Carabiner Handle Cap Unit with Notch-Based Impact Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional capped containers with hinge-rotating carabiner handles are prone to damage due to strong impacts, especially when the handle is dropped, as the load applied to the carabiner handle or hinge part can cause them to break, particularly if the handle is made of synthetic resin.

Innovation Solution

A cap unit with a carabiner handle that includes a ring-shaped body with a partially opened opening and a gate that opens and closes the opening, where the gate is biased to one side and engages with a notch part to close the opening, and can be rotated to open the opening, with the notch part featuring an inclined surface or a hook part to absorb and distribute impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the carabiner handle is made of synthetic resin to reduce weight and cost, then the manufacturing cost and weight are reduced, but the strength and impact resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a shock-absorbing mechanism that activates before the impact force can damage the hinge part. The gate, biased spring, and notch part work together to absorb and dissipate impact energy through controlled deformation and elastic recovery, preventing the force from being transmitted to the hinge connection point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary shock-absorbing mechanism between the carabiner handle and the hinge part. This mechanism includes the gate, biased spring, and notch part that act as a mediator to absorb and dissipate impact energy, preventing direct transmission of shock forces to the hinge connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the gate is made swingable to enable opening and closing operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential damage from impact loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening and closing operationVSAvoiddamage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the shock-absorbing function from the hinge connection and places it in the gate-notch interaction mechanism. The notch part is specifically designed with an inclined surface that engages with the gate to absorb impact forces, separating the opening/closing function from the shock-absorption function to protect the hinge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If the notch part is designed with an inclined surface to absorb impact, then the strength and impact resistance are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the shock-absorption function into the existing notch part of the carabiner handle structure. The inclined surface is integrated into the notch part geometry, combining the engagement function with the shock-absorption function in a single structural element rather than adding separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 cap unit effectively prevents the carabiner handle and hinge part from being damaged due to impacts by distributing the load through the inclined surface or hook part, thereby enhancing the durability and reliability of the capped container, even when made of synthetic resin.

Implementation Method 1

the gate is biased to one side in the swing direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4529805A1Cap unit and capped container
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 THERMOS LLC
  • EP4529805A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4529805A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4529805A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A capped container that prevents a carabiner handle and hinge part from being damaged includes a ring-shaped body 8 with an opening 8a that is partially opened and a gate 9 that opens and closes the opening 8a, wherein the base end of the gate 9 is swingably attached to the body 8 via an opening/closing base end part 10 on one end side across the opening 8a, a concave notch part 11 consisting of a cutout part cutting the inner peripheral surface of the body 8 is provided on the other end side across the opening 8a, and the notch part 11 is provided with an inclined surface 11a inclined in a direction away from the tip of the gate 9 toward the side on which the cutout part opens.