Beverage Lid Seal Assembly for Cleaning Without Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage container seal/trigger mechanisms are difficult to clean, especially in dishwasher environments, as debris can be retained between components and the areas between seals and the lid are hard to access.
Innovation Solution
A movable trigger/seal mechanism that rotates from an operable position to a cleaning position, allowing for easy cleaning without disassembly, with a locking mechanism to prevent engagement during cleaning and a spring system to manage aperture openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal/trigger mechanism is secured in a fixed location in the lid, then the mechanism provides stable operation and reliable sealing, but the area between the seals and the lid becomes difficult to clean and debris is retained between components
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to rotate between an operable position (for reliable sealing) and a cleaning position (for easy access to hard-to-reach areas). This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by enabling both stable operation and easy cleaning at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is rotated away from the drink surface of the lid housing, moving components from a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional cleaning position. This dimensional change exposes previously hidden areas between seals and the lid, making them accessible for cleaning while maintaining the same sealing function when in the operable position.
2Ease of operation
If the seal assembly is rotated away from the drink surface for cleaning, then cleaning access is improved, but the trigger member cannot engage the seal assembly in the cleaning position
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger lock is extracted as a separate component that can independently control engagement. When the seal assembly is in the cleaning position, the trigger lock prevents engagement by the trigger member, allowing cleaning access while maintaining a simple engagement mechanism through the use of a dedicated locking component.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent aperture is opened before the drink apertures, then pressure release is improved, but the trigger mechanism requires sequential operation control
Solution Approach 1:
The vent aperture is opened before the drink apertures during trigger operation, performing the pressure release action in advance. This preliminary action prevents pressure buildup that could interfere with the sealing and opening process, while the sequential operation is naturally controlled by the mechanical design of the trigger mechanism itself.
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
Enables effective cleaning of the seal and trigger components while maintaining connection to the lid, preventing misplacement and ensuring easy operation between use and cleaning positions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring system to manage aperture openings
Data Source
AI summary
A lid assembly for a beverage container having a lid housing, a seal assembly and a trigger member. The seal assembly has one or more drink seals that engage a corresponding one or more drink apertures to close the drink apertures. The seal assembly is rotatedly connected to the lid housing and movable between a use position and a cleaning position for cleaning. The trigger member is connected to the lid housing and is capable of engaging the seal assembly in the use position, but not in the cleaning position. The trigger member is connected to the seal assembly such that the vent aperture is opened during a first portion of the operation of the trigger, and the drink apertures are opened during a second portion of the operation of the trigger so that the vent aperture is opened before the drink apertures.