Blender Lid Tortuous Airflow Path to Prevent Foodstuff Expulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blender lids with air channels to prevent pressure increase during blending often result in undesirable expulsion of foodstuff through these channels, creating a mess.
Innovation Solution
A blender lid design featuring a main body with a stepped-down central portion and a cap with air channels, keyholes, and a tortuous airflow path that prevents direct alignment of air channels with keyholes, allowing airflow while minimizing food expulsion, by creating a complex path for air to enter or exit the jar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If air channels are provided in the lid to allow air flow during blending, then pressure increase in the jar is prevented, but foodstuff may be expelled through the air channels creating a mess
Solution Approach 1:
The air channels are designed with curved, tortuous paths rather than straight lines. The channels include multiple bends and changes in direction that create a complex airflow path from the interior of the jar to the exterior, preventing direct ejection of foodstuff while still allowing air to pass through and equalize pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The air channels extend vertically through the lid structure, utilizing the third dimension (height/depth) to create a longer, more complex path. By routing channels through multiple levels of the lid and incorporating vertical segments, the design increases path length and complexity without increasing the horizontal footprint, thereby preventing food ejection while maintaining pressure equalization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cap is added to the lid to selectively close the opening, then additional foodstuff can be added during blending, but the cap may separate from the lid due to pressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air channels serve as intermediary pathways that allow pressure equalization between the interior and exterior of the jar. By providing these controlled channels for air flow, the design prevents pressure buildup that would otherwise cause the cap to separate, thereby maintaining cap attachment stability while still allowing the cap to remain in place for adding food during blending.
3Productivity
If straight air channels are used in the lid, then air flow is maximized for pressure equalization, but foodstuff is more likely to be expelled through the channels
Solution Approach 1:
The air channels incorporate multiple bends, curves, and directional changes rather than following straight paths. This tortuous geometry increases the complexity of the airflow path, causing air to change direction multiple times during its journey from the jar interior to exterior, which prevents direct ejection of foodstuff while maintaining adequate air flow for pressure equalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The air channels are divided into multiple segments with different orientations and directions. Rather than a single continuous straight channel, the design uses several shorter channel segments connected at angles, creating a stepped or zigzag pattern that forces air to navigate through multiple directional changes, thereby preventing food ejection while maintaining flow efficiency.
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 manages air pressure within the blender jar without expelling foodstuff, maintaining cleanliness during the blending process.
Implementation Method 1
a tortuous airflow path is provided between the main body and cap to allow airflow into or out of the jar
Data Source
AI summary
A blender for blending foodstuff comprises a base enclosing a motor, a jar for containing foodstuff that is removably mountable to the base, and a lid removably mountable to the jar to selectively close off the top end. The lid comprises a main body having an opening defined therein, and a cap removably mountable to the main body to selectively close off the opening. When the cap is mounted to the main body and the lid is mounted to the jar, a tortuous airflow path is provided between the main body and cap to allow airflow into or out of the jar.