Closure Cap Hinge Ratchet Locking Wide Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure caps for liquid containers with pivotable lids often fail to maintain a wide open angle reliably and are cumbersome to reclose, with locking mechanisms being sensitive to production deviations and inconvenient for drinking from beverage containers.
Innovation Solution
A closure cap design featuring a pair of elongate hinge elements and a ratchet-like member with specific contours and profiles that allow the lid to be securely locked at a wide opening angle, enabling convenient drinking and easy reclosure, with frangible bridges for security and cam-like stopper components for a snug fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid is locked at a narrow opening angle (about 90°), then the locking mechanism is simpler, but drinking from the container neck becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge region is designed to allow the lid to dynamically assume multiple stable positions through its elongate structure with variable wall thickness. The dynamic design enables the lid to pivot freely while the ratchet-like member provides discrete stable positions, including a wide open angle for convenient drinking and a closed position for secure locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge element's wall thickness is varied along its length, with the upper portion having reduced thickness compared to the lower portion. This parameter change creates the necessary flexibility and stress distribution to support wide-angle opening while maintaining reliable locking through the ratchet mechanism.
2Reliability
If the locking mechanism uses a tongue-shaped projection with precise dimensions, then locking at wide angle is achieved, but any production deviations cause the mechanism to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge element incorporates variable wall thickness with the upper portion having reduced thickness compared to the lower portion. This parameter variation creates a more tolerant structure that accommodates production deviations while maintaining reliable locking capability at wide angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge region integrates multiple functional elements (hinge elements with varying thickness, ratchet-like member with curved contours, tongue structure) into a unified injection-molded component. This composite design distributes dimensional tolerances across multiple interacting features rather than relying on a single critical dimension.
3Ease of operation
If the lid is held at a wide opening angle (180° or more), then drinking convenience is improved, but the hinge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge region is segmented into distinct functional zones: hinge elements with varying wall thickness, a ratchet-like member with specific contours, and a tongue structure. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function while collectively enabling wide-angle opening without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the lid to pivot through a wide range of motion and settle into stable positions naturally. The elongate hinge elements with variable thickness provide the necessary flexibility for wide opening while the ratchet mechanism provides discrete stable positions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a closure cap for a container comprising a lid and a shell, and a hinge region for pivotally connecting the lid to the shell and for locking the lid in an open position thereof. The lid comprises a top panel having a tongue adjacent the hinge region and a cylindrical wall suspended from a bottom face of the top panel and connected to the shell via a plurality of bridges which break upon a first opening of the lid. The hinge region comprises a pair of elongate hinge elements spaced apart from each other, and a ratchet-like member disposed therebetween.