Travel Mug Lid Venting Sequence for Pressure-Safe Drinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking containers lack efficient mechanisms for opening and closing orifices while managing internal pressure, leading to issues with liquid dispensing and vapor release.
Innovation Solution
A drinking container design featuring a lid with a trigger mechanism that independently operates a shutter for the drink aperture and a vent seal for the vent aperture, allowing for controlled liquid dispensing and pressure release, with a built-in delay to prevent sudden pressure spikes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single aperture closure mechanism is used for both drink aperture and vent aperture, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of pressure management and liquid dispensing control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the closure system into separate components: a shutter for the drink aperture and a vent seal for the vent aperture. This segmentation allows independent control of liquid flow and pressure venting, resolving the contradiction by enabling reliable pressure management while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Ease of operation
If the shutter and vent seal are actuated simultaneously, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of pressure release deteriorates due to sudden pressure spikes
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is designed so that the vent seal is actuated first to release pressure before the shutter opens to dispense liquid. This preliminary action sequence prevents sudden pressure spikes while maintaining ease of operation through a single trigger pull, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and pressure control reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The trigger mechanism creates a staged, periodic action sequence during a single actuation: first the vent seal opens for pressure release, then the shutter opens for liquid dispensing. This periodic sequencing ensures reliable pressure management while maintaining user-friendly operation.
3Device complexity
If no vent aperture is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of container integrity deteriorates due to pressure buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lid structure into distinct functional apertures: a drink aperture for liquid dispensing and a separate vent aperture for pressure management. This segmentation maintains relatively simple device structure while ensuring container integrity through dedicated pressure relief functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated container is provided with a lid having a push-button trigger mechanism that operates both a shutter for a drinking orifice and a vent seal for a vent opening. The trigger has an actuation stroke. The vent seal is initially actuated during a first portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger to transition the vent seal from the closed position to the open position, and the shutter is initially actuated during a second portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger to transition the shutter from the closed position to the open position. Further, the shutter remains in the closed position during the initiation of the first portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger.