Reversible Spout Cap Venting to Prevent Air-Lock and Spillage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fuel container caps require manual handling of a wetted spout to transition between storage and working positions, leading to potential liquid spillage and air-lock issues.

Innovation Solution

A cap design with a tubular body and plug system that allows the spout to be reversibly positioned within the container, featuring a retaining shoulder with a gap to prevent sealing with the base flange and an air passageway to facilitate airflow, enabling spout movement without direct contact and preventing liquid trapping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the spout is manually handled to transition between storage and working positions, then the spout can be repositioned, but liquid spillage and air-lock issues occur due to the wetted spout surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespout repositioningVSAvoidliquid spillage and air-lock

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cap acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the spout. Instead of directly handling the wet spout, the user operates the cap which in turn moves the spout. The cap's internal structure (with gap and air passageway) mediates the spout's movement while preventing liquid trapping and spillage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful factor (wetted spout surface causing spillage and air-lock) is extracted from the operation process. By using the cap mechanism, the user never touches the wet spout surface, effectively removing the source of the problem from the interaction between user and spout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Volume of moving object

If the spout is stored inside the container body, then space is saved, but air-lock occurs when transitioning to working position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidair-lock prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cap structure introduces localized features (gap and air passageway) at specific locations to address the air-lock problem. The gap in the retaining shoulder and the air passageway through the cap body create localized air channels that prevent liquid trapping without affecting the overall storage functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a seal is formed between the cap and spout base flange, then liquid containment is improved, but air flow is blocked causing air-lock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid containmentVSAvoidair flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining shoulder is segmented with a gap that breaks the continuous seal between the cap and spout base flange. This segmentation allows air to pass through while still providing sufficient liquid containment during normal operation. The seal is partial rather than complete, balancing containment needs with air flow requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design incorporates pneumatic principles by ensuring air can flow through the cap structure (via the air passageway and gap) to prevent air-lock. The system uses air pressure equalization to enable smooth transition of liquid from storage to dispensing position without trapping air bubbles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Prevents liquid spillage and air-lock by allowing spout repositioning without touching the wetted spout, ensuring safe and efficient liquid dispensing.

Implementation Method 1

this arrangement allows air to flow within the tubular body across an interface between the retaining shoulder and the base flange of the spout when the tubular body is arranged in the second position, so as to prevent liquid contained within the spout from becoming trapped therein by air-lock

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow:

Data Source

PatentUS20260097886A1Reversible spout retaining cap for a container with air passageway to prevent air-lock in spout during storage in the container

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 MCKAY IAN BOYD

AI summary

A cap for a container comprises a tubular body which is reversibly matable with a threaded neck of the container. A spout is connected to the tubular body so that its inlet end is located intermediate opposite ends of the tubular body, and an outlet end of the spout is located externally of the tubular body. A plug is provided for threadably mating at a first end of the tubular body. Also, a gasket is provided at an intermediate location within the tubular body for forming a seal with a rim of the container neck. The tubular body defines adjacent the gasket a circumferentially continuous sealing shoulder for clamping the gasket against the neck rim. The tubular body further defines a retaining shoulder at a location arranged intermediate the sealing shoulder and the inlet end of the spout for clamping a base flange of the spout to the neck to dispense liquid. The retaining shoulder is interrupted in the circumferential direction to form a gap between an interior of the tubular body and the inlet end of the spout such that no seal is formed therebetween when the cap is arranged so that liquid can be dispensed through the spout.