Lid for a container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container lids are often difficult to use, especially for users with limited agility or dexterity, and may not provide a secure fluid-tight seal, leading to leakage issues, particularly when used in various environments or while engaging in activities that require quick access to the contents.
Innovation Solution
A lid design featuring a pivotally connected activator, fluid-flow member, and connecting member that allows for easy attachment and detachment, providing a fluid-tight seal and allowing for the contents to be stirred or consumed without direct hand contact, with a flexible fluid pathway that can be angled to prevent leakage and facilitate drinking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lids are designed to be fluid-tight, then leakage is prevented, but the lid becomes difficult or inconvenient to use
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into multiple functional components: a lid body, a spout assembly, a cap assembly, and a closure assembly. Each component can move independently or in coordination to achieve both sealing and ease of operation. The spout assembly can be rotated between drinking and storage positions, while the closure assembly provides secure sealing when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid incorporates dynamic elements including a rotatable spout assembly that can pivot between positions, a movable cap assembly that can be lifted or rotated, and a closure assembly with interlocking features. These dynamic components allow the lid to transition between sealed and accessible states, providing both leak-proof performance and user convenience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lids include grooves or crevices for structural features, then the lid can perform multiple functions, but particles or materials get stuck in these grooves making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lid design incorporates smooth surfaces in areas prone to particle accumulation, particularly in the drinking path and sealing surfaces. Complex structural features are minimized or designed with radiused corners and smooth transitions to prevent material entrapment, while maintaining necessary functional capabilities through strategic placement of simple, cleanable features.
3Reliability
If conventional lids require screwing or complex closing mechanisms, then the lid can be securely sealed, but it becomes time-consuming and difficult to open and close
Solution Approach 1:
The closure assembly is pre-configured with interlocking features and alignment guides that automatically engage when the lid is placed on the container. The snap-fit closure mechanism requires minimal user effort and time to secure, while the pre-positioned spout and cap assemblies are ready for immediate use without additional assembly steps.
4Ease of operation
If conventional lids require direct hand contact to operate, then the lid can be controlled precisely, but it becomes inconvenient for users wearing gloves or with limited dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with large, easily accessible operational surfaces on the cap assembly and closure mechanisms that can be actuated with gloved hands or limited finger dexterity. The spout assembly includes a wide opening that accommodates various drinking styles and accessories, making the lid versatile for different user needs and environments including medical, athletic, and industrial settings.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lid may be sized and configured to be attached to a container, and the lid may include an activator, a fluid-flow member, and a connecting member. The activator, the fluid-flow member and the connecting member may be pivotally connected. The activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member may be movable between open and closed positions. When the activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member are in the closed position, fluid may be prevented from exiting the container. When the activator, the fluid-flow member, and the connecting member are in the open position, fluid may exit the container through a fluid passageway.