Container cover that facilitates creating negative pressure and long time sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vacuum storage containers face issues with space occupancy when used with cylindrical or bottle-like containers, inability to automatically re-inflate after air leakage, and failure to maintain freshness due to lack of negative pressure, leading to oxidation and spoilage of contents.

Innovation Solution

A container cover featuring a rotary device, guide blocks, and a pumping piston that creates negative pressure by moving along a continuous wave-shaped track, allowing for efficient air removal and maintaining airtight conditions, with a relief valve providing visual indication of pressure and adaptable for various container shapes and sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a transmission gear set is arranged in a transverse direction to create negative pressure, then the vacuum pumping function is achieved, but the container cover occupies a large transverse space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum pumping functionVSAvoidtransverse space occupancy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the arrangement dimension of the gear set from transverse (horizontal) to longitudinal (vertical) direction. The drive gear is positioned at the end of the rotary knob, and the transmission gear set is arranged along the longitudinal axis, utilizing the vertical space within the container cover rather than横向 space, thus resolving the space occupancy issue while maintaining the vacuum pumping function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission gear set is nested within the container cover structure, with the drive gear connected to the rotary knob and the transmission gears arranged compactly along the longitudinal direction. This nested arrangement allows the vacuum pumping mechanism to be integrated into the container cover without occupying excessive transverse space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a mechanical vacuum storage container is used, then negative pressure is created to maintain freshness, but the container cannot automatically reinflate after air leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreshness maintenanceVSAvoidautomatic reinflation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a one-way valve mechanism that allows air to be pumped out of the container to create negative pressure, but prevents air from leaking back in. When the sealing lid is opened and closed, the one-way valve automatically controls the air flow direction, enabling the container to self-maintain negative pressure without requiring manual intervention or automatic reinflation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If electronic negative pressure storage containers are used, then automatic vacuum pumping is achieved, but the system requires repeated pumping operations when air leaks and lacks visual pressure indication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic vacuum pumpingVSAvoidvisual pressure indication
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a pressure indication mechanism that provides visual feedback about the negative pressure status inside the container. The indication mechanism likely uses color changes or visual markers to show whether the container is under negative pressure, allowing users to easily monitor the sealing status without complex electronic displays or repeated pumping operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color 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 solution enables efficient creation of negative pressure in storage containers, maintaining freshness and preventing oxidation, while being space-efficient and easy to use, with a visual indicator for pressure presence.

Implementation Method 1

the second guide block and the pumping piston to move alternatively up and down to pump air out of the storage container through an air-pumping hole of the piston seat to create a negative pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3372526B1Container cover that facilitates creating negative pressure and long time sealing
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 SHIN HUNG YIH TECH
  • EP3372526B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3372526B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3372526B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A container cover for storage container includes a rotary device (1), an outer cover member (2), an inner cover member (3), a first guide block (4), second guide block (5), a pumping piston (61) and a piston seat (62) so arranged that when the rotary device is driven by a user to rotate the first guide block, guide rods (41) of the first guide block are moved along a first continuous wave-shaped track (51) of the second guide block, causing the second guide block and the pumping piston to move alternatively up and to further pump air out of the storage container through an air-pumping hole of the piston seat to create a negative pressure. Further, a first spring member (63) and an upper rail seat (50) can be provided to balance the movement of the pumping piston and to stabilize the rotation of the first and second guide blocks. A relief valve rod (7) can be selectively used for giving a visual indication indicative of the presence of a negative pressure in the storage container.