Resealable Dispensing Closure With Gravity-Sealed Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical bias members in closure and valve mechanisms for liquid dispensing can have slow response times and may leak when stressed, leading to liquid drainage when disconnected from a dispenser.
Innovation Solution
A closure and valve mechanism that uses the weight of the liquid and suction force to seal the valve without mechanical bias members, employing a stop member with a tapered body and annular flanges to control liquid flow, where the stop member is pushed by a dispensing peg to open and reseals by fluid weight or suction when disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical bias members (springs) are used to close the valve, then the valve can be reliably closed, but the response time becomes slow and the mechanism may leak when stressed beyond elastic limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical bias member (spring) from the valve mechanism entirely. The stop member is no longer held in the open position by a spring but instead relies on the weight of the liquid and suction forces to return to the closed position automatically when the dispensing connector is removed, eliminating the slow response time and reliability issues associated with mechanical springs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based biasing system with a fluid-based closing mechanism. The stop member is closed by the weight of the liquid acting on it and by suction forces created when the dispensing connector is disconnected, substituting mechanical elasticity with gravitational and pressure differential forces for faster and more reliable valve closure
2Ease of operation
If mechanical bias members are used to hold the valve open, then dispensing can be maintained, but the bias members can be stressed beyond elastic limits causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the weight of the liquid itself as a counterbalancing force. The liquid's weight acts on the stop member to help close the valve, creating a natural equilibrium that prevents the stop member from being held open under excessive stress, thereby maintaining sealing integrity without relying on mechanical bias members that can exceed their elastic limits
3Productivity
If a stop member is moved out of the passageway to allow liquid removal, then dispensing is enabled, but the passageway must be accessible beneath the stop by a dispensing peg
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the stop member with a hollow interior that can receive and accommodate the dispensing peg. This nested configuration allows the peg to access the passageway through the stop member's interior space rather than requiring the stop member to be moved completely out of the passageway, enabling liquid dispensing while maintaining a simpler overall structure and automatic valve closure capability
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
This solution prevents liquid leakage by ensuring reliable sealing without mechanical bias, maintaining flow control through the weight and suction forces, eliminating the need for springs or other mechanical components.
Implementation Method 1
The stop is adapted to reseal the passageway by the force of weight applied to the first and second annular flange by fluid in the container
Implementation Method 2
the valve in some embodiments utilizes a suction force to close the valve
Data Source
AI summary
A resealable closure and valve assembly adapted to be coupled to a container to selectively control the dispensing of liquid from the container. The resealable closure and valve assembly includes a non-mechanically biased stop selectively engageable with a passageway to selectively seal the passageway from a dispensable product, such as a liquid contained within a container. In some embodiments, the stop is adapted to reseal the passageway by the force of weight applied to the stop by fluid in the container. In some embodiments, the stop is adapted to reseal the passageway via a suction force.