stopper
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable stopper that when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The stopper may be selectively opened by a user by the user pressing a button disposed on a side of the beverage container closure. The stopper is subsequently automatically closed when the user releases the button. Thus, a user may open and close the beverage container closure using a single hand without the need to remove the beverage container closure from the beverage container.