Biodegradable Beverage Lid Structure for Impact-Resistant Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage container lids are not biodegradable, leading to environmental damage, and lactic acid-based polymers lack sufficient impact strength for practical use when processed by conventional molding methods.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable beverage container lid made from a lactic acid-based polymer, featuring a design with an interior and exterior cover connected by a hinge, a spout, straw perforations, an elevated portion, and retaining walls, which provides a liquid cooling effect and is suitable for hot, cold, and foamy beverages, while being impact-resistant and environmentally friendly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional molding methods are used to process lactic acid-based polymer, then the polymer can be manufactured into beverage container lids, but the resulting lids do not have sufficient impact strength for practical use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the processing parameters by using a two-stage molding process: first compression molding to create a preform with proper molecular orientation, then injection molding to add structural features. This parameter change in the manufacturing process enables sufficient impact strength while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining the compression-molded preform with the injection-molded lid features. The preform provides the structural backbone with high impact strength, while the injection-molded portion adds functional features, creating a composite material system that achieves both strength and manufacturability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional beverage container lids are made from traditional resins, then they have excellent transparency, but they have very low degradation rate and cause environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by selecting lactic acid-based polymer instead of conventional resins like polyethylene or polystyrene. This material substitution provides biodegradability while the specialized molding process ensures sufficient impact strength, resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and mechanical strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a biodegradable lid is designed with multiple functional components (spout, straw perforations, elevated portion, retaining walls), then it becomes versatile for various beverages, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing a single lid structure that serves multiple purposes: the spout enables direct drinking, the straw perforations allow straw insertion, the elevated portion prevents foam overflow, and the retaining walls control liquid flow. This universal design achieves versatility for different beverage types without requiring multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functional features into a single integrated lid structure made from one piece of biodegradable polymer. By combining the spout, perforations, elevated portion, and retaining walls into one unified component through two-stage molding, the patent reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining all necessary functions for various beverage types.
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 biodegradable lid effectively prevents spills, reduces waste, and is suitable for various beverages, offering both impact strength and environmental sustainability by decomposing naturally into non-toxic products.
Implementation Method 1
The beverage container lid is preferably made of a biodegradable material, and more preferably, a biodegradable polymeric material
Implementation Method 2
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0108006, entitled 'Beverage Container Lid Having Liquid Cooling Effect' by Milan and published April 30, 2009, discloses a lid for a beverage container including external and internal covers, which, {00468175.DOCX 1} when coupled together, define a cooling reservoir between them to receive and cool hot liquids that may be held in the beverage container
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage container lid includes an interior cover, an exterior cover, and a hinge connecting the interior cover to the exterior cover. The beverage container is versatile in that it may be adapted for use with a beverage container containing a cold beverage, a hot beverage, or a foamy or creamy beverage. The beverage container lid preferably includes a spout, straw perforations, an elevated portion, a reservoir bottom, a well portion, and a pair of retaining walls preventing direct flow of beverage from a pair of openings in the interior cover to the spout. Methods of use and methods of making a the beverage container lid are also described.