Blender Lid with Elastomeric Ring and Hinged Spout for Easy Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blender lids can become stuck or wedged inside the jar, making them difficult to remove, especially for users with reduced hand strength.
Innovation Solution
A blender lid design featuring an elastomeric outer ring, an inner disk with a spout wall and access assembly, including a hingedly attached spout lid and stirring stick aperture lid, which facilitates easy removal and pouring by allowing the lid to be lifted off the jar without disengaging it from the spout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional rigid lid is used to cover the blender jar, then a secure seal is achieved, but the lid becomes difficult to remove especially for users with reduced hand strength
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer ring made of elastomeric material that provides sealing, an inner disk that provides structural support, and hinged access lids that can be opened independently. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained while the access lids can be easily opened with minimal force.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer ring is constructed from elastomeric material that provides flexibility and compliance. This flexible elastomeric outer ring can deform to match the contour of the blender jar opening, ensuring a secure seal while requiring less force to engage and disengage from the jar.
2Reliability
If the lid is designed with a secure fit to the jar, then sealing is improved, but the lid becomes wedged and difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The hinged access lids provide dynamic movement capability, allowing them to pivot between closed and open positions. This hinges mechanism enables the lids to be easily opened for access while maintaining a secure sealed position during blending operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material properties are utilized to create a seal that is secure during operation but allows for easy release. The material's elasticity enables it to deform during engagement to ensure sealing, then return to its original shape to facilitate removal without permanent deformation or wedging.
3Ease of operation
If the lid structure is simplified for easy removal, then ease of operation improves, but sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer ring made of elastomeric material that provides sealing, an inner disk that provides structural support, and hinged access lids that can be opened independently. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained while the access lids can be easily opened with minimal force.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer ring is constructed from elastomeric material that provides flexibility and compliance. This flexible elastomeric outer ring can deform to match the contour of the blender jar opening, ensuring a secure seal while requiring less force to engage and disengage from the jar.
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 design enhances ease of lid removal and pouring, particularly for users with limited strength, by utilizing the flexibility of the elastomeric material and hinged lids, ensuring a secure seal while allowing easy access to the contents.
Implementation Method 1
The outer ring formed of an elastomeric material
Data Source
AI summary
A blender includes a lid having a pouring spout. The lid is configured to rest on an upper edge of a jar to cover the interior cavity and includes an outer ring having an outer rim and an inner rim that define a gap. The upper edge of the jar is configured to fit within the gap. An inner disk is positioned radially inwardly of and fixed to the outer ring. The inner disk including a main panel, an aperture, a wall surrounding the aperture, and a spout wall extending upwardly from the wall. An access assembly comprising a bridge mounted to the inner disk, and a spout lid hingedly attached to the bridge, and positioned to interact with the spout wall to cover the spout wall, is included.