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Valve & Drinking Spout - 75% to 90% Material/Component Reduction

[Category : - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING- HUMAN NECESSITIES- Pneumatic Accessories]
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The valve is applicable to many products, markets / industries and simply folds to open or close, focusing high compression through a defined axis or seal. One example application is drinking pouches and meetings have taken place with 12 of the largest international drinks brands and every response was positive to very positive. Packaging is obviously an enormous market: Link . New regulations have been introduced into the USA & Europe which require the manufacturer to tether and reduce materials or components (straws and caps) with brands now rapidly seeking an alternative. The new spout ticks all box’s with multiple advantages over the standard caps or straws which include a drastic reduction of materials by 75% to 90% resulting in far cheaper production costs. The spout also dramatically reduces components, with no large anti choke cap required, thus generating substantial carbon offset and P&L savings for both the producer and retailer. It’s very fast, easy and ergonomic to use (the spout may be opened and closed with one hand or the mouth) whilst exercising, driving or cycling as the consumer does not need to remove, locate or attach a cap. Pleasing user sprung opening action and fold latch return. Significant advantages are achieved by engineering/controlling the spout material and forming a seal with a defined axis, instead of relying on additional components. And as no thread is required we are not limited by nozzle ends or configurations. For example salad dressing may require a small bore, whilst a child’s juice drink may include a soft no spill valve. The spout eliminates the need for a straw and is fully protected/enclosed (both before and after opening). The pouch contents are contained behind a double wall barrier as opposed to a single cap seal, potentially increasing shelf life.

The described valve is not limited to packaging, some further examples applications include: Baby beaker spouts, taps or shut off valves for inline gas, liquid or medical or blood, Industrial duck valves and float valves etc.

Basic explanation of the mechanism: The walls of a tube on each side are obviously the same length and a tube is an extremely resilient structure both under compression and tension. You cannot lengthen or shorten one side of the tube in relation to the opposing side of the tube, hence when a tube is buckled through a defined axis the outer side of the tube is forced to span a greater distance than the opposing underside of the tube. So whilst in a closed position the outer wall tensions upon the axis and the under wall compresses upon the axis. The tension from the outer wall spanning a greater distance and the compression from the underside spanning a shorter distance is focused directly into the axis and if the internal contact area of the axis is engineered and defined then the compression and tension is substantial. When a tube or spout is in the folded position the crease axis obviously forms a straight line and this axis is forced to move from a circular profile to a straight line and linear profile because as said the opposing walls on the tube remain the same length under both compression and tension. By engineering the tube and axis whilst also including additional features the compression and seal strength can be further increased to any required level. And the length of the tube above the seal axis provides the leverage which allows the compression to be applied to the defined axis.If we introduce a crescent profile internal lip seal within the buckle axis then the axis is stopped from forming a straight and linear line, dramatically increasing the sealing force whilst evenly distributing the compression through the defined axis. The width of this crescent seal can be increased to achieve any required compression sealing strength. The base of the spout or tube is fixed to the boat or opening and thus the strength of the compression and sealing ability is further increased as the lower tube section below the axis is triangulated forming an extremely rigid structure.

This is a serious product with £100K + spent on development and protection so far. We have almost secured licencing contracts with multiple manufacturers, but 2nd phase working samples are required prior to commitment. First phase working samples have been produced and a more detailed description is available upon request: [Use the button below to contact me]

Financial information

We are open to various methods of investment or involvement and require funding for the next phase of samples with the intent of obtaining a commitment from the manufacturers.