Two-Part Bottom Pad for Beverage Container Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage containers with single-component bottom pads are not dishwasher safe due to water seepage when exposed to hot water under high pressure, as there is a large space volume between the pad and the container body, allowing liquids to penetrate.
Innovation Solution
A two-part bottom pad system comprising a rigid inner member made of polypropylene plastic and an outer thermoplastic elastomer member, which creates a fluid-tight seal when connected to the container body, using mating members and seal areas to secure the base and prevent fluid entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-component bottom pad is used, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but water seepage occurs under hot water pressure making the container not dishwasher safe
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom pad is divided into two separate components: an inner member and an outer member. The inner member is a rigid component that fits into the container body, while the outer member is a flexible elastomer component that provides sealing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the outer member specifically designed to create fluid-tight seals under pressure, thereby resolving the water seepage issue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly
2Device complexity
If a single-component bottom pad is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but a large space volume exists between the pad and container body allowing liquid penetration
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bottom pad into inner and outer members, the design eliminates the large void space that exists in single-component pads. The outer member is positioned to directly contact and seal against the container body, removing the harmful space where liquids could penetrate, while the modular structure keeps the overall device complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The outer member is made of a flexible thermoplastic elastomer that forms a thin, conforming seal between the bottom pad and container body. This flexible shell eliminates void spaces and creates a fluid-tight barrier, preventing liquid penetration while adding minimal complexity to the overall structure
3Reliability
If the outer member extends beyond the inner member edges, then seal areas are created to prevent fluid entry, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The outer member is made of a flexible thermoplastic elastomer that can conform to the container body surface, creating effective seal areas even with standard manufacturing tolerances. The flexibility of the material allows it to accommodate minor dimensional variations and achieve reliable sealing without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom pad uses a composite structure combining a rigid inner member with a flexible outer member made of thermoplastic elastomer. This composite material approach allows the outer member to provide sealing functionality through its elastic properties rather than requiring precise dimensional control, thereby maintaining manufacturing feasibility while achieving reliable fluid-tight seals
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 two-part bottom pad system ensures a substantially fluid-tight seal, making the beverage container dishwasher safe by eliminating water seepage and enhancing its durability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The outer member comprises a thermoplastic elastomer at least partially surrounding and permanently secured to the exterior surface of the inner member
Implementation Method 2
The outer member... is adapted to engage the beverage container to create a first seal area... and the outer member having a bottom end that extends beyond the second edge of the inner member and that is adapted to engage the beverage container to create a second seal area
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed a beverage container having a two-part base. The beverage container has a container body having a side wall member and a bottom member, and a liquid retaining cavity therebetween. The container body has a first mating member adjacent a bottom of the container body. The two-part base comprises an inner member partially surrounded by an outer member, and wherein the inner member is preferably made of a rigid material and wherein the outer member is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The two-part base has a second mating member, whereby the two-part base is connected to the container body adjacent the bottom of the container body via a mating connection between the first mating member and the second mating member. Portions of the two-part base contact the bottom member of the container body to define seal areas that create a substantially fluid-tight seal between the base and the container body, thereby allowing the beverage container to be top-shelf dishwasher safe.