Sealable Pour Spout With Sliding Cap And Vent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pour spouts allow organisms like gnats and fruit flies to enter bottles due to the opening between the bottle interior and the atmosphere, and existing solutions such as disposable cups or removable caps are either wasteful or ineffective in sealing the vent.
Innovation Solution
A sealable pour spout design featuring a conduit with a lip to prevent falling, an inner through-hole for liquid flow, a vent for air exchange, and a cap that slides between open and closed positions to control fluid communication, with a stopper to occlude the pour hole when closed, ensuring a secure seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pour spout is used to provide controlled liquid dispensing, then liquid flow control is improved, but the opening allows organisms to enter the bottle
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed to be movable between a closed position that seals the vent and an open position that allows liquid dispensing. This dynamic configuration allows the system to transition between protecting the bottle from organisms and enabling controlled liquid flow, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap acts as an intermediary element that can be positioned to either block or open the vent. When closed, it prevents organism entry; when open, it allows liquid dispensing. This intermediary component enables the system to achieve both protection and flow control without requiring permanent structural changes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable cups are placed over pour spouts to prevent organism entry, then organism protection is improved, but waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding disposable cups after use, the invention provides a reusable cap that can be repeatedly closed to seal the vent and opened to allow dispensing. This eliminates the need for continuous disposal of protective coverings, reducing waste while maintaining organism protection throughout the bottle's usage lifecycle.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If removable caps are provided to seal the vent, then organism protection is improved, but the caps are lost and hard to keep clean
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is integrated with the pour spout assembly, combining the sealing function with the dispensing mechanism. This merged design ensures the cap remains attached to the spout during use, preventing loss, and the integrated structure allows for easier cleaning as a single unit rather than separate components.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap is closed to seal the vent, then organism entry is prevented, but liquid dispensing is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be closed to seal the vent and prevent organism entry, then opened to allow liquid dispensing. This dynamic operation enables the system to switch between protection mode and dispensing mode as needed, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
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 design effectively prevents the entry of organisms into bottles by sealing the pour spout when not in use, maintaining a clean environment while allowing controlled liquid dispensing and air exchange.
Implementation Method 1
When the cap is depressed (the closed position) the stopper occludes the opening in the cap
Implementation Method 2
A vent is placed within the conduit in fluid communication with the inner through-hole
Implementation Method 3
The cap has a pour hole, which is preferably centrally apertured. The pour hole is in fluid communication with the conduit when the cap is in the open position
Implementation Method 4
A lip extending from the conduit engages the neck of the bottle, preventing the pour spout from falling into the bottle
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a sealable pour spout. The pour spout provides a conduit which allows liquid to leave a bottle and a vent which allows air to enter the bottle and replace the liquid. A cap moves vertically along the conduit which provides fluid communication with the interior of the bottle. When the cap is moved upward, the spout opens. A through hole in the side of the cap also allows fluid communication with the interior of the bottle. When the cap is depressed, a stopper occludes the pour hole and closes the spout. The vent is occluded, in the closed position, by the interior surface of the cap. Therefore, the interior of the bottle is completely sealed when the spout is in the closed position.