Straw-Guided Agitator for Shakeable Container Mixing Homogeneity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mixing powders and liquids, or liquids of differing viscosities and densities, within a fully enclosed hand-held container is challenging due to clumping and incomplete homogenization without an agitator, particularly in applications like baby formulas, nutritional supplements, and household products.
Innovation Solution
A shakeable container design incorporating a straw and agitator, where the agitator moves up and down within the straw, creating inertia to efficiently mix contents with reduced effort, and featuring a flanged base to prevent the agitator from falling and a secure lid to maintain a watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an agitator is used to mix powder and liquid, then mixing homogeneity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a container for holding ingredients, a straw serving as a guide channel, and a separate agitator element that moves independently within the straw. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall device simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The straw acts as an intermediary element between the user's shaking motion and the agitator. It guides the agitator's movement and translates the external shaking force into controlled up-and-down motion, mediating the interaction between the user and the mixing mechanism while maintaining system simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If a free and loose agitator is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to propensity to fall through dishwasher trays and be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator is nested within the straw structure, fitting inside the straw's internal diameter. This nesting arrangement allows the agitator to move freely for effective mixing while being physically contained and prevented from falling out during cleaning or handling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The straw serves as an intermediary containment structure that allows the agitator to maintain its freedom of motion for mixing while simultaneously providing the retention necessary to prevent loss. The straw mediates between the need for agitator mobility and the need for secure retention.
3Productivity
If the agitator moves freely up and down the straw, then mixing speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to move freely up and down within the straw during the mixing process. This dynamic movement, driven by the user's shaking motion, creates effective mixing action while the simple straw containment keeps the overall device structure uncomplicated.
Solution Approach 2:
The free movement of the agitator within the straw creates mechanical vibration and impact forces during shaking, which enhances mixing speed and effectiveness. The vibration is generated naturally by the user's shaking motion rather than requiring complex mechanical mechanisms.
4Reliability
If a flanged base is added to prevent agitator loss, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flanged base feature is merged with the straw structure rather than being a separate component. The flange is integrated into the straw's design, combining the retention function with the existing guide channel structure, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The straw structure serves multiple functions: it guides the agitator's movement, contains the agitator to prevent loss, and provides structural support. By making the straw multi-functional, the design achieves reliable agitator retention without adding separate dedicated retention mechanisms that would increase complexity.
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 ensures rapid and complete mixing of ingredients with less effort, preventing clumping and ensuring a homogeneous suspension, suitable for various applications including edible and non-edible products, while minimizing the risk of agitator loss during use and cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
causing the agitator to move up and down the affixed straw, bumping off the bottom of the lid and the flange at the bottom of the straw, increasing inertia from the springing motion to more rapidly and fully mix the contents
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held shakeable container that includes an agitator connected to a straw that is used for the mixing of powder and liquid, or differing viscosity liquids.