Hinged Container Cover Apex Line Seal Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers with hinged covers for storing products like drugs and test strips face reliability issues due to manufacturing defects in sealing portions, leading to compromised air tightness, especially after repeated opening and closing.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a container body with an inner peripheral body groove and a cover skirt with an apex that forms a line seal, providing both sealing and locking functions without additional locking elements, enhancing airtightness and reliability through a precise, defined contact area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional sealing portions with large contact area are used, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase and defect risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing portion is designed with a curved apex instead of a flat surface, allowing it to conform to the container body groove and maintain sealing through geometric adaptation rather than relying on high manufacturing precision of flat surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing mechanism transitions from surface-to-surface contact to line contact through the apex geometry, changing the dimensional parameters from area-based sealing to line-based sealing, which reduces the impact of manufacturing tolerances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional sealing portions are used, then initial sealing is achieved, but sealing durability after repeated opening and closing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing durabilityVSAvoidsealing duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The curved apex design allows the sealing portion to naturally return to its sealing position after deformation during opening and closing operations, maintaining sealing durability through geometric recovery rather than material elasticity alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The apex geometry is designed to distribute and cushion the mechanical stresses of repeated opening and closing operations, preventing premature failure of the sealing portion through built-in stress management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If additional locking elements are added to improve sealing, then air tightness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair tightnessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing and locking functions are merged into a single integrated apex structure that performs both sealing and mechanical interlocking with the container body groove, eliminating the need for separate locking elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The apex is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously provides sealing, locking, and controlled opening force, reducing the overall number of components while maintaining or improving performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If large contact area sealing is used, then initial seal is formed, but opening force becomes uncontrolled and may damage sealing portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal integrityVSAvoidopening force control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The curved apex concentrates the sealing force to a line contact rather than distributed surface contact, enabling controlled opening force while maintaining adequate sealing pressure during closed state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact geometry changes from area-based to line-based, fundamentally altering the force distribution characteristics to provide both adequate sealing force and controlled opening force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 container maintains improved air tightness and reliability even after multiple openings and closings, with a controlled opening force and reduced risk of damage to the sealing portion, ensuring the integrity of stored products.

Implementation Method 1

the apex of the cover skirt and the inner peripheral body groove provides the only seal between the cover and the container body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentUS10807773B2Container

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 AIRNOV INC

AI summary

A container for loosely stored products includinga) a container body containing a peripheral body wall having an inner peripheral body groove;b) a cover containing a cover skirt having an outwardly facing sealing portion with an apex that seals against the inner peripheral body groove when the cover is in a closed condition thereby forming a seal of a sealing line type; andc) a hinge connecting the container body and the cover. The apex of the cover skirt and the inner peripheral body groove provide the only seal between the cover and the container body and preferably the only locking element that holds the cover in the closed condition on the container body.