Reusable Silicone Stopper for Beverage Container Lid Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage containers lack effective, eco-friendly solutions to prevent splashing and spillage while maintaining thermal properties, as disposable plugs contribute to landfill waste and climate change.

Innovation Solution

A reusable stopper with a top portion, stem, and bottom plug is designed to be inserted into the beverage container lid, providing a repeated removal and insertion seal to prevent splashing and spillage, made from food-grade silicone for secure fit and easy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If disposable plugs are used to seal the opening, then splashing and spillage are prevented, but environmental pollution increases and thermal properties are not maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a reusable stopper that can be repeatedly inserted and removed from the beverage container lid opening, eliminating the need for disposable plugs. The stopper is made of flexible material that allows it to be cleaned and reused multiple times, thereby preventing environmental pollution while maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout its service life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper is designed with specific dimensional parameters that match the opening size in the beverage container lid. The flexible material properties allow the stopper to adapt to slight variations in opening dimensions while maintaining an effective seal, preventing both spillage and excessive air exchange that would compromise thermal properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the opening remains open for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but thermal properties deteriorate and spillage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to beverageVSAvoidthermal properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is designed as a dynamic sealing element that can be easily inserted and removed by the user when access to the beverage is needed. When inserted, it creates a dynamic seal that prevents both spillage and air exchange, thereby maintaining thermal properties while allowing convenient on-demand access when removed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of substance

If a seal is inserted to prevent spillage, then loss of substance is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid lossVSAvoidsealing mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing mechanism is segmented into a simple, single-piece stopper made of flexible material. This segmented design avoids the complexity of multi-component sealing systems while effectively preventing liquid loss through the opening in the beverage container lid

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250019132A1Reusable stopper for beverage container lid

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 BRZEZICKI CARA

AI summary

The disclosure presented herein relates to a reusable stopper (1) for temporarily sealing a hole in a beverage container lid (9), comprising a reusable stopper (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) having a top portion (6, 7, 8), the stem (2), and a bottom portion (3, 4, 5) and the plug portion (4) to be inserted and removed in the hole while retaining a proper seal against splashing and/or spilling.