Silicone Lid Ring Pouring Spout for Drip-Free Draining
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of pouring spouts on cooking containers is expensive and limited in geometry, leading to inefficient 'pouring spout' functions due to material and coating constraints, such as enamel and ceramics.
Innovation Solution
The 'pouring spout' function is transferred to a silicone ring encircling the lid, allowing for a radial extension and multiple through-openings, enabling optimized liquid guidance and integration of 'pouring' and 'draining' functions, with centering and sealing means for secure positioning and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pouring spouts are produced directly on cooking containers, then the cooking vessel structure is simplified, but production cost increases and manufacturing freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into two functional parts: a cover and a silicone ring. The silicone ring independently provides the pouring spout function through its molded radial extension, while the cover provides sealing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured separately, with the silicone ring produced via cost-effective injection molding.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone ring acts as an intermediary component that bridges the cover and the cooking vessel. It provides the pouring spout function without requiring direct modification of the cooking vessel, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity of the vessel while adding advanced functionality through the intermediate silicone ring.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pouring spouts are produced on cooking containers using traditional methods, then material consistency is maintained, but geometric freedom and pouring efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lid combines a traditional cover material (glass, metal, or ceramic) with a silicone ring. The silicone ring, produced by injection molding, provides geometrically optimized pouring spouts with V-shaped or flared U-shaped cross-sections that are impossible to achieve with traditional cooking vessel manufacturing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone ring's physical parameters (geometry, cross-section shape, radial extension length) are optimized through injection molding parameters. This allows precise control over pouring characteristics, spout angle, and liquid flow guidance without being constrained by traditional vessel manufacturing limitations.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple lid design is used, then production is economical, but pouring and draining functions are inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone ring's radial extension creates a curved, radially extended spout structure that efficiently guides liquid flow. The curved geometry promotes smooth liquid transition from the vessel to the pouring direction, preventing drips and improving pouring control while maintaining a simple overall lid design.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone ring integrates multiple functions: sealing (through contact with the vessel rim), pouring (through the radially extended spout), and draining (through through-openings in the wall). This multi-functionality is achieved within a single simple component structure, eliminating the need for separate pouring devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If through-openings are added to the lid wall for draining function, then draining capability is improved, but liquid guidance during pouring may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone ring wall features localized through-openings that provide draining capability in specific areas, while the radial extension spout maintains continuous liquid guidance in the pouring direction. The local quality of the wall structure varies: solid in the radial extension for pouring guidance, and perforated in the vertical wall sections for draining.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a cover (1) intended to cooperate with a cooking receptacle (30), comprising a cover (2) and a ring (10) made of silicone encircling the cover (2), said ring (10) comprising a wall (27) which extends radially beyond a periphery (3) of the cover (2) and which is intended with the cover (2) to cover the cooking vessel (30), the said wall (27) presenting at least one through opening (21, 25). In accordance with the invention, the silicone ring (10) comprises a spout (16, 28) arranged in a radial extension to the through opening (21, 25).