Push-Pull Closure Mouthpiece With Flexible Ribs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push-pull closures for drinking containers are costly to manufacture and assemble, and lack effective mechanisms to prevent unintentional removal of the mouthpiece, particularly by small children.
Innovation Solution
A push-pull closure design featuring a mouthpiece holder with a spigot and webs, a mouthpiece with flexible ribs and sealing projections, and a sealing mechanism that requires a high extraction force to remove the mouthpiece, while allowing easy disassembly for cleaning by rotating and pulling the parts apart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent unintentional mouthpiece removal, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent ribs that can engage with corresponding recesses in the mouthpiece holder. Each rib acts as an independent locking element, distributing the locking function across multiple simple components rather than a single complex mechanism, thereby improving safety without significantly increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs are designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adjust during assembly and disassembly. The flexible ribs can bend to engage with the recesses during normal use (providing secure locking) but can be deformed with sufficient force to release the locking, enabling both safety and ease of disassembly
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented, then prevention of unintentional removal is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking ribs are merged with the mouthpiece structure itself rather than being separate components. The ribs are integrally formed with the mouthpiece body, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps for the locking mechanism, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while providing secure locking
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs are made from flexible material that can be molded in a single injection molding process. This allows the locking feature to be created during the basic mouthpiece manufacturing process without requiring additional machining or assembly steps, maintaining cost-effectiveness while providing reliable locking
3Reliability
If multiple components are used for the locking mechanism, then reliability is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple locking ribs are merged into a single integral structure with the mouthpiece body. Instead of using multiple separate locking components that would require individual assembly, the ribs are formed as one piece during mouthpiece manufacturing, significantly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining reliable locking through the multiple rib structures
Solution Approach 2:
The mouthpiece structure serves multiple functions: it provides the drinking opening, acts as a sealing element, and incorporates the locking ribs all in one component. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate locking components and their associated assembly steps, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining locking reliability
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 closure effectively prevents unintentional removal of the mouthpiece, ensures secure sealing, and facilitates easy disassembly and cleaning, with a minimum pull-out force of 65 Newtons, ensuring safety and cost-effective production.
Implementation Method 1
at least one circumferential sealing element between the spigot and the further through-opening in the mouthpiece, which in a closed position of the mouthpiece in the mouthpiece holder blocks the passage of liquid through the further through-opening and in an open position of the mouthpiece in the mouthpiece holder allows the passage of liquid through the further passage opening
Implementation Method 2
several ribs made of a flexible material which extend axially at the bottom of the circumference of the mouthpiece and between which there are axially extending free spaces, the mouthpiece being insertable into the mouthpiece holder so that the webs engage in the free spaces and the ribs engage in recesses between the webs
Implementation Method 3
stop surfaces present on the upper edge of the ribs rest against the underside of the mouthpiece holder when the mouthpiece is in an upper position and when the mouthpiece is rotated with respect to the mouthpiece holder, the webs of adjacent ribs into the Bend free spaces and the mouthpiece can be pulled out of the passage opening with reduced extraction force
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 1(e)~1(h)
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
AI summary
Push-pull closure for a drinking container with: • a mouthpiece holder (2) having a through-opening (7), • a pin (12) projecting into the through-opening of the mouthpiece holder, with a circumferential gap between the pin and the through-opening of the mouthpiece holder, • several webs (9) parallel to the pin, which are connected to the mouthpiece holder and the pin, • a mouthpiece (3) with a further through-opening (17), which is axially displaceable and sealing against the through-opening on its outer circumference and can be inserted into the circumferential gap receiving the pin in the further through-opening, • at least one circumferential sealing element (13) between the pin and the further through-opening, which, in a closed position of the mouthpiece in the mouthpiece holder, blocks the passage of liquid through the further through-opening,and • several axially extending ribs (24) made of a soft elastic material on the lower circumference of the mouthpiece, between which axially extended spaces (25) are provided, wherein the mouthpiece can be inserted into the mouthpiece holder so that the ribs engage in the spaces and the ribs engage in recesses (10) between the ribs, stop surfaces (26) located at the upper edge of the ribs bear against the underside of the mouthpiece holder in an upper position of the mouthpiece and when the mouthpiece is rotated relative to the mouthpiece holder, the ribs bend adjacent ribs into the spaces and the mouthpiece can be pulled out of the through-hole with reduced pull-out force.