Universal Bottle Cap with Internal Bladder and Piercing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screw type bottle caps lack the ability to easily dispense a predetermined substance into the contents of a bottle, and they are not adaptable to fit variously sized and shaped bottles with different thread designs.
Innovation Solution
A universal bottle cap with a cylindrical design, featuring a threaded portion and an internal bladder for retaining a substance, which can pierce and release ingredients into the beverage upon threading, and a multi-thread closure system to accommodate different thread designs, allowing it to fit a wide range of bottles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a bottle cap is designed to dispense a predetermined substance into the bottle contents, then the functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an internal bladder nested within the cap body, which contains the predetermined substance (vitamins, flavorings, medications). The bladder is positioned inside the cylindrical member and can be pierced by a piercing element that is also housed within the cap structure. This nesting arrangement allows the dispensing function to be integrated into the cap without adding external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The predetermined substance is pre-loaded into the internal bladder during manufacturing, and the piercing element is pre-positioned within the cap. When the cap is screwed onto the bottle, the piercing element automatically pierces the bladder, releasing the substance into the beverage without requiring additional user actions or complex mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a bottle cap is designed to fit variously sized and shaped bottles with different thread designs, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a multi-thread closure system with multiple sets of threads (first, second, and third threads) with different pitch specifications on the same cap. This allows a single cap design to threadably engage bottles with different thread designs (single lead, double lead, triple lead threads). The cap can be manufactured with multiple thread forms stacked axially, enabling universal compatibility across various bottle sizes and shapes without requiring multiple specialized cap designs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex dispensing mechanism is added to the bottle cap, then the substance delivery capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing element is pre-positioned within the cap structure, and the internal bladder is pre-filled with the predetermined substance. When the user simply threads the cap onto the bottle, the mechanical action of threading automatically drives the piercing element to pierce the bladder, releasing the substance. This eliminates the need for separate dispensing actions, buttons, or complex user interactions, maintaining ease of operation while achieving substance delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal bottle cap capable of threadably engaging two or more bottles of a different thread arrangement having a substance retained therein. The universal bottle cap threadedly engages a bottle containing a beverage therein. Such universal bottle cap includes a cylindrical member closed at a first end thereof and open at a second end thereof. There is a threaded portion disposed on an inner surface of the cylindrical member for engaging a threaded end of such bottle. A capsule like device is disposed inside the cylindrical member adjacent the closed end for retaining a substance to be dispensed into a beverage in such bottle. A device for piercing the capsule engages each of the threaded portion of the bottle cap and the capsule for piercing the capsule as the universal bottle cap is threaded onto such bottle thereby releasing contents of the capsule into such beverage for mixing therewith.