Spill-Resistant Dosing Container With Aperture Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spill-resistant and temperature-controlled beverage containers are complex, costly, and often ineffective in providing controlled sip or volume dosing, posing risks for debilitated patients, children, and individuals with dysphagia, as they either spill easily or require complex valve systems that hinder proper sipping.
Innovation Solution
A simple, cost-effective container design with a hollow body featuring a liquid deposit and withdrawal chamber connected by apertures that allow controlled liquid communication, enabling precise dosing without valves or pumps, and optionally incorporating thermal insulation to maintain beverage temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex valve systems are used to prevent spillage and control liquid flow, then spill resistance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex valve system entirely and replaces it with a simple aperture-based flow control mechanism. The container uses one or more apertures in the wall between chambers to selectively permit liquid communication, eliminating valves, pumps, and springs while maintaining spill resistance and controlled dosing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow control parameter from mechanical valve operation to aperture-based surface tension control. By carefully selecting aperture size and position, the system exploits liquid surface tension properties to prevent spillage while allowing controlled sipping, thereby reducing mechanical complexity.
2Temperature
If ice or cooler liquid is added to decrease hot beverage temperature, then temperature control is improved, but beverage volume and concentration are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the container into separate temperature zones - a hot beverage reservoir chamber and a cooler dosing chamber with apertures. This segmentation allows the majority of the beverage to remain hot in the reservoir while only the portion being dispensed through the apertures is cooled to comfortable drinking temperature, preserving overall beverage volume and concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture system acts as an intermediary thermal interface between the hot beverage reservoir and the user's mouth. The thin wall with apertures allows thermal exchange that cools the beverage portion being dispensed without requiring direct addition of ice or cooler liquid to the main beverage supply.
3Reliability
If small sip portions are dispensed for dysphagia patients, then safety is improved, but dispensing precision and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic dosing mechanism where the container can be tilted to different angles to control liquid flow through the apertures. By tilting the container, users can control the dispensing of small sip portions, providing precise dosing control through simple angular adjustment rather than complex mechanical dosing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture system provides self-regulating flow control based on container orientation and liquid level. The apertures automatically limit flow to small sip portions suitable for dysphagia patients without requiring external dosing mechanisms, while still allowing precise control through container tilting.
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 container effectively prevents spills, maintains beverage temperature, and allows for controlled dosing, making it safer and easier to use for various user groups, including those with dysphagia, while reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
one or more apertures between said deposit and withdrawal chambers adapted to selectively permit liquid communication in controlled doses
Implementation Method 2
liquid communication in controlled doses from the liquid deposit chamber to the liquid withdrawal chamber
Implementation Method 3
optionally incorporating thermal insulation to maintain beverage temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to spill resistant container for dispensing liquid doses wherein the container includes a body of generally hollow form about a center vertical axis with open ends, comprising: a liquid deposit chamber having an open first end and an opposing closed second end, a liquid withdrawal chamber having an open first end and an opposing closed second end, one or more apertures between said deposit and withdrawal chambers adapted to selectively permit liquid communication in controlled doses from the liquid deposit chamber to the liquid withdrawal chamber, a detachable base cap having a cavity in liquid communication with the liquid deposit and withdrawal chambers.