Container Closure Flap Arrangement for Spillage Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container designs face issues with spillage and storage due to the need for multiple lid sizes, difficulty in securing lids, and environmental concerns related to plastic lids, as well as limitations in spill prevention and manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A container with a closure arrangement featuring a movable closure leaf attached to the flap, which restricts the flap opening when closed, allowing for spill prevention while maintaining ease of drinking and pouring, and simplifying manufacturing and storage by allowing multiple containers to be stacked efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate lid is used to close the container opening, then spillage is prevented, but additional storage space and managerial resources are required to maintain a stock of matching lids for every container size
Solution Approach 1:
The closure function is merged with the container body by integrating flaps formed from the container wall itself. The flaps are created by forming crease lines in the container wall, allowing the container to close its own opening without requiring separate lids, thereby eliminating the need for additional storage and management of multiple lid sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated flap closure system provides a universal solution that works for the container body itself, eliminating the need for separate lids. The flaps can be configured to provide closure while maintaining drinking access through gaps or openings, serving multiple functions with a single integrated structure.
2Reliability
If it is difficult to place the lid over the container opening in a single attempt, then additional manipulation time is required, but this increases the time needed to secure the container
Solution Approach 1:
The crease lines are pre-formed during manufacturing, creating predetermined folding paths for the flaps. This preliminary action ensures that when the container is closed, the flaps automatically fold along the correct paths to the proper position, eliminating the need for manual manipulation and alignment that would otherwise be required.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the flap opening is made relatively small to restrict spillages, then spillage is reduced, but flow during drinking is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The flap structure incorporates localized gaps or openings at specific positions (such as at the ends of crease lines) that provide drinking access. These localized openings allow liquid flow during drinking while the rest of the flap structure maintains spill prevention when the container is closed, achieving both spill restriction and adequate drinking flow simultaneously.
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 closure leaf effectively reduces spillage and splashing, allows for unobstructed pouring and drinking, and simplifies manufacturing and storage by providing a more reliable and environmentally friendly solution compared to prior designs.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the resilience of the cup material, each flap can toggle between two stable positions on application of an initial external force on the flap
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (10) comprising a wall (2) having outer and inner sides, a closed base at one end and a curved rim (5) at an opposite end, the rim defining a top opening (6) of the container; • a pair of arcuate crease lines (7, 8) formed in the wall (2) at opposite sides of the wall below the rim (5); each crease line having first and second ends coinciding with the rim (5); wherein each crease line (7, 8) and the portion of the rim (5) between the first and second ends (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) of the crease line (7, 8) define a flap (70, 80); wherein each crease line (7, 8) is configured to act as a hinge allowing each flap (70, 80) to toggle between an open upright position in which the flap (70, 80) is convex and forms part of the wall (2) of the container (10), and a closed lowered position in which the flap (70, 80) changes its shape to concave; and • a closure arrangement operable to restrict at least one flap opening (100a, 100b) defined at or adjacent to positions where the ends (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) of each crease line (7, 8) coincide with the rim (5) of the container (10) when the flaps (70, 80) are in the closed lowered position; the closure arrangement comprising at least one closure leaf (130) on the inner side of the wall (2); the closure leaf (130) being attached to a first one of the flap so as to be movable with the first flap and to extend underneath the first flap opening when the flaps (70, 80) are in the closed lowered position.