Sealable Pour Spout with Rotating Shut-Off Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pour spouts for liquor and wine bottles are not sealable, leading to contamination from dust and insects, and evaporation, which results in waste and staleness of the liquid.
Innovation Solution
A sealable pour spout with a shut-off mechanism, featuring a hollow elongated main body, a bottle stopper with an air vent, and a spout cap with gripping wings for easy rotation, allowing for fluid-tight sealing and controlled pouring, preventing contamination and evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pour spout remains open to allow liquid dispensing, then the ease of operation for pouring is improved, but contamination from dust and insects and evaporation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pour spout incorporates a dynamic shut-off mechanism with a stopper that can move between open and closed positions. The stopper is connected to a cap that rotates to align or block the air vent, allowing the system to adapt between pouring mode (open) and storage mode (closed) to prevent contamination and evaporation when not in use
Solution Approach 2:
The air vent acts as an intermediary element that controls air flow into the bottle. When the cap is rotated to the closed position, the air vent is blocked, preventing air (and associated contaminants) from entering the bottle. This intermediary mechanism enables the system to maintain sealing without requiring a completely closed structure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealable mechanism is added to prevent contamination, then the protection against harmful factors is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap serves multiple functions: it provides a gripping surface for operation, connects to the stopper via gripping wings to control the shut-off mechanism, and includes a screened orifice that functions as both a decorative element and a filter to prevent insect entry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper and cap are merged into a single integrated assembly where the cap's rotation directly controls the stopper's position. The gripping wings connect both components, allowing the user to operate the shut-off mechanism through a single rotational motion rather than separate actions, simplifying the overall control structure
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 sealable pour spout effectively reduces waste and maintains the freshness of liquids by preventing contamination and evaporation, while improving user safety and efficiency by reducing the risk of foreign objects entering the bottle.
Implementation Method 1
Located within the liquid bottle and connected to the air vent is an air tube that allows air to flow into the bottle when liquid is poured through the orifice of the hollow spout
Implementation Method 2
Located proximal to the first end of the elongated main body is a bottle stopper having a first side and a second side sealing the open end of the liquid bottle
Data Source
AI summary
A bottle pour spout having a hollow elongated main body, at least one bottle neck engaging member, a bottle stopper having a first side and a second side sealing an open end of the liquid bottle, a reinforced stop located on the first side of the bottle stopper, a hollow spout extending from a first end of the main body and having a pour orifice proximal a free end, an air vent located on the hollow spout, an air tube connected to the air vent, a spout cap engaging the hollow spout and having a cap orifice alignable with the pour orifice, a first and second gripping wing located the spout cap in a spaced condition, a screened orifice located on the spout cap and having a different shape than the air vent, and a stop cover connecting the gripping wings while engaging a portion of the first side of the bottle stopper.